The effect of "Great Sage Spirit - Corozzo"!
By sending 1 Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link monster you control and 1 Spellcaster monster you control to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon this card from the Extra Deck!
"I send the Link Monster 'Grand Cursed Sarcophagus' that is currently treated as an Equip Card in my Spell & Trap Zone, along with the Spellcaster 'Millennium Bloodline', to the Graveyard.
Come forth, 'Great Sage Spirit - Corozzo'! Special Summon it to the zone directly below the Link arrow of 'Cross-Sheep'!"
As his words fell, particles of light on the field gathered and compressed.
A small fox with fluffy black-and-white fur flicked its ears and nimbly appeared in the designated position.
[Great Sage Spirit - Corozzo]
[Level 4 / Spellcaster / Effect]
[ATK 1000]
"The moment it appears, the effect of 'Cross-Sheep' triggers!
Depending on the type of monster that is Special Summoned to a zone it points to, it activates a corresponding effect.
Ritual: draw 2 cards, then discard 2 from your hand.
Fusion: Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard.
Synchro: all monsters you control gain 700 ATK.
Xyz: all monsters your opponent controls lose 700 ATK.
What I summoned to its linked zone is the Fusion Monster 'Great Sage Spirit - Corozzo'!"
"So according to the effect, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 monster from my Graveyard."
"I choose the Level 4 monsters in my Graveyard: 'Ecclesia, the Virtuous in White' and 'Terina'!"
[Ecclesia, the Virtuous in White]
[ATK 1500]
Ecclesia's figure had barely stabilized on the field when Yusaku raised his hand and spoke in a tone that allowed no refusal.
"I Tuner-summon the freshly summoned 'Ecclesia, the Virtuous in White' together with the Level 6 'Magic Blacksmith - Day of Tears'!"
"Synchro Summon! Bloom beautifully, 'Baronne de Fleur'!"
At his command, the black flames around the Magic Blacksmith intertwined with the golden light radiating from Ecclesia, twisting together into a spiral of starlight that pierced the heavens.
Stardust scattered across the sky, tracing a straight line of ten aligned stars.
A brilliant rose-colored pillar of light crashed down like a reversed Milky Way, slamming into the Duel Field.
The ground split open with spiderweb-like cracks as thorny vines erupted from below like giant serpents, weaving themselves into a grand portal of brambles and crimson roses. The roses along the arch shivered and shed their petals with each echoing hoofbeat.
A female knight clad in silver-white engraved armor tightened her reins. The mane of the snow-white steed beneath her shimmered with a soft, moonlit luster. On the scabbard of her sword were set seven roses of different shapes, each so lifelike it seemed they might bloom with fragrance at any moment.
[Baronne de Fleur]
[Level 10 / Warrior / Synchro / Effect]
[ATK 3000]
"At this moment, the effect of 'Magic Blacksmith - Day of Tears' in the Graveyard activates!
When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can target 1 other LIGHT Fiend monster in my Graveyard, return it to the Main Deck or Extra Deck, then inflict 1200 damage to my opponent!"
Yusaku pointed straight at Kazuki's Duel Disk.
"I return the Link-2 'Grand Cursed Sarcophagus' from my Graveyard to the Extra Deck. Then take this 1200 damage!"
A ray of scorching red-brown light shot out from the Graveyard with lethal force, slamming straight toward Kazuki.
Kazuki reflexively raised an arm to shield herself, but the force contained in the beam still drove her staggering several steps backward.
[Kazuki, LP 8000 → 6800]
"Next, I activate the effect of 'Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite' in my Graveyard!
While this card is in the Graveyard, I can return 1 face-up card I control to my hand to Special Summon it, and then I take 400 damage."
Yusaku picked a card off his Duel Disk and looked at Kazuki, eyes locking onto her.
"I return my Field Spell 'Wedju Temple' to my hand and Special Summon 'Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite'!"
[Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite]
[Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect]
[ATK 1600]
The Blackwing monster had just planted its feet on the field when Yusaku raised his hand again and shouted.
"I overlay 'Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite' and 'Great Sage Spirit - Corozzo' to construct the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! Rank 4, 'Gallant Granite'!"
A western-style warrior made of rock, wielding twin blades, burst onto the field with a heavy impact, his presence radiating calm, unshakable power.
[Gallant Granite]
[Rank 4 / Rock / Xyz / Effect]
[Xyz Materials: 2]
[ATK 2300]
"Effect of 'Gallant Granite'!
I detach 1 Xyz Material to add 1 Rock monster from my Deck to my hand!"
[Gallant Granite]
[Xyz Materials: 2 → 1]
"I add 'Block Dragon' from my Deck to my hand!"
The moment that sentence landed, the onlooking players exploded.
