Episode 74

"Mask of the Clown" (の Doukeshi no Kamen) is the seventy-fourth episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime.

The last match for the first round of the Friendship Cup is between Shun and Dennis, both Lancers. Against Shun who suspects his identity, Dennis plays in his usual Entertainment style. However, when Shun forces him into a corner, Dennis suddenly summons a new monster that surprises everyone!

Summary
Yūya recaps that the Friendship Cup is definitely wrong, but he still couldn't do anything about it. Tsukikage then appeared, even though he should have been sent underground; it turned out that Reiji Akaba sent Tsukikage underground on purpose to collect information. Tsukikage delivered a message from Reira; though the Lancers came to protect the Synchro Dimension, no-one in the City believes them, so they have to make them recognize their strength by defeating Jack. Yūya vowed to win with his Dueling, and bring smiles to the faces of everyone in the City.

Melissa Claire announces the final match of the Friendship Cup's first round; Shun Kurosaki vs. Dennis Macfield. Dennis smiles, while Shun remembers his last Duel with Dennis, where he became suspicious as to whether Dennis was really from LDS. Shun muses that back then, Dennis showed off his combat techniques, something that you definitely don't learn at LDS. Dennis comments to himself that Shun is probably thinking something like that, and declares that he'll make sure that he'll destroy Shun this time, bit by bit. Yūya is surprised that Shun is Dueling Dennis, since they are both Lancers, and he wonders if it is intended to turn them against one another.

In the Capital Building, Gael explains that Reiji may not be pleased with this matchup. Bordeaux explains that this match is quite noteworthy to them, and White Taki agrees. Reiji replies that he isn't displeased and that he finds the match compelling as well.

Shun enters the Duel Palace on his D-Wheel to the sound of fans cheering his name. Melissa narrates that Shun is the defunct Underground Dueling Arena's strongest and most popular Duelist. Dennis enters next, and Melissa describes him as the talk of the town after his performance in Central Park. The women in the crowd are quite taken, calling Dennis cuter in person, and Dennis waves to the crowd, declaring that he'll bring a dazzling illusion to the citizens of the City overflowing with friendship. He tosses three cards into the air and declares "It's showtime!" causing the cards to explode into fireworks that take the shape of his "Entermage Trapeze Magician" and the crowd cheers. Melissa declares that their Duel may just be a match worthy of wrapping up the Friendship Cup's first round. She declares that they can't you definitely can't not look forward to the Duel. She wonders how the Duel will develop, and claims that she's shaking with excitement. Shun and Dennis reach the starting line, and Dennis tells Shun that even though they're comrades, they're still fighting, so they should do their best. Shun comments that they let the Duel prove whether or not they are really comrades. Dennis comments that Shun is so cold. Melissa declares the activation of the Action Field; the Field Magic Card "Cross Over Accel". The purple light saturates the field, and the Action Cards disperse before the holographic starting board appears and begins counting down. Melissa declares, "Riding Duel… Acceleration!" and Shun and Dennis start off, declaring "Duel!"

Shun declares that he'll expose Dennis's true colors, and he accelerates to take the first corner and the first turn as Melissa narrates. He starts by Summoning "Raid Raptors - Skull Eagle", and then activates the Magic Card "Raid Raptors - Call" to Special Summon another copy from his Deck. He overlays his two Level 3 monsters to Xyz Summon "Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle". Melissa declares that the monarch of the underground Xyz Summoned in an instant. The effects of the overlayed "Skull Eagles" activate, increasing the ATK of "Devil Eagle" by 300 each, to 1600. Shun proceeds to activate the effect of "Devil Eagle", detaching an Overlay Unit to inflict damage to his opponent equal to a Special Summoned monster's ATK, and he chooses "Devil Eagle" itself. "Devil Eagle" creates a shadow of purple light that reduces Dennis's LP to 2400. Dennis asks if Shun is going with that again, and Shun asks what Dennis means. Snapping his fingers, Dennis declares his discerning magic; there's a "Rank-Up-Magic" card in Shun's hand right now, and he remembers Shun using "Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force" in their last Duel. Dennis comments that just like last time, Shun will be planning to Summon a higher-Rank monster. Shun looks at his hand, where there is indeed a "Rank-Up-Magic" Magic Card, "Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force". One girl in the crowd calls Dennis amazing, and another asks Dennis to see through her heart too, prompting everyone else to look at her. Dennis chides Shun for using a predictable hand, as he'll bring down the crowd's blood, and Shun insults him. Dennis continues, claiming that an entertainment show has to be full of surprises. Shun smirks, commenting that Dennis plans to discourage his enemy and gain the upper hand. LDS doesn't teach that tactic. Dennis asks in confusion if that is meant to be a compliment, and Shun Sets two cards, ending his turn.

