"Lord Kaiba, all preparations are complete!"
Inside the KaibaCorp central control room, the researchers—so busy they were drenched in sweat—reported in.
"Good—full speed ahead! Let them witness it for themselves—the indomitable light of human technology!!"
Raising his arm, Kaiba pointed directly at the chaotic darkness shrouding the sky above and issued his final command.
"Now, in the name of the Supreme Director of Kaiba Entertainment Group, I hereby declare the opening of a new chapter in history at this very moment—
Duel Consciousness Link! Xyz·Overlay Network—activate!!"
[System Booting!]
[Xyz·Overlay Network: Mimetic Overwrite Initiated]
In synchronization with the KaibaCorp supercomputer, the numbered Xyz satellites encircling the planet linked together through quantum light, forming a colossal network that nearly covered the entire surface of Earth.
"Xyz·Overlay Network—global coverage activated!"
Kaiba roared at the top of his lungs. At this very moment, the light he pointed toward was the culmination of all his efforts—the hope of humanity's future that he had wagered everything upon.
At first, it resembled sparse stars flickering in the night sky. Blue quantum light barely pierced the chaos-shrouded heavens, scattering faint starlight.
But as the satellite network fully connected, every numbered No. Satellite linked with the other ninety-nine.
From No. 1 onward, the quantum radiance multiplied—by hundreds, thousands, then tens of thousands—finally slicing open the bottomless chaos above.
Mokuba shouted excitedly, "We did it, brother!"
"Look up, Hoshino! The scientific brilliance humanity takes pride in will never lose to feeble darkness! Xyz Network—tear this false sky apart for me!!"
"Kaiba… at this point, there's no need to look up anymore," Hoshino said, her voice filled with emotion.
Extending from space to envelop the entire planet, the Xyz·Overlay Network flooded the world with radiance, completely suppressing the chaotic darkness and turning everything into daylight.
"What's going on?! The dark sky—it's lit up?!"
Those who couldn't grasp the situation stared in confusion at the unnatural brilliance overhead.
Yet compared to the terrifying, abyssal chaos, this dazzling light of hope brought an overwhelming sense of reassurance.
"I used to mock you for being obsessed with science… I'm truly sorry, Kaiba." Drawing a card from her hand, Hoshino spoke from the heart.
"The science you believe in really did create a light capable of overturning any darkness."
(***)
Ten hours earlier—
"So this summoning method that lets all Duel Monsters gain the potential for Xyz Summoning—what exactly is it? At least tell me the rules, Kaiba!"
Unable to contain her curiosity, Hoshino pressed repeatedly until the secretive Kaiba finally relented.
"By using a monster's Level as a medium, and linking them through the Xyz·Overlay Network, they can be sublimated into an entirely new kind of monster—one without Levels, but with Ranks. Xyz Monsters."
"Using Levels as a medium… It doesn't require specific materials like Fusion, and it feels closer to Synchro Summoning," Hoshino mused.
"It's even simpler than Synchro," Kaiba continued.
"As long as monsters with the same Level exist on the field, Xyz Summoning is possible. Monsters used as Xyz Materials don't go to the Graveyard—they're stacked beneath the Xyz Monster and used to activate its effects."
"That's incredible, Kaiba!" Hoshino's eyes sparkled.
"Just needing monsters of the same Level—like you said, this really opens up an entirely new dimension of possibilities for Duel Monsters!"
(***)
"Impossible! The world-devouring chaos power created by my Chaos Phantasm—how could it be suppressed by something as trivial as artificial light?!"
Feeling the chaos that once blanketed the planet evaporate in an instant, Kagemaru roared in disbelief.
Pointing her card straight at him, Hoshino shot back:
"This isn't some 'trivial' artificial light, Kagemaru! This is a new world born from Duel Monsters' history transcending dimensions!"
"What?! She… she said a new world?!"
Hovering above the academy in an armed helicopter, Sartorius suddenly felt as though enlightenment struck him like a divine revelation.
"The Tarot reading—the Upright Judgement!
Upright Judgement represents rebirth, miracles, and the creation of a new world…"
"So this is what the Tarot truly meant by the creation of a new world!"
Sartorius's divination had not been wrong. A new chapter truly began today—but not a world reshaped by chaos.
It was an entirely new era, forged by human hands, overflowing with hope and possibility.
"Kaiba—let me use this new potential of Duel Monsters to defeat this chaos!"
Placing a Spell Card onto her Duel Disk, Hoshino declared:
"Spell Card activated—The Place We Will Eventually Reach!"
[Effect: Send 1 monster with 'Heroic Spirit' in its name from your Deck to the Graveyard, then activate one of the following effects.
● Select 1 banished 'Heroic Spirit' monster and return it to the Graveyard.]
