Yugioh [897-899] (Patreon)

Chapter 897 – As Professor

Bonaparte activated a face-down card in his back row. A heavy, pitch-black toy cannon dropped onto the field.

A toy soldier ran up with stiff little steps and lit the fuse. Sparks chased down the length of the cord, and with a muffled boom the cannon fired. The shell blasted out of the barrel and struck the giant Worm's abdomen head-on.

Worm Victory staggered backward. It wasn't defeated outright, but it couldn't help bending one knee, half-kneeling as it shifted from attack to defense.

[Worm Victory, ATK 12500 → DEF 2500]

"Then the Toy Cannon also deals 400 damage to its controller, de aru!" Bonaparte declared.

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3600]

Several students on the sidelines were surprised.

"Professor Bonaparte actually covered for Crowler?"

Everyone at the Academy knew those two were like water and fire. Seeing them protect each other like this felt downright surreal.

Crowler clearly felt the same.

"Professor Bonaparte…" Crowler was moved. "You actually stepped in to cover me…"

Bonaparte shot him a glare, then put his hands on his hips with haughty pride.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I've got no intention of reconciling with you, Crowler."

His expression turned serious.

"It's just that this duel is crucial. It will determine both our futures. And our opponent this time is anything but ordinary. No matter which one of us tried to face him alone, there'd be no chance of victory."

Crowler bit his handkerchief, then nodded after a moment.

"Mm. You have a point, none."

If they wanted to win this duel, they had to do something they'd barely even considered in the past.

Work together.

"Seeing those two cooperate feels seriously weird," Syrus muttered.

"Agreed," Chazz nodded.

Jaden smiled. "I'm thinking this might be exactly what Kira was aiming for."

"Eh?" Syrus blinked.

At some point, Misawa—who as usual had zero presence—had appeared and chimed in. "People only naturally set aside their differences and fight side by side when their interests align and they're facing a powerful external threat."

"So that's how it is…"

Syrus suddenly understood.

"Then did Kira do all this just to help the two professors bury the hatchet?"

Everyone turned to look at Kira with added respect.

He didn't just have unfathomable strength—he even thought this far for others. Was this the bearing of a king?

"It's not over yet." Bonaparte continued, "I activate another face-down, the Continuous Trap 'Gulliver Chain'!

This card can only be activated when a monster's battle position is changed! As long as this card remains on the field, the monster whose battle position changed can only exist face-up in Defense Position.

If that monster is changed to Attack Position, destroy that monster and this card together!" (Anime card)

A silver chain shot out from the Trap card, wrapping around the Worm Victory that had just been forcibly switched to defense on Kira's field. The chains bound the monster's massive body tight; it couldn't move an inch.

"Excellent!" Crowler praised. "That way we've completely sealed off that Worm with 12,500 attack, none!"

"Indeed."

Kira nodded his approval.

"However, my offensive isn't over yet," Kira said. "My Worm Yagan and Worm Xex are still able to attack."

He turned his sights, this time on Bonaparte's field.

"Worm Xex, attack 'Toy Soldier.'"

[Worm Xex, ATK 1800]

Worm Xex shot forward, pouncing on the Toy Soldier like a giant starfish. The tiny soldier struggled with all its might, but naturally it was in vain. In no time, the starfish's maw drained it dry, and with a boom it exploded into fragments.

[Bonaparte, LP 4000 → LP 3000]

"Worm Yagan, attack the second 'Toy Soldier.'"

[Worm Yagan, ATK 1000]

The second Toy Soldier exploded as well. Professor Bonaparte's small frame staggered back two steps under the blast.

[Bonaparte, LP 3000 → LP 2800]

"Professor Bonaparte!"

Seeing Bonaparte take damage to protect him, Crowler was even more moved; his eyes were almost red.

"Just a scratch."

Bonaparte got to his feet, gritting his teeth.

"Well, we managed to get through this turn somehow, but it still looks pretty grim."

Arms folded, Kira smiled.

"I set two cards face-down. Turn end."

It went back to Crowler's turn, but he didn't draw immediately. Instead, he just stared blankly at the Deck on his Duel Disk.

"Can we really…win?"

Bonaparte also stayed silent.

They both knew the truth: even if their opponent was technically a student, his strength far outstripped their own. And now, even with the two of them teaming up two-on-one, the gap still didn't feel like it had shrunk much at all.

Just then, Jaden spoke up from the side. "Don't give up, professors!"

Both professors instinctively looked up at him.

"You never know what'll happen in a duel until the very last moment, right?"

Jaden shouted.

"Never give up until the very, very end—that's what you professors taught us in class, isn't it? Even the legendary Yugi Muto had duels where he hung on until the last second in a desperate situation before turning it all around, didn't he?"

