"She wiped his whole field with one Mirror Force! Even a Uria shouldn't be able to recover from that, right?!"
Jaden cheered excitedly for the second time.
But before he even finished speaking, Uria's body—engulfed in the explosion of reflected flames—was suddenly protected by a mysterious force, emerging completely unharmed.
"Jaden, you idiot!"
Alexis smacked his jellyfish-head hair hard, unable to hold back anymore.
"You've been setting flags nonstop! Whose side are you even on?!"
Nightshroud spoke coldly:
"Using Mirror Force Launcher to block my attack… an impressive tactic. However…"
He raised his arm and pointed at the massive tree growing from the magma behind him.
"Inside Fallen Paradise, Uria is granted resistance to destruction by card effects!"
Uria—still alive thanks to that protection—continued its attack uninterrupted.
Still, although Uria survived, the other two Red-Eyes monsters were destroyed, meaning Nightshroud's plan to end the duel right then had failed.
"Even if I can't win immediately… this 5000 points of battle damage is more than enough to send those two into the magma hell—"
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Nightshroud clutched his mask in pain, as if resisting something.
"Stop… don't hurt Alexis…"
Akasha blinked in confusion.
"Did he just… call me?"
"Just as I thought."
Even though Nightshroud faltered, Uria's already-declared attack could not be stopped. Hoshino immediately drew out a card.
"—I'm counting on you, JoJo!"
Cu Chulainn: "Life really is full of surprises, huh. (laughs)"
[Heroic Spirit – Saint George ★★★★ (Level 5)]
[LIGHT][Fairy/Effect]
[ATK 1000/DEF 1600]
[When your opponent declares an attack: You can Special Summon this card from your hand in Defense Position; the attack is redirected to this card.]
"Another day, another Golden Spirit! — Ascalon!"
With a burst of holy light, Saint George raised his sword and blocked Uria's attack, shielding Jaden and Alexis from being burned alive by the magma.
"The attack… was blocked?"
Nightshroud's pained expression gradually eased. Even though his attack failed, he seemed relieved.
Hoshino pressed him:
"Just as I thought. You said Alexis's name—didn't you? Although I don't know exactly what happened to you back in America… you're Atticus Rhodes, aren't you?"
The familiar tone, the shared use of Red-Eyes Black Dragon—even before the hesitation, those had already been suspicious clues.
Uria's attack stopping for Alexis confirmed everything.
Alexis's eyes widened.
"Senpai… you're saying he is… my brother?"
Hoshino called out sharply:
"Even if you hesitated at the end, using your own sister's life as a chip in a Shadow Game—Atticus, I'm not forgiving you that easily."
"Stop spouting nonsense! I am one of the Shadow Riders! The incarnation of darkness! A loyal servant of the Sacred Beasts—Nightshroud!!"
Furious, he flipped his final set card.
"Trap Card, activate—Red-Eyes Spirit!"
[Target 1 "Red-Eyes" monster in your GY; Special Summon it.]
"Roar, soul of the Red Dragon—revive, Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
The black-flamed dragon appeared once again and lunged toward Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily.
"Burn away in the dragon's flames! — Inferno Fire Blast!"
Hoshino answered calmly:
"A single semester away and you've gotten quite arrogant, Atticus. But tell me—have you ever defeated me even once?"
She flipped the Quick-Play Spell she had set last turn.
Starlight glittered over Jeanne Lily's small, pale figure.
"Relying on the Sacred Beasts won't make you stronger. Stop dreaming! — Quick-Play Spell, activate: Phantasm Summon!"
One of the Fusion Materials was banished, and the girl possessing the fantasy Saint Graph of Heroic Spirit – Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily stepped onto the field with dazzling elegance.
"Appear! Fusion Summon—Magical Girl – Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily Chloe!"
Even Akasha was shocked.
"Wait—Jeanne Lily has a fusion?! And that name is so LONG!"
Is… that really the part that surprised you?
[Magical Girl – Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily Chloe ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)]
[DARK][Fairy/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK 1500/DEF 1500]
Chloe placed a finger on her lips coyly. Her petite frame—now dressed in tiny Santa Jeanne attire—gave off an unexpectedly seductive glow.
"Even if you went from 1000 ATK to 1500, that's nowhere near enough to beat Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
Nightshroud pressed on, refusing to retreat.
Chloe pouted.
"Master, I think he's underestimating me. Let's show him a little something, okay?"
Hoshino lifted a card from her Graveyard.
"Three turns ago, when I discarded cards using the Trap Dark Schemes, I sent this to the Graveyard! Quick-Play Spell—Wolves of Mibu!"
[Target 1 "Heroic Spirit" Fusion Monster you control; banish this card from your GY, and that monster gains 1000 ATK.
You can activate this even during your opponent's turn.
Cannot activate the turn this card is sent to the GY.]
"Because Jeanne Lily was Fusion Summoned, she counts as a Fusion Monster—so Wolves of Mibu's activation requirement is fulfilled!"
[Jeanne Lily Chloe ATK 1500 → 2500]
With her ATK boosted beyond Red-Eyes, Chloe twirled her silver lance, cutting through the jet-black flames and piercing Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon — Destroyed]
[Nightshroud LP 3900 → 3800]
Hoshino pointed decisively.
"Atticus—whatever dragged you into the Shadow Rider's darkness, you'd better be ready. I am absolutely going to beat the living daylights out of you when you get back!"
"So you barely dodged the Sacred Beast's attack, and now you're getting cocky, huh?"
The revived Red-Eyes Black Dragon was destroyed once again. Nightshroud seemed to have given up on using anything other than Uria for combat.