"By this effect, I send Heroic Spirit – Spartacus from my Deck to the Graveyard, then return the banished Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga to the Graveyard!"
Jonouchi cheered, "I knew it! Even after all these years, Hoshino's soul card is still in her Deck!"
"What are you trying to do?!"
Kagemaru demanded, feeling genuine fear toward the unknown for the first time in his meticulously planned life.
"Outdated relic of a duelist—just sit there and watch!"
Hoshino roared, revealing the 'Heroic Spirit' monster she had just searched via Marie's effect.
"You said those 'trash monsters' I searched couldn't interfere in a god-level battle—but now I'll use this very card to overturn the final outcome of this war between gods and demons! From my hand, I activate the monster effect of Heroic Spirit – Karna!"
[You can banish 3 'Heroic Spirit' monsters from your Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
"I banish Heroic Spirit – Heracles, Heroic Spirit – Valkyrie Thrud, and Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga from my Graveyard! Special Summon Heroic Spirit – Karna!"
Beneath the radiant sky illuminated by the Xyz Network, a blazing crimson sun rose—divine flames gathering at the tip of a god-slaying spear.
[Heroic Spirit – Karna ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][FIRE][Warrior/Effect][ATK 2800 / DEF 2500]
"Master, I'm not some fodder monster," Karna declared the moment he appeared, urgently proving himself.
"For my master's sake, the spear in my hand must never know defeat!"
"That's right—you're the strongest, Karna!" Hoshino nodded encouragingly.
"Now is the moment we need your power. Heroic Spirit – Karna's effect activates—"
[This card's ATK/DEF increase by the total Levels of the monsters banished by this card's effect ×100.]
[Heracles LV9 + Oda Nobunaga LV8 + Valkyrie LV8]
[Heroic Spirit – Karna ATK 2800 → 5300]
"5300 ATK, huh… That's high, but compared to the Chaos Phantasm, it's still nowhere close," Jaden said regretfully.
"Be careful, Hoshino-nee!" Akasha quickly warned.
"If you keep banishing monsters, Papiyas, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven's burn effect will become unbearable!"
For every Heroic Spirit monster banished, the burn damage increased by 300 points.
Compared to Kagemaru, who possessed over 100,000 Life Points, Hoshino's Life Points were constantly on the verge of being depleted.
Hoshino: "But it doesn't matter!"
Minazuki: "?!"
"If it's going to burn—then let it burn even hotter! I activate the effect of Heroic Spirit – Irisviel von Einzbern from the Graveyard—!"
[If this card is in your Graveyard: You can banish 5 'Heroic Spirit' monsters from your Graveyard, including this card; Special Summon 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster from your Extra Deck. The monster Special Summoned by this effect returns to the Extra Deck at the end of the turn.]
"I banish Irisviel, Spartacus, Saber Lily, Marie, and Miyu—five Heroic Spirit monsters in total—from my Graveyard!"
With the burn barrier's flames expanding even further, and ten Heroic Spirit monsters now in the banished zone, 3000 points of direct damage would be dealt to both players in a single turn—far beyond what Hoshino could endure.
But this was the turn she intended to decide everything.
"Come forth—limit-transcending, boundless light! I Special Summon from the Extra Deck—Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji Alter!"
[Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji Alter ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3000 / DEF 2500]
"The light of the final battle—Okitan, descend once more!"
Raising Rengoku in her hand and pointing it at the Chaos Phantasm, Okitan calmly declared:
"Okitan's effect—this card's ATK increases by the number of 'Heroic Spirit' monsters in the banished zone ×1000!"
[Okita Alter ATK 3000 → 13000]
"His attack power?!"
This time, Jonouchi couldn't contain himself and shouted,
"Karna! Okita Alter! A manifestation of divinity! These are monsters that normally decide a duel the moment they appear—and now they're all gathered on Hoshino's field at once?!"
"With a lineup this extravagant… what exactly is Sister Hoshino planning—?"
"I use the three Level 10 monsters on my field as materials—Overlay!"
Hoshino's fingertips swept across the three cards on her Duel Disk, stacking them vertically into a linked formation.
The terrifying energy pouring into the Xyz Network caused the quantum light network—already operating on a global scale—to ignite instantly, dyeing it crimson red.
"Threefold divine power, stacked into one—become the dawn that opens a new era, forging the strongest body of flame!
Witness it with your own eyes—this radiance that shakes heaven and earth!
Xyz Summon—Heroic Spirit – Super Karna!"
Three divine powers descended upon him.
This was Karna's ultimate form, having inherited the powers of Shiva and Vishnu.
"If you must address me—add 'super' before my name."
Super—Supreme Indian God—Karna!
[Heroic Spirit – Super Karna ⟡ Rank 10][FIRE][Warrior/Xyz/Effect][ATK: ? / DEF: ?]
