Chapter 77: Five-Part Combination!
Note: If you want the continuity of this story consider to join Pãtreon/Flokixy to access advance Chapters and To Support The Daily Update
Pay one time and unlock the full story and Future Chapters from the Shop
"This is my full power!"
Asuka executed her move, revealing another card from her hand. Flowing golden light rippled on the green Spell Card.
"Spell Card 'Ritual Sanctuary'!
Add 1 Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand, then you can add 1 Ritual Spell from your Graveyard to your hand!"
She drew her deck, fanned it out, quickly selected a card, and displayed it.
"I add the Level 6 'Cyber Angel - Idaten' from my Deck to my hand!"
The deck was shuffled and reinserted into the Duel Disk. Then, golden light shot out from her Duel Disk's Graveyard Zone, and a card ejected from it.
"This card, discarded earlier as the cost for activating 'Ritual Church', the Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual', returns to my hand!"
As she spoke, she immediately inserted the searched card into her Duel Disk.
"Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual' activate! Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the 'Cyber Angel' Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon!"
She revealed the two Ritual Monsters she had just searched.
"I tribute the Level 6 'Cyber Angel - Benten', Ritual Summon!
Appear, embodiment of light and wisdom—
—Level 6, Cyber Angel - Idaten!"
The mechanical ritual altar materialized. Benten's form flashed briefly before transforming into a pillar of light soaring skyward. The well-endowed and tall Cyber Angel emerged from the light pillar.
[Cyber Angel - Idaten, ATK 1600]
(The official card game version of Benten gained the powerful ability "When this card is tributed: You can add 1 LIGHT Fairy monster from your Deck to your hand," but that was an OCG original from ten years later; the original anime version doesn't seem to have this effect.)
(However, anime characters can always draw the cards they want anyway, so they don't particularly need search effects.)
Asuka then waved her hand grandly.
"'Cyber Angel - Idaten's' effect! If this card is Ritual Summoned successfully: You can add 1 Spell Card from your Graveyard to your hand!" (Anime effect)
(Idaten's official card was changed to only being able to recover Ritual Spells, but it can not only recover from the Graveyard but also search from the Deck. The original anime version of Idaten could recover any Spell, so each has its pros and cons.)
"I recover this card from my Graveyard... Spell Card 'Pot of Acquisitiveness'!" Asuka declared. "Then I activate Spell Card 'Pot of Acquisitiveness' again! Both players draw three more cards from their Decks!"
You Xuan calmly accepted the three extra cards his opponent sent him: "Planning to settle this within this turn?"
Although giving the opponent resources carries a huge risk, Asuka's decision in the current situation wasn't necessarily wrong. Because You Xuan had the XYZ-Dragon Cannon on his field, which could destroy cards and had full immunity, Asuka, with only 200 Life Points remaining, would almost certainly face a death sentence next turn if she did nothing. She could only gamble on this turn.
This was the same principle as sometimes having to "play through Maxx 'C'" in modern Yu-Gi-Oh!. If the opponent activates "Maxx 'C'" during your turn, they draw a card each time you Special Summon. If you want to extend your plays, you have to perform many Special Summons, sometimes giving the opponent a massive advantage of over ten cards in a single turn.
But even understanding this, many people still choose to risk giving their opponent half a deck's worth of resources to play through Maxx "C". As they say, "risk it for the biscuit"; what if you manage to OTK the opponent this turn despite Maxx "C"?
"Then I Normal Summon 'Cyber Petit Angel'!"
[Cyber Petit Angel, ATK 300]
"'Cyber Petit Angel's' effect! When this card is Summoned: You can add 1 'Machine Angel Ritual' from your Deck to your hand."
Asuka fanned out her deck and searched again, then immediately played the card she had just searched.
"The Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual' searched from the Deck is activated again! This time, I tribute the Level 2 'Cyber Petit Angel' and 'Cyber Angel - Idaten' on the field for an advanced Ritual Summon!
Illuminate the path forward with your radiant power! Angel of light, descend now—
—Level 8, Cyber Angel - Dakini!!!"
The two angels vanished from the ritual altar. A spiraling pillar of light shot skyward again. The sacred, four-armed angel emerged spinning, holding a long blue staff in two hands, and a sword and blade in the other two, her aura as imposing as a queen's.
[Cyber Angel - Dakini, ATK 2700]
Cyber Angel - Dakini was also the strongest monster Asuka used in the TV series, her true ace.
(The official card game "Cyber Angel - Idaten," when tributed and sent to the Graveyard, can grant a Ritual Monster you control 1000 ATK, but that was also an OCG original.)
"'Cyber Angel - Dakini's' effect!" Asuka declared with a wave of her hand. "If this card is Ritual Summoned successfully: Your opponent must send 1 monster they control to the Graveyard! And since you only have one monster on your field right now, you have no choice!"
Asuka pointed towards You Xuan's field.
"You can only choose to send 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' to the Graveyard!"
The entire audience gasped in amazement again.
Of course, some less knowledgeable students' voices were mixed in. For example, Marufuji Sho, the slacker from Osiris Red: "Eh? Isn't 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' protected by 'Super Anti-Kaiju War Machine Mecha-Thunder-King', making it unaffected by any Spell, Trap, or monster effects?"
At this moment, Misawa Daichi, the representative of top students who had appeared beside them at some point, explained with his arms crossed: "Because Dakini's effect doesn't affect the opponent's monster, but the opponent duelist.
'Must send 1 monster they control to the Graveyard'—this is an effect applied to the opposing duelist. When You Xuan accepts this effect and sends 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' to the Graveyard, it's the same as if he himself tributed 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' to send it to the Graveyard. Therefore, no matter how strong its resistance, it cannot withstand this kind of removal."
"Eh, is that so!?" Marufuji Sho was greatly surprised.
Everyone who realized this couldn't help but look at Asuka with even greater admiration. Especially Upperclassman Kohinata Seika, who seemed to have completely forgotten they were competitors, and why they were even dueling.
"Facing a monster with complete immunity, almost invincible, and with so few Life Points remaining... even in such a situation, she found a way to turn things around?"
"You actually found the weakness of absolute immunity?" You Xuan smiled.
"There are no undefeatable monsters," Asuka also smiled. "Every monster has a way to be countered. This is the answer I, as a duelist, present."
"A good answer, but... unfortunately, I won't go easy on you either. Activate Set card before Dakini's effect resolves!"
You Xuan raised his arm, and his Set card in the backrow flipped up.
"Trap Card - Interdimensional Matter Transporter!
Until the End Phase, banish 1 face-up monster you control!"
A high-tech transporter broke through the dimensional barrier, opening a huge vortex that sucked XYZ-Dragon Cannon into it, making it vanish without a trace.
Asuka: "!!!"
It actually ran away?
"This way, when Dakini's effect resolves, there are no monsters on my field," You Xuan stated. "Naturally, I can't choose a monster to send to the Graveyard."
"But this way, your field becomes completely empty!" Asuka declared. "Then 'Cyber Angel - Dakini', attack directly!"
Dakini flew forward, her twin blades slashing straight towards You Xuan's empty field.
With 2700 ATK, this attack, if it went through, would also be enough to decide the match!
But just as the blade was about to fall, a white light suddenly bloomed, and a transparent, illusory defensive gate blocked the Cyber Angel's descending blades.
"Trap Card 'Negate Attack'."⁹ You Xuan stated. "Can only be activated when an opponent's monster declares a direct attack. That attack is negated, and I draw 1 card from my Deck."
A dazzling white light exploded, instantly repelling the Cyber Angel's blades. You Xuan drew a card accordingly, and Asuka's sure-kill attack was thus rendered fruitless.
"Alright then... I Set one card and end my turn."
Asuka's turn ended, and the nearby students couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Too intense...
Such high-speed offense and defense, an endless stream of tactics—it was truly stimulating for most students who were still at the "Axe Raider beatdown" stage. Regardless of the outcome, they were already thoroughly impressed by both duelists.
And at this moment, Asuka was also under immense pressure.
She had already given it her all, almost to the point of overexertion, but this was as far as she could go. She still hadn't been able to breach the opponent's defenses.
No, the opponent didn't even seem to show any obvious signs of tension.
Is this my limit right now...
"End Phase, the effect of 'Interdimensional Matter Transporter' ends," You Xuan stated calmly. "'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' returns to the field."
[XYZ-Dragon Cannon, ATK 2800]
"Next is my turn, draw." You Xuan declared. "'XYZ-Dragon Cannon's' effect activates. Discard 1 card from your hand to destroy 1 card your opponent controls. I discard 1 card to destroy 'Cyber Angel - Dakini'!"
