The Skeleton Knight was shaken back by Yugen's imposing aura. He fell silent for two seconds, then said icily: "As I thought, you're not the real Rex… not from any Dimension."
Rex, that is, Rex Godwin, was the name of the officer identity Yugen was currently using.
Yugen said: "Since you're asking that, does that mean you're Ludger Godwin from another Dimension? Why did you show up in this Dimension?"
Skeleton Knight: "..."
He paused for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the front of the speeding track, not answering the question.
"...I summon 'Frenzied Demon' in Attack Position."
The Skeleton Knight slapped a card onto the Duel Disc on his horse's back. That Duel Disc likewise seemed to have grown out of a living body, its lower half fused into the zombie horse's torso.
A red‑haired, manic Demon was summoned onto the Skeleton Knight's field, his abdomen split open like a gaping hole, inside which sat a stark white skull.
[Frenzied Demon, Attack Power 1800]
"Battle." The Skeleton Knight said, "Frenzied Demon attacks 'Card Drawing Frog'!"
[Card Drawing Frog, Defense Power 100]
The tiny frog's mere 100 Defense Power could almost be ignored. The Demon charged in a frenzy, bellowing a sky‑shaking roar, countless bladelike shards resembling splintered bone pelting toward the little frog like a torrential rain.
"When Frenzied Demon attacks a Defense Position Monster, if its Attack Power exceeds that Monster's Defense Power, inflict piercing damage equal to the excess!"
The Skeleton Knight shouted.
"Before our Duel, a weak frog like that isn't even qualified to defend. I'll etch that fact into you with unforgettable pain!"
Yugen said: "Activate my Cover Card, Trap Card 'Holy Spear'.
When the opponent declares an attack, I gain Life Points equal to the attacking Monster's Attack Power."
Skeleton Knight: "Nani?"
Before Frenzied Demon's strike even landed, the energy within its body was siphoned out, transmuted into a stream of golden light that poured into Yugen's body and converted into LP.
[Yugen, LP4000 → LP5800]
Only then did the Demon's dense volley follow through, riddling the little frog like a sieve. The piercing barrage erupted around Yugen's speeding D‑Wheel like a pounding rainstorm, boom boom boom.
[Yugen, LP5800 → LP4100]
"And Card Drawing Frog's Monster Effect activates as well. When a face‑up Card Drawing Frog on the field is sent to the Graveyard, I draw 1 card from my Card Deck."
Yugen drew a card.
"Hmph."
The Skeleton Knight's first strike failed to achieve anything. He waved his hand carelessly and set another card to his back row.
"Then I set 1 card. My turn ends."
From a purely Duel standpoint, not only had the opponent's LP taken no damage, it'd actually increased. That much he could still accept.
The Skeleton Knight shot a sidelong glance at Yugen, racing forward atop his D‑Wheel, and felt a bit more wary in his heart.
Even if Yugen's Life Points hadn't decreased, he had undeniably taken a full 1700 points of piercing damage. Under the dark, rushing impact of the Skeleton Knight's speeding aura, the D‑Wheel showed no sign of losing balance, and the man himself seemed hardly affected.
This opponent might genuinely be somewhat unusual.
"My turn, draw."
Yugen said.
"During this Standby Phase, the effect of 'Take Over5' in the Graveyard activates. If this card is in the Graveyard during the Standby Phase, banish this card and a same‑named card from the Card Deck from the Game, then draw 1 card from the Deck."
Yugen drew another card.
"And likewise during this Standby Phase, the Monster Effect of 'Yellow Springs Frog' in the Graveyard also activates.
If Yellow Springs Frog is in the Graveyard during the Standby Phase, and I control no Magic or Trap Cards on my field, I can Special Summon this card to my field."
Yugen flicked the card that had just returned from the Graveyard to his hand.
"Special Summon Yellow Springs Frog from the Graveyard!"
The little frog with a halo over its head beat its angelic wings as it descended onto Yugen's field.
[Yellow Springs Frog, Defense Power 100]
"A frog, yet another frog..." the Skeleton Knight shouted. "Are you planning to keep fighting with such small fry forever?"
"You even dare look down on frogs? Not bad, not bad, old man, your courage is commendable." Yugen laughed.
If the Skeleton Knight really was the Ludger who'd lived five thousand years in the manga, calling him an old man was perfectly appropriate.
"I tribute Yellow Springs Frog for an Upper‑level Summon!"
Yugen raised his hand high.
"Ten miles of ice, freezing all creation—
—Mobius the Frost Monarch, Summon!"
As a professional sacrificial pawn, Yellow Springs Frog was well used to the routine. As its body dissolved into motes of light, an icy domain erupted where it had just been.
Translucent ice crystals carpeted the ground, and amidst the blizzard of snow and frost, the white giant's form emerged. His cloak billowed in the wind, the Frost Monarch's body reflected crisply across the ice. Ridges of frost raced along the surface toward the Skeleton Knight's back row, instantly freezing his facedown Cover Card into a block of ice.
With a crisp crack, the ice shattered, and the Cover Card was destroyed.
It was the Trap Card "Dharma Eye's Telekinesis". An Original Card without a Physical Card version, which could be activated when the opponent declares an attack to freely control their attacking Monster. Its resolution was similar to "Attack‑Inducing Armor", able to redirect the opponent's attack target or even force them to attack another Monster on their own field.
"When Mobius the Frost Monarch is Upper‑level Summoned, it destroys up to two Magic or Trap Cards on the field." Yugen said. "Looks like that Trap could've controlled my Monster during attacks. Too bad you didn't get to use it."
Skeleton Knight: "..."
Yugen: "Mobius the Frost Monarch, attack Frenzied Demon!"
The Frost Monarch gathered a blizzard between his palms, seemingly condensing all the swirling snow into a single strike, then unleashed it toward the Demon with a storm of razor‑edged gales.
Skeleton Knight: "Frenzied Demon's effect.
When this Attack Position card is chosen as an attack target, it automatically switches to Defense Position."
[Frenzied Demon, Attack Power 1800 → Defense Power 0]
The sweeping frost froze the Demon solid in an instant, turning him into an ice sculpture, then a myriad of wind blades sliced the statue to pieces, scattering it into a shower of icy fragments.
"Originally a Four‑Star Frenzied Demon with high Attack Power and piercing, but now its drawback's turned into a defensive effect instead, huh." Yugen said. "Then my turn ends."
The Skeleton Knight narrowed his eyes at the Frost Monarch gliding alongside Yugen's D‑Wheel.
"There's still a Yellow Springs Frog in the Graveyard. Come the next Standby Phase it'll revive again, to be tributed once more for Upper‑level Summons… I see. With that combination you can bring out the Monarchs' full power."
"It is indeed a slightly troublesome setup."
The Skeleton Knight drew in a deep breath.
"In that case, I'll let a warrior of this era witness at least the tip of my strength.
My turn, draw!"
He swept his arm, slotting a card into his Duel Disc.
"Activate Magic Card 'Fusion Birth'!" (Original Card)
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
Wait a sec.
You're playing Fusion in a Riding Duel in the Synchro Dimension?