Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

[Hayato Kobayashi: 3500LP, hand cards: 1→0]

[Hellfire Machine - Lilith] [ATK2900]

【True Red Dragon】【ATK3000】

【Eternal Flame Beetle】【DEF0】X2
Backcourt: [Face Card] x2
With its classic "second male lead ace" level attack power, Crimson Dragon became Hayato's highest attack monster as soon as it appeared.

However, its existence is still not enough for Pegasus, who has Blue-Eyes Toon Ultimate Dragon. After all, the 3000 ATK threshold alone can shut down a lot of decks, let alone 4500 ATK.

【Blue-Eyes Cartoon Ultimate Dragon】No matter how cartoonish it is, it's still an "Ultimate Dragon." With 4500 attack power, you can't beat it! How are you supposed to beat it?
[Crimson Dragon]: That's easy, I'll just synchronize it up a bit more, right?
After Synchro Summoning the classic "Tamashi" card, Crimson Dragon, Hayato took a deep breath and looked at Pegasus: "I have to admit, Pegasus, your Toon deck is indeed much better than before. It's a really good deck. I think I won't forget you for at least three minutes."

"—But, this childish duel ends here. Next up is the king's duel. Although it feels a bit like bullying cavemen, the king's duel is all about going all out!"

"Watch closely, Pegasus, Yugi, and Jonouchi. What's about to appear before you is a more advanced form of Synchro Summoning than 'Contact Fusion,' a technique equivalent to 'Contact Fusion' within Synchro Summoning—Double Star Tuning!"

Upon hearing Hayato's words, Pegasus immediately sensed something was wrong. Looking at the monsters on Hayato's field, he instantly understood what "double star adjustment" meant.

"A Synchro Summon is performed using one Tuner monster and one non-Tuner monster. Does 'Double Tuner' mean a Synchro Summon performed using two Tuner monsters?"

Having stated his guess, Pegasus immediately activated the effect of the monster on his field, "Then, I must first prevent Hayato from performing a 'double Star Trick'!"

"During the main phase for both players, activate the effect of [Comic Cat], Tribute One Monster on my field, and Special Summon One Monster with the card name [Toon World] from my Deck and hand, ignoring its Summoning conditions."

After a pause, under Hayato's "just as I expected" look, Pegasus added, "And this effect, when [Toon World] is on my field, can also select a released monster from the opponent's field!"

"Thanks to Hayato's [Hellfire Machine - Tierra] effect, I was able to send [Cartoon Bookmark] to the Graveyard and save [Perfect World - Cartoon World], so now, I can release the monsters on Hayato's field!"

Hayato, upon hearing the full effect of [Manga Cat], looked regretful: "What a pity. If your [Manga Cat]'s release was a cost-based release similar to [Hellfire Machine], it would have been a killer move, and might have actually stopped my double star adjustment. But that release is an effect."

"Of course, this also has some advantages. For example, even if the opponent chain the effect of 'Comic Cat' and releases their own monsters in advance in an attempt to avoid the effect of 'Comic Cat', because it does not target, 'Comic Cat' can still release other monsters on the opponent's field."

"But it cannot be denied that—precisely because the liberation of [Comic Cat] is part of the effect, as long as I nullify its effect, the liberation is meaningless!"

With a wave of his hand, Hayato shouted, "The second effect of [Hellfire Machine Lilith]! Once per turn, when the effect of a monster other than this card is activated, you can Tribute one monster on my field to activate this effect!"

"Negate and exclude that activation! What I want to unleash is [Hellfire Machine - Lilith] herself!"

Compared to its effect of debuffing monsters upon entering the battlefield, the true strength of [Hellfire Lilith] lies in its second effect, which can negate and banish monster effects. This is especially effective against monsters like "Sleeping Dragon" and "Phoenix Chick"—the banishment effect ignores the former's resistance to powerful attacks while preventing the latter from reviving from hiding in the toilet.

Therefore, although the first effect failed due to the unexpected appearance of the second [Cartoon Bookmark], [Hellfire Lilith] ultimately succeeded with the second effect, allowing herself and Pegasus's [Comic Cat] to leave the field together.

Without the interference of the second-speed release effect of [Manga Cat], Hayato immediately used the monsters on his field to perform a Synchro Summon with "Double Star Tuning".

