"At the start of my turn, I return the Spell Card Princess of Red Bean Paste—which was banished by Premonition of the Beginning—back to my hand."
Alexis glanced toward Akasha and asked, "Princess of Red Bean Paste? What kind of card is that? It sounds tasty…"
"I've never seen Hoshino-nee use it either. Honestly, I still have no idea how many strange cards she actually has," Akasha replied honestly.
"This is my secret dessert that'll let me surpass Sky Galloping Gaia. But for now, I need to activate this card first!"
Instead of immediately using the Spell Card retrieved by Premonition of the Beginning, Hoshino slid out another card from her hand.
"—I activate the Spell Card Phantasm Summon! I send the required 'Heroic Spirit' Fusion Materials from my field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon! And because Marie was sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I draw one additional card."
Stardust-like light shimmered across the field—Mary and Mash, their forms intertwining, fused together and transformed into a new Servant.
"Come forth—Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine Z!"
[Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine Z ★★★★★ (Level 5)][LIGHT][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2100/DEF 1600]
[Materials: 2 or more "Heroic Spirit" monsters]
[This card is also treated as "Heroic Spirit – Artoria" while on the field.]
"The glamorous villainess and cosmic ninja Z makes her dazzling entrance today!"
With a sweeping slash of her glowing sword, Mysterious Heroine Z unleashed a sealing field that immediately disrupted Sky Galloping Gaia's powers.
[When this card is Fusion Summoned: Until the end of this turn, negate the effects of all monsters your opponent controls.]
Dark Magician Girl smiled sweetly. "Even if you negate my monster's effects, Gaia's ATK boost came from Spiral Fusion! That trick won't stop it."
"Of course I know that. Which is exactly why I need this Spell right now! I activate the Quick-Play Spell—Princess of Red Bean Paste!"
The legendary ∞ (Infinite Stone) Princess of Red Bean Paste.
It was forged from six primordial forces:
Desire—Soul,
Sugar—Power,
Countertop—Space,
Price—Reality,
Crafting—Time,
Demand—Mind.
Whoever possesses it gains infinite might—capable of turning half the universe into a candy factory with a snap.
[Princess of Red Bean Paste – Quick-Play Spell Effect: Target 1 "Artoria" Fusion Monster you control; send it to the GY, then Fusion Summon 1 "Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X Alter" from your Extra Deck, treating it as Fusion Summoned using a monster of the same Attribute as material.]
"Become sweet bean-paste stardust, Mysterious Heroine Z!"
Z dissolved into glittering particles as the cost for activating the Quick-Play Spell. The Six Soul Stones ignited around Hoshino's field, summoning the strongest Servant in the universe.
"—Special Summon! Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X Alter!!"
[Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X Alter ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)][DARK][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2000]
"I love this summoning method, Master~ It's perfect for restoring my sugar levels!"
"Then go all out." Hoshino immediately pushed into the Battle Phase. "Prepare yourself! This is Mysterious Heroine X Alter's ultimate blade!"
Her twin red lightsabers crackled violently. MHXA shot into the sky, leaving two blazing crimson trails before diving straight toward Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion.
"Let's finish this in five seconds!"
"With only 3000 ATK? You're challenging Sky Gaia with that?"
Even though it sounded absurd, the swelling aura made Dark Magician Girl instinctively hover her hand over her back row.
"Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X Alter has an effect! When battling a monster of lower Level, her ATK doubles until the end of the turn!"
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion – Level 7 ATK 5200]
[Mysterious Heroine X Alter – Level 9 ATK 3000 → 6000]
Banner clutched the mic. "A complete ATK reversal! Even Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon wouldn't dare cut into a fight like this, nya!"
"My set Trap Card activates!"
The overwhelming surge of MHXA's power confirmed Dark Magician Girl's unease. She instantly pressed her Duel Disk, flipping her set Trap.
"—Continuous Trap: Spiral Discharge!"
Riding atop the cursed dragon, Gaia and his mount became a spiraling projectile, counterattacking X Alter.
[Spiral Discharge – Continuous Trap Effect: While "Gaia the Dragon Champion" is in your Monster Zone, your opponent's monsters can only target "Gaia the Dragon Champion" for attacks. When an attack is declared involving your "Gaia the Dragon Champion": You can target 1 card on the field; destroy it.]
"Because of Spiral Discharge, the moment X Alter declared an attack, I can target and destroy her!"
"MUDAAA!"
The black-clad warrior twisted through the air, elegantly evading the spiral counterattack. She pressed her twin sabers together, forming a single unified blade.
Hoshino yelled out her counter:
"When Princess of Red Bean Paste was activated, MHXA was Fusion Summoned using a monster of the same Attribute! And MHXA's effect is—"
[If Fusion Summoned using a same-Attribute material: this card is unaffected by other card effects.]
"Since she's unaffected, Spiral Discharge cannot destroy MHX Alter! This sword that cuts through the very laws of the universe—will split dragon and rider alike!"
"—Take this! Black Dragon Twin-Cleaver Victory Blade!!"
The dual-edged sword spun at impossible speed, erupting into countless red slashes that tore straight through Sky Galloping Gaia.
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion – Destroyed]
[Dark Magician Girl LP 4000 → 3200]
"YA☆DA☆ZE!!" Minazuki shouted. "Gaia is down! As expected of our Headmistress—she's not losing to Yugi's deck at all!"
As the Battle Phase ended, Hoshino placed two cards onto her Duel Disk.
