Yu-Gi-Oh: Fusion Is the Noblest Summoning Method!

Zane clenched his fists.

He had prepared himself to face countless opponents. On the pro circuit, he'd dealt with all sorts of restrictions and counters.

In a match just a few days ago, he'd even been hit with "System Crash," wiping out every Machine monster from his field and Graveyard. But he still managed to scrape together a victory and barely make it into the Top 32.

Barely.

But even then, he had never faced a situation like this, facing his own Cyber Dragon!

"End turn."

Zane ended his turn with a grim face.

"My turn, draw!" The robber drew, glanced at the card, and clicked his tongue. "Battle! Cyber Twin Dragon, direct attack!"

"You pest! Pay the price for getting in the way of my big score!"

Cyber Twin Dragon twisted its body, clearly unwilling.

"Cyber Twin Dragon!!" Zane felt like his heart was bleeding.

No matter how desperately he screamed, as soon as a strange sigil appeared on Cyber Twin Dragon, he could only take the direct attack head-on.

"Aaaagh!!"

The blast hit Zane directly. The force flung him across the shop, smashing into the counter, scattering everything. He struggled to his feet, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

[Zane, LP: 4000 → 1200]

What... what the hell was this?!

Why did this pain feel so real, worse than dueling with spirits?

"Hehehe..."

"How does it feel to be crushed by your beloved monster?" the robber laughed maniacally. "I'm gonna shred you, grind you, crush you with your own monster, and toss your remains into a dimensional rift like garbage!"

"You bastard!!" Zane struggled to stand, finally noticing how strange the surroundings were.

The shattered counter floated midair. The blood he coughed up hung suspended.

And then there were those two, a man and a machine, standing nearby.

Clearly, he had gotten dragged into some major interdimensional incident, just like the one with the Sacred Beasts.

Zane got back to his feet, and somehow, his mind felt clearer than before.

"But! That Spaceway Octobypass's effect triggers at the end of the Damage Step after a monster inflicts battle damage with a direct attack. In other words, it's a mandatory trigger!"

"Tch... A weak old monster like that isn't worth keeping. Fine, take it back." The robber scoffed.

"YOU!!"

Zane gritted his teeth and roared.

"Hehehe. I set a card and end my turn."

Zane clenched his fists tighter.

A terrifying, overwhelming supernatural power surged through his body. But beyond that...

For the first time in his life, something even worse.

He felt rage. Real, blinding rage at his opponent as a person.

Duelists should respect each other. Dueling is sacred. The goal of a duel is to pursue brilliance, beauty. That was what he was taught at the Academy, and it was what he had always believed.

It was thanks to dueling that their world continued to develop and thrive.

It was thanks to dueling that their world could transcend dimensions and do things beneficial for humanity.

Dueling is noble.

He had always believed that.

Even interdimensional spirits, even the Shadow Riders, they had always fought with dignity and ideals through dueling.

And he had always respected his opponents.

But today...

For the first time, he felt real rage toward another human.

"My turn, draw!"

With fury, he slapped down a card. "Normal Summon, Cyber Dragon Drei!"

A golden-edged mechanical dragon appeared on his field.

[Cyber Dragon Drei]

Level 4 │ LIGHT │ Machine │ 1800 ATK

"While on the field or in the Graveyard, this card is treated as 'Cyber Dragon'!"

"Battle Phase!!"

Zane roared as he declared battle. This time, however, the opponent didn't activate any monster effect.

"Huh? Why isn't he activating the Number's effect, Master Kite?" the robot asked in confusion.

"...Hah. Of course, it's the Life Points." Kite sighed helplessly.

Indeed, Spaceway Octobypass had the ability to seize monsters, but LP was limited.

Both sides had 1200 LP now. If the robber activated the effect again, it would force a direct attack... which would be suicidal!

"Cyber Twin Dragon, attack Spaceway Octobypass!!"

Boom.

"Too bad," Kite muttered under his breath.

...What?

Zane blinked in confusion.

"Numbers can only be destroyed by other Numbers!" Before Kite's group could explain, the robber cackled, "So even if you've got 2800 Attack, it doesn't matter! You can't destroy Spaceway Octobypass!"

"Ghhh..."

"Next turn, if I draw any monster with 1200 Attack or more, I can use Octobypass's effect for a direct attack. Then you're DONE! Hehehe! You're finished, you damn interdimensional freak. I'm gonna rip you apart!"

"Then I'll finish you here and now!!" Zane roared, flipping his set card. "Activate the Quick-Play Spell, Cybernetic Revolution!"

"Tribute 1 'Cyber Dragon' to Special Summon a Fusion Monster that lists 'Cyber Dragon' as material from the Extra Deck! That monster can't attack directly, and it's destroyed during the End Phase of the next turn!"

"I tribute Cyber Dragon Drei to Special Summon... Cyber End Dragon!!"

A surge of violent electricity roared as the three-headed mechanical dragon descended onto Zane's field.

[Cyber End Dragon]

Level 10 │ LIGHT │ Machine │ 4000 ATK

"4000 Attack?!"

"And not just that, it deals piercing battle damage when attacking Defense Position monsters!"

"Ugh!!"

The robber's face twisted in terror.

"Attack! Cyber End Dragon, attack Spaceway Octobypass! This ends..."

"Not so fast! I activate the Counter Trap, Negate Attack!" The robber flipped his set card. "Negate the attack and end the Battle Phase!"

The Cyber End Dragon, mid-charge, was forced to power down, halting its assault.

Zane clenched his fists even tighter.

He glanced at his hand, then set a card. As furious as he was, he had no choice but to end his turn.

"Looks like the interdimensional guy's stuck now, Master Kite!" The robot saluted. "I'll prepare to duel."

But Kite, arms crossed, didn't respond.

He simply kept watching the duel quietly.

"Hah, my turn! Draw!"

The robber drew, glanced at his card, then grinned as he looked toward his Continuous Trap to the left.

Even though he didn't draw a monster with 1200 Attack, with those two cards combined...

He was invincible!