Chapter 77: The Quintuple Fusion!
Chapter 77: The Quintuple Fusion!
"This is my true power!"
Asuka made her move, revealing another card from her hand. A green magic card with flickering golden light dancing across its surface.
"I activate the Magic Card, 'Preparation of the Ritual'! Add a Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand, then I can add a Ritual Magic Card from my Graveyard to my hand!"
She drew from her Deck, swiftly flipping through the cards before selecting one and presenting it.
"I add 'Cyber Angel - Dakini' from my Deck to my hand! It's a Level 6 Monster."
She shuffled her Deck and inserted it back into her Duel Disk. Then, a golden light shone from her Graveyard, and a card rose from it.
"I return 'Ritual of the Machine Angel' from my Graveyard to my hand! It was the Ritual Magic Card I discarded as the cost to activate 'Blessed Church - Ritual Sanctuary' earlier."
Without hesitation, she inserted the retrieved card into her Duel Disk.
"I activate the Ritual Magic Card, 'Ritual of the Machine Angel'! By offering monsters from my hand and field as Tributes, I Ritual Summon a 'Cyber Angel' Ritual Monster whose Level is equal to the total Levels of the Tributed monsters!
In one swift motion, she revealed the two Ritual Monsters she had searched for.
"I Tribute 'Cyber Angel - Ben-ten', a Level 6 Monster, for the Ritual Summon! Appear now, the embodiment of light and wisdom—
—'Cyber Angel - Dakini'! A Level 6 Monster with 1600 ATK!"
A mechanical ritual altar appeared, and Ben-ten's figure flashed briefly before transforming into a pillar of light that soared towards the heavens. From this radiant column, a voluptuous and tall Cyber Angel stepped forth.
[Cyber Angel - Dakini: 1600 ATK]
In the physical card game, Ben-ten gained a powerful ability when it became a real card: "When this card is used as a Tribute, you can add 1 'Angel' Type, LIGHT Attribute Monster from your Deck to your hand." However, this effect was not present in the anime version.
But anime characters were often able to draw the cards they needed, so the search effect wasn't necessarily a crucial addition.
Asuka waved her hand dramatically.
"I activate the effect of 'Cyber Angel - Dakini'! When this card is successfully Ritual Summoned, I can add a Magic Card from my Graveyard back to my hand!" (Anime effect)
On the physical card, 'Cyber Angel - Dakini' was modified to only recycle Ritual Magic Cards, but it could search from either the Graveyard or the Deck. The anime version of Dakini, on the other hand, could recover any Magic Card, showcasing their unique strengths and weaknesses.
"I recover 'Spellbook of Power' from my Graveyard and activate it again! Draw 3 cards from your Deck!" Asuka declared, as she added the recovered card to her hand. "Now, both players draw three more cards!"
You Xuan remained calm, accepting the three extra cards his opponent had offered him. "Are you planning to settle this within this turn?"
Although it was a risky move to provide resources to her opponent, Asuka's decision wasn't necessarily wrong given the current situation. With only 200 Life Points remaining and XYZ-Dragon Cannon on You Xuan's field, capable of destroying cards and immune to all card effects, Asuka had no choice but to make a bold play this turn. If she did nothing, the next turn would likely be her last.
This situation was similar to a modern Yu-Gi-Oh! scenario where you might have to "play through a Pot of Greed." During your turn, your opponent activates a card like 'Pot of Greed', which allows them to draw two extra cards whenever you Special Summon a monster. If you want to make your plays, you might have to Special Summon multiple monsters, giving your opponent a significant resource advantage by drawing half a dozen extra cards or more in a single turn.
Even understanding this risk, many players would still choose to play through it, hoping to turn their opponent's draw power against them. As the saying goes, "Go big or go home." Who knows, maybe this turn will be the one where you break through and defeat your opponent?
"Then, I Normal Summon 'Little Cyber Angel'!"
[Little Cyber Angel: 300 ATK]
"The effect of 'Little Cyber Angel' activates when this card is successfully Normal Summoned. I add the Ritual Magic Card, 'Ritual of the Machine Angel', from my Deck to my hand."
Asuka searched through her Deck once more and immediately played the Ritual Magic Card she had just searched for.
