Chapter 38: Targeting

[Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, ATK 3000]

"Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"

The onlookers grew excited once again.

"It's the new evolution of the Blue-Eyes, developed by the top research team at Kaiba Corp!"

"Isn't this AI just too strong?"

Many eyes shifted back toward Youxuan, who stood on the opposite side of the field. In their view, if he could defeat an AI of this caliber... just what kind of monster was he?

"Even as an Alternative White Dragon, it remains a Dragon-type monster and is subject to the effects of 'Dragon Capture Jar'," Youxuan said calmly. "As long as the jar is on the field, all face-up Dragon-type monsters must be switched to Defense Position. The Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, too, will shift to defense."

[Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, ATK 3000 -> DEF 2500]

"It matters not. The Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon has a way to attack even without entering battle. I will show you now the true power of the White Dragon!" the AI Kaiba roared. "Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, activate effect! Once per turn, I can destroy one monster on your field. I choose to destroy your 'Dragon Slayer'!"

The Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon in defense position opened its jaws. A white light formed a swirling vortex within its mouth, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

"Then I flip my face-down card," Youxuan said with a wave of his hand. "Continuous Trap—Mirror of Oaths!"

A massive, crystal-like mirror emerged on the field, resembling a giant eye. A powerful magical vortex erupted from within it, instantly dissipating the energy gathering in the Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon’s maw and absorbing the power into the mirror without a trace.

"As long as 'Mirror of Oaths' is on the field, the effects of all Light-attribute monsters activated on the field or in the graveyard are negated!"

The crowd gasped. Even the students from the dojo, who were long accustomed to Youxuan's psychological warfare tactics, couldn't help but draw a cold breath. At that moment, a chilling, sinister atmosphere seemed to permeate the arena, and even those on the sidelines felt a bone-deep frost.

The AI was speechless, its avatar flickering with a red heat that suggested a system crash from overheating might be imminent. Looking at those two cards in the back row—two continuous traps, one practically screaming "I'm here to hunt dragons" and the one beside it clearly stating "All Light-attributes must die"—it was all too much. *Sir, you are far too polite; why not just print Seto Kaiba’s ID number directly on the trap card? If you're so incredible, go put the pressure on the real deal instead of bullying an innocent AI...*

Standing below the stage, Koji Sato swallowed hard, stealing a glance at Youxuan. He wondered if Senior Youxuan was about to become the first duelist in history to force an AI into a complete system collapse.

"It is not over yet," the AI struggled. "I activate the Spell card 'Trade-In' from my hand! By discarding a Level 8 monster, I draw two cards. I discard the 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' retrieved by 'The Melody of Awakening Dragon' to draw two!"

After drawing, the AI Kaiba displayed another card. "I Normal Summon 'Chiron the Mage'!"

[Chiron the Mage, ATK 1800]

"Chiron the Mage's effect allows me to discard a Spell card from my hand to destroy one Spell or Trap card on the field. Because Chiron is an Earth-attribute monster, it is unaffected by your Mirror. Therefore, I discard a card to destroy 'Mirror of Oaths'!"

Chiron raised his staff, firing a red beam that shattered the mirror into fragments.

Youxuan wasn't surprised. It was exactly as he had expected; Kaiba's deck was filled with powerful boss monsters that were either Dragon-type or Light-attribute, making them easy to counter, though the smaller monsters were a chaotic mix. Perhaps that was the advantage of a pre-built deck.

"Next, I discard the Spell card 'Card of Compensation'. When this card is discarded from the hand, I draw two cards," the AI continued. "Then, I activate the Spell card 'Dragon Shrine' from my hand! I send one Dragon-type monster from my deck to the graveyard. Furthermore, if the monster sent is a Normal Dragon-type, I can send another Dragon-type from my deck to the graveyard."

The AI retrieved two cards in one go. "Therefore, I send the third 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' from my deck—as a Normal monster—and 'White Spirit Dragon' to the graveyard!"

***

The AI Kaiba revealed another card from his hand. "Spell card, 'Return of the Dragon Lords'! This card can revive a Level 7 or 8 Dragon-type monster from my graveyard. I choose this card—Level 8, White Spirit Dragon, revive!"

The vortex of the graveyard opened, releasing a radiance more blinding than before. The pure white dragon spread its wings, whipping up a whirlwind of white light across the field!

[White Spirit Dragon, DEF 2000]

"White Spirit Dragon, effect activate!" the AI declared. "When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can banish one Spell or Trap card on the opponent's field. Therefore, I banish your 'Dragon Capture Jar'!"

