[SkySoars]: "Only one monster as material to summon a new one from the Extra Deck? That's way too efficient!"
[QuadCalc]: "Indeed. Traditional summoning methods—Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Ritual—all generally require two or more monsters and come with strict conditions. But Link Summoning has drastically lowered the entry barrier. Its material requirements are the most lenient we've ever seen. That's exactly why Link Summoning rose to dominance so quickly."
[AfflictionNamedLove]: "Exactly. Link Summoning is the breakthrough of our era. The old methods are just relics—totally obsolete compared to us!"
Spectators from all over the world had gathered in the Duel Links stream chat. But the venomous tone from AfflictionNamedLove—with his blatant disdain for the other summoning styles—struck a nerve.
"Watch your mouth, punk!"
"You're bragging about summoning a 500 ATK monster?! Seriously?"
[AfflictionNamedLove]: "Still measuring monster strength by raw attack power? No wonder your dusty old factions are getting crushed by us. Even Duel Links itself was developed by the Link faction. Face it, boomers—you're outdated!"
The chat exploded.
People were furious but struggled to refute him. All they could do was channel their support to Li You:
"New guy, come on! Show them what you're made of!"
"Even if you lose, don't lose your pride! Don't let the Link cult look down on us!"
Li You didn't respond.
He simply smiled calmly, focused on the duel.
Mars raised his arm.
"When Balelynx is Link Summoned, I add the Field Spell Salamangreat Sanctuary from my Deck to my hand."
"And since a 'Salamangreat' monster was sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Salamangreat Spinny from my hand!"
"Spinny's effect activates: when it's Summoned, I send Salamangreat Mole from my Deck to the Grave."
—Salamangreat MoleLevel 3 / ATK 1000
Mars wasted no time.
"Because another Salamangreat is on my field, I can now Special Summon Mole from the Graveyard."
[SkySoars]: "Two Level 3 monsters! He's going for it!"
Sure enough, flames erupted at Mars's feet. His two Level 3 monsters leapt into the fire, their silhouettes spinning together to form a blazing vortex.
A pitch-black stallion with a fiery mane charged out from the inferno, letting out a triumphant whinny.
"I overlay my two Level 3 monsters to build the Overlay Network!"
"The blazing steed of the scorched savanna—gallop through the cycle of rebirth and overcome all obstacles!"
"Xyz Summon! Appear, Salamangreat Miragestallio!!"
—Salamangreat MiragestallioRank 3 / ATK 2000
[QuadCalc]: "Wait… a Link user like Mars is using Xyz Summons?"
[AfflictionNamedLove]: "Of course! Mars is a genius—he's mastered all summoning styles. Grasping some basic Xyz mechanics is child's play for him."
Someone jabbed back in chat:
"If Link Summoning is so 'superior,' then why is your ace using Xyz cards at all?"
[AfflictionNamedLove] fell silent for a moment—then doubled down:
"Because Mars is versatile. He draws from all methods—but make no mistake, Link Summoning is still supreme!"
The viewers kept arguing, but on the battlefield, Mars remained focused—his plays methodical and precise.
"I activate my Field Spell—Salamangreat Sanctuary!"
"Then I activate Miragestallio's effect: I detach one Xyz Material to Special Summon Salamangreat Foxy from my Deck in Defense Position."
—Salamangreat FoxyLevel 4 / ATK 1800 / DEF 1200
A new beast burst forth. With another monster on his field, Mars set the stage for another Link Summon.
"Appear now—the blazing circuit of souls!"
"Link Arrows—UP and DOWN!"
"Summon condition: 2 FIRE-Attribute Effect Monsters!"
"I use Balelynx and Foxy to link into the circuit!"
"In the shadowed heart of the flaming woods, the wolf king howls—its cry igniting the miracle of rebirth!"
"LINK SUMMON! Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf!!"
—Salamangreat Sunlight WolfLink-2 / ATK 1800
The lupine beast emerged from a blaze, its fiery mane crackling like thunder. It let out a piercing howl, fangs gleaming with menace.
[QuadCalc]: "He's executed two Link Summons and one Xyz already. But none of these monsters are particularly high in attack."
[AfflictionNamedLove]: "Keep watching! Mars hasn't even tapped into a fraction of his full strength!"
Then Mars made a seemingly strange move.
"I use Sunlight Wolf and Miragestallio to link again—into a new Sunlight Wolf!"
"Reincarnation Link Summon—Reborn, Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf!!"
The moment he spoke, sacred flames erupted on the altar behind him. The wolf king dove into the blaze, its body momentarily swallowed by the ritual fire.
When it re-emerged, its posture was tenser, eyes gleaming with renewed fury.
It was the same monster. But also—something more.
[SkySoars]: "Wait, why would he waste two monsters just to summon the same one again?!"
[QuadCalc]: "This is the heart of the Salamangreat strategy. Reincarnation Link Summoning—rebirth through fire."
"When a monster is Link Summoned using a copy of itself, it's considered to have reincarnated—and in doing so, it unlocks hidden potential."
[BlackMamba]: "So he summoned the same card again… and that's supposed to be good?"
Li You glanced at Mars's Field Spell and smiled knowingly.
"Your Field Spell lets you Reincarnation Link Summon with just one monster, right?"
"Instead of using two monsters, you can just use one copy to bring itself back."
Mars looked up, eyes surprised.
"Zarc... you're pretty familiar with my deck."
Li You's smile deepened.
"Just a little."