Chapter 1310: Yusei VS Yusei

Two crimson Duel Runners sped along the elevated highway like mirror images. The roar of their engines overlapped perfectly. Yusei Fudo and his other self leaned forward in identical postures, their eyes equally sharp beneath their red helmets.

Every inch of tire contact with the road was identical. The particles from their exhaust pipes drew two parallel bands of light in the night. When both bikes leaned into the curve at the same time, even the subtle deformation of the metal frames under centrifugal force was exactly the same. It was as if time and space had produced a perfect replica.

Yusei felt something very strange right now.

It really was like looking at another version of himself. Not just the Duel Runner, appearance, or even riding habits and cornering angles—they were completely identical.

More importantly, it was the aura.

That part was harder to describe, but it was the unique presence that only a duelist possessed. From this other self in front of him, he could feel the exact same thing as himself.

"Who exactly are you people, and what do you want?" Yusei asked.

"Nothing much. Just preventing your failure and stopping this world from repeating the same mistakes," the Copy Yusei said indifferently.

Yusei: "What?"

"Talking is pointless. Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. And even if you did believe me, you wouldn't stop. Because I know you, Yusei Fudo. I am you."

The Copy Yusei turned to look at the road ahead. The lights of the elevated highway reflected off his helmet visor.

"Neither of us is the type to give up easily. Even if someone told you the predetermined future, you would still believe in changing it with your own power. That's the kind of person you are."

Yusei's eyes flickered. "You…"

Although the other party's words confused him more and more, Yusei at least knew the opponent truly understood him. He really was that kind of person—someone who didn't believe in fate and would never sit and wait for death. No matter the difficulty, he would believe in hope and use his own power, along with the bonds with his comrades, to bring about change.

"So I said, talking is meaningless."

The Copy Yusei spoke calmly and pressed a button on his Duel Runner's duel disk.

"Duel Mode activated."

Both Duel Runners emitted the same prompt sound. A transparent field expanded centered on each Duel Runner, covering both riders at high speed. Constrained by duel speed, both bikes automatically slowed and maintained the same velocity as they raced along the road.

The duel disks on both Duel Runners automatically shuffled their decks and popped out five cards from the top.

The Copy Yusei drew the five cards. "If you have something to say, convey it to me through a duel. If there's one thing I've learned from countless battles, it's that the voices of the weak mean nothing.

If you want to convey something, only the power of a duel can make people hear it. Only the power of a duel can make it stick."

Yusei gritted his teeth. He knew this duel was unavoidable, so he also drew his five cards.

"Turbo Duel, Acceleration!" ×2

[Yusei, LP 4000]

[Copy Yusei, LP 4000]

Yusei floored the accelerator. His Duel Runner shot forward at full speed.

The engine roared near its limit, the tachometer needle slamming into the red zone. Yusei pressed his body flat against the Duel Runner. When he was still three car lengths from the first curve, he suddenly twisted the throttle to the bottom. The rear wheel spun half a turn on the asphalt, leaving two black scorch marks.

The overworked particle engine spewed blue-purple flames. The entire Duel Runner felt as if pushed by an invisible giant hand. The front wheel grazed the guardrail at the apex, throwing off orange sparks from metal and composite materials. Yusei felt burning heat on his left knee pad. In the rearview mirror, the opponent's headlight had already closed two-thirds of a car length.

Although their riding was identical, Yusei still edged out the first corner with a tiny advantage and barely took the first turn.

"I'll go first! Draw!"

Yusei drew for his turn.

"Set one monster in Defense Position."

A set monster appeared on Yusei's field.

"Then set one card. Turn end."

Copy Yusei: "My turn, draw."

He glanced at Yusei's set monster, then drew two cards in one breath. One went to the graveyard, the other was played directly.

"Effect of 'Quickdraw Synchron' in my hand: by discarding a monster card from my hand, I can Special Summon it.

I discard 'Quillbolt Hedgehog' from my hand to Special Summon 'Quickdraw Synchron'."

A vortex of starlight bloomed. Before the monster even fully appeared, two revolver shots rang out. A cool little mechanical gunslinger wearing a western cowboy mask and hat had already stylishly arrived on the field.

Sure enough, the opponent's deck was the same as his. The moment Yusei saw the combination, he immediately understood the upcoming play.

"Quickdraw Synchron and Quillbolt Hedgehog… this setup…" Yusei thought, "Nitro Warrior!"

As expected, the opponent continued: "When there is a Tuner monster on my field, Quillbolt Hedgehog in the graveyard can be Special Summoned.

Special Summon 'Quillbolt Hedgehog'!"

A little yellow hedgehog covered in metal screws jumped onto the field.

[Quillbolt Hedgehog, ATK 800]

"Then the effect of Quickdraw Synchron: this card can be treated as any Tuner monster whose name contains 'Synchron' for the Synchro Summon of a Synchro Monster that normally requires a specific Synchron Tuner."

Copy Yusei declared.

"I treat 'Quickdraw Synchron' as 'Nitro Synchron'!"

A ring of circles appeared in front of Quickdraw Synchron. Various Synchron monsters spun rapidly around the ring like a lottery wheel.

Quickdraw Synchron drew its gun like a showdown between cowboys and fired a precise shot, hitting "Nitro Synchron" on the spinning wheel.

"Level 5 Tuner 'Quickdraw Synchron', Level 2 'Quillbolt Hedgehog', Tuning!"

[5 + 2 = 7]

"The gathered thoughts become the power of new life, becoming a shining road! Synchro Summon—

Burn, Nitro Warrior!"

A star-dust vortex suddenly cracked open in the sky. The tuning rings shook violently in the energy storm. The stars connected into a straight line, and all the starlight converged into a straight beam that slammed into the ground.

Green metal armor materialized from the bottom of the light pillar. The first to form was the giant oval tail filled with liquid nitrogen. Nitro Warrior's torso appeared segment by segment as if hammered by an invisible blacksmith. High-pressure cold mist sprayed from the shoulder armor seams. The giant green steel fist fully coalesced. The elbow thrusters suddenly erupted with cyan-white flames, completely blowing away the remaining star-dust glow.

[Nitro Warrior, ATK 2800]

"Battle!" Copy Yusei did not hesitate.

"Nitro Warrior attacks the set monster!"

…