127 Disruption of Order — The Radiant Nova!

"Go! Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon! Strike the god down into the mortal realm! Shining Neutron Blast!"

The Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon opened its jaws, and a series of energy rings, resembling a complex magic circle, manifested. A blue-white beam, crackling with jagged lightning, roared forth.

Faced with this bombardment—a blast with power over a thousand points greater than even that of Obelisk the Tormentor—Youyi calmly flipped his face-down card.

Whether it was the pathetic, nerfed OCG version or the true Shining Dragon from the theatrical animation capable of rivaling the Egyptian Gods, he would confirm it for himself right here and now!

"I activate the Trap Card, 'Mirror Force'! Kai→ba↓! Your so-called Shining Dragon that can rival the God cards shall fall before this noble power of the Ignis!"

Whether it is a dragon in the sky or a snake on the ground, show me what you are truly made of!

Under the noble power of the Ignis, the beam emitted by the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon was instantly caught by the reflective barrier. Empowered by this supreme force, the beam grew significantly wider than when originally fired, reflecting back to engulf the Shining Dragon and the nearby Enraged Battle Ox!

"Hmph! I have told you! As the intermediate evolution of the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, the Shining Dragon possesses power enough to rival the God cards! You→yi↓! Now, let me show you the second effect of the Shining Dragon!"

No sooner had Kaiba spoken than several blue rays of light projected from the sapphires embedded in the dragon's body. Before the reflected beam could reach them, these rays formed a massive protective shield, shielding both Kaiba and the trembling Enraged Battle Ox.

"Boom!"

The beam, amplified by the supreme force, smashed against the shield generated by the dragon itself.

As the dust settled, the monsters on Kaiba's field stood completely unscathed.

"What! Completely unharmed?"

Watching the field where it seemed as if nothing had happened, all the spectators were stunned.

"Hahahaha! Have you witnessed it? The power belonging to my Shining Dragon!"

Amidst his laughter, the White Bride of Light let out a roar toward the heavens. Once his laughter subsided, Kaiba explained the immunity effect of the Shining Dragon:

"The second ability of the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon! When an effect is activated that would influence a single card on my field, if that target is the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, I may decide whether or not to accept it based on the nature of the effect! Beneficial effects are accepted; negative, weakening effects are rejected!"

For example, take the Quick-Play Spell "Forbidden Chalice" that Kaiba had used earlier. If Youyi were to use it now, targeting the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, Kaiba would consider whether to allow the dragon to accept that single-target effect.

However, if "Forbidden Chalice" were used on the Enraged Battle Ox instead of the Shining Dragon, the dragon's special ability would not apply, and everything would proceed normally.

There is another special case: Equipment Spells that provide buffs. If Youyi were to attempt to destroy that Equip Spell, the effect could, from a certain perspective, be considered as affecting the Shining Dragon. Therefore, Kaiba could trigger the dragon's effect to negate the activation of the effect that would destroy the Equip Spell.

"When an effect that influences multiple cards on my field is activated, if that area-of-effect includes the Shining Dragon, I can choose whether or not to accept the influence of that global effect!"

Take the "Mirror Force" from earlier: its effect is to "destroy all attack position monsters the opponent controls." Since the Shining Dragon is currently in attack position, it falls within the range of destruction, allowing the activation of the dragon's effect to negate the destruction of Mirror Force and protect both itself and the nearby Enraged Battle Ox.

"Or consider 'Straight Flush,' which destroys all Spell and Trap cards in the opponent's backrow. If there are cards that are already influencing the Shining Dragon within its range, the dragon's effect would extend to this as well, allowing me, its master, to determine whether or not 'Straight Flush' can destroy my backrow."

In summary: Whenever an effect influences the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon itself, or any cards connected to her, the master, Kaiba, decides whether or not that effect continues to resolve.

"Hiss! What a powerful effect!"

"It truly is a power capable of rivaling the gods!"

"..."

After hearing Kaiba’s explanation and examples, everyone present could not help but exclaim. Protecting itself was one thing, but it could even protect cards connected to it!

*‘This differs slightly from the descriptions of Kaiba in the theatrical version...’*

Upon careful reflection, Youyi felt that the Shining Dragon’s effect as described by this Kaiba was more logical. Although the OCG had "engines" like Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon that could be slotted into any deck, compared to the effects described by the movie version of Kaiba, those were still quite amateur!

If he recalled correctly, Kaiba's description of the Shining Dragon’s second ability in the movie was, "All Spell, Trap, and Monster effects are accepted or rejected at the player's discretion." Taking that literally, it was just one word—broken!

