"So that person is Kevin Seth?"
Oga Slint had only heard the name a few days ago, when he happened to run into Miles.
At the time, he cared far more about Luca's situation and hadn't paid Miles' words much attention.
However, fate seemed determined to make their paths cross—no matter how far they each traveled, they were destined to face each other on Synchron Academy's grand dueling stage.
Even if Oga hadn't cared then, one thing Miles had said etched itself deeply into his memory:
"You're not even fit to walk in Kevin's shadow."
"That guy doesn't understand anything!" Oga muttered, displeased.
Even if their families shared similar tragic histories, the Seth family now and the Slint family then were in totally different circumstances.
"The Seth family… I heard they were involved in the Capital War too?"
After Takehiko announced the duelists, countless murmurs surged through the spectators.
"What kind of matchup is this? Putting two families that nearly triggered a war into a Turbo Duel?"
"Shhh, keep your voice down. The Seth family still holds the rank of Duke in Livorden."
The biggest difference between the two families was simple—Slint had been stripped of power and status in the Varian Empire.
A fallen noble family had no authority left. Commoners could vent their resentment freely by blaming Oga.
Meanwhile, publicly criticizing the Seth family—or their former patriarch Reigun Seth's atrocities—was something no one dared.
"Don't overthink it, Oga." Leon, the reliable big brother figure, slapped his back. "Just do what you believe is right."
"What I believe is right… I know, Leon."
As the one carrying XYZ Academy's hopes for the final victory, Oga's resolve wouldn't be shaken by Kevin's arrival.
Mounting his D-Wheel and loading the Spirit Eyes with a deck brimming with divine power, Oga sped forward, pulling up beside Kevin at the starting line.
"So it's you—the coward of the Slint family."
Kevin's very first words ignited sparks.
Everything he knew about the Slint family came from Kaima Seth—"coward" included.
Yet despite never caring about Duelists other than Miles, Kevin had remembered Oga's name.
Because they were two people with similar fates… and utterly different responses to that fate.
"Coward? Kevin Seth, what do you mean by that?!"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Someone who fears everything—even his own name. Is there anyone more cowardly than that?"
"I simply acknowledged the sins the Slint family committed. But you, Kevin Seth—do you feel no guilt at all for the crimes of the Seth family?"
If this had been any other duel, like the one against Ren, Oga would've apologized to his opponent out of guilt.
However, this time, toward a Seth, he felt no need to apologize.
"Of course I do. If regret counts as guilt, then I regret deeply—not beating that criminal father of mine into the ground sooner!"
"Kevin Seth, you…!"
Absolutely different.
Oga didn't dare rebel against his grandfather, the former Imperial Marshal, while Kevin had already broken from his tyrant father back during the Fusion Academy Festival.
Everything had changed after Kevin dueled Miles… and then fought alongside him.
"Enough talking. If you're a Duelist—Oga Slint, show me your conviction!"
"With a duel?" Oga's eyes narrowed.
If the disgraced heir of the Slint family still had anything left… it was his belief in dueling. The one thing he would never lose.
"You won't beat me, Kevin Seth!"
"The one who'll lose… is you!"
The tension surged until Takehik's voice finally announced the start.
As the Field Spell Speed World – Novel activated and spread over the arena, Oga and Kevin bolted forward like twin black arrows.
"Kevin Seth—this duel, I will NOT lose!"
Pouring every ounce of resentment and resolve into his D-Wheel, Oga accelerated with reckless intensity, prompting Kevin to frown slightly.
"I'll take the first turn!" Oga leaned into the curve. "My turn—draw!"
He scanned his opening hand and locked in his strategy.
The roar that shattered the earth returned—True King destruction descending.
"I activate the effect of True King Lithosagym, the Disaster from my hand!"
[During your Main Phase: Destroy 2 monsters in your hand and/or face-up on your field, including an EARTH monster; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
"I destroy another True King Lithosagym, the Disaster and True King Bahrastos, the Fathomer in my hand to Special Summon it!"
