Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds: Duelists Beyond Light

“Swish————————————————”

In the rushing wind, Jack Atlas's cover was suddenly ripped open.

"Trap Card activated—Scales of Judgment!!"

"This effect can only be activated if the number of cards your opponent controls is greater than the combined number of cards in your hand and on the field. Draw the difference in number of cards from your deck!!"

"You have seven cards on the field, while I only have three cards in my hand and on the field combined!!"

"So, including my card-drawing phase, I can draw a total of five cards!!"

"Prepare to face the wrath of the Crimson Lotus Dragon!!"

"It's my turn!! Draw a card!!!"

“Beep beep————————”

[Jack Atlas, SPC: 3→4]

[Plasido, SPC: 3→4]

Jack Atlas's eyes reflected the crimson flames as he roared:

"Your cumbersome monster is made up of five cards!!"

"To prevent potential battle damage, you have switched all monsters except those in the Attack position to Defense position!!"

"And your so-called 'defense department' minions only have the effect of redirecting attacks to themselves!!"

"So……"

"The Crimson Lotus Dragon only needs one attack to completely shatter your trump card!!"

"Entering combat phase!!"

"Red Lotus Demon Dragon!!"

“Launch the attack!!!”

In the dueling arena, the moment Jack Atlas and Crimson Dragon roared simultaneously, Yu Qing and Fudo Yusei both realized something was wrong.

Indeed, as Jack Atlas believes.

The Mind & Defense Department can redirect attacks to itself, while the Mind & Carry Department can prevent one of its monsters from being destroyed by battle this turn.

Even if the Divine Mind Vehicle activates its effect, it cannot protect all the components of the Emperor Divine Mind.

But the problem is...

Could Placido, who commands the Machine Emperor Divine Mind, not have foreseen such a thing?!
This is very likely a trap!
“Boom——————————————”

The raging inferno instantly ignited and exploded most of the Machine Emperor Shenzhi's body!
Placido said coldly and mysteriously, "The effect of Engine Emperor - Mind - Defense Department redirected that attack to itself, and at the same time the effect of Machine Emperor - Mind - Vehicle Department was triggered, making Machine Emperor - Mind - Infinite immune to the damage caused by this effect."

“Hualalalalala——————————”

A shocking scene occurred.

The once fully formed Machine Emperor was reduced to a mere chest pulsating with core energy and an arm equipped with an impact cannon. This was the first time anyone had ever seen the Machine Emperor in such a wretched state!

Just as everyone was surprised, Placido's card was revealed.

"Trap Card activated - Destruction Baton!!"

"When a monster on my field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon monsters from my hand equal to the number of destroyed monsters!!"

"I had three monsters destroyed in total!!"

"Therefore, I will Special Summon one Machine Emperor - Mind & Attack Division and two Machine Emperor - Mind & Carrier Divisions from my hand!!!"

If the destruction of most of the Machine Emperor's body earlier was surprising, then the current state of the Machine Emperor's mind is even more astonishing!
On the battlefield, those exaggerated mecha monsters underwent a new reconstruction and combination!

A dazzling light flashed, and the attack section that appeared out of thin air moved upwards, transforming into a pair of twin-barreled dragon heads!
Next, two thruster units appeared, one on the left and one on the right, providing high propulsion speeds!
The new form of Machine Emperor - Mind has eliminated the useless Machine Emperor - Mind - Top and the ineffective Machine Emperor - Mind - Defense Department!

The attack is made even more extreme, while the defense relies on the two carriers to directly destroy and immunize against attacks!

The new component energy rapidly combined. The attack and defense power of the Machine Emperor - Divine Intelligence is determined by the sum of the attack and defense power of each component. Therefore, this operation directly caused its values ​​to skyrocket!
“Beep beep beep——————————”

[Machine Emperor - Intelligence, Attack/Defense: ? / ? → 4000/1200]

"What?! The Machine Emperor has this kind of combination form?!"

Looking at the Mech Emperor, who had transformed from a mech warrior into a mech beast, Kro Hogan exclaimed in shock.

"The duel between the three emperors of Taiichi has evolved..." Fudo Yusei's expression turned serious.

“Not only that,” You Qing added, “even the cards have been enhanced to some extent. Previously, the Machine Emperor - Divine Wisdom - Carrier could only protect itself from being destroyed by effects, but now, it can also protect other components from being destroyed by effects.”