Dragoon and the like would be completely helpless before it!

Returning to the reality of this Shining Dragon's second effect, after comparing it with the three Egyptian Gods he possessed, Youyi found that the animated versions of the gods could not compare at all. Only the system-customized versions, especially the heavily modified Obelisk, could rival it in terms of effects.

The animated Egyptian Gods—be it Slifer, Obelisk, or the highest-tier Ra—only seemed to influence the opponent's monsters and could not touch the player's backrow Spells and Traps.

But the system-customized version, especially Obelisk, had been modified to include: "Tribute three monsters on your field to destroy all Spells and Traps in the opponent's backrow." Much like the Shining Dragon, it could influence the backrow.

*‘Although it differs from the anime, it is still a terrifying ability!’*

Suddenly, Youyi noticed a blind spot. Since it was confirmed that this was the anime-version Shining Dragon, did that mean the effect where the Shining Dragon releases itself to force the destruction of cards on the field also existed in this reality?

*‘...Damn it!’*

Coming back to his senses and seeing the second wave of attacks coming from the Shining Dragon, Youyi hurriedly activated his other face-down card:

"Quick-Play Spell 'Scapegoat'! I Special Summon four 'Sheep Tokens' to my field!"

Of the only two Spell cards related to "Sheep" in Duel Monsters, both had been used by Youyi in this duel.

Watching the four little sheep materialize rapidly, Youyi shouted loudly:

"Obelisk! Absorb the soul power of two 'Sheep Tokens'! Activate your special ability!"

Understanding Youyi's intent and knowing this was the critical moment, Obelisk stopped acting sluggishly. Grabbing two of the sheep, it brutally absorbed their soul power to replenish itself.

"Kai→ba↓! Before your Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon's attack hits, I will use Obelisk's effect to raise its power to infinity for this Battle Phase! And I target your other monster, 'Enraged Battle Ox,' forcing it to battle Obelisk before the Shining Dragon's attack lands!"

That’s right, Youyi was recreating the classic scene from Yugi vs. Dark Marik in the anime, where Obelisk battled The Winged Dragon of Ra!

Ra had launched a normal attack, but Yugi used the anime-only Quick-Play Spell "Soul Taker" to capture Marik's "God Slime" onto his own field. Because it was a Fusion Monster, it could be forcibly unfused into two monsters, providing the tributes for the enraged Obelisk to boost its power to infinity during Marik's Battle Phase!

Just as he was about to defeat Marik, who was fused with Ra, Marik activated an original Quick-Play Spell, "Hierarchical System"—monsters of the same level could not be destroyed by battle until the end of the turn.

After blocking Obelisk's infinite attack, Marik followed up by letting Ra's normal attack go through...

Youyi intended to recreate that exact sequence. Before the Shining Dragon's attack arrived, he would use Obelisk's effect to engage in a forced battle with the Ox at Spell Speed 2! He would reduce Kaiba's Life Points to zero first!

"Using the tokens summoned by the Quick-Play Spell 'Scapegoat' combined with Obelisk's effect to create a 'One Turn Kill' combo during the opponent's turn? As expected of the opponent I acknowledge!"

Kaiba, having already studied the information on Obelisk's effects, immediately understood the intent behind Youyi's sequence of operations. In his own Battle Phase, before his Shining Dragon White Bride could strike, Youyi was using Obelisk to speed up and force a kill!

*Daga*—

"Naive! Absolutely naive!"

Kaiba shook his head, the corners of his mouth curling upward. He looked at his Shining Dragon White Bride with a determined gaze and roared:

"I have said it! The Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon is the ultimate evolution possessing power to rival the gods! Since you, Youyi, intend to OTK me during my Battle Phase, then I, Kaiba, shall drag your god off its pedestal before you can OTK me!"

"Nani?!"

Did Kaiba mean he was going to activate the Shining Dragon's third effect? But wasn't the third effect a Spell Speed 1 ignition effect? ...Wait! Had he been misled by the animation in the movie?

In Youyi's wide eyes, he could see Kaiba looking spirited. With a wave of his right hand, he activated the Shining Dragon's third ability—the ultimate effect that truly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Egyptian Gods!

"The final ability of the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon! I tribute it! Based on the number of Dragon-type monsters in my Graveyard, I choose an equal number of cards on the opponent's field or in their hand and force their destruction! Even a god that cannot be destroyed by effects must go to hell along with my Shining Dragon!!"

"Go! Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon! Shining Nova!!!"