Reginald and Atticus raised their duel disks almost at the same time.
Reginald spoke first. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Devote Love!"
Almost immediately, Atticus flipped his own face-down card.
Both duelists glanced at their sisters across the field, hesitation obvious but their voices steady.
"During your Battle Phase, end it, and you draw one card. Then, during the End Phase, my Life Points drop to 0."
They said it with conviction, as if this were some grand sacrifice.
Rio and Alexis both raised a brow.
"…That's it?" Alexis asked flatly.
Rio said coldly. "Turn ended."
The turn passed.
[Reginald, LP 400 -> 0]
[Atticus, LP 1000 -> 0]
The duel projection froze, then disappeared, leaving only the empty wall. The Kuribangboo sat beside Yumi, quietly lowered the camera it had been holding onto its head, and powered it off with a soft click before turning to look at its master.
Yumi stared at the blank wall for a long moment.
Then he facepalmed.
On the other side of the wall, Celina was lying in bed, and suddenly opened her eyes. "Which idiot just fell off a floor?"
"Those siscons…" Yumi muttered, dragging his hand down his face as he let out a long, tired exhale.
He had explained it clearly. The method to break the mental influence over their sisters required pressure. It required them to either beat them in a duel or force them to remember and break out on their own.
Not this!
Not whatever self-sacrificial nonsense they just pulled!
These two idiots couldn't bring themselves to harm their own sisters, so instead they nerfed themselves into a joke and surrendered with dramatic flair.
Yumi exhales in annoyance.
If it were him and Momoyo in that situation, neither of them would hesitate. They would absolutely try to beat the other into the ground if it meant snapping them out of being brainwashed.
They won't hesitate or hold back if it means getting their sibling back.
As for Kazuko? She was treated no differently. And if needed, she would do the same just to help her siblings.
The three play with each other a lot; their bonds are strong, aside from the fact that if there was a chance, she and Momoyo would immediately team up against him. Then, after inevitably getting flattened, Kazuko would start tearing up, point at Momoyo, and insist it was all her fault for dragging her into it.
All because she'd be worried her brother might hate her for ganging up on him.
Yumi let out a quiet huff at the memory.
Of course, neither he nor Momoyo could ever stay angry at their cute little Wanko. They usually let her antics slide. Mostly that is.
Still, that didn't stop them from roughing each other up properly when necessary. But at the end of the day, they trusted each other enough to do what needed to be done, even if it was a difficult decision. Or a not-so-difficult decision of beating each other up.
So watching Reginald and Atticus hesitate to the point of lowering their combat ability until they became a spectacle was almost laughable.
Yumi closed his eyes briefly, as another thought surfaced.
This world was a fusion of multiple Yu-Gi-Oh timelines, yes, but its current era aligned with GX.
And in his memory…
The GX main cast was, objectively speaking, one of the weakest among the series.
In the original timeline, Season 4 had essentially turned into Jaden carrying the entire plot on his back. The major antagonist, every important, every critical duel. Most of the burden falls on his shoulders.
The others talked about sharing that weight.
But when it mattered. It was still him standing there alone.
If they lose, they can still believe in Jaden to pick up the slack like in the previous season. But if Jaden lose then the world is doomed unless the King of Game decides to get his butt off his retirement chair.
The only one who truly supported him when he needed it the most was Jesse.
Yumi opened his eyes slowly.
"Don't tell me…" he muttered under his breath. "They're as useless as I suspected?"
A faint sense of helplessness settled in his chest.
He had been investing time in pushing the group. Strengthening them and making them stronger.
If they were fundamentally incapable of stepping up when it mattered, then what was the point?
"No. Those siscons didn't receive my help. So my effort isn't pointless." He said it quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
And very deliberately ignored the fact that he had personally helped Rio improve, only for her to get brainwashed again the moment he stopped watching her.
...
Stepping out from his dorm room, Yumi adjusted his sleeve slightly and headed toward the stairs. He hadn't dueled anyone today, and he is still in the Genex Tournament, so he needed to duel someone.
