The strength of the Blackwing deck was something Ushio Tetsu knew all too well.
Or rather, any duelist from the 5D'S dimension had heard of the Blackwing deck's absurd search power and Special Summoning prowess.
Facing Ryo Nakamuta's Blackwing deck, Ushio Tetsu felt a flicker of unease.
He could only pin his hopes on Royal Emperor's one-time Nibiru-like interruption and his backrow set card!
"Big Bro Ushio, don't get nervous now."
"My setup's just getting started!"
"I Special Summon Blackwing - Auster the South Wind from my hand, then tune the Level 1 Tuner Auster with the Level 6 Simoon!"
"Jet-black wings herald Joe's stellar resolve!"
"Synchro Summon! Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe!!!"
As Ryo's words rang out, a whirlwind of Blackwing feathers enveloped Simoon and Auster on the field. Seven stars aligned, and the Synchro Summon completed!
Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe with 2600 ATK hit the field!
[Ryo Nakamuta, 2 Speed Counters]
"The moment your Special Summon succeeds, I chain Royal Emperor's effect from my field!"
"I Tribute the last Junk Defender on my field to take control of your Joe!"
"Hahaha! Kid, your ace monster's mine now!"
Ushio Tetsu gleefully activated Royal Emperor's effect. As the pale figure on the throne chanted an incomprehensible incantation, Obsidian Hawk Joe, still on Ryo's field, seemed to lose its will, trudging dazedly to Ushio's side.
That's how a Nibiru steal worked.
A staple of Yu-Gi-Oh! dueling you just had to stomach.
Ryo Nakamuta didn't bat an eye, scanning his hand and already forming a breakthrough plan.
"Oh? Who said that was my ace monster?"
"The real fun's just beginning."
"I Normal Summon Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer!"
"Chain 1: Sudri effect, Chain 2: Black Whirlwind effect, Chain 3: Black Whirlwind effect."
"Resolve the chain."
"Chain 3: Black Whirlwind, I search Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind."
"Chain 2: Black Whirlwind, I search Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor."
"Chain 1: Sudri effect, I search the Continuous Spell Black Feather Whirlwind."
Another Normal Summon!
Ryo Nakamuta's Blackwing resources were piling up like crazy!
Compared to this, the stolen Obsidian Hawk Joe suddenly seemed trivial.
The crowd cheering for Ushio Tetsu quieted, their excitement cooling.
Had they popped the champagne too early?
This Blackwing deck's search power—was it too absurd?
Simoon searched once, Sudri searched again!
How many resources had he racked up?!
Was this earning more than Ushio's Junk Defender?
"When I control a Blackwing monster, I Special Summon Blackwing - Bora the Spear from my hand."
"At this moment, I activate my Trap Card Call of the Haunted to revive Junk Defender from my graveyard!"
Ushio Tetsu gritted his teeth, debating before flipping his set card!
Reviving Junk Defender effectively gave Royal Emperor another chance to trigger its Nibiru-like steal.
The strength of Royal Emperor, with no once-per-turn limit, shone here.
"I activate the Continuous Spell Black Feather Whirlwind."
"I Special Summon Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor and activate its effect!"
"I send it, Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite from my deck, and Blackwing - Chinook the Snow Blast from my deck to the graveyard for a Synchro Summon!"
"Level 2 + Level 4 + Level 2 equals Level 8!"
"Spread your wings! Soar! Blackwing Dragon!!!"
[Ryo Nakamuta, 3 Speed Counters]
???
Wait, what?!
The other two materials for Blackwing Dragon's Synchro Summon came from the deck?
And then he Synchro Summoned?
Huh?
Is that how Blackwing decks work?
Didn't Crow Hogan's Blackwing deck back in the day play differently?
Ushio Tetsu was utterly baffled!
Meanwhile, Ryo Nakamuta's second successful Synchro Summon doubled his D-Wheel's speed, zooming past Ushio's D-Wheel in a flash.
By the time Ushio was choking on Ryo's exhaust, he snapped back and hurriedly triggered Royal Emperor's effect for another steal!
"Two Synchro Summons in one turn?"
"Don't get cocky, Mr. Nakamuta! I activate Royal Emperor's effect!"
"I Tribute Junk Defender to take control of your Blackwing Dragon too!"
"Hahaha! Your boss monsters are all mine!"
The familiar chant of Royal Emperor echoed across the track. Like Joe before it, Blackwing Dragon on Ryo's field lost its senses and flapped over to Ushio's monster zone.
"Hahaha! That's our Coach Ushio! That Ryo Nakamuta kid's gotta crash now!"
"Forget a student, even us pro duelist candidates would collapse after two Nibiru steals!"
"Yeah, both his boss monsters are Coach Ushio's. What's he got left?"
"Uh, well, I don't think it's that simple. Let's keep watching. He hasn't crashed yet."
The crowd packed around the sixth-floor projection screen buzzed with chatter.
Most were convinced Ushio Tetsu had secured his victory.
A few stayed cautious, noting Ryo's Blackwing resources weren't depleted.
And they were right.
Far ahead, Ryo Nakamuta flashed a sly smile at the smug Ushio Tetsu.
"Big Bro Ushio, let me offer you a phrase."
"Sore wa dou kana?"
"Want to take another look at the Blackwing monster I'm Synchro Summoning next?"
Ryo's words carried from ahead. Ushio Tetsu, holding three stolen heavyweights, felt his smile falter.
His gaze shifted back to Ryo's field.
The previously searched Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind had been Special Summoned!
Now, Level 3 Tuner Gale plus Level 4 non-Tuner Bora!
A Level 7 Synchro Summon—his third!
"Wings of storm, break through the tempest!"
"Shred everything! Assault Blackwing - Raikiri the Rain Shower!!!"
[Ryo Nakamuta, 4 Speed Counters]
"And I'm not done! I activate the effect of Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite in my graveyard, returning the Black Whirlwind searched by Simoon to my hand and taking 400 damage to Special Summon myself!"
"Raikiri's effect activates, destroying your Royal Emperor on the field!"
"Big Bro Ushio, take another look."
"Are Blackwing Dragon and Obsidian Hawk Joe still on your field?"
[Life Points: Ryo Nakamuta, 7600]
As Ryo's words landed, Royal Emperor was sliced in half by Raikiri's strike, crumbling to dust!
Regaining their senses, Blackwing Dragon and Obsidian Hawk Joe soared back to Ryo's field!
It was over!
Completely over!
This guy pulled off three Synchro Summons in one turn!
Ushio Tetsu's face drained of color. His D-Wheel wobbled, rocked by the monster's destruction, nearly skidding out!
Clenching his teeth, he barely regained control, avoiding becoming the next Crash King!
But it didn't matter!
What was he supposed to do next?
It was finished!
All finished!