Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

Limiter Removal!

The machine-type's ultimate OTK weapon, it can grant ordinary Machine monsters the power to kill in one blow. Zane's three Cyber Dragons were instantly empowered, blue electric serpents coiling around their silver bodies, energy output skyrocketing!

[Cyber Dragon, ATK 2100 → 4200] x2

[Proto-Cyber Dragon, ATK 1100 → 2200]

In an instant, over ten thousand total attack power again!

A few students watching were dumbfounded.

Another OTK!?

Kaiser is an OTK monster!

To keep falling into traps and yet still muster up OTK firepower again and again…

"This is Kaiser's true strength?" a Blue Dorm student murmured.

"The battle continues. If you can defend against even this, show me, Kira!"

Zane called out.

"Cyber Dragon triple attack!

First, the first Cyber Dragon attacks 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!'

Evolution Ray!"

With doubled attack power, Cyber Dragon now outclassed even Monarch-level monsters. Its electrified energy blast shot forth like a wild stallion, illuminating the field and overpowering the Thunder Monarch.

The Monarch's armor shattered, the beam piercing his defenses. His hulking body was torn apart, torrents of electricity exploding from the cracks.

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 2200]

Kira raised an arm to shield himself, smiling lightly.

"Impressive."

"Second strike!" Zane called again, "Cyber Dragon #2 attacks 'Caius the Shadow Monarch!'"

Another Evolution Ray, this time targeting the Shadow Monarch. The king in the darkness tried to resist, but his shield was also pierced instantly, his dark armor shattering under the beam.

Caius the Shadow Monarch's massive body collapsed, a torrent of dark energy surging out and opening a portal to the abyss, his body dissolving into the void.

[Kira, LP 2200 → LP 400]

Kira slid back a few steps under the impact, black smoke fading from his body, eyebrows only slightly furrowed.

"All Monarch, wiped out!"

The commentator was ecstatic.

"Kaiser has finally broken through Kira's defenses! Could this be the day!?"

The moment Zane broke the darkness, it was like sunlight piercing the clouds at Duel Academy—a historic moment, worthy of campus-wide celebration!

"Final strike," Zane shouted. "Proto-Cyber Dragon, direct attack!"

The doubled Proto-Cyber Dragon opened its mouth, flames and electricity surging forth to engulf Kira and his flickering LP.

BOOM!

A massive explosion, black smoke billowing and covering half the field.

Zane panted, only then realizing he was drenched in sweat, beads running down his face.

Did I finally win?

It should be over.

But for some reason, he didn't feel victorious.

Instead, he sensed that his attack had only triggered some dangerous fuse, drawing him deeper into an unfathomable darkness.

The smoke cleared.

[Kira, LP 5400]

"Phew, that was close," Kira wiped imaginary sweat. "You almost got me."

Zane: "???"

He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Life points… five thousand four hundred!?

"Why…?"

"At the last moment, I activated the Trap 'Rainbow Life.'"

Kira smiled, displaying the Trap Card that was now in the Graveyard.

"Rainbow Life: Discard one card to activate. All damage this turn becomes zero, and my life points return to what they were at the start of the turn—four thousand.

And on top of that, I recover any life points lost this turn up to the point the card was activated." (Anime effect)

(The TCG version only recovers damage taken after activation.)

In short, in the anime it absorbed damage before activation; in the card game, it absorbs after activation.

"I see," Zane nodded. "So after activating Rainbow Life, your LP went back to 4000, plus the damage from the two Cyber Dragons—3600."

"Yes, so my LP rose to 7600," Kira nodded. "Then I took 2200 from Proto-Cyber Dragon's direct attack."

[Kira, LP 5400]

Zane gritted his teeth.

He had truly given it his all, he and his Cyber Dragons. But even such a fierce assault felt like dropping a stone in the ocean.

And as much as he hated to admit it, he could feel it—

This guy was still holding back.

The commentator deflated.

"Damn, even that couldn't break through Kira's defense…"

No, it seemed like the more he hit, the more LP his opponent had.

And Limiter Removal has a drawback: monsters powered by it self-destruct at end of turn. If you don't win in one shot, it's a complete reversal.

Not only did Kira survive, he healed, and now Zane's field would be wiped clean by self-destruction—no more "One Day of Peace" protection.

Things looked grim.

"He really can't…?"

A Blue Dorm student murmured.

In his eyes, Zane was already more than strong enough—he was on another level compared to ordinary students.

But even so, he was still toyed with by Kira.

The academy's future looked darker than ever.

"Great power always carries a risk," Kira said. "After Limiter Removal, your Cyber Dragons will be destroyed at the end of the turn."

"I know."

Zane replied.

"Main Phase 2. I Normal Summon 'Machina Peacekeeper.'"

[Machina Peacekeeper, ATK 500]

"I play Spell Card 'Machine Duplication.' I select a Machine-type with 500 or less ATK and special summon up to two more copies from the Deck."

He searched his Deck.

"I only have one monster zone left, so I summon one more Peacekeeper."

[Machina Peacekeeper, ATK 500]

"Peacekeeper's effect: once per turn, you can equip it to a Machine-Type monster as an Equip Card.

I equip each Peacekeeper to a Cyber Dragon."

The two little machines transformed, becoming armor on the Cyber Dragons.

"Then I set two cards face-down and end my turn. End Phase: Limiter Removal's drawback destroys both Cyber Dragons.

But when the equipped monster would be destroyed by battle or card effect, Machina Peacekeeper is destroyed instead.

So both Peacekeepers are destroyed instead of the Cyber Dragons!"

Two explosions, two fireballs and black smoke, but the Cyber Dragons remained unharmed. Only the unequipped Proto-Cyber Dragon self-destructed.

"And Peacekeeper's other effect: if it's sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can add a Union Monster from my deck to my hand."

Zane searched his deck.

"I add 'Armored Cybern' to my hand."