"Send my two Level 2☆ Tuner monsters, Infernal Beetle and Level 8☆ Crimson Dragon, to the Graveyard as Synchro Materials. The Synchro Material requirement is two Tuner monsters plus one DARK Dragon Synchro Monster other than a Tuner!"

"Kings and demons, the two meet here, raging and violent souls, let out a cry to create heaven and earth!"

As Hayato opened his arms, a vast, burning soul seemed to be about to manifest in the air behind him. Unexpectedly, he suddenly changed his tone, adding a section to the summoning incantation and guiding the power of the dual star-tuning towards another dimension.

"—Transform into a solitary, absolute god of destruction, descend from the divine realm, and bring about the end!"

"Dual Star Synchronization, Level 2☆+2☆+8☆=12☆!"

The burning soul, which was about to burst into a supernova, suddenly contracted and reversed, turning into an extremely violent card in Hayato's hand, with black flames burning on it, but unable to harm Hayato in the slightest. Hayato then slammed it onto the dueling stage!

The card itself was not damaged by Hayato's rough actions. On the contrary, the spot where the card was placed on the Duel Disk was instantly burned. However, the power of the Duel Monster Card was released through the Duel Disk, which could not read any card data!
Behind Hayato, a jet-black dragon appeared.

"Call me King! Call me Demon! Call me..." Hayato grinned maliciously at Pegasus, "[Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon - Evil]!"

【Yan Demon Dragon King - Crimson Lotus Demon · Calamity】【12☆/Dark】

[Dragon/Synchro/Effect]

[4000/3500]

With an attack power of 4000 points, just like Obelisk the Tormentor, and reigning supreme among Synchro Monsters, [Embossed Dragon King - Crimson Demon Evil] is the final form that Hayato awakened by Synchro Summoning [Crimson Demon Dragon].

In another world, this card had long been relegated to the forbidden list due to its powerful effect, but in this world, it is making its first appearance.

Although the material requirement is a Dragon-Type DARK Synchro Monster, which almost indicates that the duelist should use "Crimson Dragon" to Synchro Summon it, the actual material used for this card should be "Crimson Dragon".

In this sense, [Crimson Dragon] is like [Stardust Dragon] to [Stardust Dragon]. The latter is Yusei and his partner Jack Atlas's ace monster in this timeline, but the former is actually a "time-shifting counterpart" of their ace monster in another timeline. Just as [Crimson Nova Dragon], which Hayato almost summoned with the summoning incantation, is the final evolution of [Crimson Dragon], [Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon - Evil] is the final form of [Eyjafjalla Dragon - Crimson Demon]. Its effect is extremely simple and brutal—that is—

"Its effect can only be activated when 【Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon - Calamity】 is Synchro Summoned." Hayato waved his hand. "This turn, your opponent cannot activate any effects activated on the field, and your opponent cannot activate any card effects in response to the activation of this effect!"

"In other words, under the effect of [Emperor of the Dragon King - Crimson Demon Evil], Pegasus, the effects of all the cards on your field will remain active except for those that are perpetually active—such as the effect of [Perfect World - Toon World] being used as [Toon World]—while all other card effects will be negated and cannot even be activated!"

"What a sin, what a shame, what a misfortune!"

With its wings spread wide, the two hands on the wings of [Yanmo Dragon King - Crimson Lotus Demon · E] reached up to the sky, as if they had grabbed something and crushed it!
The next moment, all the colors of the monsters on Pegasus' field suddenly disappeared, turning from lifelike cartoon monsters into a group of dull, three-dimensional paper monsters, devoid of any vitality!
Pegasus was completely helpless against the power unleashed by [Yanmo Dragon King - Crimson Lotus Demon E]!

Hayato continued to describe the monster's effect: "The second ability of 【Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon - Evil】, 'Dragon Prison Manifestation: Ash Armor', allows it to be Special Summoned if it is destroyed by the opponent, targeting a DARK Dragon Synchro Monster of Level 8 or lower in my Graveyard."

"In other words, even if [Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon - Calamity] is destroyed, [Crimson Dragon] in my graveyard will be resurrected." After a pause, Hayato took out [Crimson Dragon] and two [Infernal Beetles] from his graveyard. "However, I intend to forgo the possibility of using this effect."

"Don't think that I changed my summoning incantation after saying it, or that I was teasing another card. Just because I Synchro Summoned [Embossed Dragon King - Crimson Demon - Evil] first doesn't mean I don't intend to Synchro Summon the evolved form of [Crimson Dragon]!"

