Duels should be played with a smile.

[Light - 5★ - Mechanical - Attack Power 2100]

Because of the Red King's card-blowing and the electronic overflow of the banishment, there is really nothing left on the Baron field now.

However, since they are all extremely popular dragons, Cyber ​​Dragon, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and Red-Eyes Black Dragon have similar characteristics - they basically don't stay on the field after they appear, either going to the graveyard or being used as material.

For example, right now.

"This time, I'm giving it my all! I'll use this powerful monster to defeat you! This is my way of acknowledging your strength!"

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Cyber ​​Load Fusion]!"

"Return the Fusion Material Monsters listed on a Fusion Monster Card from your field and banished monsters to their own Deck, then Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster that used a 'Cyber ​​Dragon' monster as Fusion Material from your Extra Deck."

"The fusion material consists of 'Cyber ​​Dragon' + 1 or more Machine-type monsters!"

"I will return the Cyber ​​Dragon on the field, along with the banished Cyber ​​Dragon Core, Cyber ​​Dragon Core, Cyber ​​Dragon Next Star, and the other 4 banished Machine-Type monsters to the deck!"

The previous card, Full Armor Gravity, flipped a total of 10 cards: five were armored monsters, one was a spell card, and the other four were... all Cyber ​​Dragon monsters!

"This is the power I seek to achieve victory and become the strongest!"

With the Duel Disk unfolded, Baron swung his arm, sending all the cards from the banished zone flying into the air. He then skillfully caught all the cards, landing them on top of his deck.

The deck is automatically shuffled, and at the same time, an incredibly powerful monster has awakened in the Extra Deck.

"Eight monsters as fusion materials?! What kind of monsters require so many materials?"

In the memories of the castle, the only thing that required the most materials was the Five Emperor Dragons, but that only required 5 monsters!

"Don't blink! Watch closely! Jonouchi, this is the last monster you'll see today!"

"Fusion Summon! [Chimera Overload Dragon]!"

Eight phantom cyber dragons, each with a unique form and appearance, flew out of the deck and combined together in a strange way. They shared a single body, and each of their eight heads emitted a mechanical roar in its own way, as if announcing their birth.

[Dark 9★ Mechanical Attack Power?]

"If this card is successfully Fusion Summoned, activate this effect. Send all cards you control except this card to the Graveyard, even though my field was empty..."

"At the same time, this card's original ATK and DEF become 800 times the number of monsters used as Fusion Material for this card."

"Because I used 8 monsters as Fusion Material, this card's original ATK and DEF become 6400!"

The mechanical dragon with eight heads instantly swelled up, its heads intertwined but not tangled, completely blocking the sunlight from the top of the dragon's head.

"It's so big...who can handle that?!"

"I don't care if you can handle it or not! If you can't, then you can just give me Miss Peacock Dance!"

"What?! Don't even think about it! Let me tell you, don't underestimate me, Mr. Jonouchi! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

"That'll have to wait until you can withstand my attack first!"

The two bickered like children, which made the peacock dancer in the audience frown.

These two seem to... have something wrong with them!

Or is it because this Baron is bad that he assimilated Jonouchi?

Subconsciously biased towards Jonouchi, Mai's normally normal intelligence became somewhat abnormal, ignoring the fact that Jonouchi herself also had quite a few goofy traits.

The two argued to the point of being evenly matched, with neither gaining the upper hand. Baron was helpless and Jonouchi refused to give an inch. It was Baron's Duel Disk that prompted him to make a move, which brought the kindergarten-style bickering to a halt.

"Enter battle!"

"Chimera Overload Dragon, attack that Red-Eye in Defense mode!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhi was startled: "What?! You don't have the ability to pierce through things, do you?!"

Before Baron could answer, Chimera Overload Dragon had easily defeated Red-Eyes. The unchanged 4100 LP indicated that Jonouchi's current situation was still relatively safe.

"Although it lacks piercing ability, Chimera Overload Dragon can make attacks against your opponent's monsters during the same Battle Phase up to the number of monsters that were used as Fusion Material for this card!"

"So don't think I'll go easy on you! Chimera Overload Dragon, attack that red-eyed attack!"

Clearly not yet satisfied, Chimera Overload Dragon charged towards the second Red-Eyes without hesitation, and with another casual strike, sent Red-Eyes flying.

This time, Red-Eyes couldn't help Jonouchi block the bullet. The powerful shockwave blew Jonouchi away, sending him crashing into the guardrail.

[Jounouchi LP: 4100 → 100]

With a single blow, Jonouchi was reduced to a flickering flame. Baron, overjoyed, looked down at the stage where Mai had fallen, hoping to see her adoring gaze. But instead, he saw Mai standing not far from where Jonouchi had collapsed, cheering him on from across the steps...

"..."

silence.

At this moment, Baron felt an immense emptiness.

"Women will only slow down my card-drawing speed!"

"Stand up! Jonouchi! Stand up! Be a man! Fight me to the death!"

Baron's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He already sensed that his next draw would be the Orichalcos Barrier. He couldn't finish off Jonouchi's LP, which was like a candle flickering in the wind, this turn. So he would just use the Orichalcos Barrier to defeat him completely next turn!

