"I'm flipping this table, Miles!"
Forbidden Spell—Fivefold Erasure. Irena poured every ounce of her magic into summoning Quintet Magician, using five different Fusion Materials to trigger its ultimate field-wipe effect.
"Even Shining Phoenix Enforcer, who can't be destroyed by battle, will be taken out by Quintet Magician's effect, along with your Set card. This is the end, Miles!"
To everyone watching, this was not only Irena's victory, but a historic moment in Fusion Academy history.
With Quintet Magician as her proof, the Gray Witch—one of the two pillars of Fusion Academy—was clearly no empty title.
"—Detonate—!"
The five golden circles surrounding Miles's field erupted. Blinding bursts of light swept across the Duel Arena like a raging storm.
Vice Principal Raiden wiped sweat from his brow and murmured with relief, "Good thing I had the foresight to beg Lady Fiona to reinforce the Duel Platform. Otherwise, there's no way the field could've withstood that blast from the legendary Quintet Magician."
As the light faded, it was no surprise—Miles's field was completely wiped out.
All that was left was for Irena to launch a direct attack with Quintet Magician. With 4500 ATK, it would be a guaranteed one-hit KO in any scenario.
...That should have been the end.
But as the light cleared, Irena stared at Miles in disbelief, stunned by what she saw.
"Miles, what... what did you do?!"
After Quintet Magician's bombardment, Miles's cards were indeed destroyed, leaving him in an empty-field state—just as Irena expected.
But what shocked her to her core was the number beside his name:
[Miles, LP: 5700]
He had 5700 Life Points remaining. Even higher than Quintet Magician's Attack. He could tank what should have been a decisive final blow.
"What did I do? Why so flustered, Irena-senpai? Compared to your legendary Quintet Magician, my move was pretty simple."
Miles smiled confidently and flipped over the Set card from his last turn.
"All I did was chain Quintet Magician's effect and activate this card—Quick-Play Spell: Mystik Wok!"
Chain resolution—first in, last out.
Before Quintet Magician's field-nuke could go off, Miles had chained and activated his Quick-Play Spell.
[Tribute 1 monster you control. Recover Life Points equal to its ATK or DEF (your choice).]
"Before Shining Phoenix Enforcer was destroyed, I tributed it to recover 3700 Life Points—equal to its Attack!"
[Miles, LP: 2000 → 5700]
Ren: "Mystik Wok? Miles, you stir-fried Phoenix Enforcer?!"
"What do you mean 'stir-fried'?! I call it—transmuting the phoenix into the flames of life, passing on the will of HEROes to survive!"
Having chained and tributed Shining Phoenix Enforcer, Irena's dazzling field wipe had effectively exploded into thin air.
"This Duel isn't over yet, Irena-senpai. The immortal Phoenix Enforcer will take this hit for me."
Still flaring with phoenix fire on his shoulders, Miles knew full well he couldn't dodge the incoming direct attack.
If so, then rather than flee—face the strongest head-on!
"Direct attack—Quintet Magician! Forbidden Curse—Fivefold Explosion!"
At Irena's command, the five overlapping golden circles blasted a beam with power to rival the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, straight toward the defenseless Miles.
[Miles, LP: 5700 → 1200]
"Aaaaaaagh!!"
Even with preparation, no ordinary girl's body like Ren's could take that kind of impact.
Tossed like a leaf in a typhoon, Ren's body was flung to the edge of the Duel Platform, tumbling violently before she barely came to a stop.
"Are you okay, Ren?!"
"They actually hit her with that?!"
"Hang in there, Ren!"
Even knowing Duels come with wins and losses, the Austin brothers couldn't hold back their rage and pain watching Ren take a direct hit.
But honestly, Irena didn't look much better.
Her breathing was ragged, and dark rings of mana strain were beginning to form around her eyes.
Quintet Magician—a monster of legend. Even pulling off a Fusion Summon for it was pushing her magic beyond its limits.
"Hah... hah..."
Panting to stabilize her breathing, her mana and hand depleted, Irena ended her turn.
"It's your turn, Miles. Can you still fight in this state?"
Both sides had used up nearly all their cards.
Irena had no hand. Neither did Miles.
To face Quintet Magician now, he had only one card left—his next draw.
To defeat the strongest Spellcaster Fusion with a single card—everyone agreed: it was impossible.
Though Miles had fought brilliantly, facing Fusion Academy's second-year ace—the Gray Witch—the outcome seemed sealed.
"Nooo!"
With a cry, Miles gritted his teeth and forced his battered body to stand.
"A HERO never gives up before the final moment!"
Ren muttered, "Miles, you..."
He could have surrendered already. No one would have faulted him. Irena was too strong.
Yet even when Ren herself was ready to give up, Miles still stood tall.
That's what a true HERO does.
Ren shouted, "I know, Miles—you're that kind of person. Believe in our Deck. You showed me that yourself: A true HERO responds to hope—even in despair!"
"Exactly, Ren! My turn—draw!"
Stepping forward through the fading light and flames, Miles drew his card from the Spirit Eyes.
In that instant, elemental energy surged to his fingertips, as though the soul of every HERO roared: this is the card to challenge the strongest.
"One last bet. I Set one card. Turn end!"
The drawn card was placed face-down. Irena's next turn would be the deciding moment.
"My turn—draw."
Still in mana exhaustion, Irena drew—
A Trap Card. One that couldn't be used this turn.