Jaden clenched his fist, cheering them on.

"Show us that there's no such thing as an impossible challenge in this world, professors!"

"Jaden-kun…"

Crowler closed his eyes lightly, a helpless smile on his lips.

"Honestly…the last thing I wanted was to be lectured by a slacker. But you're right."

He pulled himself together and raised his head.

"If we give up here, wouldn't that make all the time we've spent at this Academy meaningless?"

Bonaparte added, "Being cheered on by a slacker…looks like I've got no choice but to buck up."

"That slacker is my student," Crowler said, his tone carrying a touch of pride.

Kira smiled. "Oh? It seems the professors still have the strength to continue."

"But of course!"

Bonaparte straightened his back and faced Kira head-on.

"As men, sometimes we can't back down even when we know our chances of victory are slim!"

"Exactly!"

Crowler's fighting spirit reignited.

"Even if it's just so our students can witness our final battle here at this Academy as their professors!"

Jaden nodded. "That's the spirit, professors!"

Syrus whispered, "They're all fired up now, but with this whole 'facing death unflinchingly' mood…doesn't that make Kira feel even more like the Demon King…"

"My turn. Draw, none!"

Professor Crowler drew his card.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.' I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two cards from my hand."

Crowler discarded two cards, then played another card from his hand.

"Spell Card 'Foolish Burial.' I send one monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, none!

I send this card from my Deck to the Graveyard—'Ancient Gear Golem'!"

"Sending his ace to the Graveyard?" Syrus asked.

"Exactly!" Crowler shouted. "Because what's about to appear is my ace of aces—the ultimate secret technique of Ancient Gears!"

…

Chapter 898 – The Ultimate Ancient Gear

The ultimate secret technique of Ancient Gears!

At those words, everyone's expression tightened.

"The ultimate technique…but isn't Professor Crowler's ace just Ancient Gear Golem?" Syrus asked in confusion.

"No." Misawa's face grew solemn. "There's another ace among Ancient Gears—one said to be the evolution, the true final form, of Ancient Gear Golem.

Even among the already rare users of Ancient Gear Decks, duelists capable of controlling that power can be counted on one hand."

"That strong!?" Syrus gasped, then turned, astonished, to Crowler. "Professor has a card that powerful?"

"It's only my guess," Misawa replied. "At least since we enrolled, no one's ever seen the professor use it. A monster that surpasses Ancient Gear Golem might just be a legend…"

Indeed, in the anime, for most of the earlier arcs Crowler's ace was just Ancient Gear Golem. Only much later did he reveal that so-called strongest ace surpassing Ancient Gear Golem, using it in his final duel of the last term against Jaden. When he summoned it, he even said, "I never thought I'd have to use this card against a student."

Many fans later cited that as evidence that during Jaden's entrance exam duel, Crowler had been holding back.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Ancient Gear Double Imitation'!" Crowler said. "I select two monsters with 'Ancient Gear' in their names in my Graveyard and Special Summon them to my field!" (Anime card)

A custom card for Ancient Gears from the anime.

"I discarded one 'Ancient Gear Golem' from my hand with Graceful Charity just now, and sent another from my Deck with Foolish Burial."

Crowler raised his arm and shouted.

"I revive the two 'Ancient Gear Golems' in my Graveyard!"

Steel ruins rose from the ground; ancient gears clattered and whirred, assembling themselves into two towering giants. They slowly emerged, looking down from on high, as imposing as ever—though the red light in their single eyes had grown dim.

[Ancient Gear Golem, ATK 3000]x2

"Monsters Special Summoned by this effect have their effects negated," Crowler explained. "But they can be used as Fusion Materials!"

Crowler continued.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Polymerization' from my hand!

I fuse the two Ancient Gear Golems on my field with the third 'Ancient Gear Golem' in my hand—the one that was bounced back last turn by Worm Yagan!"

He revealed the monster card in his hand. A projection of the third Ancient Gear Golem appeared on the field, then was drawn with the others into the swirling vortex of Fusion.

The fusion of machines looked like some colossal, ancient sleeper being awakened. From the raging energy within the vortex emerged a form whose upper body retained the humanoid structure of Ancient Gear Golem, its mechanical components intricate and precise, gleaming with a cold metallic luster. Its lower body was like that of a centaur: steel hooves crashing onto the ground, arms sheathed in heavy armor.

Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem—summoned!

[Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, ATK 4400]

"Whoa, it's real!" Tyranno shouted in excitement. "Professor Crowler really has such an unbelievable monster. I'm starting to see him in a whole new light!"

"What are you talking about?" Jaden said with a hands-on-hips grin.

"Professor's always been strong."

Crowler shot Jaden a meaningful look, then lightly closed his eyes.

