"You actually said... fearing failure, I, the KING of this City!" Jack gritted his teeth and roared angrily.
"Hmph, are you a mediocre duelist who refuses to even admit that?"
Jack gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Jack understood.
Since leaving the Satellite Area, since becoming a member of Sector Security, since starting to participate in professional duels, he could feel it.
He had not grown or improved at all!
He's still the same person he was in the past, completely unchanged from the time he parted ways with Yusei!
Even though he had added many new Synchro Monsters to his hand, like Celestial Wolf Lord, it ultimately made no difference!
No—perhaps he had even become weaker!
Maybe, at some point, he had really become afraid, afraid of failure, afraid of seeing old friends, and even...
However, the desire to climb higher forced him to persevere.
Thus, after defeating another boring opponent, he declared a duel against Kaiba Seto under completely different rules from the plans set by Sector Security—because his heart told him so!
"Activate the effect of Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, targeting one monster on the opponent's field and destroying it! Crush it, unsightly dragon." He pointed at the Stardust Dragon.
"The monster effect of Stardust Dragon: when a Spell·Trap·Monster Effect that destroys cards on the field is activated, release this card, negate the activation and destroy it!"
"Sanctuary of the Victim!"
Although his head was in a mess, Jack still activated the effect.
"Even though I don't know what's going on, our KING has beautifully dealt with the new White Dragon!" Even though MC's head was a mess, his professional instincts drove him to shout out new lines for the commentary.
"Quick-Play Spell—Ultimate Fusion!"
As he was celebrating, Kaiba Seto used a new Spell Card again.
"This card is a Fusion Spell exclusive to Blue-Eyes!" Kaiba Seto shouted, "By returning Blue-Eyes White Dragon from your hand, field, and graveyard to the deck, you can Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster that uses [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] or [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] as Fusion Material from the Extra Deck!"
"Fusion!"
"Ah!"
Indeed—
Until now.
Kaiba Seto hadn't even fused yet!
"I return Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Graveyard, Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, and Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand to the deck!
Descend! My strongest servant—Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!!"
"Ah!"
"Wow!!!"
"Oh my—"
The pure white dragon slowly raised its massive dragon head, the three dragon heads focusing their gaze on Jack.
The ultimate form of Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!
LV 12, Light Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 4500!
"This is truly... the reappearance of a legend!" Even MC, a seasoned professional, couldn't help but mutter to himself as he watched this card descend.
"How about this, this is the strongest and most ultimate dragon in history!" Kaiba crossed his arms, his hair dancing in the wind, "Fight! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack that fake dragon!"
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon took a deep breath and then exhaled three dragon breaths, engulfing Red Dragon Archfiend in an instant, making it disappear from the field.
Jack LP: 3400→1900
"Turn end."
At this moment, Jack's speed had slowed down, and the two were advancing almost neck and neck, while the entire track was only halfway through.
Kaiba glanced at Jack and snorted.
"... It's my turn!"
Jack Atlas listened to Kaiba's words, and the heart within him burned fiercely.
What exactly does that mean?
I'm unable to use such cards?
How is that possible? For a duelist, as long as it's for victory, any card is acceptable, didn't he also use Counter Gate!
Buzz—
He sped past in his car, catching sight of the spectator display screen hanging at the side, where he saw Yusei, Yugo, Tenjo Hikari, and others.
Only students using Fusion, and also Yusei...
Rumble, rumble.
He felt his heart pounding.
Unable to use such cards!
Not just Starlight Road, most importantly... Stardust Dragon!
He looked at the Stardust Dragon in the graveyard, unable to revive itself due to the revival restriction, and suddenly realized.
So that's it!
He felt his heart pounding fiercely, his body seeming to burn.
"It was right to duel with you after all!"
"But I think Blue-Eyes is disappointed!"
"Hmph, I'll soon show you the duel of the King of this City!" He finally understood.
Indeed!
Dueling with a true strong opponent can ignite his cooling heart!
"My turn, draw! I change Celestial Wolf Lord to Defense Position, then set two cards, and end my turn!"
"Oh ho? Changing Celestial Wolf Lord to Defense Position, are you hoping I'll destroy it and reduce your attack power?"
"Why don't you try and see!?"
"Heh... My turn! Battle—"
"At this moment, I open my Set Card, Call of the Haunted!" The Trap Card he had used once before was used again, "I Special Summon Red Dragon Archfiend from the Graveyard!"
"Revive, my soul!"
"A roar!!"
The Red Dragon Archfiend shook its fiery wings, reviving once more from the graveyard.
Red Dragon Archfiend, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Dragon-Type, Attack Power 3000!
