Chapter 115: Inheritance Combined Strike, Shattering Eternal Life
"Spell Card Dragon's Mirror activates!"
Obviously, this card wasn't in Amano Rei's deck.
This Fusion card shining with golden light was born from the Millennium Scale, arriving in Amano Rei's hand precisely to sever the Nanki'in family's fifty-year destiny.
[Dragon's Mirror] [Spell Card: Banish Fusion Material Monsters listed on a Dragon Fusion Monster Card from your field or GY, then Fusion Summon 1 Dragon Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck.]
This spell that could select Fusion Materials from the Graveyard for Fusion had no one-turn delay like Dragon's Rebirth, but limited the Fusion Monster to Dragon-Types.
Practically tailor-made for Amano Rei. If this card wasn't even more expensive than Polymerization, Amano would definitely get one for his deck.
But now it was fine—the Millennium Scale had printed it for him.
"D-Dragon's Mirror? How is this possible—how could something like this exist!"
Just like hearing about Shiranui Style Fusion, after seeing Amano Rei activate Dragon's Mirror, Onikiri's panicked expression became even more obvious.
Fifty years ago, the genius girl who'd once been unstoppable was nailed to the pillar of shame by her only defeat.
In that Dark Game, the monster Nanki'in Munechihi used to defeat Onikiri's monster was born from Shiranui Fusion.
"I banish Shiranui Spiritualist and Shiranui Spectralsword from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials!"
Shiranui flame cards surged into Dragon's Mirror. The smooth mirror surface seemed to reflect light from the world of the dead.
"This feeling..."
Nanki'in Muramasa gazed at Amano Rei's back at this moment, suddenly feeling a sense of familiarity overlapping with a certain figure from memory.
"Elder brother, is this how you fought!"
The dragon mirror shattered. The Dragon-Type monster born from within seemed to bring souls from the far shore into this world.
"With demon blade flames, cleave open the gates of the underworld! Three-River Crossing, Dragon of Returning Death!"
"Roar to your heart's content in this eternal darkness!"
"Dragon's Mirror, Fusion Summon! Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon!!"
[Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon] [Level 8★ DARK]
[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK: 3000] [DEF: 0]
[Materials: 2 Zombie monsters]
The massive underworld dragon with pitch-black skeletal armor burst from Dragon's Mirror. Wherever the death dragon passed, flowers of the far shore bloomed.
Though a Dragon-Type Fusion Monster, its Fusion Material requirements were two Zombie monsters. And Shiranui monsters all happened to be Zombie-Type.
Onikiri bit down angrily: "Munechihi, you bastard—you still haven't let me go!"
This Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon was Nanki'in Munechihi's ace monster from fifty years ago.
"It succeeded! This old man didn't misjudge! Amano Rei, you truly are the most suitable person for the Nanki'in family!"
Actually, Amano Rei could Fusion Summon Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon purely because he had the full Dragon-Type Extra Deck. And without this Dragon's Mirror born from the Millennium Scale, Amano couldn't have completed Fusion with just one draw.
But in Onikiri's eyes, this was fifty years of pursuit catching up.
However, due to Malefic Paradox Dragon's effect, all monsters on the field lost ATK equal to War God - Shiranui's 3000 ATK.
Dragonecro, with exactly 3000 ATK, currently dropped to 0 ATK under the debuff aura's coverage.
"Since it was banished as Fusion Material, Shiranui Spiritualist's effect activates—I can destroy 1 face-up card on the field!"
On Onikiri's field, because Field Spell Malefic World was protected by Continuous Spell Malefic Territory, it couldn't be targeted for destruction.
Amano Rei could only choose from the two monsters.
"I use Spiritualist's effect to destroy War God - Shiranui!"
[War God - Shiranui destroyed]
Rather than choosing to destroy the higher-ATK Malefic Paradox Dragon, Amano Rei instead let the Level 8 War God - Shiranui return to Nanki'in Sakuya's Graveyard first.
Onikiri flipped her card with a wave: "Chaining the destruction effect, I activate Quick-Play Spell Mystik Wok!"
[Mystik Wok] [Quick-Play Spell: Tribute 1 monster you control; gain LP equal to that monster's ATK or DEF.]