The hurricane of white light swept through, shattering the jar and causing the vortex in the air to vanish.

"So... so amazing," someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"Indeed. To find a way out of such a situation... to pilot this deck so perfectly, it really is like a legendary duelist. There's no way an AI like this could lose..."

"The real show starts now!" the AI Kaiba roared. "Witness the absolute, overwhelming power of the strongest Dragon-type!"

Another Spell card image appeared before him, accompanied by golden special effects. It was a classic, legendary card, and everyone who recognized it couldn't help but gasp.

—Dragon's Mirror!

"Spell card, 'Dragon's Mirror', activate!" Kaiba shouted. "I banish the fusion materials required for a Dragon-type Fusion Monster from my field or graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon! I banish the three 'Blue-Eyes White Dragons' from my graveyard for the ultimate fusion!"

The three Blue-Eyes appeared on the field, and a fusion vortex erupted with thunder and lightning. A blinding white light engulfed the three dragons.

"Having evolved through a thousand years of time to attain this ultimate form, descend now—Level 12! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, summon!!!"

The combined power of the three dragons stood tall between heaven and earth, each scale shimmering with dazzling brilliance. The three dragon heads raised in unison, letting out a roar that pierced the sky.

[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK 4500]

"Ultimate Dragon! It's the true Ultimate Dragon!"

The crowd was in a frenzy. They were seeing a legendary monster that usually appeared only in video footage; this stadium accident had turned into an unexpectedly lucrative surprise.

"Hahahaha!"

The AI, having summoned the Ultimate Dragon, finally broke into a smile. It resumed its Kaiba cosplay, crossing its arms and unleashing a three-stage laugh. "Hahaha... Tough! Invincible! Strongest!"

"This is the final form of the White Dragon, the strongest—hm?"

It stopped mid-sentence, sounding as if it had bitten its own tongue. It had noticed that another trap card had been set in Youxuan's back row.

That card was...

...Infernal Polymerization? What in the world was that?

"The effect of the Trap card 'Infernal Polymerization'," Youxuan said calmly. "It can only be activated when the opponent successfully performs a Fusion Summon. By tributing one monster on my field, I can take control of that Fusion Monster."

AI Kaiba: "!!!!!!"

It displayed an incredibly realistic Kaiba-style expression of shock. There was a mixture of surprise and rage, as if to say—*How could he have known I was going to summon Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!*

*And what the hell kind of ultimate, twisted NTR trap is this!?*

"Since a 'Dragon's Mirror' summon is treated as a Fusion Summon, 'Infernal Polymerization' can naturally be activated against it." Youxuan sent his monster to the graveyard and pointed at the three-headed dragon on the opposite side. "Therefore, I tribute my 'Dragon Rider' to take control of your 'Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon'!"

Special effects resembling hellfire engulfed the Ultimate Dragon, and in the next moment, it appeared on Youxuan's side of the field.

[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK 4500]

The onlookers: "..."

What else was there to say? Words could no longer describe the depth of their shock. All they could think was... *The boss is invincible!* He had actually stolen a legendary monster like the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. This one success would be enough to feel good for at least a day... no, half a year!

"My turn, draw!" Youxuan played another Spell card. "I activate the Spell card 'Flash Absorption' from my hand! I can target one Light-attribute monster on the opponent's field, and all face-up monsters I control gain ATK equal to the selected monster's ATK until the end of the turn."

AI Kaiba: "..."

Targeting the opponent's Light-attribute monster for a massive attack boost. It was another card that practically had "Counter" printed on it.

The AI's holographic projection of Kaiba froze, its form flickering as it cycled through various dramatic facial expressions. Its voice repeated a few phrases like a malfunctioning system.

"Bastard... zzz... scoundrel... zzz... damn cheater... zzz..."

The onlookers looked at each other, confused. What was happening? Had the system really crashed?

Koji Sato looked at Youxuan on the stage with eyes filled with pure worship. *Senior Youxuan is a god...*

"I target your 'Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon' to gain its attack power. Thus, the ATK of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon becomes..."

[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK 4500 -> ATK 7500]

"7500 Attack! Greater than the legendary..."

A spectator instinctively blurted out, but realized there was no legendary unit of measurement capable of gauging such an explosive combat stat.

"Invincible! Bravo!"

"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack 'Chiron the Mage'!"

[Chiron the Mage, ATK 1800]

The three heads of the White Dragon opened their jaws in unison, and a terrifying wave of light surged forward. The tidal wave of white light swept away everything on the opposite side of the field, leaving the AI in shambles amidst the brilliance...

[AI, LP 3300 -> LP 0]