"O souls hidden in the light of destiny, reveal the dark truth to this world, and grant me your strength—
—Earthbound Immortal Uru, Summon!!"
Beams of light poured from deep within the abandoned Perpetual Engine Research Facility in Satellite, as if countless lingering souls were being drawn in, melding into the body of the Earthbound Immortal.
These were the lost souls of those killed seventeen years ago in the tragedy of "Zero Reverse." Now, their lingering spirits became fuel for the Immortal's resurrection.
From the center of the dark sphere, massive scythe-like legs emerged, and the spider-like Earthbound Immortal burst forth and landed with a flourish!
[Earthbound Immortal Uru, ATK 2900]
Leo trembled.
"It's really here! The Earthbound Immortal has come!"
Yusei intoned,
"The Earthbound Immortal is a card with the power to change the duel instantly, no matter the situation…"
"Earthbound Immortal Uru can ignore monsters and attack players directly!" Rudger roared.
Uru shot a transparent web straight at Kira, bypassing all monsters.
Kira replied,
"I activate my Set Trap—'Card of Sacrifice!'
If the combined ATK of all the monsters I control is less than that of my opponent's lowest ATK monster, I can draw two cards, but I can't summon any monsters this turn."
With only Junk Destroyer (ATK lower than Uru), Kira drew two cards.
Rudger laughed,
"When facing an Earthbound Immortal's despairing blow, all you can do is draw cards?"
"Next, I activate my Set Card—Trap Card 'Synchron Barrier,'" Kira said. "By tributing a Synchro Monster, I take no damage from any source until the end of the next turn."
Junk Destroyer became a glowing shield, blocking Uru's web.
"Barely hanging on, but you're just delaying the inevitable," Rudger scoffed.
"In this 'Spider Web' field, monsters that attack must go into Defense Position, and can't change position the next turn—but Earthbound Immortals are unaffected by all Spells and Traps. So Uru doesn't switch to Defense." (Anime effect)
He set another card to his back row.
"I set one and end my turn."
Declaring his end, Rudger shouted,
"I will win—no matter what! The light of the perpetual engine's destiny has guided me to this point for seventeen years. I won't fall now, nor will I be erased so simply!"
He clenched his fist:
"This fate let the revived evil god possess me. When the doors to the underworld open, I will become the evil god!
At that point, no one will control me ever again!"
"Is that so…"
Kira closed his eyes gently.
"If that's what you think, then I'm afraid you've misunderstood. It seems you still don't grasp the true nature of higher power."
Rudger frowned,
"What?"
"I mean, you're simply not strong enough."
Kira slowly opened his eyes. In that instant, Rudger felt an overwhelming pressure from Kira's gaze, suffocating him.
"You and your Earthbound Immortal… Do you really think simply having this much power means you'll never be anyone's pawn again?
It's cruel, but that's not possible."
Kira's tone was steady.
"With just this level of strength, you can't even escape my control in this duel, let alone the grasp of fate you've suffered for seventeen years, Rudger."
Rudger:
"Nani?!"
"I activate the effect of 'Glow-Up Bulb' in my Graveyard."
Kira declared.
"When 'Glow-Up Bulb' is in the Graveyard, I can send the top card of my Deck to the Graveyard to Special Summon it."
He sent a card to the Graveyard.
"Special Summon 'Glow-Up Bulb!'"
[Glow-Up Bulb, DEF 0]
"Next, the effect of 'Quillbolt Hedgehog' sent to the Graveyard last turn. If I control a Tuner monster, I can Special Summon it from the Graveyard.
Special Summon 'Quillbolt Hedgehog!'"
[Quillbolt Hedgehog, ATK 800]
"However, if 'Quillbolt Hedgehog' summoned this way leaves the field again, it is banished instead of sent to the Graveyard."
Kira gave a mysterious smile.
"That's the usual rule. But what if I add this card?"
Rudger:
"?"
"Activate my face-down—Continuous Trap, 'Imperial Iron Wall!'
While this card's on the field, neither player can banish cards!"
"Ah, I see," Rudger murmured. "This means Quillbolt Hedgehog can be used repeatedly for Synchro Summons.
Every time it would be banished, Imperial Iron Wall prevents it, so it goes to the Graveyard instead. And as long as it's in the Graveyard with a Tuner in play, it can keep reviving itself."
Kira was netting extra resources, essentially building an infinite Synchro material loop.
Rudger felt he understood—
But he understood nothing.
"Synchro material?"
Kira chuckled.
"Who told you Synchro Summons are my forte?"
Rudger:
"?"
"I activate the Continuous Spell, 'Mass Driver!'
By releasing a monster, I inflict 400 damage to you!"
The audience immediately realized what was going on.
Jack:
"He's using Quillbolt Hedgehog…"
Akiza:
"…Infinite ammo…"
Now they truly understood.
This was the true victory formula Kira had completed in secret.
Even Yusei realized with awe: nearly all the key cards in this duel, including this critical 'Quillbolt Hedgehog,' were his signature favorites. But not once had he thought to use Quillbolt Hedgehog like this.
Who said Quillbolt Hedgehog could only be Synchro fodder, a stepping stone for big monsters?
Today, Quillbolt Hedgehog would prove its true worth.
It could solo the Earthbound Immortal with this trick!
Rudger's face froze, going pale:
"You think you can win, but the Earthbound Immortal's power isn't so easily overcome!
Counter Trap—'Earthbound Wave!'
While I control an Earthbound Immortal, negate and destroy an opponent's Spell or Trap activation!
I negate 'Mass Driver' and destroy it!"
Earthbound Immortal Uru unleashed a transparent energy wave, instantly blasting the freshly summoned cannon to pieces.
"Argh!" Leo cried. "That beautiful infinite combo! Gone…"
Rudger declared:
"Ever since that moment seventeen years ago in Zero Reverse, this destiny was set in stone. No one can overturn it!"
His confidence seemed restored.
So smug, are you? Thought you'd use that hedgehog to finish me?
"Let's see if you can keep boasting!"
But Kira simply replied, expressionless:
"Oh. Then I'll Normal Summon 'Cannon Soldier' from my hand."
[Cannon Soldier, ATK 1400]
An ancient card from the earliest era of Yu-Gi-Oh!, drawn in a nostalgic old style.
But as every duelist knows: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are like the finest wines. The older, the stronger; the more broken.
"Cannon Soldier's effect: tribute a monster to deal 500 damage to your opponent.
This effect has no once per turn restriction."
Rudger froze mid-victory pose. Even Uru seemed to cast him a look of helplessness, as if saying, Don't blame me—I've done my best. Even I can't stop this busted combo.
Kira continued:
"I tribute Quillbolt Hedgehog with Cannon Soldier—deal 500 damage to you!
And thanks to Imperial Iron Wall, Quillbolt Hedgehog isn't banished, just sent to the Graveyard.
As long as Glow-Up Bulb is on the field, Quillbolt Hedgehog can keep Special Summoning itself.
As long as I keep repeating this loop, you'll take 500 damage every time.
In the end, the damage becomes…infinite!"
Lowering his duel disk arm, Kira looked at Rudger and spoke calmly:
"Like I said—you, and your Earthbound Immortal, are nowhere near enough.
No matter how hard you try to break free from the board, you're still a piece, not the player."
Rudger:
"..."
[Rudger, LP 1900 → 0]