Chapter 914: Trap Core

"Forced end effect: Battle Phase ends!"

The metal skeleton on Antinomy’s field shattered into golden specks and was absorbed by his back-row traps, immediately releasing an invisible wave. A powerful vortex of force erupted across the entire field, like an invisible hundredfold gravity, rendering all monsters motionless.

Both players’ screens simultaneously forced a switch to "Main Phase 2."

"You even dodged that move," You Xuan clapped in praise. "Truly impressive. I think even my Dimension’s Supreme King would acknowledge your strength."

Antinomy said nothing, but his heart churned with turmoil.

Close call.

One moment of disagreement and suddenly this pseudo-infinite loop: Self-Closed representing Cotton Candy plus these three even more self-closed Continuous Traps—this lineup is designed to instantly obliterate you with zero warning.

Just a second ago I held absolute advantage, certain of victory, then I stepped carelessly into a chain trap and was instantly doomed.

Antinomy had never met the "Supreme" You Xuan mentioned, nor did he know who it referred to. But even just from this combo, Antinomy faintly sensed the terrifying dueling style of that Supreme.

Probably no more humane than the one standing before me.

Is this the hallmark of their dimension?

Doubt surfaced in Antinomy’s mind.

Is this why their dimension keeps producing Kings? Is self-closure truly the correct path of dueling?

Of course, such thoughts flashed only for an instant.

After all, Antinomy was already a master who had entered the King’s Path. He had mastered the supreme Mirror Stillness state and the Triangle Accelerated Synchro power—among the strongest in his own future era.

A master who has walked such a "Path" does not easily abandon his own style or follow another’s road. Other Kings’ paths may offer him insight and inspiration, but never cause him to change his own.

"Regardless, I will uphold my own dueling, forging a new path with my own strength!"

Antinomy said.

"Turn end."

Antinomy took a deep breath.

That combo was indeed perilous, but the fact that his opponent’s Life Points were down to 300 hadn’t changed. On the field, his opponent had only Cotton Candy, while Antinomy still had his powerful Blade Lancer and his Guard ability.

He still held absolute advantage.

You Xuan: "My turn, draw."

Antinomy glanced sideways at You Xuan, secretly harboring a flicker of anticipation.

Come on, Duel King!

In this absolute disadvantage, how will you counter my Blade Lancer?

After drawing, You Xuan did not act immediately, but spoke slowly: "You probably think my deck relies entirely on traps, winning by setting traps and blocking with them, right?"

Antinomy remained silent.

He said nothing, but that was indeed what he thought.

From the first turn, You Xuan never summoned a monster—only face-down cards and traps. The large monster "Dark Dragon, God of Judgment" could only be special summoned after a counter-trap activated, making it a monster specifically designed to work with traps, further confirming Antinomy’s judgment of his "trap deck."

"That’s not wrong, but the core of this deck isn’t traps at all. Or rather, the traps were all just setup for this guy’s appearance," You Xuan said.

Antinomy: "!"

Has the entire duel so far just been setup?

He instantly sensed something extraordinary was about to emerge.

"Antinomy, you are strong. I truly feel the power of a future King. Precisely because of that, you are the only duelist worthy of this creature’s power."

You Xuan floored the throttle; his D-Rider surged forward, and in that instant, both tires seemed to burst into flames, the entire speeding motorcycle engulfed in fire as it raced forward.

"This card cannot be Normal Summoned. Its summoning condition requires sending three traps from your field to the graveyard."

"I send 'Ride Along,' 'Dimensional Mirage,' and 'Dimensional Sphinx'—three traps—to the graveyard!"

The Eternal Furnace roared, blazing hellfire pierced heaven and earth, sounding the requiem of the Illusion Demons! Awaken—

—Divine Flame Emperor, Uria!!!"

The void dome seemed to collapse into a crimson vortex; magma-like energy erupted from the depths of the void, as if dragging the entire track into a boiling hell. The ground cracked into a spiderweb of crimson-gold fissures; sulfurous hurricanes howled upward.

A hundred-meter-long crimson dragon slithered out from the void vortex; every scale resembled forged black iron, repeatedly tempered into armor, with liquid flames flowing between overlapping scales. Sharp volcanic spines rose along its spine, and its entire body pulsed with blinding radiant light with each breath.

Divine Flame Emperor, Uria, descends!

【Divine Flame Emperor, Uria, ATK?】

The illusion demon’s pressure surpassed conventional monster levels—a divine, overwhelming force swept across the field.

Antinomy faced an illusion demon for the first time; as he looked up at the colossal red dragon in midair, even his artificial heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

"The legendary illusion demon that brought chaos to the world—this is the Divine Flame Emperor."

You Xuan said: "Divine Flame Emperor, Uria’s ATK becomes equal to the number of trap cards in your graveyard multiplied by 1000."

Antinomy: "What?!"

Trap count × 1000

No wonder he said this was the core of his trap deck, no wonder he said the previous traps were just setup.

This illusion demon’s effect naturally belongs in a deck packed with traps—while using traps to immobilize the opponent, you also draw power from the accumulated traps themselves.

This illusion demon is literally born to be a trap saint!

"So far, my graveyard contains 'Universal Mine—Cutlass Type,' 'Trap Interference Array,' 'Damage Capacitor,' 'Ride Along,' 'Dimensional Mirage,' and 'Dimensional Sphinx'—a total of six traps.

Therefore, Divine Flame Emperor, Uria’s ATK rises!"

【Divine Flame Emperor, Uria, ATK? → ATK 6000】

"ATK 6000?!"

Antinomy began to lose his composure.

"Not yet," You Xuan said. "Divine Flame Emperor, Uria’s effect activates!"

"Trap Destruction!"

Divine Flame Emperor roared; a transparent sonic wave surged toward Antinomy’s back row.

"Divine Flame Emperor, Uria can destroy all trap cards on your field!"

Antinomy’s expression changed again.

All traps—face-up or face-down—would be destroyed. That meant his invincible "Forced End" this turn could no longer protect him.

All traps destroyed!

(End of Chapter)