Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"I first activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed' to return five monsters from my Graveyard—two 'Red-Eyes Black Dragons,' 'Meteor Black Dragon,' 'Dark Demon Dragon,' and 'Captain of Decent Cooking'—to my Deck, then I draw two cards,"

"Next, I will activate this card, the Spell Card [Dragon's Mirror]!"

After the "Pot of Greed" retrieves the cards from Jonouchi's graveyard, a tall mirror with a dragon-patterned border appears on Jonouchi's field. In the mirror, the shadows of the monsters that are still in Jonouchi's graveyard are reflected one after another.

“That card…” Ryuzaki frowned, clearly aware of the effects of the [Dragon Mirror].

"That's right. Unlike [Fusion], which fuses monsters in your hand and on the field, [Dragon's Mirror] is specifically for fusing monsters on the field and in the graveyard. However, as a trade-off, [Dragon's Mirror] can only be used to fuse Dragon-type Fusion Monsters."

As Jonouchi explained, he unhesitatingly selected two monsters from the graveyard: "Then help me one more time."

"【Red-Eyes Black Dragon】, 【Meteor Dragon】!"

"Fusion Up!"

"Ow!!"

Images of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon and the Meteor Dragon flashed one after the other within the Dragon Mirror. Then, a thick arm smashed the Dragon Mirror, and the Meteor Dragon, which had been covered and destroyed by the Ultimate Transducer Beast, reappeared!

【Meteor Black Dragon】【ATK3500】

"You summoned that monster again? But it's useless. Jonouchi, you haven't forgotten the effect of [Ultimate Conduction Terror Beast], have you? No matter how many powerful monsters you summon, they will all be defeated by its effect!"

Upon hearing Ryuzaki's words, Jonouchi smiled and said, "Of course I know about this, Ryuzaki."

"However, the same trick won't work on me a second time!"

"Where did you come from, Saint Seiya?!"

Chapter 389 Time is Engraved Here

Ignoring Ryuzaki's sarcastic remark, Jonouchi played another card: "I haven't performed a normal summon this turn yet, so I'm summoning [Rocket Warrior] in attack position."

As if it had run over from the Cybertron set next door, the Rocket Warrior, who looked like a rocket that had transformed into a humanoid form, appeared on the field, holding a sword and eager to fight.

[Rocket Warriors] [4☆/Light]

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[1500/1300]

"Well then, I'm about to begin my battle phase, Ryuzaki!" Jonouchi's provocative smile annoyed Ryuzaki.

"Are you trying to take down [Meteor Black Dragon] and [Ultimate Conductor Terror Beast] together again, then use [Rocket Warrior] to attack me directly? Hmph, I told you, that trick won't work!"

"During your main phase before entering the battle phase, I will activate the effect of [Ultimate Conduction Terror Beast]!"

As Ryuzaki was speaking, he was about to order the [Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast] to self-destruct again and cover Jonouchi's card, but at that moment, he saw Jonouchi's face reveal a smug smile.

"Hehe, didn't I just say that the same trick won't work on me!" Jonouchi laughed as he played a card. "I was prepared for this! Chaining the effect of [Ultimate Conduction Beast], I'm activating the Quick-Play Spell Card [Forbidden Grail]!"

"What?!"

Ryuzaki gasped in surprise.

Just as [Ultimate Transmission Terrorbeast] raised its head to take a deep breath, preparing to sacrifice itself to flip over all the cards on the field again, a golden goblet filled with crimson wine was suddenly thrown into its mouth and got stuck in its throat.

If anyone has ever tried to inhale something accidentally while taking a deep breath, that's what it feels like.

A foreign object got stuck in its throat, like chronic pharyngitis, and it couldn't cough it up or swallow it down. The [Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast] became very agitated, but its prepared offensive dissipated as a result.

[Ultimate Conductive Terror Beast] [ATK3500→3900]

"【The Forbidden Grail】, I heard that its prototype seems to be the Holy Grail that holds the blood of saints? Anyway, it has the effect of increasing the attack power of monsters by 400 until the end of this turn." Jonouchi explained the effect of 【The Forbidden Grail】, "However, as a price to pay for using the Holy Grail, the effect of the monster whose attack power was increased will be nullified until the end of this turn."

According to the "chain rule" in Duel Monsters, the effect of "Ultimate Conduction Terror Beast", which is activated during the main phase of both players, is an instant effect. It has a spell speed of 2, just like the Quick-Play Spell Card "Forbidden Grail". They can chain to each other, and it depends on who activates it first.

If Jonouchi activates the Forbidden Grail during his main phase, Ryuzaki can chain the Forbidden Grail to activate the effect of Ultimate Conduction Beast. Based on the principle of "last to act, first to act," Ryuzaki can overwrite all of Jonouchi's monsters before the Forbidden Grail negates Ultimate Conduction Beast.

