The strongest Blue-Eyes in history.
Given that this was the anime world, and facing Kaiba, Kira had an idea of what it might be.
If it was "that"... well, in theory, that card shouldn't exist anymore.
But in any case, the answer was about to be revealed.
"I activate the spell card 'Shuffle Reborn'," Kaiba declared. "This card can only be activated when I have no monsters on the field. I select one monster from my graveyard to Special Summon."
Azure data streams coalesced into a card, exiting his graveyard slot.
"My strongest servant, the Ultimate Dragon—Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, revive!"
A blinding white light and earth-shaking presence—the invincible three-headed White Dragon returned in all its glory!
[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK 4500]
"So fast, he brought back Ultimate Dragon already—not bad, President," Kira smiled. "But monsters summoned by Shuffle Reborn have their effects negated, and are banished at the end of the turn."
"Huh?" Mokuba blinked. "But with 'Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon' in the graveyard, big brother's Ultimate Dragon is invincible—it's immune to all card effects!"
"No, it's 'immune to opponent's card effects'," Jaden grinned.
"But Shuffle Reborn is Kaiba's own card, so its side effect can't be avoided."
"Still, knowing Kaiba, he must have a plan," Zane said.
Kaiba slowly drew out a card from his hand.
"At last," he said quietly. "After so many years, I've finally regained this power.
Grant me this power once more—descend in your ultimate form—"
Kaiba's pupils narrowed as he raised the card, a beam of brilliant blue shooting into the sky. Lightning dragons roared amidst the clouds.
Jaden stared in shock.
Something big was about to appear...
"I tribute 'Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon'!"
The crowd was stunned.
A monster that strong—he's sacrificing it? What kind of monster could require such a condition?
"Summoned from beyond the ultimate beast, a dragon of light that erases everything—appear now—
—Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon!!!"
From the light emerged the legendary ultimate monster. Armored in refined steel and stardust, its deep blue radiance was pure and intense as a newborn blue sun.
No, it wasn't just a dragon—it was more like a guardian deity.
Worshipped as a god by ancient Egyptians, it first appeared in card form in Pegasus's hands, briefly becoming Kaiba's trump card that surpassed even the gods.
But at the end of the Pyramid of Light movie, Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon burned itself out to destroy the final boss's "Pyramid of Light," vanishing as a result.
This was the peak of White Dragon evolution Kaiba had reached. Even after all these years, he hadn't developed a stronger form. So of course, he used every resource to try and recreate this card.
Now, after so many years, he had finally succeeded.
Back then, Atem was the first and only opponent Kaiba faced with Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon. Now, Kira became the second.
[Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, ATK 3000]
"Whenever Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon would be affected by a card effect, its controller can choose whether to accept or ignore it." (Anime effect)
"This is the ultimate evolution of White Dragon, with absolute resistance!"
"Choose whether to accept any effect!?" Zane's face changed.
Does such resistance even exist!?
"That really does surpass even the Ultimate Dragon's resistance," Jaden agreed.
It's Kaiba Seto, after all. The previous Ultimate Dragon with full resistance was already a legendary monster in their eyes—yet now, Kaiba had immediately surpassed even that.
"...I activate the spell card 'Dragon Shrine'," Kaiba said calmly. "I send one Dragon-type monster from my deck to the graveyard. If it's a Normal Monster, I can send another."
His deck automatically ejected two cards.
"I send two 'Blue-Eyes White Dragons' from my deck to the graveyard."
"'Ultimate Fusion' returns fusion materials to the deck," Kira understood. "To boost Shining Dragon's power?"
"Hmph, you know quite a bit. Yes, Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon's attack increases by 300 for each Dragon in my graveyard!" Kaiba announced. "For every Dragon in my graveyard, Shining Dragon's ATK rises by 300!"
Images of the dragons in his graveyard appeared one by one.
From the first turn's discarded Dragon for the XYZ Cannon, to the discarded Tyrant Dragon, the Neo Ultimate Dragon, the tributed Ultimate Dragon, and the two White Dragons sent by Dragon Shrine Effect... The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NoveI[F]ire.net
"Six Dragons in total, for an ATK increase of 1800!"
[Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, ATK 3000 → ATK 4800]
"Even its ATK surpasses Ultimate Dragon!" Jaden couldn't help but exclaim.
"And the terrifying thing is, this ability has no limit," Zane said seriously. "Even with full resistance, Ultimate Dragon is only 4500 ATK.
But Shining Dragon's ATK can just keep climbing as more Dragons hit the graveyard..."
With this dragon, there was no telling how high its ATK could get.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he'd never believe such a monster could exist.
He glanced at Kira again.
Facing such a duelist and monster... could he still be as composed as always?
"I really got to see it."
Kira looked up at that godlike, shining form and murmured,
"The anime effect of Shining Dragon."
And neither Jaden nor Zane knew that even now, Shining Dragon wasn't at full power. It had a hidden ultimate effect, a trump card not easily used, but not to be underestimated.
"Shining Dragon's power will secure victory in my hands. But before the battle..."
Kaiba waved his hand, activating a face-down card.
"I activate the face-down spell card 'Ancient Rules'. I can Special Summon a Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from my hand.
Appear, Dragon Spirit of White!"
In a white glow, the Dragon Spirit of White descended, spiraling towards Kira's back row.
"When Dragon Spirit of White is summoned, it can banish a Spell or Trap Card on the field," Kaiba declared, "banishing your set card!"
Kira's set card was revealed—Trap Card "Dimensional Wall."
A trap that could reflect battle damage back to the opponent.
"Yeah, even if Shining Dragon can ignore any effect, Dimensional Wall reflects battle damage without affecting the monster," Zane said.
The monster may be invincible, but the duelist is not.
If Kaiba relied only on his invincible Shining Dragon and attacked recklessly, Kira's Dimensional Wall would have meant instant defeat for Kaiba.
Losing like that would be intolerable.
He glanced at Kira again.
Such devious tactics, one after another...
"Hmph, Dimensional Wall? Useless against me."
Kaiba raised his voice,
"Now, this is the true end!"
His gaze was resolute.
More than winning against Kira, or making the finals or becoming King of Games, this duel had a special meaning for him.
This was his comeback, and a new step toward the future.
He was going to carve out a bright future with his soul and his strongest servant.
"Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, attack!