Space shattered as a dimensional rift opened amid flashing light. Lord of D. tried to retreat in panic, but it was too late, and the rift swallowed him whole.
"A fine counter," Hall Master Takeuchi analyzed. "At first glance, it only removes the weakest monster, but it was actually the most troublesome one."
A student asked in confusion, "Why is that?"
"When 'Lord of D.' is on the field, all Dragon-type monsters cannot be targeted by effects," Saito explained. "Once that protection is gone, the remaining Dragons lose their shield."
The surrounding crowd began to stir. Some praised the boy for withstanding such a fierce opening, while others insisted it was only temporary since the opponent was the AI of Seto Kaiba.
Hearing this, Koji Sato smiled faintly. Two traps were nothing at all, and this duel was only just getting started. As one of the earliest victims of Yugen's style, he trusted his own judgment.
After consecutive failures in offense, AI Seto Kaiba drew his last two cards. "I set one card and end my turn."
"My Turn!, Card Draw."
Yugen waved his hand.
"I flip the face-down monster on my field. The monster I set is this one.
Dragon Manipulator, Flip Summon!"
Dragon Manipulator, ATK 700.
"The flip effect of Dragon Manipulator," Yugen said. "When this card is flipped, until the end of the End Phase, I gain control of one face-up Dragon-type monster on your field.
Therefore, I take control of your 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'!"
AI Seto Kaiba: "!?"
The red-cloaked knight leapt forward and smoothly jumped onto the back of Blue-Eyes White Dragon. In the blink of an eye, Blue-Eyes White Dragon followed its skilled rider and crossed over to Yugen's side of the field. The students in the audience burst into loud chatter at once.
"He actually took the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Man, I am fired up!"
"That is Yugen for you. He did something we would not even dare imagine."
AI Seto Kaiba: "You bastard."
From the crowd's point of view, the duel only became more entertaining by the second, and many had already forgotten that the system lock had trapped them inside the arena. People watched with full attention, and even unfamiliar passersby started cheering for Yugen. No matter the world, there were always people who loved a good show, and this was exactly that.
After crossing over and going through many duels while studying the environment, Yugen quickly realized that the Duelists of this world had a strange fondness for Dragons. That was not surprising, since the one leading the dueling world, Seto Kaiba, was obsessed with Dragons, and Dragon monsters were both impressive and powerful. Because of that, when choosing cards for his side Deck, Yugen stuffed it with all kinds of odd tools made specifically to counter Dragons.
Side Deck slots had no real limit, so adding cheap and strange cards did not hurt him at all. Preparation always paid off, and today was a perfect example. The next card was one of those answers.
"Even though I gained control of Blue-Eyes, because 'Dragon Capture Jar' is still on the field, all Dragons cannot switch to attack position, including my own," Yugen said.
"Therefore."
He pulled out another card from his hand.
"I tribute 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' to perform a Tribute Summon!"
At that moment, Yugen almost felt like he could hear the grinding of AI Seto Kaiba's teeth. Having Blue-Eyes taken was bad enough, but having it taken and then tributed was even worse.
"Tribute Summon, Level 6, Dragon Seeker!"
Dragon Seeker, ATK 2000.
"The effect of Dragon Seeker. When this card is Normal Summoned or Flip Summoned, destroy 1 face-up Dragon-Type monster on the field," Yugen said as he pointed at Seto Kaiba's field. "Destroy 'Krystal Dragon'!"
The blue-green demon glared forward and let out a roar as if declaring that Dragons were exactly what it was made to fight. With a loud crash, Krystal Dragon shattered into icy fragments and vanished.
In Yugen's eyes, this card was not especially impressive, since it required a Tribute Summon just to destroy a Dragon. Its ATK was only 2000, which was nothing remarkable. Still, in this early environment, it was decent enough when facing Dragon users.
Its real advantage was the name "Dragon Slayer" and an effect that felt like it existed purely to provoke. Used together with other counter cards, it had a better chance of breaking the opponent's mindset before their LP ever hit zero. AI Seto Kaiba fell completely silent, as if stunned by the sequence.
"Dragon Seeker, direct attack," Yugen ordered.
The AI still had an answer. "I activate my set card, Trap Card Counter Gate! When your monster declares a direct attack, that attack is negated, and I draw one card from my Deck!"
A transparent defensive gate appeared, and Dragon Seeker's full-power strike slammed into it. The impact was absorbed and turned into golden light that flowed back into the AI's Deck.
"The attack is negated, and I Card Draw!"
"Then I use 'Dragon Manipulator' to attack directly," Yugen said.
Without its mount, Dragon Manipulator was much weaker, but it still raised its sword and charged forward. The blade came down in a clean arc from above AI Seto Kaiba's head, causing the hologram to flicker and distort.
AI Seto Kaiba LP 4000 to 3300.
"I set three more cards in my back row. Turn end."
Three dark face-down cards appeared one after another with flashes of light, and the audience collectively inhaled in shock. This was only his second turn, and the pressure was already overwhelming. Even before the cards activated, the crowd felt a chill, as if the arena itself had grown colder.
"Who is this young man? He is pushing even Seto Kaiba's Deck this hard."
"Wait, I think I have seen him before. He is the champion of this year's Moonlight Cup."
"Nani?!? The newcomer who crushed Legendary Duelist Rex Raptor in the finals?"
"So he really ran into a true expert."
It became AI Seto Kaiba's turn. "Card Draw!"
The AI looked visibly irritated and did not bother with any dramatic lines this time.
"I activate the Spell Card The Melody of Awakening Dragon from my hand," AI Seto Kaiba said. "I discard one card, then add up to two Dragon-type monsters with ATK 3000 or more and DEF 2500 or less from my Deck to my hand."
The description alone made it obvious who the card was meant for.
"I add these two cards from my Deck to my hand."
He pulled out the searched cards and flicked his arm with exaggerated flair.
"I add another 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' and one 'Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon' to my hand!"
Yugen frowned slightly. As expected, Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon had already appeared.
"The effect of Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon! By revealing one 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' from my hand, I can Special Summon this card. I reveal the 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' I just added!"
AI Seto Kaiba slapped the card onto his virtual Duel Disk, and endless deep blue light burst forth from it. The light illuminated the space around them, carrying a deafening dragon's roar.
"Let that light shine through the void and shake the heavens. Appear now.
Level 8, Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"
Brilliant blue radiance surged from the projected sky, and a dragon cry thundered like a voice crossing thousands of years. The dragon burst forth from the light, wings spreading wide like massive blue curtains across the air.
Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon was summoned.