[True King Lithosagym, the Disaster] Level 9│EARTH│Wyrm│2500 ATK / 2300 DEF
The earth-shaking Wyrm returned—and the two destroyed True Kings in the Graveyard activated their effects.
"Effect of True King Bahrastos, the Fathomer! When destroyed—I Special Summon 1 non-WATER Wyrm from my Deck! I Special Summon the wind phantom dragon—Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix!"
[Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix] Level 9│WIND│Wyrm│2700 ATK / 2100 DEF
Wings spread through a storm of wind—the majestic True King phoenix descended.
"Next! The effect of the destroyed True King Lithosagym, the Disaster! When destroyed—I Special Summon a non-EARTH Wyrm from the Graveyard! I revive True King Bahrastos, the Fathomer!"
[True King Bahrastos, the Fathomer] Level 9│WATER│Wyrm│1800 ATK / 3000 DEF
Tidal waters surged across the field as the water Wyrm arose.
"All that… in an instant?!" Kevin muttered as Oga's three Level 9 Wyrms glared at him.
He understood now… this duel wouldn't be easy.
And it shouldn't be. On the final day, only the strongest Duelists from each academy would appear.
Oga swung his arm—an overlay network burst forth, linking sky and earth.
"I overlay the WIND and WATER True Kings! Phantom dragons who command chaos—distort all laws and rewrite the world! Rank 9 Xyz Summon! True King of All Calamities!!"
[True King of All Calamities] Rank 9│DARK│Wyrm│3000 ATK / 3000 DEF]
[2+ Level 9 monsters]
Two Phantom Dragons of different attributes overlay into the strongest Phantom Dragon, the True King capable of sealing everything.
And Oga still had 1 EARTH-attribute Calamity Phantom Dragon on his field.
An even more terrifying Ten-Lake opening than the duel against Ren. Facing Kevin, Oga Slint was unleashing his full power for the first time in ages.
"I set 1 card and end my turn!"
"He may be a coward who doesn't dare face his own fate, but I can't deny it… his dueling is strong."
The D-Wheels shifted positions. Kevin drew from his Spirit Eyes as his turn began.
[Kevin SPC: 0→1]
[Oga SPC: 0→1]
The Field Spell "Speed World – Novel" increased both players' Speed Counters as the turns advanced.
Seeing the SPC jump, Miles suddenly realized something. He didn't know whether Kevin's Deck included any Speed Spells.
However, with the Seth family's wealth—if they'd already prepared a D-Wheel for Kevin in advance—then just a few Speed Spells would be no problem at all.
Timing it perfectly as Kevin drew and entered his Standby Phase, Oga swept his hand and activated the True King's effect.
"Twist the order of attributes and seal everything—True King!"
[Once per turn: detach 1 Xyz Material; declare 1 Attribute. Until the end of the turn, all face-up monsters on the field become the declared Attribute. Monsters your opponent controls of the declared Attribute cannot activate their effects and cannot attack. This effect can be activated during your opponent's turn.]
"The Attribute I declare is DARK!"
A precise declaration—directly locking down the Attribute most common in Kevin's Black Dragon Deck.
After declaring DARK, not only could the monsters on the field not activate effects, Kevin couldn't activate the effects of any Black Dragon cards in his hand or Graveyard.
Ren said in surprise, "Did Oga Slint know Kevin's Deck beforehand?"
Normally, seeing that ridiculous Blue-Eyes White Dragon Airship, anyone would at least test LIGHT first.
For example, in his duel against Ren, Oga had sealed LIGHT by declaring it with the True King.
"Ah!" Miles suddenly remembered. This really was his fault.
"'Kevin's monsters are nothing more than ordinary Black Dragons.'"
A few days ago, at the Magic Workshop, when he ran into Oga by chance, Miles had mentioned that Kevin used Black Dragons.
"I set you up, Kevin!"
Miles's guilt now felt heavier than even Kevin's guilt for the Reigun crimes.
