Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds: Duelists Beyond Light

"roar--------------"

A soul-piercing dragon's roar erupted from within the energy cocoon. This sound was unlike its previous majesty; it carried a violent, resilient power, as if the cocoon were breaking free! The energy cocoon shattered completely with this roar, countless golden fragments of light falling like a meteor shower, scattering sparks across the arena floor!

Amidst the shards of light, the figure of the Stardust Dragon's Explosive Form gradually became clear. Its body had nearly doubled in size, its once silvery-white scales now completely transformed into a crimson gold. Each scale seemed forged from molten star metal, its surface shimmering with a liquid-like luster. The energy patterns etched upon them writhed slowly like living things, constantly absorbing and releasing the surrounding energy. When its wings unfolded, they blotted out nearly half the sky! The wing membranes were no longer woven from stardust, but had transformed into translucent golden crystals. Energy blades growing from the edges gleamed with a chilling sharpness; as the blades sliced ​​through the air, a hissing sound could even be heard as space itself was being cut!

With each flap of its wings, countless tiny golden meteors fell from the wingtips, leaving long trails of light behind it. The curved horns on its head grew thicker, spiraling upwards, with a dense ball of golden energy condensing at the tip, constantly flashing with lightning. Its golden eyes now burned with raging flames, reflecting the entire arena in their pupils, their gaze filled not only with domineering majesty but also with an unstoppable determination. The nebula on its neck had transformed into a churning torrent of golden energy, rising and falling with its breath. With each inhale, surrounding energy particles were frantically drawn in; with each exhale, golden energy shockwaves spread out, suspending the rubble in the air.

Stardust Dragon - Burst Form

【Ten stars】

[Wind Attribute/Dragon]

[Attack/Defense: 3000/2500]

"Heh heh heh~ Did you dodge it?" Luciano laughed, a Continuous Trap Card had somehow appeared on his field. "But when you activated Burst Mode, I also chain-activated a magical Trap Card!"

"Continuous Trap Card - Goblin Servant!!"

"This card can only be activated when the opponent's LP is below 3000. During each of the opponent's Standby Phases, the opponent suffers 500 LP damage!!"

"The high-speed magic card we just played—SP High-Speed ​​Storm—was a setup for this card!!"

"My turn is over. It's your turn, Yusei!!"

I see……

Fudo Yusei immediately realized Luciano's tactical plan.

The current War Turtle Isomer has no offensive components and can only defend. However, once Luciano upgrades the top of Machine Emperor God Sky, he can unlock the ability to inflict effect damage.

Whenever Yusei Fudo takes damage due to Goblin Servant, Machine Emperor God Sky Top Type III or V can add additional effect damage.

The formidable defenses of the three defense divisions made it extremely difficult for Yusei Fudo to break through to the core...

“Beep beep——————————————”

[Immovable Planet, SPC: 9→10]

[Luciano, SPC: 3→4]

"Hehehe! The goblin servant's effects are kicking off!! Hahahaha!!!" Luciano laughed.

"boom------------"

[Immovable Star, LP: 3000 → 2500]

"But in that instant, my high-speed indicator reached ten points!!" Fudo Yusei withstood the impact, his expression resolute. "Activate the effect of High-Speed ​​World 2, remove the ten points of SPC, and unleash Machine Emperor - Divine Sky - Infinite Destruction!!"

“Beep beep beep——————————”

[Immovable Planet, SPC: 10→0]

Suddenly, a bluish-green data stream lit up around Fudo Yusei! The bluish-green light points condensed in mid-air into a twisted energy vortex, with countless gear-shaped data streams rotating at the center of the vortex. Wherever it passed, the air was compressed into layers of sonic boom rings!
"But just now, I upgraded the defense of Machine Emperor Sky III!!" Luciano grinned slyly as he nimbly maneuvered his Duel Skateboard to dodge the attack. "The effect of Machine Emperor Sky III is activated!! It negates the effect that destroys one of my monsters!!"

The dark red crystals of the three types of defense units simultaneously erupted with pulse-like energy waves, which intertwined in front of the core to form a three-dimensional defensive network composed of triangles!

Unlike previous shields, each triangular grid in this defensive network is rotating at high speed, with antimatter-like dark energy flowing along the edges, forming a force field that can even neutralize spatial fluctuations!

