Chapter 305: Recognition

Wan Wan Zhangmu carefully examined his hand cards.

He had four cards in his hand.

Although he had already expended many monsters, his hand remained plentiful due to the powerful self-sacrifice ability of the disruptive low-tier monsters.

But…

Using cards from his hand to defeat his Master was not feasible.

"Activate the Magic Card—Wan Bao Hammer!" Wan Wan Zhangmu pulled out an extremely powerful card.

If Tenjo Hikari were here, he would surely exclaim, "No way—it's the anime version of Wan Bao Hammer!"

"This card allows you to return all cards in your hand, including this one, to your deck, then draw the same number of cards—"

That's right—

Wan Bao Hammer in Wan Wan Zhangmu's hand is a super-cycling card that automatically returns to the deck without wasting hand cards!

He simultaneously sent all four cards in his hand, including Wan Bao Hammer, into his deck, then the deck shuffled automatically.

Roar—

A voice sounded in his ear, and a black-and-white great dragon appeared in his hand.

He couldn't help but feel warmth in his heart.

Dragon of Light and Darkness, you've come.

He glanced at his hand cards.

Too bad.

His hand didn't support summoning the Dragon of Light and Darkness, but seeing these companions he'd grown up with gathered in his hand lifted his spirits considerably.

Then—

Armored Dragon, thank you for always standing by me!

Today, use your power to defeat my Master!

"Discard Armored Dragon LV3 from my hand to activate this card's effect! Special summon directly from my hand!"

Wan Wan Zhangmu flipped over a card crackling with lightning and storm, showing it to Kaiba: "Pile Driver Armored Dragon!"

Buzzzz—

An Armored Dragon appeared on the field; a massive machine was attached to its right claw, then the drill-filled device began spinning wildly.

Pile Driver Armored Dragon, Level 7, Wind Attribute, Dragon Type, ATK 2800.

"Oh? A new Armored Dragon?" Kaiba Rensei had never seen Wan Wan Zhangmu use this card; upon seeing it, he nodded slightly.

"That's right—this is a card even my Master has never seen! It's the power granted to me by Armored Dragon!" Wan Wan Zhangmu punched forward, "Pile Driver Armored Dragon's effect! Send from your hand or deck any 【Armored Dragon】 monster except Pile Driver Armored Dragon to the graveyard, then target one monster on your field!

This turn, you can only attack with that targeted monster, and its ATK increases by 300 points for each monster sent to the graveyard!"

"I send Armored Dragon LV10 from my deck to the graveyard!"

"Thus, Pile Driver Armored Dragon's ATK increases by 3000 points!"

"Aaaah!!!"

Armored Dragon LV10 was sent from the deck to the graveyard; simultaneously, Pile Driver Armored Dragon spun its right claw's drill furiously, roaring triumphantly.

Pile Driver Armored Dragon, ATK: 2800 → 5800.

Far exceeding XYZ-Extreme Divine Dragon Cannon, even surpassing Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!

Kaiba Rensei nodded slightly.

Not bad.

"Battle!!" Wan Wan Zhangmu clenched his fist, "Use Pile Driver Armored Dragon to attack XYZ-Extreme Divine Dragon Cannon!"

Buzzzz—

The drill pressed down on the robot; even Extreme Divine Dragon Cannon, with its powerful effect that destroys cards during the opponent's turn, could only defend helplessly against this assault.

Yet the drill pressed down relentlessly, drilling cracks into its body until its frame began to disintegrate and collapse—

Boom!

Exploded!

Shattered mechanical parts flew everywhere, striking Kaiba Rensei and reducing his life points.

Kaiba Rensei, LP: 4000 → 1200.

"Yes!"

Wan Wan Zhangmu excitedly clenched his fist.

"This is the power of the dragon with the strongest armor, Master!"

There's hope!

He rejoiced inwardly.

He glanced to the side.

His face-down card was the Continuous Trap Card, Cry of the Living Dead.

Too bad XYZ-Extreme Divine Dragon Cannon cannot be special summoned from the graveyard; otherwise, he could have won this turn. But with this card, even if his Master destroyed Armored Dragon, he could revive it again—whether for defense or offense, he still had a chance!

"I end my turn—"

Pile Driver Armored Dragon, ATK: 5800 → 2800.

"Jun, didn't you forget something?"

"Huh?"

"At the end of your turn, this card's effect activates!"

!?

Wan Wan Zhangmu's eyes widened.

Card effect?

What's going on? What card?

Kaiba opened his graveyard and pulled out a 1-star monster card.

It was the card discarded to activate Extreme Divine Dragon Cannon!

