Chapter 1293: Unyielding Power

The scorching waves of fire rushed toward the speeding Duel Runner like the maw of a giant beast. Copy Yusei’s wind goggles instantly reflected dancing orange-red light as the high-temperature airflow swept past.

[Copy Yusei, LP 3000]

"Field-wide destruction that also inflicts damage... So that’s the new power you’ve awakened, Jack. It truly is a terrifying force."

Copy Yusei lightly closed his eyes.

"But unfortunately, I still cannot entrust the future to you."

Jack snorted. "That’s not for you to decide! Battle! Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend attacks this impostor directly! Scorching Crimson Hellfire!"

Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend suddenly opened its maw full of sharp fangs. A nuclear-blast-like white light glowed deep in its throat, and the surrounding air warped into waves from the heat. With a full flap of its dragon wings, scorching hellfire erupted. The entire space seemed to tear vertically, forming a spiraling fire pillar woven from dark red, orange-yellow, and pure white flames. The oxygen in its path was completely incinerated, creating a vacuum flame tunnel.

"Even after activating its effect, it can still attack?"

Even the fake Z-ONE couldn’t help but praise the sight.

"For Red Dragon Archfiend, this is truly an incredible evolution."

A powerful board-clearing effect like field destruction often came with restrictions such as "cannot attack the turn its effect is activated" or even "cannot enter the Battle Phase." But clearly, Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend had none.

Especially in a 4000 LP environment, this was an extremely terrifying instant-kill capability. For example, Scarlight had just cleared the field and dealt 1000 damage to Copy Yusei. If the following direct attack went through, it would be an OTK on the spot!

Moreover, although its name had changed to Scarlight, one of its effects stated "This card can be treated as ’Red Dragon Archfiend’." In other words, it was an evolved form of Red Dragon Archfiend, but its card name was still treated as the original. It could use Red Dragon Archfiend-exclusive support Spells/Traps or serve as material for Synchro Summons that required Red Dragon Archfiend.

Copy Yusei waved his hand. "Then I activate my Set card, the Continuous Trap ’Call of the Haunted’! This card can Special Summon 1 monster from your Graveyard in Attack Position."

As he spoke, a black vortex opened on the ground. A transparent storm swirled out of it, forming into a warrior covered in red battle armor. The heavy mad warrior with a demonic face once again descended onto the field, swinging its heavy blade. Its eerie green eyes met the destructive flames head-on.

[Junk Berserker, ATK 2700]

"Then continue the attack on Berserker!" Jack coldly snorted. "Even if you revive it, this thing is no match for my Scarlight!"

However, Scarlight’s hellfire slammed into Junk Berserker. The warrior swung its blade to slash. The heavy edge split the flames apart. Although the residual waves struck Copy Yusei, the Berserker stood firm and unmoved.

[Copy Yusei, LP 3000 → LP 2700]

Jack frowned. "Why? Why wasn’t Junk Berserker destroyed?"

"Because I activated this card’s effect from the Graveyard."

Copy Yusei flicked the card at his fingertips.

"Shield Warrior. By banishing this card from the Graveyard from play, once only, you can make a monster’s battle destruction become invalid."

So although Copy Yusei took damage, Junk Berserker still stood.

Jack gritted his teeth. "The card that was milled during the ’Tuning’ effect earlier? Using something like that to protect Berserker... Then next turn, Berserker can use its effect to reduce Scarlight’s ATK by 1300..."

Indeed, Scarlight’s kill had failed this turn. Next turn, if Junk Berserker banished "Junk Synchron" from the Graveyard, it could reduce Scarlight’s ATK by 1300 and immediately counter-kill.

However, Copy Yusei coldly interrupted, "No. There is no need for next turn."

Jack: "Nani?"

"At this moment, I activate my Set card." Copy Yusei waved his hand and flipped another back-row card. "Trap Card ’Cross Counter’! This card can only be activated during your opponent’s Battle Phase when you took battle damage and the monster that battled is still on both sides of the field." (Anime card)

Jack’s brow twitched slightly.

The activation condition was so stringent it almost felt like an on-the-spot print. But Jack remembered this card—he remembered the entire tactic, because he had once fallen for it in the real Yusei’s hands.

"Cross Counter’s effect: The attacked monster gains ATK equal to twice the battle damage you took, then it must battle the previously battled monster once more!"

Copy Yusei declared.

"I took 300 damage just now, so Junk Berserker’s ATK increases by 600, then it must battle ’Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend’ again!"

[Junk Berserker, ATK 2700 → ATK 3300]

Junk Berserker’s jagged great blade burst with cold light. Sparks flew the instant the blade touched Red Dragon Archfiend. When the edge fully sank in, the magma veins beneath the dragon’s scales bulged violently. The moment the entire demon dragon split in two from the center, high-temperature lava erupted like a punctured pressure cooker. The splashing lava balls solidified into obsidian fragments in mid-air, and the erupting lava turned into a crimson fiery rain.

[Jack, LP 2400 → LP 2100]

"Ugh ah..."

The newly Summoned Scarlight was destroyed in a counter-kill. Jack’s expression looked extremely ugly.

"Tch... I Set one card. Turn end."

Copy Yusei silently watched him for a moment, then turned his gaze forward again and said calmly, "How about it? Do you understand now? Even if you gained new power, even if you have an evolved Red Dragon Archfiend, the gap between you and me still exists. This is why the future of this world cannot be entrusted to you."

"You’re just an impostor and you still dare to speak so arrogantly," Jack said coldly. "You haven’t won yet. Save the boasting until you actually defeat me, Jack Atlas!"

Copy Yusei said nothing more. He simply replied, "My turn. Draw."

He drew a card, then wasted no words and immediately issued the order.

"Junk Berserker, direct attack on Jack!"

Junk Berserker raised its heavy blade again, slashing out a transparent air wave. The sharp edge flew toward Jack.

Jack’s expression sharpened. He shouted, "I’ve been waiting for this! At the moment you attack, I activate my Set card! Trap Card ’King’s Consonance’!"

The Trap flipped over. Junk Berserker’s slash seemed to cut into a Synchro restoration, and all its force vanished without a trace.

"You dared to underestimate me, Jack Atlas. Now I’ll show you the unyielding soul of a King—this indomitable, ever-growing stronger power!"

...