Yugioh [612-617] (Patreon)

Chapter 612: Ebon Sun

[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, ATK 4000 → ATK 3200]

Kira: "By reducing Hamon's attack, he gains immunity to Dark Hole."

"But as for Lord of Phantasms and his tokens—get rid of them!"

Tragoedia shouted. The Dark Hole activated, its endless gravity sucking in all the Phantasm Tokens, shredding them into pieces. Even the mighty Lord of Phantasms could do nothing but roar before his form collapsed, breaking apart into countless golden lights that faded away.

"But his own monsters are affected, too." Jaden said.

Indeed, under Dark Hole, all are equal—it doesn't matter if you're a burning star; you're as insignificant as a firefly. The Supremacy Sun twisted and shattered under the Dark Hole, vanishing quickly.

Misawa frowned. "He knew his own Sun would get swallowed. So why summon it first and then use Dark Hole?"

His doubt was soon answered.

"First, the effect of 'Ebon Sun': when your own monster is destroyed, you recover life points equal to its attack."

Tragoedia said coldly.

"When The Supremacy Sun is destroyed, its attack is 3000, so I recover 3000 life points!"

[Tragoedia, LP 6300 → LP 9300]

"9300 life points!" Alexis exclaimed.

Nearing 10,000 LP was certainly visually striking.

"Next, I activate the spell card 'Card of Heaven and Earth.'" Tragoedia continued. "The turn you perform a Tribute Summon, you can draw two cards from your deck. However, these cards can't be used this turn; if you can set any, you must set at least one before the end of the turn." (Manga Card)

Tragoedia drew two cards, then gave a low chuckle.

"Then I set one card face-down in my back row. End of turn."

Tragoedia paused, then said indifferently:

"Of course, at the end of the turn, 'Forbidden Lance' ends. Hamon's attack returns to normal."

[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, ATK 3200 → ATK 4000]

Kira: "Then it's my turn. Draw."

"No matter what, his field is empty now." Jaden said. "A great chance to attack!"

"Heh… is it really, though?"

Tragoedia laughed, then became cold.

"Take a good look at my field! The Sun isn't just the greatest of the planetary series; it's an immortal god!" Tragoedia raised his hand. "When the Sun sets, it always rises again.

Descend in an even more blazing form—

—The Supremacy Sun, revive!"

It was as if a blazing fireball rose from the horizon, burning in the night! From the flames, the giant's body emerged, armored and towering beneath the stars.

[The Supremacy Sun, ATK 3000]

"Huh? Why!?" Chazz exclaimed.

"Hahaha! The Supremacy Sun is immortal!" Tragoedia boomed. "Its effect: if this card is sent to the graveyard in any way, it revives during your next Standby Phase!" (Manga effect)

The real card kept this effect, but with nerfs: it can't be Special Summoned except by its own effect, and you must discard a card to revive it, making it less practical.

"But that's not all." Tragoedia continued, "The Continuous Spell 'Ebon Sun' has another effect.

Whenever a monster is Special Summoned from your graveyard, that monster gains 1000 ATK!"

[The Supremacy Sun, ATK 3000 → ATK 4000]

"So, these two cards—Ebon Sun and The Supremacy Sun—are made to support each other." Misawa realized.

The Supremacy Sun can revive itself when destroyed, restoring a large amount of LP, and when revived, it gains an attack boost from the Continuous Spell.

"What a scary combo," Misawa muttered.

"This is a problem. Now Hamon's power isn't enough to break through the Sun." Kira shrugged.

Even if you use effects to temporarily boost Hamon's attack and defeat the Sun, it revives next turn and your opponent regains 4000 LP.

"In addition, since I Special Summoned a monster from my graveyard," Tragoedia said, "the Continuous Spell 'Card of Safe Return' also activates.

I draw a card."

Tragoedia drew another card.

That's why he included Card of Safe Return—to further support the Sun. At this point, his strategy was clear: the deck revolves around The Supremacy Sun, maximizing its returns through every self-revival.

Kira thought for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Then I activate the Field Spell 'Fallen Paradise.' If I control any of the three Sacred Beasts, once per turn I can draw two cards."

He drew two cards.

He glanced at his hand, eyes narrowing.

There was a way.

"I switch 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder' to defense position," Kira said, "and set two cards. End turn."

Hamon's massive body crouched, folding its bony wings like a shield. Blue lightning snaked in front of it, forming a transparent shield.

