Trap Card "King's Soul Harmony" is a Trap Card that can Synchro Summon directly from the Graveyard when an opponent's monster makes a direct attack.
"Kevin... since when did he know how to Synchro Summon?" Ren was surprised, with a few complicated feelings in her voice.
Among the members of Fusion Academy here, it seemed that only Ren herself still only knew how to Fusion Summon.
Of course, aside from first-year Lishia.
Miles said, "Kevin mastering Synchro Summoning was only a matter of time. I've always believed he could break through his limits!"
During his second duel with Miles, Kevin had already shown that potential.
Kevin's unwavering ultimate goal was to become the strongest Duelist. And to truly walk the path of the strongest, Miles had already made it clear in that duel:
He could not remain stagnant. He had to try mastering every Summoning method.
With Kevin's personality, even if he didn't say it out loud, he would attempt every possibility that could make him stronger—every word Miles said.
An overly hardworking ordinary man—that was the potential represented by the Black Dragon.
Ren wondered, "But Synchro Summoning requires a Tuner Monster, right? In Kevin's Graveyard... oh, it was that Angel Baton, wasn't it?"
The "Speed Spell - Angel Baton" Kevin activated last turn had already sent the crucial Tuner Monster straight to the Graveyard without anyone noticing.
"I banish my 2-star Tuner Monster 'Ghost Charon, the Underworld Boatman' and my Level 6 'Meteor Dragon Red-Eyes Impact' from the Graveyard—total Level 8! Harmony of the King's Soul!"
A Synchro aura of burning black flames pierced through Meteor Dragon, calling forth a Synchro Dragon that could counter three layers of infinite Attack.
2★! + 6★! = 8★!
"Dragon of endless darkness, connect the infinite and block the gods with your immortal body! Synchro Summon—Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons!"
[Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons] Level 8│DARK│Dragon│3000 ATK
From the pitch-black flames of the Black Dragon's Synchro, the two dragon heads of "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" appeared, one on each side, holding back Oga Slint's two infinite-Attack Phantasmal Dragons.
"I Synchro Summon 'Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons' in Defense Position, and this card's effect is—"
[Cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. If you take damage from an attack involving this card, or from an opponent's card effect: This card gains ATK equal to the damage you took.]
With immunity to both battle and effect destruction, the dragon stood in Defense Position in the middle of the track. Not even triple infinite Attack power could break through it.
"Synchro Summon Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons?" Oga Slint's brows furrowed. "Your so-called way of fighting—slaying gods—is this pathetic stalling tactic, Kevin Seth?"
Using "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" as a shield, continuing the Turbo Duel even under triple infinite Attack, Kevin simply replied with a stern sentence:
"You will lose to me, coward."
"You said I would lose?"
Oga Slint's cheek twitched heavily. He could not imagine any scenario where he, with infinite Life Points, could lose.
"Don't delude yourself into challenging a god, Kevin Seth! When you Special Summon a monster, 'Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula' deals you another 600 damage!"
[Kevin, LP: 3400 → 2800]
"When I take damage, 'Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons's' effect triggers! This card's Attack increases by the amount of damage I took!"
[Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons, ATK: 3000 → 3600]
"No matter how much you increase fixed numbers, before the infinite, it's still meaningless!"
Even if Kevin summoned an indestructible "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" to stall, Oga Slint still held a guaranteed finishing tactic—direct damage.
As long as he drew "Catapult Turtle", it would be an instant-kill with infinite damage.
And with infinite Life Points, even without a topdeck, Oga had all the time he needed to wait for "Catapult Turtle".
"I absolutely won't lose to you, Kevin Seth!"
Oga Slint roared with rage, not even understanding himself why his emotions were so intense when facing this man.
Because they were too similar, yet completely different?
What Oga Slint saw in Kevin Seth seemed to be another version of himself—one who walked a totally different path.
