Stardust’s effect—Sacrifice Sanctuary!

"When an effect that would destroy a card is activated, Stardust Dragon’s effect can be activated," Paradox declared. "Tribute Stardust Dragon to negate the effect that destroys, then destroy it!

I tribute Stardust Dragon to negate the activation of ’Malevolent Catastrophe’ and destroy it!"

Mokuba asked in surprise, "Huh? Didn’t Skill Drain already negate all monster effects? Why can he activate this?"

Kira explained through his earpiece, "Stardust Dragon’s effect requires tributing itself as cost. By the time the effect resolves, Stardust Dragon is already in the graveyard. Skill Drain only negates the effects of monsters on the field, so it can’t negate Stardust once it’s in the graveyard."

Mokuba was dumbfounded.

Huh? Is that so?

So it’s not just some made-up nonsense...

Stardust Dragon let out a mighty roar, its body dissolving into points of light. A transparent field of starlight quickly spread across the field, deflecting the full force of the trap’s explosive storm. All of it was absorbed by the starlight barrier and neutralized.

"The destruction effect is useless," Paradox sneered. "As long as Stardust Dragon is here—"

But before he could finish, his pupils suddenly contracted.

From the domain left by Stardust’s sacrifice, a limitless blue radiance burst forth. The blinding blue light formed a transparent barrier, stretching across Kira’s field.

That is...

Mirror Force!

Paradox’s face changed dramatically. "You... you have another trap!?"

"That’s right. A double trap," Kira said with a smile, pointing to another set card that had already been activated in his back row.

"Trap Card—’Mirror Force’! When your opponent declares an attack, destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls!"

Pausing for a moment, Kira added:

"I activated Malevolent Catastrophe first. You chained Stardust Dragon’s effect, negating Catastrophe. But Mirror Force is chained after Stardust Dragon’s effect is finished.

At that moment, Stardust Dragon has already been tributed. You can’t use its effect to negate Mirror Force again. So Mirror Force goes through smoothly."

Paradox’s face turned grim.

This bastard...

Malevolent Catastrophe would destroy all monsters on both sides, while Mirror Force only wipes out the opponent’s monsters. Clearly, Mirror Force is the superior play, yet Kira didn’t hesitate to activate Cataclysm first.

There’s only one explanation: Cataclysm was a trap to bait him into using Stardust Dragon’s effect from the start.

In other words, this guy is absolutely clear about Stardust Dragon’s effect!

But how is that possible?

Stardust Dragon is a monster from years in the future, a Synchro monster. The concept of Synchro Summon doesn’t even exist in this era. How could he possibly know about Stardust Dragon!?

Regardless, Mirror Force had already activated. An overwhelming blast of energy reflected from the barrier, obliterating Paradox Dragon into pieces.

Paradox stood with a dark expression, shrouded in the smoke and fire of the explosion.

"...I underestimated you," Paradox said in a low voice. "Perhaps you’re even more important than I thought."

He truly believed it now.

Fujiki Kira—someone who didn’t even exist in his memory of the original timeline. Yet the things this man knew went far beyond common sense, and his dueling style was just as bizarre.

The perpetual motion machine’s failure, in truth, was humanity’s own doing.

The perpetual motion machine needed the passion of duelists to fuel it. When Synchro Summon first appeared, everyone was ablaze with enthusiasm for Synchro and for dueling itself. The perpetual motion machine responded to this positive energy, creating endless power, bringing hope and the future.

But as time passed, people gradually lost that passion. Negative and pessimistic emotions polluted the perpetual motion machine, causing it to reverse, explode catastrophically, and trigger a worldwide chain reaction. Coupled with resource depletion and war, human civilization was ultimately destroyed.

So rather than blaming the perpetual motion machine, the real culprit was the loss of duelists’ passion, and the pollution of the machine by negativity.

At this moment, facing the Duel King before him, Paradox felt this man was a negative emotion generator!

He had no doubt—99% of duelists who played against this guy would lose most of their passion. This man was a cancer in the dueling world, a walking black hole, a source of evil and darkness.

He even suspected, for a moment, that maybe this bastard was the real cause of the world’s destruction!?

"Hm?"

Kira stroked his chin, looking at Paradox curiously.

Why does it feel like he suddenly wants to kill me even more?

Sure, it’s natural to be angry after falling for my chain of traps and getting wiped, but this guy’s murderous intent seems to have gone beyond normal.

It’s like...

Yes, like he’s staring at a mortal enemy, with a look that says "It’s you or me, today."

Am I really that bad?

"I can’t lose," Paradox ground out between clenched teeth.

"We are people with nothing left, nothing more to lose. At the very least, I must protect... this last belief!"

With a roar, Paradox raised his arm.

His final set card flipped open.

"I activate my set card—Trap Card—

—Malefic Paradigm Shift!" (Anime card)

The trap card revealed, its artwork showed a golden dragon’s silhouette!

"When your ’Malefic Paradox Dragon’ is destroyed, pay half your Life Points to activate this card!"

[Paradox, LP 2500 → 1250]

"From your hand, deck, or graveyard, Special Summon the ultimate ’Malefic’!"

Paradox spread his arms wide.

"The ultimate ’Malefic’, the embodiment of my will, descend and merge with me in this sinful world—

—Malefic Truth Dragon!!!"

Paradox’s ultimate trump card! A golden whirlwind swept the field, and within the storm, the golden dragon’s silhouette emerged. The moment the golden dragon descended, even the virtual space of Malefic seemed gilded in gold.

And when he said "merge with me," he wasn’t joking or being figurative.

Paradox literally fused into Truth Dragon’s body! Just like how Marik in the past was half-merged into the Winged Dragon of Ra’s head, Paradox’s lower body fused with Truth Dragon, with only his upper body protruding above the golden dragon’s head.

It really did look like this dragon was the manifestation of his obsession.

[Malefic Truth Dragon, ATK 5000]

"Malefic Truth Dragon, attack ’Archlord Kristya’!"

Paradox attacked again. This time, Kira’s back row was empty—he seemed to have no more means of defense.

Truth Dragon went all out, firing a crimson energy sphere from its mouth. The violent energy pierced Kristya’s chest, leaving a massive hole before the Archlord burst into fragments of light.

...

...

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