Chapter 968: Unexpected Opponent

"Rush Duel, accelerate!"

Although You Xuan removed the restriction requiring the use of "High Speed World" in mounted duels, certain practical pursuit mechanics of mounted duels were still retained.

Just as it was shown at the start of the 5D’s anime—when Budongyouxing tried to flee on his D-Rider, the Duel Pursuit Officer Niuwei Zhe activated the Field Spell "High Speed World," forcibly dragging You Xing into the High Speed Field and forcing him to duel.

If you lose the duel, you cannot escape from your pursuer—that is the fundamental principle of mounted duels. The D-Rider of the defeated side has its perpetual engine forcibly shut down, allowing the pursuer to escape.

Both parties were dragged into the mounted duel, forcing the D-Rider that had been fleeing ahead to slow down. You Xuan’s D-Rider pursued from behind, both maintaining a set distance as they entered duel mode.

Entering duel mode not only restricted their speed but also automatically displayed on the front-mounted duel screen both duelists’ life points, field conditions, and their faces captured by the front-mounted cameras of their respective D-Riders.

This was only natural and an essential function of D-Rider duels. Unlike traditional standing duels, duelists in a Rush Duel may be far apart, and their speeds are generally very high during movement—the roaring wind drowning out any voice explaining actions or card effects.

Therefore, communication in Rush Duels occurs entirely through the communication system. Each duelist’s image is transmitted to the opponent via the front-mounted camera, and voice signals are exchanged through the built-in helmet communication system. These are basic equipment required for any D-Rider; without them, neither side could hear each other, making dueling impossible.

The opponent had not intentionally concealed his face—only because the interior of the tower had been too dark and he had only seen the back, You Xuan had only now clearly seen his appearance.

It really was someone he knew.

"You're... Breau from the Unicorn Team?" You Xuan exclaimed. "What are you investigating about Taiyi and me?"

The man had golden hair, a unicorn-horn decoration on his D-Rider helmet, and a similar horn on the front of his D-Rider—he was one of the members of the Unicorn Team You Xuan had faced in the W-RGP and the 5D’s preliminary qualifiers, named Breau.

But in You Xuan’s memory, although the Unicorn Team’s duel skill ranked among the highest in all of 5D’s, these three were merely ordinary professional duelists—strong in ability, yet completely human, untouched by the supernatural, conspiracies, or dark forces, with no connection to the main plot of world destruction.

Why would such a person be here? And why was he interested in You Xuan?

"Tch. Though avoiding conflict would be best, since you caught up so fast, I’ll humor you with a duel."

Breau of the Unicorn Team smiled confidently.

"The officer who swept through three opponents in his first W-RGP match—let me test how much real strength you have."

"Duel!"

【You Xuan, LP 4000】

【Breau, LP 4000】

"I go first—draw!"

Breau drew his opening card.

"Summon the Tuner monster 'Two-Horned Beast' in defense position!"

Stars exploded—on Breau’s side appeared a lion-like creature with messy red fur, a golden body marked with black lines, and twin horns as its most prominent feature.

【Two-Horned Beast, DEF 1600】

Clearly, the entire Unicorn Team had a fondness for the "horn" motif—not only did their helmets and D-Riders bear horn decorations, but most of their monsters were horned species.

The real-card version of Two-Horned Beast was changed into an ordinary effect monster, but in the original anime, it was a Tuner.

Breau: "And I’ll set one card face-down. End my turn!"

"My turn, draw."

You Xuan drew, then casually summoned a monster.

"Summon 'Iron Knight Gia-Fried'!"

A classic old monster, the black-armored Iron Knight swung his sword through a swirling vortex of light, his feet hovering as he advanced with the D-Rider. 【Iron Knight Gia-Fried, ATK 1800】

"Then I’ll take the liberty of attacking directly," You Xuan said. "Go, Iron Knight Gia-Fried—attack 'Two-Horned Beast'!"

The Iron Knight lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air. Just as the blade neared Two-Horned Beast, Breau countered immediately.

"Activate the set card—Counter Trap 'Attack Nullification'! When an opponent’s monster declares an attack, negate that attack and force an end to the Battle Phase!"

The Iron Knight’s powerful slash plunged into a transparent storm vortex and was blown back. The transparent whirlwind formed a barrier between them, blocking any further attacks this turn.

You Xuan: "Protecting the Tuner, preparing to Synchro Summon and launch a full assault next turn?"

Breau grinned. "Heh, we’ll see about that."

"Oh? Then I look forward to your strategy," You Xuan said. "I’ll set one card. End my turn."

The set card floated beside the D-Rider, then vanished instantly, as if dissolved into the high-speed motion.

Breau: "My turn, draw!"

"I summon 'Mining Mole'!"

A mining mole appeared, wearing a tiny miner’s hat with a glowing lamp on the front. Its chibi body held a small digging tool, a red flower atop its snout—serious yet comical.

【Mining Mole, ATK 1000】

"Level 4 Tuner monster 'Two-Horned Beast'!"

"Level 3 'Mining Mole'!"

"Tune!"

【4+3=7】

"Heavenly lightning, cleave through the sea of clouds—let your hooves pierce the earth! Synchro Summon—"

"——Lightning Twin-Horned Beast!!!"

A bluish-white lightning bolt struck down, cracking the ground with spiderweb-like electrical scars. A majestic phantom beast stepped forth on beams of lightning. Its entire body was covered in sapphire-blue fur, with lightning-like patterns pulsing beneath its skin as if high-voltage current surged within. Its green mane flamed wildly, each hair sparkling with tiny electric sparks. Twin massive lightning-shaped horns crowned its head, arcs leaping between their tips with sharp "crackling" pops.

【Lightning Twin-Horned Beast, ATK 2500】

"My attack begins!"

Breau swept his right arm and shouted.

"First, activate the effect of 'Twin-Horned Beast' as a Synchro material! When 'Twin-Horned Beast' is sent to the graveyard as Synchro material, send the top two cards from your opponent’s deck to the graveyard!"

"Come on—send the top two cards of your deck to the graveyard!"

You Xuan narrowed his eyes.

Of course.

This strategy is... deck destruction!

(End of Chapter)

(End of Chapter)