"The effect of Scrubbed Raid: The Battle Phase is over!"
The metallic skeleton on Antinomy's field was shattered into particles of golden light, which were then drawn in and absorbed by the trap behind him. A ripple—an overwhelming wave—spread across the board as if an invisible gravity a hundred times normal pulled at every monster, immobilizing them completely.
Both duelists' screens forced an immediate transition to "Main Phase 2".
"You even managed to avoid that move?"
Kira clapped lightly in appreciation. "Impressive. Truly impressive. I think even the Supreme King of my own dimension would acknowledge your strength."
Antinomy said nothing, yet his heart was in turmoil.
That was close.
To think he'd nearly fallen for such a faux-infinite combo. The combo of Marshmallon, the classic stalling monster, and those three endlessly self-looping Continuous Trap Cards... Just bringing out that lineup could lead to an utterly unexpected instant defeat.
Just a moment ago, he had the absolute advantage, confident that victory was in his grasp—only to step into an inescapable trap and suddenly plunge into catastrophe.
Antinomy had never encountered the "Supreme One" Kira referred to, nor did he know whom Kira meant. But just based on that combination, Antinomy got the distinct sense that this "Supreme Duelist" must be terrifying indeed.
Probably not any more "normal" than the one standing before him.
Is this the specialty of their dimension?
Antinomy mused, uncertain.
Is this why their dimension can consistently produce duel kings? Is "Stall and Trap" really the true path of dueling?
Of course, such thoughts only flashed across his mind for an instant.
Antinomy was still one who had set foot upon the King's Path. He who had mastered the supreme Mirror-Like Stillness and Delta Accel Synchro—he was a top-tier duelist even by the standards of his own future age.
One who has already walked so far along their path would not easily change their dueling style, nor take a new walk in another's shoes. At best, witnessing another king's path might inspire or teach him, but would never make him abandon his own.
"No matter what, I will walk my own duel. I'll carve a new path with my own strength!"
Antinomy declared.
"The turn is over."
He took a deep breath.
That combo was indeed dangerous, but the fact remained: Kira only had 300 LP left. All he had on his field was a Marshmallon, while Antinomy still controlled the powerful Blade Blaster—an attacker with piercing abilities.
He was still absolutely ahead.
Kira smiled. "My turn. Draw."
Antinomy turned slightly, watching Kira quietly, equal parts wary and expectant.
Come then, King of Duels!
In such a disadvantage, how will you counter my Blade Blaster?
But after drawing his card, Kira didn't make a move. Instead, he spoke slowly, "You're probably thinking I'm using a trap-heavy deck, reliant exclusively on countering and disrupting with traps to win, aren't you?"
Antinomy kept silent.
He didn't respond, but that was exactly what he'd been thinking.
Kira hadn't summoned a monster since turn one—just set cards and traps. The only strong monster that appeared so far, "Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord," was only Special Summoned through a trap combo, reinforcing Antinomy's diagnosis: he was facing a "Trap Deck" player.
"That's not wrong—
But the core of this deck lies not in traps alone. Or rather: every trap so far has only served as foreshadowing for the true star."
Kira smiled.
Antinomy's eyes widened.
Was everything so far just a prelude?
Suddenly, he had a bad feeling—something major was about to appear.
"Antinomy, you're strong. You truly have the makings of a king. That's why you are worthy—worthy to face this one's power."
Kira spun his Duel Runner's accelerator to the max. The tires burst into virtual flame, the entire bike wrapped in fire as it roared forward.
"This card cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by sending three of your own Trap Cards to the Graveyard.
I send 'Appropriate,' 'Dimension Mirage,' and 'Dimension Sphinx' to the Graveyard!"
The eternal furnace roared—the fires of hellstorm roared to life, sounding the requiem of the phantasm! Awaken!
—The Uria, Lord of Searing Flames!!!"
The sky collapsed into a vortex of crimson, molten energies surging from a void as if all of reality were plunging into a boiling inferno. Fiery, golden fissures crackled across the ground; gusts of sulfuric wind shrieked.
A crimson dragon, over a hundred meters long, rose from the virtual chasm. Its every scale, forged from repeatedly refined black iron, radiated liquid fire from within. Jagged volcanic spines ran down its back, each inhale sending blinding sparks flickering across its body.
The Uria, Lord of Searing Flames—descended!
[Lord of Searing Flames – Uria, ATK: ?]
The oppressive aura of a "Sacred Beast"—a power that surpassed all regular monsters, a divine pressure rolling forth like a tidal wave.
Even Antinomy, facing a Sacred Beast for the first time, felt his synthetic heart stutter just from looking up at the immense red dragon in the sky.
"The legendary Sacred Beast that brings chaos to the world... this is Uria..."
Kira declared, "Uria's ATK becomes 1000 times the number of Trap Cards in my graveyard."
Antinomy: "Nani!?"
Trap Cards × 1000 ATK?
No wonder he called this the "core" of his Trap Deck!
A monster like Uria had to be run in a deck with loads of traps. By constantly blocking the opponent, he'd also be stockpiling traps in his graveyard, gaining raw power.
This is basically the perfect "revenge society" engine!
"At this moment, I have six traps in my graveyard—'Widespread Ruin,' 'Trap Jammer,' 'Damage Condenser,' 'Appropriate,' 'Dimension Mirage,' and 'Dimension Sphinx.'
So, Uria's ATK rises!"
[Uria, ATK: ? → 6000]
"Six thousand attack!?"
Antinomy was genuinely unsettled.
"And that's not all," Kira pressed. "Uria's effect—
Trap Destruction!"
Uria unleashed a roar—an invisible sonic wave swept toward Antinomy's backrow.
"Uria destroys all Trap Cards on your field!"
A fresh wave of panic swept over Antinomy.
All trap cards—whether set or face-up, wiped out. Even Scrubbed Raid couldn't save him this turn.
All of his traps—gone!
…