"It's my turn!"
Ryuzaki drew a card and instantly revealed it.
"Magic Card, 'Angel's Charity.' Draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
After replacing his hand, he immediately pulled out the other two cards in his hand.
First, one of them was slapped directly onto the Duel Disc.
"I Special Summon this card, Swiftfoot Velociraptor!"
[Swiftfoot Velociraptor, Attack Power 1400]
"Oh, Ryuzaki starts off with a Special Summon!"
The commentator Xiaodu provided the audience with a timely explanation.
"Swiftfoot Velociraptor is a Monster Card with the ability to be Special Summoned directly from the hand. However, summoning in this way has the side effect of allowing the opponent to choose a monster from their graveyard to Special Summon."
"Of course, the decision to use this effect rests with the opponent. And as it's only the first turn, Duelist Yugen has no monsters in the graveyard. So naturally, this effect can't be used." Commentator Sasaki added.
Ryuzaki revealed the second card: "Then the second, Special Summon Swiftfoot Velociraptor number two!"
[Swiftfoot Velociraptor, Attack Power 1400]
Ryuzaki hadn't been idle during his time out of the public eye. Now, although referred to as a "Legendary Duelist," it was merely due to his past encounters with Muto Yuugi, Joey Wheeler, and others. Especially with Joey, who he once looked down upon as a Mortal Bone, but now times have changed, and he's reduced to relying on his resume of "being beaten by Joey" to make a living.
To return to the peak, he specifically improved his tactics, finding the most suitable strategy for his Dragon Race and dinosaurs.
Ultimately, he settled on the oppressive strategy represented by the most famous Dragon Tamer in the world, Seto Kaiba, characterized by rapid attacks.
"Dragons are the most powerful creatures, and Dragon Tamers must suppress with utmost strength!"
Ryuzaki declared.
"And quick attacks are perfect for the rhythm of dragons. Feel the power of dragons! Battle, attack that covered monster with the first Swiftfoot Velociraptor!"
The first dinosaur charged. The covered monster in Yugen's backfield flipped open, revealing a small red piece of machinery belonging to the Mechanical Race.
[Mecha Peacekeeper, Defense Power 400]
Mecha, an old card deck born during the DM era, first debuted in the DM side story manga "Yu-Gi-Oh! R". Though it's been around for a while, it still holds considerable power in the current environment.
The Mecha with only 400 defense was naturally easily destroyed. Yugen calmly sent it to the graveyard, saying, "'Mecha Peacekeeper's effect activates.
When this card on the field is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, I can add an Alliance Monster from the deck to my hand."
He drew a card from the deck and showed it to Ryuzaki.
"I add the Alliance Monster 'Mecha Team - Skeleton' to my hand."
"Mecha?" Ryuzaki slightly frowned.
This was a card deck series Yugen hadn't used in previous matches.
"Saving it until the finals to use it? Does this mean that the decks he's used until now weren't even his main ones? So confident?"
Ryuzaki was a bit surprised. It's not unheard of for duelists to purposely hold back their main decks for finals. However, making it all the way to the finals without showing true strength is indeed rare.
After all, a duel is decided in one round, with no chance to change decks midway. If someone held back their main deck only to have their backup unexpectedly take a loss and get eliminated, they would be laughed at in the community for years.
"But it doesn't matter, under the absolute power of my dinosaurs, it makes no difference." Ryuzaki declared, "Continue the battle, with the second Swiftfoot Velociraptor launching a direct attack!"
"Flip Cover Card."
A Trap sprung up in front of Yugen.
"Trap Card - Magic Tube!"
Ryuzaki was shocked: "It's actually Magic Tube?"
Commentator Sasaki was also excited: "Oh oh, it's actually Magic Tube, a trump Trap used in ex-Duel King Muto Yuugi's deck!
It can nullify the attacking monster's attack and deal damage to the opponent equal to the monster's attack power!"
Magic Tube, in the current environment with 4000 Life Points, clearly a dominant card, doesn't come cheap in the market, but by the GX era, it's no longer that rare. Though it hadn't formally appeared in the anime, it appeared multiple times in the background, could be seen in the decks in the dormitory, Judai had it when building his deck, Sho used it when battling bystanders, and it was even in some other bystanders' decks.
This was also one of the few cards that Yugen's predecessor worked hard to acquire.
Ryuzaki took the counterattack damage head-on, swayed slightly, and let out a small "tsk."
[Ryuzaki, LP 4000→LP 2600]
"The first blood in the finals goes to Fujiki Yugen!" Commentator Xiaodu said, "Who would have thought, that Ryuzaki would take such significant damage in the first turn!
It seems even Ryuzaki will have to get serious?"
Ryuzaki snorted, unfazed.
This level was within expectations. He had long known that the opponent favored using various Traps, so jumping in quickly with two low-level dinosaurs for an attack wasn't without a trap-stepping intention.
Traps, though annoying, can't be completely avoided. After all, if you don't step on it, it's always there, can't just stare and wait indefinitely?
Using a low-level monster with 1400 attack power to step on and remove a powerful Trap like Magic Tube was an acceptable result.
"Battle phase ends." Ryuzaki continued, "Next, I'll use the two Swiftfoot Velociraptors as tributes for an Upper-level Summon!
From the endless darkness, break out of the cocoon, heed my call and appear here—
—Level Seven, Triangular Demon Dragon, Summon!"
The two Swiftfoot Velociraptors disappeared in a swirl of winds, and golden claws and fangs emerged. The giant Demon Dragon set foot, the entire arena seemed to tremble under the realistic visual imagery and tactile effects.
[Triangular Demon Dragon, Attack Power 2850]
"Triangular Demon Dragon!" Commentator Xiaodu said, "Not only did he launch a fierce double strike in the first turn, but he went further by summoning such a powerful Upper-level Monster!
This appears to be Ryuzaki's acknowledgment of the challenger's strength, indicating his intention to fight with all his might!"
As the Demon Dragon took the stage, Ryuzaki stood amidst the summoning storm, feeling his aura soaring, as if his stature had suddenly increased.
"See? This is my new dragon, Triangular Demon Dragon! Stronger than the True Red Eye and Evil Knight Dragon I lost back then, a symbol of my rebirth from the ashes!"
"Hmm..."
Yugen initially wanted to say that this thing was just a Seven-Star Mortal Bone.
But on second thought, in the era without various True Red Eye series derivative cards, True Red Eye and Evil Knight Dragon seemed to require two tributes as Mortal Bones too...
Alright, can't refute that.
However…
He snapped his fingers.
"Flip Cover Card. Trap Card - Bottomless Pit, when an opponent's monster is summoned, it turns that monster into Face-down Defense Position and its representation can never be changed."
In simple terms—
—I'll send your Triangular Demon Dragon straight to the Underworld!
The majestic Triangular Demon Dragon hadn't even found its footing when it slipped and fell into a massive pit, disappearing silently.
Ryuzaki: "..."
The commentators: "..."
Looking at the opposing Ryuzaki, who was still holding the summoning pose, and with the cold wind blowing, Yugen suddenly had a strange feeling.
A feeling like he had done something wrong.