[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, ATK 4000 → DEF 4000]

"Reinforcing your defense," Tragoedia gloated. "Heh, you finally realize your Sacred Beasts can't match the Sun?"

Hamon, not sure if it understood, let out a low growl, as if to say, "Don't get cocky. You'll see soon enough."

"My turn, draw!"

It was Tragoedia's turn again.

"First, I activate the spell 'Magic Planter'! Send a Continuous Spell to the graveyard to draw two cards!" (Anime effect)

He had three Continuous Spells in his back row. Tragoedia selected one and briefly displayed it.

"I send 'Precious Cards from Beyond' to the graveyard. Draw two cards."

After sending the card, he drew two cards.

He looked up, sneering at Hamon in defense position.

"Hmph, you think putting your Sacred Beast in defense will stop the Sun's advance just because their ATK and DEF are the same? So naive!"

He waved his hand.

"The Supremacy Sun, attack 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder'!"

Chapter 613: The Sun, Undying?

"The Supremacy Sun attacks!"

Tragoedia raised his right hand. As he did, the Sun seemed to roar, endless light bursting from its body, as if to evaporate everything.

"The Sun's ATK and Hamon's DEF are equal," Chazz said. "That attack should do nothing!"

[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, DEF 4000]

[The Supremacy Sun, ATK 4000]

"Is that so?"

Tragoedia laughed coldly.

"Quick-Play Spell 'Rush Recklessly!'—a monster on the field gains 700 ATK until the end of the turn!"

The spell card glowed, and a golden beam surged into The Supremacy Sun's body.

"Boost The Supremacy Sun's power!"

[The Supremacy Sun, ATK 4000 → 4700]

"Your Sacred Beast is easily outmatched by the Sun's heat," Tragoedia sneered. "Burn to death!"

"You played your power-up too hastily." Kira smiled. "What's wrong, are you nervous about my Sacred Beast?"

"What?" Tragoedia frowned.

Kira snapped his fingers.

"Activate set card—Continuous Trap 'Fiendish Chain.' Bind your monster with demonic chains!"

Chains shot from the card, wrapping the Sun tightly, immobilizing it.

"The monster bound by Fiendish Chain has its effect negated and can't attack," Kira said calmly. "The Supremacy Sun's attack is canceled."

"Tsk."

Tragoedia snorted.

"Don't think you've dealt with the Sun so easily. The Sun is the only star in the planetary series—the god among planets! If you think you can defeat the Sun this way, you're too naive.

Activate set card—Trap Card 'Self Destruct'!" (Original card)

Dark energy exploded around Tragoedia, and the trap card flipped, detonating and engulfing the Sun.

"Self Destruct destroys all your monsters on the field!"

Even though this is a manga card, its function is clear: used by Tragoedia in the original manga, it combos perfectly with the endlessly reviving The Supremacy Sun and 'Ebon Sun.'

Destroying all your monsters lets you recover a huge amount of LP, and it allows the Sun to dodge effects that banish or return it to the hand—things it otherwise can't handle.

For example, if the opponent uses a banishing effect on the Sun, it can only revive in the next Standby Phase if sent to the grave. If banished, it's gone for good.

But with Self Destruct, you can destroy the Sun yourself before it's banished, meaning the opponent's banish effect loses its target. The Sun will revive itself and you can recover even more LP.

The golden giant was swallowed by flames, armor shattering, its body fading away.

"Mamma mia!" Professor Crowler commentated. "And the Self Destructed Sun escapes Fiendish Chain and will revive next turn!"

"A frightening effect. If this goes through, he'll recover the Sun's current attack—4700 LP!" Chancellor Sheppard nodded, glancing at Tragoedia with some apprehension.

"With this, his LP will reach a terrifying 15,000!"

Maybe it was this huge LP or the completed Sun combo that gave Tragoedia confidence—he even started to taunt:

"As expected of the Duel King, you really put on the pressure. No matter who you really are, the nourishment I'll get after beating you will be extraordinary."

He licked his lips.

"Even better than the best nourishment I've had so far… that world champion, Koyo Hibiki."

Jaden's eyelid twitched at this.

"Mr. Koyo… so it was you!?"

The Arbiter had been defeated, but Koyo Hibiki was still comatose. Jaden knew some dark force was behind it, but didn't know who.

Tragoedia glanced at Jaden.