"Playing that trick, huh? But good thing I'm a step ahead!"
Also, during the Standby Phase, Kevin chained to the True King's effect, throwing out a Quick-Play Spell.
"—Quick-Play Spell Card "Forbidden Chalice" activate!"
[Target 1 face-up monster on the field; until the end of the turn, that monster gains 400 Attack and its effects are negated.
"Boost True King by 400 Attack and negate its effect!"
[True King of All Calamities, ATK: 3000 → 3400] (effect negated)
At this critical moment, he pulled out the Chalice to counter the True King's effect. Even if this gave Oga's confidently face-up True King more Attack, at least Kevin could still battle this turn.
"I'll break through with this card!"
Accelerating fiercely, Kevin held the card between his fingers, the D-Wheel's black flames leaving blazing trails across the track as he caught up to Oga Slint.
"—Spell Card "Red-Eyes Fusion" activate!"
[You can only activate 1 of this card per turn. The turn you activate this card, you cannot Summon monsters except by this card's effect. Send Fusion Materials listed on a Fusion Monster that requires "Red-Eyes" monsters as material from your hand, Deck, or field to the Graveyard, then Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck. A monster Special Summoned by this effect is treated as "Red-Eyes Black Dragon".
A Fusion card exclusive to Red-Eyes, able to choose materials directly from the Deck.
If the ultimate height of Fusion Summoning was Super Polymerization using the opponent's monsters—
Then the other extreme was Fusion Summoning using monsters from your own Deck.
"From my Deck, I fuse "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" with "Meteor Dragon Red-Eyes Impact"!"
From within the Deck, the two dragons burning with black flame soared through the sky, colliding high above and exploding into a meteor that shook the entire arena.
"A raging meteor falling from the heavens—burn this battlefield of speed!—Fusion Summon "Meteor Black Comet Dragon"!"
[Meteor Black Comet Dragon] Level 8│DARK│Dragon│3500 ATK
[Materials: Level 7 "Red-Eyes" monster + Level 6 Dragon]
Meteor Black Comet Dragon descended onto the Turbo Duel track, its pitch-black heat wave surging mercilessly toward the parallel-riding Oga Slint.
"Effect of "Meteor Black Comet Dragon" activate!"
[If this card is Fusion Summoned: send 1 "Red-Eyes" monster from your hand or Deck to the Graveyard; inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's original Attack.]
"From my Deck, I send "Red-Eyes Thunder King" (Attack: 2500) to the Graveyard and deal you half its Attack as damage. Fall—"Meteor Inferno"!!"
Using a Red-Eyes monster as the ammunition, he called down a meteor shower from the blazing heavens.
Meteor Black Comet Dragon's opening strike, like Kevin's fierce determination, shook the earth—its scorching fragments bursting outward with the meteor's crash.
[Oga Slint, LP: 4000 → 2750]
Oga's Life Points dropped, and at the same time, Kevin—riding upon Meteor Black Comet Dragon—accelerated straight into the Battle Phase.
"Crush the True King, Meteor Black Comet Dragon!—'Roar of Starfire'!!"
The dragon's burning claws tore through the air, falling meteors and blazing fire weaving together into an explosive wave of draconic flame.
Even after taking a Forbidden Chalice, which raised the True King's Attack to 3400, Meteor Black Comet Dragon still had the higher Attack at 3500.
[Oga Slint, LP: 2750 → 2650]
As the overwhelmingly oppressive boss of the True King Deck, the fact that the True King of All Calamities was defeated so easily—and with heavy LP pressure on Oga as a bonus—was shocking.
"That's it, Kevin!" Ren cheered excitedly.
The Black Dragon's fierce assault had broken through the True King. If Oga couldn't stall the duel, there was a chance Kevin could win before Oga drew the infinite-Attack Divine Serpent Geh.
That was Kevin's highest-probability win condition.