In that case... I should be able to get Ms. Peacock Mai's attention, right?

Chapter 156: Seizing the initiative is a success! 10/14

"I'm not... going to give up so easily!"

Struggling to his feet, Jonouchi proved through his actions how he had come this far, transforming himself from an ordinary person into a qualified duelist.

People are always happy to see the weak challenge the strong. Regardless of who was the weaker one and who was the stronger one before, at least for now, between Baron, who has a powerful monster, and Jonouchi, who only has 100 LP, Jonouchi is undoubtedly the weaker one.

"Rise up, Jonouchi!"

The peacock dance was cheering him on, the audience was cheering him on, and the support from so many people made Baron just want to feel envious.

"Baron! I'm very tenacious!"

"This duel was over the moment you failed to completely defeat me!"

"My turn!"

Gasping for breath, Jonouchi placed his hand on the duel disk. The rules of victory were already set; all he had to do now was confirm his fate!

"Draw a card!"

The Time Magician

The deck met expectations, in a different way.

This card represents both my past self and the friendship I share.

Jonouchi believed that as long as he summoned the monster and activated its effect, he would get the result he wanted.

But today, he intends to tell others in a completely new way that he no longer needs to gamble like a gambler, betting his wins and losses, his life and death, on coins and dice.

Many people only see him winning duels with dice and coins, but many don't know that Jonouchi actually doesn't like gambling.

What he prefers is a head-on, fair and square confrontation, like that of Baron!

"Baron! Let my burning soul shatter you!"

"I activate the effect of the monster in my graveyard, Red-Eyes Black Star Dragon!"

"You can activate this effect by banishing this card from your Graveyard. Add 1 'Red-Eyes Fusion' card from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand."

Upon hearing the word "fusion," Baron's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Fusion to fusion! Great! I like it! But how do you fuse now? What kind of monster do you need to surpass my 6400 ATK Chimera Overload Dragon and wipe out my 3500 LP?"

"Hmph! I've already planned everything out!"

Even though it's not possible to arrange every card to its proper use like in a game, and to calculate the outcome of the duel from the start, Jonouchi has his own unique way of thinking—that is, to let the deck tell him how to win the duel!

"You have your own fusion that exists outside the main area, and I also have my own fusion that belongs to Red-Eyes!"

"Just watch closely, Baron! I admit your Chimera Overload Dragon is invincible, but I already learned a lesson back in the Duel City tournament!"

"No matter how powerful the opponent's monsters are, the duelists who ride those monsters are just ordinary people!"

"I activate the Spell Card [Red-Eyes Fusion]!"

"You can only activate one card name per turn, and you cannot Normal or Special Summon a monster during the turn this card is activated, except by the effect of this card."

"Given such significant side effects, it naturally also possesses even more powerful effects!"

"That's deck fusion!"

If Jonouchi hadn't missed that duel, perhaps the monster summoned by this card would have been different.

"The fusion materials require a 7-star 'Red-Eyes' monster and a 6-star Dragon-type monster."

"I sent [Red-Eyes Black Flame Dragon] and [Red-Eyes Ferocious Star Dragon - Meteor Dragon] from my deck to the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!"

"Dragon of pitch-black flames, dragon of falling meteors, the soul of the Red-Eyed calls for your descent! Transform your flames into meteoric fire and bring punishment upon my enemies!"

"Fusion Summon! [Meteor Dragon Meteor Black Dragon]!"

In the clear sky, a flash of green light disappeared in an instant. After the green light vanished, a black and red meteor descended, carrying flames that could burn everything.

boom--

The meteorite fell and transformed into a black dragon, spreading its wings to blot out the sky, confronting the dragon with an aura no less imposing than that of the Inlaid Overload Dragon.

[Dark 8★ Dragon 3500 Attack Power]

"Meteor Black Dragon's effect can only be activated if this card is Fusion Summoned. Send 1 'Red-Eyes' monster from your hand or Deck to the Graveyard, and inflict damage to your opponent equal to half of that monster's original ATK."

"I sent [Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon] from my deck to the graveyard! It has 2800 ATK, so you take 1400 damage!"

Meteor Black Dragon absorbed the power of its designated eldest brother (eldest sister) and, overcoming the obstruction of the Chimera Overload Dragon, submerged Baron in its dragon breath.

Despite its imposing size and formidable fighting prowess, Chimera Overload Dragon seems to be labeled a "Guardian Dragon" because it can't protect anything.

[Baron LP: 3500→2100]

"I still have 2100 LP, and you can't summon any more monsters this turn! Your Meteor Black Dragon is no match for me!"

"Solvadocana!" Jonouchi stylishly held up the card he hadn't used in the previous round. "Haven't you noticed something?"

"In this duel, all your LP damage will be deducted due to effect damage!"

Baron was suddenly startled when Jonouchi reminded him of this.

That's right. No matter how powerful the monster is, as a duelist, he has no protection whatsoever—the armor that could protect him has already been thrown into the graveyard.