"Block Dragon… how many engines is that already? And he still claims he's not the protagonist?"
"With a deck that stacked? What kind of bad luck would you need upstairs to run into this guy down here?"
"…"
After adding the card to his hand, Yusaku didn't slow down for even a heartbeat. He raised his hand again.
"Next, I use the Link-2 'Cross-Sheep' and 'Gallant Granite' as Link Material!"
Both monsters turned into beams of light and shot into the Link circuit that unfolded high above the Duel Field.
Two Link Arrows lit up in sequence, and in the next instant, a magic-wielding girl bathed in teal-blue light descended slowly from the circuit.
"Link-2 Summon! Link-2, 'Aussa the Earth Charmer, Immovable'!"
[Aussa the Earth Charmer, Immovable]
[Link-2 / Spellcaster / Effect]
[ATK 1850]
"Effect of 'Aussa the Earth Charmer, Immovable'!
I can target 1 EARTH monster in your Graveyard and Special Summon it to a zone this card points to."
Yusaku glanced over at Kazuki, the corner of his mouth curling into a mischievous smirk.
"I choose the 'Ultra Beetrooper Absolute Hercules' in your Graveyard and Special Summon it to the zone pointed to by Aussa!"
Kazuki's expression froze in utter disbelief.
"?"
[Ultra Beetrooper Absolute Hercules]
[ATK 4000]
"Now I activate the effect of 'Block Dragon' in my hand!
By banishing the EARTH monsters 'Primitive Man Awakened from Millennium Slumber', 'Stone Guardian of the Millennium Treasure', and 'Gallant Granite' from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon it!"
As he spoke, a monster assembled from colorful toy blocks rapidly pieced itself together in the middle of the field.
[Block Dragon]
[Level 8 / Rock / Effect]
[ATK 2500]
"The moment any monster is banished!"
Yusaku's voice rang out across the arena.
"The effect of 'Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying' activates!
Whenever a card is banished, I can return any number of cards on your field or in your Graveyard back to the Deck!"
He sharply pointed at Kazuki's field.
"I choose your Field Spell 'Fusion Gate' on the field, and 'Super Armored Robot Insect God Kuwagata γ' in your Graveyard. Both get banished!"
As the words left his lips, the silhouette of Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign manifested behind Yusaku.
He raised his long sword and slashed in the air. Two invisible blades of qi shot forth, striking both Kazuki's field and her Graveyard, erasing the specified cards from the duel entirely.
"Cards have been banished again!"
Yusaku's tone pressed down with suffocating weight.
"The ATK of 'Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying' rises once more!"
[Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying]
[ATK 5900 → 6400]
"Next, I use the 'Ultra Beetrooper Absolute Hercules' I just summoned from your Graveyard, along with my Link-2 'Aussa the Earth Charmer, Immovable' and 'Block Dragon', as Link Material!"
Kazuki: "…"
"Link Summon! Link-4, 'Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess'!!"
The Link circuit opened in the sky once again.
The three monsters turned into three streaks of white light that shot upward and merged into the circuit.
All four Link Arrows lit up one after another, the radiance growing increasingly blinding.
A thunderous beast's roar shook the entire field.
A spirit maiden astride a massive white bear, bow of the gods in hand, descended slowly from the circuit to Yusaku's field.
[Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess]
[Link-4 / Fairy / Effect / Link]
[ATK 2400]
"At this moment, the effect of 'Block Dragon' that was sent to the Graveyard activates!
When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can add up to 3 Rock monsters from my Deck to my hand whose total Levels equal 8."
"I add the Level 4 'Adamancipator Analyzer', the Level 2 'Adamancipator Researcher', and the Level 2 'Adamancipator Seeker' from my Deck to my hand!"
After tucking the searched cards into his hand, Yusaku looked up at his opponent's Duel Disk.
"Then I activate the effect of 'Block Dragon' in my Graveyard again!
By banishing 'Cross-Sheep' and 'Gallant Granite' from my Graveyard, plus the 'Adamancipator Analyzer' in my hand, I Special Summon it back to the field!"
[Block Dragon]
[ATK 2500]
"Effect of 'Adamancipator Researcher' activates!"
Yusaku revealed the card in his hand.
"If I control another Rock monster besides this card, I can Special Summon it from my hand."
"I currently control the Rock monster 'Block Dragon', so… 'Adamancipator Researcher', appear!"
A petite girl with a staff in hand, a travel bag slung across her shoulders, and soft rose-colored short hair stepped onto the field.
[Adamancipator Researcher]
[Level 2 / Rock / Tuner]
[ATK 100]
"Next, I use 'Adamancipator Researcher' and 'Block Dragon' as Link Material!"
"Link Summon! Link-2, 'Predaplant Verte Anaconda'!!!"
