"Link 1, [Crusadia Magius]!"
The blade in Youmi's hand lightly tapped against [Crusadia Magius]'s staff with a clear clang.
Pointing her sword toward the [Crusadia Magius] standing in the Extra Monster Zone, she explained, "When the required Link Materials for a Link Monster are gathered on the field, the turn player can declare a Link Summon during the Main Phase. The monsters used as Link Materials are sent to the Graveyard, and a Link Monster from the Extra Deck that meets the summoning condition is Special Summoned.
"A Link Monster from the Extra Deck must be summoned to one of two specific Zones—one of which is the Extra Monster Zone."
As she explained, the Zone beneath [Crusadia Magius] lit up twice, displaying the words "Extra Monster Zone."
"Because Link Monsters have special Link Arrows, their orientation cannot change.
"Thus, they can't be switched to Defense Position, and any effects related to Defense Position don't apply to them. The Monster Zones the Link Arrows point to are called 'linked zones.' Monsters in linked zones and the Link Monsters pointing to them are considered to be in a linked state."
After giving this explanation, Youmi Special Summoned a monster. "I Special Summon [Crusadia Draco] from my hand in Defense Position. Once per turn, she can Special Summon herself in Defense Position to a linked zone of a Link Monster I control. And when she is Summoned or Special Summoned, I can add one [Crusadia] card from my Graveyard to my hand. I return [Crusadia Reclusia] to my hand."
As [Crusadia Draco] appeared, the Attack of [Crusadia Magius] rose from 100 to 700. When [Crusadia Draco] added [Crusadia Reclusia] to Youmi's hand, [Crusadia Magius] raised her staff and opened a magic circle.
Youmi drew a card from within it—it was [Crusadia Maximus]. "I activate the effect of [Crusadia Magius]. When an Effect Monster is Special Summoned to a zone this card points to, I can add one [Crusadia] monster from my Deck to my hand."
Although Youmi had demonstrated a summoning method never before seen, bringing forth two monsters, neither could overcome [Giant Red Seasnake]'s 2000 Attack.
"Ho ho ho! I'll commend you for showing me a new type of Summon, but if that's all, you'll never beat Uncle Crump! Just hand that body over, and maybe if I find a better one later, I'll give yours back~"
Crump clapped his flippers together—if those could even be called hands. "I'm not such a bad guy, you know. I only want to build a Penguin Paradise where everyone can be happy. Isn't that a beautiful dream?"
"Sorry, I don't buy premium currency."
Remembering Crump's dream, Youmi flatly refused. "Besides, I'm not losing to a 2000-Attack vanilla monster that can't even serve as a decent wall. Don't think you can bluff me."
"Manifest—the circuit that harvests the future! Arrows confirmed. The condition is two Effect Monsters, including a [Crusadia] monster. I set [Crusadia Magius] and [Crusadia Draco] to the Link Markers. Link Summon—Link 2, [Crusadia Spatha]!"
At triple speed, the summoning process completed as the blue-armored [Crusadia Spatha] replaced [Crusadia Magius] in the Extra Monster Zone, opening her linked zones.
"Link Monsters can also be used as Link Materials, and since the zones are now open—and [Crusadia Reclusia] shares the 'Crusadia' name—I Special Summon her to the zone pointed to by [Crusadia Spatha]. [Crusadia Spatha]'s effect activates! Once per turn, when an Effect Monster is Special Summoned to a zone she points to, I can move one monster in the Main Monster Zone to another position. I move your [Giant Red Seasnake] directly in front of [Crusadia Spatha]. Then—"
A glowing Link circuit appeared behind Youmi again. "Arrow confirmation omitted—come forth! Link 3, [Crusadia Equimax]!"
A golden centaur knight radiating blue light charged through the circuit. Unlike [Crusadia Reclusia], he didn't greet Youmi; instead, he eyed her warily—then, realizing something, eased his stance.
"Wait, wait, wait! That [Crusadia Equimax] is a Link-3 monster, right? Shouldn't it need three materials? How did you summon it with only two?"
Crump, at least somewhat knowledgeable, interrupted the moment between Youmi and the summoned knight.
