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Chapter 356: The Strongest Dragon-Type After Evolution
"My Turn, Draw Card!"
Kaiba coldly glanced at Hayato, flipping the card in his hand. "I Activate the Spell Card 【Card of Demise】! I draw cards from my Deck until I have five cards in my hand. As a cost, during the Standby Phase of the fifth turn after 【Card of Demise】 is activated, I must discard my entire hand."
"What's the difference between that and having no cost?" Hayato muttered, but after Kaiba drew five cards into his hand, his expression turned serious. He felt the presence of Kaiba's God Card—【Obelisk the Tormentor】.
"I Activate the Spell Card 【Trade-In】! I send the Level 8 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from my hand to the Graveyard. Then I Activate the Spell Card 【De-Fusion】! I de-fuse 【Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon】 on my field and Special Summon two 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from my Graveyard."
After drawing two cards, Kaiba used 【De-Fusion】. It was at this moment that Hayato flipped his Set Card in his Backrow: "Then, chaining to your 【De-Fusion】, I also Activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 【De-Fusion】!"
Acting before Kaiba's 【De-Fusion】, Hayato's 【De-Fusion】 took effect first, removing 【Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon】 from the field, just as Joey Wheeler had done to Kaiba's 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 in their previous Duel.
But seeing Hayato flip the Set Card 【De-Fusion】, Kaiba instead revealed a smug smile and snorted: "Hmph, Kobayashi Hayato, do you think I wouldn't learn my lesson and guard against such a childish move? The same move won't work on me twice!"
Hayato retorted: "That's not it. I just thought you were a Saint Seiya who wandered into the wrong show."
The power of 【De-Fusion】 dissipated, and Kaiba immediately played the card in his hand: "I Activate the Spell Card 【Fusion Recovery】! I add one 【Fusion】 Spell Card and one Fusion Material Monster that was sent to the Graveyard by a Fusion Summon from my Graveyard to my hand. I choose the first 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】."
"Next is the Spell Card 【Dark Factory of Mass Production】! I add the other two 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from my Graveyard to my hand!"
Seeing this, Joey Wheeler couldn't help but widen his eyes and said nervously: "Oh, no, Kaiba has gathered three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 in his hand again, plus a 【Fusion】 Spell Card!"
"He's going to Summon 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 again!"
Clearly, Kaiba's 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 had left a deep impression on Joey Wheeler; after all, it was an incredibly powerful Monster with 4500 Attack Points. Even 【Obelisk the Tormentor】 without its effect activated seemed slightly inferior in comparison.
With Joey Wheeler shouting that out, even Hayato felt a slight headache looking at Kaiba's hand, which had returned to six cards. Among Kaiba's six cards at this moment, Hayato could sense the definite presence of 【Obelisk the Tormentor】. Of the remaining five cards, three were 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 and one was 【Fusion】. In other words, Kaiba still had one hidden card that hadn't been revealed.
Just as Hayato had told Kaiba last turn, the threat of an invincible Duel Monster whose effects are completely exposed is far less than that of a Monster whose effects are completely unknown. By the same logic, like the case of 【Exodia】, the threat of revealed hand cards is far less than the threat of deeply hidden cards.
Kaiba's Deck wouldn't include several copies of 【De-Fusion】. Even if he Fusion Summoned 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 with a 【Fusion】 Spell Card, without 【De-Fusion】 to gather three Tributes, no matter how strong 【Obelisk the Tormentor】 is, it would just be a brick if it couldn't be brought onto the field.
As for 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, Hayato wasn't as concerned about it as Joey Wheeler was. It was just a Vanilla Monster with a high Attack of 4500 points but no protection.
Subconsciously, Hayato forgot that Kaiba had just performed Card Creation for 【Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon】, and that there were other possibilities besides 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 for the Fusion of three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】.
"With this new form, the strongest Dragon-Type after evolution, I will send you to hell to repent for your contempt towards me, Hayato!" Grasping the four cards in his hand—three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 and one 【Fusion】—Kaiba raised his hand high.
As he did so, behind him, three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 appeared simultaneously, soaring into the sky. Under Hayato's stunned gaze, the three white Dragons flying side-by-side circled closer and fused together!
Hayato was all too familiar with this method of Fusion!
"Fusion Summon!"
"Appear now, 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】!!!"