Dennis declares his turn and draws, but he tuts to himself as he laments internally at the sight of his "Fusion". Shun narrows his eyes. Dennis irritably asks the card what it wants him to do. Dennis adds the card to his hand, and he declares that after his discerning magic comes the biggest trick of the century, before he snaps his fingers. "Devil Eagle" loses its other Overlay Unit, much to Shun's surprise. Dennis yodels quietly, asking if that is "Entermage Cup Tricker". "Cup Tricker" is holding the Overlay Unit, and it puts it beneath a cup, shifts it around, and gasps happily as it reveals that the cup is empty. Dennis snaps his fingers, reassuring Shun that he's just kidding. By detaching an Overlay Unit from an Xyz Monster, he was able to Special Summon "Cup Tricker" from his hand. Shun calls Dennis's use of Shun's Overlay Units clownish antics. Dennis comments that that's not all; in addition, the targeted Xyz Monster loses 600 ATK. "Devil Eagle" returns to 1000 ATK and Shun curses. Next up, Dennis activates the Magic Card "Magical Pendulum Box", allowing him to draw two cards, but he can only add Pendulum Monsters to his hand. He draws "Entermage Overlay Juggler" and "Entermage Bonus Dealer", and exclaims, "WOW! Both are Pendulums!" The "Magical Pendulum Box" card lets out a fanfare of victory, and Dennis proceeds to use the Scale 3 "Bonus Dealer" and the Scale 6 "Overlay Juggler" to Set the Pendulum Scale. He explains that he can now simultaneously Summon monsters from Levels 3 to 5. Dennis chants, "Pendulum Summon! Appear now, my Entermages!" as he Pendulum Summons "Entermage Wind Sucker", "Entermage Wing Sandwichman", and last but not least, "Entermage Ball Rider". Shun notes the three Level 5 monsters, and he asks Dennis if he plans to Xyz Summon. Dennis activates the Pendulum Effect of "Bonus Dealer", allowing him to draw two cards since he Pendulum Summoned three "Entermages". He draws "Entermage Magic Tactician" and "Entermage Fire Dancer", the latter of which he Normal Summons. He overlays the Level 4 "Fire Dancer" and "Ball Rider", and he chants, "Show must go on! Artisan of the stage, swoop down from the skies! Xyz Summon! Appear now! Rank 4! Entermage Trapeze Magician!" Melissa narrates that Dennis also Xyz Summoned in the very first Xyz showdown in Friendship Cup history. She calls it a red-hot development worthy of the first round finale. Shun observes that if Dennis keeps this up he'll pull the same trick as last time. He suggests that Dennis reveal who he really is now? Dennis reassures Shun that his show is still going on. He overlays the Level 5 "Cup Tricker", "Wind Sucker" and "Wing Sandwichman", and he chants, "Arrive, hell's artist! Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Entermage Shadow Maker!"