"I activate the Ritual Magic Card, 'Ritual of the Machine Angel' again! This time, I Tribute 'Little Cyber Angel', a Level 2 Monster, and 'Cyber Angel - Dakini', to perform an advanced Ritual Summon!
Let the path ahead be illuminated by radiant light, as the Angel of Light descends upon this realm—
—'Cyber Angel - Vrash! !!!' A Level 8 Monster with 2700 ATK!"
The two angels disappeared into the ritual altar, and a spiral of light soared skyward once more. From this vortex of light emerged a four-armed angel, spinning gracefully as she appeared. She held a long blue staff in one pair of hands, while the other pair brandished a sword and a knife. Her aura exuded an air of regal majesty.
[Cyber Angel - Vrash: 2700 ATK]
'Cyber Angel - Vrash' was Asuka's true ace monster, the strongest creature she had ever played in the anime.
In the physical card game, 'Cyber Angel - Dakini' gained an additional effect: when used as a Tribute to Ritual Summon a 'Cyber Angel' monster, it could boost that monster's ATK by 1000 points. However, this effect was unique to the physical card game and not present in the anime.
Asuka pointed at You Xuan's field. "You have no option but to send 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' to the Graveyard!"
The spectators couldn't help but gasp in surprise once again.
Of course, there were also some underachievers among them, like Marufuji Sho from the Osirisc Red dorm, who asked, "Eh? Isn't the 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' protected by 'Super Shell,' making it unaffected by any magic, trap, or monster effects?"
Suddenly, Mizawa Daichi, the resident academic ace, appeared beside them and explained with his arms crossed, "That's because Dakini's effect doesn't target the opponent's monster but the opponent duelist themselves. The effect states, 'Must select one monster on your field and send it to the Graveyard.' It's an effect used on the opposing duelist. When Student You Xuan accepts this effect and sends 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' to the Graveyard, it's the same as him sacrificing it himself, so even with its strong resistance, it can't avoid this removal strategy."
"Eh, is that so?!" Marufuji exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone present, upon realizing this, looked at Asuka with even more admiration in their eyes. Especially Hinata Hoshikawa, a senior, who seemed to have completely forgotten that they were rivals and the reason they were dueling in the first place.
"Facing a monster with absolute resistance and near-invincibility, with barely any Life Points remaining... Even in such a dire situation, you've found a way to turn the tables?"
"So, you've discovered the weakness of absolute resistance?" You Xuan smiled.
"There are no unbeatable monsters," Asuka asserted, returning the smile. "Every monster has a strategy to overcome it. This is my answer as a duelist."
"A commendable answer," You Xuan acknowledged. "However... I'm afraid I won't be going easy on you. Before the effect of Dakini resolves, I activate a face-down card!"
You Xuan raised his arm, and a face-down card on his field flipped up.
"Trap Card - Subspace Matter Transporter! Until the end of this turn, exclude one face-up monster on your side of the field from play!"
A high-tech transporter broke through the dimensional barrier, creating a massive vortex that sucked in the XYZ-Dragon Cannon, making it disappear without a trace.
Asuka: "!!!"
He's running away?!
"With this, when Dakini's effect resolves, there won't be any monsters on my field," You Xuan explained. "Naturally, I won't be able to choose a monster to send to the Graveyard."
"But that would leave your field empty!" Asuka exclaimed. "In that case, 'Cyber Angel - Dakini,' attack directly!"
Dakini leaped forward, her twin blades slicing towards the empty field where You Xuan stood.
With an attack of 2700, this strike would be enough to seal the duel's outcome!
However, just as the blade was about to land, a blinding white light suddenly blossomed, and a transparent, ethereal defense portal blocked Dakini's descending blade.
"Trap Card 'Counterattack Gate,'" You Xuan stated. "Can only be activated when the opponent declares a direct attack. Negate that attack, and draw one card from your deck."
The dazzling white light exploded, instantly deflecting Cyber Angel's blade. You Xuan drew a card, causing Asuka's surefire strike to be in vain.
"Alright then. I'll set one card and end my turn."
Asuka's turn ended, and the nearby students couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
What an intense duel!
The lightning-fast offense and defense, along with the endless stream of strategies, were truly stimulating for most students who were still at the stage of chopping each other with Axe Raiders. Regardless of the outcome, they were in awe of both duelists.
Asuka, on the other hand, was under immense pressure.
