"By Rampage Dragon's effect, I send two 'Proto-Cyber Dragon' from my Deck to the GY—this turn it gains two additional attacks."
Zane pulled the two fetched cards from his Deck, briefly revealed them, and sent them to the GY.
"So counting its normal attack, Rampage Dragon can attack three times this turn!"
"Backrow removal plus multi-attacks." Kira nodded. "And a triple swing—surpassing Twin Cyber Dragon's lethality. So this is your evolution?"
"And since 'Macro Cosmos' is destroyed, cards can enter the GY again," Zane said. "I now activate from my hand the Spell 'Graceful Charity.'
Draw three cards, then discard two."
Zane drew three and, without hesitation, pitched two.
"Then I Normal Summon 'Cyberdark Edge'!"
[Cyberdark Edge, ATK 800]
Zane's new pride and joy—Cyberdark—finally, with difficulty, hit the board.
"Cyberdark Edge's effect: when this card is Summoned, equip a Level 4 or lower Dragon monster from your GY to this card!" (Anime effect)
In its OCG print it was nerfed to Level 3 or lower—limiting its beatstick ceiling.
"I just discarded a second 'Infernal Dragon' with Graceful Charity."
Zane's voice rang firm.
"So I'll equip 'Infernal Dragon' from the GY!"
Cables snaked out from Cyberdark Edge like tentacles, probing into the swirling GY vortex below as if hauling prey from Hades.
Infernal Dragon, bristling with cables, was dragged up whole and bound beneath Cyberdark Edge.
[Cyberdark Edge, ATK 800 → ATK 2800]
"Cyberdark—Zane's new power," Jaden said, eyes shining with excitement again. "Looks really strong!"
Then he shook his head regretfully.
"Sigh, if only I could duel the current Zane. Dang it, why didn't he pick me for his graduation duel…"
Syrus stared at the dark cybernetic beast on the field, an unease tugging at him.
It felt like his brother was very different now.
"Cyberdark can grab a Dragon and, even as a low-level, instantly hit upper-level ATK," Kira smiled. "But… is that really okay? Doesn't that leave no stage time for your old friend?"
Zane smiled slightly.
"I understand now—dueling is only for victory. If I keep fighting alongside a loser, even my old friend would be disappointed, wouldn't he?"
He slashed his hand forward.
"Battle! Rampage Dragon's first strike! Attack 'Truckroid'!"
A domineering surge of light blasted out with a mechanical roar, smashing Kira's anthropomorphic truck to bits.
"Second swing," Zane continued. "Rampage Dragon's second attack—this time, 'Submarineroid'!"
Two consecutive blasts from Rampage obliterated the Submarineroid in a burst of radiance.
"Third swing!" Zane shouted. "Direct attack!"
Rampage Dragon's third blow—Kira closed his eyes, letting the holographic blast wash over him.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 1900]
A murmur rippled through the arena.
Zane looked about to win?
A multi-attack Rampage Dragon that also swept the backrow had wiped nearly everything Kira had. Now Kira's field was empty, and he still faced Five-Headed Dragon and Cyberdark Edge.
If either attack connected, Zane would likely secure victory!
"Cyberdark Edge—direct attack!" Zane bellowed.
Many students held their breath, all eyes glued to the field—some even more nervous than Zane himself.
Honestly, Zane himself wasn't holding his breath, nor were his eyes wide.
Because in his heart, he knew—this guy wouldn't go down that easily.
"Then, the effect of 'Kiteroid' in my hand."
Kira sent a card from his hand to the GY.
"By sending Kiteroid from hand to the GY, the battle damage from one direct attack becomes 0."
A kite's phantom flared. Cyberdark's strike crashed into the kite barrier and dealt no damage.
"As expected… then Five-Headed Dragon, direct attack," Zane continued.
All five maws opened—Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Dark merged into a brilliant cannon and fired.
"Then Kiteroid's second effect—while it's in the GY, once, it can make battle damage become 0."
Kira revealed the just-sent Kiteroid again; the transparent image reappeared. The five-colored cannon struck the barrier, and all 5000 damage dissipated into nothing.
"Then I set one and end my turn," Zane said.
Some students who had stood sat back down; others sighed in disappointment for Zane.
What a shame—so close.
Zane's assault was fierce enough—backrow wipe plus a total of five attacks, including the legendary 5000 ATK Five-Headed Dragon—yet he still couldn't break through that defense…
"Zane—"
In the stands, Chancellor Sheppard looked conflicted.
Though he had sealed away the Cyberdark at the founder's request and still disapproved of Zane seizing that Deck, he had to admit—seeing him skillfully wield both Light and Dark Cyber styles—and even unveil a powerful new Light Cyber monster—filled him with some pride.
Even he had to concede—this transformed Zane felt stronger than before. Just days earlier he'd experienced it firsthand; the teacher was no longer Zane's match.
Had his convictions been wrong all along?
Thinking that, Sheppard looked more strangely at Kira.
A year ago, when this boy enrolled, he never imagined he'd become the academy's reigning Duel King in just one year.
Nor that, in that one year, he'd so profoundly impact every student—including his prized pupil—and the academy's entire culture.
For good or ill… who could say.
"My turn—draw."
Kira glanced at his draw and smiled mysteriously.
"Since Zane chose to abandon his old friend for victory, then allow me, in the name of victory, to borrow that friend for a moment."
He revealed a card from his hand.
"If the opponent controls a monster and I control none, I can Special Summon this from my hand.
I Special Summon 'Cyber Dragon'!"
Zane: "???"