"My turn. Draw."
Hart glanced at his hand, adjusted slightly, and Normal Summoned a monster.
"Normal Summon, Rose Papillon."
"So long as this card exists in the Monster Zone, once besides Normal Summoning, during my Main Phase I can Tribute Summon 1 monster Level 7 or higher in Attack Position."
A monster used to quickly Xyz Summon Titanic Moth?
The vast majority of those present judged so.
"Wait, Kite..." Suddenly, Hikaru inexplicably sensed a familiar feeling.
Not only Hikaru. After Hikaru spoke, others also felt a strange sense of crisis.
But it was too late!
Because after summoning the monster, Kite Hart's first action wasn't clearing the field!
"During the turn the opponent Special Summons 2 or more monsters from the Extra Deck and the following turn, this card can directly overlay onto the monster with the highest ATK on my field to conduct Xyz Summon. During the turn Special Summoned by this method, I cannot Summon or Special Summon monsters."
"Using Level 3 Rose Papillon, conduct Xyz Summon."
"Single-monster Xyz!?"
Everyone loudly exclaimed.
Xyz Monsters, didn't they need at least two monsters overlaid?
Hart slowly opened both hands, as if holding up the sun.
"Rank-Up Xyz Change!"
"Rank, maximum value!"
"Wait!" Kite shouted. "Hart! A Rank 12 Xyz isn't something you can do..."
At this moment he no longer had time to think about why 1 monster could Rank-Up.
Because darkness came!
"Despair, darkness, destruction!"
"Xyz Summon!"
"Rank 12... ugh..."
Hart painfully knelt down halfway.
Just as Kite said.
As a child who'd never dueled with anyone, no matter how good Hart Tenjo's talent was, no matter how excellent his ability to adapt to supernatural power, he was ultimately just duckweed on water's surface, fundamentally unable to withstand this level of "sudden surge."
His body wasn't that strong!
Even more, Hart's body was already weaker than an ordinary person's. Corresponding to that, he'd only suffer more!
"Ugh."
A painful cracking sound came from Hart's body. Not only Kite, but even the people watching the duel around them had their expressions turn tense and worried.
Blood seeped from Hart's body.
"Super Starslayer TY-PHON - Sky Crisis."
A massive mechanical demon, utterly different from AA-ZEUS, with a savage appearance and cold face, slowly clenched its hands and calmly looked at its opponent.
"It's that thing!" AA-ZEUS grew anxious. "Back then, my kin, tempted by the red light's power, became this kind of form!"
Super Starslayer TY-PHON - Sky Crisis. Rank 12, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 2900.
"ATK 2900?"
"Fortunately, AA-ZEUS's ATK is higher than it."
"Also, with AA-ZEUS, we can clear the field. If Hart can't Summon or Special Summon, there shouldn't be any problem."
Another turn to try...
"E-Ra..." Kite watched Hart's pitiful state. He was completely enraged to laughter. The corners of his mouth trembled. He couldn't even finish speaking.
"TY-PHON's monster effect." Hart slowly stood straight, raised his hand, and said. "Once per turn, detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to activate. 1 monster on the field returns to the hand."
Is he trying to solve AA-ZEUS!?
"AA-ZEUS's effect..."
"So long as Xyz-Summoned TY-PHON is on the field, neither player can activate the effects of monsters with 3000 or more ATK."
"What!"
This line startled almost everyone present. Even Tierra couldn't help her brow twitching wildly.
Goodness.
If this monster was on the field, even the "unstoppable" her couldn't activate effects!
But for the current situation...
"Kite!" Yuma shouted in terror.
Trouble!
AA-ZEUS couldn't activate its effect, which meant...
"Kite, I..." AA-ZEUS very much wanted to resist TY-PHON's power, but the dueling rules were placed here. It couldn't defy reality.
Because AA-ZEUS was an Extra Deck monster, it didn't return to the hand but went directly back to the Extra Deck.
And this way, Kite's gate was wide open!
"Heheh, Kite, looks like, forget saving your little brother, you can't even save yourself." E-Ra's voice echoed in this duel field.
Kite's face was cold. He said nothing.
"Battle." Hart expressionlessly raised his hand. "TY-PHON direct attack on the opponent."