However, to her, it wouldn't matter.
"Battle! Quintet Magician, attack!"
Entering the Battle Phase. This would be the final direct attack.
"—Forbidden Curse: Fivefold Explosion!"
"Now! Trap Card, activate!"
Miles raised his slender girl's arm, facing Quintet Magician's destructive strike, and flipped his one-and-only Set card—
"—Trap Card: Magistery Alchemist!"
In a burst of dazzling light, four elemental colors erupted across Miles's field.
If Elemental HERO defined this Deck's ceiling, then this card represented its absolute apex.
"I banish four HERO monsters from my Graveyard to Special Summon in Attack Position—revive, immortal Shining Phoenix Enforcer!"
Bathed in the radiant elements, Phoenix Enforcer returned with light wings now painted in prismatic hues.
Irena said, "You revived him in Attack Position? You know as well as I do, Miles—his ATK can't surpass Quintet Magician's!"
"If Phoenix alone can't do it, I'll bring every HERO's power to bear! Magistery Alchemist has an additional effect!"
[If you banish "EARTH", "WATER", "FIRE", and "WIND", the summoned monster's original ATK becomes double. Also, negate all effects of face-up cards your opponent controls.]
"I banish: Masked HERO Divine Wind (WIND), Elemental HERO Bubbleman (WATER), Elemental HERO Clayman (EARTH), and Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer (FIRE). Four different Attributes!"
As Miles called each name, the spirits of the fallen HEROes emerged, infusing Phoenix Enforcer's wings with radiant energy.
"Negate Quintet Magician's effect—and double Shining Phoenix Enforcer's ATK!"
[Shining Phoenix Enforcer, ATK: 2500 → 5000]
"Plus, Elemental HERO Sparkman is still in the Graveyard. His effect boosts ATK by 300 for each HERO—gain 300 more!"
[Shining Phoenix Enforcer, ATK: 5000 → 5300]
Now standing under the light of all four elements, the HERO reached its pinnacle form. Stronger than Ultimate Dragon. Stronger than Quintet Magician. The undying Phoenix.
"Due to a change in your field, I cancel this attack."
Immediately halting the attack, Irena trembled—eyes, hands, whole body—as she stared at the HERO who had surpassed her strongest monster.
"Even against the legendary strongest Spellcaster, to keep fighting—and surpass it—with HEROes… Miles, Miles… Miles! Just how far can you go? You're fascinating!"
Stars of admiration sparkled in her blue eyes, her excitement overwhelming her fatigue. She Set her last card.
"I Set one card. Turn end!"
Having survived the most dangerous moment, Miles had reversed the entire Duel through sheer will.
The audience was silent. Just seconds ago, they thought it was over—now they were completely speechless.
The opening Duel of the Festival wouldn't be decided until someone's LP hit 0.
Ren was in awe, "That was amazing, Miles. A HERO who reaches their limit… even legends can't stop them!"
"Now's our counterattack, Ren! Let's draw and make our HERO shine even brighter!"
"Yeah!"
Miles & Ren said in unison, "Our turn—draw!"
A dual shining draw—the HEROes answered their call.
"Quick-Play Spell—activate: Burial from a Different Dimension!"
[Target up to 3 of your banished monsters; return them to the Graveyard.]
"I return Bubbleman, Clayman, and Phoenix Enforcer to the Graveyard! Their return increases Shining Phoenix Enforcer's ATK by 900!"
[Shining Phoenix Enforcer, ATK: 5300 → 6200]
Final ATK: 6200. Undoubtedly the HERO's peak.
Bathed in elemental rainbow light, the HERO stood as if divinely descended—surpassing even the strongest legend.
From the crowd, Aisha, who knew Miles was strong, had never seen him this powerful. "Phoenix Enforcer has 6200 ATK. Quintet Magician has 4500."
[Irena, LP: 1600]
"This blow will deal 1700 Battle Damage!"
Elsewhere, Deion Kaiser calculated the same result and gasped, "Irene Austin did it! What a stunning comeback beyond the limit! Truly worthy of being the Duelist I believed in most!"
"It's over, Irena! End it, Phoenix Enforcer—Final Strike! Limit Element—Shining Shock!!"
With the power of four elements, Phoenix Enforcer transformed into a luminous arrow that cleaved through space.
"Hahahahaha!!"
As the fatal blow approached, Irena burst into laughter. Joyful. Radiant.
"That was incredible, Miles! Then let's make this final clash even more explosive!"
She flipped her Set card—
"—Trap Card, Final Fusion!"
[During the Battle Step, when your Fusion Monster battles your opponent's Fusion Monster: Negate that attack, and both players take damage equal to the combined ATK of both monsters.]
A Trap Card only usable during a Fusion vs Fusion battle.
A mutual annihilation. Both players would take 4500 + 6200 = 10700 damage.
"We both take 10700 damage! If I can't win—then I'll take the entire field with me! Isn't that the most exciting ending, Miles?!"
"This woman is insane!!"
Quintet Magician and Shining Phoenix Enforcer collided—
10,700 damage each. Total: 21,400 points of raw power.
"What are you doing?! Stop, Irena!!" Vice Principal Raiden screamed.
Yet, it was too late. In just the first Duel of the Festival, Fiona's reinforced Duel Platform was obliterated by the shockwave.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!" ×2
[Irena, LP: 1600 → 0]
[Miles, LP: 1200 → 0]
...
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