[Predaplant Verte Anaconda]
[Link-2 / Plant / Link / Effect]
[ATK 500]
"I activate the effect of 'Predaplant Verte Anaconda'!
I pay 2000 Life Points and send 1 'Fusion' Normal or Quick-Play Spell from my Deck to the Graveyard. This card's effect then becomes that Spell's effect. This activation cannot be negated."
"I activate that effect!"
[Yusaku, LP 3600 → 1600]
"I send 'Red-Eyes Fusion' from my Deck to the Graveyard, and treat Verte Anaconda's effect as 'Red-Eyes Fusion'! Then I send 'Dark Magician' and 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' from my Deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Material!"
"O knight from the far side of the silent galaxy, reveal your might before the eyes of mankind!
Now is the moment when the slumbering memories within the starry ranks awaken!"
"Arise, Level 8 miracle of Red-Eyes! 'Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon'!"
As he finished chanting, a deafening dragon's roar tore through the heavens.
A vortex of magic power formed out of nowhere, lightning raging wildly within. A massive claw covered in dark scales thrust out from the vortex, the razor talons gleaming with power sharp enough to rend space itself.
The body of Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon slowly emerged from the maelstrom, clad in armor that gleamed with metallic luster.
Gold and black patterns intertwined across its surface, and the pair of great dragon wings unfurled behind it, radiating absolute authority and crushing pressure.
[Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon]
[Level 8 / Spellcaster / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK 3000]
The instant this legendary monster appeared, the spectators completely lost it.
"Holy crap, Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon! That thing's a banned card!"
"Why does he pop banned cards like he's sipping water?!"
"…"
Hearing the chorus of envy and shock, Yusaku's lips curled faintly. He was clearly satisfied with their reaction.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
The more these bystanders raged in jealousy, the better business his future deck sales would do.
Yusaku pointed at Kazuki's field.
"I activate the effect of 'Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon'!
During my Main Phase, I can destroy 1 monster you control and inflict damage equal to that monster's original ATK."
Kazuki's face twisted in disbelief.
"??"
"This effect can be used up to a number of times per turn equal to the number of Normal Monsters used as this card's Fusion Material. I used two Normal Monsters for this Fusion, so I can activate it twice!"
Kazuki's pupils shrank.
"That's impossible! The intel I have says this monster doesn't have that effect!"
Yusaku gave a faint smile.
"That's because this is my first time using that effect. You should feel honored to be the first one to taste it."
Kazuki: "???"
"First, I activate the effect and destroy your 'Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Super Dora', then inflict 3200 damage to you!"
As his voice fell, Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon swung its blade in a sweeping arc.
A crescent-shaped crimson slash, surging with enhanced dark magical power, tore through the air.
The empowered magic ripped Kazuki's massive cannon train to pieces, and the remaining shockwave slammed straight through her body.
[Kazuki, LP 6800 → 3600]
"Then I activate 'Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon' a second time, destroying your 'Beetrooper Sting Lancer' and dealing 2400 damage!"
A second crimson crescent roared across the field, shredding the beetle-soldier on Kazuki's field into fragments.
[Kazuki, LP 3600 → 1600]
"Next, I activate the effect of 'Baronne de Fleur'.
Once per turn, I can target 1 card on the field and destroy it."
"I choose to destroy my own 'Predaplant Verte Anaconda'!"
Someone in the crowd blinked in confusion.
"Why would he pop his own Verte Anaconda? Wouldn't it be better to leave it as a meat shield?"
"Meat shield my ass. It only has 500 ATK. Any random monster on the other side clears it for free!"
"The brother who just spoke is spot on. With only 1600 LP left, destroying that monster is absolutely correct!"
Down on the field:
After clearing away Verte Anaconda, Yusaku slapped another card onto his Duel Disk.
"Next, I activate the Field Spell 'Secret Village of the Spellcasters'!"
A gigantic golden sacred tree erupted into the air behind Yusaku, towering high above like a magical world-tree.
Yusaku looked across at Kazuki.
"My turn is over. It's your move.
Now we're back at the starting line: we both have 1600 Life Points. You made me break your board. It's time for you to try breaking mine."
Before Kazuki could respond, the players around them couldn't help chiming in.
"Damn, that's brutal. He actually said that with a straight face!"
"Her field is completely empty, Fusion Gate is banished, and even before you talk about getting through Baronne, Apollousa, and Dragoon, that 'Secret Village of the Spellcasters' alone is enough to choke her to death!"
"You guys forgetting about Chengying? That permanent -2700 ATK/DEF aura means even if she does manage to summon a monster, it won't swing over anything on board!"
Listening to the voices around him, Yusaku's smile deepened.
He turned to the pale-faced Kazuki.
"Of course, you still have another option."
"And that's to surrender."
(End of Chapter)
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