Compared to them, the players at the edge of the field were digging in even harder, arguing so heatedly it was practically boiling over.
"Yusaku-senpai didn't send Dark Ruler No More back. Does that mean he's absolutely confident the other guy won't even be able to activate it next turn?"
"Come on, he's playing Kashtira! Kashtira's best at locking Monster Zones! If he seals all their zones, even if Johannes is holding Dark Ruler No More, how's he supposed to activate it?"
"Bro, you're missing one thing! Kashtira doesn't just lock zones, it can lock the deck too! If he mills the opponent's deck to zero, forget next turn— the moment Johannes has to draw, he loses by game rules. No turn, no card activations, nothing!"
"Hm? You all think it's pure Kashtira? Maybe it's just me, but I don't think senpai's on the 'standard' list. It feels more like a small Kashtira package splashed into other engines. Kashtira's insane going first, sure— but going second into a completed board, the deck's lines get real awkward."
"Doesn't matter. The match is basically in the bag! Just trust the process!"
"…"
At center field, after Yusaku returned Johannes's Solemn Judgment to the Deck, he didn't hesitate for a second. He drew a fresh card and slapped it down.
"Normal Summon— Naturia Mole Cricket!"
Naturia Mole Cricket
Level 1 / Insect / Effect
ATK 0
"Activate Naturia Mole Cricket's effect!" Yusaku's voice sharpened. "During either player's Main Phase, I can Tribute this card to activate it. Special Summon 1 'Naturia' monster from my Deck. And if the highest-ATK monster on the field is on your side, then the number I Special Summon becomes 2!"
He flicked his gaze to Johannes's field. "Right now, your highest-ATK monster is PSY-Frame Driver. So by Naturia Mole Cricket's effect, I can Special Summon two 'Naturia' monsters from my Deck!"
"I Special Summon two copies of Naturia Camellia from my Deck!"
Soft crimson light shimmered. Two vivid camellias rose from the Duel Platform like living blossoms, dew glittering on their petals, a clean natural scent spreading as they fully bloomed.
Naturia Camellia ×2
Level 4 / Plant / Tuner / Effect
ATK 1400
The instant both Tuners stabilized on the field, Yusaku issued the next command.
"Now, I overlay these two Level 4 Naturia Camellia— build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon— Rank 4, Springans Merrymaker!"
A bizarre machine materialized— shaped almost like a whack-a-mole cabinet, with colorful rocket "moles" popping from its holes in a comically ridiculous way.
Springans Merrymaker
Rank 4 / Machine / Xyz / Effect
ATK 1100
Johannes stared at the monster he'd never seen before, brows knitting hard. Confusion churned in his chest.
At first, when Yusaku put out Kashtira Fenrir, Johannes thought he was facing the "Four-Shield" list recorded in his intel.
Then the 'Naturia' monsters appeared, and he guessed it was going to pivot into a Runick-style engine.
But now— an Xyz Summon?
His entire read was collapsing in real time.
It wasn't just Johannes. The crowd and even the other competitors looked equally lost— nobody could tell what deck Yusaku was actually playing.
Even the players were completely stunned now, scratching their heads and asking each other what they were even watching.
Yusaku didn't notice at all. He also didn't notice that the monsters he'd just placed were already stepping onto a path that led straight through three different "boss" lines.
Once he confirmed there was no hand trap interference, he made his decision.
If he followed the normal line going first, it would take at least three turns to close out the Duel— and that was way too slow for him.
So he'd just switch axes and end it this turn.
With the plan set, Yusaku barked, "Activate Springans Merrymaker's effect! If this card is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can send 1 'Springans' monster from my Deck to the GY!"
"I send Springans Rockey to the GY!"
The moment the monster hit the graveyard, Yusaku flipped up a card from his Extra Deck, voice crisp and decisive.
"Gigantic 'Champion' Sargas— effect! Once per turn, I can Xyz Summon it by overlaying it on top of a 'Springans' Xyz monster I control!"
He slammed the card down.
"I overlay it on Springans Merrymaker— Xyz Summon!"
Springans Merrymaker exploded into glittering particles, streaming upward into a golden vortex that formed in midair.
A shriek of mechanical assembly tore through the arena. A massive mech descended— twin rocket thrusters mounted behind it, cold blades embedded along its arms, radiating crushing presence as it landed.
Gigantic "Champion" Sargas
Rank 10 / Machine / Xyz / Effect
Materials: 3
ATK 2800
"Next, I activate Gigantic 'Champion' Sargas's effect!" Yusaku's tone pressed down like a weight. "As long as it has material, I can add 1 'Springans' card from my Deck to my hand!"
"I add the Quick-Play Spell— Tally-ho! Springans!"
He didn't pause. The moment the Spell hit his hand, he fired it.
"I activate Tally-ho! Springans!"
