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

The moment the trap card flipped, the field, which had just regained its color, was instantly engulfed by a ghostly blue flame.

That was an extremely cold air wave from the underworld, which exploded instantly with a bone-chilling cold.

"When a monster's effect is activated, you can detach 1 DARK Xyz Monster from your field to activate this effect."

You Yang's voice sounded sometimes near, sometimes far in the dim blue firelight, like the pronouncement of death.

"That activation was invalidated and destroyed."

"Furthermore, if the Xyz Material detached for activating this card is a 'Phantom Knights,' 'Raid Raptor,' or 'Xyz Dragon,' then target 1 'Raid Raptor' Xyz Monster you control; its ATK increases by the original ATK of the monster destroyed by this effect."

He slowly raised his hand, his palm loosely clenched, as if controlling some invisible force:

"I have obtained an excess of material from [Outer God Azathoth]—[Advanced Magic - Phantom Knights' Assault]!"

Beneath Azathoth, the Xyz Material sphere that had been emitting a ghostly glow shattered instantly, transforming into a stream of dark light that flowed into the Trap Card.

"Neglect and destroy your [Lyrical Robin - Gather Nightingale] effect!"

Before the words were finished, the void tore apart.

A massive, jet-black steel claw, wrapped in old bandages and rusty chains, emanated a chilling aura as if it came from the depths of hell, and suddenly emerged from the crack!

On those claws, ghostly blue flames danced wildly, as if countless wronged souls were howling.

boom! !

There was absolutely no time to react; not even a glimmer of fear could form in the brain.

The nightingale, which was trying to sing and spread its wings to maintain its shield, seemed so small at that moment.

The enormous steel claw snapped shut with a vengeance, as if catching a fly, its five fingers suddenly closing with a ferocious intent to destroy everything!

"grumble--!"

The nightingale's mournful cry was cut short, as if its neck had been snapped.

The immense gripping force erupted in an instant, and the metallic twisting sound sent chills down one's spine.

The eerie blue ghost fire surged wildly along the claws, crushing Nightingale's petite body and the pink defensive shield that had just risen around her into dust!

The feathers scattered throughout the sky turned to ashes in the will-o'-the-wisp, leaving not even a trace behind.

Watching [Lyrical Nightingale - Gathering Nightingale] being so brutally crushed and disappeared before her eyes, Tsukuyomi Rion's previously taut shoulders instantly collapsed.

The light in her eyes went out with the nightingale's fall, leaving only an empty, pale void.

She knew that from this moment on, she had already lost the duel.

You Yang showed no pity whatsoever; his eyes were filled only with extremely calm calculations.

"My turn is still ongoing."

"I activate the effect of [Rapid Raptor - Mighty Wood Owl] on the field!"

The mechanical owl turned its cold, electronic eyes and emitted a low, rumbling sound.

"I've decided to add [Rapid Raptor - Simulated Shrike] to my hand from my deck!"

The moment the search was completed, You Yang gave his opponent no chance to catch his breath.

"It's not over yet," You Yang's cold voice pierced through the smoke of the battlefield.

"I activate the effect of the Continuous Spell Card on the field—[Rapid Raptor - Nest]!"

The metal nest beside him, constructed from countless scrap steel and mechanical pipes, was now emitting a dull hum of operation.

A stream of eerie green data surged deep within the lair, as if recovering battle-damaged machines.

Add [Rapid Raptor - Drive Away the Shrike] from the graveyard to your hand!

As a card popped out of the graveyard and landed in his palm, You Yang's eyes instantly turned sharp as knives.

Without any hesitation, he flipped his wrist, and the two cards were slammed heavily onto the duel disk with a whooshing sound!

"I usually summon [Rapid Raptor - Shrike Chaser]!"

"Then activate its effect to Special Summon [Rapid Raptor - Simulator Shrike] from my hand!"

Om-!

With two piercing turbocharger roars, two mechanical black shadows burst forth from the summoned light.

First to appear was the [Rapid Raptor - Destroyer Shrike], clad in dark green armor, its sharp alloy claws gripping the ground, sending sparks flying.

Following closely behind was the [Rapid Raptor - Simulated Shrike], entirely orange with even thicker armor. Its thrusters spewed blue particle streams, and the two mechanical raptors stood side by side, their electronic eyes flashing a cold red light.

[Rapid Raptor - Drive Away the Shrike] [4-Star] [Dark/Bird Race] [Attack: 1300 / Defense: 1600]

[Rapid Raptor - Simulated Shrike] [4-Star] [Dark/Bird Race] [Attack: 1100 / Defense: 1900]

Looking at the two mechanical raptors that had just appeared on the field, You Yang took a deep breath and raised his arms high!

Before him, an enormous vortex surged forth once more!

"I'm stacking the level 4 [Rapid Raptor - Exterminate Shrike] and [Rapid Raptor - Simulate Shrike] on the field!"

With a long cry, the two mechanical raptors transformed into two streaks of light—one dark green, the other orange.

They intertwined and spiraled together, eventually plunging into the deep, dark galactic vortex on the ground.

"Gathering the warrior's tenacity and the falcon's keen senses, I transform my will into an endless gale, tearing apart the obstacles before me!"

"Come forth, my vengeful warrior, whose shadow and wings are intertwined!"

"Rank 4! [Raid Team Knight]!"

The pitch-black vortex suddenly collapsed inward, then burst forth with a blinding dark light!

Amidst the light, a knight clad in heavy, jet-black armor and wielding a menacing lance, rode a warhorse similarly covered in heavy metal armor, its eye sockets burning with eerie blue soul flames, and descended once more with heavy steps.

[Raid Team Knight] [Tier 4]

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

As Roland watched You Yang summon the [Raid Team Knights] again, his gaze involuntarily turned towards them.

After all, the last time the [Raid Team Knight] appeared, it didn't do anything before Yu Yang used the Rank-Up Magic Card to rank itself up.

Chapter 263 Unyielding in a Hundred Battles! Spread your wings and crush the approaching enemy! Swift Assault Raptor - Flaming Falcon

The air on the battlefield still retained the damp cold and stickiness from when the Outer God left, but You Yang's movements did not stop in the slightest.

He suddenly reached into the duel disk and grabbed a card from under the [Raid Team Knight].

"Activate the effect of [Raid Knight]!"

You Yang's voice pierced through the murky air, carrying an undeniable authority.

As he moved, the orb of light representing the excess material disintegrated between his fingers, turning into countless points of light that merged into the knight's blade.

"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!"

As if responding to its master's command, the mechanical knight [Raid Team Knight] began to vibrate with a high frequency of sound from its armor, and crimson sparks ignited beneath its originally dark cloak.

You Yang's eyes sharpened as he slammed the card in his hand heavily onto the duel disk:

"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!"

boom--!!

The moment the words fell, the originally dark, superimposed light network was suddenly burst open by a violent energy.

A massive pillar of fire, several meters in diameter, shot up from the ground with an aura of incineration, piercing directly through the clouds above the battlefield!

A wave of intense heat swept across the entire area in an instant, and the frost that had condensed due to the arrival of the outer god vaporized in a flash.

The air was violently distorted by the high temperature, and the resulting water vapor mixed with the heat wave, making the entire space appear to be swaying wildly, as if even one's vision was about to be melted by the intense heat.

You Yang raised his right arm and, illuminated by the blazing firelight, spoke loudly!

"A fierce falcon!"

"Undeterred by a hundred battles, its wings unfurled!"

"Defeat that approaching enemy!"

"Upgrade to Supertransformation!!"

"Appear!"

"Tier 5! [Rapid Raptor - Flame Falcon]!!"

In the heart of the raging flames, a resounding eagle's cry tore through the curtain of fire.

A colossal, crimson mechanical shadow, accompanied by towering waves of fire, burst forth from the sky!

Its entire body was covered in crimson heavy alloy armor, and each wing was forged from layers of extremely sharp heat-resistant metal, flowing with a chilling blood-red light under the firelight.

A massive turbine engine roared from its chest, the jets of particles scorching and hissing the surrounding space.

[Rapid Raptor - Flaming Falcon] [Tier 5] [Dark/Bird/Xyz/Effect] [Attack: 1000/Defense: 2000]

The raging flames that rushed towards them instantly dispelled the deep-seated chill and indescribable fear that had been brought about by the Outer God Azathoth.

That is a pure, physical-level extreme thermal energy.

Enveloped in this warmth, Tsukuyomi Rion's previously frozen body regained some sensation.

Through the distorted heat, she looked at You Yang across from her. The firelight danced on his cold profile, softening his originally icy expression.

But this illusion lasted only a moment.

You Yang's icy words, like poisonous smoke spewing from a volcano, immediately brought her back to her senses, dragging her from the illusory warmth into deeper despair.

"I activate the effect of [Rapid Raptor - Flame Falcon] on the field!"

You Yang pointed to the mechanical falcon circling in the inferno, his eyes devoid of any warmth:

"Once per turn, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to activate this effect."

The Flame Falcon spread its wings, and countless hidden missile bay doors popped open simultaneously, their dark muzzles locking onto all living things below.