Bonaparte activated a face-down card in his back row. A heavy, pitch-black toy cannon dropped onto the field.
A toy soldier ran up with stiff little steps and lit the fuse. Sparks chased down the length of the cord, and with a muffled boom the cannon fired. The shell blasted out of the barrel and struck the giant Worm's abdomen head-on.
Worm Victory staggered backward. It wasn't defeated outright, but it couldn't help bending one knee, half-kneeling as it shifted from attack to defense.
[Worm Victory, ATK 12500 → DEF 2500]
"Then the Toy Cannon also deals 400 damage to its controller, de aru!" Bonaparte declared.
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3600]
Several students on the sidelines were surprised.
"Professor Bonaparte actually covered for Crowler?"
Everyone at the Academy knew those two were like water and fire. Seeing them protect each other like this felt downright surreal.
Crowler clearly felt the same.
"Professor Bonaparte…" Crowler was moved. "You actually stepped in to cover me…"
Bonaparte shot him a glare, then put his hands on his hips with haughty pride.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I've got no intention of reconciling with you, Crowler."
His expression turned serious.
"It's just that this duel is crucial. It will determine both our futures. And our opponent this time is anything but ordinary. No matter which one of us tried to face him alone, there'd be no chance of victory."
Crowler bit his handkerchief, then nodded after a moment.
"Mm. You have a point, none."
If they wanted to win this duel, they had to do something they'd barely even considered in the past.
Work together.
"Seeing those two cooperate feels seriously weird," Syrus muttered.
"Agreed," Chazz nodded.
Jaden smiled. "I'm thinking this might be exactly what Kira was aiming for."
"Eh?" Syrus blinked.
At some point, Misawa—who as usual had zero presence—had appeared and chimed in. "People only naturally set aside their differences and fight side by side when their interests align and they're facing a powerful external threat."
"So that's how it is…"
Syrus suddenly understood.
"Then did Kira do all this just to help the two professors bury the hatchet?"
Everyone turned to look at Kira with added respect.
He didn't just have unfathomable strength—he even thought this far for others. Was this the bearing of a king?
"It's not over yet." Bonaparte continued, "I activate another face-down, the Continuous Trap 'Gulliver Chain'!
This card can only be activated when a monster's battle position is changed! As long as this card remains on the field, the monster whose battle position changed can only exist face-up in Defense Position.
If that monster is changed to Attack Position, destroy that monster and this card together!" (Anime card)
A silver chain shot out from the Trap card, wrapping around the Worm Victory that had just been forcibly switched to defense on Kira's field. The chains bound the monster's massive body tight; it couldn't move an inch.
"Excellent!" Crowler praised. "That way we've completely sealed off that Worm with 12,500 attack, none!"
"Indeed."
Kira nodded his approval.
"However, my offensive isn't over yet," Kira said. "My Worm Yagan and Worm Xex are still able to attack."
He turned his sights, this time on Bonaparte's field.
"Worm Xex, attack 'Toy Soldier.'"
[Worm Xex, ATK 1800]
Worm Xex shot forward, pouncing on the Toy Soldier like a giant starfish. The tiny soldier struggled with all its might, but naturally it was in vain. In no time, the starfish's maw drained it dry, and with a boom it exploded into fragments.
[Bonaparte, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
"Worm Yagan, attack the second 'Toy Soldier.'"
[Worm Yagan, ATK 1000]
The second Toy Soldier exploded as well. Professor Bonaparte's small frame staggered back two steps under the blast.
[Bonaparte, LP 3000 → LP 2800]
"Professor Bonaparte!"
Seeing Bonaparte take damage to protect him, Crowler was even more moved; his eyes were almost red.
"Just a scratch."
Bonaparte got to his feet, gritting his teeth.
"Well, we managed to get through this turn somehow, but it still looks pretty grim."
Arms folded, Kira smiled.
"I set two cards face-down. Turn end."
It went back to Crowler's turn, but he didn't draw immediately. Instead, he just stared blankly at the Deck on his Duel Disk.
"Can we really…win?"
Bonaparte also stayed silent.
They both knew the truth: even if their opponent was technically a student, his strength far outstripped their own. And now, even with the two of them teaming up two-on-one, the gap still didn't feel like it had shrunk much at all.
Just then, Jaden spoke up from the side. "Don't give up, professors!"
Both professors instinctively looked up at him.
"You never know what'll happen in a duel until the very last moment, right?"
Jaden shouted.
"Never give up until the very, very end—that's what you professors taught us in class, isn't it? Even the legendary Yugi Muto had duels where he hung on until the last second in a desperate situation before turning it all around, didn't he?"
Jaden clenched his fist, cheering them on.
"Show us that there's no such thing as an impossible challenge in this world, professors!"
"Jaden-kun…"
Crowler closed his eyes lightly, a helpless smile on his lips.
"Honestly…the last thing I wanted was to be lectured by a slacker. But you're right."
He pulled himself together and raised his head.
"If we give up here, wouldn't that make all the time we've spent at this Academy meaningless?"
Bonaparte added, "Being cheered on by a slacker…looks like I've got no choice but to buck up."
"That slacker is my student," Crowler said, his tone carrying a touch of pride.
Kira smiled. "Oh? It seems the professors still have the strength to continue."
"But of course!"
Bonaparte straightened his back and faced Kira head-on.
"As men, sometimes we can't back down even when we know our chances of victory are slim!"
"Exactly!"
Crowler's fighting spirit reignited.
"Even if it's just so our students can witness our final battle here at this Academy as their professors!"
Jaden nodded. "That's the spirit, professors!"
Syrus whispered, "They're all fired up now, but with this whole 'facing death unflinchingly' mood…doesn't that make Kira feel even more like the Demon King…"
"My turn. Draw, none!"
Professor Crowler drew his card.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.' I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two cards from my hand."
Crowler discarded two cards, then played another card from his hand.
"Spell Card 'Foolish Burial.' I send one monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, none!
I send this card from my Deck to the Graveyard—'Ancient Gear Golem'!"
"Sending his ace to the Graveyard?" Syrus asked.
"Exactly!" Crowler shouted. "Because what's about to appear is my ace of aces—the ultimate secret technique of Ancient Gears!"
…