"You're the kid Hibiki entrusted his deck to, aren't you? I remember your potential. You might be worth tasting too."

He chuckled.

"Of course, after I finish with my current opponent."

"What's your goal!?" Jaden demanded. "Do you want to conquer the world?"

"Conquer the world?"

Tragoedia laughed.

"That's funny, kid. Conquering the world… If I wanted to, that would be easy after my full revival.

But I'm not interested in that."

He squinted, most of his face shadowed.

"No, I do this purely for amusement."

"Amusement?"

Jaden was stunned.

"You hurt so many people, including Mr. Koyo, just for—"

"Yes. Hard to understand? To me, humans with seventy or eighty years of life are like meteors—gone in a flash, no different from insects.

Watching you struggle, searching for nonexistent light in the darkness, is amusing. It passes my long, boring days."

Such alien reasoning shocked not just Jaden, but everyone listening. Only now did many realize Kira's opponent was not human, and considered himself far above humanity.

Jaden, angry, was about to retort, but Kira interrupted.

"If it's just amusement you want, I have a way to help you end your boredom—once and for all."

"Oh?" Tragoedia was interested. "Let's hear it."

"I'll end your long, boring days. Today." Kira smiled.

Tragoedia laughed.

"Worthy of the King, so confident. Fine, I want to see if you have the right to that confidence!

Now, thanks to Self Destruct, The Supremacy Sun is destroyed and I recover LP equal to its ATK. Next turn, the immortal Sun will rise again, free of your Fiendish Chain."

"Not so fast."

Kira said calmly.

"Even the The Supremacy Sun is just a star. In the vast universe, even the Sun is but a drop in the ocean."

"What?" Tragoedia frowned.

"Nothing, just that before your Self Destruct effect resolves, I've already activated this card—

—Continuous Trap: Macro Cosmos!"

Tragoedia: "!!!!"

Chapter 614: Under the Cosmos, All Are Equal

Continuous Trap—Macro Cosmos!

 "As long as this trap is on the field," Kira declared, "all cards sent to the graveyard are banished instead!"

So you're the Sun? You're immortal?

I'll just erase your graveyard entirely.

The background transformed into endless starry space, making Tragoedia's Sun seem insignificant. Under the stars, the holy Sun faded away, becoming transparent until it disappeared completely.

"The Sun was banished instead of going to the grave," Kira said. "So it won't revive next turn."

Spectators cheered.

What a Macro Cosmos!

"Yes! The immortal Sun is finally defeated!" Syrus cheered.

Jaden grinned: "Under Macro Cosmos, all are equal."

No one noticed that Pharaoh, the cat Professor Lyman kept, was lazily lying on a rock. It yawned, and a glowing ball floated out, transforming into a ghostly figure—Lyman himself.

Already a spirit, Lyman nodded, pleased to see his Macro Cosmos work wonders again in Kira's hands. The legacy continues.

"Don't get cocky!" Tragoedia fumed. "Even so, since the Sun was destroyed, 'Ebon Sun' lets me recover 4700 LP!"

[Tragoedia, LP 9300 → LP 14000]

14,000 LP in an instant!

That's still a shocking amount in this world's dueling scene.

"Finally, I set a monster face-down in defense."

Tragoedia played two cards, one to the front row, one to the back.

"And set one more card. End turn."

Losing the Sun was no small matter—Tragoedia's whole deck was built around it. Macro Cosmos is the perfect counter.

"How dare you use such a dirty trick—"

Tragoedia fumed.

His resolve to eliminate Kira only grew stronger.

"My turn, draw," Kira said. "With Hamon on the field, I activate the Field Spell 'Fallen Paradise.'

Once per turn, if I control a Sacred Beast, I can draw two cards."

Kira drew, then quickly played a card from his hand.

"Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Big Bang Shot.'"

The card glowed, energy empowering Hamon.

"Equip to 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder.' It gains 400 ATK, and when attacking a Defense Position monster, if its ATK exceeds DEF, it inflicts piercing damage."

[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, ATK 4000 → 4400]

"Hamon switches to attack position," Kira said. "Attack the set monster.

Paradise Lightning!"

Hamon roared, lightning crashing down! The defense monster was struck.

[Three-Eyed Ghost, DEF 900]

Three-Eyed Ghost, Level 3—a monster from Tragoedia's manga deck, now printed but with a nerfed effect. (Original effect: send to grave to search any monster from your deck. Now, it only searches Level 10 DARK monsters.)