[3 Level 10 monsters]
Descending slowly onto the battlefield from the blazing Xyz light in the form of a true god, Super Karna leveled his spear at the Chaos Phantasm.
"There is nothing left to hold back.
Now… is the time to burn everything away!"
"Heroic Spirit – Super Karna's effect—
When this card is Xyz Summoned, its ATK becomes the total ATK of the monsters used as its Xyz Materials!"
"W-Wait—the total ATK of the materials?!"
Banner staggered backward in shock.
"Karna with 5800 ATK, Okita Alter with that absurd ATK—and most importantly, the manifestation of divinity itself!"
"Flawless. This is the threefold divine power that burns away my very existence!"
[Heroic Spirit – Super Karna ATK ? → 68801]
"That puts it nearly 20,000 ATK higher than the Chaos Phantasm—Mamma miaaaaa!"
The sheer escalation of attack power in this duel had long surpassed the bounds of common sense.
Kronos could do nothing but repeat his habitual catchphrase.
Kagemaru spoke solemnly,
"An Xyz Summoned monster surpassing even the Chaos Phantasm in ATK… as a finale, it truly is magnificent, Hoshino Chiyuki."
"But don't forget—even if your ATK is higher, the Chaos Phantasm cannot be destroyed by battle and takes no battle damage! And my 100,000 Life Points remain an insurmountable wall!"
"Cling to your so-called new era, your so-called possibilities—and drown in the effect damage of my final trap!"
"The one drowning in a dark, delusional ideal… is you!"
Pulling Okitan out from beneath the Xyz Summoned Karna card, Hoshino made her final declaration.
"This is the final execution! Heroic Spirit – Super Karna's effect—
Detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; choose any number of monsters in your opponent's Graveyard and Special Summon them to your opponent's field, ignoring their Summoning conditions!"
"And the ones I choose… are the Three Sacred Beasts sleeping in your Graveyard!"
The Three Sacred Beasts cards—once banished and later returned to the Graveyard by Kagemaru to recover Life Points—were now forcibly summoned onto the field by Hoshino.
The three gathered once more.
Yet the once-invincible beings now appeared pitifully small before the two true "big brothers" standing above them.
"Hmph, such a boring tactic," Kagemaru sneered.
"Forcing my monsters back just to use them as attack targets and reduce my Life Points? I'll simply place the Three Sacred Beasts in Defense Position and take no damage—What?!"
Just as Kagemaru's trembling hands moved to turn the cards sideways, he realized the fatal mistake he had made.
"What's wrong, Kagemaru?" Hoshino lifted her chin, questioning him arrogantly.
"Why aren't you Summoning your Three Beasts in Defense Position? Or is it that… you can't?"
Indeed—he couldn't.
Because Kagemaru himself had activated the Continuous Trap All-out Attack.
As long as that card remained on the field, all Special Summoned monsters were forced into Attack Position.
[Raviel, Lord of Phantasms ATK 4000]
[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder ATK 4000]
[Uria, Lord of Searing Flames ATK 7000]
"The Three Sacred Beasts—all forced into Attack Position because of my Trap Card…!
To think you'd turn my own Trap against me!"
"It's checkmate!"
Entering the Battle Phase, Hoshino pointed skyward toward Karna and made a destiny-overturning, era-defining attack declaration.
"Heroic Spirit – Super Karna—
A monster Xyz Summoned using Heroic Spirit – Karna as material can attack each monster on your opponent's field once during the Battle Phase!"
With over 60,000 ATK, Karna's blazing eyes locked onto every Attack Position monster on Kagemaru's field.
"—So this is the power of the Sacred Beasts?
How disappointingly fragile."
"Impossible… I have 100,000 Life Points!
I possess life force equivalent to immortality!
I can't—this can't—be defeated!"
Staggering backward before collapsing to the ground, the terrified Kagemaru gazed at Super Karna—
Like a messenger of the sun, come to pass final judgment.
"Burn to nothingness here, Kagemaru!
There is no place for your chaotic despair in the radiance of the new era!
At this very moment—end alongside your Beasts in the final clash of a dying age!"
With a full-force swing, Hoshino's battle cry merged with the solar brilliance erupting from Karna's spear, piercing heaven and earth.
"—'O Sun Wheel, open the cycle of reincarnation!'"
The final strike, fused with the ultimate divine power of Shiva and Vishnu, effortlessly incinerated every monster on Kagemaru's field.
The massive difference in ATK caused each Sacred Beast's destruction to inflict over 60,000 battle damage.
The life force gathered from across the world by the Chaos Phantasm now surged back like a collapsing tsunami—returning to the world, or rather, to this new era.
"BAKAAAAA—!!"
[Kagemaru LP 100400 → 0]
[Duel End.]
[Winner: Hoshino Chiyuki.]