"Because the Trap Card Red-Eyes Spirit was sent to the Graveyard, Uria, Lord of Searing Flames, gains another 1000 ATK!"
[Uria, Lord of Searing Flames ATK 6000 → 7000]
"As expected, if this keeps going, Uria's just going to become harder and harder to deal with…"
Looking up at Uria—now nearly twice as massive as when it first appeared—Alexis swallowed nervously.
"Human strength is nothing but dust before the Sacred Beasts! I Set two cards and end my turn!"
[Nightshroud: Hand 1 | Set cards 2]
"Human insignificance? No, you've already lost, Nightshroud."
Hoshino raised her Duel Disk, pointing straight at him. "My final piece for victory is already waiting at the top of my Deck!"
Arms crossed, Nightshroud scoffed. "Bluffing. You haven't even drawn yet. How could you possibly 'know' your win condition is coming?"
"Because a true Duelist's draw… is destined!"
Akasha sighed. "Hoshino-nee, you stole that line…"
"End Phase—activate Jeanne Lily Chloe's effect."
[①: If this card was Fusion Summoned, during the End Phase of the turn this card was summoned: place 1 card from your Deck on top of your Deck.]
Jaden snapped his fingers. "Oh! So that's it! Using Chloe's effect, she can directly stack the card she wants to draw next turn! Way more reliable than luck-based draws!"
Blushing, Chloe placed her hand over her chest, looking bashfully at Hoshino.
"Your Christmas present this year… is me, Master~"
"I don't want a Christmas present in a tiny body…"
Chloe puffed her cheeks. "Master, you're so cold! Don't tell me you prefer busty girls like Alexis?"
"Anyway—thanks to Jeanne Lily Chloe's effect, I place the Spell Card The First Epic on top of my Deck!"
"And with that… it's my turn. Draw!"
As Hoshino drew her card, the Graveyard erupted with golden light.
"Nightshroud, earlier I discarded two cards due to Dark Scheme. One was the Quick-Play Spell Wolves of Mibu. As for the other—let me show you!"
"Hah… Ha… Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
Amid the golden radiance, an enthusiastic golden citizen stepped forth—Gilgamesh, holding his clay tablet.
"Standby Phase—activate the effect of Heroic Spirits – Sage-King Gilgamesh in my Graveyard!"
[If this card is sent to the GY by your opponent: during your next Standby Phase, Special Summon it from the GY. If it leaves the field, return it to the Deck.]
"Behold—the king who returns from the underworld. Revive! Overworked Flash!"
[Heroic Spirits – Sage-King Gilgamesh ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)]
[EARTH][Spellcaster/Effect]
[ATK 2400/DEF 3000]
"Zasshu. Calling me 'Overworked Flash'? At least call me 'Overworked King.'"
Left hand gripping a stone tablet, right hand brandishing a massive axe—Caster Gilgamesh radiated both scholarly dignity and the overwhelming force of one who wields knowledge as power.
"Sacred Beast? A demonic creature that seeks to devour gods? A passable opponent."
Gilgamesh's crimson eyes swept toward Uria.
"Hmph. That's what I thought—until I realized this faker hasn't even fully awakened yet. Hard to muster enthusiasm…"
He pinched his fingers together dismissively, the minuscule gap between them perhaps containing a universe known only to him.
"As expected of Senpai!" Alexis said in awe. "Even though it was the opponent's discard trap, she turned it perfectly to her advantage!"
"This is the difference between you and me, Nightshroud!"
Hoshino held the drawn card between two fingers and pointed straight at him.
"What you discarded merely pumped Uria's ATK. What I discarded paved the road to victory!"
"No matter how many of those irrelevant monsters you Summon, they'll never surpass Uria!"
Nightshroud lifted his arm, pointing toward the massive Uria overhead. Uria bellowed, glaring at Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh raised his chin with disdain.
"Who gave you permission to raise your head before the King? Bow, mongrel."
As he spoke, Hoshino slammed her Spell Card onto the Duel Disk.
"Let's finish this, Gilgamesh! Show them the might of the oldest Hero! Spell Card—The First Epic!"
[①: If you control "Heroic Spirits – Sage-King Gilgamesh": banish all monsters you control; Ritual Summon 1 "Heroic Spirit – King of Heroes Gilgamesh" from your hand or Deck.]
"Crawl, ants. Who permitted you to look upon the King?"
Immense magical power wrapped around Gilgamesh, reshaping him. The strongest incarnation of the King of Heroes manifested, raising the sword that sunders creation.
"—I will tell you of the beginning. Heaven and Earth split. Nothingness congratulated Creation... and my sword cleaved the world. Mortar of the stars… heaven's hell is the eve of creation's celebration! Enuma Elish!!!!"
[Heroic Spirit – King of Heroes Gilgamesh ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)]
[EARTH][Warrior/Ritual/Effect]
[ATK ?/DEF ?]
Red pressure burst outward from the spinning Sword of Rupture, severing space and shattering concepts.
The earth shook. Lava roared. The great Fallen Paradise tree towering above the battlefield collapsed.
"When Gilgamesh is Ritual Summoned, all Field Spell Cards on the field are sent to the Graveyard! Meaning the Field Spell protecting the Sacred Beasts—is destroyed!"
Not only the towering tree, but even the molten lava of the Shadow Game seemed to burn out and fade, losing all crimson heat.
Replacing it was the golden radiance of the Gate of Babylon, shining behind Gilgamesh like a star-strewn night sky.
"After the Field Spell is destroyed, I can equip from the Deck—ignoring all conditions—every Equip Spell with 'Heroic Spirit' in its name onto Gilgamesh! This is the final battle, Sacred Beast!"