A new 【Blue-Eyes】 appeared on the field, distinctly different in form from the four-clawed 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】. Its wings on its back became wider, even replacing its original two front claws. Its three heads were covered in blue patterns, as if the power within couldn't be suppressed and was overflowing from beneath the skin.
【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】【Level 12/LIGHT】
【Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect】
【4500/3800】
"【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, the strongest Dragon-Type after evolution..." Hayato truly hadn't expected that Kaiba would adapt so quickly after learning Card Creation, even managing a second instance of Card Creation within a single Duel.
This guy isn't going to print 【Deep-Eyes White Dragon】, 【Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon】, and the like next, is he?
Kaiba burst into laughter upon the appearance of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】: "This is the strongest form of 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】! This is the strongest Monster I Summoned, betting everything!"
"Resilient! Invincible! Strongest!!"
"Now fall into the abyss of defeat, Hayato!" Kaiba laughed maniacally and swung his hand forward fiercely, "First, starting with that 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】 on the field!"
"First Attack!"
At Kaiba's command, the left head of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 raised its neck high, and dazzling light gathered in its mouth.
Swallow, then spit out!
The stream of light instantly engulfed 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】 on the field, which only had 2600 attack points!
"Yikes!"
After destroying 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】, the aftermath of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】's attack pushed Hayato back a long distance, almost knocking him out of the Duel Field.
【Hayato: 4000 → 2100 LP】
Just as Joey Wheeler in the audience seats outside the field was about to cheer for Hayato having endured the attack from the clearly formidable 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 Kaiba had Summoned, Ishizu Ishtar saw a part of the future through the 【Millennium Necklace】.
"When that 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 attacked just now, it indeed only used one head to attack! It has the special ability to attack three times!"
As soon as Ishizu Ishtar said this, Joey Wheeler was startled: "Attack three times? A Monster with 4500 Attack Points attacking three times in one go?! That's cheating! Even Keith the Thief's 【Barrel Dragon】 could only attack up to three times by coin toss."
"In that case, Hayato!" Yugi Mutou was also shocked to hear Ishizu Ishtar's words and couldn't help but look at Hayato's field.
After the only 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】 was destroyed, there were no monsters left on the field for Hayato!
"Hmphahaha, now there's no Monster that can protect you, Hayato!" Kaiba laughed maniacally, shouting Hayato's name, "【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 has the special ability to attack three times! Take this direct attack totaling 9000 attack points!"
"Second Attack!"
This time it was the turn of the head on the right side of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】. A dragon breath that showed no sign of weakening compared to the previous attack surged towards Hayato again!
"Boom!"
The exceptionally powerful stream of light instantly engulfed Hayato, who was empty on the field. But just as the smoke and dust from the explosion obscured the view, Yugi Mutou heard a "Kuri" sound amidst the roar of the explosion.
It was the sound of the 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 that Hayato possessed.
Yugi Mutou couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the excited Joey Wheeler beside him, he comforted him: "Don't worry, Joey Wheeler, Hayato is very strong. It's still too early to defeat him with just this level of battle."
And sure enough, just as Kaiba, who hadn't heard of the "no damage in smoke" rule, was about to declare his victory, Hayato's strong voice came from the rapidly dissipating smoke and dust: "That was close, that was close. I was almost taken down by Seto."
In front of Hayato, the figure of 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 was gradually fading and becoming transparent. Before leaving, it let out a "Kuri Kuri" cry and raised its hand towards the 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 on the field.
"When 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 exists in the Graveyard, because your 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 declared a direct attack on me, the one existing in the Graveyard is Special Summoned to my field in Defense Position. 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 Special Summoned by this effect is banished if it leaves the field," Hayato explained. "You saved me again, Aibo."
"Kuriboh, Hayato's Kuriboh actually jumped out to take the hit by itself! It moved on its own!" Mokuba in the audience seats exclaimed, "Duel Monsters are really incredible!"
"That's so touching, sacrificing itself to protect Hayato! That's the bond between Duel Monsters and Duelists!" Joey Wheeler also looked deeply moved, "Such a kind 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 must have been telling 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 just now that it and its Master wouldn't yield."
Yugi Mutou hesitated to speak. After some consideration, everyone around was moved by 【Rainbow Kuriboh】's protective action towards its Master. It was probably better not to mention that "【Rainbow Kuriboh】 was actually cursing at 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 and flipping it off to provoke it" and ruin the atmosphere.