With "Shadow Maker" as the target, Dennis activates the effect of "Trapeze Magician", detaching an Overlay Unit to allow a monster to attack twice this turn. Then he activates the effect of "Shadow Maker" since it was targeted by an effect, detaching an Overlay Unit in order to Special Summon another "Shadow Maker" from his Extra Deck. The second "Shadow Maker" appears from the extended shadow of the first. Dennis activates the effect of the "Cup Tricker", which was detached and sent to the Graveyard, allowing him to transfer one Overlay Unit from one Xyz Monster to another. He detaches an Overlay Unit from the "Shadow Maker" that he Xyz Summoned and attaches it to the newly Summoned one. Then he uses the second Overlay Unit of "Trapeze Magician" to allow the second "Shadow Maker" to attack twice this turn as well. With "Shadow Maker" targeted by an effect, Dennis activates its effect, detaching an Overlay Unit and Special Summoning his third "Shadow Maker" from his Extra Deck. Melissa asks what this is; Dennis now has four Xyz Monsters on his field, and what's more; two of them can attack twice. She gets flustered over the math, before the total is given to her; 15500 damage. Dennis declares his Battle Phase, attacking "Devil Eagle" with "Trapeze Magician". "Trapeze Magician" swings on its staff and kicks "Devil Eagle", destroying it and reducing Shun to 2500 LP.

Shun immediately activates a Continuous Trap Card targeting "Trapeze Magician"; "Raid Raptors - Target Flag". The "Raid Raptors" crest appears on "Trapeze Magician's" mask, and Shun explains that he draws a card and then reveals it. He declares that he's drawn "Raid Raptors - Last Strix"; a Monster Card, and he states that when the monster targeted by the effect of "Target Flag" leaves the field, "Target Flag" will be destroyed and Shun can check Dennis's hand. Dennis looks at the "Fusion" in his hand, and Shun further explains that all cards that are the same card type as the card that Shun drew will be destroyed and sent to the Graveyard when he checks Dennis's hand. Dennis notes that even if Shun does that, Dennis will be taking out Shun's LP here anyway and he resumes his Battle Phase. Shun activates a Quick-Play Magic Card, "Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force". He Special Summons the destroyed Rank 3 "Devil Eagle", treats it as Material and overlays it, Xyz Summoning a "Raid Raptors" that is double its Rank. He chants, "Prideful falcon! Spread those wings dyed with the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution! Rank-Up-Xyz Evolution! Appear now! Rank 6! Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon!"

Melissa calls the Xyz Summon using a destroyed monster impressive, and Shun activates the effect of "Revolution Falcon" as it was Ranked-Up using a "Raid Raptors" monster as Material; destroying an opponent's Special Summoned monster and inflicts half its ATK to Dennis as damage. Ordering "Revolution Falcon" to reveal Dennis's true colors with its revolutionary flames, he tells it to destroy "Trapeze Magician". "Revolution Falcon" opens a port on its base and concentrates a fireball from it before descending towards "Trapeze Magician". Dennis comments that that isn't good since "Trapeze Magician" is the star of his show. He activates the effect of the "Entermage Magic Tactician" in his hand, sending it to the Graveyard since a monster he controls was targeted by an effect, and then sending another card on his field to the Graveyard in order to change the target of the effect. He sends one "Shadow Maker" to his Graveyard and changes the target to another "Shadow Maker", which burns in the flames. Dennis explains that "Shadow Maker" was destroyed, but Dennis won't take any damage due to the effect of "Trapeze Magician". He sighs in relief at somehow being able to protect "Trapeze Magician", who laughs sinisterly. Dennis ends his turn, noting that the effect of "Revolution Falcon" would have reduced the ATK of his Special Summoned monsters to zero. Shun scoffs and he turns away. In her room, Yuzu asks what is with this Duel. Yūya wonders what Shun means by revealing Dennis's true colors. Reiji and Jean-Michel Roger watch intently. Dennis drives up beside Shun, and Shun asks Dennis how long he plans on hiding his true colors. Dennis asks what Shun is talking about; as his show doesn’t have tricks like that. "Trapeze Magician" laughs.