But there are no ifs. Joey, who can't play without being low on health, had his hot-blooded path closed after his base score dropped to 700 points. His cleverness took over again, successfully bluffing out the effect of [Ultimate Conduction Beast] and then using [Forbidden Grail] to nullify it!

Having been tricked by Jonouchi, Ryuzaki frowned and said unhappily, "You've really improved, Jonouchi. But have you forgotten that the effects of the Forbidden Grail are beneficial to both of us?"

"Although the effect of [Ultimate Conductor Terror Beast] has been nullified, its attack power has been increased due to the effect of [Forbidden Grail],"

"The Meteor Black Dragon, which originally had the same attack power as the Ultimate Conductor Terrormon and was evenly matched with it, has now lost the ability to take the Ultimate Conductor Terrormon down with it!"

Ryuzaki's response was a confident smile from Jonouchi. The close-up of Jonouchi's face on the screen made Mai blush slightly, which was rare for her: "That guy can be surprisingly handsome sometimes."

Looking at the [Ultimate Conduction Terrorbeast] with its attack power increased to 3900, Jonouchi looked at his hand and felt extremely relieved: "Indeed, as you said, Ryuzaki, the balance of power between the two monsters has been lost."

"But in my opinion, the weaker party is not me, but you, because your monster has always been all alone!"

As Jonouchi spoke, he pointed to the Rocket Warrior he had just Normal Summoned onto the field, "With the support of its ally's power, Meteor Black Dragon is now invincible!"

"No matter how powerful the enemy, I can defeat them as long as I have my comrades by my side!"

With a sudden wave of his hand, Jonouchi ordered, "Go! Rocket Warriors! Attack the Ultimate Teleporter!"

"For the [Meteor Black Dragon]—no, for our victory—let us pave the way to the future!"

"Rocket headbutt!"

Upon hearing that Jonouchi had chosen to launch an attack, Ryuzaki was taken aback: "Are you crazy, Jonouchi? [Rocket Warrior] is just a 4-star monster with an attack power of 1500 points. If it attacks my [Ultimate Conductor Terrorbeast], you will suffer a full 2400 points of counter-damage!"

Jonouchi, however, confidently crossed his arms and said, "Sorewatoka na?"

Upon receiving the attack command from Jonouchi, the Rocket Warrior on the field transformed into a rocket, trailing a long flame, and charged towards the giant Ultimate Transducer!

【Ultimate Conduction Beast】was still choking on the 【Forbidden Grail】 and was looking for a way to vent its anger. Seeing 【Rocket Warrior】attacking it, 【Ultimate Conduction Beast】had no intention of holding back and slammed its two huge claws together to strike 【Rocket Warrior】!

It's important to know that the [Ultimate Transductive Terrorbeast] is not like the [Tyrannosaurus Rex], whose hind limbs are extremely developed while its forelimbs are atrophied. Its forelimbs and hind limbs, which support its massive size, are equally strong and powerful, and it even has a terrifying gripping force that can crush a block of carbon into a diamond!

"boom!"

Just as Rocket Warrior was about to be smashed into metal by Ultra-Torpormon's claws, the rocket it transformed into suddenly increased its propulsion just before being caught. It accelerated and dodged Ultra-Torpormon's claws before it could "snatch the rocket away with its bare hands." Like a mosquito that hadn't been swatted, it smugly twisted its rear end and bumped into Ultra-Torpormon's chest!

"Aww~~"

【Ultimate Transducer】sounded with pain. After being hit by 【Rocket Warrior】, it slammed its fist into its chest. However, the blow was fatal, and 【Rocket Warrior】 had already sped away and returned to the field inside the castle.

"What's going on? Why wasn't the Rocket Warrior destroyed!?"

Ryuzaki was quite surprised to see Rocket Warrior taking advantage of its small size to tease Ultimate Teleporter Beast. Despite the attack hitting its target, it was not countered or destroyed.

"I remember there was a saying, 'Courage is knowing what fear is, facing it, and taking it as your own.' In other words, even against a monster like the [Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast] that instills despair, I will use my courage to forge a path forward in the dark wilderness!"

Jonouchi was in high spirits. "Rocket Warrior is a monster whose full power can only be unleashed by a duelist full of courage. During my battle phase, Rocket Warrior will gain the ability to be indestructible by battle, and the battles it fights will deal zero damage to me."

"At the same time, this effect is activated after the damage calculation step when [Rocket Warrior] attacks a monster," Jonouchi pointed precisely at the chest of [Ultimate Conduction Monster] that [Rocket Warrior] had just attacked, "The attack power of the monster targeted by [Rocket Warrior] is reduced by 500 until the end of this turn!"

"N-Nani?!"

To Ryuzaki's horrified gaze, a wound suddenly opened up on the chest of the [Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast], and blood splattered out, even staining the gems on its body red.