"Another lackey-like Monster. You won't show your true strength, yet you refuse to be struck down into the abyss of defeat. You're making things very difficult for me, Kobayashi Hayato!"
Unlike the others, Kaiba was not moved by 【Rainbow Kuriboh】's spontaneous act of protection. Although he didn't understand what 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 said, he felt annoyed, believing that its final words were definitely not good. He ordered again: "Now I'll see what other moves you have!"
"【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, use your final full power attack to secure the victory!"
"Hyper Neutron Blast!!"
The only head of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 that hadn't attacked yet began to brew its final attack. Seeing 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】's third attack about to strike, Hayato also flipped the only Set Card in his Backrow: "I Activate the Trap Card 【Dark Dimension Liberation】!"
"Targeting one DARK Attribute Monster of mine that is banished, I Special Summon it! Return, 【Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight】!"
Facing the second direct attack from the 4500 Attack Point 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, taking over from 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 was another of Hayato's Ace Card, 【Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight】.
Its sharp lance was instantly melted by the dragon breath, proving fragile. 【Gaia】, facing the high temperature within the stream of light with composure, like a tough guy, didn't utter a sound. It just turned its head, gave Hayato a thumb, and was then destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.
"Hmph, that routine again." Kaiba frowned slightly, quite annoyed that his confident attack had been blocked again.
Looking at the card in his hand, Kaiba Set one card and said: "Because 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 used its ability to attack three times, at the end of this Battle Phase, 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 will be destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. I Set a card. My turn ends here."
A Set Card appeared in Kaiba's Backrow. At the same time, the 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 on the field, which had exerted immense presence, shed snowflake-like particles all over its body and disappeared from the field.
【Kaiba: 1300 LP, Hand 1】
【Set Card】
Watching 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 disappear, Hayato took a deep breath and said: "It seems you are quite obsessed with achieving complete victory in Duel Monsters, Kaiba."
"Isn't that what Duelists pursue?" Kaiba retorted, his face displaying a confident expression like a King leading his army to surround an enemy fortress and about to achieve victory, despite his field being empty.
Hayato nodded: "You're right."
"You said earlier that you wanted me to go all out in this Duel, right? I'll apologize first. You are a considerably powerful Duelist, and not using my full power before was indeed a disregard towards you." As he spoke, Hayato placed his finger on the Duel Disk, "As an apology, I'll let you see the Dragon at the peak of my Deck!"
"My Turn, Draw Card!"
Drawing the card, Hayato played it after just one glance: "I Activate the Spell Card 【Dimension Fusion】! I pay 2000 Life Points! Both players Special Summon their banished monsters to their respective fields!"
"You're actually paying a full 2000 Life Points in one go?!" Kaiba on the opposite field frowned, "Your Life Points are only 2100. After paying the cost for this card, you'll only have the last 100 left."
"Recklessly paying your own Life Points, are you seeking your own death?!"
"Heh heh, as long as it brings me victory, you can take my Life Points,"
【Hayato: 2100 → 100 LP】
His Life Points plummeted to three digits, but Hayato's expression remained calm, "Besides, as long as they aren't reduced to zero, a Duelist's Life Points are infinite!"
"Hmph, that's your freedom. But no matter what Monster you Summon, you won't defeat my invincible 【Blue-Eyes】. Or perhaps, you think my field is actually empty?" Kaiba sneered and flipped his Set Card in the Backrow, "I Activate my Set Card 【Graverobber】! I pay 1000 Life Points to gain the right to use one card from my opponent's Graveyard!"
"The one I choose is the 【Dragon's Mirror】 you used earlier to Summon 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】!"
【Kaiba: 1300 → 300 LP】
As Kaiba's Life Points decreased, the appearance of the 【Graverobber】 in Kaiba's hand changed, actually transforming into Hayato's 【Dragon's Mirror】!
"You say I'm recklessly paying Life Points, but you're doing the same, Kaiba." Hayato muttered, watching Kaiba take his 【Dragon's Mirror】 from the Graveyard. At the same time, he saw through Kaiba's plan.
"When the card excavated by 【Graverobber】 is a Spell/Trap Card, its effect can be activated immediately. I will similarly banish the Fusion Material Monsters specified by the Fusion Monster from the Graveyard and Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type Monster."
Kaiba's lips curled into a smile: "The one I will Summon is, of course, 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】!"
"Be banished from the game temporarily, my 【Blue-Eyes】!"
