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

"Is this... the power of the chosen ones...?"

Kelos's face was ashen, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead and into his eyes, causing a stinging sensation.

His voice was dry and hoarse, as if it were being forced out from the depths of his throat, carrying a hint of unbelievable despair.

On the opposite side of this starlight ruin, You Yang still stands like an ancient pine tree.

Although the [Savior Star Dragon] disintegrated and disappeared due to the activation effect, he was still bathed in the remaining starlight.

Those eyes were calm and still, like the deep starry sky, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

Gazing into those blood-red eyes, which looked down upon all living beings with the indifference of a god, the fear in Keros's heart, after being suppressed to an extreme degree, instantly transformed into hysterical rage!

The humiliation of being looked down upon and crushed made him roar, as if he wanted to use his voice to dispel the chill in his heart!

"I admit... I admit that the [Savior Star Dragon] is indeed very powerful!"

Kairos was breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on You Yang, his voice becoming sharp and impassioned:

"But you've run out of resources, haven't you?!"

"But my spectacle won't be completely destroyed by a single act of disruption!"

"My tactics aren't over yet!"

Before he could finish speaking, Kelos suddenly waved his hand, the movement so large it seemed to tear the air apart. A card gleaming with an eerie light instantly appeared before him.

"In that very instant! Because my monster was destroyed!"

"I activated the Trap Card—[TGX3-DX2]!"

"Target 3 'Tech Genus' monsters in your Graveyard. Shuffle these monsters into your Deck."

"After that, draw two cards from your deck."

Kelos's finger trembled as he pointed to his own grave, and three shattered mechanical phantoms appeared in the void:

"I return these three monsters from my graveyard to my deck: [Tech Rocket Fire Spirit], [Tech Tank Larva], and [Tech Propeller Serpent]!"

The sound of the deck being automatically shuffled and cut was exceptionally clear in the silent arena. Kairos took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the deck, and then abruptly pulled them out:

"Draw two cards from your deck!!"

Looking at the two cards he had drawn, Kelos's extremely tense nerves finally relaxed, and a stiff smile of relief even appeared on his lips.

At this point, assessing the situation, although there were still monsters in Youyang Field, the threat had been greatly reduced.

The mere two hundred points of attack power from the Formula Synchron was like a tickle to him, posing no fatal threat whatsoever.

His health was still full, and the new card he had just drawn gave him even more confidence.

Surviving this round shouldn't be a problem. As long as we get through this round, we can launch a new offensive and counterattack next round with the resources we have.

You Yang is now truly at his wit's end... There's still a chance for this duel!

The scales of victory have not yet tipped completely!

Vivian, watching this scene from the sidelines, was secretly alarmed.

She looked at You Yang on the field, and he was completely different from the boy who ate noodles in the noodle shop without any regard for his image.

You Yang's expression was extremely focused, a focus that showed he had poured his entire soul into it.

It was as if in his world, nothing else mattered except for the duel before him.

There are only wins and losses, only cards.

However, when Vivian turned her gaze to Kelos, who looked relieved, a complex sense of sympathy flickered in her eyes.

As an observer, she clearly remembered that the card lying in the Youyang Cemetery—Lilith's [Garden Rose Maiden]—still had a final, fatal effect hidden!

That is--

As if to confirm Vivian's guess, You Yang slowly extended his hand again.

The stardust that had been lingering in the air suddenly changed, and specks of emerald green thorns appeared in his palm, quickly spreading to the dueling arena beneath his feet.

The illusory and alluring roses bloom once again on this battlefield where steel and ruins intertwine, their petals falling in a breathtakingly beautiful display.

You Yang's voice pierced the air, calm yet carrying an undeniable verdict:

"I activate the effect of [Garden Rose Maiden] in the graveyard!"

"You can banish this card from your Graveyard, then target 1 'Rose Dragon' monster or Dragon Synchro Monster in your Graveyard to activate this effect."

Upon hearing these words, Kelos's pupils contracted sharply, and the schadenfreude on his face froze instantly.

"That monster... Special Summon."

You Yang raised his head, his gaze piercing through all obstacles, pointing straight to the sky.

"What I want to summon is this monster, of course!"

As he called out, a more dazzling and sacred light descended from the void, illuminating the entire area as if it were daytime.

"Light, come—!!"

"【The Savior Star Dragon】!!"

