Outside the track, ZONE floated quietly in the void, watching the developments on the course through the thick Metal Shell.
"So Antinomy's strategy has been suppressed, huh."
ZONE murmured.
Though Antinomy's strength had also reached the threshold of a Duel King, he had only just barely stepped over that Level. ZONE could see that compared to this Duel King from the Otherworld, he was still somewhat lacking.
But precisely because of that, the tempering of this Duel would be meaningful for Antinomy.
"After this battle, can you become even stronger, my old friend?" ZONE spoke to himself.
That aside, this Duel King named Fujiki Yugen already possessed this degree of power, yet still claimed he was far from the strongest. That Dimension actually has Duelists stronger than him...
Another name suddenly flashed through ZONE's mind.
A certain legendary Duel King who had long vanished from the current Dimension, yet whose fame resounded across multiple parallel universes.
"Could it be," ZONE looked toward Yugen, a guess surfacing in his heart, "in your Dimension, is Muto Yuugi still around?"
Yes, Muto Yuugi, the legendary Duel King.
Though limited by the era, born in the early days of Duel Monsters before the rules were perfected, most of the Monsters he used were Mortal Bone Whiteboards that would later be eliminated, and by modern standards his Card Deck efficiency wasn't high. Even so, his status as a legendary Duel King has never been shaken.
Muto Yuugi's strength lay in the Duelist himself, not in his Card Deck. A true strong one can step into any era and immediately adapt. As the era advances and the environment accelerates, he too will instantly adapt and accelerate along with it, remaining the King even in the new age.
At this moment the Duel was still continuing.
"My turn, draw card!"
Yugen declared.
"Netherworld King Dragon - God of Judgment, attack 'Technology Attribute: Assault Rhino'!"
At this time the Librarian was equipped with the Trap Card "Metal Shell." Yugen remembered that in the anime, Metal Shell not only made the equipped Monster unable to be destroyed by card effects, but even if it would be destroyed by battle, you could destroy Metal Shell instead to prevent the Monster's destruction.
In that case, attacking the Librarian had little meaning.
Antinomy: "You saw through Metal Shell's second-layer defensive effect and chose Assault Rhino as the priority target to break first?"
Through the red goggles, his gaze was firm as he looked ahead.
"But my battle line can't be broken that easily!
Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Combat Powerlessness Sonic'!
Activate when the opponent's Monster declares an attack, and make that attack invalid.
After that, you can Special Summon a 'Technology Attribute' or a Level Four-or-lower Adjusted Monster from your hand or Card Deck."
Antinomy's Card Deck did a brief self-check, a card popped out from somewhere in the middle, and after he drew it, the remaining Card Deck quickly auto-shuffled and cut.
"Invalidate the attack of 'Netherworld King Dragon - God of Judgment', then Special Summon 'Technology Attribute: Electronic Magician' from the Card Deck!"
The talons of Netherworld King Dragon - God of Judgment descended trailing black Lightning, but just as they were about to land, a burst of sonic barrier exploded from Triangle Eagle. The Netherworld Dragon's claw was instantly repelled by the sound wave, a summoning vortex detonated in midair, and a tiny Magician flew out from within.
A Level One Magician, his body as small as his Star Level, wearing a helmet a bit too large for his head, short limbs wrapped in full armor, his appearance carrying a certain cuteness.
[Technology Attribute: Electronic Mage, Attack Power 0]
Yugen: "Then I set one Cover Card and end my turn."
Glancing at the lineup on Antinomy's field, Yugen gave a slight smile.
"One Synchro Monster, one Adjusted Monster, one non-Adjusted Monster... You really layered on the defenses just to build this layout. You've finally finished setting it up, haven't you?"
Antinomy's heart stirred.
This guy, could it be he even knows the secret of Accelerated Synchro?
Does the Dimension he comes from also have the concept of Accelerated Synchro?
"Since you went to such trouble to finish your preparations, let me see it." Yugen said. "The new frontier that lies ahead of Synchro Summon!"
Antinomy steadied his mind.
"Fine, just as you wish!
My turn, draw card!"
Antinomy spread his five fingers and swept them toward his Technology Attribute monsters, issuing the order.
"Level One, Adjusted Monster 'Electronic Mage'!
Level Four, 'Technology Attribute: Assault Rhino'!
Star-Tuning!"
[4+1=5]
"Restriction Remover, five stars! Low Bass Booster, startup OK! Tilt angle, OK! Ground support, all green! GO! Synchro Summon! COME ON——
——Synchro Adjusted Monster, Technology Attribute: Mysterious Magician!"
Electronic Mage broke apart into particles of light, a data-stream Stardust spiraled around Assault Rhino's body, star-glow transforming into a pillar of light.
As the brilliance faded, the humanoid figure floating in midair opened ruby-like eyes, pink long hair whipping in the data turbulence. She swung the Magic Staff in her hand, unfolded butterfly-wing-shaped folding armor on her back, and a pale cyan Energy Barrier spread out from her as the center.
[Technology Attribute: Mysterious Magician, Attack Power 1900]
Synchro Adjusted Monsters are a special type of Monster that are both Synchro Monsters and Adjusted Monsters at the same time.
The so-called new frontier ahead of Synchro Summon, "Accelerated Synchro," has as its core "using multiple Synchro Monsters to perform a Synchro Summon," and the key to that is this kind of card called Synchro Adjusted Monster.
Yugen: "Hmm... so you're not destroying my back row?"
In his impression, when Mysterious Magician successfully performs a Synchro Summon, she seems to be able to destroy one Magic or Trap Card on the field.
However, in the anime Antinomy never used that effect even once, so the back-row destruction was probably a reinforcement added later in the Physical Card; the original anime version didn't have that ability.
"At this moment, Technology Attribute: Super Librarian's effect." Antinomy said. "Because a Synchro Summon was conducted, I draw one card from my Card Deck."
Antinomy drew a card.
Yugen: "Then due to the effect of the Continuous Trap 'Free Ride', when the opponent draws from the Card Deck outside the draw phase, I draw two cards from my own Card Deck."
Yugen also drew two cards.
Antinomy: "Then next, just as you wished, comes the evolved summoning method that lies even further ahead of Synchro Summon!"
He suddenly twisted Triangle Eagle's throttle, clarity filling his eyes beneath the goggles.
"Heart of Bright Mirror and Calm Water!"
Triangle Eagle abruptly accelerated, tearing through the air currents and darting forward a stretch.
"Level Five, Synchro Adjusted Monster 'Technology Attribute: Mysterious Magician'!
Level Five, Synchro Monster 'Technology Attribute: Super Librarian'!
Star-Tuning!"
[5+5=10]
"Restriction Remover, ten stars! Main Low Bass Booster control, all green!
Infinite power, now released here and now—charge toward the far shore of the Dimension!
Accelerated Synchro!!!"
Triangle Eagle's acceleration broke through its limits, seemingly transforming into a beam of light that shot toward the edge of the horizon together with Antinomy and his Monsters, until they vanished without a trace.
In the next instant, that beam of light chased back up from behind Yugen, carrying the reappeared Antinomy and an already-materialized green Mecha.
"COME ON!
Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman!!!"