"Interesting."
Genichiro glanced at the coin and chuckled. "It's heads. You go first. Too bad—you won't get to see the oppressive power of my deck when it goes first!!"
"Oh?" Yusaku raised an eyebrow. "Then how about I let you go first?"
Genichiro's smile froze for a moment, but he recovered quickly and stared at Yusaku. "The coin already decided. If I accepted and won, it'd be a hollow victory. I'll defeat you fair and square so you understand who the real loser is."
"You really are a go-first deck?" Yusaku gave him a doubtful look.
Genichiro's face twitched. "Enough nonsense. Make your board!"
"Then it's my turn. Draw. Main Phase."
Yusaku checked his hand, paused briefly, then revealed a card.
"I activate the effect of 'Fallen of the White Dragon' in my hand. While this card is in my hand: I can send 1 monster from my Extra Deck that lists 'Fallen of Albaz' in its text to the GY, and Special Summon this card."
He placed the card into the Duel Disk.
"I send 'Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon' to the GY and Special Summon 'Fallen of the White Dragon' from my hand!"
A white-haired, dark-skinned youth clad in white appeared in a burst of summoning light.
[Fallen of the White Dragon]
[Level 4 / Dragon / Effect]
[ATK 1800]
"…Huh?"
Genichiro frowned deeply.
That monster wasn't like the one from before.
Wasn't it pitch-black last time? Why is it white now?
And did he just send Mirrorjade to the GY?!
Isn't that supposed to be his ace?!
His mind was full of question marks.
"Effect of 'Fallen of the White Dragon'!" Yusaku declared.
"When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: I can Special Summon 1 'Ecclesia' monster from my hand, Deck, or GY. I Special Summon 'Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous' from my Deck!"
A golden-haired, round-faced girl with a dragon-headed staff materialized.
[Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous]
[Level 4 / Spellcaster / Tuner / Effect]
[ATK 1500]
"Next, I tune these two monsters!"
Genichiro blinked. "You're what? Tuning!? Aren't you a Fusion deck? What is this—Dark Magician?"
He paused mid-sentence.
"No… that's a Fusion deck too!"
Around the arena, the watchers froze as well.
"Didn't he use a 'Fallen of Albaz' deck? Isn't that all Fusion? How is he Synchro Summoning now!?"
"Doesn't that deck self-lock into Fusion Summons after activating effects?"
"There's one possibility," Kouki muttered, rubbing his nose. "My senior isn't self-locked yet."
"That's right. Now you fools get it." Kazetaro shot a contemptuous look at the other dojos' students, who were all frowning in confusion. "Your intel doesn't match, does it? My senior's deck transforms constantly. You think you can counter him? Keep dreaming."
On the field—
Yusaku ignored all comments and raised his arm high.
"I tune the Level 4 'Fallen of the White Dragon' with the Level 4 Tuner 'Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous'!"
[4 + 4 = 8]
"Synchro Summon! Level 8—Ecclesia of the Black Dragon!"
The monsters ascended, forming eight stars in a straight line. A pillar of radiance thundered down like a waterfall.
"ROOOAR!"
A dragon claw tore through the vortex, shredding the air. Moments later, a golden-haired maiden riding a black dragon descended elegantly.
[Ecclesia of the Black Dragon]
[Level 8 / Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect]
[ATK 2500]
After summoning her, Yusaku looked at Genichiro.
"Yeah, my deck is a Fusion deck. And who says Fusion decks can't Synchro Summon?"
Genichiro snorted. "Your deck revolves around Fusions. We mapped out your list already. A bunch of your monsters self-restrict into only Fusion Summons.
Now you're running Synchro pieces too? Aren't you bricking yourself?"
"That what you think?" Yusaku laughed quietly. "Then watch and see."
He swung his arm.
"I activate 'Ecclesia of the Black Dragon'! During the Main Phase: You can banish this card until the End Phase; Special Summon 1 'Fallen of Albaz' or 1 monster that lists it from your Deck or GY.
I banish this card and Special Summon a second copy of 'Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous' from my Deck!"
Ecclesia faded into mist, then vanished. A moment later, the round-cheeked girl reappeared.
[Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous]
[ATK 1800]
"Effect of Ecclesia! During either player's Main Phase: I can Tribute this card to Special Summon 1 'Swordsoul' monster or 1 'Fallen of Albaz' from my hand or Deck.
I Tribute her and Special Summon 'Swordsoul of Taia' from my Deck!"
The Duel Disk ejected a card. Yusaku snapped it in—and Taia burst from the card, blade slashing through the air and sending a frosty vortex swirling outward.
[Swordsoul of Taia]
[Level 4 / Wyrm / Effect]
[ATK 1800]
Swordsoul?
Genichiro frowned hard.
That monster wasn't in any of the intel they gathered.
"I activate Taia's effect!"
"By banishing 1 'Swordsoul' card or 1 Wyrm monster from my GY, I Special Summon 1 'Swordsoul Token' (Level 4 / Wyrm / Tuner / WATER / ATK 0)."
Yusaku declared:
"I banish 'Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon' from my GY and Special Summon a 'Swordsoul Token'!"
[Swordsoul Token]
[ATK 0]
"And next, I tune Taia with the Token!"
Yusaku lifted his arm and chanted:
"The crimson edge dwelling in my Deck—become the blade that severs destiny! Cut through wickedness, burn all illusions—
Arise! Swordsoul Grandmaster—Chixiao!!!"
A blazing red whirlwind erupted as Chixiao shot from the card.
A crimson Wyrm spiraled around him, sword force shaking the entire field.
[Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao]
[Level 8 / Wyrm / Effect]
[ATK 2800]
(End of Chapter)
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