He had barely taken a few steps down from the Slifer Red second floor when he noticed someone standing on the ground below.
The dino boy, Tyranno Hassleberry.
"You Slifer!" Hassleberry barked the moment he spotted Yumi. "I challenge you to a duel for Jaden-aniki's position as his Aibo!"
He lifted his Duel Disk high, glaring with full intensity.
Yumi stopped midway down the stairs, looking at him quietly.
He was honestly a little surprised.
One of the side characters he had mentally categorized under "needs corrective beating" had just walked up and volunteered himself to be a sacrifice.
That saved time.
Yumi descended the remaining steps calmly, hands in his pockets.
Then he realized something...
"Wait a minute..." Yumi said flatly. "Don't tell me you joined the Society of Light because they promised they could help you become Jaden's aibo."
In the original work, Sartorius has indeed approached Hassleberry to try to convert him into the Society of Light, which, of course, Hassleberry loses. But the fossilized Dinosaur bone in his leg having somekind of mystical ability that prevents him from being converted.
Hassleberry stiffened, like a child caught doing something wrong. And Yumi's expression darkened.
Seeing that the so-called dino boy of GX willingly follows Sartorius, discarding his yellow uniform and replacing it with a white set, makes Yumi feel annoyed.
So you weren't converted but willingly gave in!?
All because his senpai didn't look at him as long as he looked at his "Aibo."
"…Fine," Yumi said calmly as he raised his Duel Disk, activating it. "But if I win, I'm ripping the dinosaur bone out of your leg."
He had just watched two idiots willing to let themselves be beaten up, and now he just discovered another idiot who willingly joined the enemy side, all because his senpai didn't pay enough attention to him.
Hassleberry visibly flinched as a chill crawled up his spine despite the confident glare he tried to maintain, but it was too late to back out now.
Hassleberry swallowed once, then steadied himself. "For Jaden-aniki's acknowledgment… I won't lose!"
"Duel."
[Yumi, LP 4000]
[Hassleberry, LP 4000]
"I'll go fir-" Hassleberry began loudly.
"Draw."
Yumi didn't even look at him as he cut him off and pulled the first card from his deck, signaling the first turn was his.
"Since I control no monsters," Yumi continued evenly, already placing a card onto his Duel Disk, "I Special Summon Exosister Martha from my hand."
Light gathered in front of him, forming into a voluptuous woman with puffy pink hair tied in a high ponytail. She wore a deep purple-pink military nun uniform, posture straight and expression calm.
[Exosister Martha, 1600 ATK]
"Martha's effect. I get to Special Summon Exosister Elis from my deck or hand."
His deck shuffled on its own, a single card sliding out. Yumi pulled it free and placed it down without pause.
A blonde young woman in a deep green military nun outfit materialized beside Martha, her stance composed.
[Exosister Elis, 500 ATK]
"I Normal Summon Exosister Stella."
Another card hit the field. A brunette in a red military nun dress appeared, holding a basket in one hand as if she'd simply stepped out of routine patrol.
[Exosister Stella, 300 ATK]
"Stella's effect. During my Main Phase, I can Special Summon an Exosister from my hand." He placed down another card. "Show yourself, Exosister Sophia."
A short girl in a navy-blue military nun uniform and cap appeared, a flashlight in her hand as she scanned the field briefly before standing at attention.
[Exosister Sophia, 100 ATK]
"And since Elis is on my field, I gain 800 Life Points."
A green glow washed over Yumi's body.
[Yumi, LP 4000 -> 4800]
"Sophia's effect. Since I control another Exosister monster, I draw one card."
He drew smoothly, eyes lowering to the card for a fraction of a second before placing it down.
"Spell Card, Take Over 5. I send the top five cards from my deck to the Graveyard."
Five cards lifted from the top of his deck and dropped into the Graveyard slot in a clean sequence.
