"We won, Aisha Carlos!"
Standing amidst the swirling radiance of the galaxy's light, Kaima, victorious in this crucial battle, exchanged a look of trust with Miles, then turned her gaze toward Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.
"A monster made to slay Xyz monsters… this is the new power born from Blue-Eyes. The Xyz Slayer!"
The brilliance coating Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon faded as the duel ended, and the monster reverted to card form. As an Xyz card that hadn't existed in her Deck before, it drifted into Kaima's hand.
[Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon]
"Hm? What's this?"
Along with it came another card, though only one had been Xyz Summoned.
[Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon]
Not an Extra Deck monster, but a Main Deck monster. Level 8, Dragon, LIGHT, 3000 ATK, 2500 DEF—not a Blue-Eyes, yet so familiar. Its shining wings and azure eyes gleamed with galactic light.
"Galaxy-Eyes!"
Like its Xyz counterpart, its effect targeted Xyz. But more important than power, it felt the same as Blue-Eyes itself.
"To become the strongest, I must accept all of this. This new strength… I, Kaima Seth, will claim it!"
She placed both Galaxy-Eyes cards into her Deck. The battle ahead was no longer personal—it was for the war itself.
The strike at the enemy's heart had succeeded. Though no Shadow Game, Duel Monsters had been pressed against the enemy's throat… and this time, real blades as well.
As Kaima retrieved her cards, Miles summoned the Court of Cards—three knights, their swords crossed, trapping Supreme General Cameron Slint in their midst.
"Put away your ambitions, Luca's father. War is nothing good!"
Defeated, Cameron Slint lost his ability to summon. Even as an Imperial General, before Duel Monsters, he had no resistance.
"General Cameron… lost the duel?!"
On the dreadnought's bridge, noncombatants manning the ship's systems stared in shock. All had seen the galactic light devour Cameron's nearly 10,000 LP. Even as Miles' knights withdrew their swords, some still hadn't grasped their general's defeat.
"Winners are kings, losers are nothing. I admit my defeat!"
Decisive and blunt, like Locke Slint before him. Truly, father and son, Cameron's acceptance of defeat was immediate. So immediate, Miles even began to suspect: was the Slint family's true goal really the invasion of Livorden's capital?
Regardless, what mattered now was ending this meaningless war.
"You—patch me through to all channels!"
Arms crossed, Kaima ordered the comms officer. A burly, dark-skinned man manning the bridge, muscular and strong—but he didn't dare resist the woman before him.
For he was no Duelist, and he knew: with just a snap, she could summon a dragon to rip him apart.
"C-Connected to all channels."
"Good."
Taking the microphone, Kaima paused briefly, inhaled deeply, then shouted:
"Comrades!!"
Her voice, sharp and resonant, instantly filled the skies. Not only the Varian Empire's duelists within their machines heard it—the external stream carried to all combatants.
Kaima Seth's cry resounded across the capital.
"Comrades! Put away your cards! This war is meaningless now! The Empire's dreadnought has fallen—this is Livorden's victory!!"
"That voice… sister!!" Kevin gasped.
"They finally did it!" Deion roared, locking Kevin in a bear hug.
The embattled Duelists of Livorden, previously faltering in numbers, felt courage surge anew.
"OHHHHHH! Amazing! The Seth heir is unstoppable!"
"Striking the enemy's fortress head-on… that's divine comeback!"
Meanwhile, morale crumbled on the Empire's side.
"The dreadnought, guarded by General Cameron, has fallen…"
"Only two broke through our lines. Were those two the ones who defeated him?!"
Momentum shifted instantly. Even without a formal surrender, the Empire could no longer resist the counterattack.
Perhaps things had unfolded just as Reigun Seth foresaw. In this moment, Kaima Seth was the hero of the capital.
Yet only she knew—it wasn't her victory alone.
"Aisha Carlos, this victory belongs to us."
Relieved at last, Kaima softened, her brow unfurrowing as she looked at the steadfast girl who fought beside her.
Without her cold, domineering aura, Kaima seemed more like a girl than ever to Miles.
"Dueling with you was wonderful, Aisha. Or should I say… 'Miles'?"
"Eh?!"
Miles' ahoge sprang upright in shock.
"Kaima… you knew?"
Thinking back, if Kevin knew of Miles, then of course, his sister would too. With more and more people aware of the secret, hiding it was pointless.
"I wasn't sure at first. However, after this duel… I know who my true rival is."
Leaning close, her eyes met his, piercing beyond flesh to the soul.
"I'll declare it again… you're the one I must defeat! When the time comes, don't think you can run, Miles!"
"Don't worry, Kaima. When it comes to duels, I never turn down a challenge!
"…Of course, only duels."
"Hmph!"
...
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