129 The Power of a Hero—Ending the Match with an OTK!

"My turn, draw!"

Glancing at the card, Youyi played it immediately.

"Magic card, 'Card of Sanctity.' At this moment, it is a card that is very useful for both of us."

Although he said that, it all depended on who used it and when. It was currently Youyi's turn, and he had no cards in his hand; the appearance of the Card of Sanctity undoubtedly provided him with the capital to return to the fray.

Youyi happily drew six cards, while Kaiba replenished his hand with three, though his expression turned somewhat gloomy.

Glancing at his six cards, Youyi’s lips curled into a smile. He looked up, his gaze meeting Kaiba’s across the field, and said:

"Kaiba! I never expected that your Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’s evolved form, 'Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon,' could drag a Phantom God into the Graveyard. However, this duel ends here!"

Kaiba had no set cards on his field, which meant that, without interruption, Youyi could fully unleash the power of his heroes and end the match this turn.

"Magic card, 'A Hero Lives!' Since I have no monsters on my field, I pay 1000 Life Points to special summon 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' from my Deck!"

If he wanted to execute an OTK, he had to start by burning some Life Points.

"When Bubbleman is summoned, if I have no other cards on my field, I can draw two cards from my Deck."

As Bubbleman blew two large bubbles, Youyi’s hand size increased to seven.

"Following the hero’s arrival, it is time for the heroes to unite! Under the effect of the 'Hero Alliance' magic card, I special summon two Level 4 or lower 'Elemental HERO' monsters from my hand. Come forth! Elemental HERO Stratos! And Elemental HERO Blazeman!"

At the call of the alliance, the veteran of the hero series, Stratos, made a flashy entrance amidst a whirlwind, followed by Blazeman, the overworked hero often used to search for "Polymerization."

"Both heroes have effects that trigger upon summoning, so I will resolve them as a chain."

"First, Blazeman’s effect: when successfully special summoned, I can add one 'Polymerization' magic card from my Deck to my hand."

Catching the lava rock thrown by Blazeman, Youyi now had a second "Polymerization" in his hand.

"Then, Stratos’s effect: also upon successful special summon, I can add one 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand."

With this, Youyi obtained a hero clad in metallic armor.

"Next, I expend my once-per-turn Normal Summon to summon 'Elemental HERO Solid Soldier,' which I just searched with Stratos!"

Solid Soldier, with his hands, legs, head, and torso covered in metallic armor, appeared on the field.

"I activate the magic card 'Polymerization' to fuse 'Elemental HERO Solid Soldier' and 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' from my field!"

The ground shook as a giant as massive as a mountain rose from the earth.

"Using an Earth-attribute monster and an 'Elemental HERO' monster as materials, I fusion summon—Elemental HERO Gaia!"

The hero, whom Youyi had summoned once before while testing the new generation of Duel Disks, made his appearance once again to face Kaiba’s Blue-Eyes series.

"Gaia’s effect! When fusion summoned, I can halve the attack points of one monster on the opponent’s field, and Gaia absorbs that halved amount until the end of this turn."

"Boom!"

Before Youyi could finish his sentence, Gaia couldn't help but raise a fist the size of Obelisk the Tormentor, slamming it into the ground toward the Abyss Blue-Eyes Dragon. Cracks instantly spread across the field, racing toward the dragon.

"Roar—!"

Seeing the fissure rushing toward her, the Abyss Blue-Eyes Dragon hurriedly flapped her wings to take flight. Unfortunately, she was a step too slow; just before soaring into the sky, half of her internal power was absorbed and transferred to Gaia.

"I activate the effect of Solid Soldier, sent to the Graveyard as fusion material! When this card is sent to the Graveyard by a magic card's effect, I can special summon a 'HERO' monster other than himself from my Graveyard in defense position."

The only other hero in the Graveyard besides himself was Bubbleman, who had been sent there as fusion material for Gaia.

"I activate my second 'Polymerization'! I fuse 'Elemental HERO Blazeman' on the field with the newly revived 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman'!"

A fusion of fire and water, a brand-new hero born from the explosion.

"Using a Fire-attribute monster and an 'Elemental HERO' monster as materials, I fusion summon—Elemental HERO Nova Master!"

Nova Master, like Gaia, was a fusion monster that required one "Elemental HERO" monster and one monster of a corresponding attribute. Youyi had pulled all of these from the "Store" packs using the crystals rewarded by the system after the Kingdom arc.

Unlike the hero fusions he had obtained earlier in the Kingdom, which required specific named materials—though he could use monsters like "King of the Swamp" as substitutes—these new ones were far more convenient. They only required an "Elemental HERO" and a monster of the matching attribute, and their effects were powerful. In particular, "Elemental HERO Absolute Zero," whose leaving-the-field effect was comparable to the brainless destruction of the "Raigeki" magic card!

Back on the field, as Youyi played his remaining "Fusion Quick-Play" cards, allowing his fusion heroes to attack on the turn they were summoned, the countdown to the end of the match began!

"Attack, my heroes!"

"First, Kaiba’s Abyss Blue-Eyes Dragon! Gaia! Smash her with one punch! Continental Hammer!"

Despite his massive size, Gaia moved with surprising ease. Thanks to the terrain, Gaia didn't even need to move to reach the enemy side with his giant fists.

