Chapter 1294: Burning Soul

"Trap Card ’King’s Consonance’!" Jack declared. "This card can only be activated when your opponent declares an attack, and it negates that attack! After that, until the total Levels are 8 or lower, banish 1 Tuner and any number of non-Tuner monsters from your Graveyard, and Synchro Summon 1 Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck whose Level equals the total Levels of the banished monsters!"

Two monster cards popped out of Jack’s Graveyard, which he revealed in his hand. At the same time, two transparent vortices opened above his head, and the two cards were sucked into the other side of the dimension.

"From the Graveyard, I banish Level 2 ’Force Resonator’ and Level 6 ’Strong Wind Dragon’ for tuning!"

[2 + 6 = 8]

"The King’s shock shall be presented here! Behold the power that makes heaven and earth roar! Synchro Summon! My soul——Red Dragon Archfiend!!!"

It was as if hellfire from the abyss had awakened. The Tuner stars aligned in a straight line in the air. Viscous lava surged from the cracked ground. Twisted dark red dragon horns pierced out from the lava, followed by massive claws covered in magma cracks tearing open the fissure. When the entire dragon body drilled out, it brought with it a ten-meter-long sulfurous fire wave. The demonic dragon body had gaps flowing with lava-like liquid. The moment it fully descended, even space seemed to twist into a blood-moon-like dark red.

[Red Dragon Archfiend, ATK 3000]

Copy Yusei recalled Junk Berserker’s attack and said, "You negated the attack and then Synchro Summoned Red Dragon Archfiend?"

"Correct. My burning soul will not be extinguished so easily!" Jack shouted. "And with this, your Battle Phase this turn is already over. Even if you use Junk Berserker’s effect to reduce Red Dragon Archfiend’s ATK, it’s meaningless now. Next turn, the absolute power of my soul will surely defeat that Berserker!"

Copy Yusei did not reply. He showed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever and casually waved his hand. "Then I Set two cards. Turn end."

Jack: "My turn. Draw!"

"I activate the Spell Card ’Card of Spell Containment’. Draw 2 cards from your Deck, but you cannot activate other Spell Cards or Set cards this turn." (Anime card)

Jack drew his cards. His movements paused slightly as his sharp gaze swept across the two Set cards on the sides of the opponent’s speeding Duel Runner.

Two Set cards.

Although Jack was 5D’s designated number-one hothead, even a hothead had some finesse. While charging forward, he still had some thought process.

The opponent knew that Berserker would be defeated by Red Dragon Archfiend this turn, yet he still looked completely confident. If this person really was a copy similar to Yusei, there was a high chance the Set cards contained means to counter the attack.

Of course, if he gave up attacking out of fear, he wouldn’t be Jack Atlas. A true hothead charges forward at all times—even if he knows there’s a pit, he’ll charge through it with his body.

"Then I’ll use this move!"

Jack played another card from his hand.

"The ’Card Breaker’ in my hand can be Special Summoned in face-up Attack Position by sending any 1 Spell or Trap Card on the field to the Graveyard!" (Anime effect)

Seeing this effect, Kira’s eyelids twitched again.

This anime effect was really convenient.

The real card had been changed to "send 1 of your own Spell/Trap Cards to the Graveyard to Special Summon it," which was actually a reasonable adjustment.

If it followed the anime effect and could "send the opponent’s Spell/Trap to the Graveyard to Special Summon yourself," the description would easily raise questions—effect understood, but where’s the cost?

Even with this Breaker, only one back-row card could be sent. But the opponent currently had two Set back-row cards. Whether he could hit the real trap might directly decide the direction of the Duel.

Yet Jack did not hesitate. He pointed straight at one of the back-row cards. "Send the Set card on the left to the Graveyard!"

As soon as he spoke, a green giant hammer shaped like a fist burst out from underground, smashing the Set card. An armored Card Breaker trailed clanking iron chains on both sides as it broke through.

[Card Breaker, ATK 100]

With the Set card destroyed, everyone saw what it was: Trap Card—Wave Force.

When 1 Synchro Monster you control is targeted for an opponent’s monster’s attack, you can activate this card. Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls. (Anime card)

It was essentially a Synchro-Monster-limited version of Mirror Force, a Trap Card used by Yusei Fudo in the original anime.

"Heh, as expected!"

Jack wore a smug smile that said "just as I thought."

"You anticipated my Red Dragon Archfiend’s attack this turn and hid a counter in the Trap. Did you think I, Jack Atlas, wouldn’t see through such a tactic!?"

Copy Yusei continued driving his Duel Runner in silence. The reflective goggles hid his expression, making his thoughts unreadable.

"Well, a Trap of this level is useless against me! And even if I hadn’t destroyed that Trap, it would still be useless, because the power of the King has already surpassed it!"

Jack’s arrogance grew even stronger.

"I’ll show you the reason why right now! I Normal Summon ’Dark Resonator’!"

Jack’s most classic Tuner, and the earliest Resonator in the Resonator series. A pleasant tuning-fork sound rang across the field. A pair of red eyes lit up, and a small demon with a clown-like smile and tuning-fork appearance was Summoned.

[Dark Resonator, ATK 1300]

"Next, the effect of ’D.D. Sprite’ in my hand. This card can be Special Summoned from the hand by banishing 1 face-up monster you control from play! I banish ’Card Breaker’ from play and Special Summon ’D.D. Sprite’!"

Golden rings of light encircled Card Breaker. As the golden light bloomed, it gradually turned transparent and vanished. A tiny sprite appeared within the rings and was Summoned to the field.

[D.D. Sprite, ATK 0]

"Behold the realm of the King! My fervently raging soul!"

Jack roared. He raised his right fist. The Dragon Mark on his arm seemed to burn, and even the area around his heart blazed like a flame.

"ROAAAAR—Burning Soul!"

Finally, flames also ignited in Jack’s eyes. He spread his five fingers and raised his palm high.

"Level 1 Tuner monster ’D.D. Sprite’!

Level 3 Tuner monster ’Dark Resonator’!

Level 8 ’Red Dragon Archfiend’!

Double Tuning!"

[1 + 3 + 8 = 12]

"Double Tuning..." Copy Yusei murmured.

"So that’s it. You obtained this realm so early, Jack."

Jack: "King and demon now converge here! Soul of fury! Let out the cry that creates heaven and earth! Synchro Summon——Come forth, Red Nova Dragon!!!"

...