Chapter 97: Tenacious! Invincible! Supreme!
"I didn't banish any monsters, so I don't need to Summon." Kaiba said, looking at the (X-Head Cannon), (Y-Dragon Head), and (Z-Metal Tank) on Hayato's field. "All three monsters are back on the field? So what? (XYZ-Dragon Cannon) is still sleeping in your Graveyard. Even if the three monsters combine, you can't activate Annihilation Mode to destroy my `(Blue-Eyes White Dragon)`!"
"But when did I ever say I was summoning (XYZ-Dragon Cannon)?" Hayato smiled mysteriously and played a card from his Hand. "I'm using this Spell Card! It comes from a duelist who once lost to me, a duelist who is already dead!"
"Equip Spell Card, (7)!"
As the number "7" appeared on Hayato's field, (X-Head Cannon) seemed to be blessed with a mystical power. Then, (Y-Dragon Head) and (Z-Metal Tank) disassembled and equipped themselves onto it.
"I recall that (7) is a Spell Card that can only be equipped to a Machine-Type monster. It can increase the monster's Attack or Defense by a full 700 points." Kaiba's pupils narrowed. "(X-Head Cannon)'s Attack!"
"That's right! With the power of three combined, although it lacks the ability of its fusion form to destroy cards by using my Hand as ammunition, the current (X-Head Cannon) has a total of 3500 Attack Points!"
[(X-Head Cannon) ATK 1800 → 2500 → 2900 → 3500]
"O, mightiest of dragons, witness my struggle for victory! (X-Head Cannon), attack (Blue-Eyes White Dragon)! Evolution Light Blast!"
Facing the white dragon that had once destroyed it, (X-Head Cannon)'s monitor glowed with a cold red light. Its weapon systems locked on firmly, followed by a maximum power energy output. The white laser beam dissipated, and the (Blue-Eyes White Dragon) that had been flaunting its power on Kaiba's field for so long was defeated in a direct confrontation for the first time.
[Kaiba: 1800 LP → 1300 LP]
Hayato glanced at his own field. (X-Head Cannon)'s Attack had been boosted to 3500 points, but the cost was that its existence depended on the three cards in his Back Row. Including the previously used (Frontline Base) and (Soul Resurrection), all five of Hayato's Back Row slots were now completely filled.
"I Summon a monster from my Hand in face-down Defense Position. My turn ends."
[Hayato: 1800 LP, Hand 0]
[(X-Head Cannon) ATK 3500]
[Face-down Defense Position Monster]
[(Frontline Base)] [(Soul Resurrection)]
"My Turn, Draw!" Kaiba drew his card but didn't play it immediately. Instead, he looked at Hayato. "Hayato, I thought you were just a Fodder Monster, but you actually possess such skill. I admit, I underestimated you."
"In response to your wholehearted dedication to this Duel, I will defeat you with my strongest monster! I activate the Spell Card, (Card of Demise)!" After activating the Spell, Kaiba drew four cards from his Deck in one go. "With this card's effect, I can draw until I have five cards in my Hand. However, five turns after activation, I must discard my entire Hand."
'What's the difference between a side effect like that and having no side effect at all?' Hayato complained inwardly.
But Kaiba's moves were just getting started.
"First, I activate (Overheated Burial) from my Hand! I discard one monster from my Hand to revive a monster with a lower Level from my Graveyard. And the monster I'm discarding is the (Blue-Eyes) in my Hand!" Under Hayato's puzzled gaze, Kaiba actually sent a (Blue-Eyes) to the Graveyard. "Revive, (Kaiser Sea Horse)!"
[(Kaiser Sea Horse) DEF 1650]
"I'm not finished! Next is this card, (Trade-In)! I Tribute the `(Blue-Eyes White Dragon)` on my field to draw two more cards from my Deck!" Kaiba's baffling actions continued. He sent the `(Blue-Eyes White Dragon)` that had been standing tall on his field to the Graveyard, replacing it with a single (Kaiser Sea Horse) in Defense Position.
"You sent all your (Blue-Eyes) to the Graveyard... What on earth are you planning, Kaiba?"
"Hmph, Hayato, celebrate the evolution of the ultimate dragon! Celebrate the fact that you are about to witness an invincible existence! This was originally my Ace Card, reserved for Yugi, but now I'm unleashing it for you!" Kaiba declared, playing a card. "I activate the Spell Card, (Dragon's Mirror)!"
"What?!" Hayato was shocked. He knew this card because he owned one himself and had even used it. It fusion summons by banishing Dragon-Type monsters from the Graveyard, and the only Dragon-Type monsters in Kaiba's Graveyard were—
"I banish the three (Blue-Eyes White Dragon) in my Graveyard from the game!" Declaring it like an emperor ruling over his domain, a violent hurricane erupted on Kaiba's field. It was as if heaven and earth trembled for the monster about to appear. The immense pressure made it hard for Hayato to even breathe. "The strongest, most ultimate dragon in all of history, appear now!"
"BLUE-EYES ULTIMATE DRAGON!!!"
[(Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon)] [Level 10 / LIGHT]
[Dragon-Type / Fusion]
[ATK 4500 / DEF 3800]
Kaiba still had three cards left in his Hand, and he hadn't even Normal Summoned this turn. However, there was no need to summon anything else. The (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) was the strongest fusion monster Kaiba could summon. Its presence alone was enough to sweep away everything.
"Perfect! Invincible! Supreme!" Accompanied by Kaiba's unique voice, the three-headed white dragon opened its maws, and a torrent of white light began to gather. Its outstretched wings seemed poised to cast the entire world in its shadow. "The ultimate power that transcends all, destroy everything in your path! Burst Stream of Destruction! Ultimate Burst!"
A threefold breath of light assailed him. The dazzling radiance crowded out every other color from Hayato's vision; he couldn't see a thing. When the light faded slightly, the (Y-Dragon Head) that had been equipped to (X-Head Cannon) on Hayato's field had vanished. "As a substitute for (X-Head Cannon) being destroyed, (Y-Dragon Head) is sent to the Graveyard."
"Hmph, a futile struggle. You will still take damage," Kaiba snorted coldly.
[Hayato: 1800 LP → 800 LP]
"I Set one card from my Hand and end my turn." Commanding the strongest white dragon, Kaiba was now filled with confidence about the outcome of this Duel. "Victory is already in my grasp. Begin your final turn, Hayato!"
[Kaiba: 1300 LP, Hand 2]
[(Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) ATK 4500]
[Set Card]
"Don't be so sure of yourself, Kaiba. Though I'd like to say that, the (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon)... Tsk, it's a formidable opponent, without a doubt." Hayato looked at the domineering three-headed dragon before him. Its noble Level 12 status brought not only magnificent stats but also an oppressive aura that could rival a god's.
"My Turn, Draw."
"I activate the Spell Card (Magic Planter)! I send (Soul Resurrection) to the Graveyard to draw two cards from my Deck." After drawing two cards, Hayato activated another Spell. "(Pot of Greed)! I draw two more cards!"
As his Hand count reached three, Hayato's eyes lit up. He looked at Kaiba and said, "Seto, you say victory is already in your grasp? But I've also found my own path to victory!"
(end of chapter)