"The strongest? I dare not claim such a title."
Yugen waved his hand and smiled.
"I'm just a Duelist who got a bit luckier and moved a bit faster. In my dimension, I wouldn't be considered the strongest. There are Duelists stronger than me."
Antinomy's eyes flickered.
Already a Duel King, yet still claims not to be the strongest...
Could it be that the dimension he comes from has more than one such individual?
Truly a terrifying dimension.
Antinomy suddenly thought sadly, if the future timeline he came from had as many powerful Duel Kings, could it have avoided its doom?
ZONE's voice resounded again: "Then, let's begin."
As the words fell, the space within this pure white field transformed once more. Transparent ripples spread through the void, reaching the end of this world.
The background began to change. The ceiling and floor vanished, as if the sky and land had lifted their boundaries. A void runway stretched from one horizon to the other, looping and swirling through infinite air, eventually settling into the shape of an "∞".
Yugen and Antinomy now stood upon this runway, and simultaneously, two D-Wheels appeared.
One of them was the "Triangle Eagle," the future D-Wheel with a spear-like nose, the signature ride of Antinomy.
The other was identical to the D-Wheel of Paradox, exactly like the one Yugen rode to traverse to this dimension.
Yugen raised an eyebrow: "A Riding Duel, is it?"
"Indeed."
Antinomy mounted his Triangle Eagle.
"The evolved ultimate form of dueling, and a symbol closely associated with Synchro. Can you accept my challenge, king of the Otherworld?"
Both individuals here knew their identities were false, and Yugen no longer had a need to disguise. He had already shed the guise of Godwin and reverted to his true form.
He smiled and said, "Being called a king doesn't sound nice. My name is Fujiki Yugen, just call me Yugen."
Yugen paused and said, "I'm not very good at Riding Duels... well, playing occasionally isn't impossible. Let's go with that."
As he spoke, he had already mounted his D-Wheel.
He was telling the truth, as the physical cards of his familiar Yu-Gi-Oh! game historically never instituted the rules of Riding Duels, and his known card decks weren't designed for such duels.
The restriction on using regular Magic Cards significantly impacts many card decks, and the exclusive High-speed Spells from the anime, though he studied after coming to this dimension, couldn't be as familiar to him as to the locals, and didn't feel as handy to use.
Therefore, whenever possible, he generally avoided engaging in Riding Duels.
But sparring with Antinomy, the future D-Wheel expert, wouldn't be a problem, as it would be giving his opponent the home-ground advantage.
Both D-Wheels started, and duel mode was activated. The Field Spell "High-speed World" automatically launched, and the start countdown appeared on both D-Wheel screens.
"Riding Duel, accelerate!" x2
[Yugen, LP4000]
[Antinomy, LP4000]
Both D-Wheels launched simultaneously, dashing out like arrows from the string.
According to Riding Duel rules, whoever reaches the first curve first gains the advantage of the first move.
Yugen's speed wasn't slow, but lacking practice in riding, his only skill was to aggressively press the throttle propelled by his superior physical abilities and reflexes.
However, Antinomy was different. When alive, he was a Duel King Level D-wheel Hand in the future, and even though now a robot with his conscious clone, he retained all facets of the original's personality. His driving skills, naturally top-notch, were unmatched throughout the entire 5DS anime—none dare claim first if he claimed second place.
The Triangle Eagle dashed with a trail of flames out of the first curve, and Antinomy unsurprisingly seized the initial attack.
"Allow me to start first! My turn, draw!"
Antinomy drew a card, and both High-speed Counts shifted to one.
"I Normal Summon 'Technology Attribute: Ejection Dragon'!"
Antinomy placed the Monster Card onto his Duel Disc. A small Dragon Race with a launching track on top of its head appeared at his D-Wheel's side, crowning sharp serrated horns at the top of the track.
[Technology Attribute: Ejection Dragon, Attack Power 900]
"Ejection Dragon's effect allows you, once per turn, to Special Summon a Level 3 or below Technology Attribute Adjusted Monster from your hand!"
In the anime, Technology Attribute wasn't physicalized, thus differed widely from real card effects like many other anime card decks.
For example, Ejection Dragon received enhancement upon being physicalized, allowing any non-specified Level 3 or lower Adjusted Monster to be Special Summoned from the hand, compared to summoning only Technology Attribute monsters in the anime, lacking the versatility of physical cards.
"Special Summoning 'Technology Attribute: Jet Falcon' from hand!"
A second summoning vortex opened, and a black Falcon spread its wings, flying alongside, cruising in two loops, lining up beside the Triangle Eagle.
[Technology Attribute: Jet Falcon, Attack Power 1400]
"Level 3, Adjusted Monster, 'Technology Attribute: Jet Falcon'!
Level 2, 'Technology Attribute: Ejection Dragon'!
Star-Tuning!"
[3+2=5]
Antinomy's red visor flickered with data streams, as a Star-Tuning halo appeared alongside the Triangle Eagle, seemingly extending into a Starlight Avenue toward the world's end.
"Opening the limiter for 5 stars, opening the tuner, warming up the thrusters, OK! Ascend the route, all clear! GO! Synchro Summon!
COME ON——
——Technology Attribute: Super Librarian!"
The Synchro starlight burst forth, as the white cloak elegantly rippled against the boundless background. The librarian held a hefty book, topped with a high hat, donned in a white robe, both erudite and composed.
[Technology Attribute: Super Librarian, Attack Power 2400]
"It's here, the legendary Librarian." Yugen licked his lips.
Antinomy was surprised: "What?"
"Oh, nothing, carry on." Yugen cheerfully replied.
The Librarian was a super-powerful draw engine from the Synchro Era, having made multiple appearances in Forbidden/Limited card lists. No exaggeration, it was once the strongest card draw engine of the Synchro Era.
The Librarian's effect was straightforward and bold, just a single line: as long as the Librarian is on the field, draw one card for every Synchro Summon that occurs on the field.
Back then, top-tier card decks like the Yusei Card Deck-based "Waste Doppelganger" could Synchro Summon twenty or thirty times in one turn effortlessly, telling stories for ten minutes a turn. The more they fought, the more resources they amassed in hand and graveyard, making it not impossible to draw through the entire deck in one turn.
Antinomy found his reaction odd but didn't inquire further, waved his hand saying: "At this moment, Technology Attribute: Jet Falcon's effect!
This card, as Synchro Material, going to the graveyard, dealing 500 points of damage to the opponent!"