Shooting him a side glance, Youmi sighed and began to explain. "[Crusadia Equimax] requires two or more Effect Monsters, including a Link Monster. When a Link Monster is used as Link Material, it can count as one material or as the number equal to its Link Rating. Since [Crusadia Spatha] is Link-2, she counts as two materials."
"Alright, alright, I know you're impatient. Time to end this Duel."
Youmi revealed two cards in her hand. "I Special Summon [Crusadia Maximus] and [Crusadia Arboria] to the zones pointed to by [Crusadia Equimax].
"All [Crusadia] Link Monsters share an effect—[Crusadia Equimax] gains Attack equal to the combined original Attack of the monsters in its linked zones, and those monsters cannot attack. With one arrow pointing straight ahead—toward your [Giant Red Seasnake]—[Crusadia Equimax]'s Attack increases by 4200, bringing it to 6200!"
Watching the glowing [Crusadia Equimax], Crump began backing away in fear, but his penguin underlings suddenly blocked his escape.
"6200 Attack—stronger than two Blue-Eyes White Dragons combined! Impossible!"
Handing her sword to [Crusadia Equimax], Youmi brushed back her hair, her eyes glowing a dangerous red.
"If I recall correctly, the loser of this Duel gets frozen solid, right? Perfect. I wanted a penguin ice sculpture for my garden.
"I activate [Crusadia Maximus]'s effect, targeting [Crusadia Equimax]! This turn, the chosen monster can attack even if its linked monsters can't, and the battle damage it inflicts to your Life Points is doubled!"
"Prepare to repent. Since you planned to turn us into digital ghosts, be ready to vanish completely upon defeat!" Placing a hand over half her face, Youmi declared, "Now, the time for judgment—[Crusadia Equimax], attack [Giant Red Seasnake]!"
...
Tapping the thoroughly frozen Crump, Youmi withdrew her hand back under her cloak and began searching for a way out.
At that moment, a child in a white uniform with teal hair appeared before her.
"You're… Noah?"
"As expected of a super hacker capable of breaching my fortress, and a duelist of unmatched genius… you even managed to embed your own custom duel rules into this system."
Unlike Crump's mocking applause, Noah's clapping came from genuine admiration. "Originally, I planned to trap Kaiba and all his friends here while I escaped alone. But now, I've changed my mind, Youmi."
Perhaps inspired by Youmi's duel, Noah snapped his left fingers as well.
Five Duel Monster icons appeared beside him.
"Those are… the Big Five?"
The five icons were [Deepsea Warrior], [Nightmare Penguin], [Judge Man], [Robotic Knight], and [Jinzo]. A red X was marked over [Nightmare Penguin].
"After watching your duel, the others would bore me. So here's an offer you can't refuse. Starting with that useless Crump, defeat the remaining members of the Big Five one by one—and then duel me."
Noah raised a finger. "Depending on the outcome, you'll get one of two endings. First—if you lose, everyone who entered this world, except you, will remain here as my eternal residents. I'll return to the real world, and you'll stay as my aide in ruling it. KaibaCorp has room for that kind of talent."
"Then I won't lose. What's the second one?"
"No problem." Noah shook his head and raised another finger. "If it's a draw, or if you win, I'll release everyone in this world except the Big Five—and I'll willingly erase myself from existence. How about that?"
As he asked, Youmi stepped forward and pressed his hand down.
"If I win, you release them. And come to the real world with me, on my terms."
Her gaze was resolute, showing no trace of fear.
"Hmph, I can't tell if you're kind or arrogant," Noah chuckled, nodding. "Regardless, as an absolute genius, I understand your resolve. Fine—we'll do it your way. Your next opponent is [Deepsea Warrior] Gansley. Follow this path."
With a sweeping gesture, Noah created a path of floating ice leading into the distance.
The events above took place before Youmi obtained the [Mikanko] Deck. Having left the frozen world, she'd shed her cloak, curious why a non-virtual Deck had appeared here—and why her next foe, Gansley, was nowhere to be seen—when a light screen with Noah's face suddenly appeared beside her.
"Oh? I didn't expect that. I leave for the control room for a moment, and you've already taken care of Gansley. Looks like our duel will be happening sooner than I thought."
...
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