If Oga managed to assemble the same infinite Life Point recovery combo he used against Ren, then Kevin—who prepared no counter cards and refused the possibility of using God Cards—would be completely helpless.
"I set 1 card and end my turn!"
"During your End Phase, I activate my set Trap!"
Having lost his True King, Oga flipped his insurance card.
"—Continuous Trap Card 'True King's Return'!"
[Once per turn: target 1 "True Draco" or "True King" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Defense Position. After activating this card, you cannot Special Summon monsters until the end of the turn.
"I revive, True King Bahrastos, the Fathomer, in Defense Position!"
[True King Bahrastos, the Fathomer, DEF: 3000]
A Continuous revival Trap—its effect somewhat similar to Miles's 'Court of Cards'. Once activated, it could revive a True King monster every turn.
And a Level 9 Phantom Dragon's combat power far surpassed that of a Level 4 Poker Knight.
"My turn—draw!"
The D-Wheels shifted. As Oga Slint drew his card, a gleam flashed through his eyes.
[Oga, SPC: 1 → 2]
[Kevin, SPC: 1 → 2]
"I Normal Summon Rescue Rabbit in Defense Position!"
[Rescue Rabbit] Level 4│EARTH│Beast│300 ATK
A Level 4 monster with virtually no combat capability—Rescue Rabbit looked completely out of place next to the two monstrous Phantom Dragons.
"Then I activate Rescue Rabbit's effect!"
[Banish this face-up card you control; Special Summon 2 Level 4 or lower Normal Monsters with the same name from your Deck. Destroy them during the End Phase.]
"I banish Rescue Rabbit and Special Summon two Level 4 Phantom Dragons—'Mystery Shell Dragon'—from my Deck!"
[Mystery Shell Dragon] Level 4│DARK│Dragon│2000 ATK 0 DEF
A Level 4 monster with 2000 Attack—but clearly, Oga didn't summon them for mere attack power.
"I overlay my two Level 4 Phantom Dragons! Xyz Summon the Rank 4—'King of the Feral Imps'!"
[King of the Feral Imps] Rank 4│DARK│Reptile│2300 ATK
Materials: 2 Level 4 monsters
Switching from Phantom Dragons to a Reptile-type Xyz Monster—its appearance sent a sudden wave of dread crashing into Miles.
"Effect of King of the Feral Imps—detach 1 Xyz Material; add 1 Reptile monster from your Deck to your hand!"
Oga Slint had achieved his goal.
If he couldn't draw it directly… he would simply search it by Type.
"This is bad!"
Everyone saw exactly what was coming…except Kevin, who was in the duel.
"The Reptile monster I add from my Deck is—Divine Serpent Geh!"
The moment he took the card into his hand, a massive, terrifying black serpent silhouette exploded behind Oga, coiling over the Turbo Duel track.
"What is… this feeling?! It's because of that card, isn't it?!"
Even without knowing what was happening, the monstrous, law-defying shadow of the serpent radiated crushing pressure never felt before.
"Battle—King of the Feral Imps, attack Meteor Black Comet Dragon!"
A suicide attack—Oga deliberately sacrificed the now-useless Xyz Monster.
"Counterattack, Meteor Black Comet Dragon!—'Roar of Starfire'!!"
[Oga Slint, LP: 2650 → 1450]
The impact held no suspense—Meteor Black Comet Dragon effortlessly shattered the Reptile Xyz Monster, further reducing Oga's Life Points.
But this time, everyone knew Kevin had stepped right into the trap of infinite power.
Oga Slint raised the card he had searched this turn, pouring it into the colossal shadow of the serpent god looming behind him.
"When a monster on my field is destroyed, I pay half my Life Points to Special Summon 'Divine Serpent Geh' from my hand!"
[Oga Slint, LP: 1450 → 725]
Lowering his already dangerous Life Points even further in exchange for infinite power, Oga Slint, riding atop his D-Wheel, had his pupils swallowed entirely by ominous darkness.
