Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

Within the light, a knight clad in heavy black armor and wielding a menacing lance, riding a warhorse similarly covered in heavy metal armor with ghostly blue soul fire burning in its eye sockets, slowly emerged from the light with heavy steps, like a death messenger returning from hell.

[Raid Team Knights] [Level 4]

[Dark/Warrior Race] [Attack: 2000 / Defense: 0]

"……three."

Veracocha Lasca gazed at the knight radiating a chilling murderous aura, the playful smile on his face undiminished, but in his heart, he silently made a cold count.

You Yang's arm swung out like a sharp sword, his fingertips pointing directly at the silent, dark-skinned knight standing on the field. His voice was powerful and resonant, echoing within the dim barrier:

"Activate the effect of [Raid Knight]!"

"Once per turn, you can activate this effect by removing one Xyz Material from this card!"

"From your Extra Deck, you can Special Summon one Xyz Monster—either 'Phantom Knights,' 'Raid Raptor,' or 'Xyz Dragon'—that is one Rank higher or lower than this card by placing it on top of this card!"

"A monster Special Summoned by this effect will be destroyed during your opponent's next End Phase."

"I removed its Xyz Material [Rapid Raptor - Exterminate Shrike] and performed a Rank-Up Xyz Summon!"

Self-improvement?

For the first time, a genuine look of surprise flashed across Veracocha Lasca's pure black eyes.

Most Xyz decks rely on specific Ascension Spells for rank advancement, but this seemingly ordinary knight can achieve a rank leap through his own power.

But... this is just right.

"Under the veil of darkness, pierce through illusion with sharp eyes, and tear through the sky with wings!"

"Xyz Summon! Descend!"

"Tier 5! [Rapid Raptor - Valiant Wood Owl]!"

The raiding party knights and their warhorses instantly transformed into a deep, dark vortex, from the center of which came a high-pitched, piercing owl's cry!

A giant forest owl with an astonishing wingspan and constructed of intricate machinery suddenly spread its wings and soared into the sky from the darkness, its eyes, made of ruby ​​lenses, flashing a calm and sharp crimson light!

【Rapid Raptor - Valiant Wood Owl】【Tier 5】

[Dark/Bird Beast Race] [Attack: 2000 / Defense: 2500]

This is the fourth one!

A barely perceptible smile curved the corners of Veracocha Lasca's lips.

If the opponent makes one more summon, the summoning conditions for the powerful monster in her hand, which could turn the tide of battle, will be met.

His gaze swept over the five cards in his hand, which were originally blank but now one of them faintly revealed an ancient and chaotic pattern, and he felt a chill in his heart.

Without hesitation, You Yang pointed to the mechanical giant owl circling on the field, signaling the continuation:

"Next, activate the effect of [Rapid Raptor - Valiant Wood Owl]!"

"If this card contains a Winged Beast Monster as Xyz Material, you can activate this effect once per turn by detaching 1 Xyz Material!"

"Add one 'Rank-Up Spell Card' from your deck to your hand."

"I choose to add [Advanced Magic - Leap Power] to my hand!"

【Rapid Raptor - Valiant Forest Owl】The huge metal wings suddenly flapped, and an invisible mental wave swept across Youyang's deck.

You Yang's two fingers moved like lightning, precisely picking out the key card he needed from the deck!

Come, let me see what your fifth summons will bring!

Facing the expectant and mocking gaze of Veracocha Lascana, You Yang's expression turned cold as he abruptly inserted a card into the duel disk!

Chapter 168 Ascension Magic - Soul-Slaying Power! Electronic Dragon - Infinite Descent!

"Activate a spell card from your hand—[Rank-Up Spell - Soul-Slaying Power]!"

?

[Advanced Magic - Soul-Slaying Power]?

Upon hearing You Yang utter those words, a question mark appeared in the mind of the Earthbound God Veracocha Laska.

Why is it 【Advanced Magic - Soul-Slaying Power】?

Wasn't You Yang just searching for 【Advanced Magic - Leap Power】?

Why did the card 【Rank-Up Magic - Soul-Slaying Power】 suddenly activate?

Meeting the gaze of the earthbound god Veracocha Raska, You Yang said loudly:

"Effect activated!"

"I pay half my Life Points to activate this attack, targeting one 'Raid Raptor' Xyz Monster in my Graveyard!"

"Special Summon that monster!"

"Then, place an Xyz Monster with a Rank 2 higher than the targeted monster on top of it, and Special Summon it from the Extra Deck as an Xyz Summon!"

[Youyang: LP 8000 → 4000]

Outside the barrier, Tian Dao Lian watched helplessly as You Yang's life points on his duel disk plummeted by half in an instant, her facial muscles twitching violently. You Yang's life-or-death fighting style was simply... insane to the extreme.