Also, its DEF was cut from 900 to 800 for no clear reason.

"Big Bang Shot deals piercing damage," Kira said.

Lightning pierced through, blasting Tragoedia.

[Tragoedia, LP 14000 → LP 10500]

Tragoedia said solemnly, "But 'Ebon Sun' restores LP equal to destroyed monster's ATK. I recover 900 LP!"

[Tragoedia, LP 10500 → LP 11400]

"Hamon's effect deals 1000 damage when it destroys a monster by battle, but with Macro Cosmos on the field, monsters don't go to the grave, so no effect."

Kira said.

"I set two cards. End turn."

"My turn, draw!"

Tragoedia roared, glaring at Macro Cosmos.

Damn it—Macro Cosmos! His Sun was crippled. Even if he brings it back, it's just a blank slate while Macro Cosmos is up.

He had to get rid of it.

"Spell Card 'Card of Adversity.' If your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you have none, draw two cards." (Anime card)

Tragoedia drew two cards.

"Quick-Play Spell 'Mystical Space Typhoon'! Destroy a spell/trap on the field.

Destroy 'Macro Cosmos'!"

A black storm raged, lightning shattering space. The stars fell, Macro Cosmos collapsed, and the field returned to normal.

"Now the revival restriction is gone," Tragoedia declared.

"Again, I use 'Magic Planter,' send a Continuous Spell to the grave to draw two cards. I send 'Ebon Sun' to the grave. Draw two!"

Tragoedia drew two more cards, eyes flashing.

"With this card, I'll bring back the undying Sun—"

He raised a card.

"Spell Card 'Dimension Fusion'!" Tragoedia shouted. "Pay 2000 LP. Both players Special Summon as many banished monsters as possible!"

[Tragoedia, LP 11400 → LP 9400]

"He can summon banished monsters!?" Chazz was shocked.

"That's right." Tragoedia raised his arm. "The Supremacy Sun, return!"

Chapter 615: This Strike Breaks Through Dimensions

The Supremacy Sun, summon again!

[The Supremacy Sun, ATK 3000]

Of course, it's not just the Sun. While Macro Cosmos is in effect, Tragoedia has another monster banished from the game.

[Three-Eyed Ghost, DEF 900]

Tragoedia: "First, Three-Eyed Ghost—monster effect activates. By sending this card to the graveyard, I can add a monster from my deck to my hand."

Kira focused.

What a truly overpowered original effect. No wonder so many manga cards are broken.

"I send 'Three-Eyed Ghost' to the graveyard, then from my deck, I add this card—"

Tragoedia sneered, pulling a card from his deck.

"Tragoedia added to hand."

The moment that card joined his hand, his aura seemed to grow even stronger. Invisible darkness churned behind Principal Mackenzie, forming the shape of a demon.

"So you're finally revealing your true self," Kira said.

Of course he remembered that effect. Back then, this thing was a staple in real-life play, with a pretty practical performance.

Tragoedia, Level 10, ATK/?, ATK/DEF = hand size x 600.

Nicknamed 'Mini Slifer.'

It can be Special Summoned from the hand when you take battle damage. Once per turn, you can discard a monster from your hand to take control of an opponent's monster with the same level. The last effect lets it copy the level of a monster in your graveyard.

It's like a self-summoning hand trap—good as a beater with a full hand, can steal opponent's monsters under certain conditions, and can change its level, making it a useful choice for Synchro and Xyz decks back then.

But even with the Sun revived, its current ATK is no match for the Sacred Beast.

Of course, the little lobster (Tragoedia) had a plan.

"Activate set card—Trap Card 'Ring of Destruction!'" Tragoedia shouted. "Destroy a monster on the field, and both players take damage equal to its ATK!"

"Traps are ineffective against Sacred Beasts," Kira said.

"I know, so I'm destroying 'The Supremacy Sun!'"

The Ring of Destruction locked onto the Sun. Having just been revived from another dimension, the Sun was blown to pieces in a fireball again!

"Then we both take 3000 points of damage!"

It was clear the little lobster had changed his strategy. If he couldn't beat the Sacred Beast, he'd try to trade damage with Kira. After all, he had over 10,000 LP now—trading was in his favor.

But things rarely go as planned.

"Counter Trap—'Barrel Behind the Door,'" Kira said. "When an effect would deal me damage, that portion is reflected back to the opponent."