"I Special Summon! The planet-devouring serpent! Reveal your titanic form and grant me absolute victory—Divine Serpent Geh!"
[Divine Serpent Geh] Level 12│DIVINE│Reptile│∞ ATK ∞ DEF
Its Attack and Defense were both infinite. That towering black pillar that connected heaven and earth was none other than the impossibly massive body of Divine Serpent Geh.
"A monster with infinite Attack?"
Only now did Kevin realize why the surrounding crowd had reacted in such shock.
"Oga Slint… so this is your trump card? Such evil power—you're carrying a far greater sin than anyone else, aren't you?"
"Only this sin, the darkness of the Orichalcos, can become my true power! Continue the battle—direct attack, Serpent God! Infinite Attack!"
"…Oh?"
Kevin's expression grew tense. Something was wrong.
If Oga Slint were truly someone who could shoulder such immense Orichalcos darkness, then why would he have fallen so easily under the weight of mere family guilt?
Something here didn't add up.
"Don't just stand there, Kevin!" Miles shouted from the sidelines through Aisha's voice. "Infinite Attack is coming!!"
"So I can only find the truth through battle, huh?!"
Hearing Miles's voice, Kevin made up his mind—to uncover the secret buried within Oga Slint through his own style of fighting.
A wandering soul?
Exactly like himself.
Before meeting Miles, Kevin also had been like a solitary boat lost on an endless sea, unable to find the right direction.
Nonetheless, now, with a future clearer than anyone else's, Kevin chose to do what Miles once did.
"I'll use this card! Unleash here—the infinite potential of the Black Dragon!—Trap Card 'Red-Eyes Fang with Chain'!"
[Target 1 "Red-Eyes" monster you control; equip this card to it. It can make up to 2 attacks on monsters during each Battle Phase.]
"I equip the Trap Card 'Red-Eyes Fang with Chain'—now treated as an Equip Card—onto Meteor Black Comet Dragon!"
Because Meteor Black Comet Dragon was Fusion Summoned using Red-Eyes Fusion, its name is treated as Red-Eyes Black Dragon, allowing it to equip Red-Eyes Fang with Chain.
Black dragon-shaped chain fangs wrapped themselves around the blazing draconic body of Meteor Black Comet Dragon.
"At a time like this, in front of infinite Attack, an Equip Card that just grants two attacks is meaningless!"
Oga declared his assault. In the sky, the colossal serpent's body coiled downward, so massive it blocked out the sun.
"—'Extinction Venom Breath'!!"
With infinite Attack—power enough to obliterate a planet—the serpent's roar blasted toward the flaming Meteor Black Comet Dragon.
"Got you!" Kevin thrust his fist toward the sky.
At the same time, the black dragon chains encircling Meteor Black Comet Dragon sprang to life, bursting outward to bind the massive serpent body that eclipsed even the sun.
"Nani?!"
"The other effect of Red-Eyes Fang with Chain!"
[Send this equipped card to the Graveyard; target 1 Effect Monster on the field. Equip that monster to the monster this card was previously equipped to. As long as that monster is equipped, the equipped monster gains the Attack and Defense of the equipped monster.]
"I send Red-Eyes Fang with Chain to the Graveyard and choose Divine Serpent Geh on the field—equipping it to Meteor Black Comet Dragon instead!"
In this moment of crisis against infinite Attack, Kevin unleashed the perfect countermeasure—binding the Serpent God's infinite power with the chains of the Black Dragon.
"Now that Divine Serpent Geh is equipped to Meteor Black Comet Dragon—its Attack also becomes infinite!!"
[Meteor Black Comet Dragon, ATK: 3500 → ∞]
The strongest Black Dragon in history was born—its flames erupting skyward, surpassing all limits.
"Oga Slint… whatever you're hiding, I'll dive straight into this infinite power and uncover it myself!"
At that moment, with Divine Serpent Geh captured as an Equip Card, the darkness surrounding Oga Slint spread and wrapped around Kevin as well.
...
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