"Only dueling! Only the final meaning of existence! I can't lose! During the End Phase, with the effect of my Continuous Trap Card 'True King's Return', I Special Summon Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix in Defense Position!"
[Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix, DEF: ∞]
Four monsters with infinite stats now stood on Oga Slint's field. And with his own infinite Life Points—five layers of infinity.
This was the field Oga Slint left for Kevin Seth.
Takehiko: "This is truly despair! In the first Turbo Duel of the Championship Day, Fusion Academy is being forced into a hopeless corner by five layers of infinity! Could Fusion Academy really be losing their chance at the championship this year?!"
With the three academies currently tied in score, to claim the title, they absolutely needed two victories today.
Losing the first match would almost certainly mean losing the championship.
"Even in a hopeless battle, I'll burn open a crack with the Black Dragon's flames! Because I have a reason I absolutely cannot lose here!"
He carried the academy's hope for victory, the hope of breaking the curse of Fusion never winning—and most importantly, before the duel started, Miles had told him:
"Kevin, with you here, we have a chance to win to the end!"
"A promise between men can break even gods! My turn—draw!"
As the riders switched, Kevin Seth's final draw in this hopeless situation blazed with fire into the sky.
Spell Card "Inferno Fire Blast".
One turn too late. If Kevin had drawn "Inferno Fire Blast" last turn, he could have ended the duel before Oga raised his Life Points to infinite.
"No... it came at the perfect time!"
Kevin slid the burning "Inferno Fire Blast" into his D-Wheel's slot. The remaining four cards in the slot were the capital for his counterattack against godhood.
[Kevin SPC: 4 → 5]
[Oga SPC: 4 → 5]
"—Spell Card activate: 'Creature Swap'!"
[Each player chooses 1 monster they control and switches control of those monsters with each other. Those monsters cannot change their battle positions for the rest of this turn.]
A Spell Card that swaps control of monsters; however, each duelist chooses which monster to give.
"Of course I choose my only monster—'Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons'!"
"Then I choose my Defense Position 'Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix'!"
A clean exchange of control. Albeit once the wind-aspected Phantasmal Dragon came to Kevin's field, without the continuous aura granted by "Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula", it returned to its original Attack.
And in exchange, the "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" transferred to Oga Slint gained both infinite Attack and Defense.
Kevin's remaining hand: 3 cards.
"Next—'Speed Spell - Level Bump', activate!"
[Can only be activated when you have 4 or more Speed Counters. Roll a die; based on the result, all monsters you control apply one of the following effects:
●1-2: Their Levels decrease by 2.
●3-4: Their Levels decrease by 3.
●5-6: Their Levels decrease by 4.
A monster's Level cannot be reduced below 1.]
The Speed Spell Card Miles once used in the final battle against the Earthbound Immortal. The star-marked die spinning in the sky would decide the outcome.
Die result: 1
[Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix, Level 9 → Level 7]
Aisha: "He lowered the Level of the monster he took from the opponent? What is Kevin planning?"
"I see... Kevin!" As his rival, Miles immediately understood Kevin's intent. "So it's not just Synchro Summoning—well done, Kevin!"
Kevin's remaining hand: 2 cards
"I activate the effect of 'Red-Eyes Black Meteor Dragon' in my hand!"
[You can send 1 Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from your hand or Deck to the Graveyard to Special Summon this card from your hand. Then, this card gains 1 Level.]
"I send the Level 6 Normal Monster 'Meteor Dragon' from my Deck to the Graveyard, Special Summon 'Red-Eyes Black Meteor Dragon' from my hand, and increase its Level by 1!"
[Red-Eyes Black Meteor Dragon, Level 6 → Level 7│DARK│Dragon│2000 ATK]
The newly born Black Dragon soared into the Turbo Duel track, igniting a new possibility of summoning with its black flames.
"When you Special Summon a monster, the effect of 'Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula' deals you 600 damage again!"