Accelerating around a corner, Shun declares his turn and draws, adding the card to his hand before activating the effect of "Revolution Falcon". By using an Overlay Unit, he can attack all monsters his opponent controls once each. "Revolution Falcon" absorbs its Overlay Unit and spirals into the sky as Shun declares his Battle Phase and orders "Revolution Falcon" to attack "Trapeze Magician" first. Dennis comments that he said it's no good, and he accelerates to snatch up an Action Card. "Revolution Falcon" opens its hatches as Shun orders, "Revolutional Air Raid", and it drops bombs from the sky. Dennis activates the Action Magic, "Battle Change", allowing him to choose his opponent's attack targets. Shun is shocked, as Dennis switches the attack target to "Trapeze Magician". Shun reminds Dennis that as he knows, when "Revolution Falcon" battles a Special Summoned monster, that ATK and DEF of that monster become zero. "Revolution Falcon" blasts flames from its turbines, reducing the ATK of "Shadow Maker" to zero. The bombs fall…but "Shadow Maker" transforms into an Overlay Unit and the bombs explode on the track. Dennis comments that it's too bad; he used "Shadow Maker" as an Overlay Unit for "Trapeze Magician" with the Pendulum Effect of "Entermage Overlay Juggler". Yūya watches as Shun calls it a temporary measure, asking if Dennis forgot that Shun can attack all of his enemies. "Revolution Falcon" blasts more flames from its turbines that reduce the ATK of "Trapeze Magician" to zero. Shun declares "Revolutional Air Raid" again, and "Revolution Falcon" drops a second payload. Yūya begins to realize that the Duel is familiar, and Shun declares that he doesn't plan on enjoying any show with Dennis; to him, this is a battlefield. Yūya remembers "Revolution Falcon" bombing the Solid Vision "Future City Heartland", and he gasps that it's just like back then.

Dennis reaches for an Action Card, but Shun decelerates and blocks him from getting the card. "Trapeze Magician" dives for the card itself, but the bombs hit, blasting the Magician into the air and destroying it. Dennis screams his monster's name as its mask hits the ground and dissolves, the fragments floating back to Dennis. Melissa states that Dennis's ace monster, "Trapeze Magician" has finally been destroyed, so now Dennis's LP will fall. But Dennis's LP doesn't change, much to Melissa and Shun's surprise. Dennis sadly explains that he activated the Action Magic, "Damage Vanish". "Trapeze Magician" gave it to Dennis in his last moments, and it reduced the battle damage that he took to zero. Shun observes that Dennis hung on by the skin of his teeth, but now his show is over. He activates the effect of the Continuous Trap "Target Flag", destroying it since "Trapeze Magician" left the field, and then forcing his opponent to reveal his hand.

Dennis frowns, and Shun tells Dennis to show them his true colors. Dennis holds up the "Fusion" card, asking Shun if this is what he wanted to see. Roger muses, "Fusion", and Shun mutters that he knew it and he tells Dennis to go ahead and use that card. He Sets two cards face-down and ends his turn.

Dennis comments that it's time to show Shun his ultimate entertainment. He returns "Fusion" to his Wrist Dealer, and then he darkly declares his turn and draws a card, the Magic Card "Antique Gear Chaos Fusion", which he immediately activates. He sends "Fusion" from his hand to the Graveyard and banishes Xyz Monsters from his Graveyard; "Trapeze Magician" and his three "Shadow Makers", a number equal to the number of Fusion Materials that he needs. Dennis then negates the effects and Summoning conditions of the Fusion Material Monsters in his Deck and Extra Deck and Special Summons them. He declares each of their names; "Antique Gear Hound Dog", "Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog", "Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog", and "Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog", Special Summoning all four "Antique Gear" monsters. Yūya is shocked to see "Antique Gear" monsters, and Serena rudely mutters "that other guy…" Dennis fuses all four "Antique Gear" monsters and he chants, "Mechanized hound dogs that inherit the Antique soul! Merge those ten heads, unleash chaos and become tremendous strength! Fusion Summon! Appear now! Level 10! Antique Gear Chaos Giant!" The gigantic Fusion Monster appears in the sky and Melissa gasps that it's enormous, asking what it is. Yuzu is shocked that Dennis Summoned such a huge monster. Shun looks back, recognizing the monster from the Invasion of Xyz Dimension. Multiple "Chaos Giants" marched through the burning City, and Shun himself fled from them. Dennis comments that it looks like Shun has seen the monster before, and Shun snaps that Dennis is from Academia. Yūya, Yuzu, Serena, and Reira are all shocked. Gael asks Reiji what this means, and if he cares to explain. Reiji asks the Executive Council what they expect him to say. Bordeaux points out that Academia is their enemy, correct? Why is that enemy with Reiji? Reiji replies that he had considered the possibility that their enemy had wormed its way into the Lancers, but what about the Council? Roger watches as Melissa states that the monster is Level 10, a gigantic behemoth of a monster with 4500 ATK.