"…Thanks, slacker."

He murmured it like talking to himself, then raised his head again.

"Battle, none!"

Crowler glanced over Kira's field, his mind racing.

The greatest threat right now was unquestionably Worm Victory. But thanks to his colleague Bonaparte's Gulliver Chain, Victory was bound and stuck in Defense Position for now, so it wasn't an immediate problem.

That meant the first thing he had to take out was Worm Yagan—the flip monster that bounced monsters back to the hand. It was face-up now, but if Kira's Deck was built around dirty flip shenanigans, there were bound to be plenty of cards like that previous "W Nebula Meteorite" that could repeatedly flip monsters.

"Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, attack 'Worm Yagan'!"

The mechanical giant crackled with electricity, arcs of power leaping across its body. Its punch tore the air apart, shockwaves blowing out as its fist obliterated Worm Yagan in a single blow.

"When Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem attacks, the opponent can't activate any Spells or Traps!" Crowler called out.

After shattering Worm Yagan, the giant's fist kept going. The shadow of the blow continued toward Kira—but naturally, when it reached him, it was blocked entirely by an invisible barrier.

"Continuous Trap 'Spirit Barrier.' As long as I control a monster, I don't take battle damage," Kira said with a smile. "Not even piercing damage gets through. You haven't forgotten that, have you, professor?"

"Tch… In that case, my turn is over, none."

He turned to Bonaparte.

"The rest is up to you!"

"Leave it to me, I understand!" Bonaparte said. "My turn. Draw!

I activate the Spell Card 'Remove Trap'!"

The Spell's projection appeared behind him.

"This card destroys one Trap on the field. I destroy 'Spirit Barrier'!"

Kira's Trap was shattered, and the golden, transparent barrier that had been protecting his field also broke apart.

"Excellent!" Crowler said. "With his strongest defense removed, we can finally inflict damage!"

Professor Bonaparte continued, "Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Card of Burial Magic.' I banish 'Forced March,' 'Fife and Drum Corps,' and 'Remove Trap' from my Graveyard to draw two cards!" (Anime card)

"And then I activate the Spell Card 'Crowning of the Emperor'!

I Tribute one 'Toy Soldier' on my field to Special Summon 'Toy Emperor' from my Deck!"

A magic circle flared under the last Toy Soldier on Bonaparte's field. Golden light burst from the circle and shot into the sky.

Within that light, the tiny soldier underwent a metamorphosis. It mounted a toy steed, gripped the reins, and drew the Emperor's sword, its eyes gazing resolutely forward.

Toy Emperor—summoned!

[Toy Emperor, ATK 2300]

"A soldier ascending into an emperor, huh?" Misawa murmured.

Syrus said, "Kinda does feel like Professor Bonaparte."

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Iron Call.' If I control a Machine-Type monster, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Machine-Type from my Graveyard," Bonaparte said.

"I Special Summon 'Toy Soldier' from my Graveyard!"

[Toy Soldier, ATK 800]

He paused, then gave Crowler a look.

"Crowler, I'll be borrowing your strength!"

"No problem!" Crowler replied without hesitation. He'd already resolved to fight side by side until they won. "No matter what, we have to win, Bonaparte!"

"I know!"

Bonaparte raised the card in his hand and called out loudly.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Creature Swap'!"

…

Chapter 899 – Damage = Reptile

"I activate the Spell Card 'Creature Swap'!"

Professor Bonaparte's Spell card flared to life.

"Creature Swap: I choose one monster on my field, then the opponent must also choose one monster on their field. We exchange control of the chosen monsters, de aru!"

Kira had used this card often in the past, so he was very familiar with it. He nodded.

"However, in a free-for-all mode, your 'opponent's side' isn't just one person from your perspective. So for effects like this, the player activating the card has to specify which 'opponent' the effect targets."

"I'm aware of that," Bonaparte said gravely. "I designate Professor Crowler as the target of 'Creature Swap'!

I choose to trade the 'Toy Soldier' I revived with Iron Call!"

On Kira's side, two Worms remained. If Bonaparte had targeted Kira, then even though Victory looked terrifying with 12,500 ATK, it was currently chained by Gulliver Chain and stuck in Defense Position, making it useless for the moment. Besides, Victory's attack depended on having a lot of Worms in the Graveyard. Bonaparte had no Worms in his Graveyard, so even if he did gain control of it, it would just be a 0-ATK scrub.

On Crowler's side, though, there was only one monster on the field. So Crowler didn't hesitate.

"Then I'll trade 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem' for 'Toy Soldier'!"

Everyone watching was visibly moved.

Professor Crowler actually traded his Ultimate Golem for a tiny monster with only 800 attack… No, it was even more than that. Monsters revived by Iron Call had their effects negated and were automatically destroyed at the end of the turn.