An exaggeratedly large 【Dragon's Mirror】 appeared in Kaiba's Backrow. From his Graveyard, the transparent soul forms of three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 were absorbed into the mirror world. Accompanied by three overlapping dragon roars, the giant 【Dragon's Mirror】 shattered with a crash, and the large body of 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 appeared from the mirror world!
"Roar!!" While roaring, 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】's feet landed on the ground. The power of the 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 that existed in Kaiba's Graveyard actually reappeared and attached itself to 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】?!
Not only that, after resolving the effect of the 【Dragon's Mirror】 stolen by 【Graverobber】, the effect of 【Dimension Fusion】 that Hayato had activated earlier began to resolve!
"Come forth, 【Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders】! 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV5】! 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV7】! 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】! And 【Rainbow Kuriboh】!"
A wormhole leading to another dimension opened above the Duel Arena. From that hole, Hayato's five Monsters appeared simultaneously.
【Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders】【DEF 3000】
【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】【ATK 3000】
【Armed Dragon Thunder LV7】【ATK 2800】
【Armed Dragon Thunder LV5】【ATK 2400】
【Rainbow Kuriboh】【DEF 100】
Kaiba's side was not to be outdone. Beside the large 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, three slightly smaller 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 landed on the field for Kaiba.
【Dimension Fusion】 is a card that allows both players to Special Summon as many banished monsters as possible. At the start of this turn, Kaiba had no banished monsters at all, so Hayato activating 【Dimension Fusion】 wouldn't give him any advantage.
【Graverobber】 targeting 【Dragon's Mirror】, then using 【Dragon's Mirror】 to banish three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from the Graveyard, and then using 【Dimension Fusion】 to Special Summon the three Blue-Eyes to the field—one has to say, this move by Kaiba was excellent.
However, what puzzled the onlookers was that Kaiba, contrary to his usual behavior, Special Summoned all his Monsters, whether it was 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 or 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, in Defense Position?
【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】【DEF 2500】
【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】【DEF 3800】
"Brother, who always advocates that a strong attack is the best strategy, actually chose to Special Summon his Monsters in the relatively weak Defense Position?"
Let alone others, even Kaiba's younger brother Mokuba couldn't quite understand why Kaiba chose to Summon his Monsters in the relatively weak Defense Position.
The attack of 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】 on the field for Hayato is 3000 points. Although its ability to gain effects based on attack couldn't be used because it was Special Summoned by the effect of 【Dimension Fusion】 and not by the effect of an 【Armed Dragon】 Monster, it's important to remember that the 【Armed Dragon Shockwave】 in Hayato's Backrow hadn't moved.
If he used the effect of 【Armed Dragon Shockwave】 to increase the attack of 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】, its attack would rise to 4000 points, which still wouldn't be able to destroy the 4500 Attack Point 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 on the field for Kaiba.
However, Kaiba specifically Summoned 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 in Defense Position. Its 3800 Defense points is just enough to be destroyed by 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】!
Most others couldn't understand why Kaiba would do this, but Yugi Mutou saw the reason for Kaiba's choice of defense.
"The strongest Dragon, not Dragon-Type but Dragon. The Monsters Hayato is about to Summon are those two, right?"
Hayato also knew the reason for Kaiba's actions, but he just smiled slightly: "The battle has reached this point, not only our Life Points, but also our hands are running low. In that case, I Activate the Spell Card 【Card of Demise】!"
Although he had repeatedly complained about the overly powerful card drawing/cycling card 【Heavenly Gift Card】 needing to be limited when Dueling Yugi Mutou, the double-standard Hayato still included three copies of 【Card of Demise】 in his Deck and had drawn one of them last turn.
Kaiba and Hayato both replenished their hands to six cards. Compared to Kaiba, who still had one card that was 1000% 【Obelisk the Tormentor】, the empty-handed Hayato drew one more card than him.
As Hayato drew the card, Kaiba and Yugi Mutou both stared at one of Hayato's hand cards. On the card, an invisible presence equal to that of 【Obelisk the Tormentor】 was spreading.
In fact, even before drawing it, Hayato had felt the aura of a God Card coming from the very top of his Deck. This was why he said he was going to Summon the "strongest Dragon".
However, after drawing the card and seeing that God Card, Hayato was also stunned.
Because he found that what he drew was not at all the 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 that he had just sensed, which had powerful and useful effects and could be trusted,
Why was it 【Slime Token】?!?!