"【Raid Knight】is considered both a 'Phantom Knights' card and a 'Raid Raptor' card according to the rules."

"Therefore, I activate this effect targeting the [Raider Knight] in the graveyard!"

"Special Summon it to the field!"

"And upgrade it!"

A dazzling golden light—formed from half of You Yang's life energy—was forcibly extracted from his body, transforming into a blazing stream of light that flowed into the graveyard area. The ground cracked open with a deafening roar, and the jet-black knight, clad in black armor and riding a ghostly blue soul flame, returned once more from the underworld, standing tall on the battlefield!

[Raid Team Knight] [Tier 4]

[Dark/Warrior Race] [Attack: 2000 / Defense: 0]

Upon hearing about this effect, the earthbound god Veracocha Raska became even more puzzled.

The Strike Raptor does have a Rank 6 monster, but what good is that?

However, this is good news for him.

Because the fifth one... is complete!

Veracocha Lasca stared at the card in his hand, now completely solidified, with a clear design and radiating a terrifying aura, and a cruel yet gleeful smile finally appeared on his face.

Nibiru in its primordial life form

The effect is: This effect can be activated during your opponent's Main Phase if your opponent Normal or Special Summons 5 or more monsters.

Special Summon this card from your hand by Tributing as many face-up monsters as possible that you or your opponent control.

After that, Special Summon 1 "Primal Lifeform Token" (Rock-Type, Light, Level 11, ATK/DEF?) to the opponent's field.

The ATK and DEF of this derivative become the sum of the original ATK and DEF of the monster released due to this effect.

Unfortunately, I'm currently in the effect resolution chain of [Rank-Up Magic - Soul-Slaying Power], so I can't insert other card effects to activate.

But it doesn't matter. As long as Youyang's upgrade summoning is completed, the moment the chain ends will be the time for Him to activate this clear card.

The meteorite falling from the sky will instantly reduce the scene that You Yang painstakingly created, along with the remaining half of his life, to dust!

Looking at the perfect face of the Earthbound God, Veracocha Raska, which was full of mockery and ridicule, You Yang's eyes were as cold as ice.

He suddenly drew a card from the extra deck with lightning speed!

A dazzling golden light, representing an Xyz Summon, suddenly shone brightly on the [Raid Team Knight], like the ignition of a counterattack!

You Yang slammed the card in his hand heavily onto the duel disk with tremendous force!

"Break free from the shackles of definition and reconstruct the final outcome of evolution!"

"Rank 6 Xyz Summon!"

"Descend! [Cyber ​​Dragon - Infinity]!"

As You Yang slammed down the card in his hand, the [Raid Team Knight], which was used as upgrade material, instantly transformed into a deeper and more violent dark vortex!

Within the vortex, a dark red mechanical dragon, enveloped in a quantum torrent powerful enough to distort space, roared as it descended!

Its dragon body was covered in cold, dark armor, every joint gleaming with the metallic luster of death, and a dark red core that seemed to be breathing was embedded in its chest.

Its mere presence caused the surrounding space to tremble slightly, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable burden.

[Electronic Dragon - Infinite] [Tier 6]

[Light/Xyz/Machine Race] [Attack: 2100 / Defense: 1600]

Gazing at the [Electronic Dragon Infinity] before him, a figure brimming with technological and destructive beauty, You Yang's gaze remained indifferent.

Like Jord Rosen's Crimson Lotus Demon deck, the lower-level monsters in the Rush Raptor deck also have very serious summoning self-restriction.

The most common one is the strict restriction that after the effect is activated, only DARK monsters can be summoned or Special Summoned in that turn.

However, [Electronic Dragon - Infinity] is precisely the opposite of this, possessing the light attribute.

In order to break through the limitations and summon this powerful terminal, Yu Yang had already removed most of the lower-level monsters from the Rush Raptor deck when constructing the deck.

But now it seems that all the sacrifices were worthwhile.

You Yang's voice was devoid of any emotion, as if stating a given fact:

"The ATK of [Cyber ​​Dragon Infinite] increases by 200 based on the number of Xyz Materials this card has."

"He now has an overpowered material, so his attack power will increase by 200 points!"

[Electronic Dragon - Infinite] [Attack: 2100 → 2300 / Defense: 1600]

You Yang's gaze met once again in the pure black eyes of the Earthbound God, Veracocha Raska.

At this moment, the Earthbound God Veracocha Raska finally saw clearly that in You Yang's dark pupils, there was no anger, no fear, only an almost absolute, chilling calmness.

Could it be that this mortal... had already foreseen this?

The effects of [Electronic Dragon - Infinity] were naturally known to the Earthbound God, Veracocha Raska.

Removing an overcharge material allows you to activate a Tricolor Concentrate with nullification and destruction effects.

But... how is that possible?