"Ancient White Stone, when sent to the graveyard during its turn, can special summon one Blue-Eyes monster from the deck."

Blue-Eyes Bai Long!

Damn it!

My Master hasn't used Blue-Eyes yet!

"I special summon, White Spirit Dragon."

What is that?!

Amid Wan Wan Zhangmu's confusion, a pure white dragon, slightly slimmer than Blue-Eyes Bai Long, appeared on Kaiba's field.

White Spirit Dragon, Level 8, Light Attribute, Dragon Type, ATK 2500.

"By rule, this card is treated as a 【Blue-Eyes】 card."

"When special summoned, it can target one Magic or Trap Card on your opponent's field and banish it!"

"Ah—"

Wan Wan Zhangmu helplessly watched his Cry of the Living Dead being banished.

"My turn, draw." Kaiba Rensei drew a card from his deck and revealed it, "I reveal Blue-Eyes Bai Long—this card can be special summoned from my hand.

Come forth, my new servant—

Blue-Eyes Alternate Bai Long!"

Alternate Bai Long!!!

Wan Wan Zhangmu was stunned.

This card—his Master used it before, in the S Dimension!

Blue-Eyes Alternate Bai Long, Level 8, Light Attribute, Dragon Type, ATK 3000.

"While Alternate Bai Long is on the field, its name is treated as Blue-Eyes Bai Long. Once per turn, it can destroy one monster on your field."

"Alternate Bai Long, crush that so-called dragon with the strongest armor!"

Alternate Bai Long inhaled deeply, then unleashed a torrent of searing heat that obliterated Pile Driver Armored Dragon, which tried to block it.

"But Alternate Bai Long cannot attack after activating this effect!" Wan Wan Zhangmu shouted, shielding his eyes with his hand.

He still had a chance!

"Hah… good. That's more like it." Seeing his student refuse to give up even now, Kaiba Rensei nodded approvingly.

He glanced at his hand.

"Then, I shall grant you, as my student, the most glorious honor."

"Huh?"

"Watch closely, Jun—this is a spectacle no one else will ever see!"

"Activate the Magic Card—Fusion!"

"Fusion together Blue-Eyes Alternate Bai Long on the field and Blue-Eyes Bai Long in my hand."

"Two?!?!" Wan Wan Zhangmu's mouth gaped open.

Blue-Eyes fusion isn't supposed to be three Blue-Eyes White Dragons forming Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon?!

"That's right—fuse two Blue-Eyes White Dragons!

Ah, Blue-Eyes, I feel your joy!

Come forth—

"My most loyal servant!"

"Blue-Eyes Double Burst Dragon!"

Tching-ching—

Slowly, pure white wings unfurled, blue streams of light shimmering within the hot spring. Its holy radiance pierced through layer upon layer of mist, even in this peculiar, fog-shrouded spring, evoking a sense of grandeur and purity.

To Wan Wan Zhangmu's stunned gaze, a two-headed Blue-Eyes Bai Long slowly appeared on the field!

Blue-Eyes Double Burst Dragon, Level 10, Light Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 3000.

Now the ATK is sufficient.

"White Spirit Dragon, direct attack—"

"Wahhh—"

Wan Wan Zhangmu, LP: 3400 → 900.

"Next, Blue-Eyes Double Burst Dragon, direct attack!"

"Eh? Eh? Eh? Wait, Master—" Wan Wan Zhangmu didn't want to be directly smashed by the Double Burst Dragon.

But it was already too late!

The Double Burst Dragon sliced through the air, slamming into Wan Wan Zhangmu and sending him flying. With a loud "Boom!" he crashed into the hot spring, leaving only his badge and Duel Disk on the ground, clattering with a "Peng Leng" sound.

"Puh, cough, cough, cough—" Wan Wan Zhangmu slumped in the hot spring, looking up at Kaiba. "Master."

"Hmph. Mediocre." He walked over to Wan Wan Zhangmu, bent down, picked up the badge, stamped it, and casually tossed it back to him.

"Master!" Wan Wan Zhangmu forgot he was soaked through, leapt up in the hot spring, caught the badge, and shouted excitedly.

After all these years, he had finally received Kaiba Ryo's direct approval!

"What is your goal?"

Kaiba asked this abruptly.

Wan Wan Zhangmu paused, then burst into a grin, staring firmly at Kaiba: "Champion!"

As he spoke, he stepped out of the hot spring.

"Hah. Now that's more like it." As he spoke, Kaiba picked up Wan Wan Zhangmu's Duel Disk, reached into his coat, pulled out several cards, and inserted them into Wan Wan Zhangmu's deck.

"Go challenge higher, more beautiful horizons, Jun."

"Yes!"

(End of Chapter)