[Ultimate Conductive Terror Beast] [ATK3900→3400]

"Oh no! This means—" Ryuzaki's eyes widened as he looked at the [Ultimate Conductor Dreadmon], whose attack power had decreased, "The [Meteor Black Dragon] now has the highest attack power!!"

"That's it!" Jonouchi excitedly pumped his fist. "So it's your turn to attack, [Meteor Black Dragon]!"

"Over there? No, over here, that's right, right there!" Jonouchi instructed [Meteor Black Dragon] on where to attack, giving the order, "That spot is the perfect angle to punch someone!"

"Attack the [Ultimate Conductor Terror Beast] and get some revenge for the frustration it caused us before, [Meteor Black Dragon]!"

"This move is called the Jonouchi Meteor Fist!!"

After roaring to the sky, the Meteor Black Dragon spread its wide wings and leaped high into the air, reaching a height that was even level with the head of the Ultimate Transducer. Under the furious gaze of the Ultimate Transducer, the Meteor Black Dragon began to dive and accelerate, its body enveloped in pitch-black flames like a meteor!

"Roar!"

Enraged by repeated provocations, [Ultimate Conductor Dreadmon] extended its claws to attack the oncoming [Meteor Black Dragon], but its attack speed was too fast, striking [Ultimate Conductor Dreadmon]'s body in an instant, and the spot was exactly where it had just been hit by [Rocket Warrior] in the chest!

"boom!"

Just like a monster kicked by a Kamen Rider, after being hit by the [Meteor Black Dragon]'s attack, which seemed to infringe on someone else's copyright, the invincible [Ultimate Conductor Terror Beast] exploded and was sent to the graveyard for the second time.

It seems that surviving no more than three rounds is the eternal fate of the [Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast].

[Ryuzaki: 1100→1000LP]

"Ultimate~Conductive~Terror Beast!!"

Ryuzaki called out the name of [Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast], but it had already been sent to Ryuzaki's grave and could no longer respond to him.

Ryuzaki was somewhat discouraged by the destruction of his ace monster once again, but he rallied his spirits and looked at Jonouchi.

"Wow, that's a powerful combo, Jonouchi. I have to admit, you're stronger right now."

Struggling to shake off the shadow of [Ultimate Conduction Beast] being destroyed once again, Ryuzaki looked resolutely at Jonouchi's field: "But the more this happens, the more determined I become. I will definitely retaliate next turn!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Ryuzaki's words, Jonouchi shook his head: "No, Ryuzaki, there is no next round."

"As for why..." Jonouchi said, drawing a card from his hand and placing it into the Duel Disk. "During the Battle Phase, I will activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Dimensional Explosion]!"

"You can activate this card by returning one face-up Fusion Monster on my field to the Deck. Both players can Special Summon up to two monsters banished from the game to their respective fields."

As Jonouchi activated the card, the Meteor Black Dragon, which had just completed an attack and successfully avenged itself against the Ultimate Transmission Terror Beast, turned into specks of light and vanished with a satisfied expression, casting four pillars of light onto the fields of Ryuzaki and Jonouchi.

Upon seeing the pillar of light appear, Jonouchi seemed to have been prepared, pulling two cards from his pocket: "These are the two monsters I've chosen."

"A monster banished from the game?" Ryuzaki saw the card activated by Jonouchi and took out two cards from his pocket. "I have only two cards that I banish from the game."

"So,"

"I will Special Summon these two monsters!" x2

As Ryuzaki and Jonouchi seemed to be of one mind, they simultaneously declared and placed their cards into the Duel Disk. Within the two pillars of light on both sides' fields, a total of four figures returned from the void, revealing their true forms.

The monsters that Ryuzaki summoned were, of course, the Hyperconductive Terror and the Velociraptor that he had previously removed from his graveyard in order to summon the Ultimate Conductive Terror.

【Superconductive Terror Beast】【ATK3300】

【Swift Velociraptor】【DEF400】

As Ryuzaki had anticipated, the monsters banished by Jonouchi were the same ones he had banished earlier using the effect of [Dragon's Mirror] to summon [Meteor Dragon] and [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]. If he were to switch [Swift Velociraptor] to Attack Mode, its 1400 ATK would be wiped out if attacked by [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], which has 2400 ATK.

However, if you Special Summon [Swift Velociraptor] in Defense Position, then you'll be all set.

Thinking this, Ryuzaki looked at the two pillars of light on the field inside Jonouchi, and sure enough, he saw the [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] in one of them. And in the other pillar, as expected, was the [Time Magician]...

Ok? !

"【Time Magician】?! When was that card from—?"

"Hehe, of course it's the [Treasure Card of Destiny] that I activated earlier." Jonouchi said smugly as soon as he asked the question, as if he had known all along that Ryuzaki would have such a question.