Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"Attack power 2510... Ha... Him?"

"No! My strategy isn't over yet!" Extending his arm again, Yusei revealed the face-down card behind him. The card that had been face-down last turn wasn't a Trap Card, but a Spell Card used to upgrade an Xyz Monster—[Super Upgrade Spell: Power of Utopia]!!!

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[Super-Level Upgrade Magic - Power of Utopia]

(Normal Spell Card)

Effect: You can use each of the following effects of this card once per turn.

①: You can target 1 "Hope the Emperor" Xyz Monster of Rank 9 or lower on your field. Special Summon 1 "Hope" Xyz Monster of Rank 10 or higher from your Extra Deck by overlaying it onto the targeted Xyz Monster.

②: If this card is in your Graveyard and an Xyz Monster of Rank 10 or higher is Special Summoned by its effect, you can target that Special Summoned monster; add this card as an Xyz Material under that monster.

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"...Spell Card activated! [Super Upgraded Spell: Power of Utopia]!"

Raising his right hand high, enveloped in light, Yusei displayed all the spell cards in his hand to everyone: "Based on this card's effect, I can instantly upgrade one Rank 9 or lower 'Hope' monster on the field to a Rank 10 or higher 'Hope' monster... and then Special Summon it from my Extra Deck by overlaying it onto my targeted Xyz Monster!!!"

"It's actually... an Xyz Summon above Rank 10!!!"

Looking at the brightly lit arena and Yusei, who was enveloped in radiance like a god descending to earth, Kagemaru's lips twitched slightly.

While a monster's rank doesn't fully represent its strength, it's undeniable that, like monster levels, higher-ranking monsters are generally not weak.

And above level 10, that's proof of breaking through the limits!

"Super Upgrade Transformation! Appear! Memories of my shattered soul, now become the sole star, transform into lightning that pierces through destiny!"

"This is... the end and the pinnacle of 'No.'! [No. 99 Hope of Hope, Dragona]!!!"

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[No. 99 Hopeful Dragona]

(Warrior/Light/Tier 12/Attack: 3000/Defense: 3000)

XYZ/Effect: 3 or more Level 12 monsters

The effects ① and ② of this card can each be used once per turn.

①: During your or your opponent's turn, you can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card to activate this effect. Special Summon 1 "Number 1" to "Number 100" monster from your Extra Deck as an Xyz Summon. During the turn this effect is activated, you cannot Special Summon non-Xyz Monsters from your Extra Deck, and your monsters other than this card cannot attack directly.

②: This effect can only be activated when the opponent's monster declares an attack. That opponent's monster's ATK becomes 0.

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The seal of the Seven Stars shone brightly.

Red, gold, white, blue, green, black...

The various colors of light intertwined and eventually transformed into a towering, humanoid monster.

Responding to the call of Yusei, a pure white warrior, modeled after the leader himself, descends upon this place.

The crimson 99 symbol flashed by and then settled on the warrior's left shoulder, becoming proof of his miraculous birth!

432 The End of the Ascension - Hope Emperor Hopedragona!

Within the ever-expanding supermassive vortex, a silver-white giant warrior, standing like a Gundam, appeared before everyone's eyes, radiating an incredibly intense and dazzling light.

The ethereal blue starlight that flowed across that streamlined body, along with the golden-red greatswords worn on its arms, created a breathtaking and awe-inspiring spectacle.

"Hope...Dragona?"

Repeating the name of the Tier 12 Xyz Monster before him, Kagemaru's face showed an expression of utter shock.

Like the 12 stars of ordinary monsters, for Xyz Monsters, 12th rank... is the end of the rank progression, a divine realm that countless monsters can never reach in their entire lives.

Above that, there are said to be 13th-tier beings, but... that's just a rumor, and no one has actually seen such a monster.

In short, in people's perception, 12 represents the limit.

"It's not over yet! Now... this is just the real beginning!" Raising his arm, Yusei, enveloped in light just like Hope, continued his maneuver: "[Number 99, Hope, the Emperor, Dragoon] effect activated! During both players' turns, detach two Xyz Materials from this card, and Special Summon 1 "Number 1" to "Number 100" monster from your Extra Deck as an Xyz Summon! However... during the turn this effect is activated, you cannot Special Summon non-Xyz Monsters from your Extra Deck, and your monsters other than this card cannot attack directly."

Kagemaru: "...!!!"

"Now, I'm going to print cards too!"

Holding countless starlight imbued with the power of creation in his hands, Yusei stretched out his arm toward the void above his head and shouted, "Spiral universe, and the supreme will of origin! Answer my call and lend me your power!"

Above the sky, the light shone brightly.

Responding to Yusei's call, Hope Emperor Hopedragona swung his greatsword, carving a massive rift in the void before him.

Seven-colored light pierced through the rift, transcending the constraints of space and time, and scattered on the other side of the rift, thus awakening the great will that slumbered within the moon.