"I knew it!" Asuka declared. "Activate Set card, Continuous Trap - Fiendish Chain!"¹⁰
The Trap Card flipped up. Dark green demonic chains shot out from the card, coiling around the heavy Dragon Cannon mecha like agile snakes, binding it firmly, rendering it unable to move an inch.
"'Fiendish Chain' can bind one monster on the opponent's field. That monster cannot attack, and its effects are negated!" Asuka stated. "Although your 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' was previously protected by 'Super Anti-Kaiju War Machine Mecha-Thunder-King' and unaffected by Trap effects, 'Super Anti-Kaiju War Machine Mecha-Thunder-King' is a Trap Card used as an Equip Card. Last turn, you used 'Interdimensional Matter Transporter' to make 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' leave the field, so the Equip Card naturally lost its target. Therefore, the 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' that has now returned to the field no longer possesses Trap immunity!"
"Beautiful!" Gold-medal commentator Misawa Daichi continued his commentary. "This way, Dragon Cannon can neither destroy cards nor attack again, completely shutting down You Xuan's offense!"
"Asuka-san is so amazing too!" Judai's eyes were also shining. "Aaaah, I really want to duel her! I also really want to duel You Xuan! They're both so strong!"
You Xuan still just smiled.
"As expected, you still had countermeasures for XYZ hidden. Truly impressive."
Whether it was deck strength or the duelist's Destiny Power, even the current Asuka had already significantly surpassed most students at Duel Academy by eight country miles. It wasn't unreasonable to call her the most anticipated rookie candidate.
But this way, her resources were also completely depleted.
It was over.
"I Normal Summon 'V-Tiger Jet'." You Xuan stated calmly.
[V-Tiger Jet, ATK 1600]
"At this moment, the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Different Dimension Hangar' activates," You Xuan declared. "When a monster is Summoned to my side of the field, if among the Union monsters banished by Hangar's effect, there is a monster whose card text lists the name of the Summoned monster, then those Union monsters can be Special Summoned from the Banished Zone."
You Xuan revealed another card from his Banished Zone.
"Therefore, I Special Summon 'W-Wing Catapult' from the Banished Zone."
[W-Wing Catapult, ATK 1300]
"'V-Tiger Jet' plus 'W-Wing Catapult', transform and combine!"
The two newly appeared mechs began to transform and combine, emitting electric currents that attracted each other, nesting and assembling, quickly completing the two-in-one transformation.
"VW-Tiger Catapult, Combination Summon!"
[VW-Tiger Catapult, ATK 2000]
"Next, using 'VW-Tiger Catapult' and 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' on the field, further transform and combine!
Let the gathered power transform into an invincible Dragon Cannon! Unleash the power to pulverize everything with roaring artillery fire! Five-Part Combination—
—Level 8, VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon!!!"
The two mechs began to transform again, attracting and assembling each other. As the sounds of metal grinding and parts operating grew louder, they gradually transformed into the figure of a colossal metal giant. Its steel feet stomped as if making the very ground of the venue tremble. The dragon's red wings unfolded behind it, and dazzling electric arcs constantly flashed from the steel giant's body.
It was just that after transforming into giant form, the position of Y-Dragon Head became even harder to describe. One could only say that the Great Evil God Zorc would surely appreciate this design aesthetic and call it professional...
[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 3000]
"It's actually a five-part combination..."
Asuka gazed up at the enormous steel giant, momentarily dazed.
My limit... ends here...
"After the Combination Summon, Fiendish Chain naturally loses its target to bind," You Xuan stated. "Then 'VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon', effect activate! Once per turn, you can banish any 1 card your opponent controls from the game. Therefore, directly banish 'Cyber Angel - Dakini' from the game! Extradimensional Bombardment!"
Electric light surged on the steel giant, its cannon barrel locking onto Dakini's position. Dazzling electric arcs leaped, and a brilliant light trail, like that of an electromagnetic cannon, struck through Dakini's body, turning it into a phantom.
"Then 'VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon', attack directly!"
You Xuan tilted his head, mulling over a skill name.
"...Justice Rains From Above!"
All the numerous cannon barrels and gun muzzles on the mecha giant popped open, all cannons locking on. Dazzling beams, scorching artillery fire, a sky full of missiles—an overwhelming bombardment surged forth as if to blot out the sun...
Asuka gently closed her eyes.
So this is it.
I lost...
BOOM——!
[Tenjoin Asuka, LP 200 → LP 0]