Li You raised an eyebrow, eyes following the majestic arc of the dragon overhead. He hadn't expected the summon to be this version of Stardust—"Shooting Star Dragon"—rather than the original. So that meant... no plans to call its evolved form?
"Next, I activate the Spell Card—Monster Reborn! I revive 'Junk Synchron' in Defense Position from my Graveyard."
The red-robed tuner, its engine still sputtering with residual steam, sprang back to the field.
"And because I Special Summoned a monster from my Graveyard," the Starborn continued, "I can now Special Summon this from my hand—Double Summon Warrior!"
A warrior in sleek black battle armor, energy rifle slung across his shoulder, dropped to the field with a heavy THUD.
Li You's expression turned wistful. "Junk Synchron and Double Summon Warrior, appearing together again… it's been years since I last saw this duo."
Junk-Dub—that was the nickname. The 'Junk' stood for Junk Synchron, and the 'Dub' for Double Summon Warrior. Time was, these two were the backbone of every turbo deck on the net. But in recent years, with power creep marching ever forward, both had been shelved—relics of a bygone meta.
The Starborn, unaware of Li You's inner nostalgia, continued his blazing-fast setup.
"I now tune the Level 3 'Junk Synchron' with the Level 2 'Double Summon Warrior' to Synchro Summon!"
Five glowing stars rose into the air, their orbits converging like gears in a divine machine.
"A voice calls from beyond the walls of speed—become the radiant road that leads to victory!"
"Synchro Summon! Emerge—Level 5, Accel Synchron!"
A crimson D-Wheel tore through a sonic boom overhead, converting mid-air into humanoid mecha form, slamming onto the Starborn's field with a jet-powered howl.
Li You couldn't help himself. "You people had cars like that in ancient times?"
The Starborn chuckled. "The art of Dueling must evolve with the times. Getting stuck in the past helps no one."
"Since 'Double Summon Warrior' was used as Synchro Material, I activate its effect! I Special Summon two 'Double Summon Tokens' to my field!"
Two ghostly silhouettes shimmered into place, both glowing with faint red lines and the outline of jetpack frames.
"Now I activate Accel Synchron's effect. I send the Level 2 'Rush Synchron' from my Deck to the Graveyard and increase its own Level by that value—Accel Synchron becomes Level 7!"
"Next," he said, drawing a card from his hand with smooth precision, "I activate the Graveyard effect of 'Rush Synchron'. By discarding a card, I Special Summon it from the Graveyard."
"And now, I tune the Level 1 'Rush Synchron' with a Level 1 'Double Summon Token'—"
"Two stars rise to connect heaven and engine. From the prayer of metal is born the formula of speed!"
"Synchro Summon! Come forth—Level 2, Formula Synchron!"
The twin-stabilized hovercraft spun into view and unfolded into its compact robotic chassis. As it touched down, a shimmer passed through it.
"Formula Synchron's effect activates on Synchro Summon—I draw one card."
The Starborn now had a single card left in hand.
Li You watched in silence.
The music in the air changed. A single sharp BEAT struck the sky like a war drum. Then another. Then the tempo kicked in—like thunder on horseback.
His spine tingled.
The melody—it was familiar.
This music.
This battlefield.
And that… dragon-shaped glow beginning to arc behind the Starborn's back—
A complete sigil: the Red Dragon crest. Glowing. Pulsing.
The Starborn's voice rose, ritualistic, reverent.
"I activate Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon's effect! I Tribute it to Special Summon one 'Stardust Dragon' from my Extra Deck, treated as a Synchro Summon! Then—"
He raised his hand skyward, fingers slicing the air like they were drawing cosmic lines.
"Then I immediately Synchro Summon!"
"The mind like still water. Unshaken. Unstoppable."
"I tune Level 2 'Formula Synchron' with Level 8 'Stardust Dragon'!"
"Ten stars align—the hope of evolution surges through space and time!"
"Synchro Summon!! Ascend—Level 10, Stardust Warrior!"
The dragon knight clad in mirrored white armor burst into the field like a comet splitting the firmament. From its fists pulsed a divine light that threatened to shatter steel itself.
But the Starborn wasn't done.
"I now banish 'Rush Synchron' from my Graveyard to activate its second effect! Because I Tributed 'Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon' this turn, I can Special Summon it back from my Graveyard!"
The moment the white comet returned, he pointed again.
"I tune the Level 4 'Accel Synchron' with Level 8 'Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon'!"
"Now… I Synchro Summon—"
"The creator and protector of the world! Born from light, forged in flame!"
"Descend—Scarlet Dragon!"
—"RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND"—LV: 10ATK: 0
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!
The draconic scream echoed like a sacred trumpet through every corner of the astral space.
Li You's gaze snapped upward—and there it was.
The Red Dragon.
The very same he'd seen earlier outside the plane window.
Now it loomed above a glowing golden ziggurat—its hundred-mile-long form spiraling heavenward, wreathed in solar flame. Its holy presence bathed the entire scene in radiant majesty.
Below them, the tribal faithful threw themselves to the ground in worship, their prayers rising in waves of song.
"Amazing..." Li You whispered. "Even without Junk Speeder, he pulled off this whole combo?"
The Starborn simply raised his arm, casually.
"When 'Scarlet Dragon' is Synchro Summoned, I activate its effect—I add the Spell Card Synchro Resonance from my Deck to my hand."
"And finally… I activate Synchro Resonance to revive the 'Formula Synchron' in my Graveyard!"
The glowing white drone zipped back to the field, engines purring.
The board was stacked.
Yet the Starborn… stopped there.
"My turn ends. It's your move."
Li You narrowed his eyes.
He'd seen many setups. But this—
This was peak form.
The duel had only just begun, and the flames were already sky-high.