Dennis smiles and he coldly tells Shun to let the hunting game begin.

Shun Kurosaki vs. Dennis Macfield
At the start of the Duel, the Field Magic Card "Cross Over Accel" is activated, as per the rules of an Action Duel and a Riding Duel. It will allow the players to use Action Cards, but they may only have one in their hand at a time.

Turn 1: Shun

Shun Normal Summons "Raid Raptors - Skull Eagle" (CG Star 3/1000/500). He activates "Raid Raptors - Call", which lets him Special Summon a monster from his Deck with the same name as a "Raid Raptors" monster he controls. He Special Summons a second "Skull Eagle" (CG Star 3/1000/500). Shun overlays his two Level 3 monsters to Xyz Summon "Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle" (Rank Star 3/1000/0/2 ORU) in Attack Position. As they were used as Overlay Units, the effects of both "Skull Eagles" activate, increasing the ATK of the Xyz Summoned monster by 300 each ("Devil Eagle": 1000 → 1600). Shun activates the effect of "Devil Eagle", detaching an Overlay Unit during either player's turn to inflict damage to his opponent equal to the ATK of a Special Summoned monster on the field. Shun chooses "Devil Eagle" (Dennis: 4000 → 2400 LP). Shun Sets two cards.

Turn 2: Dennis

Dennis draws "Fusion". He activates the effect of "Entermage Cup Tricker" in his hand, which lets him detach an opposing Xyz Monster's Overlay Unit, Special Summon "Cup tricker" and reduce that monster's ATK by 600. Dennis detaches an Overlay Unit from "Devil Eagle" and Special Summons "Cup Tricker" (CG Star 5/1200/1400). ("Devil Eagle": 1600 → 1000 ATK). He then activates "Magical Pendulum Box" letting him draw two cards and reveal them. If they are both Pendulum Monsters, he will add them to his hand, but if either or both is not, they will both be sent to the Graveyard. He draws "Entermage Bonus Dealer" and "Entermage Overlay Juggler - both Pendulum Monsters. Dennis activates "Bonus Dealer" (Left Pendulum Scale 3) and "Overlay Juggler" (Right Pendulum Scale 6) in his Pendulum Zones. He Pendulum Summons "Entermage Wind Sucker" (CG Star 5/2100/0), "Entermage Wing Sandwichman" (CG Star 5/1800/2100) and "Entermage Ball Rider" (CG Star 4/1000/1800) from his hand, all in Attack Position. Dennis activates the Pendulum Effect of "Bonus Dealer", which lets him draw two cards if he Pendulum Summons three or more "Entermage" or "Entermate" monsters at the same time. He draws "Entermage Fire Dancer" and "Entermage Magic Tactician". He Normal Summons "Fire Dancer" (CG Star 4/1400/1200). Dennis overlays the Level 4 "Fire Dancer" and "Ball Rider" to Xyz Summon "Entermage Trapeze Magican" (Rank Star 4/2500/2000/2 ORU) in Attack Position. He then overlays the Level 5 "Wind Sucker", "Wing Sandwichman", and "Cup Tricker" to Xyz Summon "Entermage Shadow Maker" (Rank Star 5/2600/1000/3 ORU) in Attack Position.