"I set two cards. Turn end!"
[Hoshino: Hand Cards 2 | Set Cards]
"My turn—draw!"
One of Yugi's ace monsters, Gaia the Dragon Champion, had been destroyed by MHX Alter. Even Dark Magician Girl couldn't help but comment.
"Your resistance is truly impressive, Hoshino. If it were an ordinary duelist, taking a hit from Gaia the Dragon Champion would have ended the duel instantly. And yet, you still managed to counterattack in that situation."
"You're sounding awfully composed, Dark Magician Girl," Hoshino shot back playfully. "But the situation right now is even worse for you than it was during my last turn. Are you sure you can handle this?"
"No, Hoshino—you shouldn't underestimate this Deck! The legend of the greatest warrior ever wielded by the legendary duelist Yugi Muto… is about to return!"
"The legend of the strongest warrior… Could it be?" Syrus widened his eyes behind his glasses.
Cold sweat forming, Crowler nodded. "That's right, nona! The strongest warrior of legend! A super-rare card that only duelists like Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba—those blessed with the power of Chaos—could possess, nona!"
"To think even a card that rare was reprinted… Professor Crowler, you really went all-in," Jaden said in admiration.
"Now I'll show you the two cards I discarded last turn with Spiral Spear Strike!"
Flipping open the Graveyard slot of her Duel Disk, Dark Magician Girl pulled out the cards and revealed them.
"I discarded Dark Magician Girl—myself~! And this Ritual Spell—Super Soldier Ritual! And this turn, I'll activate the effect of that Ritual Spell in my Graveyard!"
[Super Soldier Ritual — Ritual Spell Effect: Banish this card, 1 LIGHT monster, and 1 DARK monster from your Graveyard; Special Summon 1 "Black Luster Soldier" Ritual Monster from your hand, ignoring its Summoning conditions.]
"By Super Soldier Ritual's effect, I banish Dark Magician Girl (DARK) and Charging Gaia the Fierce Knight (LIGHT) from the Graveyard!"
Light and darkness twisted together across the ritual circle. Raising the Ritual Monster card high, Dark Magician Girl slapped it onto her Duel Disk.
"Where light and darkness interweave—Chaos is born!
Ritual Summon—Black Luster Soldier – Super Soldier!!"
[Black Luster Soldier - Super Soldier ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][EARTH][Warrior/Ritual/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
"Super Soldier Ritual" had descended.
Syrus gasped. "Its ATK is the same as Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X Alter—3000!"
"No. A Level 8 Black Luster Soldier still can't defeat Hoshino's monster," Akasha said firmly. "MHX Alter's 'real' stats are effectively 6000. It's not that easy to surpass."
"Not only ridiculously high attack, but full Attribute resistance… Mysterious Heroine X Alter really is troublesome."
Tilting her head, Dark Magician Girl's lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"But if I add this card—! I equip the Spell Card Solitary Sword of Poison to Black Luster Soldier!"
After she inserted the Equip Spell, a massive, twisted greatsword pulsing with eerie violet light manifested in Black Luster Soldier's hands.
"Solitary Sword of Poison can only be equipped when you control no other monsters. And when paired with Black Luster Soldier—its true power shines! Battle!"
The purple blade slashed through the air toward MHX Alter. Light and steel collided, sparks flying as the two forces clashed evenly.
"Mysterious Heroine X Alter's effect! When battling a Level 8 monster, her ATK doubles!"
[Mysterious Heroine X Alter: ATK 3000 → 6000]
"We're not losing!" Dark Magician Girl pointed dramatically at the battlefield.
"With the Solitary Sword of Poison, any battle damage involving Black Luster Soldier doubles his ATK and DEF during battle!"
[Black Luster Soldier – Super Soldier: ATK 3000 → 6000]
"T-t-they're tied again, meow!" Banner's legs trembled as he stammered through the commentary. "Wh-what kind of battle even is this, meow…?"
CRACK—!
As the purple blade shattered, MHX Alter's twin crimson swords also dimmed and crumbled. Their ultimate clash ended in mutual destruction.
[Mysterious Heroine X Alter — Destroyed]
[Black Luster Soldier – Super Soldier — Destroyed]
"At a crucial moment like this, they took each other out… But next turn is the Headmistress's. I guess she still has the advantage?" Minazuki said—jynxing it with perfect timing.
"Hehehe~ Then that means it's my victory!"
Beaming proudly, Dark Magician Girl held up the Black Luster Soldier card.
"The soul of the strongest warrior guides the path to victory!
Black Luster Soldier – Super Soldier's effect activates—!"
[If this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the GY: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK.]
"Mysterious Heroine X (Alter)'s original ATK—3000—will carve straight into your Life Points through the slash of Chaos. Hoshino, can you withstand it?"
[Okita LP: 1600]
"I'll withstand it and show you!!"
Hoshino flipped her set backrow—her final safeguard.
"Trap Card activate—Garden Of Avalon!"
A towering paradise bloomed from the barren field, flowers spreading across the ground, sunlight piercing even this hellish realm.
[Garden Of Avalon — Trap Effect: This turn, all damage you take becomes 0. Then, you can add 1 "Artoria" monster from your GY to your hand.]
Tapping the ground with his staff, the hooded white-haired mage nullified all harm aimed at Hoshino.
"Where the Flower Magus Merlin stands, darkness turns not to hell—but to a land filled with hope!"