# Chapter 174: Duel Crusher
Blackwing - Full Armored Wing ATK: 3000 → 4000
Boosted by the Action Card Crow had just picked up, Blackwing - Full Armored Wing's ATK reached 4000, matching that of Shooting Quasar Dragon! The clash between the two monsters ignited a shower of brilliant sparks.
Then, both monsters exploded on impact, transforming into black feathers and specks of starlight that scattered across the field.
"Magnificent!" the Female Commentator couldn't help but exclaim. "Bruno's monster is undoubtedly powerful, but Crow delivered a splendid response with an Action Card! So, does Bruno have any follow-up moves?"
Before the Female Commentator's words could even fade, the starlight that was once Shooting Quasar Dragon gathered behind Bruno, forming the fledgling shape of a giant dragon.
"Shooting Quasar Dragon's effect activates when it leaves the field! From the Extra Deck, I Special Summon one Shooting Star Dragon!"
"Appear! Level 10! Shooting Star Dragon!"
Bruno raised his right arm, which shone with the Mark of the Dragon, as a sacred red glow flared to life. The spectral giant dragon in the sky slowly took form. A white card, looking so fresh the ink was still wet, ejected from his Extra Deck. Bruno snatched it from the air and slammed it onto his Duel Disk.
Shooting Star Dragon ATK: 3300
"This is the final blow!" Bruno declared with a wave of his hand. "Shooting Star Dragon, direct attack!"
Shooting Star Dragon roared as it descended from the sky, diving toward Crow, whose field was empty.
Crow LP: 1600 → 0
Winner: Bruno!
Bruno's 3D projection appeared in the center of the stadium amidst a shower of fireworks as the audience roared his name.
But Bruno paid them no mind, instead walking over to Crow and helping him up. Crow had fallen when his D-Wheel spun out of control.
"Well done," Crow said, patting Bruno's shoulder. He took a card from his Duel Disk's Extra Deck and handed it to Bruno. "Take this. Carry on for me, and go do what you have to do."
"This card is...?" Bruno frowned at the card Crow handed him: Assault Blackwing - Onimaru the Divine Thunder, a Level 12 Synchro Monster. It was the ace Crow had revealed earlier.
"It might not be as strong as your Level 12 Synchro Monster, but its summoning conditions are a bit simpler. Maybe it can help you out," Crow said, shrugging as he watched the Security Officers swarming in from all directions.
"Alright, I should go meet up with Kiryu. The rest is up to you," Crow said. He faced the approaching Security Officers without any resistance, meekly allowing them to bind him and lead him away.
Bruno clutched the card Crow had given him, watching his friend's retreating back. He gritted his teeth and glared at Jack's silhouette on the high throne.
...
After Bruno left the track, Kaito, who was up next, straddled his D-Wheel—a custom model from Yūga Hōzumi with a Galaxy-Eyes design—and sized up his opponent.
He was a terrifyingly built man with short white hair that stood on end like steel needles. His face and bare shoulders were covered in yellow-lined criminal markings, a feature unique to this dimension.
Even his D-Wheel was absurdly large. Sharp steel spikes jutted out from its wheel hubs, lending the massive vehicle a ferocious air.
Perhaps noticing Kaito's gaze, the burly man on the D-Wheel looked back down at him and gave a cruel smile. He ran his tongue over his lips, sending a shiver down Kaito's spine.
Just then, the Female Commentator's voice rang out.
"The next duel is ready to begin! Let's give a roaring welcome to our two contestants!"
"First up, we have the man known as the Duel Crusher, Sergey Volkov!"
Inside the competitor's tunnel, the burly man seated on his ferocious D-Wheel heard his name. A red glint flashed in his eyes as he twisted the throttle. The terrifying, colossal D-Wheel shot forward at a speed completely at odds with its size. The moment he exited the tunnel, Sergey growled, popping a wheelie before slamming the front of his D-Wheel down hard onto the starting line. The vehicle's spikes shattered the road surface.
"Sergey, maliciously damaging the track is a foul, you know," the Female Commentator reminded him with a frown.
However, many in the audience ate it up, giving him enthusiastic cheers.
"Crush everything, Sergey!" a fleshy-faced man with criminal markings all over his face roared from the stands. "The previous duels were like fights between women! Show them what a real man's duel looks like!"
"Alright, let's welcome our next duelist!" The Female Commentator wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and quickly changed the subject.
"He is the man who commands the Galaxy Dragon as if it were an extension of his own arm! The duelist known as the Galaxy Emperor, Kaito Tenjo!"
When Kaito's Galaxy-Eyes-themed D-Wheel shot out of the competitor's tunnel, enthusiastic cheers erupted. It was an undeniable fact that a cool, handsome young man like Kaito was far more popular with the fans than someone like Sergey, who looked like a villain at first glance.
"Since everyone's been waiting, let's cut the chatter and get right to it!"
"Action Field On: Crossover Acceleration!"
3! 2! 1!
"Riding Duel! Accelerate!"
Both D-Wheels shot forward, each vying for control of the first curve.
Although Sergey's colossal D-Wheel moved with a speed that was unnatural for its size, Kaito's D-Wheel was a masterpiece from Yūga Hōzumi, who had inherited all the secrets of the Crab-Head Big Boss. Kaito gained the upper hand in their race for speed, pulling ahead by about a vehicle's length.
But just as Kaito prepared to take the curve, Sergey let out a low growl and tilted his D-Wheel. The spikes on its wheels began to violently scrape against the road.
The normal road surface was no match for Sergey's specially-crafted metal spikes. The asphalt began to crack and splinter, and the flying gravel struck the side of Kaito's D-Wheel. Traveling at high speed, the D-Wheel was thrown off balance. To avoid crashing, Kaito had no choice but to slow down. Sergey seized the opportunity to take the curve first, securing the first turn.
"Hahahaha! My turn!" Sergey cackled, starting his turn.
"When there is a face-up Field Spell on the field, I can Special Summon Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper from my hand! (Anime Card)"
"Next, I summon the Tuner Monster, Earthbound Prisoner Line Walker, in Attack Position! (Anime Card)"
"Then, I activate the Spell Card, Otherworld Resonance - Synchro Fusion!"
"By its effect, I use the two monsters on my field as material to perform a Synchro Summon and a Fusion Summon at the same time! (Anime Card)"
...
(end of chapter)