The airflow over the Duel Course turned restless under the suddenly surging pressure of the duel. Invisible force crashed silently between the two of them, and even the air itself trembled with faint ripples.
"Then I resolve my effect." Yusaku glanced at the White Forest Dragon on Inoue Ichiki's field and spoke in the same flat tone as ever. "By the effect of Megalith Phul..."
As he spoke, he revealed two cards from his hand.
"I Tribute the Level 8 Megalith Phaleg, and the Level 4 Megalith Ophiel from my hand!"
"Ritual Summon! Level 12 - Megalith Phulra!"
A thunderous roar erupted.
A dark crimson Ritual Circle unfolded in front of Yusaku, ancient and obscure incantations slithering across it like living serpents, radiating an aura of age and solemn authority. In the next instant, the ground shook violently as eight pitch-black fissures burst open from the center of the circle. Eight massive mechanical tails smashed upward through the earth, hurling sand and stone in every direction and filling the field with dust.
A colossal machine giant over ten meters tall rose from the crimson circle. Its entire body was forged from dark red alloy, every inch engraved with strange, intricate runes. At the center of its chest, a giant crimson crystal pulsed with dazzling light, like a heart pouring endless power through the monster's body.
The moment it appeared, an enormous pressure crushed down across the field. Inoue Ichiki's pupils contracted hard, and the breath caught in his throat.
[Megalith Phulra]
[Level 12 / Ritual / Rock / Effect]
[ATK 2000 / DEF 3000]
Yusaku lifted his gaze toward his opponent. "Megalith Phulra's effect. When it's Ritual Summoned, I can add one Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand."
He drew a card from the Deck and held it up before everyone's eyes.
"I add Megalith Hagith."
Then, without the slightest pause, he slapped the newly added monster onto his Duel Disk.
"And I activate Megalith Hagith's effect in my hand. During either Main Phase, I can Ritual Summon by Tributing monsters from my hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Ritual Monster's Level. I Tribute the Level 4 Megalith Hagith from my hand, and the Level 12 Megalith Phulra on my field!"
"Ritual Summon! Descend, the supreme overlord of all Megaliths - Level 12, Megalith Aratron!"
Boom!
The crimson Ritual Circle flared again. This time, the inscriptions blazing across it multiplied severalfold, while a far heavier pressure rolled over the arena like a tidal wave. A gigantic arm wrapped in black iron armor thrust out from the center of the circle, followed by a mountain-like body that slowly emerged from the surge of scarlet light.
It was a towering giant made of black steel. Its upper body resembled a heavily armored warrior, but below the waist was a massive pedestal of stone carved with ancient reliefs. On its back floated six enormous dark-gold stone tablets, revolving slowly around it like orbiting satellites. Each revolution released a low, oppressive hum that weighed on the soul itself.
[Megalith Aratron]
[Level 12 / Ritual / Rock / Effect]
[ATK 2000 / DEF 3000]
As the giant fully descended, it lowered its head slightly, as though bowing to its summoner. Yusaku remained expressionless. "Megalith Hagith's effect activates when it's Ritual Summoned. I add one Megalith Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand."
He pulled a card from the Deck in one smooth motion.
"I add Megalith Portal."
The moment he finished speaking, he immediately inserted the card into his Duel Disk.
"Then I activate the Field Spell, Megalith Portal."
A vast stone temple rose from the ground with a deafening rumble. Towering pillars ringed the field, and archaic runes lit one after another along the temple walls. A dim golden glow spread across the arena, making it feel as if the entire battlefield had been dragged into some forgotten sanctuary from antiquity.
Across from him, Inoue Ichiki's expression had already grown extremely ugly.
He had thought Yusaku's previous Ritual Summon was simply meant to bring out a beater. He had not expected it to be the opening move to an even larger extension.
But Yusaku was still not done.
"Megalith Portal's effect. If a Ritual Monster is Ritual Summoned, I can Special Summon one Megalith monster from my GY in Defense Position."
He raised his hand and pointed toward the graveyard slot.
"Come back. Megalith Hagith."
Another circle of light opened, and the stone-armored giant that had just been used as Tribute reappeared on the field.