“In this way, the combination of two units is definitely stronger than a single defense unit…” Izayoi Aki frowned.

The sudden change in circumstances caught Jack Atlas, who was in the middle of a duel, somewhat off guard.

Jack Atlas glanced at Placido's remaining face-down cards and finally decided to play it safe: "Face two cards!! End of turn!!"

"What's wrong, Jack?" Placido's eyes were icy. "Weren't you just barking like a dog?"

"You think you can stop my attack just because you've stacked a few more cards?!"

"How ridiculous!!"

"It's my turn! Draw a card!!"

“Beep beep————————”

[Jack Atlas, SPC: 4→5]

[Plasido, SPC: 4→5] "My turn! Draw!!" Placido shouted, "Since Machine Emperor Divine Intelligence is equipped with two attack units, I can attack twice in one turn!!"

"But before that, I must first seize your Crimson Lotus Demon Dragon!!"

"Engine Emperor - Divine Mind's effect: Equip the Crimson Dragon as an equipment card to yourself!!!"

"I will never let you take my Soul Card!!" Jack Atlas resolutely flipped up his face-down card and shouted, "Activate Trap Card - Burst Mode!!"

"Release the Crimson Lotus Demon Dragon!!"

Special Summon - Crimson Dragon - Burst Body!!!

In an instant, a dark red beam of light shot into the sky, illuminating the battlefield as if the end of the world had arrived!
From within the pillar of light came deafening roars, like furious cries from the depths of hell. With these roars, a gigantic demonic dragon slowly emerged!
Its body was much larger than that of an ordinary Crimson Lotus Demon Dragon, its entire body covered in scales that burned with raging flames, each scale radiating an aura of destruction. Its wingspan was tens of meters long, and the flames at the tips of its wings were like sharp blades, slicing through the air with a piercing whistle!

Its eyes flashed with a blood-red light, filled with boundless rage and killing intent; a single glance was enough to make one feel as if their soul were being devoured. The Crimson Lotus Demon Dragon, in its explosive form, slowly flapped its wings, hovering above the battlefield. Its appearance caused the surrounding temperature to rise sharply, the ground to crack, and magma to seep from the fissures!

【Crimson Dragon - Burst Form】

【Ten stars】

[Dark Attribute/Dragon]

[Attack/Defense: 3500/2500]

"but……"

"Your card is too weak!!"

"Jack!!!"

Placido drew his longsword from his D-Wheel and swung it horizontally, issuing the order to attack!
"Enter the battle phase!!"

"Machine Emperor - Divine Mind!!"

"Attack the Crimson Lotus Demon Dragon!!!"

The core furnace on the Emperor's chest suddenly lit up, and thousands of attack parameters flashed across the holographic screen in an instant!
"Target locked: Crimson Lotus Demon Dragon Burst Form!!"

Attack Mode: Saturation Attack!!!

As soon as the synthesized voice finished, the muzzles of the parallel giant cannons overhead trembled simultaneously. The energy spheres gathered at the muzzles split into a honeycomb pattern, and countless tiny energy beams intertwined in the air, precisely locking onto the seams between every scale on the dragon's body!

The side covers of the parallel dual cannons then flipped open, releasing twelve miniature missiles from the inner launch ports, trailing silvery-white flames as they streaked across the sky. The missiles detonated collectively a second before contacting the dragon's fiery stream, the resulting blinding light temporarily impairing the Netherfire Eyes' vision!

In that instant, the Mech Emperor's consciousness transformed into a blur, the flames spewing from its armor burning in the air with a long, bomber-like roar. The entire mech slid sideways at an angle that defied the laws of physics, dodging the dragon's sweeping tail spikes!

“Buzz————————————————”

The main cannon's final roar, like thunder in the sky, signaled its completion. A beam of azure light, over ten meters in diameter, erupted from the muzzle, its surface crackling with countless streams of data composed of 0s and 1s, breaking down even the air into its most basic particles!

“Jack!!!” Crowe Hogan shouted anxiously from the audience.

"Don't underestimate me!!" Jack Atlas's eyes blazed with fire. "Trap Card activated—Miracle Trail!!"

"This turn, increase the attack power of Crimson Dragon Burst by 1000, and allow it to attack monsters a maximum of two times during the same battle phase!!"