"By banishing all three cards at once, Hayato said, "Since Fusion Monsters can banish monsters from the Graveyard or return them to the Deck for 'Contact Fusion,' I'm going to do a 'Contact Synchro' myself!"

"Purge the Crimson Dragon and two Tuner monsters from my graveyard, provided certain conditions are met—"

"Kings and demons, the two meet here, raging and violent souls, let out a cry to create heaven and earth!"

Hayato recited the same summoning incantation again, but this time the Synchro Summon was real. Not only that, Hayato added, "Come forth, Burning Soul!"

"Binary contact synchronization, level 2☆+2☆+8☆=12☆!"

Hayato took out another card, also burning with flames, but compared to [Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon Evil], the flames on this card looked much brighter, and then another card reading slot on Hayato's dueling platform was rendered useless.

"The surging, unstoppable power of Wagatsumashi! [True Crimson Lotus Nova Dragon—]"

"—Burning Soul!"

The moment Hayato read out the card's name, flames on the card burned away the border, and the red dragon in the card's image almost leaped out of the card!

Beside the [Yan Demon Dragon King - Crimson Lotus Demon · Calamity], flames soared into the sky, and a red demon dragon appeared, somewhat similar in appearance to the former, yet vastly different. The surging flames instantly swept across the entire arena, as if announcing the arrival of a true king to the whole audience!

【True Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul】【12☆/Dark】

[Dragon/Synchro/Effect]

[3500/3000]

Both are top-tier 12-star Synchro Monsters. This time, Hayato didn't even use the monsters on the field, but directly used the monsters in his Graveyard to perform a so-called "Binary Contact Synchro"!
"The Fusion of 【Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul】 requires two Tuner monsters and one non-Tuner monster as Synchro Materials. However, in addition to this most proper Synchro Summon, it can also be Special Summoned by banishing two Tuner monsters from my Graveyard and one 【Crimson Nova Dragon】."

"This method of Special Summoning doesn't even require leveling up like regular Synchro Summoning. As for why I specifically chose a combination with a total level of 12 stars, it's because I wanted to."

Looking at Pegasus, Hayato said, "The direction that [True Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul] takes is different from that of [Eyjafjalla Dragon King - Crimson Demon Evil]. The latter focuses on a containment approach, while the former is accustomed to using absolute violence to launch a strong offensive and suppress!"

"The effect of 【Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul】 can only be used once in a duel where I Synchro Summon 【Crimson Demon Dragon】. When this card is Special Summoned, I add one card from my Graveyard to my hand, and this card gains 2000 ATK. The card I choose is this 【Pot of Greed】 from my Graveyard!"

At the very beginning of Hayato's turn, the Pot of Greed, which had been negated by Pegasus's Toon Horror, finally returned to Hayato's hand. Hayato, who had been worried about not being able to draw cards to gain an advantage, finally felt relieved and relaxed.

[Hayato Kobayashi: 3500LP, hand cards: 0→1]

【Yanmo Dragon King - Crimson Lotus Demon · Calamity】【ATK4000】

【True Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul】【ATK3500→5500】

Backcourt: [Face Card] x2
"The Spell Card [Pot of Greed] is activated. I draw two cards from my deck." Hayato, finally having gained some cards, touched his two newly acquired cards with satisfaction. He stopped his deck-breaking and declared that he would now enter his battle phase.

"My battle phase begins. I'll start by attacking Blue-Eyes Toon Ultimate Dragon with [Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul]." Hayato waved his hand and said, "Explode, my mighty flames!"

"Thunderous Sunlight - Calamity Sound Starfall Fiery Hammer!"

The effect of increasing one's own attack power is not uncommon among terminal monsters, but compared to those with powerful sealing abilities or the ability to negate the opponent's card effects multiple times, the ability to increase attack power sounds rather ordinary.

However, it's a different story when the monster wielding it already has 3500 attack power, which is higher than most monsters, and the increase is also extremely generous, amounting to a full 2000 points.

The Blue-Eyes Toon Ultimate Dragon already had an impressive 4500 attack power, but the Crimson Nova Dragon - Burning Soul, with its attack power increased by 2000, had 1000 more!
The scorching flames, spewed forth with tremendous force, struck Blue-Eyes Totoro Ultra Dragon with the force of a hammer blow or a meteor falling from the sky! (End of Chapter)