TY-PHON's eyes flashed red light. Like electric flashes in the air, several flashes and it appeared before Kite. Its right claw raised, intent on strangling Kite here!
"Kite!" Yuma cried out in worry.
"Kite..." Quattro softly exclaimed.
Tori Meadows didn't dare look and turned her head away.
Kite expressionlessly extended his hand to catch the demon's incoming attack.
Zzzzz.
Though the demon's attack struck Kite's hand, it was as if hitting an ocean. No matter what, it couldn't advance further!
"Activate the effect of Kuriphoton in my hand.
Send this card to the Graveyard, pay half my Life Points, this turn all damage I take becomes 0."
Kite, LP: 1300 → 650.
Many people let out a breath. Tori Meadows also slowly looked back and firmly patted her chest.
Too frightening.
Hikaru sighed slightly.
The original-work version of Kuriphoton only needed to pay half Life Points to use. Truly too strong. The real card required 2000 Life Points to use. Below 2000, it couldn't be used.
At this moment.
Tch.
A sound echoed in this room.
That was E-Ra.
But quickly, she relaxed again.
What was the big deal?
The vast majority of Kite's monsters had ATK above 3000!
Unable to activate effects meant using battle to cause damage.
But could Kite do it??
Could he do it, hurting his own little brother to win?
At almost the same time, Goodwin was also waiting for this result.
And regarding Kite himself...
AA-ZEUS was also asking him in his heart.
What to do?
The current situation, it seemed... they had to engage in battle!
It distantly watched crimson TY-PHON, some sorrow in its heart.
Could it be that day's tragedy would ultimately have to replay again.
"Don't worry."
Kite softly spoke.
?
Everyone watching the duel felt some confusion.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
????
"End turn." Hart Tenjo had no other actions to take. He calmly ended his turn.
Clearly, Rose Papillon was a card he'd drawn this turn. Otherwise, last turn, Normal Summoning Rose Papillon would have used its direct-attack ability to win.
"Hart... during this time, in an unfamiliar world, you must have been living in fear the whole time, right?"
"But it's alright now. Brother has come to take you away."
What?
The Goddess of Despair was extremely puzzled.
At this point what are you saying?
"My turn, draw!
Spell Card, Accellight!
If I control no other monsters, I can activate this. Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Photon or Galaxy monster from my Deck!
Special Summon, Galaxy Cleric!
When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, choose a total of 5 Photon and Galaxy cards from my Graveyard to activate. Those cards are shuffled back into the Deck. After that, I draw 2 cards from my Deck.
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Cloudragon, Kuriphoton, 5 cards..."
"Galaxy War Drake's effect. When a LIGHT Level 4 monster is Special Summoned on my field, activate. Special Summon this card from my hand or Graveyard. This card Special Summoned by this effect is banished when it leaves the field."
Kite Special Summoned while rapidly drawing 2.
"If I control a Photon or Galaxy monster, I can Special Summon, Level 4, Photon Vanisher!"
"Three Level 4 monsters?" Yuma was puzzled.
What was he trying to do?
"Quick-Play Spell Card, Hyper Galaxy! Tribute a monster on my field other than Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon with 2000 or more ATK. Target 1 monster on the opponent's field with 2000 or more ATK to activate. That monster is tributed. Special Summon 1 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard!"
Hmph.
E-Ra was quite displeased.
Hart had lost after all.
Couldn't be helped.
Compared to his older brother, Hart was too weak, too weak as a duelist.
Losing to Kite wasn't shameful.
And it wasn't necessarily a loss either.
She sneered.
Kite, would he dare attack?
"Tribute Photon Vanisher and TY-PHON!"
Watching TY-PHON slowly disperse into silver-white points of light, AA-ZEUS wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing.
Though TY-PHON was TY-PHON, this TY-PHON wasn't its kin from memory but a card belonging to the Goddess of Despair.
Its kin would never return.
Even more, Kite would become the next "him"!
"Sorry, Hart. Originally, I should have dueled you in a warmer place. You must have been looking forward to this day the whole time. But today's duel, I absolutely cannot concede. Not only because of the detestable E-Ra, but also because I cannot burden the members of Team 5D's.
