Chapter 1277: The Fake Trudge

Kira turned his head at the voice and saw that the person who had appeared behind him was riding what looked like a Security Pursuit Team's specialized Duel Runner. The rider was also an old acquaintance—dark skin, a shocking scar across his face, and a yellow scarf fluttering in the wind. Who else could it be but Trudge from the Security Pursuit Team?

"Trudge?" Kira said in surprise.

But he immediately understood something.

"I see. Even Trudge has a robotic duplicate. I really didn't expect that…"

The "Trudge" was stunned, seemingly not expecting to be seen through so quickly.

"Of course. You're not the first mechanical duplicate to appear before me," Kira said. "But what's going on with you all? How can even someone like Trudge have a duplicate? I know your technology is very advanced and can copy anyone, but no matter what, the bar for the original seems way too low, doesn't it?"

The fake Trudge exploded in anger. "Who are you calling low-bar, you bastard!? Are you looking down on me!"

He snorted. "Well, I can't really refute it. What you said is pretty accurate. Someone like me, who was originally just a minor character, probably shouldn't have been able to be reborn in God's hands.

The only reason even a small fry like me got a second chance is because I was an important part of 'that guy's' life."

"What?" Kira frowned.

The fake Trudge shook his head. "Tch, why am I even telling you this… Whatever! Anyway, you're a dangerous factor. I won't let you pass so easily!

Even if it costs me this old life of mine!"

Both Duel Runners were locked, and their racing speeds were forcibly slowed. The word "Duel Mode" popped up on each Duel Runner's display, and both sides entered a Turbo Duel.

"I see. You're using a Turbo Duel to slow me down," Kira said.

It was indeed a common tactic in 5D's.

"Exactly." The fake Trudge laughed. "Just so you know, I'm pretty strong. If you don't concentrate, you'll get instantly killed by me!"

With that, he twisted the throttle and shot forward like an arrow, taking the lead ahead of Kira.

"I'll take the first turn!" The fake Trudge laughed heartily. "My turn, draw!"

The fake Trudge drew first.

Kira shrugged; he was used to it. Although he had been caught off guard and given up the first turn this time, he hadn't gotten the first turn in many Turbo Duels anyway, so it didn't matter.

Besides, he hadn't planned to tangle with this Trudge for long today. His plan was a quick decisive battle, so going second was actually perfect.

The fake Trudge had specifically ambushed here to stall him. The truth about this whole family of fakes was probably hidden with the fake Yusei who had already appeared. The other side judged Kira as a dangerous factor and didn't want him to get close, so they had arranged for this Trudge to intercept him here.

"Activate Spell Card 'Double Summon'!" the fake Trudge said. "This way, I can perform two Normal Summons this turn.

First Normal Summon—I summon 'Search Striker'!"

A searcher wearing a blue robe, his face obscured by a metal-structured helmet, with both arms replaced by twin silver-white metal cannons. Wires connected the cannons to the searcher's body.

[Search Striker, ATK 1600]

"Then, using Double Summon's effect, perform the second Normal Summon!"

Trudge raised his arm, and a second blue vortex unfolded on his field.

"Summon 'Jutte Fighter'!"

A small samurai jumped onto the field, wearing comical round-frame glasses, with a samurai hairstyle and holding a steel fork.

[Jutte Fighter, ATK 700]

"Level 2 Tuner monster 'Jutte Fighter'!

Level 4 'Search Striker'! Tuning!"

[2 + 4 = 6]

"This is the ace of pursuit, the power of privilege! Synchro Summon——Goyo Guardian!"

Accompanied by a grating metallic scraping sound, Goyo Guardian stepped out of the void with eerie dance steps. On his pale face, blood-red lips stretched into an impossibly wide arc, revealing snow-white teeth. His eyes, painted bright red, flickered with an eerie light in the darkness.

The ropes coiled in his hands wriggled like living things, cutting sharp whistles through the air. Every time the ropes swung, they left blood-colored afterimages in the void, as if weaving an invisible net.

[Goyo Guardian, ATK 2800]

"So it appears, Goyo Guardian."

Kira smiled.

"A 6-star monster with 2800 ATK, and it can even steal the opponent's monster—what a cheating ability."

"Oh? Looks like you know your stuff."

The fake Trudge chuckled.

"Well, I heard you're the current Director of the Sector Security here. Since you're the Director, it's not strange that you know about the power of privilege.

Correct! Goyo Guardian is a powerful monster with the effect: 'When it destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, Special Summon that monster to your field in Defense Position.' It's the perfect ace for the Pursuit Team!"

As he spoke, he glanced at another card in his hand and sneered inwardly even more.

Not only that, he also held "Sakuretsu Armor." A powerful Trap that could destroy the attacking monster directly when the opponent declared an attack.

Goyo Guardian on offense, Sakuretsu Armor reinforcing the defense. This opening formation was perfect.

"Set one card. Turn end."

After declaring the end of his turn, the fake Trudge laughed lightly in his heart.

When he had volunteered to be responsible for intercepting and stalling Fujiki Kira, none of his companions had agreed. Only after he stubbornly insisted did they finally accept the arrangement.

Even so, not a single companion thought he had any chance of winning.

But this fake Trudge himself didn't think so.

As a duelist, once you step onto the battlefield, you must hold the belief in victory. If nothing else, he felt his performance in the first turn had shown no flaws.

Next, if the opponent attacked, he would counter with Sakuretsu Armor. If the opponent defended, he would use Goyo Guardian to create an advantage. Whether advancing or retreating, he had countermeasures. It was a perfect opening that balanced offense and defense.

"My turn, draw."

Kira said calmly.

"Let me guess… The 'God' you mentioned is Z-ONE, right?

You said 'second chance'… meaning your dimension's Z-ONE created all these duplicates of you and let you invade our dimension?

But what's the purpose? What do you want to gain from this dimension?"

Fake Trudge: "!"

He didn't answer directly, but from the colorful reaction on his face, Kira knew he had guessed correctly—or at least part of it.

But then, the fake Trudge gritted his teeth and said gloomily,

"A guy like you… what could you possibly understand?"

…