Due to Chain processing's last-in-first-out order, Onikiri could stir-fry the monster before it was destroyed to recover Life Points.
"I Tribute War God - Shiranui to recover LP equal to the monster's 3000 ATK!"
Onikiri LP: 5800 → 8800
Using Malefic monsters with easily 4000 ATK, Onikiri carrying this card was equivalent to casually having an entire extra health bar compared to others in duels.
Amano Rei: "Since War God - Shiranui left the field, Malefic Paradox Dragon's ATK-reduction effect also becomes invalid. Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's ATK returns to 3000!"
[Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon] [ATK: 0 → 3000]
Reclaiming its combat power, the underworld dragon raised its head and roared loudly toward the night sky.
"Then I'll activate Continuous Trap Card Skill Drain!" Onikiri finally flipped her second Set card. "Pay 1000 LP to negate all monster effects on the field!"
Onikiri LP: 8800 → 7800
Earlier, because her own Malefic Paradox Dragon's effect was active on her field, Onikiri hadn't rushed to activate Skill Drain.
Now that her own monster's effect was gone, naturally there was no need to keep her opponent's monster effects either.
"Onikiri, you should know—you can't block Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's attack!"
But Amano Rei also knew he couldn't win yet. Onikiri's Life Points were far too high.
The 1v3 duel's 12,000 LP, plus the 3000 from Mystik Wok just now—that was a total of 15,000 LP to burn through. Combined with the ultra-high ATK Malefic monsters, Amano truly experienced firsthand the mindset the three Duel Kings must have had in the movie facing the numerical monster boss.
He couldn't win relying on himself alone.
He had to gather his companions' bonds of friendship like in the movie!
"Sakuya, I'm activating a monster effect from your Graveyard!"
"Let's go together, Amano! We absolutely can't lose to someone like this!"
The Synchro stars burning in the Graveyard—without question, this was Demon Blade - Shiranui's effect.
This time was the strongest one yet.
"I banish Level 2 Tuner Demon Blade - Shiranui and Level 8 War God - Shiranui from the Graveyard! Undead Synchro!"
Level 2 + Level 8 = Level 10!
In the Graveyard, the flame star ring passed through War God's card, carving ten burning Synchro stars into Amano Rei's hand.
Onikiri, who'd just mocked Amano for being unable to Synchro last turn, was instantly slapped in the face.
"Level 10?! You bastard—you're clearly not from the Nanki'in family, yet you can perform ultimate Shiranui Synchro!"
Amano Rei himself couldn't complete ultimate Shiranui Synchro, but the legitimate Nanki'in family heir was right here.
The skill from Nanki'in Sakuya: [Inheritor of Shiranui Style].
Amano: "Amaterasu's divine flames burn the vast seas! Golden crow melts armor to forge a flame body!"
Sakuya: "With the sun wheel's true flames, bury all false gods!"
Amano & Sakuya: "Synchro Summon, Level 10! Shiranui Sunsaga!"
[Shiranui Sunsaga] [Level 10★ FIRE]
[Zombie/Synchro/Effect]
[ATK: 3500] [DEF: 0]
The strongest Shiranui Synchro born from the sun wheel—golden-red flames condensed into a crimson horse. The flame god descended riding the steed, ATK directly surpassing Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
If Dragonecro's Fusion relied on Nanki'in Muramasa's Millennium Item support—
Then Shiranui Sunsaga was the bond Synchro between Nanki'in Sakuya and Amano Rei.
The previous generation's heir and the next generation's heir—the Nanki'in family's two ace monsters spanning fifty years of dimensions gathered before Onikiri through Amano Rei's hands.
"Battle! Use the Fusion and Synchro aces to shatter fifty years of sinful eternal life!"
Amano Rei raised his arm to declare entry into the Battle Phase, leading with Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's attack.
Using 3000-ATK Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon to attack 4000-ATK Malefic Paradox Dragon.
"—Death Dragon's Sigh!!"
What seemed like a suicidal attack—the black energy Dragonecro sprayed was instantly covered and counter-killed by Paradox Dragon's spiral energy.
[Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon destroyed]
Amano & Sakuya & Muramasa LP: 2800 → 1800
"Amano-nii, wh-what are you doing?"
Because the dark barrier obscuring vision had shattered during that earlier draw, the other Nanki'in family members could now clearly see this ongoing Dark Game.
But they couldn't understand at all why Amano Rei would suicide-attack with the lower-ATK monster.
"Amano..." Of course Finesse understood even less why she was holding one Amano Rei in her arms while another Amano Rei existed inside the Dark Game barrier.
Only Onikiri's expression grew visibly uglier.
"I told you—you can't block Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's attack! Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's effect activates!"
Monster effects on the field should all be negated by Skill Drain.
But Amano Rei could still activate Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's effect because, naturally, the battle-destroyed Dragonecro was no longer on the field.
Crashing 3000 ATK into 4000 ATK was precisely to make Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon self-destruct into the Graveyard, evading Skill Drain's seal.
"After Dragonecro battles a monster, that battle monster's ATK becomes 0! This effect activates even if Dragonecro is destroyed!"
This wasn't Amano Rei talking nonsense—this was legitimate K-language rules.
Just like the earlier non-targeting destruction that shattered Malefic World, Eden Tower's rules still superseded the Dark Game.
Eroded and affected by underworld energy, the numbers representing Malefic Paradox Dragon's ATK rapidly dropped.
[Malefic Paradox Dragon] [ATK: 4000 → 0]
"After that!"
Amano Rei held his Duel Disk level before his chest, standing upright on the battlefield.
Immediately, profound dark power exploded from behind him, conjuring from thin air a massive dark dragon that roared furiously at the Malefic Paradox Dragon ahead.
Aside from the difference of its pitch-black coloring, this dark dragon Amano Rei conjured on his field looked like a one-to-one copy of Malefic Paradox Dragon's appearance.
"Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon's follow-up effect!"
[Special Summon 1 "Dark Soul Token" (Zombie/DARK/ATK 0/DEF 0) to your field with the same Level and original ATK as that monster.]
This dark dragon with appearance one-to-one copying Malefic Paradox Dragon was the "Dark Soul Token" created through Dragonecro's effect.
Not only identical appearance—even the ATK was identical.
[Dark Soul Token] [ATK: 4000]
The situation had completely reversed. Now Onikiri's field had 0-ATK Malefic Paradox Dragon, while Amano Rei's field had a bootleg 'Malefic Paradox Dragon' with 4000 ATK and 3500-ATK Shiranui Sunsaga.
"Destroy Malefic Paradox Dragon, Shiranui Sunsaga!"
"—Sun Authority: Eternal Scorching Blaze!!"
The flame warhorse neighed and called out. Riding the steed in a charge fast enough to tear through darkness, a single swift strike shattered the 0-ATK Malefic Paradox Dragon.
[Malefic Paradox Dragon destroyed]
The sun's fire burned away sin. The massive Malefic dragon completely vanished from Onikiri's field, and Onikiri took damage equivalent to a direct attack.
Onikiri LP: 7800 → 4300
"Ahahahahahahaha!"
A scream from the soul's depths—scorching flame energy tore at the soul craving eternal life.
"I won't lose—I won't lose to the same monster twice!"
Rising again through sheer stubborn obsession, Onikiri roared through clenched teeth, as if venting a refutation of that defeat fifty years ago.
"Nanki'in Munechihi, I won't lose to you again! Not the monster, not the wager—I won't lose! With this card!!"
Onikiri's field currently had no other usable cards, but she still held one final card in hand.
"Malefic Truth Dragon's effect activates from my hand! When Malefic Paradox Dragon on my field is destroyed, I pay half my LP to Special Summon this card!"
Onikiri LP: 4300 → 2150
To pursue victory, Onikiri poured her battered, decaying soul into this final card.
"I won't lose—I won't lose to you people again! I'll live on—live on forever!"
"Offering my soul as tribute—Special Summon! Malefic Truth Dragon!!"
[Malefic Truth Dragon] [Level 12★ DARK]
[Dragon/Special Summon/Effect]
[ATK: 5000] [DEF: 5000]
From the far end of Malefic World, from the cracks in dark spacetime—the strongest dragon.
