Using chaos to oppose chaos, raising the chaotic blade level in his hand, [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning] pointed the tip of his sword toward [Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash], who stood firm amid the raging tidal waves.
Both possessed 3000 Attack, and [Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash] had the effect of increasing the opponent's monster's Attack during battle, as well as resistance to destruction by card effects.
Yet even this Chaos Xyz that embodied both spear and shield, as an old-generation Chaos monster, [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning] happened to have the effect that could defeat it.
"With this sword, I will split the raging tide! [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning] effect—activate!"
[You can only use 1 of this card's effects ① or ② once per turn.
①: Target 1 monster on the field; banish that target. This card cannot attack the turn you activate this effect.
②: When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle: This card can make a second attack in a row.]
A Chaos warrior that could activate one of two effects.
Since battling head-on would result in being counter-destroyed by [Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash], the effect Miles chose was naturally the banishing effect that could carve open even another dimension.
"At the cost of [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning] being unable to attack this turn, I will send the other Chaos to another dimension!"
Swinging the chaotic blade in his hand toward the surging waves ahead, the effect strike of [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning] truly split apart the boundless sea.
"I target [Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash] to activate the effect, banishing the Chaos Xyz directly! Chaos Cleaving Slash!!"
The endless ocean surface was split open, carving a dimensional rift through the raging tsunami.
The Chaos warrior followed with another slash, sending [Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash] itself, together with the furious waves, into the cleaved rift.
[Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash] Banished
"..."
Watching his Chaos Number 73 be split apart along with the sea itself, Quaedes' frost-cold expression finally showed the faintest crease of a frown for the first time.
"I see. It seems I have indeed underestimated you somewhat, Miles."
"It's already too late for regret. Now it's my turn to battle!"
After clearing away Quaedes' Chaos trump card monster, Miles had finally seized the opportunity to attack once more.
Even though [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning], having activated its banishing effect, could not attack, Miles still had another monster on the field capable of declaring an attack.
That was [Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir], whose original 2000 Attack had been restored after being thawed from the freezing effect.
"Additional direct attack, second shot! — 'Meteor Swarm Expulsion'!"
With the same attack pattern, the artillery fire of the high-radiance cosmic armament once again poured down upon Quaedes.
In a single duel, launching direct attacks against the strongest emperor of the Empire for two consecutive turns, the glorious battle record of [Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir] was already worthy of being written into the Drytron lineage.
[Quaedes, LP: 8600 → 6600]
Baptized by the continuous cannon fire of Drytron, Quaedes' slightly furrowed brows deepened further.
"Finally, I Set one card and end my turn!"
After the battle, Miles Set one of his two remaining cards from his hand, gripping the other tightly.
This was the path to victory created from the brink of certain defeat.
As the turn changed, this time Quaedes did not immediately draw from the Spirit Eyes Deck.
Her ice-blue eyes gently narrowed, and in silence, Quaedes seemed to be sensing the flow of some presence around her.
After roughly half a minute of pause, Quaedes slowly spoke.
"To resist me to this extent, you are the first, Miles."
"May I take that as praise from the Emperor of the Varian Empire?"
"By all means. You may regard it as my commendation. And it is also proof that you are about to experience my power!"
Her ice-blue eyes opened once more. As Quaedes drew his card, his slender fingertips seemed, for an instant, to be wrapped in waves of light.
"My turn, draw!"
Totally different from his previous draws, the overwhelming aura this time made it unnecessary to even look at the card; Miles already knew this draw was disastrous.
"Behold! My Spell Card [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One]!"
A Rank-Up-Magic unlike the others. Previously seen Rank-Up-Magic cards all required an Xyz Monster on the field, then used the Rank-Up-Magic to Xyz Summon a higher Rank form.
But when Quaedes revealed [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One], there was unquestionably no
[Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One
You can only use this card's effect once per Duel. During your Draw Phase, if you drew this card for your normal draw, you can reveal it; during the start of your Main Phase 1 of that turn, you can activate its effect.]
A Rank-Up-Magic limited to only once per Duel. Upon its card face, seven layers of chaotic sigils shimmered.
"After continuously revealing [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One], I activate its effect at the start of Main Phase 1!"
Though there was no Xyz Monster on Quaedes' field, the activated [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One] still connected its light to Quaedes' Extra Deck.
[At the start of your Main Phase 1 of the turn this effect is activated: Special Summon 1 monster from your Extra Deck or GY that is a "Number 101" to "Number 107" monster, except a "Chaos Number" monster.]
From Number 101 to Number 107, choose one monster and Special Summon it directly from the Extra Deck—that was the effect of The Seventh One.
"O radiant angel of the shining halo, answer the guidance of The Seventh One and release your brilliant arrow! Special Summon [Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry]!"
[Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry] Rank 4│LIGHT│Fairy│2500 ATK
The Rank 4 Xyz Monster, Star Seraph Sentry, was directly Special Summoned from Quaedes' Extra Deck under the guidance of The Seventh One.
At the same time, this was also the first time Quaedes had Summoned an Xyz Monster that was not WATER Attribute.
Miles said, "If you Special Summon an Xyz Monster directly from the Extra Deck without overlaying materials, you won't be able to unleash its full power, will you?"
An Xyz Monster directly Special Summoned from the Extra Deck was different from Fusion or Synchro Monsters that could unleash their full effects… it had a fatal flaw.
That was the absence of any Xyz Materials beneath the card.