The instant the cyan-gold lightning struck the defensive net, there was no earth-shattering explosion, only a strange energy annihilation—the moment the ultra-high-speed impact attempted to penetrate the mesh, the rotating triangle immediately decomposed the impact force into countless micro-energy streams. These energy streams flowed back along the mesh's patterns, ultimately dissipating as cyan-blue sparks on the outside of the defensive net!
Now that Fudo Yusei has no way to break through the defense, he can only switch his High Speed ​​Warrior to Defense Position and then end his turn.

"It's my turn again, Yusei Fudo!" Luciano seemed to have already seen victory. "My turn! Draw!!"

"Release Machine Emperor - Divine Sky - Top, Special Summon - Machine Emperor - Top - Type III!!"

"End of round!!"

"During your preparation phase, the goblin servants will deal 500 damage to you!!"

"The effect of 'Emperor of Machines - Top - Type III' is to deal 500 effect damage to the opponent when they take damage!!!"

"boom!!!!!!!!"

“Beep beep beep————————————”

[Immovable Star, LP: 2500 → 1500]

[Yusei Fudo, SPC: 0→1→2]

[Luciano, SPC: 4→5→6]

The moment of despair has arrived...

If Yusei Fudo is unable to break through Machine Emperor God's defense this turn, then next turn, Luciano can retrieve the High Speed ​​Spell Card - SP High Speed ​​Storm from the Graveyard, dealing 1000 LP damage. Combined with the additional damage from Machine Emperor Top III, Yusei Fudo will be defeated instantly!
"Tsk..."

"Is there no other way...?"

Fudo Yusei piloted the D-Wheel, his eyes reflecting the dual brilliance of Stardust Dragon Burst and Machine Emperor God Sky.

"Bruno..."

"You gave us hope, you gave us the card to fight against the Emperor of Machines—Burst Mode..."

"But, but!"

"To achieve this victory, I have no choice but to have Stardust Dragon revert to its Burst Mode!!"

"However, Bruno, the feelings you've placed in me... have remained since the beginning of the past!!"

When Fudo Yusei closed his eyes and opened them again, they were filled with a clear, lake-like blue light.

In an instant, countless experiences from different timelines flashed through his mind. This time, he didn't meet Bruno. But just as Bruno had conveyed in that message!!

Regardless of the dimension, Bruno will always choose to believe in Yusei!!
And no matter which world you're in, Bruno will always be Yusei Fudo's friend!!!

"My turn! Draw!!!" Yusei Fudo shouted, "Activate the effect of Level Thief Bug from the Graveyard, lower the Level of Stardust Dragon Burst by 1!! Special Summon this card from the Graveyard!!"

"Activate the high-speed magic card—SP Lightning Staff!!!"

"If your SPC is greater than 2, destroy one monster you control!!"

"Through this destruction, Stardust Dragon Burst Mode will revert back to Stardust Dragon!!!"

The instant the card activated, a streak of purplish-blue lightning shot from the Duel Disk into the sky, coalescing above the Stardust Dragon's head into a phantom scepter wreathed in lightning serpents. This scepter, instead of aiming at the Fortress Cannon Turtle, slammed down with an aura of destruction towards the crimson-gold dragon!
"What?!" Luciano seemed to have anticipated something; Yusei Fudo's eyes were exactly the same as they had back then!

The electric current in the Lightning Scepter abruptly subsided after three seconds, and the scepter's phantom returned to the card as a streak of light. Above the dueling arena, the Stardust Dragon's Burst form had completely changed—the crimson gold had faded, the crimson scales had returned to their original silver-white, the swollen body had shrunk back to its original size, the energy blades at the edges of its wings had dissipated, transforming back into a ribbon woven from stardust, only the nebula sea around its neck still retained a trace of golden lingering light, proving the existence of its Burst form!
【Stardust Dragon】

【Eight Stars】

[Wind Attribute/Dragon]

[Attack/Defense: 2500/2000]

Yusei Fudo said, "Summon another Unknown Synchron from my hand in Defense Position!!"

"Synchronize the Rank 1 Unknown Synchron and the Rank 1 Rank 1 Thief Bug!!"

"The gathered prayers will lead to a horizon of new speed!!"

"Become a path that shines brightly!!"

"Summoning of Synchro, the power of hope!!"

"Synchronizer - Formula Synchronizer!!!"

"Draw one card from your deck using the effect of Formula Synchron!!!"