Tragoedia: "!!!"

Nani!?

"Ring of Destruction deals 3000 damage to both of us," Kira smiled. "So my portion is reflected. You take 6000 damage."

Boom!

Ring of Destruction exploded, The Supremacy Sun became a fireball. Like the Sun falling from the sky, Tragoedia was engulfed, howling in pain or rage.

[Tragoedia, LP 9400 → LP 3400]

"You damn thing..."

The little lobster dropped to his knees, gasping, black smoke rising from his body.

6000 LP gone in an instant, and all self-inflicted. If he died like this, even in the afterlife, Zorc and the other seniors would laugh him to death for dying of pure suicide.

"I set one card and end my turn," he muttered.

"My turn, draw," Kira said.

"Macro Cosmos is gone, the Sun is undead again!" Tragoedia shouted. "At the start of the Standby Phase, The Supremacy Sun is revived!"

[The Supremacy Sun, ATK 3000]

But with the Continuous Spell "Ebon Sun" gone, he can't gain more LP or increase the Sun's ATK.

"Because the Sun revived from the grave, 'Card of Safe Return' lets me draw a card," Tragoedia said.

"Attack position," Kira murmured.

So even knowing the Sun's ATK is less than the Sacred Beast, he puts it in attack mode to bait an attack?

He understood.

Tragoedia's Special Summon condition requires him to take battle damage—clearly setting up for his true form's appearance.

All three Sacred Beasts are level 10. Though level 10 monsters are rare, top duelists must be ready for anything. Tragoedia could easily have a level 10 monster next turn; if he summons his true form, he could use its effect to steal a Sacred Beast.

That was almost certainly his tactic.

In fact, the little lobster was thinking exactly that.

Come on, defeat my Sun.

The moment The Supremacy Sun is destroyed, he himself will descend. Next turn, the Sacred Beast will be his!

But he didn't know that even though Tragoedia hadn't appeared in 3,000 years, Kira still knew its effects.

Seeing through his tactics, Kira quickly devised a plan.

"Field Spell 'Fallen Paradise' effect: If a Sacred Beast is on the field, once per turn, draw two cards from your deck."

Kira drew two cards.

"Activate Spell Card 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, then discard two."

"Now I activate my set card."

With a wave, his set card flipped.

"Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse.' Revive a monster from the grave with 1000 or less ATK in attack mode.

The monster I revive is the one I just discarded—"

The monster card left the grave.

"Revive 'Phantom of Chaos.'"

[Phantom of Chaos, ATK 0]

"Phantom of Chaos?"

Looking at the muddy monster that appeared on Kira's field, Tragoedia instinctively sensed danger.

"Phantom of Chaos effect: Once per turn, choose an effect monster in your graveyard. This turn, treat this card as that monster's name, and it gains that monster's effects and ATK." (Anime effect)

Kira spoke calmly.

The real card's effect is similar, except you must banish the target monster from the grave. In the anime, there's no such cost.

"Is he choosing a Sacred Beast from his grave?" Tragoedia was shocked.

Can this monster copy any Sacred Beast in the grave!?

"Haha, of course, it's just a copy. Even if it turns into a Sacred Beast, it can't inflict battle damage to the opponent," Kira smiled, drawing another card.

"But upon successful summon, I activate this card—

—Quick-Play Spell 'Inferno Reckless Summon!'

When you Special Summon a monster with 1500 or less ATK, you can Special Summon as many copies as possible with the same name.

And your side can also summon as many copies of the same monster as you have."

Tragoedia scowled, "I have no other 'The Supremacy Sun' in my deck."

Naturally—each Planet series card is unique.

"What a pity. Then I won't hold back."

Kira shrugged gravely.

"I Special Summon two more 'Phantom of Chaos' from my deck."

[Phantom of Chaos, ATK 0] x3

"Then, Phantom of Chaos effect! Once per turn, copy an effect monster in the grave, become its name, and gain its effect and ATK.

I have two of them become these two cards:

Raviel, Lord of Phantasms!

And 'Uria, Lord of Searing Flames,' which I just discarded with Graceful Charity!"

Two blobs of black ooze transformed, like dark waterfalls shooting skyward, morphing into two Sacred Beast forms.

Uria, Lord of Searing Flames! Raviel, Lord of Phantasms!

Even Tragoedia's face twitched.

