"I activate Laval Wildcat's effect," Liu Xinghun declared. "By banishing a Laval Beetle from my Graveyard, I increase its Level by 1."
"Now, I tune Level 4 Laval Wildcat with Level 4 Laval Devil!"
"O tyrant of the underworld—descend from the pits of Hell to devour the souls of the damned!"
"Synchro Summon—appear, Demon Dragon – Flygon!"
— Demon Dragon – Flygon— Level 8 / ATK: 3000
From a jagged rift in the earth, a twisted two-headed dragon clawed its way into the world. Between its twin dragon skulls sprouted a monstrous fly-like body with gleaming compound eyes. Atop its grotesque back stood a mummified sorceress, her hollow gaze locked on Li You.
On his first turn, Liu Xinghun had summoned two Level 8 Synchro dragons, both with 3000 ATK, plus a lingering Inferno Demon.
Behind them, one card lay face-down—a fearsome Counter Trap: Laval Barrier.
But that was the end of his momentum. His hand was empty. His field was open information.
Li You nodded lightly.
Two defenses: the Counter Trap, and Infernal Dragon – Ogre Flame, whose effect could negate one Spell or Trap per turn.
The only real threat beyond that was Flygon, who couldn't be destroyed by battle or card effects.
But no hand… meant no hand traps.
This is going to be easy.
Li You cracked a grin. "I'm starting to feel hungry, so let's wrap this up quickly."
"My turn—draw!"
"I summon Skitter Dragon!"
— Skitter Dragon— Level 4 / ATK: 1900
A flat, centipede-shaped dragon with jittery movements slithered onto the field. Its six segmented legs twitched like insect limbs, and three sets of dragonfly wings buzzed on its back. Its narrow, worm-like body and oversized dragon head made for an absurd combination.
A 1900 ATK Level 4 body—basic, but solid.
No flashy effects, no drama.
But in the right moment? A meta breaker.
"Skitter Dragon's effect activates passively the moment it's summoned," Li You said, eyes glinting.
"This turn, your Counter Traps—like Laval Barrier—can't be activated."
Liu Xinghun's expression darkened. "What?!"
A goofy-looking bug-dragon… silencing the most prestigious of trap types?
Three-speed Counter Traps were the apex of control. And yet this—this comic relief card—neutered them?
It was poetic.
With Laval Barrier locked out, Li You's next move came unfettered.
"When you control monsters with 2000 or more ATK, I can activate the effect of Infinity Dragon – Schwarzschild from my hand."
"I Special Summon Schwarzschild from my hand, and a Level 8 LIGHT or DARK Dragon from my deck—together!"
"Descend, my pride—Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
ROOOOAAARRR!!
A brilliant silver dragon, armored in streamlined battle-forged scales, burst onto the field in a blaze of legendary majesty.
The watching crowd trembled at the sight—this was a symbol, a memory, an icon of power.
Tenma gasped, "He summoned TWO Level 8 monsters in one move?!"
Yin Xingren's eyes lit up. "Wait… is he going for his Over-100 Number?!"
Li You grinned.
"Exactly."
"I overlay my two Level 8 Dragons to construct the Overlay Network—"
"O sacred dragon who watches over all, cast your light and shadow across spacetime—create infinite potential!"
"Xyz Summon—descend!"
"Radiant Phantom Dragon – Lightspeed Draconis!!"
— Radiant Phantom Dragon – Lightspeed Draconis— Rank 8 / ATK: 2500
A flash of golden light tore through the air like a meteor.
A quantum pulse from the far future surged backward through spacetime—landing in a gleaming arc on Li You's field!
A majestic, five-clawed golden dragon materialized—its body radiant, luminous with divine energy.
Unlike the classic Eastern dragon, its forelimbs were feathered wings of storm and lightning, like the mythical Yinglong, said to have battled Chi You in the mists of ancient legend.
Xingren whispered, stunned, "What a magnificent card… it feels holy. Like I should bow to it."
"But… isn't he summoning the Over-100 Number?"
Li You chuckled. "You'll see that soon enough."
"But first—Lightspeed Draconis's on-summon effect activates."
"I add one 'Galaxy' or 'Tachyon' card from my deck to my hand."
"Then I activate Lightspeed Draconis's second effect—by detaching 2 Xyz Materials and using itself as the material, I can perform an evolved Xyz Summon of any LIGHT Dragon with over 3000 ATK!"
The golden dragon's body dissolved into a cloud of radiant particles, forming a new spiral galaxy around him.
From that stellar vortex emerged a massive, shimmering prism—dark matter glinting across its triangular frame.
Li You raised his hand.
"O roar that echoes across the cosmos—return to the galaxy's origin!"
"Awaken from eternity and lead me to victory—!"
"No.107 – Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon, descend!!"
— No.107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon— Rank 8 / ATK: 3000
Blue-Eyes to Galaxy-Eyes—Li You weaved the Dragon lineage like a seasoned master, shifting tempo effortlessly.
"Now, Lightspeed Draconis's lingering effect allows me to take a Galaxy monster from my Extra Deck and attach it to my new Xyz Monster as material."
Li You drew a card from his Extra Deck and slid it beneath Tachyon Dragon.
Liu Xinghun's eyes narrowed.
"That card's border… it's blue… and that triangle mark…"
"…Wait. Is that a Link Monster?!"
Li You smirked. "Sharp eyes."
Yin Xingren gasped, "What?! A Link Monster?!"
That meant only one thing:
Li You had also mastered Link Summoning.
It wasn't the Link Monster itself that shocked them—it was what it implied.
Li You had already shown Ritual Summoning. Then Xyz Summoning. Now—Link.
Three upper-tier summoning systems, casually wielded before even setting foot on campus.
In the entire Sacred Star Realm, such prodigies could be counted on one hand.
And Li You was still a freshman—barely admitted.
What heights could he reach?
What limits could he break?
No one dared to guess.
But Li You?
He didn't care what they thought.
Even if they knew—what could they do?
He simply smiled inwardly.
Three summoning methods? Please.
I'm the man who's mastered them all.