[Megalith Hagith]
[Level 4 / Ritual / Rock / Effect]
[ATK 1300 / DEF 2600]
"Then I activate Megalith Aratron's effect. During the Main Phase, I can Ritual Summon by Tributing monsters from my hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Ritual Monster's Level."
He revealed another card from his hand.
"I Tribute Megalith Hagith on my field, and the Level 8 Megalith Bethor from my hand!"
"Ritual Summon! Megalith Bethor!"
The temple roared again.
This time, countless gigantic stone slabs broke through the ground and assembled in midair. Under the illumination of crimson and gold light, they fused into a terrifying giant whose body looked like a fortress of ancient rock. Its face was an enormous one-eyed mask, and the moment that eye opened, a destructive aura swept across the field.
[Megalith Bethor]
[Level 8 / Ritual / Rock / Effect]
[ATK 1500 / DEF 2600]
"Bethor's effect activates on Ritual Summon." Yusaku's voice stayed perfectly level. "I destroy cards on your field up to the number of Ritual Monsters with different names in my graveyard."
He swept a glance over his graveyard.
"Right now I have Megalith Ophiel, Megalith Phaleg, Megalith Phulra, and Megalith Hagith. Four different Ritual Monsters. So I destroy four cards on your field."
Inoue Ichiki's face changed completely.
His field only had four cards total.
The White Forest Dragon, the two back row cards, and the face-up Continuous Spell beside them.
"There's no way..." he blurted out.
Bethor's giant eye suddenly released a blinding beam. The crimson-gold ray swept across the field like a divine judgment from ancient times, swallowing Inoue Ichiki's cards one after another. Explosions rang out in rapid succession, and in the blink of an eye, every card on his field was blasted apart.
The field was wiped clean.
The stands fell into stunned silence.
Even the duelists watching the live broadcast forgot to breathe for a moment.
Then the entire audience exploded.
"What the hell?! He wiped the whole field again?!"
"That's insane! He Ritual Summoned three times in one turn and still cleared everything?!"
"This is way too brutal!"
On the track, Inoue Ichiki stared blankly at his now-empty field, his face drained of blood.
But Yusaku's turn still had not ended.
"Megalith Bethor's Level is 8." He lifted another card. "I activate Megalith Aratron's effect again. I Tribute Bethor on my field and the Level 4 Megalith Och from my hand."
"Ritual Summon. Megalith Phaleg!"
A giant clad in dark crimson armor smashed down onto the field once more, every movement releasing a pressure like an avalanche.
[Megalith Phaleg]
[Level 8 / Ritual / Rock / Effect]
[ATK 2500 / DEF 1200]
"And Megalith Portal activates again. I Special Summon Megalith Bethor from my graveyard."
The massive stone giant reappeared beside Phaleg, like a second siege engine descending onto the battlefield.
Yusaku looked straight ahead. "Megalith Phaleg's effect. All Ritual Monsters I control gain 300 ATK and DEF for each Ritual Monster in my graveyard."
"Right now I have five Ritual Monsters in my graveyard."
A crimson shockwave burst from Phaleg and spread across the field.
[Megalith Phaleg: ATK 2500 → 4000]
[Megalith Bethor: ATK 1500 → 3000]
The overwhelming pressure rolled over Inoue Ichiki like a tidal wave. His face turned ghastly pale.
Yusaku did not even spare him another glance.
"Battle Phase."
The instant those two words fell, the atmosphere in the stadium tightened to the extreme.
"Megalith Phaleg, attack directly."
The armored giant raised its stone fist and smashed it down like a falling meteor. The blow struck Inoue Ichiki's D-Wheel head-on, and sparks exploded everywhere.
[Inoue Ichiki, LP 4000 → 0]
The duel ended in an instant.
Inoue Ichiki's D-Wheel spun out violently before crashing hard against the guardrail. His body was thrown clear and slammed onto the track.
The scoreboard flashed bright red.
Duel End.
The entire stadium shook with deafening cheers.
Yusaku slowed his D-Wheel and glanced back at the defeated duelist sprawled across the ground, his tone calm as still water.
"You're out."
(End of Chapter)
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