Combine—transform!
The four Machina shifted like Transforrs, drawing together, parts locking and gears shing into a massive fra. A sturdy shell, bristling armants, a burly silhouette casting a shadow that nearly blanketed Kira’s entire side.
Machina Force—Summoned!
[Machina Force, ATK 4600]
At first glance, it looked akin to the VWXYZ series—separate machine parts joining into a combined monster, a fairly common Machine the trick.
Look closer, though, and it wasn’t the sa.
Because while it looked like a single combined monster, on the Armorer’s Duel Disk the four Monster Zones were still each occupied by a card.
In other words, those four monsters only appeared combined; functionally, they were still four monsters.
5D’s had a similar case: the klord Emperors. In the ani they were five cards—head, torso, limbs—forming one huge ch, but chanically they were still five monsters occupying five Zones. The printed cards were changed to a single card for convenience and compatibility.
Machina worked similarly. In the manga, the "combination" was achieved by Covington’s effect; negate "Commander Covington" with a trap, and the union dissolved automatically. There was no actual "Machina Force" card in the original.
The printed ga, again for compatibility, made the combined form its own card, Summoned by sending the four components from the field to the GY.
"Once combined, ’Machina Force’ functions as a single monster, and can perform one coordinated attack per turn. Its components can’t attack on their own.
But in exchange—it has an ATK that surpasses even the gods!"
The Armorer laughed.
"Your little Machina Fortress is nothing before the pinnacle of Machina power! Attack ’Machina Fortress’!"
The combined ch locked on. Railguns, cannons, and missiles fired in unison. The field exploded into dazzling light—an assault of multicolored ordnance rained down on the Fortress.
Even the Fortress couldn’t withstand such firepower; it burst apart in the barrage and crashed, afla.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 1900]
"Then I activate my Set card," Kira said with a flick. "Trap Card ’Damage Condenser.’ When I take battle damage, I discard a card to Special Summon a monster from my Deck with ATK less than or equal to the damage I took."
The Armorer chuckled. "A Machina with 2100 ATK or less? Heh. No match for ’Machina Force’—"
"I took 2100 damage, so I can Special Summon a monster with 2100 ATK or less."
A beam of gold shot from Kira’s Duel Disk.
"Special Summon—’Catapult Turtle’!"
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]
The Armorer: "???"
Catapult Turtle?
Of course he knew that monster. In fact, as a staple used by the original Duel King since Duelist Kingdom—boasting plenty of notable wins—few in the dueling world didn’t know it.
But aren’t you playing Machina!?
He was puzzled, but didn’t dwell on it. With Machina Force out, his odds had shot up; he felt steady as a rock.
"I set two and end."
"My turn. Draw."
Kira drew, then imdiately revealed the card.
"I send the Level 8 ’Machina gaform’ from my hand to the GY to revive ’Machina Fortress’ from the GY."
With a tallic roar, the Fortress he’d just lost returned to the field.
[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]
"A Fortress you can keep reviving as long as you can total 8 Levels in hand—it’s a strong Machina indeed. But it’s still useless before my ard might," the Armorer scoffed.
He said that, but he knew his powerhouse had a glaring weakness.
It looked like one monster, but it was still four components. While it could swing as one with 4600 ATK, when being attacked, each component could be targeted separately.
The sa weakness the klord Emperors had in the 5D’s ani.
Break any one component, and the combination dissolves.
But it was fine.
He glanced at his backrow and smirked inwardly.
Negate Attack—a Counter Trap that negates an attack and ends the Battle Phase. Even if the opponent tried to swing in, the trap would stop him.
Next turn, he’d swing for ga.
Co on—use your Fortress and try to hit .
"Then I activate ’Catapult Turtle’s’ effect," Kira said casually. "Catapult Turtle can Tribute a monster on my field to inflict damage to you equal to half that monster’s ATK.
I’ll launch ’Machina Fortress’ as the projectile."
The Armorer: "!"
He’s not attacking with Fortress—he’s firing it!?
The massive Fortress slid onto the Turtle’s launch rail and fired, trailing a dazzling arc.
"Urgh!"
Staggering back, the Armorer took the Fortress shell to the face, his expression turning ashen.
[The Armorer, LP 2300 → 1050]
He imdiately realized the severity.
Fortress’s revival isn’t once per turn, and that Catapult Turtle also has no once-per-turn restriction (old text)!
"I activate my Set Trap—’Numinous Healer’!" the Armorer shouted. "When I take battle or effect damage, I recover 1000 Life Points."
[The Armorer, LP 1050 → 2050]
His LP popped back to a safer range. Now, Catapult Turtle would need to fire monsters totaling 4100 ATK to finish him in one shot.
"Then I’ll use ’Machina Fortress’ in my GY again," Kira said. "I discard the Level 8 ’Machina Air Raider’ in my hand—Fortress revives."
[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]
"Fortress has no once-per-turn. As long as I can pitch a total of 8 Levels, I can bring it back as many tis as I like—"
The Armorer grit his teeth.
"Catapult Turtle’s effect—again," Kira continued. "Load ’Machina Fortress’ and fire."
The Fortress settled onto the Turtle’s rail; the heavy steel citadel blasted forth, trailing leaping arcs!
"Gwah!"
[The Armorer, LP 2050 → 800]
He was chalk-white now, all color drained.
"And when ’Machina Fortress’ on the field is sent to the GY, I can Special Summon ’Machina gaform’ from the GY by banishing that ’Machina Fortress’ from my GY."
Kira took the Fortress that had just hit the GY—and banished it.
"I banish Fortress—Special Summon ’Machina gaform.’"
[Machina gaform, ATK 2600]
The Armorer’s mouth twitched.
He lifted his head in despair—eting the gaze of that Catapult Turtle across from him.
That lordly look seed to say—
—This turtle... is truly invincible now.
He was numb.
He prided himself on knowing Machina inside out—every playstyle. But this? He’d never seen this.
Who taught you to play Machina like this!?
"Go on, Catapult Turtle," Kira said lazily, lifting a hand. "Load ’Machina gaform’—fire."
The Armorer could only watch the heavy ch accelerate down the rail like a dump truck barreling straight at his face. For a second, he didn’t even know what expression to wear to et his end—
"Uwaaaa!!!"
[The Armorer, LP 800 → 0]
PS: Bonus Chapters at 2000 PS
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