Inferno Reckless Summon instantly brought out three Phantoms of Chaos, then used their effect to copy the Sacred Beasts—a triple Sacred Beast in one turn!

Is that even possible!?

A world-shaking power brewed in the field. Thunder roared, deafening, as if the world itself was enraged. Chaos and turmoil reigned, dust whirled into sandstorms obscuring the sky.

Three Sacred Beasts descended at once, their presence god-like. Though Duel Academy sealed the Sacred Beasts, most teachers and students had never seen such terrifying monsters in person—they were shocked and frightened.

"They're just illusions," the lobster muttered stubbornly, though shaken.

"They can't do battle damage, and only last a turn."

"That's enough. I won't need another turn," Kira said calmly.

Tragoedia: "!?"

"Phantom of Chaos copied 'Uria, Lord of Searing Flames'—effect: once per turn, destroy all opponent's Trap Cards."

Kira waved his hand.

"Trap Destruction!"

The lobster hesitated a split second, then activated his Trap.

"Activate set card—'Threatening Roar!' You can't declare attacks this turn!"

Originally, he planned to use the Sun as bait to summon his true form. But since Phantom of Chaos' copies can't deal battle damage, even if they destroyed The Supremacy Sun, he couldn't use his effect to come out.

So he sealed Kira's attacks instead.

But he had a bad feeling.

And it was justified, but ultimately pointless.

"From my hand, I activate 'Dimension Fusion Destruction,'" Kira said coolly. "It can only be activated when you control all three Sacred Beasts.

Banish all three as fusion material to perform the ultimate fusion!" (Anime effect)

This card is much stronger in the real game—you can banish the Sacred Beasts from hand, field, or grave, and your opponent can't chain to its activation, similar to "Super Polymerization."

But in the anime, you must have all three on the field to fuse.

Just like now.

"Fusion of the three Sacred Beasts!?" Tragoedia was stunned.

They can fuse!?

"Uria, Lord of Searing Flames! Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder! Raviel, Lord of Phantasms!

Across endless ages, combine in ultimate form and descend!"

Kira raised his arm, the three Sacred Beasts swept into a vortex and merged into a trinity.

"Chaos Phantasm Armityle—Summon!"

The ultimate Sacred Beast, its body based on Raviel, Hamon as armor, and one arm as Uria's dragon head.

[Chaos Phantasm Armityle, ATK 0]

"ATK is 0?"

Most students were still shocked by the monster's overwhelming presence, but also wondered why such a terrifying monster had 0 ATK.

"ATK is zero!" Jaden exclaimed.

But unlike the others, he knew—any twelve-star, zero-ATK monster must have a powerful effect.

"It's over," Kira said. "Armityle, destroy 'The Supremacy Sun.'

This is the final blow."

Tragoedia was shocked. He didn't have time to wonder why a 0-ATK monster was attacking, knowing there must be a trick.

"Wait, you can't—'Threatening Roar' is active. This turn, you can't declare attacks!

And that's an effect on the player, so even if the Sacred Beast is immune to traps—"

"I know," Kira replied calmly. "But Armityle's effect is: once per turn, if your opponent controls a monster, inflict 10,000 battle damage to one of them. If they control none, inflict 10,000 battle damage directly to the player." (Anime effect)

Tragoedia froze for two seconds.

Not ATK increase, but direct 10,000 battle damage. Isn't that...!?

"That's right. Armityle doesn't need to declare an attack, just damage calculation," Kira explained.

In practice, it's like attacking with a 10,000 ATK monster.

Tragoedia: "..."

Numb. Completely numb.

What the hell kind of rule-breaking effect is this!?

"Your only monster is The Supremacy Sun, so it takes 10,000 battle damage," Kira said.

A strike that pierces dimensions!

Lightning wrapped around Armityle, gathering in Uria's dragon mouth, spitting hellfire entwined with Hamon's thunder, all unleashed as a mighty punch.

In the face of that power, The Supremacy Sun was utterly feeble, its body obliterated, crushed to dust.

"Roarrrrrrr!!!"

[Tragoedia, LP 3400 → LP 0]

Chapter 616: Chaos Phantasm Armityle

"The trinity of Sacred Beasts!?"

Chazz looked at the towering monster in the sky, a being between god and demon.

"So strong—too strong!"

Jaden couldn't help but exclaim.

"Kira, without anyone noticing, has gained such ridiculous power again."

