Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

"My turn, draw!"

Zane drew a card.

Of course, everyone knew it was the Cyber Dragon that just got bounced to the top of his deck. While Cyber Dragon was once the strongest beater, it couldn't get past Raiza.

"Spell Card: 'Graceful Charity!'" Zane declared. "Draw three cards, then discard two."

He quickly drew three, then discarded two.

"One of the cards I discard is the Spell Card 'Card of Compensation.' I draw two cards from my deck." (Manga Card)

Glancing at his new draws, Zane quickly formulated a plan.

"When my opponent controls a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon 'Cyber Dragon' again!"

[Cyber Dragon, ATK 2100]

"Then I activate my face-down—Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse!' Special Summon a monster with 1000 or less ATK from my graveyard in Attack Position.

I'll revive the monster I just discarded…"

He pulled a card from his graveyard slot.

"Special Summon 'The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion'!"

[The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion, ATK 1000]

"Now, activate Fusion Substitute Monster's effect. By tributing itself and other monsters on the field as Fusion Materials, I can use it as a substitute for a named material to Fusion Summon a LIGHT Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!"

He indicated the monsters on his field.

"I tribute 'The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion' and 'Cyber Dragon,' using the substitute as the second 'Cyber Dragon' for Fusion! Appear—

—Cyber Twin Dragon!"

The Fusion Substitute Monster released a surge of light, forming a vortex. Its body transformed into Cyber Dragon's form, and together with the other Cyber Dragon, they vanished into the light.

A steel-white body, forged like armor, gleamed with a metallic sheen.

Twin dragon heads, electricity crackling like silver snakes across its body.

[Cyber Twin Dragon, ATK 2800]

The crowd was excited: "There it is! Kaiser's strongest monster, just below Cyber End Dragon—Cyber Twin Dragon!"

Though the anime called it "second only to Cyber End Dragon," in early tournaments, Twin Dragon was actually considered stronger and more frequently used.

"And I'm not done!" Zane shouted, "Spell Card: 'Monster Reborn!' Special Summon a monster from the graveyard!

I revive 'The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion' that was just used as Fusion material!"

[The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion, DEF 1600]

"Then, I Normal Summon 'Proto-Cyber Dragon' from my hand!"

[Proto-Cyber Dragon, ATK 1100]

A Level 3 downsized version of Cyber Dragon—basically the prototype. For a long time, it was the only card that could substitute for Cyber Dragon, but as the Cyber Dragon archetype got more support, it eventually became obsolete.

"'Proto-Cyber Dragon' effect: While this card is on the field, it is treated as 'Cyber Dragon.' Now I activate 'The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion' again!

I tribute the substitute and Proto-Cyber Dragon (as Cyber Dragon) to Fusion Summon another LIGHT Fusion Monster!"

The substitute morphed into Cyber Dragon's form, and two Cyber Dragons merged in a whirl of light. Lightning flashed, and another twin-headed metal dragon roared onto the field.

"Cyber Twin Dragon #2—Summon!"

[Cyber Twin Dragon, ATK 2800]

Kira mused, "You even have a second one…"

But in the anime, Kaiser had two Cyber End Dragons, so having two Cyber Twins wasn't strange.

The crowd was already fired up, and they hadn't even started the battle phase.

"As expected of Kaiser—he instantly summoned two Twin Dragons! Two of them!"

The blue-uniformed student was especially excited.

"Cyber Twin Dragon can attack twice per turn—if he's got two…"

"That's four attacks in one turn!" another student chimed in.

2800 ATK, four times—what a concept!

One turn KO, and then some.

"Your Monarch, and my Cyber Dragons—let's see which is truly the strongest power of Duel Academy!"

Zane declared.

"Battle! First, the first Cyber Twin Dragon attacks Raiza!"

Both dragon mouths charged with fire and lightning, the left head unleashing a beam at Raiza!

Kira snapped his fingers. "Activate the Trap Card 'Spiritual Wind Art – Miyabi.' Tribute a WIND monster I control, then return one of your cards on the field to the bottom of your deck.

I tribute 'Raiza the Storm Monarch' and send your Cyber Twin Dragon to the bottom of your deck."

Raiza spread its arms as if burning itself out, releasing a final storm. The power of wind erupted, engulfing the Twin Dragon in a green tornado until it vanished.

"Ugh, sent back to the deck…"

After going to all that trouble to summon it, having it blown away so easily made even Zane frown.

But it was fine.

What about the second one?

"Then Cyber Twin Dragon #2 attacks directly!"

With Raiza and Twin Dragon #1 gone, Kira's field was empty. Twin Dragon #2's double strike could easily secure victory!

"Activate the Trap Card 'Phoenix Wing Wind Blast.'"

Kira flipped a back row card and discarded a card from his hand.

"I discard one card, then return a card on your field to the top of your deck. I discard a card to send your Cyber Twin Dragon #2 to the top of your deck."

The spirit of Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys appeared, spreading its wings. A fiery storm swept up and swallowed the second Twin Dragon, its metallic body vanishing in the flames.

Zane: "…"

The crowd: "…"

So now both sides were left with empty fields.

"That was close—really close. As expected of Kaiser," Kira grinned. "If I hadn't been careful, your Twin Dragons would've finished me off in one turn."

Zane: "…"

He suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

It was like playing a competitive online game, using a high-difficulty, flashy hero with insane hand speed and fancy footwork. You pull off all your tricks—maximum style, all skills used.

And then your opponent, playing some boring stats monster, just presses one button, deals 999 damage, and you get instantly KO'd.

Afterward, that guy even wipes his brow and says, "Phew, that was close. Good thing my skills are better…"