"My Turn, Draw Card!"
Kaiba coldly glanced at Hayato, flipping the card in his hand. "I Activate the Spell Card 【Card of Demise】! I draw cards from my Deck until I have five cards in my hand. As a cost, during the Standby Phase of the fifth turn after 【Card of Demise】 is activated, I must discard my entire hand."
"What's the difference between that and having no cost?" Hayato muttered, but after Kaiba drew five cards into his hand, his expression turned serious. He felt the presence of Kaiba's God Card—【Obelisk the Tormentor】.
"I Activate the Spell Card 【Trade-In】! I send the Level 8 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from my hand to the Graveyard. Then I Activate the Spell Card 【De-Fusion】! I de-fuse 【Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon】 on my field and Special Summon two 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from my Graveyard."
After drawing two cards, Kaiba used 【De-Fusion】. It was at this moment that Hayato flipped his Set Card in his Backrow: "Then, chaining to your 【De-Fusion】, I also Activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 【De-Fusion】!"
Acting before Kaiba's 【De-Fusion】, Hayato's 【De-Fusion】 took effect first, removing 【Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon】 from the field, just as Joey Wheeler had done to Kaiba's 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 in their previous Duel.
But seeing Hayato flip the Set Card 【De-Fusion】, Kaiba instead revealed a smug smile and snorted: "Hmph, Kobayashi Hayato, do you think I wouldn't learn my lesson and guard against such a childish move? The same move won't work on me twice!"
Hayato retorted: "That's not it. I just thought you were a Saint Seiya who wandered into the wrong show."
The power of 【De-Fusion】 dissipated, and Kaiba immediately played the card in his hand: "I Activate the Spell Card 【Fusion Recovery】! I add one 【Fusion】 Spell Card and one Fusion Material Monster that was sent to the Graveyard by a Fusion Summon from my Graveyard to my hand. I choose the first 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】."
"Next is the Spell Card 【Dark Factory of Mass Production】! I add the other two 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from my Graveyard to my hand!"
Seeing this, Joey Wheeler couldn't help but widen his eyes and said nervously: "Oh, no, Kaiba has gathered three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 in his hand again, plus a 【Fusion】 Spell Card!"
"He's going to Summon 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 again!"
Clearly, Kaiba's 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 had left a deep impression on Joey Wheeler; after all, it was an incredibly powerful Monster with 4500 Attack Points. Even 【Obelisk the Tormentor】 without its effect activated seemed slightly inferior in comparison.
With Joey Wheeler shouting that out, even Hayato felt a slight headache looking at Kaiba's hand, which had returned to six cards. Among Kaiba's six cards at this moment, Hayato could sense the definite presence of 【Obelisk the Tormentor】. Of the remaining five cards, three were 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 and one was 【Fusion】. In other words, Kaiba still had one hidden card that hadn't been revealed.
Just as Hayato had told Kaiba last turn, the threat of an invincible Duel Monster whose effects are completely exposed is far less than that of a Monster whose effects are completely unknown. By the same logic, like the case of 【Exodia】, the threat of revealed hand cards is far less than the threat of deeply hidden cards.
Kaiba's Deck wouldn't include several copies of 【De-Fusion】. Even if he Fusion Summoned 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 with a 【Fusion】 Spell Card, without 【De-Fusion】 to gather three Tributes, no matter how strong 【Obelisk the Tormentor】 is, it would just be a brick if it couldn't be brought onto the field.
As for 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, Hayato wasn't as concerned about it as Joey Wheeler was. It was just a Vanilla Monster with a high Attack of 4500 points but no protection.
Subconsciously, Hayato forgot that Kaiba had just performed Card Creation for 【Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon】, and that there were other possibilities besides 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 for the Fusion of three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】.
"With this new form, the strongest Dragon-Type after evolution, I will send you to hell to repent for your contempt towards me, Hayato!" Grasping the four cards in his hand—three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 and one 【Fusion】—Kaiba raised his hand high.
As he did so, behind him, three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 appeared simultaneously, soaring into the sky. Under Hayato's stunned gaze, the three white Dragons flying side-by-side circled closer and fused together!
Hayato was all too familiar with this method of Fusion!
"Fusion Summon!"
"Appear now, 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】!!!"
A new 【Blue-Eyes】 appeared on the field, distinctly different in form from the four-clawed 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】. Its wings on its back became wider, even replacing its original two front claws. Its three heads were covered in blue patterns, as if the power within couldn't be suppressed and was overflowing from beneath the skin.
