Dorado, DEF 1200.
"End of turn."
"My turn. My Turn! Draw."
Yugen revealed two cards at once. "The effect of Machina Fortress in my hand. I can discard Machine monsters whose total Levels equal eight or more to Special Summon it from my hand or the Graveyard."
"I discard Level 7 Machina Fortress itself and Level 4 V-Jet Tiger to the Graveyard. From endless war, forge an unbreakable fortress. Machina Fortress, Summon!"
Heavy treads rolled across the field as the massive artillery unit locked onto its target.
Machina Fortress, ATK 2500.
Manjoume frowned. "A Machine Union build this time?"
He did not realize that V-Jet Tiger had originally come from his own Deck.
"Machina Fortress, attack Dorado!"
The cannon fired in a burst of golden light. The dragon's body was pierced and exploded apart.
"I set two cards and end my turn," Yugen said.
"At the end phase, Dorado activates its Effect Activation!" Manjoume announced. "If it is Destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it during the End Phase with its ATK and DEF becoming 1000. This effect can only be used once per Duel."
Dorado, DEF 1000.
Yugen studied the revived dragon. Another Dragon type. It seemed Manjoume was moving closer to his manga counterpart's path.
"My turn. Draw."
"First, the Quick-Play Spell Mystical Space Typhoon. I Destroy your left set card!"
A storm swept up the face down card and lightning shattered it. It was a Trap Hole.
Yugen only shrugged.
"Next, I activate Card Destruction. Both players discard their hands, then draw the same number of cards from their Deck."
They both discarded and redrew.
"Then I activate Trade-In. I discard a Level 8 monster to draw two cards. I send Tyrant Dragon to the Graveyard and draw two!"
He drew sharply, his blue coat lifting slightly from the motion. Seeing one of the new cards, he curled his lips.
"It is here."
"Since meeting you again at Duel Academy, I have thought every day about that moment at the Moonlight Cup. I could barely sleep at night."
Yugen widened his eyes. "Why are you thinking about me every night?"
A vein throbbed on Manjoume's forehead, but he forced himself to calm down.
"Today, I step past that barrier. Watch as I crush you with my new and ultimate power, and bury that past!"
"From my hand, the effect of Hard Armor Dragon! I send a Level 8 monster from my hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon it. I discard Interdimensional Dragon and Special Summon Hard Armor Dragon!"
Hard Armor Dragon, ATK 1500.
"You really stocked up on high Level monsters," Yugen commented.
"I tribute Dorado and Hard Armor Dragon!"
Manjoume raised his card as dark energy swirled around him.
"Dragon of the endless abyss, become the blade that cuts through all and bring me victory. Dark End Dragon, Summon!"
A massive vortex of darkness opened, and a black dragon stepped out, its scales shining like cold metal.
Dark End Dragon, ATK 2600.
Yugen blinked in surprise. For a moment he almost thought it was a Synchro Monster, before remembering that in the original story it was an Effect Monster.
"This is the embodiment of my current power, Dark End Dragon!" Manjoume declared, coat flaring in the wind. "Today, I move forward beyond that wall!"
Manjoume's brand new ace, Dark End Dragon!
"Watch closely, Yugen. This is the power of the new me!" Manjoume shouted. "I activate Dark End Dragon's effect. Once Per Turn, it loses 500 ATK to send one monster on your field directly to the Graveyard!"
Dark End Dragon's ATK dropped from 2600 to 2100 as dark energy burst from its body. The black dragon roared, and a surge like a spreading Dark Hole exploded at the center of the field. Machina Fortress was swallowed by the darkness without any chance to resist.
Yugen raised a hand calmly. "At this moment, the effect of Machina Fortress also applies. When it becomes the target of an opponent's monster effect, I can check your hand and discard one card."
The massive Machine aimed its cannon at Manjoume as if firing one last shot before being taken. But Manjoume reacted at once and slid another card into his Duel Disk.
"I won't let you! Quick-Play Spell Book of Moon! Change one monster on the field to face down Defense Position. I set Machina Fortress face down!"
A crescent moon rose above the field as magic sealed the Machine inside a single face down Card. "Now when the effect resolves, it is no longer face up on the field, so its discard effect cannot apply."
"Be buried by Dark End Dragon's power!" Manjoume pointed forward.
The face down Machina Fortress was consumed by the black vortex. The dragon's roar echoed as the field fell quiet again.
"You have improved," Yugen said with a small nod. Compared to their previous match against Hajime Manjoume, Manjoume felt sharper and more confident.
"Battle Phase! Dark End Dragon, direct attack!"
The black dragon opened its jaws and released a torrent of dark flames. The blast swept across Yugen's field and struck him head on.
Yugen, LP 4000 to LP 1900.
"Looking good," Yugen Do commented from the side.
"Of course," Manjoume replied. "I prepared for this rematch for a long time. But I'm not done yet. From my hand, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Super Rejuvenation!"
"In the End Phase of the turn this card is activated, I draw cards equal to the number of Dragon monsters discarded from my hand or Tributed this turn. This turn I discarded two Dragons with Card Destruction, discarded Tyrant Dragon with Trade-In, discarded Interdimensional Dragon by Hard Armor Dragon's effect, and Tributed Hard Armor Dragon and Dorado. That makes six cards."
He drew in one smooth motion. "In the End Phase, I draw six cards!"
"Impressive draw power," Yugen said, resting his chin on his hand. The refill was brutal, even by Dragon standards.
"Drop that relaxed attitude," Manjoume snapped. "Only by defeating you at your best does this mean anything!"
"Why does everyone think I'm not serious?" Yugen replied lightly as he drew. "My turn. I activate the Spell Card Pot of Greed and draw two cards."
Because Hard Armor Dragon had been used as a Tribute, Dark End Dragon now had protection against Destroy effects. Most removal in the current format would not work on it.
"Against you, this is the better choice." Yugen revealed a card. "Continuous Spell Different Dimension Hangar. When activated, I banish three Level 4 or lower Union Monsters from my Deck."
He banished U-Z Dragon Head, Z-Metal Tank, and W-Wing Catapult. The three Machines were drawn into a vortex above the field.
"Is that the combination you used in your Duel with Tenjoin?" Manjoume asked, his expression tightening.
"Normal Summon X-Head Cannon."
X-Head Cannon appeared with 1800 ATK. "When a monster is Summoned, Different Dimension Hangar lets me Special Summon a related Union Monster from the banished zone. I Special Summon Y-Dragon Head and Z-Metal Tank!"
The two Machines landed beside X. Then Yugen raised his hand.
"X, Y, and Z, banish and combine!"
The Machines separated and reassembled in midair. With a heavy crash, XYZ-Dragon Cannon descended onto the field, cannons aimed forward.
XYZ-Dragon Cannon, ATK 2800.
Manjoume narrowed his eyes. He remembered its effect. By discarding a card, it could destroy any card on his field. But with Hard Armor Dragon's protection, Dark End Dragon would not be Destroyed by effects.
"Open my set card," Yugen said instead. "Trap Card Assembly of the Clan. I target XYZ-Dragon Cannon and Special Summon a monster of the same Type with a different name from my hand or Graveyard. I Special Summon V-Jet Tiger!"
V-Jet Tiger appeared with 1600 ATK.
"And when V-Jet Tiger is Summoned, Different Dimension Hangar activates again. I Special Summon W-Wing Catapult!"
The field filled with Machines once more. "W-Wing Catapult and V-Jet Tiger, banish and combine. Fusion Summon VW-Tiger Catapult!"