[Kevin, LP: 2800 → 2200]
The black flames burning on the D-Wheel tore through the spiderweb without hindering Kevin's riding at all. He thrust his arm forward and finally overlaid.
"I overlay my two Level 7 monsters—'Mariamne, the True Dracophoenix' and 'Red-Eyes Black Meteor Dragon'—to build the Overlay Network!"
"An Xyz Summon?!" The arena erupted in shock, including Oga Slint, who felt the eruption of Kevin's Xyz black flame up close.
Fusion Academy had long proven itself—the academy that fuses all summoning methods.
Miles had shown Synchro. Ren had shown Fusion. Irena had shown Xyz.
Nonetheless, only Kevin, here on the Turbo Duel track, truly accomplished it—unleashing all three summoning methods in one duel.
Aisha said in disbelief, "This is just like... Mr. Miles when he dueled Kevin!"
Kevin and Miles's second fated duel had been the same. Miles had been the first to demonstrate the power of mastering all three summoning methods at once.
Yet with only that single duel, Kevin had caught up.
The three paths toward becoming the strongest—all possibilities bloomed fully on Kevin Seth.
"The summoning of destiny burns open the path of hope! With the flames of the Black Dragon, shatter the gods! Xyz Summon! Rank 7—'Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon'!"
[Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon] Rank 7│DARK│Dragon│2800 ATK
[2 Level 7 Monsters]
"Roooaar!!"
Clad in steel armor, the blazing Black Dragon spread its wings as it burst forth from the flames of the Xyz Summon.
"When you Special Summon, you must still take the effect damage from 'Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula'!"
[Kevin, LP: 2200 → 1600]
No matter how many times the massive spiderweb of effect damage fell, no matter how many Life Points Kevin lost, the raging black flame never once slowed him.
"I activate the effect of 'Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon'!"
[Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 'Red-Eyes' Normal Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it. This is a Quick Effect.]
"With the roar of steel and flame, I call forth the original Black Dragon—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon│2400 ATK]
[Kevin, LP: 1600 → 1000]
Kevin's ace, Red-Eyes Black Dragon, was Special Summoned once more, burning away the spiderweb again.
And in Kevin's hand, gripped tightly, was the final card he had prepared especially for Red-Eyes Black Dragon—the Spell Card "Inferno Fire Blast".
"My formula for victory is complete, Oga Slint!"
"You say your victory is complete?"
Oga looked at the two Black Dragons on Kevin's field, then at the four monsters with infinite Attack on his own field—and his infinite Life Points.
"You're dreaming, Kevin Seth!"
"The flame that slays gods only needs one last card to fully ignite!"
Kevin flung forward the flaming card at his fingertips—the final Spell Card.
"—Spell Card 'Inferno Fire Blast', release!"
[The turn this card is activated, 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' cannot attack. Target 1 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' you control; inflict damage equal to its original Attack to your opponent.]
Effect damage equal to Red-Eyes Black Dragon's Attack. 2400 direct damage—under normal conditions, it would be terrifying in a 4000 LP format.
But Oga Slint's Life Points were infinite.
Even 2400 points of effect damage from Inferno Fire Blast could not touch him.
"That level of Attack is nothing, Kevin Seth!"
"I hope you can still say that in a moment!"
Kevin pointed toward the monster on Oga's field that originally belonged to him—Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons.
"When you take damage, Beelze's effect must activate and its Attack increases by the amount of damage taken!"
A forced activation effect—once the conditions are met, it must activate regardless of the controller's will.
"So its Attack increases by the damage amount—so what?"
"Heh. It means you've already lost, Oga Slint! This is the final effect of 'Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon'—the effect that conquers infinity!"
[As long as this card has Xyz Material, whenever your opponent activates a card or effect, inflict 500 damage to your opponent.]
"With the effect of Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon, I hit you with another 500 damage! Explode—Red-Eyes Flare Burst!"