In other words, Crowler had basically let Professor Bonaparte use his ace for free. If Bonaparte failed to finish the duel this turn, Crowler would be left with an empty field going into Kira's turn.

In that case, Crowler might be eliminated before Bonaparte.

"I can't believe these two can cooperate to this extent," Tyranno muttered. "Hard to imagine."

"As expected, this proves that people only truly unite when they're facing a sufficiently powerful common enemy," Misawa said.

"Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, attack 'Worm Victory'!" Bonaparte shouted.

Despite Victory's attack having exceeded ten thousand, its Defense did not increase with the number of Worms in the Graveyard.

[Worm Victory, DEF 2500]

"Ultimate Golem inherits the abilities of Ancient Gear Golem," Crowler explained from the side. "While it's attacking, the opponent still can't activate any Spells or Traps!

And when it attacks a Defense Position monster, if its ATK exceeds that monster's DEF, it inflicts piercing damage!"

Ultimate Golem's fist shot out, electric arcs coiling around it like writhing serpents. The blow roared forth like an electromagnetic cannon.

Crowler and Professor Bonaparte shouted in unison:

"Ultimate Ancient Gear Heavy Fist!!!"

It truly felt as if both their powers had been poured into that single punch. Carrying unstoppable momentum and a raging torrent of electromagnetic energy, the fist slammed down!

Victory's tough carapace cracked open under the blow. The electromagnetic storm flooded into its body, exploding from the inside out and instantly blowing the bizarre alien to pieces.

[Kira, LP 3600 → LP 1700]

"We did it!"

The two professors were almost moved to tears. When they looked at each other, their eyes were filled with complicated emotion.

Even they themselves had never imagined that these lifelong rivals would see such a day.

That Worm Victory, which had seemed nearly invincible with more than ten thousand attack, had finally fallen. And it took both of them to accomplish it—a feat neither could have achieved alone.

"Don't get ahead of yourselves yet, professors. That battle isn't done resolving," Kira said with a smile.

"Continuous Trap—'Damage = Reptile'!"

Both professors froze.

"Wait," Professor Bonaparte protested. "Ultimate Golem's attack effect stops you from activating Traps—"

"I know," Kira said. "But Ancient Gear Golem's effect is: 'Until the end of the Damage Step, your opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards.'

However, 'Damage = Reptile' is a Trap that cannot be activated during the Damage Step to begin with. It's a Continuous Trap—I'd already activated it before the attack declaration. Its effect only triggers when battle damage is inflicted."

The two professors exchanged a look. Their excitement had already shifted back toward anxiety.

They both had the sinking feeling that the victory which had seemed so close a moment ago was about to slip away.

"Once per turn, when battle involving a Reptile-Type monster causes me to take battle damage, I can activate its effect," Kira explained. "I Special Summon from my Deck one Reptile-Type monster whose ATK is less than or equal to the damage I took."

"Just now, the damage was 1900," Crowler said.

"A Reptile with 1900 or less attack won't be a match for my Toy Emperor, de aru!" Bonaparte declared.

"That's not necessarily true," Kira said, striking a stylish pose that made both professors tense up.

"For a Reptile with 1900 ATK or less, the one I'll summon is this—"

Kira's Deck automatically searched. A dark current surged from it, a card shooting out and slamming down onto his field, its projection condensing into a towering upright serpent.

Dark energy roiled, forming a blood-red cloak behind the giant. Countless writhing serpent heads formed its fingers. Its crimson eyes gleamed with a thirst for blood.

"Vennominon, the King of Poisonous Snakes—summon!"

Everyone shuddered.

The two professors' eyes nearly popped out of their heads, filled with shock.

That thing's ATK is 1900 or less!?

[Vennominon, the King of Poisonous Snakes, ATK 0]

"Vennominon can't be Special Summoned by the effect of Effect Monsters other than itself," Kira said with a grin. "But that restriction only applies to 'monster effects.'

'Damage = Reptile' is a Trap effect, not a monster effect. So it can Special Summon the King of Poisonous Snakes just fine."

The two professors instantly understood.

Vennominon's base attack was 0, so as long as he paired it with 'Damage = Reptile,' he could bring it out of the Deck any time he took battle damage—even if it was just a scratch.

And since 'Damage = Reptile' was a Continuous Trap, as long as it stayed on the field, its effect would keep working. In other words, that previous Worm Victory—whose base ATK was also 0—had also met the summoning condition.

Realizing this, both professors went pale.

In short, as long as Kira took any damage at all, he could immediately pull another zero-attack monster from his Deck that could become a monstrous high-attack threat.

If they weren't careful, every point of damage they inflicted would just be feeding the birth of another terrifying monster.