"As a trade-off, you can draw one card, and you will take zero combat damage!!!"

Just as the Crimson Dragon Burst roared in pain due to energy disorder, a face-down card on the ground suddenly lifted its corner, and a pale purple halo spread across the battlefield like a stream awakening—it was the Trap Card "Trajectory of Miracles"!!!
Countless shimmering stars floated out of the card, tracing a spiraling upward trajectory in the air. Wherever the trajectory passed, the smell of sulfur in the air was replaced by a sweet fragrance!
The light trails finally wrapped around the dragon's body, and the dull, dark golden scales instantly glowed again, even more dazzling than before. The luminous veins on its wings suddenly widened, the flowing lava energy became turbulent, and the dark flame blades at the wingtips nearly doubled in length, their edges shimmering with starlight-like silver light!
"Roar----------"

“Beep beep beep——————————”

【Crimson Dragon - Burst Form, Attack Power: 3500→4500】

"Is that all?" Placido grinned maliciously as he activated the last face-down card. "Trap Card activated—Wisdom A5!!"

"Send Machine Emperor: Mind & Attack Division to the Graveyard, and Special Summon Machine Emperor: Mind & Attack Division V from your hand!!"

"I choose to strengthen the attack unit that just launched the attack!!!"

"Machine Emperor - Divine Mind!!"

Attack power UP!!!!

A flash of light, and the parallel dual-headed cannons of the Machine Emperor's Divine Intelligence rapidly transformed, replacing the head of a ferocious mechanical beast, its entire body tilting forward!

From a distance, the Machine Emperor, Divine Intelligence, resembles a white mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex!

“Beep beep beep——————————”

[Machine Emperor - Divine Intelligence, Attack Power: 4000→4800]

Once again, the attack power overwhelmed the Crimson Dragon. Jack Atlas's eyes flashed, and he roared, "Trap Card activated—Roar of Pride!!"

"When calculating battle damage, if your monster's ATK is lower than your opponent's monster's, pay the difference in ATK to activate this Elemental Law!!"

"Only during damage calculation does your monster's ATK increase by 300, equal to the difference between your monster's ATK and your opponent's monster's ATK!!!"

Before the roar of the Crimson Dragon Burst could subside, another Trap Card suddenly flipped up from the ground, its dark gold patterns transforming into a proud flame totem – "Roar of Pride!"

This time, instead of the gentle glow of star trails, dark red energy erupted from the card, like boiling blood flowing into the dragon's body. The dark golden scales suddenly stood on end, their edges gleaming with an almost black, intense light. Its wings violently spread to their full extent, the luminous veins on the wing membranes exploding into tiny sparks. The light at its core shifted from orange-red to a blinding pure white, and with each breath, small fire tornadoes formed around its mouth and nose. The fins on its neck, engorged with blood, turned a ferocious dark purple!

"roar--------------"

The arrogant roar shattered the remaining light trails in the air, and the dragon's attack power, amplified by the combined effects of the two trap cards, broke through the critical point!
On the holographic screen, the attack power value representing the Machine Emperor's consciousness shattered like glass being crushed by a boulder, while the value of the Crimson Dragon Burst Body skyrocketed like a rocket, the bright red numbers completely suppressing the azure energy readings!
The core reactor on the Emperor's chest suddenly emitted a piercing alarm, and the previously smooth mechanical operation became sluggish, clearly indicating that it had fallen at a disadvantage in the power struggle. The Crimson Dragon Burst Body seized this moment of hesitation, concentrating its magma-like energy into its right claw. The flame trail left by the claw tip left a lasting burn mark in the air, and it lunged at the mech at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye!

"The effect of Machine Emperor - Divine Mind - Vehicle Department is activated!!" Placido shouted, "Once per turn, immune to destruction!!!"

Just as the claws were about to pierce the Emperor's chest, the tracks on the vehicle suddenly erupted with an unprecedented blue light. The auxiliary thrusters, originally used to stabilize the center of gravity, all activated, and the entire mech retreated rapidly to the side and rear in a Z-shaped trajectory that defied inertia!

The claw-like gust of wind, powerful enough to tear mountains apart, ultimately grazed the mech's shoulder armor, triggering a series of explosions behind it! (End of Chapter)