"Infinite attack power, infinite destruction of monsters..."
If he weren't a robot, Alpha might have already started swallowing nervously.
The calm yellow-clad figure before him seemed increasingly abstract and terrifying in his eyes. Under the hazy moonlight, combined with the ominous, infinitely attacking giant puppet on his field, it looked almost like a ghost.
Is this person really just a student? Alpha wondered in his mind.
Can I really defeat such an opponent?
No, before that...
Could it be that my father, who entrusted me with the task of "bringing back this person," actually has some issue with me?
"Set one card face-down, turn ends," said Yugen.
Only then did Alpha snap back to reality.
No, that's not right.
Father trusts me. He's studied all of Seto Kaiba's duels, all of his tactics. The reason he sent me here is because he believes in my capabilities.
And I will absolutely not betray that trust.
"My turn, draw a card!"
Alpha's gaze was resolute.
So what if it's infinite? Watch me push through!
"In the preparation phase, activate the cover card, speed attack magic 'Emergency Food'. Send 'Nightmare Mirage Tower' to the graveyard, and I recover 1000 life points."
[Alpha, LP 4000 → LP 5000]
Yugen watched calmly.
Wow, it's actually Emergency Food, totally didn't see that coming...
"Next, the effect of 'Arc Light Brave Dragon' in the graveyard!" Alpha said. "During the next preparation phase after this card is sent to the graveyard, I can special summon another seven or eight-star Dragon Race monster from the graveyard.
The card I will resurrect is this one..."
He raised his arm high.
"Be reborn in black flame! Level seven, Dark Flame Dragon!"
The dark flame erupted, enveloping the great dragon, which rose from the vortex of the Netherworld, wings unfurled.
[Dark Flame Dragon, Attack Power 1200]
"The effect of Dark Flame Dragon: when this card is successfully special summoned from the graveyard, its attack power doubles!"
[Dark Flame Dragon, Attack Power 1200 → Attack Power 2400]
"Of course, even standing before a Magic Manipulated Puppet with infinite attack power, it's still not much... You must be thinking that, right?
But the power of my Dragon Race is not limited to this!"
He played another magic card.
"Magic card 'Demon's Sanctuary', special summon a 'Metal Demon Derivative' to your field!"
[Metal Demon Derivative, Attack Power 0]
"Then use 'Metal Demon Derivative' as a sacrifice for an upper-level summon!
Level six, 'Gravity Strike Dragon'!"
[Gravity Strike Dragon, Attack Power 2400]
"The effect of Gravity Strike Dragon: send a face-up Continuous Magic card on your field to the graveyard, and choose one monster on the opponent's field to destroy!"
Alpha pulled out the card from the duel disc's slot.
"Send the Continuous Magic 'Giant Dragon God's Relics' to the graveyard, destroy the 'Magic Manipulated Puppet'!"
The ancient dragon sculpture shattered into dust, and the waves of gravity erupted. Even the infinitely powerful Magic Manipulated Puppet couldn't resist the gravitational attack, crumbling under the invisible force.
"Hahaha! See? This is the power I've used to surpass infinity!"
Having overcome the infinite attack monstrosity, Alpha laughed heartily.
"My father trusts me, and I will respond to that trust no matter what, no matter how many times! The power Seto Kaiba has, I have too!"
Yugen shook his head.
"So you said you've studied all his duels, all his strategies, and this is all you've learned? Is the suppression of absolute power just this?"
"What?" Alpha frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, your artificial 'intelligence' doesn't seem very 'intelligent', not much different from blindly mimicking third or fourth-rate duelists."
"What are you saying..."
Alpha was about to erupt in anger but suddenly thought of something and restrained himself.
"Heh, almost fell for your trick. Indeed, the intel said you're the type who excels at psychological manipulation, enjoying tormenting opponents both mentally and through duels. But I won't fall for your ploy..."
Yugen had a peculiar expression.
Who wrote that review? It's downright slander.
I'm not that evil, am I?
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to follow your rhythm!"
Alpha paused and spoke to himself in a low voice.
"If you're watching, Father, please witness the power I have gained. I will not disappoint you..."
He raised his head firmly.
"Battle Phase! First, Dark Flame Dragon attacks 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried'!"
The Dark Flame Dragon let out a resounding roar, spewing hellish black flames from its mouth!
Though both dragons on the field had equal attack power, it made sense to first attack with Dark Flame Dragon. Because Dark Flame Dragon has the effect of dealing damage equal to the original attack power of the destroyed monster, the Flame Winged People nodded in approval.
If Gravity Strike Dragon attacked first, only 600 battle damage would be inflicted. If Dark Flame Dragon followed up, a total of only 3000 damage could be done this turn, failing to destroy the opponent.
But if Iron Knight was destroyed by Dark Flame Dragon, the total damage from battle and effect would be 2400, and with the Gravity Strike Dragon's follow-up, 4800 damage could be dealt at once, achieving an OTK.
A spark glinted in Alpha's eyes.
This turn will end the duel!
"For an AI, that's quite an intimidating presence," Yugen muttered.
Boom!
Flames swept across his half of the field, the black blaze storming like a hurricane.
[Yugen, LP 4000 → LP 3400]
"Excellent!" Alpha exclaimed, "Then the effect of Dark Flame Dragon deals you damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack power of..."
"Unfortunately, it won't," Yugen replied with a smile.
Alpha's expression changed slightly.
As the smoke cleared, Iron Knight - Jia remained unscathed.
"What?"
"I removed this card from the game from the graveyard," Yugen revealed a card from his graveyard, "Shield Warrior. By banishing this card in the graveyard, I can protect one of my monsters from being destroyed in battle."
"Damn, you must've discarded it during Handwriting Erasure..."
"Then 'Gravity Strike Dragon' continues the attack!"
This time, with no shield to protect it, the Iron Knight raised its arm to block but was still overwhelmed and smashed into the ground, armor shattered.
[Yugen, LP 3400 → LP 2800]
"Then activate the cover card, Trap Card 'Time Mechanism'," Yugen stated, "It allows me to revive a monster destroyed and sent to the graveyard in the same position.
I resurrect 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried'."
The dark mechanical device manifested on the field, mist rising like the flow of time reversing. As time rewound, the broken fragments reformed back into the armored shape, and Iron Knight - Jia returned to the field.
[Iron Knight - Jia Fried, Attack Power 1800]
"Damn it! Is this thing immortal?" Alpha's frustration grew.
Iron Knight, it's that Iron Knight again.
Plus, the opponent still has that face-up card, "Butterfly Short Sword - Echo", which can endlessly retrieve itself. If Iron Knight can't be dealt with, who knows what bizarre tricks might be played next turn.
Gotta think of something...
"Activate the magic card 'Heaven and Earth's Treasure Scroll'!" Alpha declared, "On a turn when an upper-level summon was made, draw two cards from the card deck. However, the drawn cards cannot be used this turn, and at least one must be set if possible." (Original Card)
He cannot lose.
He promised his father he would complete the mission. There's no way he could fall here.
"Draw!"
With two new cards in hand, a glimmer of hope sparked in Alpha's eyes.
Right, with this card...
"Set two cards in the back field," Alpha said, "Turn ends."