【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】【Level 12/LIGHT】
【Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect】
【4500/3800】
"【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, the strongest Dragon-Type after evolution..." Hayato truly hadn't expected that Kaiba would adapt so quickly after learning Card Creation, even managing a second instance of Card Creation within a single Duel.
This guy isn't going to print 【Deep-Eyes White Dragon】, 【Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon】, and the like next, is he?
Kaiba burst into laughter upon the appearance of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】: "This is the strongest form of 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】! This is the strongest Monster I Summoned, betting everything!"
"Resilient! Invincible! Strongest!!"
"Now fall into the abyss of defeat, Hayato!" Kaiba laughed maniacally and swung his hand forward fiercely, "First, starting with that 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】 on the field!"
"First Attack!"
At Kaiba's command, the left head of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 raised its neck high, and dazzling light gathered in its mouth.
Swallow, then spit out!
The stream of light instantly engulfed 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】 on the field, which only had 2600 attack points!
"Yikes!"
After destroying 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】, the aftermath of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】's attack pushed Hayato back a long distance, almost knocking him out of the Duel Field.
【Hayato: 4000 → 2100 LP】
Just as Joey Wheeler in the audience seats outside the field was about to cheer for Hayato having endured the attack from the clearly formidable 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 Kaiba had Summoned, Ishizu Ishtar saw a part of the future through the 【Millennium Necklace】.
"When that 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 attacked just now, it indeed only used one head to attack! It has the special ability to attack three times!"
As soon as Ishizu Ishtar said this, Joey Wheeler was startled: "Attack three times? A Monster with 4500 Attack Points attacking three times in one go?! That's cheating! Even Keith the Thief's 【Barrel Dragon】 could only attack up to three times by coin toss."
"In that case, Hayato!" Yugi Mutou was also shocked to hear Ishizu Ishtar's words and couldn't help but look at Hayato's field.
After the only 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】 was destroyed, there were no monsters left on the field for Hayato!
"Hmphahaha, now there's no Monster that can protect you, Hayato!" Kaiba laughed maniacally, shouting Hayato's name, "【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 has the special ability to attack three times! Take this direct attack totaling 9000 attack points!"
"Second Attack!"
This time it was the turn of the head on the right side of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】. A dragon breath that showed no sign of weakening compared to the previous attack surged towards Hayato again!
"Boom!"
The exceptionally powerful stream of light instantly engulfed Hayato, who was empty on the field. But just as the smoke and dust from the explosion obscured the view, Yugi Mutou heard a "Kuri" sound amidst the roar of the explosion.
It was the sound of the 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 that Hayato possessed.
Yugi Mutou couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the excited Joey Wheeler beside him, he comforted him: "Don't worry, Joey Wheeler, Hayato is very strong. It's still too early to defeat him with just this level of battle."
And sure enough, just as Kaiba, who hadn't heard of the "no damage in smoke" rule, was about to declare his victory, Hayato's strong voice came from the rapidly dissipating smoke and dust: "That was close, that was close. I was almost taken down by Seto."
In front of Hayato, the figure of 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 was gradually fading and becoming transparent. Before leaving, it let out a "Kuri Kuri" cry and raised its hand towards the 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 on the field.
"When 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 exists in the Graveyard, because your 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 declared a direct attack on me, the one existing in the Graveyard is Special Summoned to my field in Defense Position. 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 Special Summoned by this effect is banished if it leaves the field," Hayato explained. "You saved me again, Aibo."
"Kuriboh, Hayato's Kuriboh actually jumped out to take the hit by itself! It moved on its own!" Mokuba in the audience seats exclaimed, "Duel Monsters are really incredible!"
"That's so touching, sacrificing itself to protect Hayato! That's the bond between Duel Monsters and Duelists!" Joey Wheeler also looked deeply moved, "Such a kind 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 must have been telling 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 just now that it and its Master wouldn't yield."
Yugi Mutou hesitated to speak. After some consideration, everyone around was moved by 【Rainbow Kuriboh】's protective action towards its Master. It was probably better not to mention that "【Rainbow Kuriboh】 was actually cursing at 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 and flipping it off to provoke it" and ruin the atmosphere.
"Another lackey-like Monster. You won't show your true strength, yet you refuse to be struck down into the abyss of defeat. You're making things very difficult for me, Kobayashi Hayato!"
