A holy mark appeared in midair, and a card shot out from the Graveyard zone of the Duel Disk in a burst of golden light. "I Special Summon from my Graveyard the absolute king of dinosaurs!"
"Ultimate Tyranno!"
The jet-black dinosaur burst out of a vortex from the Underworld, threw back its head, and roared. Its massive tail slammed into the ground, kicking up a towering cloud of dust. Ultimate Tyranno stood on the field with an attack power of 3000.
"Eh? Ultimate Tyranno?" Wataru Komatsu said in surprise. "When did that kind of monster even appear?"
"Back when he first used Graceful Charity, I'd say," Takeshi Sasaki replied. "So he planned all the way to this point from the very beginning. After being crushed like that, he still managed to launch such a fierce counterattack on the very next turn."
"That really lives up to the name of a Legendary Duelist."
"I see, it really is impressive," Wataru Komatsu said, then frowned. "But why not revive Tri-Horned Dragon instead? Its attack power should be higher."
Takeshi Sasaki gave a knowing smile. "Heh, because Rex Raptor already has a way to finish things. Just watch."
With two massive monsters on the field, Rex Raptor burst into laughter again. "Well? This is the power of my dinosaurs! Supreme offense, crushing the opponent with absolute force. This is my duel now!"
"I'm not the same as I was before. I'm stronger than ever!"
However, as Yugen looked at the dark, hulking Ultimate Tyranno, only one thought crossed his mind.
Rex Raptor, why are you using cards from Judai Yuki's sidekick Kenzan?
His only memory of that dinosaur was Kenzan's debut ace in the anime, the one that once pushed Judai Yuki into a hard fight. Of course, that ended with a miracle draw and a comeback, after which Kenzan was taken in as a follower.
"Next, I activate a Spell Card from my hand, Enemy Controller!" "This card forces one of your opponent's Attack Position monsters to change to Defense Position!"
Rex Raptor pointed straight at the machine Machina Fortress on Yugen's field. "I switch Machina Fortress to Defense Position!"
The machine's stats shifted from 2500 attack to 1600 defense.
"I get it," Yugen said calmly. "Ultimate Tyranno can attack the player directly when there are no Attack Position monsters on the opponent's field. That's your plan. (ANIME EFFECT)"
"Oh? You know your stuff for a rookie," Rex Raptor said with a light snort, rubbing his nose. "That's right. And my Gaia the Dragon Champion can also attack directly this turn, but only on the turn it's summoned by Polymerization! (ANIME EFFECT)"
The audience erupted into noise once again.
"Two direct attacks, one with 3000 and one with 2600 attack!" Wataru Komatsu exclaimed. "And they ignore monsters! Isn't that an instant OTK?"
"That's exactly Rex Raptor's strategy," Takeshi Sasaki said. "Pure power and total suppression. It really is overwhelming."
Two dragons attacking directly, back to back. How could that possibly fail?
"Go! First, Ultimate Tyranno!" "By its effect, it attacks the player directly, bypassing the machine Machina Fortress! (ANIME EFFECT)"
Ultimate Tyranno roared and charged forward, its tail whipping up thick clouds of dust as it leapt past Machina Fortress and lunged toward Yugen.
"I flip my face-down card and activate the Trap, Call of the Earthbound!" Yugen raised his hand. "When your monster declares an attack, I can choose a new attack target!"
He pointed to his own machine. "I designate Machina Fortress as the new attack target for Ultimate Tyranno."
"Tch," Rex Raptor clicked his tongue. "Trying to dodge the OTK with a cheap trick?"
"But Ultimate Tyranno still has higher power! Ultimate Tyranno, wipe that annoying machine off the field!"
Machina Fortress stood in Defense Position with 1600 defense. The turned machine stood no chance against the savage dark dinosaur. With a furious roar, the beast tore into it, ripping the massive frame apart as parts flew and black smoke burst out again and again. In moments, it collapsed into scrap metal with a series of heavy explosions.
"Huh?" Wataru Komatsu froze.
"That's strange. Why didn't Machina Gearframe's effect activate?"
By all rights, Yugen's Machina Fortress was equipped with Machina Gearframe. Its frame should have been able to take one destruction in place of the equipped monster.
So why didn't it trigger?
Rex Raptor felt a faint sense of unease, and it was confirmed at once.
"At this moment, another effect of Machina Fortress activates," Yugen said.
Before it was sent away, he revealed the card again. "When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can destroy one card on your field."
He pointed at the dragon that had not attacked yet. "I destroy Gaia the Dragon Champion!"
In its final moment before breaking apart, Machina Fortress fired its main cannon one last time. The dying shot hit Gaia the Dragon Champion square in the head, and the dragon let out a scream before being blown to pieces by modern firepower.
"Damn it," Rex Raptor snarled.
"B-beautiful!" Wataru Komatsu jumped to his feet, unconsciously giving Yugen a thumbs-up.
"With a single exchange, he not only blocked Rex Raptor's double direct attack, but also destroyed his trump card from Polymerization! The deadly two-hit assault was calmly dismantled!"
"And at this point, Yugen is still at 4000 Life Points, completely unharmed. The relentless offense of a legendary Duelist still hasn't broken his defense even once!"
"That really was unexpected," Takeshi Sasaki said.
"Yugen Fujiki is an unbelievable newcomer. If someone told me he was actually a pro wearing a disguise, I'd believe it."
To fight the legendary Rex Raptor to this extent made it hard to accept that he was a rookie.
"Then I set two cards and end my turn."
After his offense failed again, Rex Raptor looked a bit frustrated. Still, he had regained the upper hand on the field. Ultimate Tyranno remained with its massive 3000 attack, while his opponent's field was empty, and his back row was solid enough to feel safe.
"Draw."
After drawing, Yugen narrowed his eyes slightly. "Hmm, what a shame. It looks like you might not even get another turn."
Rex Raptor froze. The commentators and the entire audience were stunned as well.
What did they just hear?
A victory declaration?
"W-what an unbelievable turn of events!" Wataru Komatsu was practically leaning over the desk.
"Yugen has just declared victory against Rex Raptor, the legendary Rex Raptor!"
If he had said that at the very start, people would have laughed at the rookie for being arrogant. But after witnessing his control over the duel these past turns, far fewer felt that way now.
There was no sense of boasting or excitement in his voice. That calm certainty was the most frightening part. He spoke as if he were simply stating a fact that was about to happen, without provocation or mockery.
Rex Raptor felt his heart shake. He thought his years of experience had given him nerves of steel, yet at that moment his legs trembled, and he nearly stumbled. It was not just the thought of losing here, after returning as a king, on a minor stage against a nameless newcomer.
More than that, when he heard those words, a part of him almost believed them. As if somewhere deep down, he accepted that this turn might really be the end.
"W-what did you say?" Rex Raptor forced himself to snap out of it.
Impossible. He still had a boss monster and solid back row. There was no way the opponent could break through.
It had to be a bluff.
"The effect of Machina Fortress in the Graveyard," Yugen said calmly, taking the monster card back from the Graveyard zone of his Duel Disk.
"This card can Special Summon itself from the Graveyard by discarding Machine monsters from the hand whose total Levels are eight or more."
He revealed two cards. "I discard a Level 3 Machine, Card Trooper, and a Level 7 Machina Fortress. I Special Summon Machina Fortress from my Graveyard!"