CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 412: GROWTH

VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, summoned!

Kaiba, ruthless and concise, opened with his strongest five-part fusion form.

And his assault continued.

"VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, effect!" Kaiba shouted. "Once per turn, banish any card on your opponent’s field.

That annoying wall monster—get out of my sight!"

The Catapult Cannon’s electromagnetic weapon charged, unleashing blue thunder like a roaring dragon. The electromagnetic shock ripped through everything, distorting space itself.

There was no deafening explosion, no spectacular fireball. But for a moment, space seemed twisted, and the lone set monster vanished, utterly erased.

The image of Winged Kuriboh flickered, then faded.

"Ah, it was Winged Kuriboh," Jaden said.

His spirit companion appeared: "Kuri kuri."

It sounded a bit regretful that its counterpart couldn’t help.

"Winged Kuriboh can prevent all battle damage the turn it’s destroyed, by battle or by effect," Jaden lamented.

"But if it’s banished, there’s nothing it can do."

Winged Kuriboh drooped its wings: "Kuri..."

"Kaiba Seto really is as terrifying as the stories say," Zane remarked. "He wiped out the whole field in an instant, even bypassing Kuriboh’s powerful defense."

He paused, frowning.

Compared to himself, who also favored aggressive tactics, there was still a long way to go.

He looked at Kira, eyes flickering.

Facing someone like Kaiba... Could Fujiki Kira still stick to his style?

"If this is all you’ve got, it’s far from enough!" Kaiba roared. "VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, direct attack!"

At his command, the Catapult Cannon unleashed its full power. Beams of light sliced through the sky, vaporizing everything in their path.

But just as the blast hit, a familiar yet unfamiliar shield appeared in front of Kira.

"Kuri kuri!"

A golden, spherical barrier blocked the attack.

Sphere Kuriboh!

"I discard Kuriboh from my hand to activate its effect," Kira declared. "When an opponent’s monster declares an attack, I can discard it to switch that monster to Defense Position."

The Catapult Cannon immediately powered down, dropping to a crouch.

[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 3000 → DEF 2800]

Mokuba sounded disappointed: "Ah, such a perfect attack, and it still didn’t get through."

What else can you say?

Kuriboh is just too good.

"Hmph, relying on weak monsters again?" Kaiba sneered. "Then I activate Quick-Play Spell: Super Rejuvenation.

For every Dragon I discarded or tributed this turn, I draw that many cards at the end phase."

Kira: "You discarded cards this turn with Graceful Charity, XYZ-Dragon Cannon, and Trade-In..."

"Correct, three Dragons in total," Kaiba said coldly. "So, at the end of my turn, I draw three cards."

He waved his arm, and blue data currents formed card images.

"I set a card, end my turn. And in the end phase, I draw three cards!"

He drew three.

"Come, Kira! If you’ve truly grown into a duelist worthy of this stage, prove it to me!"

Kira: "..."

He couldn’t figure out how Kaiba was always so fired up, no matter what. Already a grown man, yet always spouting things like "crush and shatter" and "the winds of battle roar on." Didn’t he worry about embarrassing himself?

He really had spirit.

"...My turn, draw."

Kira drew, quickly playing a card.

"I also activate Graceful Charity: Draw three, then discard two."

He considered his hand, then slowly pulled a card.

"I can feel it—Kaiba really is coming at me full-force. Looks like I have to respond in kind."

A flash of darkness crossed his eyes.

"So... I’ll be counting on your power again."

He raised the card. Before it even hit the field, an invisible whirlwind seemed to rise.

"Banish ’Magician of Faithfulness’ (Light) and ’Caius the Shadow Monarch’ (Dark) from my graveyard!

Souls of light and darkness, offered to the field of chaos—let the legendary warrior descend!

Heaven and earth split open—

—Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning, summon!!"

One beam of light, one of darkness—souls intertwined as beams shot skyward. Chaos burst forth; the knight, clad in heavy armor, holding sword and shield, descended in a storm of light and dark!

[Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000]

"Heh, there it is—the legendary warrior," Kaiba smirked.

For a moment, he saw flashes of a long-lost rival.

The one who also wielded Black Luster Soldier, and once fused it with his own Ultimate Dragon to create a miracle.

"...Dragon Master Knight. Did you always know about this monster, Yugi?"

"If you believe in it, it exists, Kaiba."

"..."

Memories faded like smoke, but even after ten years, his rival’s voice and face were vivid.

Kaiba closed his eyes, then returned to reality.

"Are you now a duelist who can control this monster?" he said quietly. "Let me see for myself."

Kira swept his arm: "Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning, attack VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon!"

[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, DEF 2800]

Thanks to Sphere Kuriboh, Catapult Cannon was in Defense Position.

The chaotic blade struck, light and darkness swirling, cleaving the Catapult Cannon in two. The giant mecha exploded, shattering into pieces.

"At this moment, Envoy of the Beginning’s effect," Kira announced. "When it destroys a monster in battle, it can attack again—once per turn.

Direct attack on Kaiba!

Dimensional Slash: Twin Breaker!"

PS: Bonus Chapters at 2000 PS