Unlike the others, Kaiba was not moved by 【Rainbow Kuriboh】's spontaneous act of protection. Although he didn't understand what 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 said, he felt annoyed, believing that its final words were definitely not good. He ordered again: "Now I'll see what other moves you have!"
"【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, use your final full power attack to secure the victory!"
"Hyper Neutron Blast!!"
The only head of 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 that hadn't attacked yet began to brew its final attack. Seeing 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】's third attack about to strike, Hayato also flipped the only Set Card in his Backrow: "I Activate the Trap Card 【Dark Dimension Liberation】!"
"Targeting one DARK Attribute Monster of mine that is banished, I Special Summon it! Return, 【Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight】!"
Facing the second direct attack from the 4500 Attack Point 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, taking over from 【Rainbow Kuriboh】 was another of Hayato's Ace Card, 【Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight】.
Its sharp lance was instantly melted by the dragon breath, proving fragile. 【Gaia】, facing the high temperature within the stream of light with composure, like a tough guy, didn't utter a sound. It just turned its head, gave Hayato a thumb, and was then destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.
"Hmph, that routine again." Kaiba frowned slightly, quite annoyed that his confident attack had been blocked again.
Looking at the card in his hand, Kaiba Set one card and said: "Because 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 used its ability to attack three times, at the end of this Battle Phase, 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 will be destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. I Set a card. My turn ends here."
A Set Card appeared in Kaiba's Backrow. At the same time, the 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 on the field, which had exerted immense presence, shed snowflake-like particles all over its body and disappeared from the field.
【Kaiba: 1300 LP, Hand 1】
【Set Card】
Watching 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 disappear, Hayato took a deep breath and said: "It seems you are quite obsessed with achieving complete victory in Duel Monsters, Kaiba."
"Isn't that what Duelists pursue?" Kaiba retorted, his face displaying a confident expression like a King leading his army to surround an enemy fortress and about to achieve victory, despite his field being empty.
Hayato nodded: "You're right."
"You said earlier that you wanted me to go all out in this Duel, right? I'll apologize first. You are a considerably powerful Duelist, and not using my full power before was indeed a disregard towards you." As he spoke, Hayato placed his finger on the Duel Disk, "As an apology, I'll let you see the Dragon at the peak of my Deck!"
"My Turn, Draw Card!"
Drawing the card, Hayato played it after just one glance: "I Activate the Spell Card 【Dimension Fusion】! I pay 2000 Life Points! Both players Special Summon their banished monsters to their respective fields!"
"You're actually paying a full 2000 Life Points in one go?!" Kaiba on the opposite field frowned, "Your Life Points are only 2100. After paying the cost for this card, you'll only have the last 100 left."
"Recklessly paying your own Life Points, are you seeking your own death?!"
"Heh heh, as long as it brings me victory, you can take my Life Points,"
【Hayato: 2100 → 100 LP】
His Life Points plummeted to three digits, but Hayato's expression remained calm, "Besides, as long as they aren't reduced to zero, a Duelist's Life Points are infinite!"
"Hmph, that's your freedom. But no matter what Monster you Summon, you won't defeat my invincible 【Blue-Eyes】. Or perhaps, you think my field is actually empty?" Kaiba sneered and flipped his Set Card in the Backrow, "I Activate my Set Card 【Graverobber】! I pay 1000 Life Points to gain the right to use one card from my opponent's Graveyard!"
"The one I choose is the 【Dragon's Mirror】 you used earlier to Summon 【Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion】!"
【Kaiba: 1300 → 300 LP】
As Kaiba's Life Points decreased, the appearance of the 【Graverobber】 in Kaiba's hand changed, actually transforming into Hayato's 【Dragon's Mirror】!
"You say I'm recklessly paying Life Points, but you're doing the same, Kaiba." Hayato muttered, watching Kaiba take his 【Dragon's Mirror】 from the Graveyard. At the same time, he saw through Kaiba's plan.
"When the card excavated by 【Graverobber】 is a Spell/Trap Card, its effect can be activated immediately. I will similarly banish the Fusion Material Monsters specified by the Fusion Monster from the Graveyard and Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type Monster."
Kaiba's lips curled into a smile: "The one I will Summon is, of course, 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】!"
"Be banished from the game temporarily, my 【Blue-Eyes】!"