As everyone knew, when most Xyz Monsters activated their effects, they needed to detach Xyz Materials stacked beneath them as cost.
"Of course I am aware of that. But you don't think that is all there is to [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One], do you?"
Directly Special Summoning an Xyz Monster from the Extra Deck was simple and forceful, but that had nothing to do with "ranking up."
Since it was called "Rank-Up-Magic," The Seventh One naturally also contained an effect related to ranking up.
Quaedes waved her hand forward, grasping the sevenfold chaotic sigils flowing across the card's surface.
"This is the final effect of [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One]!"
[After that, Special Summon from your Extra Deck 1 "Chaos Number" monster with the same number as that Special Summoned monster by using it as material, and overlay it on top of that monster as an Xyz Summon.]
The complete effect stacked together. After drawing [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One], you could Special Summon an Xyz Monster numbered 101 to 107 from the Extra Deck, then directly perform a Chaos Rank-Up on top of that Special Summoned Xyz Monster.
"Appear, Chaos Number 102! O angel whose radiance can even be twisted, fallen into demonic abyss—spread your pitch-black wings! — [Number C102: Archfiend Seraph]!"
[Number C102: Archfiend Seraph] Rank 5│LIGHT│Fairy│2900 ATK
After the Chaos Rank-Up, its once resplendent golden appearance had fallen into a completely jet-black demonic form.
"The Chaos Xyz power of The Seventh One! This time, can your Chaos warrior still withstand it, Miles!"
The bottomless strength of the Empire's strongest emperor manifested without hesitation as Quaedes immediately activated the Xyz effect of [Number C102: Archfiend Seraph].
[If this card has "Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry" as material, it gains this effect.
● Once per turn: You can detach 1 material from this card, then target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; its Attack becomes 0, and its effects are negated.]
Since it had been Chaos Rank-Up Summoned on top of [Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry], the condition to gain the effect was unquestionably fulfilled.
"I detach its only Xyz Material and target your [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning]! Its Attack becomes 0, and its effects are negated! Fallen Light Spear!!"
A spear of light thrust forth from chaotic darkness. The intertwined power of light and dark shattered the long sword in the Chaos warrior's hand.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK: 3000 → 0]
Not only was its Attack reduced to 0, even its own effects were negated.
Though it was not destroyed or removed from the field, the Chaos warrior, stripped of all combat power, instead became the target of the opponent's full assault.
"Ugh!?"
As the Chaos warrior's blade was shattered, Miles felt as if he himself had been pierced by a spear. The pain transmitted through his nerves with terrifying realism.
"[Number C102: Archfiend Seraph]'s other effect!"
[When this card has no Xyz Materials: Inflict 1500 damage to your opponent.]
"Because Archfiend Seraph's only Xyz Material was detached, the demonic spear pierces through the Duelist as well!"
[Miles, LP: 1950 → 450]
Miles' Life Points were drastically reduced, but that was not yet the most fatal part.
With only 450 Life Points remaining, Miles now faced [Number C102: Archfiend Seraph] with 2900 Attack.
Meanwhile, his own Chaos monster, [Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning], had been shattered down to 0 Attack.
With a single draw of [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One], Quaedes Soroya, the Empire's strongest emperor, had completely overturned the battlefield.
Each turn grew stronger than the last. Even Miles could not help but marvel… did this woman's strength truly have no limits?
"This time, in every sense, the victor has been decided, Miles. Battle!"
Declaring entry into this turn's Battle Phase, neither of Miles' two remaining monsters—Drytron nor the Chaos warrior—could withstand this strike.
"Wield the chaotic demonic spear and utterly defeat the Chaos warrior. This strike shall be your end! Spear of Finality!"
Choosing to destroy the Chaos warrior with 0 Attack on Miles' field, the attack of [Number C102: Archfiend Seraph] radiated despair from within.
"This isn't my end!"
Yet in the face of that despair, Miles shouted out the path of counterattack.
Quaedes Soroya, the Empire's strongest emperor, whose strength seemed bottomless, without limits.
If Miles could seize that fleeting moment of breakthrough… grasp that sliver of victory, then it could only be now.
At the very instant [Number C102: Archfiend Seraph] declared its attack.
Only that card had the chance to defeat Emperor Quaedes.
"—Trap Card activate [A Hero Emerges]!"
Though the card was named [A Hero Emerges], it was not a Trap restricted to HERO monsters.
[A Hero Emerges
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Your opponent randomly selects 1 card from your hand. If it is a Monster Card, Special Summon it to your field; otherwise, send it to the Graveyard.]
When the opponent's monster declared an attack, the opponent randomly chose a card from your hand; if it was a monster, it was directly Special Summoned.
"Come on. Make your choice, Quaedes!"
"Miles, you…" Quaedes' ice-blue eyes flickered.
Though it was said to be a random choice, Miles had not left her any room to choose.
There was only that single card in Miles' hand. Quaedes could only choose that one.
Betting on the slim possibility of victory, the only way to defeat the Emperor of the Empire… the final monster remaining in Miles' hand.
"Trap Card [A Hero Emerges] effect resolves—Special Summon!"
Slamming the only card in his hand onto the floor, in that instant even the Imperial Capital's royal palace trembled from the quake rising from the earth.
"A Hero Emerges! Earth's Hero! Divine summoning! Obelisk the Tormentor!"
---
If you want to support, please consider Patreon and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]