"By absorbing Malefic Cyber End Dragon's ATK, my Life Points recover!"
In one go, his LP shot back to 6400, giving Sayer a substantial sense of security.
"Then, the moment Malefic Cyber End Dragon was destroyed in battle, my Trap card also activates."
Kira flicked his finger as the set card triggered.
"Trap Card: Malefic Tune.
When a face-up Malefic monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard, draw two cards." (Anime Card)
Kira drew two cards.
Then he reminded Sayer, "But remember, Megamorph has a downside.
Now, your LP is higher than mine—if your LP exceeds the opponent's, the equipped monster's ATK is halved."
[Thought Ruler Archfiend: ATK 5400 → ATK 2700 → ATK 1350]
Sayer grunted coldly.
"I know that—no need for you to point it out," Sayer said. "I set three cards. Turn end!"
"Then it's my turn. Draw."
Kira drew a card, pausing a moment to glance at something behind him.
"Well, this duel has gone on for a bit. I reckon we've finally drawn some attention…"
"What?"
Sayer asked in a low voice.
"Goodwin, what are you really after?"
"Oh, nothing much." Kira replied calmly. "It doesn't matter if you know. Your organization has a Psychic Duelist I need to find. I plan to invite her to the Fortune Cup I'm hosting—hoping the tournament brings out her full potential."
Sayer froze. Recalling Kira's earlier mention of Akiza, he suddenly panicked:
"You've set your sights on Akiza? So it's true—the Sector Security wants the power of the Crimson Dragon?!"
"I personally want to see her unlock her Signer's potential. She's only tapped one-tenth of what she's capable of. But you, Sayer, probably know best—people only develop their full potential when desperate and pushed to the edge.
That's why you constantly conducted your secret human experiments on talented psychics, forcing breakthroughs—even to the point of death, right?"
Sayer's face was a storm of emotions.
"You mean… you'd do the same to Akiza? If that's all, we don't have to be enemies. Like you, I want to see her reach her true limits—"
"Is that so? If you're willing to cooperate, perfect. You're a key figure in my plan," Kira chuckled.
Sayer frowned, "What?"
"You showed up when Akiza Izinski needed company the most and welcomed her to the Arcadia Movement. She may not know your true face, but I bet she thinks of you as something like a parent.
You, Sayer, are now her core support—her only attachment in this detested world.
Now, imagine if I destroyed that pillar—"
Sayer's eyes widened in horror.
"You—you're crazy, Goodwin! If you do that, Akiza will never forgive you—no, the entire Arcadia Movement will never forgive you!"
"I never liked your so-called Arcadia Movement. The moment you tried to blackmail the Sector Security with my secret, this day was inevitable.
As for Akiza coming after me in revenge?
Exactly what I want. If she breaks through and evolves, it'll be thanks to you, Sayer."
"You!" Sayer gritted his teeth in anger. "You talk as if you've already won. The duel isn't over yet!"
"Maybe it isn't—for you. But maybe it's already over, and you simply haven't realized it."
Kira drew another card.
"Activate Spell Card: Card of Variation.
Draw two cards from the Deck. If I don't discard one card to the Graveyard by end of turn, I take 3000 damage." (Anime Card)
"Next, the effect of Malefic Stardust Dragon in my hand!
By sending Stardust Dragon from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard, I Special Summon Malefic Stardust Dragon!"
A radiant star path unfolded, materializing a noble Stardust Dragon cloaked in black corruption, descending to swirl above Kira's field.
[Malefic Stardust Dragon: ATK 2500]
For this era, Stardust Dragon had extraordinary significance. But Sayer had never witnessed Yusei's ace, nor knew what made it so special.
Of course, if he'd known its true power, he wouldn't have made such a foolish move next.
"Hahaha!"
Sayer cackled. "Your deck can spam high-level monsters—I noticed and was ready for it!
Activate Trap! Torrential Tribute!
When a monster is summoned—destroy all monsters on the field!"
Megamorph is a double-edged sword—it can empower monsters for a swift reversal, but the moment your LP exceeds your foe's, it turns your monster vulnerable. Sayer had naturally prepared for this with his backrow defenses.
And yet—
Snap.
Kira crisply snapped his fingers. "Malefic Stardust Dragon's effect activates!
When a 'destroy cards on the field' effect is activated, I can tribute Malefic Stardust to negate that effect and destroy it!"
Sayer: "!"
What? This dragon can do that?
In the real TCG, Malefic monsters don't inherit their original monsters' effects. But in the anime, the Malefics do, just like Stardust Dragon.
"Malefic Sacrificial Sanctuary!"
A roaring tide—sound coursed from Sayer's backrow trap, a massive flood threatening to swallow all monsters into a spatial vortex.
But the next moment, Malefic Stardust flared its wings, its scales unleashing a stellar radiance. Its body dispersed into a thousand motes of starlight, weaving a translucent barrier within the field. The shield absorbed the tidal forces, Stardust's dragon cry echoing until Torrential Tribute's last ounce of power faded away.
"Damn it…"
His reversal negated, Sayer's face darkened even further.
"And that's just the beginning."
Kira calmly waved the two cards in his hand.
The Duel Disk auto-fetched again—two more cards popped from his Deck, automatically entering his hand.
"From my Deck, I send Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Rainbow Dragon to the Graveyard to Special Summon these cards from my hand:
Arise—Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
Malefic Rainbow Dragon!"
…
…
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