An exaggeratedly large 【Dragon's Mirror】 appeared in Kaiba's Backrow. From his Graveyard, the transparent soul forms of three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 were absorbed into the mirror world. Accompanied by three overlapping dragon roars, the giant 【Dragon's Mirror】 shattered with a crash, and the large body of 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 appeared from the mirror world!
"Roar!!" While roaring, 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】's feet landed on the ground. The power of the 【Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 that existed in Kaiba's Graveyard actually reappeared and attached itself to 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】?!
Not only that, after resolving the effect of the 【Dragon's Mirror】 stolen by 【Graverobber】, the effect of 【Dimension Fusion】 that Hayato had activated earlier began to resolve!
"Come forth, 【Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders】! 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV5】! 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV7】! 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】! And 【Rainbow Kuriboh】!"
A wormhole leading to another dimension opened above the Duel Arena. From that hole, Hayato's five Monsters appeared simultaneously.
【Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders】【DEF 3000】
【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】【ATK 3000】
【Armed Dragon Thunder LV7】【ATK 2800】
【Armed Dragon Thunder LV5】【ATK 2400】
【Rainbow Kuriboh】【DEF 100】
Kaiba's side was not to be outdone. Beside the large 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, three slightly smaller 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 landed on the field for Kaiba.
【Dimension Fusion】 is a card that allows both players to Special Summon as many banished monsters as possible. At the start of this turn, Kaiba had no banished monsters at all, so Hayato activating 【Dimension Fusion】 wouldn't give him any advantage.
【Graverobber】 targeting 【Dragon's Mirror】, then using 【Dragon's Mirror】 to banish three 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 from the Graveyard, and then using 【Dimension Fusion】 to Special Summon the three Blue-Eyes to the field—one has to say, this move by Kaiba was excellent.
However, what puzzled the onlookers was that Kaiba, contrary to his usual behavior, Special Summoned all his Monsters, whether it was 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 or 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】, in Defense Position?
【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】【DEF 2500】
【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】【DEF 3800】
"Brother, who always advocates that a strong attack is the best strategy, actually chose to Special Summon his Monsters in the relatively weak Defense Position?"
Let alone others, even Kaiba's younger brother Mokuba couldn't quite understand why Kaiba chose to Summon his Monsters in the relatively weak Defense Position.
The attack of 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】 on the field for Hayato is 3000 points. Although its ability to gain effects based on attack couldn't be used because it was Special Summoned by the effect of 【Dimension Fusion】 and not by the effect of an 【Armed Dragon】 Monster, it's important to remember that the 【Armed Dragon Shockwave】 in Hayato's Backrow hadn't moved.
If he used the effect of 【Armed Dragon Shockwave】 to increase the attack of 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】, its attack would rise to 4000 points, which still wouldn't be able to destroy the 4500 Attack Point 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 on the field for Kaiba.
However, Kaiba specifically Summoned 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 in Defense Position. Its 3800 Defense points is just enough to be destroyed by 【Armed Dragon Thunder LV10】!
Most others couldn't understand why Kaiba would do this, but Yugi Mutou saw the reason for Kaiba's choice of defense.
"The strongest Dragon, not Dragon-Type but Dragon. The Monsters Hayato is about to Summon are those two, right?"
Hayato also knew the reason for Kaiba's actions, but he just smiled slightly: "The battle has reached this point, not only our Life Points, but also our hands are running low. In that case, I Activate the Spell Card 【Card of Demise】!"
Although he had repeatedly complained about the overly powerful card drawing/cycling card 【Heavenly Gift Card】 needing to be limited when Dueling Yugi Mutou, the double-standard Hayato still included three copies of 【Card of Demise】 in his Deck and had drawn one of them last turn.
Kaiba and Hayato both replenished their hands to six cards. Compared to Kaiba, who still had one card that was 1000% 【Obelisk the Tormentor】, the empty-handed Hayato drew one more card than him.
As Hayato drew the card, Kaiba and Yugi Mutou both stared at one of Hayato's hand cards. On the card, an invisible presence equal to that of 【Obelisk the Tormentor】 was spreading.
In fact, even before drawing it, Hayato had felt the aura of a God Card coming from the very top of his Deck. This was why he said he was going to Summon the "strongest Dragon".
However, after drawing the card and seeing that God Card, Hayato was also stunned.
Because he found that what he drew was not at all the 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 that he had just sensed, which had powerful and useful effects and could be trusted,
Why was it 【Slime Token】?!?!