"This card's effect—" Yusaku's eyes locked onto Johannes like a blade. "Add 1 'Springans' monster from my Deck to my hand. And if I activate this by detaching Xyz Materials, then I can Special Summon that many 'Springans' monsters from my hand or GY!"
"I activate it by detaching three Xyz Materials from Gigantic 'Champion' Sargas!"
Gigantic "Champion" Sargas (Materials 3 → 0)
"First, I add Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt from my Deck to my hand!"
Without even letting the crowd breathe, Yusaku raised his voice again.
"Then, by Tally-ho! Springans!, since I detached three materials, I Special Summon three 'Springans' monsters from my hand and GY!"
He snapped down the card he'd just searched.
"I Special Summon Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt from my hand, and I Special Summon Springans Merrymaker and Springans Rockey from my GY!"
Springans Rockey
Level 4 / Machine / Effect
ATK 1800
Springans Merrymaker
ATK 1100
Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt
Level 4 / Beast / Effect
ATK 1700
The instant the three bodies stabilized, Yusaku's next call came immediately.
"Now, I overlay Springans Rockey and Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt— build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon— Rank 4, Galaxy Photon Dragon!"
A radiant galaxy unfurled across the air above the field. A roar shook the stadium so hard it felt like it rattled bones. A dragon wrapped in blue starlight burst through layered light membranes and coiled in the center of the platform, its eyes blazing with world-ending pressure.
Galaxy Photon Dragon
Rank 4 / Dragon / Xyz
ATK 2000
Johannes froze. "Galaxy-Eyes?"
He understood even less now. The deck looked like a pile of unrelated pieces— yet every single step somehow landed perfectly into the next, like he'd been walking across invisible stones laid in the air.
Before Johannes could even gather his thoughts, Yusaku continued.
"Activate Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect! I detach 1 material— then I can add 1 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' card from my Deck to my hand, or send it to the GY!"
"I detach 1 material!"
Galaxy Photon Dragon (Materials 2 → 1)
"I add the Continuous Spell— Galaxy Wave— to my hand!"
Yusaku closed his fingers around the Spell, then pressed forward without slowing.
"Next, I activate Gigantic 'Champion' Sargas's other effect. When Xyz Material is detached on the field, I can target 1 card on the field— then either destroy it or return it to the hand."
"I choose to return Galaxy Photon Dragon to the Extra Deck!"
The dragon dissolved into a streak of starlight and vanished back into the galaxy overhead.
"Next, I trigger Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt in the GY!" Yusaku's voice stayed steady and clear. "If this card is sent to the GY, I can Special Summon 1 'Springans' monster from my GY, except itself, in Defense Position!"
"I Special Summon Springans Rockey from my GY!"
Springans Rockey
ATK 1800
"Now I activate Springans Rockey's effect!" Yusaku continued. "If it's Summoned or Special Summoned, I can target 1 'Springans' monster in my GY, except itself, and add it to my hand!"
"I add Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt back to my hand!"
He flashed the card— then immediately followed through.
"I activate Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt's effect! If I control a 'Springans' monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!"
"Right now I control Springans Rockey— so I Special Summon it!"
Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt
ATK 1700
"Now, I activate the Continuous Spell— Galaxy Wave!"
A spell card etched with a glittering galaxy pattern unfolded behind Yusaku, a soft but powerful radiance spreading outward.
The moment the card activated, Yusaku swung his arm.
"Once again, I overlay Tri-Brigade Springans Kitt and Springans Rockey— build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon— Rank 4— Primathmech Alembertian!"
The two monsters became silver and violet beams that shot into the sky, twisting together into a spiraling lance of light that cracked open the golden Xyz vortex.
From within, gears and circuitry flooded outward like a mechanical tide, metal clashing as parts snapped into place at violent speed.
Then— a dense thunder of machinery.
A humanoid mech descended with a massive alloy greatsword in its hands, blue current crawling along its body like veins, radiating cold, terrifying pressure.
Primathmech Alembertian
Rank 4 / Cyberse / Xyz / Effect
Materials: 2
ATK 2000
"At this moment!" Yusaku's voice shot up. "Because I successfully performed an Xyz Summon, Galaxy Wave's effect triggers! Each time I Xyz Summon, you take 500 damage!"
A concentrated golden bolt lanced out of Galaxy Wave, punching straight through Johannes.
Johannes felt his whole body go numb. Before he could even react, his Life Points had already dropped.
Johannes: 8000 → 7500
"Next, I activate Primathmech Alembertian's effect!" Yusaku didn't pause for air. "I detach both materials!"
Primathmech Alembertian (Materials 2 → 0)
"I add Mathmech Circular from my Deck to my hand!"
"Circular?"
The players in the stands blinked— then their faces snapped into sudden realization.
"Ohhh— so that's what this is!"
"No way… it's the 'everything becomes Circular' line!"
"..."
(End of Chapter)
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