A full Level 12, possessing the same level as Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon yet surpassing Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's ATK.
With both ATK and DEF reaching 5000, this was the highest base stats in actual Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.
Onikiri's final Special Summon sacrificed half her Life Points to Set Malefic Truth Dragon in Defense Position on her field.
"I can tell—you're afraid!" Amano Rei said.
Setting a 5000-ATK monster in Defense Position showed lack of confidence in one's own combat power.
Right now on Amano Rei's field, only the 4000-ATK Dark Soul Token hadn't attacked yet.
"I—I'm afraid?" Onikiri looked at her trembling fingers. It wasn't from the incurable Frozen Body Syndrome—it was from fear deep within her heart.
She might lose. She might lose to these Nanki'in family people. Lose to Nanki'in Muramasa whom she'd looked down on most back then. Lose the wager she'd made with Nanki'in Munechihi.
Amano Rei gestured: "Time for the final strike, Nanki'in!"
Nanki'in Sakuya flipped up her final Set card.
"Trap Card Ithaqua's Whirlwind!"
[Ithaqua's Whirlwind] [Trap Card: Change the battle positions of all face-up monsters your opponent controls.]
Originally, this card was a trap for twisting opponent's attacking monsters into defense to survive.
But at this moment, facing Defense Position Malefic Truth Dragon, it held even more special meaning.
Amano & Sakuya & Muramasa: "Face us! Onikiri!!"
[Malefic Truth Dragon] [Defense Position → Attack Position] [ATK: 5000]
"I-I-I..."
Trembling even worse now, at this moment Onikiri was completely overwhelmed by the three's momentum.
Would she lose?
Would she lose?
She really would lose!
("I'm wagering on inheritance. Wagering that someday, Muramasa's descendants, the Nanki'in family's descendants, will surpass your eternal life! At that moment, you'll discover the eternal life you craved actually held no meaning. That moment will be the end of your eternal life.")
Nanki'in Muramasa looked at the two children beside him.
What he saw was a future full of hope.
This was something the eternal one could never see in descendants.
This was the "infinite" hope that only "finite" life could discover at the final moment.
"This is the meaning of inheritance, Nanki'in Onikiri! Set card activates!"
Nanki'in Muramasa flipped the card he'd Set first turn—also the final remaining Set card on the entire field.
That Set card linked with the Spell Card Muramasa kept in hand.
"Trap Card Sonic Chant! With this card's effect, I activate the Spell Card United We Stand from my hand during the Battle Phase!"
[United We Stand] [Spell Card: Send 1 monster you control to the GY; target 1 monster you control; until the End Phase, it gains ATK equal to the sent monster's ATK.]
"This strike spanning fifty years of inheritance combines both generations' ace monsters' ATK!"
"I send Shiranui Sunsaga from my field to the GY to boost Dark Soul Token by 3500 ATK!"
[Dark Soul Token] [ATK: 4000 → 7500]
The inheritance connection spanning fifty years of time linked their ATK together.
On the field shared by all three, Shiranui Sunsaga riding the flame horse poured all the flame katana's energy into the Dark Soul Token's final attack.
Imitating Malefic Paradox Dragon's attack pattern, transforming "Paradox Spiral" into a destiny spiral woven from dark energy and flame energy, the battlefield-piercing light bombarded Malefic Truth Dragon's massive body.
Amano & Sakuya & Muramasa: "—Dark Flame Inheritance: Destiny Spiral Cannon!!"
[Malefic Truth Dragon destroyed]
The 7500-ATK combined attack completely shattered the 5000-ATK Malefic Truth Dragon in the Dark Game.
Dealing final battle damage of 2500!
Onikiri: "Aaaaaaaahhhhh!"
Onikiri LP: 2150 → 0
Consumed by the dark and flame attack effects, at the final moment Onikiri seemed to see Nanki'in Munechihi from fifty years ago.
He told her: there's a limit to where one person can reach.
Eternal life—it truly held no meaning after all.
[DARK GAME]
[VICTOR]
[NANKI'IN FAMILY]
Amano Rei: "Huh, so I'm a family member now?
***
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