She had given it her all, even pushing herself to the limit, but all she could manage was this. She still couldn't break through her opponent's defenses.
No, her opponent didn't even seem particularly tense.
Is this my limit right now?
"During the End Phase," You Xuan said calmly, "the effect of 'Subspace Matter Transporter' ends, and 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' returns to the field."
[XYZ-Dragon Cannon: ATK 2800]
"Now, it's my turn. Draw!" You Xuan declared. "Activate the effect of XYZ-Dragon Cannon. Discard one card to destroy a card on your opponent's field.
I discard one card to destroy 'Cyber Angel - Dakini'!"
"I expected as much!" Asuka shouted. "I activate a face-down card, Continuous Trap - Demon World Chain!"
The trap card flipped up, and a deep green demon chain shot out, coiling around the heavy Dragon Cannon like a snake, immobilizing it completely.
"Asuka is so amazing!" Yugi Muto exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "I really want to duel with her! And with You Xuan, too! They're both so strong."
You Xuan merely smiled in response.
"You really did have a countermeasure for the XYZ monster. Impressive indeed."
Whether it was the strength of their card decks or their dueling prowess, even the current Asuka had clearly surpassed most of the students at Duel Academy, earning her reputation as the most promising newcomer.
However, this move had also exhausted all her resources.
It was over.
"I Normal Summon 'V-Jet Tiger,'" You Xuan stated calmly.
[V-Jet Tiger: ATK 1600]
"At this moment, the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Different Dimension Warehouse' activates," You Xuan explained, "When a monster is summoned on my field, if any of the Allied monsters excluded by the effect of the Warehouse include a monster whose name is listed on the summoned monster's card, those Allied monsters can be Special Summoned from the Exclusion Zone."
You Xuan revealed another card from the Exclusion Zone.
"Therefore, I Special Summon 'W-Launch Wing' from the Exclusion Zone."
[W-Launch Wing: ATK 1300]
"'V-Jet Tiger' and 'W-Launch Wing' combine to form... Fusion!"
The two newly introduced mechs began to transform and emit electrical currents, attracting each other and assembling together. Soon, they completed their transformation into a formidable duo.
"VW-Assault Tiger, Fusion Summon!"
[VW-Assault Tiger: ATK 2000]
"Next, using the 'VW-Assault Tiger' and 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' on the field, we'll perform another fusion!
Let the gathered power become an invincible dragon cannon, releasing its crushing might with a roaring blast! Quintuple Fusion—
—'VWXYZ-Dragon Cannon Blast'!!!' Level 8!"
The two mechs transformed once more, attracting and assembling with each other. As the sound of metal friction and mechanical parts grew louder, they gradually transformed into a towering metallic giant. Its steel feet stomped as if shaking the very foundation of the arena, and its dragon-like red wings spread out behind it. The steel giant's body continuously unleashed dazzling electrical arcs.
Even after the transformation into the giant form, the Y Dragon Head's position remained somewhat indescribable. One could only say that the Great Evil God Zorc would appreciate this artistic design and would likely praise it as a masterpiece.
[VWXYZ-Dragon Cannon Blast: ATK 3000]
"A quintuple fusion..."
Asuka gazed up at the colossal steel giant, momentarily stunned by its sheer magnitude.
Is this my limit?
"After the Fusion Summon, the Demon Chain of the Makai naturally loses its target," You Xuan said, "Now, the effect of 'VWXYZ-Dragon Cannon Blast' activates.
Once per turn, I can directly banish any card on your field from play.
Therefore, I banish 'Cyber Angel - Dakini' from play! Boundary Blast!"
Electrical sparks danced across the steel giant's body as its cannon locked onto Dakini's position. Dazzling electrical arcs surged, and an electromagnetic railgun-like blast elegantly pierced through Dakini's body, turning her into a mere shadow.
"Now, 'VWXYZ-Dragon Cannon Blast' will directly attack!"
You Xuan tilted his head as he contemplated the skill name.
".Heavenly Justice!"
Several cannon muzzles on the mech giant opened up, all of them locking onto their target. Dazzling beams, scorching blasts, and a barrage of missiles rained down like a storm, engulfing everything in their path.
Asuka closed her eyes gently.
So this is it.
I lost.
BOOM!!!
[Tenjoin Asuka: LP 200 → LP 0]
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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