In the dueling arena, the air seemed to freeze. Amidst the rain of falling rose petals, a pure white starlight suddenly shone forth, its radiance not only piercing the darkness but also seemingly cleansing the soul of its purity.

As the light faded, the pure white dragon, symbolizing the hope of salvation, descended once more upon this devastated battlefield with an overwhelming aura of dominance!

【Flowing Sky Savior Star Dragon】【★11】【Wind/Synchronization/Dragon】【Attack: 4000 / Defense: 3300】

The dragon's roar had not yet subsided, and You Yang did not halt his advance. His fighting spirit blazed like wildfire, and he swung his arm sharply, pointing towards the graveyard:

"Next, I'll activate the effect of [Stardust Synchron] in the graveyard!"

"If this card is in your hand or Graveyard, you can activate this effect by Tributing 1 monster you control and Special Summon it!"

You Yang's voice sounded exceptionally clear and calm amidst the rousing background music. He quickly added:

"If this card Special Summoned by this effect leaves the field, it is banished. And after this effect is activated, I cannot Special Summon any monster other than Synchro Monsters from the Extra Deck until the end of this turn."

At this point, You Yang's gaze locked onto the small mechanical monster on the field:

"My target is the Formula Synchronizer on the field!"

"Release it and Special Summon in Attack Position - Stardust Synchron!"

"Offer your power for a greater evolution! Awaken! [Stardust Synchronizer]!"

With a crisp sound of mechanical disintegration, the body of the [Formula Synchronizer] dissipated into countless tiny specks of light.

Immediately afterwards, that familiar radiance coalesced once more, and the modified monster, clad in stardust armor, burst forth from the ground, its engine roaring like the beating of a heart, resounding throughout the entire arena.

Stardust Synchronizer [★4]

[Light/Adjustment/Mechanical Race] [Attack: 1500 / Defense: 1000]

Glancing at the battlefield, You Yang silently calculated in his mind. The current combined attack power was already far beyond what was needed to kill a fully healed opponent; there was no need to waste resources on further expansion.

I'm taking the day off!

Happy New Year to all readers on the last day of 2025!

See you in the new year!

Chapter 234 Triple Trap! Defense Maxed Out!

Moreover, after a series of fierce battles, his resources were indeed running out.

"In that case..."

You Yang took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening like knives, and suddenly pointed forward:

"I'm entering combat mode!"

"Go! I will use [True Flash Dragon Stardust Record] to launch a direct attack on you!"

The moment the command was given, countless stardust particles frantically converged towards the [True Flash Dragon Stardust Record].

On its crystal-like dragon body, golden light began to shine intensely, like a supernova about to explode. The energy fluctuations caused the surrounding space to be visibly distorted!

However, at this critical moment, although Kelos's face was pale, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes hidden behind his glasses.

"Hmph, right at this very moment!"

Kelos practically roared out the words, a final struggle and counterattack from the prey before the trap:

"I activate the effect of my monster—[Kuriboh]!"

"When your opponent's monster declares an attack, you can activate this effect by sending this card from your hand to the Graveyard!"

"Change that attacking monster to defense position!"

Suddenly, a round, phantom-like chestnut ball with demonic wings appeared out of thin air, carrying a strange force of resistance, and rushed straight towards the giant dragon that was poised to attack, attempting to forcibly reverse its posture.

"How naive!"

You Yang seemed to have anticipated this, a confident smile curving his lips as he waved his hand and shouted:

"Chain the effects of your [Spherical Chestnut Ball]!"

"I activate the effect of [True Flash Dragon Stardust Record]!"

"Once per turn, you can banish 1 Synchro Monster from your Graveyard to activate this effect."

"This card is unaffected by other card effects until the end of the turn!"

"This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn!"

You Yang quickly pulled out a card from the graveyard and showed it:

"I'm banishing the [Formula Synchronizer] from the graveyard! For this turn—"

"【True Shining Dragon Stardust Record】will transform into an unshakeable monster with all resistances!"

As the figure of the [Formula Synchronizer] in the graveyard disappeared, a semi-transparent golden barrier instantly enveloped the dragon's entire body.

The incoming spherical chestnut ball struck the barrier and was instantly bounced away and dissipated, unable to shake the dragon in the slightest.

Kairos's pupils contracted sharply. He hadn't expected that You Yang's [True Flash Dragon Stardust Record] would have the effect of turning second speed into all resistance.