Chapter 1311: Ahead of Synchro

"Nitro Warrior attacks the set monster!"

Nitro Warrior's rear thrusters blazed. The whole figure shot forward like a rocket and punched the set monster. The set monster flipped over, revealing a Rock warrior with a helipad on its head—exactly the same monster the Copy Yusei had used in the previous duel.

[Fortress Warrior, DEF 1200]

Nitro Warrior's heavy fist came crashing down. Fortress Warrior simply extended the helipad on its head like a shield. The fist slammed onto the "H"-marked rocky surface, causing cracks to spread with a rattling sound, but it stubbornly blocked the blow.

"Fortress Warrior cannot be destroyed by battle once per turn!" Yusei declared.

"As expected of the original. You really made the same choice as me," the Copy Yusei smiled slightly. "Then my turn ends."

Yusei: "My turn, draw!"

This opponent was not only extraordinary but extremely similar to himself. He definitely understood Yusei's tactics and thinking very well, making him quite difficult to deal with.

Yusei tightened his fist.

But during the gaps in the WRGP tournament, with the help of his new companions, he had already comprehended a new power. He would never back down in this duel.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Hand Destruction'!" Yusei declared. "Both players send two cards from their hands to the graveyard, then each draw two cards!"

Both sides selected cards to send to the graveyard, then drew new ones.

"Also, the card I just discarded was the Spell 'Card of Compensation'," Yusei said. "When this card is sent from the hand to the graveyard, I draw two more cards from my deck."

Yusei glanced at the cards he drew, then looked up with firm resolve.

"I don't know why you say I will fail, but you're right about one thing—I firmly believe the future is in my own hands. If you say my future leads to tragedy, then I'll use these hands and the power of my comrades to twist that future and show you!

I summon 'Junk Synchron'!"

The classic orange little warrior appeared on the field and pushed up his large goggles.

[Junk Synchron, ATK 1300]

"Junk Synchron's effect: When successfully summoned, Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from the graveyard in Defense Position with its effects negated."

Yusei revealed a card from his graveyard.

"I Special Summon 'Cosmic Compass' from the graveyard!"

[Cosmic Compass, ATK 100]

A small pendulum appeared on the field, swinging left and right.

"Then the effect of 'Doppelwarrior' in my hand. When a monster is Special Summoned from the graveyard to my field, Doppelwarrior can be Special Summoned from the hand.

Come forth, Doppelwarrior!"

The black-clothed warrior jumped onto the field, wearing red goggles and holding a black submachine gun.

[Doppelwarrior, ATK 800]

"Level 3 Tuner 'Junk Synchron'! Level 2 'Fortress Warrior'! Level 2 'Doppelwarrior'! Level 1 'Cosmic Compass'! Tuning!"

[3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 8]

"The gathered prayers become a new shining star, becoming a shining road! Synchro Summon—

Fly, Stardust Dragon!!!"

The tuning rings connected into a straight line. Countless star fragments flowed upward from the ground toward the sky. The center of the ring became a starlight avenue. Translucent silver dragon scales flowed like the Milky Way. When the last wing membrane unfolded, the dragon's pupils suddenly lit up with incandescent light. Inside those eyes, rotating nebula vortices could be seen. When it roared at the sky, it sprayed out a star-dust torrent.

[Stardust Dragon, ATK 2500]

Copy Yusei: "You brought it out so quickly, Stardust. A companion who fought alongside me countless times… how nostalgic. But Stardust Dragon's ATK can't defeat Nitro Warrior…"

He paused, then changed his tone.

"Well, although I wanted to say that, you wouldn't summon Stardust without a plan. So you already have a countermeasure, right?"

The opponent seemed to have read his move again, making Yusei feel slightly uneasy. But he continued: "Doppelwarrior's effect: When this card is sent to the graveyard as Synchro Material, I can Special Summon two 'Doppel Tokens' in Attack Position on my field."

Two tiny tokens jumped onto the field. They only reached knee height, but they had cheeky grins and held guns.

[Doppel Token, ATK 400] ×2

"Then I activate the set Trap 'Synchro Strike'!

The Synchro Summoned monster gains 500 ATK × the number of Synchro Materials used until the end of the turn!"

Yusei pointed at Stardust Dragon.

"I used four monsters as Synchro Materials for Stardust Dragon: Junk Synchron, Fortress Warrior, Cosmic Compass, and Doppelwarrior. Therefore, Stardust Dragon gains 2000 ATK!"

The four monsters used as materials appeared above the Trap card, their translucent images burning. Then the four burning silhouettes poured into Stardust Dragon. Stardust Dragon's body seemed to ignite with silver-white flames, and even its size seemed to expand.

[Stardust Dragon, ATK 2500 → ATK 4500]

Stardust Dragon, 4500 ATK!

Yusei declared: "Stardust Dragon attacks 'Nitro Warrior'!

Shooting Sonic!!!"

Stardust Dragon raised its long neck. A supernova-like burst of light flared deep in its throat. When it opened its jaws, what poured out was not ordinary dragon breath but a highly compressed star-dust torrent. Nitro Warrior's composite armor shattered the instant it touched the beam. Sparks spread madly along every tube beneath the armor. The nitrogen stored inside the warrior reached critical point in a ten-thousandth of a second and exploded into a blinding blue-white sphere.

[Copy Yusei, LP 4000 → LP 2300]

"Not over yet!" Yusei said. "Next, the two Doppel Tokens attack—"

He paused for a moment, his expression slightly complicated, but continued.

"Direct attack on the other me!"

The two Doppel Tokens charged together, one left and one right, showing some coordination. They pulled the triggers in unison. Bright fire snakes sprayed from the muzzles, sweeping across the opponent's Duel Runner with a rattling sound.

[Copy Yusei, LP 2300 → LP 1500]

"Set one card. Turn end.

Also, during the End Phase, the effect of Trap 'Synchro Strike' ends, so Stardust Dragon's ATK returns to normal."

[Stardust Dragon, ATK 4500 → ATK 2500]

The final set card marked the complete end of Yusei's offensive this turn. He then said: "How about it? Do you still think my power and the bonds of our 5DS team cannot stand against the threats to come?"

Copy Yusei closed his eyes lightly to endure the impact, then slowly opened them. "Ah, yes. I didn't see anything that could change my mind."

Yusei: "Nani?"

"You recently gained new power, right? You probably think you've touched a new realm of Synchro evolution. But unfortunately, what you think is evolution is only the beginning."

Copy Yusei said calmly.

"Let me show you, Yusei Fudo—the true future that lies ahead of Synchro!"

…