"It's not over yet!" Shinjō Katsu said from below the hovering fortress. "The effect of Chronomaly Acambaro Figure in the Graveyard activates!"
"If this card is in the Graveyard, I can pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon it."
Shinjō Katsu LP: 3500 → 2500
"I overlay two Level 5 monsters!"
A massive vortex reappeared in the sky. This time, the Number at its center was 33!
"Appear, Number 33! Ancient War Fortress! Bring ruin to my enemies! Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech!"
From the vortex in the sky, another terrifying flying fortress slowly emerged. If the previous fortress emanated the wise light of a prophet, then this one radiated a terrifying aura of destruction.
Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech ATK: 2400
The aura of the two terrifying flying fortresses enveloped this section of the battlefield. Below, Shinjō Katsu, with a cold expression, stared at his opponent and said, "This duel ends here!"
"The effect of Number 36: Chronomaly Chateau Huyuk activates!"
"Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can target one face-up monster on my opponent's field; its attack points become 0 until the end of the turn."
The fortress in the sky cast a blue light toward the Dragon Knight, who appeared as small as dust below. Under the effect of this light, the great dragon beneath the Dragon Knight let out a mournful cry as it was pressed to the ground.
Dragonic Knight Gaia ATK: 2600 → 0
"The effect of Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech activates!"
"Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can target one monster on the opponent's field whose ATK is different from its original ATK, inflict damage to my opponent equal to that difference, and this card's ATK increases by the amount of damage inflicted."
The other fortress in the sky cast down a purple light, which swept over the Dragon Knight's body, pinned to the ground and unable to move, before exploding beside Amon.
Amon LP: 4000 → 1400
This two-hit combo blasted the once-impeccably dressed Amon into a daze.
Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech ATK: 2400 → 5000
But Shinjō Katsu had no intention of letting his opponent recover. With a wave of his hand, he pressed his advantage.
"Battle! Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech attacks Dragonic Knight Gaia!"
The war fortress in the sky instantly unleashed a full barrage. In the blink of an eye, the area was covered in cannon fire.
Amon LP: 1400 → 0
The siblings from the Dragon Knight Family of the Fusion Dimension were defeated almost simultaneously, and the wall of fire surrounding the area dissipated with them.
After defeating his opponent, Shinjō Katsu exchanged a glance with Allen, and they each sought out new adversaries.
By now, the battlefield had descended into chaos. Beside Kaito, Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon, and Neo Galaxy-Eyes Aurora Wave Dragon roared in unison, unleashing their final attacks upon three soldiers of the Obelisk Force.
Yuto's Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, having evolved into Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon during the duel, pulverized a captain-level ace of the Obelisk Force—Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond—in a single blow.
Shun Kurosaki also leveraged his advantage in group battles, soaring above the battlefield on Raidraptor - Rise Falcon, sending one blue-clad soldier after another to hell. When a captain-level opponent blocked his path, a dazzling golden light flashed, and the glittering Raidraptor - Ultimate Falcon clashed with it.
On the Lancers' side, Reiji Akaba sat upon a throne formed by Solid Vision, expressionlessly commanding the three Demon Kings, Liehuo, Jifeng, and Nutao, to crush every invading enemy.
Gongenzaka stood firm in one part of the battlefield, unmoving as a mountain, forming an unshakeable defensive line with several mechanical generals by his side.
The Ninja Brothers, alongside their monsters, traversed various parts of the battlefield, supporting the ordinary soldiers of the Resistance Army who were struggling in the fight.
Even the once-hesitant Yuya Sakaki was provoked by the surrounding Obelisk Force soldiers. Seated on the back of Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, he charged and fought relentlessly, the Pendulum Scales behind him constantly swaying.
Yuzu and Serena teamed up to target the tag-duel squads operating in pairs. The sight of flower petals and moonlight on this battlefield was a unique spectacle.
Due to their numerical advantage in high-tier duelists, the Resistance Army, whose individual combat prowess was far inferior to the Obelisk Force that had undergone Ryo Marufuji's special training, was surprisingly locked in a stalemate with them.
At this moment, everyone on the battlefield, while dueling, kept a portion of their attention turned towards a central conflict.
Now, on this battlefield gripped by intense fighting, only a clash between kings could decide the outcome.
"Did you know? You're a very important reason why I'm taking over that good-for-nothing Aster Phoenix's mess," Ryo Marufuji said slowly after the duel began, having taken the first turn without rushing into his combo.
"Is that so? Then I'm truly flattered," Yūga Hōzumi said with a cold laugh.
"That guy Aster Phoenix... although he's a good-for-nothing, back then, he wasn't someone just anyone could handle. When I heard the news of your victory over him during my training, I paused it and returned to the Duel Academy."
"When I arrived at the Duel Academy, news came of Aster Phoenix's second defeat at your hands, and your takedown of Yuri, the Academy's hottest rising star. Do you know how excited I was then?" Ryo Marufuji licked his lips, revealing the demeanor of a tyrant.
"After nearly five years of training, I honestly don't even know what level my own power has reached, because I haven't lost a single duel in three years."
"Your sudden emergence has truly excited my duelist's spirit," Ryo Marufuji said, throwing a pair of handcuffs connected by a long chain toward Yūga Hōzumi.
Then, Ryo Marufuji unhesitatingly clamped one cuff onto his own wrist.
Yūga Hōzumi frowned as he took the handcuffs. "What is this about?"
"Because that good-for-nothing Aster Phoenix escaped your grasp twice, I had no choice but to give you all thirty-seven days to recuperate. I don't like unfair duels."
"Now, I've cleaned up the mess he left behind. Today, we will determine not only the winner, but who lives and who dies," Ryo Marufuji said with a smile.
"Interesting." Yūga Hōzumi gave a cold smile and, without hesitation, fastened the other cuff onto his left wrist, the one holding his Duel Disk.
"My turn!" Seeing that Yūga Hōzumi was ready, Ryo Marufuji began his play.
"I summon Cyber Dragon Core in Attack Position!"
"When Cyber Dragon Core is Normal Summoned, I can add one 'Cyber' or 'Cybernetic' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand!"
(end of chapter)