CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 414: GREAT POWER ALWAYS COMES WITH RISK

Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Summon!

"Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon attacks ’Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning’!" Kaiba shouted. "Ultimate Burst Stream!!"

All three heads of the Ultimate Dragon opened at once, unleashing a white light like a torrent of destruction.

"At this moment, I activate my set card," Kira declared. "Trap Card: ’Card of Sacrifice’."

If the total ATK of all face-up Attack Position monsters you control is lower than the opponent’s weakest monster, you draw two cards from your deck. However, the turn you activate this card, you can’t summon monsters or change their battle positions in any way. (Anime effect.)

The real card later added the requirement that you must control at least two monsters, making it much less practical.

"You have only ’Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’ on your field, so it’s the weakest monster. Black Luster Soldier’s ATK is lower than the Ultimate Dragon’s."

Kira drew two cards.

"So I draw two cards."

The Ultimate Dragon’s blast swept forth, its terrifying power overwhelming everything. Even the Black Luster Soldier could not withstand it. His shield shattered in half a second under the white light, and he too was consumed, leaving the field.

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 2500]

Kira raised his arm to shield himself, as blazing energy and a shockwave surged over him.

"As expected from President Kaiba—he’s not so easily stopped."

"Wait!" Jaden suddenly realized, "Neo Ultimate Dragon can attack three times in one turn, so that means..."

The field was cleared again, and Kira still had to face two more attacks from the Neo Ultimate Dragon!

Even the Kuriboh could only block one hit; against the Ultimate Dragon’s might, it was powerless.

Kaiba swept his hand dramatically.

The evolved dragon had surpassed even that weakling monster, Kuriboh!

"So, in the end, are you only this kind of duelist!? Is this where you fall!?"

Kaiba threw back his head and shouted.

"Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’s direct attack! Ultimate Burst Stream, second strike!"

A world-ending shockwave, the light in the dragon’s mouth declaring the end of the duel.

Kira revealed a card from his hand.

"Now, ’Kiteroid’ activates," he said. "By discarding this card from my hand, I make one instance of direct attack damage become 0."

The invincible kite appeared, its translucent body forming a barrier. Even the Ultimate Dragon’s blast couldn’t budge it.

"Then the third strike!" Kaiba roared.

"Kiteroid’s second effect activates from the graveyard," Kira said. "While it’s in the graveyard, I can make direct attack damage become 0 one more time." (Anime effect.)

One card blocking two hits—now that’s what you call a legendary card!

"Hmph, barely hanging on with continuous defense, huh?" Kaiba sneered.

"Defense isn’t just for protection, President. Defense is also a form of attack." Kira smiled. "I haven’t forgotten the downside of your dragon."

"Hmph." Kaiba replied coolly, "Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’s multi-attack effect can only be used once per duel. After using it, at the end of the Battle Phase, it must destroy itself." (Anime effect.)

As he spoke, the Neo Ultimate Dragon was already shrouded in white light, slowly dissolving into countless specks and fading from the field.

Kiteroid single-handedly took down the Ultimate Dragon—a story to brag about forever.

"I set one card and end my turn," Kaiba said.

"My turn. Draw."

Kira glanced at his drawn card and immediately revealed it.

"Spell Card: Pot of Greed! I draw two more cards."

After replenishing his hand, he promptly played one card.

"I summon ’Breaker the Magical Warrior’!"

[Breaker the Magical Warrior, ATK 1600]

The red-armored warrior landed on the field, sword and shield in hand. As he landed, a magical counter lit up on his shield.

Kaiba narrowed his eyes slightly.

That was another one of his monsters.

The red armor belonged to a monster from Yami’s deck, famous for the "Berserker’s seven consecutive attacks."

Maybe it was coincidence, but the monsters and strategies Kira used overlapped a lot with Kaiba’s memories.

"When Breaker is summoned, it gains a spell counter and his ATK increases by 300," Kira said. "But I’ll immediately remove that counter to activate his second effect.

Breaker can remove his counter to destroy any Spell or Trap Card on the field."

Kira pointed to Kaiba’s back row, apparently the only card left defending him.

"Destroy that set card."

Breaker swung his sword, a crescent arc of magical energy shooting at Kaiba’s field.

"I activate my set card."

Kaiba immediately triggered the targeted card before Breaker’s attack landed.

"Trap Card: Waboku. Monsters won’t be destroyed by battle this turn, and any battle damage is reduced to 0."

Several blue-robed messengers appeared, chanting and projecting a transparent shield around Kaiba.

The magical blast split the trap in two, but couldn’t stop its effect.

Kira: "Then I set two cards and end my turn."

The spectators outside barely dared to breathe.

"Even though the Ultimate Dragon’s finishing blow failed, Kaiba had already set up his defense in advance," Zane muttered. "But now, the field is back in Kira’s favor."

"Not so fast," Jaden said, still excited. "The next draw could change everything. That’s the real charm of dueling!"

"...True."

Zane nodded.

For these two, this was just the beginning.

"My turn! Draw!"

Kaiba swept his hand.

"I set a card.

Then I activate the Spell Card ’Card of Demise’. Draw cards until you have five in hand."

The classic Kaiba draw engine—his hand was instantly refilled.

"But at the start of my fifth turn after this, I must discard my entire hand."

Kira shrugged.

So great power always comes with risk.

In fact, in the original series, this downside was only triggered once, in the Pyramid of Light movie.

That film also finally settled a long-standing debate over this card’s effect—whether the five turns included both players or just your own turns.

The movie confirmed it’s "your own fifth Standby Phase," so if it counted both, it would be the ninth turn... by then, your graveyard would be overgrown.

"You’ve at least become a decent duelist over these six months," Kaiba said. "But that’s still not enough to satisfy me.

Watch closely, Kira, the real battle begins now!"

PS: Bonus Chapters at 2000 PS