Chapter 1097

"Fate Hero?"

IV frowned.

Another deck I've never seen before—does this dimension have its own unique style?

But it doesn't matter; no matter what it is, I feel no fear.

"My turn, draw a card!"

IV said.

"Since you're so eager to see, let me show you—our Xyz Dimension professional duelists' grand fan service!"

Aide frowned: "Xyz Dimension?"

IV: "Activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Hand Break Kill'!

Both players send two cards from their hands to the graveyard, then draw two cards from their decks."

Although Xyz and Fusion Dimensions differ in summoning methods, and their duel histories developed separately, each has many unique decks exclusive to their dimension. But after all, it's impossible for all cards in both dimensions to be completely different.

Before the Xyz Dimension entered the Xyz Era, the early stages of dueling might actually have been similar to this side.

From the plot of Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL where Yuya trains in the Dueling Hermitage, we can see that the Xyz Dimension also has entities like "Dark Magician" and "Blue-Eyes White Dragon," so in the early stages of dueling inception, the histories of the two dimensions might have been consistent.

Aide and IV each selected two cards from their hands and sent them to the graveyard.

"Then I activate the effect of 'Mechanical Marionette · Necro Doll' from the graveyard!" IV shouted, "When 'Necro Doll' exists in the graveyard, banish one 'Mechanical Marionette' monster from your graveyard, then Special Summon this card!"

He revealed another Mechanical Marionette just sent to the graveyard.

"I banish 'Mechanical Marionette - Night Clown' from the graveyard and Special Summon 'Mechanical Marionette · Necro Doll'!"

The ground suddenly cracked with spiderweb-like fissures, as rotten pine coffins, shrouded in grave soil and reeking of decay, burst forth from the earth. The coffin lids emitted a grating splintering sound, and five joints wrapped in suturing thread had pale fingers that violently pierced the wood. Accompanied by flying wood shavings, the blond doll sat up slowly in an eerie right-angle pose, the winding of its spring mechanism producing a click-clack sound mixed with the viscous echo of dripping corruption.

Her porcelain-white cheeks were utterly bloodless, like a ghost's, her forehead wrapped in bloodstained bandages, making her look like a cursed doll from a horror film.

【Mechanical Marionette · Necro Doll, DEF 0】

"Level 8 but both ATK and DEF are 0?" Aide found this monster strange.

Moreover, this eerie art style—is this really the opponent's deck?

"Then, when the opponent has a monster on the field and you only have 'Mechanical Marionette' monsters on your field, this card can be Special Summoned from your hand!"

IV revealed another card from his hand.

"Special Summon 'Mechanical Marionette · Magnetic Doll'!"

Blue arcs of electricity danced across his field, as if an invisible magnetic force were pulling a sinister little doll onto the field.

【Mechanical Marionette · Magnetic Doll, ATK 1000】

"Another Level 8 monster summoned" Aide frowned. This time, the Level 8 monster had ATK only 1000.

Clearly a high-level monster, yet its ATK and DEF are very low—such monsters were extremely rare in the GX era. Because during this period, duel monster R&D focused on high-level monsters having powerful effects and ATK, making them endgame material. If an eight-star monster's only effect was being easily summonable but lacking ATK or offensive capabilities, it would be considered junk.

Therefore, no card designer would pursue such an effect design.

But the Xyz Dimension is different. To summon a Rank 8 Xyz Monster, you must have two Level 8 monsters as materials, so easily summonable Level 8 monsters began to have market demand, naturally leading people to develop high-level monsters with no ATK, no skills, whose sole specialty is being quickly Special Summoned.

This is determined by the summoning method—a major divergence in R&D philosophy between the two dimensions.

"Overlay 'Mechanical Marionette · Magnetic Doll' and 'Mechanical Marionette · Necro Doll'!" IV roared, "Build an overlay network with two monsters, Xyz Summon!

Appear, NO. 15! Messenger from Hell, Marionette of the Threads of Fate—

NO. 15 Mechanical Marionette – Giant Killer!!!"

The air seemed to solidify, "NO. 15" runes burning into visibility in the void, their edges dripping with tar-like black substance. The numbers exploded, space tore like a curtain, revealing a black giant seated beyond. It stood three stories tall, frozen in midair in an eerie levitating pose, its limbs unnaturally bent, as if suspended by countless invisible strings.

The Giant Killer's steel body resembled tar burned by fire, glowing with a viscous sheen under moonlight. Its hollow eye sockets held two immobile glass eyeballs, its stiff mouth locked in an uncomfortable expression. A horrifying vast cavity marred its chest, like the scar left after the heart was ripped out.

【NO. 15 Mechanical Marionette · Giant Killer, ATK 1500】

"NO.!" Aide exclaimed in surprise, "Xyz Summon. You really are from another dimension, aren't you?"

Though he had never seen NO. directly, through internal Hanon Knight communications he had already heard rumors of Xyz and NO., knowing that the possible existence of another dimension might harbor ill will toward their own.

Still, he hadn't expected it to appear so suddenly before him.

"Hahaha exactly! You lot, these otherworlders without NO., tremble before the power of NO.!" IV laughed, "I activate the Equip Spell 'Mechanical Shield'!

This card can only be equipped to Xyz Monsters with 'Mechanical Marionette' in their name, swapping the ATK and DEF of the equipped Xyz Monster!" (Original card)

In the anime, Mechanical Marionette-exclusive, never physically released as a real card, this original card can be said to be the best partner for low-ATK high-DEF monsters like Giant Killer.

【NO. 15 Mechanical Marionette · Giant Killer, ATK 1500 → ATK 2500】

"Activate the second effect of 'Mechanical Shield'!" IV revealed a grotesque grin, "Once per turn, inflict damage equal to the opponent's equipped monster's Xyz material count × 300!"

As he spoke, his smile grew increasingly deranged, his facial muscles twisted to near the limit of human capability.

Commonly called "face art."

"Giant Killer's Xyz materials are two, so take 600 damage first as an appetizer!"

Blast after blast erupted, continuously bombarding Aide's field. Aide raised his arm to shield his face, the explosion's wind tossing his silver bangs.

【Aide, LP 4000 → LP 3400】

"Now let's battle!" IV shouted, "Attack with Giant Killer against 'Fate Hero · Diamond Person'!

Despair Cannon!!!"

The Giant Killer's chest cannon extended, spinning laser light blasting forth in one explosive shot. The rotating golden cannonball trailed black smoke, one blast shattering the Diamond Hero into fragments, sparkling diamond shards scattering wildly through the dust.

"Hey, heroes or whatever look just like this." IV sneered, "Turn end."