A blinding blue light exploded beside the Stardust Dragon!
Within the light, a small yet powerful figure gradually materialized—the Formula Synchron was entirely composed of streamlined, silver-white metal, its body no larger than the tip of a Stardust Dragon's claw, yet radiating energy fluctuations perfectly synchronized with the high-speed field!
Its head is wedge-shaped, with a pair of oval blue optical lenses embedded in it. The lenses constantly flash with the faint light of data streams, as if they can analyze every detail of the battlefield in real time!

Formula One Synchronizer

【Two stars】

【Light attribute/Mechanical type】

[Attack/Defense: 200/1500]

"Here it comes!! Bruno!!!" Yusei Fudo shouted, "Synchronize the Level 2 Tuner Synchro Monster—Formula Synchro—and the Level 8 Synchro Monster—Stardust Dragon!!!"

"The gathered dream crystals will open a brand new gate to evolution!!"

"Become a path that shines brightly!!"

"Accelerated Synchronization, be born!!"

"Meteor Dragon!!!!!"

Upon seeing the intense fluctuations, You Qing knew that Fudo Yusei had successfully achieved accelerated synchronization after training for so long without success!
In a flash of light, Yusei Fudo vanished from the space of the high-speed duel!
As everyone gasped in amazement, a crimson flame hurtled down from the sky into the sea beside the dueling arena!
A colossal wave surged, and as the flames subsided, the so-called "meteorite" was revealed. The "meteorite" turned out to be a massive stone slab, on which was inscribed information about a legendary monster—the card: Meteor Dragon!

At that moment, the two monsters on the field merged and glowed, and a clear wave of light rippled out. Fudo Yusei, piloting the D-Wheel, reappeared. In that instant, it was as if the whole world was as calm as a clear lake.

But the next second, a deafening dragon's roar echoed through the sky!
"roar-----------------"

As the dazzling light of synchronization exploded completely, a colossal dragon, moving at speeds exceeding those of dimensions, burst forth from the light!
The Meteor Dragon's figure appeared in the rain of light—its entire body was covered in flowing stardust armor, the silver and azure luster alternating like breathing, the edges of the armor lacking metallic sharpness, but rather as soft as melting starlight, and the flow between the gaps was not electricity, but pure energy, as if the gale of a high-speed field had been solidified into a visible form!

Its head retains the majesty of the Stardust Dragon, yet incorporates the agility of a Formula Synchron. The spiraling horns are composed of ice-crystal-like star crystals, and the energy rings swirling around the tips don't rotate mechanically, but flow naturally like a nebula, distorting the surrounding light into a dreamlike halo. Instead of turbine wings, it possesses wings of light condensed from stardust. As it soars through the air, it trails nested light rings behind it, from which meteor-like points of light constantly shoot out—pure energy manifestations that keep its form perpetually shrouded in flowing starlight!
【Meteor Dragon】

【Ten stars】

[Wind Attribute/Dragon]

[Attack/Defense: 3300/2500]

"Meteor Dragon's effect activated!!" Yusei Fudo swept five cards from the deck in a row. "Once per turn, reveal the top five cards of your deck!!"

"This turn, Meteor Dragon can perform an attack that adjusts the number of monsters it has!!"

"Your Machine Emperor - Mind can only be ineffective against three attacks, which, including the one blocked by your main body, makes four!!"

"And the Meteor Dragon..."

"Five attacks will be launched!!!"

"Luciano!! This is the hope for accelerated Synchro Summoning—Meteor Dragon!!!"

Fudo Yusei revealed all the cards in his hand.

Those five cards were all Tuner Monsters!!
Luciano was horrified, and his frustrated shouts only resulted in streaks of shooting stars falling from the sky!

The Meteor Dragon's figure coalesced amidst the starlight, and five dazzling meteors appeared around it. The first three meteors struck in succession, but were all neutralized by the Machine Emperor Shenkong in his War Turtle form!

But the fourth strike landed directly on the Machine Emperor - Divine Sky - Infinite!

The instant the core shattered, the entire Machine Emperor - Divine Sky collapsed and shattered!

Amidst the massive mushroom cloud that billowed up, a meteor streaked across the sky, striking Luciano with a deafening roar!

The previous cards had cost Luciano a huge amount of LP, and this attack was completely unbearable for him! (End of Chapter)