He felt a little regret—seeing the gap between them growing.

But the feeling passed quickly. Jaden was not the jealous type; he was happy for his friends to get stronger. If he fell behind, he'd just work harder to catch up.

"Dealing 10,000 battle damage directly..."

Misawa, now a full-on researcher, looked complicated.

From a researcher's perspective, such unusual effects were headache-inducing.

In the official card game, Armityle's effect had to be changed. Instead of dealing battle damage directly, its effect became: "This card's ATK becomes 10,000 during your turn." That's similar to the anime, but loses a lot of its uniqueness.

"Damn... Damn it... What a joke..."

Defeated, Principal Mackenzie dropped to his knees, head bowed.

He tried to get up, struggling. His fingers twitched, his body trembled. But it was as if hundreds of times gravity pressed him down; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't rise.

Suddenly, he looked up and roared. Surging darkness erupted from his mouth, shooting skyward.

What a joke.

Tragoedia, enduring for ages, finally revived, held out until now—wasn't to be ended like this.

Such a humiliating duel—bragging and then losing a whole bar of LP to Hamon's thunder, The Supremacy Sun countered by Macro Cosmos, 6,000 LP burnt by Ring of Destruction, and finally destroyed by an absurd Armityle effect.

Worse, his true form was still in his hand—never even got to appear.

If only he'd taken some battle damage, he could have appeared and turned things around. But the opponent used a "-10,000" card from nowhere.

A card that deals 10,000 battle damage—did you print this yourself!?

If only, when The Supremacy Sun revived the last time, he'd put it in defense mode—he could have survived that turn.

No, if he'd known there'd be Sacred Beasts, and that they were immune to traps, he should have just passed turn one.

For some reason, the situation felt familiar.

He suddenly thought of 3,000 years ago, showing off before the priests, only to get his heart taken by Winged Kuriboh after screwing up...

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

"Roarrrrrr!!!"

It was as if all the venom and resentment of the monster exploded from Principal Mackenzie's eyes, mouth, and nose.

This was not ordinary darkness—darker than the night. It was as if the abyss had grown tentacles, writhing and twisting, carrying destruction and hate across 3,000 years.

The air felt solid, time stopped. A twisted monster formed from pure shadow, with evil red glows, claws like knives, fangs bared, maw like the abyss—ready to devour the world.

Tragoedia's true form—revealed!

Kira faced the sweeping storm, looking up at the titanic creature, letting the wind whip his coat.

Many students and teachers had never seen such a scene—they turned pale with fear.

"Mama mia!" Professor Crowler grabbed his head. "It's the end of the world—noné!"

But Kira was calm—or even smiled lightly.

"Looks like you're about to breathe your last," he said.

"I lost—lost in this era, this world—impossible!" Tragoedia roared. "This is not my fate! I will devour you all!"

The endless darkness spread out. Kira looked around; the environment vanished—the sea, dock, warehouse, island, and sky disappeared, leaving only darkness.

And in the darkness, he began to see chains.

Yes—chains, stretching across the space, reaching to the ends of the world.

As things grew clearer, he noticed the chains were binding people.

A quick glance showed hundreds or thousands, mostly strangers, but soon he spotted a familiar figure.

Kyoko Hibiki.

The former World Champion, famed for his HERO deck, now hung unconscious, arms suspended by chains like a drained puppet.

"I see," Kira understood. "These are all the people you devoured?"

Roars echoed in the darkness.

"KILL YOU!"

"KILL YOU!"

"Duel King! Stay here forever with me!!!"

Kira turned, calmly facing the twisted face in the darkness.

"Sorry, I've got a lot to do," Kira said flatly. "So I pass."

He paused, then called out.

"Armityle."

The darkness was instantly sliced apart.

Chaos Phantasm Armityle—though the duel was over, Kira's duel disk was still active, and Armityle's card sat quietly there.

In the next moment, the dark space was pierced through.

All the chains shattered at once. The demon's flames clashed with the darkness, two opposing rules colliding. Tragoedia lunged, but was consumed by Armityle's flames, dissolving like foam.

Its body faded with a wail, finally vanishing, leaving only unending resentment echoing through the void.

Chapter 617: The Power That Invites Chaos

Tragoedia vanished.

Just one round of combat—two of the world's top monsters clashing. The result was Tragoedia's utter defeat—almost laughably one-sided.

