[bonus]
"Infinite ATK, infinite monster destruction…"
If he wasn't a robot, Alpha might have started sweating bullets.
The calm, yellow-clad student before him grew more and more terrifying and abstract in his eyes. Under the hazy moonlight, together with the infinitely strong, sinister marionette on the field, he truly looked like a ghost.
Is this guy just a student? The thought flashed through Alpha's mind.
Can I beat an opponent like this?
No—before that…
Did Father, the one who gave me this mission, secretly have doubts about me?
"I set a card and end my turn," Kira said.
Alpha snapped back to himself.
No, that's not it!
Father believes in me! He's studied all of Kaiba's duels, all his strategies. The reason he sent me is because he trusts my abilities!
And I won't let him down!
"My turn, draw!"
Alpha's gaze became resolute.
So what if it's infinite? I'll crush it!
"Standby Phase, activate the set card: Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions.' Send 'Nightmare Mirage' to the graveyard; I recover 1000 LP."
[Alpha, LP 4000 → LP 5000]
Kira watched calmly.
Wow, Emergency Provisions? Never would have guessed…
"Then, in my graveyard, 'Arkbrave Dragon's effect!" Alpha said. "On the Standby Phase, after it's sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon another Level 7 or 8 Dragon from my graveyard.
I revive this card—"
He raised his arm.
"Rise again in black flames! Level 7, Darkblaze Dragon!"
Black flames exploded as a dragon wreathed in fire soared from the underworld.
[Darkblaze Dragon, ATK 1200]
"Darkblaze Dragon's effect: When Special Summoned from the graveyard, its ATK is doubled!"
[Darkblaze Dragon, ATK 1200 → 2400]
"Of course, against your infinite ATK Magical Marionette, it's nothing…that's what you're thinking, right?
But my dragons' power doesn't end there!"
He activated another Spell.
"Spell Card 'Fiend's Sanctuary.' Special Summon a 'Metal Fiend Token'!"
[Metal Fiend Token, ATK 0]
"Then Tribute the Metal Fiend Token to Tribute Summon!
Level 6, Gravity Dragon!"
[Gravi-Crush Dragon, ATK 2400]
"Gravi-Crush Dragon's effect! Send a face-up Continuous Spell you control to the graveyard to destroy an opponent's monster!"
Alpha pulled the card from his duel disk.
"I send 'Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords' to the grave to destroy 'Magical Marionette!'"
The ancient dragon statue shattered, sending out a wave of gravity. Even the infinitely strong Puppet was crushed and destroyed.
"Ha ha ha! See that? That's my power surpassing infinity!"
Alpha laughed.
"Father believes in me, and no matter what, I will live up to that trust! The power Kaiba has, I have too!"
Kira shook his head.
"So you studied all his duels, all his tactics, and this is all you learned? Just brute force?"
"What?" Alpha frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, as an AI, you're not very intelligent—you're just a third-rate duelist with a fourth-rate deck mindlessly imitating others."
"You—!"
Alpha was about to snap but caught himself.
"Heh, almost fell for your tricks. The intel said you're the kind who messes with people's minds and likes torturing your opponents on both a psychological and dueling level. I'm not falling for it…!"
Kira looked odd.
Who wrote that about me? That's pure slander!
I'm not that evil, am I?
"Too bad for you, but I won't dance to your tune!"
Alpha muttered as if to himself, then said:
"If you're watching, Father, please witness the power I've gained. I won't let you down!"
He looked up with resolve.
"Battle Phase! First, 'Darkblaze Dragon' attacks 'Gearfried the Iron Knight!'"
Darkblaze Dragon roared and spat black flames!
Both dragons have the same ATK, but of course, he'd attack with Darkblaze Dragon first, since it has the effect: "Deal damage to the opponent equal to the destroyed monster's original ATK."
If he attacked first with Gravi-Crush Dragon, he'd only do 600 damage. If he then attacked with Darkblaze, he'd only do 3000 total—couldn't finish the game.
But if Darkblaze destroyed Gearfried, he'd do 2400 damage plus its effect for another 1800, then a follow-up attack from Gravi-Crush Dragon for 4800 total—an OTK.
Alpha's eyes flashed.
This turn, he'd decide the duel!
"As an AI, that's some impressive killing intent," Kira murmured.
Boom!
Black flames swept across his side of the field like a storm.
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3400]
"Good!" Alpha shouted. "Then Darkblaze Dragon's effect deals you additional damage equal to the destroyed monster's ATK—"
"Sorry, not quite."
Kira smiled.
Alpha's expression changed.
As the smoke cleared, Gearfried was still on the field.
"What?"
"I banished this card from my graveyard," Kira revealed a card. "Shield Warrior. By banishing it, I can protect a monster I control from being destroyed by battle."
"Tch, so you threw it in with Card Destruction earlier… Then 'Gravi-Crush Dragon' attacks!"
This time there was no protection—Gearfried was destroyed.
[Kira, LP 3400 → LP 2800]
Kira: "Then, activate the set card: Trap 'Time Machine.' I can revive a monster sent to the graveyard by battle in the same battle position.
I revive 'Gearfried the Iron Knight.'"
A dark machine appeared, mist swirling as time seemed to reverse. Shattered armor reformed, and Gearfried returned.
[Gearfried the Iron Knight, ATK 1800]
"Goddamn it! Is that thing immortal?" Alpha was getting frustrated.
Gearfried, again and again.
And the opponent still had that "Butterfly Dagger – Elma" in hand—if he couldn't get rid of Gearfried, who knows what other tricks he'd come up with next turn.
I need a plan…
"Activate Spell 'Card of Heaven and Earth.' Since I Tribute Summoned this turn, I draw two cards from my deck. But they can't be used this turn; if possible, I must set at least one." (Manga card effect)
I can't lose.
I promised Father I'd get this done. I won't fall here.
"Draw!"
Two new cards in hand, Alpha's eyes brightened.
This card…
"I set two cards to my back row," Alpha said. "Turn end."