"Zzzzt..."
Electricity crackled around Andal's body as he drew a card.
Amagi Hikaru observed him closely.
In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, the concept of "training draws" had always existed, like the Duel Academy in GX that trained students to draw the exact cards they needed, or Yuma in ZEXAL using "Shining Draw," believing that "true duelists draw by fate."
From the current signs, black mist spreading, parasites twitching, energy surging, it was clear all of it aimed to enhance Andal's "spirit power."
He could barely speak before; now, he couldn't even manage words.
He drew his card and immediately Normal Summoned a green-skinned monster that looked like a big lizard wielding a net and fork.
[Gladiator Beast Retiari] Level 3│WATER│Fish│1200 ATK
Next, Andal activated an Equip Spell.
A shield decorated with skulls materialized, replacing Retiari's fork as its weapon.
"Raaaah.!"
It charged forward under Andal's direction.
But Prismaura countered with a swift slash, easily knocking Retiari back. The shield it held shattered in the process.
[Gladiator Beast Andal, LP: 4000 → 2750]
"Looks like that shield prevented it from being destroyed in battle," Haruto said.
Hikaru nodded.
As the battle ended, Retiari dropped its net and fled. Then, a minotaur clad in armor flew out from the Deck.
Gladiator Beast Darius.
"When Darius is Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect, it can revive a Gladiator Beast from the Graveyard with its effect negated," Hikaru said, unfazed.
Darius appeared and swung its chain whip like a lasso, dragging a monster up from the grave.
"Raaaargh!"
Andal raised his claws, and the two monsters twisted and merged, returning to the Deck. In their place stood a majestic, noble bird-beast.
[Gladiator Beast Gyzarus] Level 6│DARK│Winged Beast│2400 ATK
Hikaru's eyes lit up.
'Nice.'
Gyzarus's full-hologram form was pretty slick.
"GRRAAAH."
Andal roared as Gyzarus flapped its wings, destroying Hikaru's monster and Set card in a burst of explosive energy.
The smoke blanketed the field like a powerful detonation.
"Beautiful!"
"Nice job, Andal!"
In the lab, the researchers erupted in excitement as their creation finally blew away Hikaru's cards, even if it came at the cost of self-harm.
"This is perfect! Hikaru only has two Thunder Dragons left in his hand. Even if he draws a Fusion card, he can only make Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, it's no threat!"
"Hahaha! This is the power of science!"
'Science, really??'
Off to the side, the purple-haired girl tilted her head. 'Wasn't that just a lucky draw with a shield?'
'Even I could do that.'
'Still… If Hikaru lost to that, then maybe he wasn't. Wait!'
The entire lab fell silent as if a hand had closed around their throats, choking the breath from their lungs.
As the dust cleared, Prismaura was gone, but in its place stood a mightier, more magnificent dragon.
That sleek mechanical finish, that flowing armor plating, that fierce roar.
[Cyber Twin Dragon] Level 8│LIGHT│Machine│2800 ATK
"C-Cyber Twin Dragon!?"
"Impossible!"
Onscreen, Hikaru revealed a card from his Graveyard. "Trap Card, Waking the Dragon."
He showed it. "When a Set card is sent from the field to the Graveyard or banished by the opponent's effect, I can Special Summon a monster from my Deck or Extra Deck."
"Didn't think I'd ever get to use this."
Hikaru shrugged.
This card wasn't in his original build. Maybe all the Tier 3 Fusions made it viable, and Super Poly must've pulled it in.
Sadly, his Extra Deck only had Fusion Monsters, so that's all Super Poly gave him.
"No way... he knew Andal would destroy his cards! He planned this!"
"The Battle Phase is over, what do we do!?"
'Incredible!'
The purple-haired girl jumped on her seat, awestruck.
That type of Trap almost never triggers. Nine out of ten times, it's dead weight. But Hikaru had set it up perfectly!
"My turn, draw." Hikaru didn't even glance at the card. He pointed. "Battle, Cyber Twin Dragon, crush my enemies!"
Cyber Twin can attack twice per Battle Phase. After obliterating Gyzarus, its second head turned toward Andal, charging up a wild energy blast.
The parasites and mechanical implants on Andal were vaporized instantly. The black mist vanished as well.
[Gladiator Beast Andal, LP: 2750 → 0]
"No way! Andal lost that easily? That's impossible!"
"He used nothing but cards we've never seen before!"
"None of it matches the data, this needs a redo!"
"Damn it! He normally uses Flame Swordsman!"
The researchers panicked like ants on a frying pan.
"We must stop Hikaru! That was a direct order from the professor!"
"But he already won!"
"Doesn't matter, charge!!"
The director went nuts, slamming buttons, while the purple-haired girl frowned at the chaos.
Meanwhile, Hikaru approached the fallen Andal. Suddenly, a disgusting worm leapt at him. His eyes widened, Flame Swordsman and Dark Flare, already poised, launched forward and shredded the parasite in mid-air.
"Bastards! You lost the Shadow Duel, and you still try dirty tricks?!"
Abruptly, Captain Crystal appeared before Hikaru, radiating light like the sun, suppressing the parasites and mist on Andal.
In a Shadow Duel, the victor has full rights over the loser. Seeing their opponent resist even after defeat, Crystal couldn't hold back.+, he was ready to strike.
"Captain."
"Sir?"
He looked to Hikaru, puzzled as to why he was stopped. Crystal was ready to erase whoever controlled Andal.
Hikaru's expression was dark.
Losing was one thing, but trying to backstab him afterward? Infuriating.
What made it worse was... he'd seen this coming.
From the moment he saw the parasite, from the moment the duel started, he knew it might end this way.
And now it had.
Even if they didn't "deserve" it, he'd make his move.
"You parasites are filthier than sewer scum..." Hikaru's voice was cold. He looked at Andal, at the worms twitching on him, staring as though they were watching the lab itself.
"You dare use Fusion alongside me?"
"I'll show you what a Shadow Duel really is. What Fusion really is. What true... victory means!"
"Now, receive the ending you losers deserve!"
He raised a card high, shouting, "Unleash ultimate power!!"
As his cry rang out, Crystal, Flame, and Dark Flare felt an immense energy surge within them. In Hikaru's Deck, Alchemist, Blade Skater, and Flame Swordsmen cards—card after card—began to glow.
In the sky, a massive thundercloud formed, flashing with lightning. The parasites and black mist were ripped from Andal's body, sucked skyward like reverse rainfall turned into fuel.
"AAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!"
Elsewhere, in a subdimensional lab, researchers watching the feed noticed lights flickering. Then, explosions, more and more of them.
The purple-haired girl, there to spectate, took off running.
The director noticed her fleeing and screamed, "Miss Celina! Stop!" just as columns collapsed and sealed Spirits were released.
They shattered their containers and control systems, escaping, eyes glowing red.
It was clear: the control systems... had failed.
'Oh no…'
'This is bad. This is really bad!'
As the furious Spirits advanced on him, the director's heart froze in terror.