Dennis activates the effect of "Trapeze Magician", detaching an Overlay Unit to let a monster he controls attack twice during this turn's Battle Phase. He targets "Shadow Maker". Because "Shadow Maker" was targeted by a card effect, Dennis activates its effect, detaching "Cup Tricker" to Special Summon another copy of "Shadow Maker" (Rank Star 5/2600/1000) from his Extra Deck. As "Cup Tricker" was detached, its effect activates, which lets him attach an Overlay Unit he controls to a different Xyz Monster he controls. He attaches the Overlay Unit of the first "Shadow Maker" to the second one. Dennis activates the effect of "Trapeze Magician" again and targets the second copy of "Shadow Maker", letting it attack twice this turn. Because the second "Shadow Maker" was targeted by a card effect, Dennis activates its effect, detaching an Overlay Unit to Special Summon a third "Shadow Maker" (Rank Star 5/2600/1000) from his Extra Deck. "Trapeze Magician" attacks and destroys "Devil Eagle" (Shun: 4000 → 2500 LP), but Shun activates his face-down "Raid Raptors - Target Flag". This lets him draw and reveal a card, then target a monster his opponent controls. When that monster leaves the field, his opponent must reveal his hand and all cards of the same type as what Shun drew will be destroyed. He draws a monster, "Raid Raptors - Last Strix" and targets "Trapeze Magician". Shun then activates his face-down "Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force", allowing him to Special Summon an Xyz Monster from his Graveyard that was destroyed by battle, then Xyz Summon a "Raids Raptor" monster whose Rank is double that of the Summoned monster, by using that monster as the Overlay Unit. He Special Summons "Devil Eagle" and overlays it to Xyz Summon "Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon" (Rank Star 6/2000/3000/1 ORU) in Attack Position. As it was Xyz Summoned by using a "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster as an Overlay Unit, Shun activates the effect of "Revolution Falcon", destroying 1 monster his opponent controls and inflicting damage to him equal to half the ATK of that monster. He targets "Trapeze Magician", but Dennis activates the effect of the "Entermage Magic Tactician" in his hand, sending it and 1 monster he controls to the Graveyard, and then changing the target to another appropriate monster he controls. He sends 1 "Shadow Maker" to the Graveyard and switches the target of the effect of "Revolution Falcon" to another "Shadow Maker". "Shadow Maker" is destroyed, with the effect of "Trapeze Magician" preventing Dennis from taking effect damage.

Turn 3: Shun

Shun draws. Shun activates the effect of "Revolution Falcon", detaching an Overlay Unit to allow it to attack all monsters Dennis control once each this turn. "Revolution Falcon" attacks "Trapeze Magician", but Dennis finds and activates the Action Card "Battle Change", allowing him to change the attack target of each monster that Shun controls once per turn. He changes the attack target of "Revolution Falcon” to "Shadow Maker". Dennis then activates the Pendulum Effect of "Overlay Juggler", attaching "Shadow Maker" to "Trapeze Magician" as an Overlay Unit. "Revolution Falcon" attacks "Trapeze Magician", its first effect reducing the ATK and DEF of "Trapeze Magician" to 0 as "Trapeze Magician" is a Special Summoned monster. ("Trapeze Magician": 2500/2000 → 0/0) Dennis attempts to grab an Action Card, but Shun blocks him. "Trapeze Magician" is destroyed, but its remains allow Dennis to find and activate the Action Card, "Damage Vanish", reducing the battle damage that he would have taken to 0. Since "Trapeze Magician" has been destroyed, "Target Flag" is destroyed by its own effect and Dennis reveals his hand. Dennis' hand contains "Fusion". Shun Sets two cards.

Turn 4: Dennis

Dennis draws "Antique Gear Chaos Fusion" and subsequently activates it. By sending "Fusion" from his hand to his Graveyard and selecting one "Antiquue Gear" Fusion Monster in his Extra Deck, he can banish monsters from his Graveyard that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck equal to the number of the selected Fusion Monster’s Fusion Material monsters, and then Special Summon those Fusion Material Monsters from his Deck, Extra Deck or Graveyard with their effects negated, ignoring the Summoning conditions. Dennis banishes "Trapeze Magician" and all three copies of "Shadow Maker" from his Graveyard to Special Summon "Antique Gear Hound Dog" (CG Star 3/1000/1000) from his Deck and "Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog" (CG Star 5/1400/1000), "Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog" (CG Star 7/1800/1000) and "Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog" (CG Star 9/2800/2000) from his Extra Deck. The effect of "Antique Gear Chaos Fusion" then sends the Special Summoned Fusion Materials to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon "Antique Gear Chaos Giant" (CG Star 10/4500/3000) in Attack Position.

Duel continues in the next episode.