Or maybe…
Forget it?
Ushio Tetsu had no interest in dueling someone who didn't even know how to handle a Riding Duel.
For one, winning would earn him accusations of bullying a newbie—hardly a glorious victory.
For another, losing would be worse, branding him as weak and costing him face.
How could he hold his ground in the Suzuki Group after that?
Either way, the cons outweighed the pros.
Better to stick to a standard duel with Ryo Nakamuta and brush off the president's request with the excuse that Ryo didn't know how to ride a D-Wheel.
"Mr. Nakamuta, how about this?"
"Riding Duels can be risky for beginners."
"You wouldn't know, but a friend of mine crashed his D-Wheel countless times during Riding Duels."
"They mocked him, calling him the Crash King."
"So, for your safety, let's just have a simple duel instead."
"…Right."
Ushio Tetsu switched tactics, trying to dissuade Ryo from pursuing a Riding Duel.
And the "Crash King" he mentioned? Ryo knew exactly who that was.
To think, in their eyes, Jack Atlas was really the Crash King?
"No worries there."
"It's just riding a motorcycle, who can't do that?"
"Just tell me the current Riding Duel rules, and we're good!"
"And if you still refuse to duel me, well, when I meet President Suzuki, I can't guarantee what I might say."
Ryo Nakamuta pursed his lips, his tone firm with a hint of a threat. Left with no choice, Ushio Tetsu reluctantly explained the Riding Duel rules.
First, the stacking of Speed Counters on D-Wheels: both players start with 0 counters.
Each turn, a player gains 1 counter during their Standby Phase, and performing a Synchro Summon adds another 1 counter, up to a maximum of 8.
Next, upon starting the D-Wheel, players choose one of three Speed Spells:
1. Place a Tuner monster from the deck or graveyard onto the field.
2. Draw 2 cards from the deck.
3. Add 1 card from the deck to the hand.
Finally, activating a Speed Spell costs 4 Speed Counters and can only be used once per turn.
Ryo Nakamuta nodded, getting the gist.
From this, the draw-2-cards or add-1-card Speed Spells were the most appealing.
It was like a free Pot of Greed or a guaranteed draw.
Perfect for flipping a losing game!
To prevent that, he'd need to aim for an OTK, ending the duel as fast as possible without dragging it out.
"Got it. I understand the Riding Duel rules now."
"Let's get started."
Ryo Nakamuta mounted his D-Wheel and rolled onto Track 1 on the left. Seeing this, Ushio Tetsu stopped hesitating, hopped onto his sapphire-blue D-Wheel, and took Track 2 on the right.
Both inserted their decks into the D-Wheel's duel slots, selected their Speed Spells, and the duel info appeared.
Both players' Life Points: 8000 LP
First Turn: Ushio Tetsu, 1 Speed Counter
Second Turn: Ryo Nakamuta, 0 Speed Counters
"I'll take the first turn!"
"Mr. Nakamuta, no holding back!"
"I Normal Summon Jutte Fighter, and activate the effect of Boost Warrior in my hand!"
"When I control a Tuner, I can Special Summon this card from my hand in Defense Position."
"I tune these two monsters on my field!"
"Level 3 Tuner Synchro Monster! Junk Defender takes the field!"
On the Riding Duel track, the moment Ushio Tetsu played his two cards and Synchro Summoned, his D-Wheel's throttle roared, sparks flying as he sped ahead.
[Ushio Tetsu, 2 Speed Counters]
Ryo Nakamuta narrowed his eyes, watching Ushio's opening move.
He was no stranger to Junk Defender, a Level 3 Tuner Synchro with a solid one-card-to-three effect.
It was useful for setting up Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier plays.
But how would Ushio Tetsu leverage these resources?
"Then I activate Junk Defender's effect to Special Summon a second Junk Defender!"
"And I activate the second Junk Defender's effect to Special Summon a third Junk Defender!"
"Hahaha! I activate the Spell Card Polymerization!"
"I fuse two Junk Defenders to Fusion Summon!"
"Royal Emperor, lead the armies on the battlefield!"
Ushio Tetsu's next move wasn't another Synchro Summon but a Polymerization for a Fusion Summon!
On the field, two Junk Defenders merged into a swirling mass, from which a royal throne emerged.
Seated atop was a pale young man in a dragon robe.
The duel was broadcast live on the sixth floor's giant screen, and other duelists, previously practicing, paused to watch.
"Who's Riding Dueling? Oh, it's Coach Ushio."
"No surprise there. He's already got Royal Emperor out. Poor guy facing the coach."
"3300 ATK and a Nibiru-like effect. That kid's turn is gonna get wrecked."
"Wait, that student-looking guy… have I seen him somewhere? A Phantom God Dimension Academy freshman?"
"…Huh?"
Seeing it was Ushio Tetsu, many relaxed, smirking mischievously at the trailing Ryo Nakamuta.
Some noticed Ryo's school uniform and familiar face, feeling like they'd seen him before, sinking into thought.
Meanwhile, trailing by half a lap, Ryo Nakamuta saw Ushio Tetsu use his resources to summon the lackluster Royal Emperor and felt a pang of pity.
You had a shot at Trishula and used it to fuse Royal Emperor?
A one-time Nibiru effect? That wouldn't stop a Blackwing swarm!
Plus, Royal Emperor had no protection, making it an easy target.
"I set one card."
"My turn ends, Mr. Nakamuta, your move."
Ushio Tetsu set a card, slowing his D-Wheel slightly.
The turn passed to Ryo Nakamuta.
[Ryo Nakamuta, 1 Speed Counter]
"My turn, draw!"
"I activate the Continuous Spell Card Black Whirlwind."
"I activate the effect of Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind in my hand, banishing a second Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind from my hand to activate a second Black Whirlwind from my deck onto the field."
"Then, Simoon is Normal Summoned without counting toward my Normal Summon!"
"Simoon has 1600 ATK, so Chain 1: Black Whirlwind effect, Chain 2: Black Whirlwind effect to search for Blackwing monsters with 1600 or less ATK."
"Chain resolves: Chain 2, I search Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer. Chain 1, I search Blackwing - Auster the South Wind."
"…Here we go!"
In one breath, dual Black Whirlwinds swept the field.
Ryo Nakamuta effortlessly searched two core Blackwing monsters from his deck.
Ushio Tetsu's face paled at the sight!
Blackwing deck?!
Crow Hogan?!
For a moment, Ushio Tetsu thought he was dueling Crow Hogan in a Riding Duel!
What?! What's going on?!
Wasn't this guy using Cyber Dragon and Red-Eyes?!
How'd he switch to a Blackwing deck?!
Mastering three decks? Was that even reasonable?
Ushio Tetsu rubbed his eyes, confirming he wasn't seeing things.
This guy was definitely playing a Blackwing deck!