Armityle struck, and Tragoedia's domain collapsed, his body scattered.

But calling it a battle between "two top monsters" isn't fair. Tragoedia only had half his power—his heart wasn't even restored.

From a normal view, even heartless Tragoedia is a rare, powerful monster. But to the Sacred Beasts, he was like a cripple racing them in a wheelchair.

And Kira had done most of the work.

By defeating Tragoedia in a Shadow Duel, Tragoedia was left half-dead. Already in a bad state, facing the three-in-one Armityle—if that couldn't finish him, the Sacred Beasts might as well bury themselves.

Most students couldn't fully follow the duel.

They just saw a lobster-like demon so huge it dwarfed even the monsters from their childhood shows. Its aura was oppressive, inspiring instinctive terror.

But before they could process that fear, the Duel King just smacked it down like a mosquito.

Only then did many students realize—the Duel King isn't just a skilled duelist.

He truly possesses world-shaking power.

Kira put away his duel disk, Armityle's image vanished. As he examined the Sacred Beast cards, he paused and smiled.

"Thanks for your help, you three."

But there was no response.

Maybe the three Sacred Beasts thought themselves too lofty to speak.

Kira didn't mind—he smiled and put the cards away.

Chancellor Sheppard stared at the spot where Armityle had disappeared, somewhat absent-minded.

"Armityle... So the three Sacred Beasts can fuse?"

Even he, who was entrusted with their seal, didn't know.

In fact, even Chairman Kagemaru in the original didn't fuse them. In the anime, he only played Fallen Paradise—even that was strong enough.

The key cards for Sacred Beasts' system, including their fusion, were all revealed later by Yubel in the GX anime's second half. No one knew their full potential before.

Sheppard recalled the legend he heard when entrusted with the Sacred Beasts.

An unimaginable evil force, so powerful it had to be sealed. If released, it would plunge the world into chaos.

He remembered well—this was a power that must never be released. If freed, the world would fall into chaos.

But now, prophecy had not come true—the power had instead prevented chaos.

Sheppard watched Kira, now surrounded by cheering students, not knowing what to say.

"An incredible boy, isn't he, Chancellor?"

A voice spoke at his ear.

"Looks like our generation truly is over."

"Yes," Sheppard sighed.

"With Zane's changes, I started to wonder if I'm getting old."

"Maybe my methods are outdated. Maybe it really is a new era, and the youth can create a broader path in dueling—better than we ever could."

"Indeed," the man beside him said. "That's what they mean by 'the next generation is to be feared.' Fujiki Kira is not only an amazing duelist, but an unorthodox alchemist.

Whether in dueling or alchemy, he has the courage to move forward, an unrestrained, fearless spirit of exploration.

Though I never thought I'd say this, I believe he'll be a better alchemist than me."

"Hahaha, that's something to look forward to—wait, alchemist?"

Only then did Sheppard feel something was off. He turned, and saw Lyman, standing hands on hips, half-transparent like a ghost.

Sheppard's brain froze for two seconds.

Professor Lyman? But wasn't he already dead!?

Realizing that, the bald Chancellor's eyes widened and he cried out in terror.

"GHOST!!!"

Lyman: "..."

…

"The Supremacy Sun, Ebon Sun—a strategy built around infinite revival."

Back in his room, Kira lay on his bed, counting his spoils from the night.

A silver-haired girl sat at the head of the bed, carefully peeling an apple. With a flick of her finger, the knife moved on its own, slicing the fruit.

She flicked her finger again. Two forks floated up, each spearing an apple slice.

One floated to her mouth, one to Kira.

This was, of course, Silent, who'd come from the Spirit World to settle here. She was now wearing a school uniform—unless you looked closely, you'd never know she was a spirit.

"Weakness: vulnerable to non-destruction removal. Still, this deck is interesting."

Kira remembered in the manga, when Tragoedia used this deck, everyone was amazed—every card in it was unknown.

Tragoedia had bragged that the deck was a manifestation of his own power, unique in the world, symbolic of his destiny. Just as humans are fated to be 'insects,' his deck was the embodiment of his dominion.

Well, now that destiny clearly belongs to Kira.

Silent floated another apple slice to him, tilting her head and making a gesture.

"Yeah, I know. Tragoedia may be gone, but his forces aren't finished. The Planet series still has a few cards out there."

He paused, then smiled.

"But don't worry—it won't be long now."