"The condition is two Level 4 Exosister monsters," Yumi said calmly. "Martha, Elis. Contact Fusion."
The two nuns stepped toward each other, clasping hands. A bright white light engulfed them, pure and steady.
Then the color shifted, as the holy white bled into ominous magenta.
The aura darkened.
"Show yourself… Exosister Karmael."
The light shattered outward, revealing a figure nearly identical to Martha, except her pink hair now flowed freely down her back, shifting to scarlet crimson. A dark magenta aura rose from her body, and in her hand rested a massive magenta-and-black blade that she wielded effortlessly.
[Exosister Karmael, 2600 ATK]
Hassleberry instinctively took half a step back, his instinct warning him of danger as Karmael simply narrowed her gaze toward him.
Yumi didn't pause. "Stella, Sophia. Contact Fusion."
The brunette and the smaller nun joined hands, light enveloping them as well, this time remaining bright and steady.
"Come forth. Exosister Gibrine."
A young woman with bright golden-blonde hair descended onto the field. Her light blue and white dress fluttered gently as she held a sleek, high-tech rifle with quiet confidence.
[Exosister Gibrine, 1400 ATK]
"Since you have two or more cards in your hand," Yumi added, placing another card down, "I can Special Summon K9-17 Izuna."
A mature weasel woman in a policewoman outfit appeared beside the Exosisters. Metal boots hit the floor, her short black hair waved gently, and sharp eyes instantly locked onto the target across the field.
[K9-17 Izuna, 2100 ATK]
Yumi lifted the last two cards in his hand. "I set two cards. Turn end."
Two face-down cards materialized behind his lineup of female monsters, their surfaces gleaming faintly.
He paused for a moment, then added calmly, "During my End Phase, since Karmael was summoned this turn, I can set one Exosister Spell or Trap from my deck, grave, or banished zone."
A card slid out from his Graveyard slot. He placed it face-down onto his field without revealing it.
Seeing the lineup of monsters in front of him, Hassleberry let out a slow breath and placed his finger on top of his deck.
"My turn! Draw!"
He pulled the card with force, eyes scanning his hand quickly before narrowing with resolve.
"Since I control no monsters, I Special Summon Double-Headed Dino King Rex from my hand!"
He slammed the card down.
A massive black dinosaur with two snarling heads materialized onto the field. It stood upright on powerful legs, small arms flexing, vestigial wings twitching as both heads roared toward Yumi's formation.
[Double-Headed Dino King Rex, 1600 ATK]
"When Dino King Rex is summoned," Hassleberry continued confidently, "I can target one monster on the field with ATK lower than the total ATK of all Dinosaur monsters on my field and destroy it!"
He lifted his arm, about to point.
"Gibrine's effect." Yumi didn't raise his voice. He simply cut in. "Once per turn, all monsters I control gain 800 ATK until the end of this turn."
Gibrine adjusted her rifle, planting its stock against her shoulder. A burst of radiant light erupted from the barrel, expanding outward in a controlled wave. Holy energy washed over the field, reinforcing Yumi's monsters.
[Exosister Karmael, 2600 -> 3400 ATK]
[Exosister Gibrine, 1400 -> 2200 ATK]
[K9-17 Izuna, 2100 -> 2900 ATK]
Now, none of Yumi's monsters had ATK lower than 1600; so the destruction condition fizzled out uselessly.
Hassleberry grit his teeth. "I tribute Double-Headed Dino King Rex to activate the Spell Card, Big Evolution Pill!"
The two-headed dinosaur dissolved into particles as three glowing capsules formed on the field before embedding itself into Hassleberry's Spell & Trap Zone.
"After activation, this card remains on the field until your third End Phase! While it's face-up, I can Normal Summon Level 5 or higher Dinosaur monsters without Tributing!"
He immediately placed another card down.
"I Normal Summon, Ultimate Tyranno!"
The ground shook as a massive black-scaled tyrannosaur erupted onto the field, roaring thunderously.