"He actively revived the Red Dragon Archfiend!!!" The watching MC cried out in horror at this scene, "Why, Jack! In this way, the Red Dragon Archfiend is right in front of the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon——"
"Stop the nonsense, I have my own duel!" Jack roared.
"Heh... interesting, then——let's battle! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, crush my enemy!"
"Attack Red Dragon Archfiend, Ultimate Burst Stream!"
The three heads of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon aimed simultaneously at the Red Dragon Archfiend, and the destructive light beam slowly condensed, as if it would annihilate everything. But at that moment, Jack activated a Set Card: "Trap Card, Prideful Roar!"
"When calculating battle damage, if your monster's ATK is lower than the opponent's, pay LP equal to the difference to activate. During damage calculation only, your monster's ATK increases by the difference +300 points!"
"I pay... 1500 Life Points!!"
"What! Jack, Jack would sacrifice his own life for Red Dragon Archfiend!" MC screamed, "Such determination!"
"I will continue to fight alongside Red Dragon Archfiend!" Jack's body seemed to be igniting with true red flames.
Jack LP: 1900→400.
"Counterattack, Red Dragon Archfiend!!!"
Red Dragon Archfiend, ATK: 3000→4800.
The Red Dragon Archfiend roared, resisting the power of the Ultimate Dragon with all its might, and under Jack's hoarse shouting, it actually pushed back the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, shattering the terrifying beam!
Kaiba Seto, LP: 1600→1300.
Red Dragon Archfiend, ATK: 4800→3000.
"How about that, Kaiba! My Red Dragon Archfiend is not inferior to your Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Heh, now that's more like it." Kaiba Seto remained relaxed, as if he hadn't been harmed at all.
This made Jack's heart sink involuntarily.
"Wow! He actually defeated the Ultimate Dragon!"
"That's Jack for you, truly Jack! Our KING!"
The citizens of City saw this scene and couldn't help but cheer with joy, even Yugo and Rin momentarily forgot their previous doubts, cheering for their idol.
Because, it seemed Jack had won!
And at this moment——
Kaiba Seto, having counted more and higher, rushed forward shouting: "Interesting, my heart is finally starting to boil!"
"Ha, I'm very excited too!" Jack replied, "It's been a long time since I've felt like this!"
"Jack Atlas."
"!?"
Kaiba clenched his right fist: "For you, you've just stepped into a brand-new dimension of dueling, there are endless unknown duels in the world, the cosmos, other dimensions!"
"You should have seen, the road of dueling is endless!
Synchro, Xyz, Fusion, Tribute, Ritual...
Will you stop here!?"
"No way!" Jack coldly snorted in rebuttal.
"Exactly——"
Kaiba Seto gently nodded, he nodded while looking at the surrounding screens, the screens of those spectators, looking at Muto Yugi, at his disciple, at duelists from other dimensions, looking at Tenjo Hikari...
"That's right!!
Believe in your duel, believe in your monster, believe in your soul, believe in your conviction, and your Deck, advance along that solid road!
Compared to duelists who have long set their future, firmly moving towards a single direction, you're already lagging far behind!
This will become the future of duelists!"
In his heart, he had already envisioned a transcendent dueling fete crossing countless dimensions, of supreme and ultimate stature!
Only those who have surpassed everything, the strongest and the most "ultimate" duelists are qualified to participate!
In students, he had already found a "seedling"!
And he, too, had long surpassed his former self!
"You…" Jack listened to his words and finally realized that this person called Kaiba Seto's "heart" had long been unfettered by just one mere world!
"I commend you for challenging me without fearing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon… but, let's end the antics here!"
"What!"
"Activate——Quick-Play Spell, Burst Stream of Destruction! Exile all cards on your field, graveyard, and hand, including this card!"
"What card is that, how does it have such great demands!" MC's voice was about to tear from shouting, "After activation, wouldn't it go straight to the end!"
But put another way——it was the "final step" as seen by the activator.
"Special Summon up to three Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the deck!"
"What!" Jack's eyes widened suddenly.
"Come forth, my loyal servants!"
Buzz——
Screech——
Roar——
Three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, in the light, displayed their white wings.
"Three...Blue-Eyes White Dragons!?"
"Hmph...it's over, my most loyal servants, battle! Wipe out my enemies completely!"
The three Blue-Eyes White Dragons started gathering energy, attacking different "enemies".
At this moment, countless cameras in City "malfunctioned" instantly, switching to other images.
Only a manic voice reverberated through the skies above the base area!
"Strong! Invincible! The strongest!"
"Shatter! Broken jade! Huge applause!"
"Hahahahahahaha!!!!"