"Damn it!" Inside Security headquarters, the Hook-nosed Man could no longer maintain his composure after seeing his strategy broken by Kaito, and he shot to his feet.
"But there's only one monster like that. The first Action Card Sergey Volkov held was Evasion. As long as he gets through this turn, next turn I can modify the data to let Sergey Volkov get the next Field Spell..."
"When a Galaxy monster is on my field, this card can be Special Summoned without a Tribute!"
"Appear! Galaxy Knight!"
"When Galaxy Knight is successfully summoned by its own effect, I target one Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon in my Graveyard! This card's ATK decreases by 1000, and the targeted monster is Special Summoned!"
Galaxy Knight ATK: 2800→1800
"Return! Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
"I overlay the two Level 8 monsters on the field!"
"Oh, hope flowing through the galaxy, manifest in the form of a dragon and shower the world with your eternal light! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy!"
On the back of Kaito's right hand, the dazzling number 38 lit up. From the golden vortex above his head, a holy dragon wreathed in light slowly descended, its warm radiance showering every corner of the stadium. The octopus wrapped in purple patterns beside Sergey Volkov let out shriek after shriek under the pressure of this light.
Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy ATK: 3000
"Another Number monster?" The Female Commentator reached out, touching the falling particles of starlight as she muttered.
Inside Security headquarters, the Hook-nosed Man lost his composure at the sight and shouted to his confidant, "Quick! Modify the data! Change every Action Card ahead to Evasion!"
"With that, the preparations are complete. So, are you ready to repent?" Kaito said slowly.
"Battle! Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon, attack Earthbound Servant Geo Kraken! Photon Stream of Destruction!"
Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon roared in the sky, craned its neck, and spewed a dazzling dragon's breath that rushed toward Sergey Volkov.
"When Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon attacks, its ATK increases by 200 for every Rank among the monsters on the field!"
"Furthermore, while Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon is on the field, it grants all non-Xyz monsters on the field a Rank equal to their Level!"
"The total Rank of all monsters on the field is currently 24, so this card's ATK increases by another 4800!"
Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon ATK: 8000→12800
"Kaito's monster's ATK has reached an astonishing 12,800!" the Female Commentator exclaimed.
"Action Card, Evasion!" Sergey Volkov didn't dare to delay for a second, hurriedly slamming the Action Card from his hand onto his Duel Disk.
"Useless!" Kaito roared. "I activate the effect of Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy! Once per turn, when a Spell Card's effect is activated on the field, I can negate that effect and attach that card to this one as Xyz Material!"
"What?!" Sergey Volkov's expression instantly collapsed.
The great dragon, wreathed in holy light, roared in the sky. From between its wings, a long chain shot toward the Action Card Sergey Volkov had activated.
The Action Card that should have been Sergey Volkov's shield was instead pinned by the golden chain and dragged back to the great dragon's side. With nothing left to obstruct its attack, Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon unleashed the full power of its torrent of light.
Sergey Volkov LP: 975→0
Amidst screams, Sergey Volkov was smashed into a pile of parts by Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon's attack. Kaito, however, didn't even spare him a glance, simply driving his D-Wheel away.
As for the audience, they didn't bat an eye. Instead, they found the ruthless Kaito quite stylish. After so many years of the Friendship Cup, a death or two was to be expected. Besides, could Sergey Volkov's appearance even be called human anymore?
"The winner of this match is... Kaito!" The Female Commentator's victory announcement came belatedly, only after Kaito had returned to the competitor's passageway. The audience, snapping back to reality, erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
After Kaito's exit, the Female Commentator looked at the racetrack, which Sergey Volkov had turned into a complete mess, and said worriedly, "It seems the next match will have to be delayed."
...
In the Underground Labor Facility, after watching Kaito's duel, Yūga Hōzumi turned off the television in the office and rubbed his temples.
Their infiltration had gone smoothly over the past few days. Aside from some rumors circulating that the Warden had recently taken a liking to men, it hadn't aroused any more suspicion.
As for the rumor, it couldn't be helped. After all, every time a new comrade arrived, Yūga Hōzumi would go and bring them back to this office. It wasn't strange for such rumors to spread.
"Thanks for taking care of Frank and the others." Just then, Crow came over with two cans of coffee, handing one to Yūga Hōzumi as he sat down.
"It's my duty," Yūga Hōzumi said with a shrug, temporarily setting aside what he was doing. "So, have you thought it through? Are you going to join our revolution?"
Crow's position in the Revolutionary Army was rather unique. As a vigilante, he wasn't an official member, but he had provided them with considerable help in the past. Many members of the Revolutionary Army were on good terms with him.
That's why Kiryu had tacitly considered him one of them for this operation. But after arriving at the Underground Labor Facility, Crow still had reservations about Kiryu and Yūga Hōzumi's plan and had yet to commit.
"Your revolution... if it succeeds, what will you do then?" Crow asked curiously.
"Establish a new, equal society, of course," Yūga Hōzumi said after taking a gulp of coffee and wiping his mouth.
"Equal? It's not that easy," Crow said with a sigh.
"Indeed, it's very difficult." Yūga Hōzumi thought of the world from his previous life. Even there, complete equality hadn't been achieved, and various forms of visible and invisible oppression still existed.
"But, at the very least, we can establish a world where everyone is equal in dignity and guarantee that everyone has the right to an education," Yūga Hōzumi said, looking into Crow's eyes.
"I heard you once argued with someone about which is more important for children: sustenance or smiles?"
"Let me answer that for you." Yūga Hōzumi drained the coffee in his hand. "In the face of sustenance and education, smiles are insignificant."
"Sustenance ensures that children can live through today in good health. Education gives them the right to freely choose their tomorrow. Compared to those things, smiles are truly dispensable."
Crow seemed moved by Yūga Hōzumi's words and wanted to say something, but Yūga Hōzumi didn't give him the chance.
"I'm an outsider, so it's not my place to interfere with how the new Neo Domino City is built after the revolution. However, I can guarantee that at least those children will all have a bright future."
...
(end of chapter)