All over the world, beyond the universe... all the "No." monsters seemed to sense something, simultaneously emitting light and looking in the same direction, awaiting the king's arrival.

The origin of everything, the great will that has existed since the beginning of the universe, the source dragon with the power to rewrite all the past and future, is about to awaken here!

"...The key to creating the universe, now opens the gates of darkness, guide the future with that roar! Descend, No. 100 Source Dragon!!!!"

A golden dragon appeared from the void, radiating an ancient brilliance that transcends time and space.

The enormous figure hovered in the sky, like the sun, constantly radiating warm light.

The past, present, and future combine these three forces into one, giving birth to the physical Dragon of Numbers, which roars to the heavens, shaking the entire universe.

Guided by destiny, this embodiment of creation, representing "No. 100," finally revealed its magnificent, dreamlike form.

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【No. 100 Source Number Dragon】

(Dragon/Light/Tier 1/Attack: 0/Defense: 0)

XYZ/Effect: 2 XYZ Monsters of the same Rank and Name with the same "No."

①: Once per turn, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to activate this effect. This card gains 1000 ATK equal to the combined Ranks of all Xyz Monsters on the field until the end of your opponent's turn.

②: You can activate this effect when this card is destroyed by a card effect. Destroy all monsters on the field. Then, both players set 1 Spell/Trap Card from their Graveyard onto the field.

③: If this card is in your Graveyard and you have no cards in your hand or on the field, you can activate this effect when your opponent declares a direct attack. Special Summon this card.

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"A monster with an attack power of 0..."

Like the Divine Flame Emperor Uria, the Source Number Dragon's attack power is also 0.

However, feeling the immense pressure, Kagemaru clearly wouldn't compare the golden dragon before him to the previous small monsters.

"...Activate the effect of the Spell Card [Super Rank Spell: Power of Utopia] in the Graveyard. If this card is in the Graveyard and an Xyz Monster of Rank 10 or higher is Special Summoned by its effect, you can target that Special Summoned monster; Overlay this card under that monster as Xyz Material."

As he explained the monster effect of Source Number Dragon, Yusei also cast a pitying glance at Kagemaru: "...Next, I remove one Xyz Material from Source Number Dragon and activate its monster effect...This card's ATK increases by 1000 points until the end of your opponent's turn, based on the total Rank of Xyz Monsters on the field!"

The rank of [No. 100 Source Dragon] is 1, while the rank of [No. 99 Hope Emperor Hope Dragona] is 12...

Therefore, at this moment, the attack power of [No. 100 Source Dragon] will surge to 13000 points!!!

(【No.100 Source Dragon】 Attack Power: 0→13000)

"Attack power...it's a whopping 13000 points!!!!"

His eyes widened suddenly as he watched the golden dragon's attack power surge to an incredibly terrifying level. Kagemaru could no longer maintain his composure.

Realizing his impending defeat, he began wildly waving his arms and screaming uncontrollably, "...Aaaaaah!!! Impossible!!! Absolutely impossible!!! I, the Illusion Demon, am invincible!!! How could... how could I lose to you, you brat!!!"

"My years of hard work... everything I've given... I..."

"……it's over!"

With a calm voice, Yusei waved his hand to interrupt Kagemaru's speech, then directly issued the final judgment: "[No. 100 Source Dragon], attack [Phantom Emperor Rabiel]!"

"...All things are reconstructed, heaven and earth are created!!!"

As the power of the primordial numbers circulated, the heavens and earth roared in response.

The golden dragon opened its mouth and spewed out a golden energy wave towards the Three Illusionary Demons.

Slicing through the void and leaving a long trail, the creation strike from the Source Dragon swallowed Kagemaru along with the three Phantom Demons he relied on...

Then, the light and darkness vanished together.

With the end of the duel, the figures of the Three Phantom Demons and the Source Dragon had all vanished.

What was presented to everyone was only the figure of Kagemaru, who had regained his aged appearance and was lying weakly on the ground...

(Kagemaru LP: 0)

"...Is it...over?"

"we won?"

"The Three Phantom Demons...were defeated by Yusei?!"

"Aaaaaah... Mommy!!!"

……

The Dark Duel ended in a decisive victory for Yusei.

After losing the power of the Three Phantom Demons, the life force that Kagemaru gained from the Duel Monsters was also freed and was given back to the monsters.

"We're back! We're all back!"

"Aaaaaah... Look! My rare card is back to normal!"

Countless rays of light flowed out of Kagemaru's body and returned to their original place.

The monsters that had plagued everyone, as well as the anomalies that had occurred around the world, and the places that had been affected by the appearance of the Three Phantom Demons, had all returned to their original state.

“I lost…”

Struggling to his feet, the frail and elderly Kagemaru looked in Yusei's direction: "Yusei... you won this duel..."

"Kagemaru...you..."

Seeing Kagemaru's miserable state, Yusei, who had put away his Duel Disk, couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions.