"The effect of Scattered Fusion: it can only be used once per turn, and only if your opponent controls a monster. I send from my Deck to the Graveyard the Fusion Materials for a non-Rock-type Gem-Knight Fusion Monster, and perform a Fusion Summon from the Extra Deck.
For the rest of this turn, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck except Gem-Knight Fusion Monsters."
Hikaru Amagi opened his Extra Deck and revealed a towering, noble knight, then sent Gem-Knight Obsidian and Gem-Knight Citrine from his Deck to the Graveyard.
Gleaming diamond fragments rained down from the sky. With a low mechanical click, like crystal grinding against metal, a thunderous aura surged—
Gem-Knight Prism Aura, Level 7, EARTH, Thunder-Type, ATK 2450.
"Please entrust this battle to me, Master Hikaru!" declared Captain Obsidian, raising his massive lance as he made his debut in this world.
"Switch Labyrinth Tank to Attack Position!"
Labyrinth Tank, ATK: 2400.
"Battle! Prism Aura, attack Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"Tch—" Darkness scoffed.
This was exactly where Captain Obsidian's noble 50 extra ATK came into play.
This is Yu-Gi-Oh—even a 1-point stat difference is domination. Despite the mere 50-point difference between 2400 and 2450, Prism Aura could overpower Red-Eyes without contest.
The flaming dragon shattered into molten fragments, crashing into the magma below.
Darkness LP: 3500 → 3450.
"Next, Labyrinth Tank, direct attack!"
The fashionably retro toy-like tank revved up with a growl, its spiked wheels spinning wildly. At Hikaru's command, it charged—
"ARGH!!"
Darkness was struck head-on by the armored battering ram, thrown into the air. He bounced across the glowing blue energy floor before finally tumbling to the edge, struggling to stand, his outfit torn and blood beginning to seep out.
"Heh heh… That's some serious pain. Looks like your spirit energy isn't weak after all."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
Still not activating his Set card?
Strange.
What kind of card is Set but can't be used now?
He glanced at one of his own face-downs—Chain-Bound Inferno Dragon, a Trap Card he hadn't used simply because he hadn't drawn any Flame Swordsman-related cards. So it sat there, stuck.
So what was his opponent's excuse?
"Well, that's a major blow to Darkness's LP!" Alexis let out a sigh of relief, though her shaking knees betrayed just how anxious she truly was.
For a regular high school girl, this "Shadow Duel" thing was way too much.
"I activate Future Fusion+ again, reveal Flame Wingman, and send Avian from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Hikaru was still using Future Fusion+ to thin his Deck.
"I end my turn."
"Hehehehe…" Despite the clear disadvantage, Darkness showed no fear. In fact, he broke out in a manic laugh. "You made me feel pain!"
"Is he cracking?" Hikaru frowned. "This really doesn't sound like Atticus…"
"Maybe he's channeling too much Marufuji Ryo energy…"
"My turn. Draw!"
"I activate Pot of Greed to draw two cards!" He glanced at them—and his laughter intensified. "I flip my Set card—Call of the Haunted!"
"Call of the Haunted?" Alexis blinked, confused. "Why now? Why not last turn during the Battle Phase?"
Even if Labyrinth Tank matched Red-Eyes in ATK, he wouldn't have lost anything. It might've even saved him 2400 LP. Why hold it back?
Hikaru frowned as well.
In a Shadow Duel, LP doesn't matter until it hits zero.
Protecting a key card for later plays is the smart move. That kind of strategic thinking… was very Joey Wheeler.
"I revive—Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Then, I activate another Spell—Inferno Fire Blast!"
Another one!?
Hikaru's eyes widened. This time, he had no Fusion Shield to stop it. He quickly shouted for Alexis to move back and raised his arms to block.
"Hahahaha! Vengeful dragon, incinerate your enemies with your dark metallic flame!"
Red-Eyes roared, inhaled deeply, and blasted out a massive black fireball.
"I'll protect you!" shouted Prism Aura. Even though he was just a splintered avatar of the original Captain Obsidian, Gem-Knight Prism Aura leapt in front of Hikaru, cloaking him in a protective gem-lit shield, taking the full brunt of the blaze.
Hikaru LP: 4000 → 1600.
"Gghh—"
Even with Prism Aura absorbing most of it, Hikaru was forced to one knee, his body seared with pain.
He could smell something burning—not magma, but his own uniform. A chunk of it had been scorched off.
"Thanks… Captain."
Seeing her classmate like this, Alexis finally grasped how terrifying Shadow Games were. She was beginning to understand just how dangerous this duel truly was.
"Hikaru, are you okay?!" She ran to his side, reaching out to support him, all reservations forgotten.
"Don't—get close!"
Hikaru shouted.
The duel wasn't over yet!
"Hmph. During a turn I use Inferno Fire Blast, Red-Eyes Black Dragon can't attack.
But—I tribute it to Special Summon… Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!"
"RAAARGH!!"
The flames around Red-Eyes intensified. Its black scales hardened into a metallic sheen, transforming it completely.
"This monster can only be Special Summoned by tributing Red-Eyes Black Dragon. And for every Dragon in the Graveyard, it gains 300 ATK."
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon – Level 9, DARK, Dragon-Type, ATK 2400 → 3000.
"It's equal to Blue-Eyes White Dragon!?" Alexis gasped.
3000 ATK was a defining benchmark in Yu-Gi-Oh! A monster with the same power as Blue-Eyes was nearly unbeatable for an average duelist.
"Battle. Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, take out that goody-two-shoes knight from another dimension!" Darkness could see spirits clearly. He pointed mockingly at Prism Aura.
The dark dragon bellowed and lunged, shattering the gem knight with a crushing claw.
"Argh!"
Hikaru felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, like he'd been run through. He spat out blood, body trembling.
Hikaru LP: 1600 → 1050.
"Hikaru!" Alexis rushed to catch him before he collapsed.
"Heheheh… Now we're even," Darkness chuckled, setting one card face-down. "I Set a card and end my turn."
Hikaru took a deep breath, recovering some strength. "Thanks, Alexis," he said, then pushed her hand away and stood up on his own, eyes locked on Darkness.
"My turn. Draw!"
He glanced at his drawn card, lips curling into a grin.
There it is.
Of course it'd come to this.
"I activate the Continuous Spell—Blazing Sword Field!"
"Oh? Is that really a good idea?" Darkness asked with a knowing smirk.
"What?" Hikaru wiped sweat from his forehead, confused.
"Or perhaps… would this voice be more familiar?" Darkness suddenly softened his tone, speaking with unexpected gentleness. "Alexis?"
"!!?" Alexis reeled as if struck by lightning.
That voice… that casual tone… that body shape…
Darkness spread his arms, smiling warmly.
"The original owner of this body… was named Atticus Rhodes, wasn't he?"
"You sure you want to go through with this?"
Holy—
No way!
Hikaru froze, eyes wide.
This wasn't a corrupted Atticus.
This wasn't just "Dark Atticus."
This was the real—
Darkness.
The final boss of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.
That bastard!