500 effect damage burst forth with a storm of black flames sweeping over Oga Slint's D-Wheel.
Though the damage was far less than the Inferno Fire Blast, and meaningless against infinite Life Points…
Oga Slint's expression suddenly changed.
Down in the stands, Miles shot to his feet, unable to contain his excitement: "It connected!!"
"What connected, Mr. Miles?!"
"It connected—with infinity!!"
Since Oga Slint took damage again, Beelze's forced effect activated once more, increasing its Attack.
And because Beelze's forced effect activated on Oga's field, Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon triggered again—dealing another 500 damage.
Then Beelze increased its Attack again.
Then Flare Metal dealt damage again.
...…
"A loop!" Eyes wide, Leon Gate of XYZ Academy finally seemed to realize what was happening on the field. "A loop… it's entered an infinite state!"
An infinite loop! Infinite chaining! Infinite loops without end!
The moment Kevin detonated his last Spell Card, "Inferno Fire Blast", the infinite burn loop of "Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon" was achieved.
As long as both "Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon" and "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" remained on the field, Oga Slint would continue taking endless repetitions of 500 effect damage—until his Life Points reached zero.
500+500+500+500+500+500… = ∞
"Take this, Oga Slint!"
Racing at full speed, Kevin roared his declaration—not of one god-slaying strike, but of countless god-slaying strikes.
"Red-Eyes Flare Burst!! One burst! Two bursts! Three bursts! Four bursts! Five bursts! … And—!!"
"—Red-Eyes Flare Burst: Infinite Volley!!!"
The sky above the Turbo Duel was now packed full of blazing scarlet flares—steel-red explosions in quantities equal to infinity.
It was entirely one-sided brutality. Bombarded by infinite Flare Bursts without a single gap, Oga Slint could no longer even maintain basic riding control.
"N-No-No way! Impossible! There's no way something like this can happen!"
Engulfed in black flames, Oga Slint stared in disbelief at his endlessly flickering infinite Life Points, then at Kevin Seth riding forward like a shadow of the Black Dragon itself.
"A God Card! Infinite divine power! Am I… am I losing to this… to this chain of ordinary monster effects?!"
"This is the way mortals slay gods!"
After losing to "The Wicked Avatar", bedridden and unable to move during recovery, Kevin had replayed the battle in his mind countless times.
And he had finally completed it.
"This technique… was originally meant for you, Miles!"
"For me? That's pretty ruthless of you, Kevin."
Watching Oga Slint being blasted by infinity itself, even Miles couldn't help but shiver.
Terrifying. With Kevin's belief strong enough to defy even gods… perhaps one day, he truly would become the strongest.
Regardless, in this moment, Miles could only feel grateful.
Having Kevin Seth as a teammate was simply too reliable.
"Kevin! I'll say it again! Because you're here—we actually have a chance to win all the way to the end!"
Miles shouted at the very top of his lungs toward the Turbo Duel arena.
"Go! Win this duel and break the curse, Kevin!!"
"This is… the end!"
High in the sky, countless Flare Bursts began to converge—infinity condensing into one.
Oga, unable to even maintain basic riding anymore, had already had his fate decided in a clash of infinity versus infinity.
"Oga Slint! A duel isn't an excuse to run away from your fate—it's a way to carve open your future! Grit your teeth and wake up!"
The infinite-as-one "Red-Eyes Flare Burst" gathered above like a massive, blazing crimson sun—then dropped onto the completely defeated Oga Slint.
"Fall—! Big Bang: Solar Flare Burst—!!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!"
Swallowed whole by the blazing sun-like impact, Oga took the attack directly to the face. His infinite power—ultimately shattered by Kevin, who never once relied on a God Card.
[Oga Slint, LP: ∞ → 0]
"My name is Kevin Seth! Far from a genius, but today I have slain a god!"
Turbo Duel Final Match: Fusion Academy takes 1 win!
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]