More importantly, in that Star War Dimension, I already understood.
I want to keep winning eternally, together with Galaxy-Eyes!"
Though Hikaru had already defeated Throne, he couldn't affect Team 5D's record.
More importantly, right now, he'd completely understood his own true duelist's conviction.
That was undefeated!
Undefeated, advancing together with Galaxy-Eyes!
"Now, let this monster whose power was born from you end this duel!" Kite showed on his face an excessively gentle smile others might have never seen before.
"Activate Galaxy War Drake's effect. Target 1 other Level 4 LIGHT monster on my field to activate. That monster's and this card's Levels become 8. I make Galaxy War Drake and Galaxy Cleric Level 8!"
"Kite, could you be summoning Neo Galaxy..." Quattro's jaw dropped.
Are you trying to kill your own little brother!?
"Kite doing this must have his reason!" Yuma at this moment trusted Kite immensely.
Kite raised his hand. An enormous trident appeared in his hand. He raised it high, then threw it into the distance.
"Surging galaxy, now transform into raging waves of light. Reveal your form!
Descend!
My soul! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
Endless photons accumulated. The enormous dragon of light, starting from silver-white, gradually turned crimson-red. Three heads slowly rose. In its eyes was as if an endless universe existed!
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!
The monster born based on Hart's protection of Kite!
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon. Rank 8, LIGHT Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 4500.
The duel was won.
Necessarily won.
Everyone realized this.
But many people nervously licked their lips.
"Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, direct attack on the opponent!
Repent for me! E-Ra!"
"Are you mad, Kite!?" E-Ra exclaimed in shock.
Are you really not caring about your little brother???
An enormous photon stream gathered in Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's mouth. Three orbs of light merged in sequence, becoming an even more enormous stream of light. Accompanying crimson-red waves, the attack began sweeping across the entire field.
The scene the Goddess of Despair E-Ra had imagined didn't appear.
"How, wh, why..." A pained voice sounded.
The light stream concentrated its attack, striking Hart's left eye. Enormous power concentrated in an instant, actually forcibly blasted a figure slowly out of Hart's body!
Actually!?
AA-ZEUS excitedly began playing celebratory sound effects from every voicing mechanism in its body.
"Success!" Tori Meadows excitedly hugged Yuma.
"As expected of Kite!" Yuma cheered.
E-Ra!
Found her!
"How could this be!"
The light stream continued blasting, forcibly blasting E-Ra out of Hart's soul. The light stream slammed into her body, making her suffer immensely.
"...Just as Hikaru said." Kite laughed within the torrent. "Hart is always that same Hart."
When TY-PHON was attacking, Kite had delayed discarding Kuriphoton, because he was verifying his own guess.
Because of TY-PHON, he had no way to activate AA-ZEUS's effect again to search for Hart's heart.
But he was even more certain.
His own little brother absolutely wasn't a person who wanted to hurt others!
So at the final moment, at that last instant, he felt it.
Felt his little brother's reluctance to harm!
That was the source of his kindness!
Also the source of the "despair" E-Ra spoke of.
He didn't want to burden his father and older brother, but at most he'd just run away. He couldn't possibly want to hurt them!
This was Hart's despair.
Also Kite's hope!
The Goddess of Despair who appeared before the most despairing person, did she represent the end of despair, or hope reigniting?
Hart Tenjo, LP: 4000 → 0.
Boom.
E-Ra was completely blasted out. Hart Tenjo's body went limp. He collapsed in place. Crow and Yuma quickly ran over trying to lift Hart. At the same time, along with the duel's end, Kite's Photon Mode dissolved. The powerful duelist's instincts could no longer support him. The pain from multiple Rank-Ups and Number and TY-PHON's direct attack reappeared on his body, making him uncontrollably fall. Fortunately Hikaru had anticipated this and steadied him, keeping him from falling.
"Thanks."
"It was your own power."
The two exchanged a moment.
More than that, their gazes still stayed on that guy.
Everyone, everyone present!
All concentrated their gazes on that enormous figure floating in the air, over ten meters tall!
Hope's shadow, despair's embodiment.
E-Ra!
...
STONES 💎
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