[Ultimate Tyranno, 3000 ATK]
Hassleberry couldn't help but grin. "Now we're talking."
He continued without pause. "Next, I discard Destroyersaurus to add the Field Spell Jurassic World from my Deck to my hand!"
He discarded it, searched quickly, pulled the card free, and activated it.
"I activate Jurassic World!"
The surroundings shifted instantly. The field shifted into a prehistoric landscape filled with towering trees, thick undergrowth, and distant volcanic silhouettes.
"Now all Dinosaur-Type monsters gain 300 ATK and DEF!"
[Ultimate Tyranno, 3000 -> 3300 ATK]
"And I activate the Continuous Spell, Jurassic Power! All Dinosaurs I control gain another 300 ATK!"
[Ultimate Tyranno, 3300 -> 3600 ATK]
Hassleberry's confidence visibly returned.
He glanced at the last card in his hand, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"With this… I'll be the first to OTK Slifer!"
Yumi: "???"
"I banish Destroyersaurus and Double-Headed Dino King Rex from my Graveyard to Special Summon!"
The two cards rose briefly from his Graveyard slot before dissolving into energy.
"Show yourself, Ultimate Conductor Tyranno!"
A far larger dinosaur descended onto the field, its body a fusion of flesh and machine. Metallic plating reinforced its limbs, and ominous purple orbs glowed across its frame as it released a deep, powerful roar.
[Ultimate Conductor Tyranno, 3500 -> 4100 ATK]
Yumi calmly stares at the two massive dinosaurs glaring down at him, before shifting his gaze back toward Hassleberry, standing across from him.
"Really?" Yumi couldn't help but murmur, seeing that his opponents had wasted all of his cards to summon out two powerful, massive dinosaurs.
Pure brute force.
"Take this, Slifer!" Hassleberry shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "After this duel, I'll be Jaden-aniki's one and only aibo!"
"Battle, go Ultimate Tyranno attack Exosister Karmael!"
The massive dinosaur charged forward, jaws wide, earth cracking beneath its steps.
Yumi just sighed in disappointment.
Although brute force could overwhelm many unprepared opponents, the one standing here wasn't exactly afraid of this style
After all, Yumi and AI Yumi have forced President Kaiba, someone who is known for his brute force style of combat with his three powerful White-Brides, to shift into a more strategic and defensive style just to survive long enough to do something.
And here this idiot thought bigger numbers would be enough to take him down.
"I activate the Trap Card." One of Yumi's face-down cards flipped open. "Mirror Force. When you declare an attack, destroy all Attack Position monsters you control."
A massive luminous barrier formed in front of Yumi's monster, reflecting a radiance, holy white light.
Ultimate Tyranno crashed into the radiant surface.
The mirror shattered outward in a burst of holy light, and both dinosaurs were consumed by it. The holy shockwave expanded across Hassleberry's field, tearing through Ultimate Tyranno and Ultimate Conductor Tyranno alike.
Hassleberry: "..."
He stood there, staring at his completely empty field. Too stunned and mentally kicking himself for walking right into that to do anything.
Yumi looked at him without any change in expression.
"Since you can't do anything else."
He placed his finger on top of his deck as Gibrine's temporary boost faded.
[Exosister Karmael, 3400 -> 2600 ATK]
[Exosister Gibrine, 2200 -> 1400 ATK]
[K9-17 Izuna, 2900 -> 2100 ATK]
Yumi lifted his hand slightly and motioned forward.
"Go. Karmael, Gibrine, Izuna. Direct attack!"
The three women exchanged a brief glance before moving in unison.
Karmael stepped forward first, scarlet hair flowing behind her as she swung her massive magenta blade in a clean arc.
Gibrine followed, raising her rifle and firing a concentrated blast of radiant energy straight ahead.
Izuna dashed forward with sharp precision, spinning once before delivering a clean, metallic kick straight across Hassleberry's face.
The combined assault struck without resistance.
[Hassleberry, LP 4000 -> 0]