"Boom!"

Weakened by Gaia’s effect, the Abyss Blue-Eyes Dragon was no match for him; she was defeated as easily as swatting a fly.

"Next, the attack from Nova Master! Burn that Minotaur! Meteorite Flame!"

Glancing casually at the Minotaur, Nova Master lazily flicked a ball of flame toward the "Enraged Battle Ox" that had been standing idle since it was summoned. To Nova Master, it was a casual flick of the wrist, but to the Minotaur, it was a falling meteor that spelled his doom!

"Boom!"

Without a shred of resistance, the creature was reduced to nothing under the scorching flames.

"Kaiba! This is the final blow! Let my Stratos bring this match to its conclusion!"

The final strike, naturally, had to be left to the big brother of the hero series, Stratos. Riding the wind, Stratos used his turbine-like wings to reach Kaiba in the blink of an eye. Just as he raised his fist to end the match for his master—

"Roar!!"

A dragon’s roar suddenly echoed. Stunned, Stratos had his attack forcibly interrupted and was pushed back to Youyi’s side by the owner of that roar.

"This is… Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"

Watching the white dragon that had suddenly appeared to protect Kaiba, Youyi spoke with hesitation. However, after a closer look, he corrected himself: it wasn't a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but—

"Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon! When I have a 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' in my hand, I can special summon this monster!"

Looking at the Alternative White Dragon on his field, Kaiba said coldly. This was his final trump card; if this couldn't save him, the match would truly end here.

'Special summoning during my Battle Phase… I see!'

Youyi recalled the scene from the movie. Kaiba had used the effect of the unreleased trap card "Dragon's Orb" to restore the power of "Crystal Dragon," which had been negated by dimensional effects. Because a battle had occurred, he immediately searched his deck for two White Dragons and used them to special summon the "sister-in-law," Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, during his own Battle Phase.

The scene before him was Kaiba’s anime-accurate performance. The special summon of "Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon" wasn't restricted to the Main Phase but was a trigger-like effect that could be activated at any time, provided he had a White Dragon in hand.

"I never imagined the Alternative White Dragon searched by the Abyss Blue-Eyes Dragon would be the card that saved you at this moment."

This was truly unexpected. Youyi had thought that aside from "Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon," all the "Blue-Eyes" cards Kaiba obtained from Pegasus followed his previous life's OCG effects. He hadn't expected the "sister-in-law" version of Alternative to function according to the anime rules.

"Kaiba! You used the effect of Alternative to summon her and block the fatal blow from Stratos! Then I will use Nova Master’s effect—drawing a card when a monster is destroyed in battle—to decide the outcome of this duel!"

Under the gaze of the crowd, Youyi placed his right hand on the top of his deck. As he said, this draw would determine the moment this match ended.

"Draw!"

A golden flash flickered. As Youyi raised the card, Stratos, whose attack had been interrupted, and Gaia, who had already attacked, both leaped into a suddenly appearing fusion vortex.

"Quick-Play Magic, 'Instant Fusion'! Until the end of this turn, I fuse 'Elemental HERO Stratos' and 'Elemental HERO Gaia' on the field!"

"A Wind-attribute monster plus an 'Elemental HERO' monster. Fusion summon—Elemental HERO Great Tornado!"

The "Wind" of the six attribute fusion heroes descended upon the field, cloaked in a wandering swordsman's black cape amidst a swirling tornado.

"With 2800 Attack, it still falls short of Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"

Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, aside from being an effect monster and having a slightly different appearance, was essentially the same as the "White Bride." Great Tornado was still 200 attack points shy of catching up.

"Great Tornado’s effect! When fusion summoned, halve the ATK and DEF of all monsters on the opponent’s field!"

"Nani?!"

"Air Blast!"

A hurricane swept across the field. The Alternative White Dragon tried to steady herself, but her dragon scales were torn by the hurricane's fury, leaving behind deep wounds.

"Kaiba! This is the true final blow!"

Kaiba: "..."

"Go! Tornado Thunderstorm!!"

The combination of tornado and lightning instantly tore apart the Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon that had tried to protect Kaiba to the bitter end!

"I announce! The winner of the second match of the City Championship is—President Youyi!"

The referee Isono’s voice rang out loudly, but the surroundings remained deathly silent. It wasn't until a long while later that the reporters and Yugi and his friends finally began to applaud.

The clash between the Ultimate Evolved Dragon and the Phantom God, followed by the final One Turn Kill, left everyone lingering on the match, unable to return to their senses until the very end.

"Youyi!"

Before the two could leave the stage, Kaiba walked up to him. Under Youyi's puzzled gaze, Kaiba spoke in his characteristic tsundere tone:

"You are a powerful duelist! I hope that in your upcoming duel with Yugi, you will continue to display this strength!"

He had already used the power of the Shining Dragon to bring down Obelisk the Tormentor, the most destructive of the Phantom Gods, from its pedestal. Now, he hoped Youyi would summon the other two Phantom Gods against Yugi!

Since he couldn't achieve the "Defeat the Three Phantom Gods" feat in this duel, he would leave it to his old rival, Yugi!

Come on, Yugi! I have already struck down Obelisk. I trust you won't let me down! Go and defeat the other two Phantom Gods! Prove that the gods are not invincible!

An oblivious Yugi: "...%#@*!"