# Chapter 71: Serena's Transformation
"Color Ruler, direct attack!" Yūga Hōzumi commanded with a wave of his hand, and his mechanical fortress fired several dazzling beams of light at his opponent.
The Bionic-Arm Brute tried to banish Kiteroid from his Graveyard to block another blow, but no matter how many times he tapped the Graveyard zone on his Duel Disk's screen, there was no response.
"I already told you. The effect of Herald of the Abyss prevents you from activating the effects of cards in your Graveyard," Yūga Hōzumi said, shaking his head as he watched his opponent get blasted away by the laser.
Bionic-Arm Brute LP: 3500 → 1200
"Because of Performage Trapeze Magician's effect, Color Ruler can attack again this turn! It's over! Color Ruler, direct attack!"
The Bionic-Arm Brute, who had been knocked down by the previous explosion, hadn't even stood up before another laser followed, completely wiping out his life points.
Bionic-Arm Brute LP: 1200 → 0
After winning the duel, Yūga Hōzumi approached the now motionless brute and squatted down, fiddling with the mechanical arm connected to the Duel Disk.
"You... kill me or torture me, do as you please. But don't think you'll get any information out of me!" the fallen Bionic-Arm Brute said defiantly.
"In that case, you won't be needing your deck anymore, will you? That Kiteroid card looks pretty useful. I think I'll take it," Yūga Hōzumi said. He found the connection point between the Duel Disk and the mechanical arm and pressed it.
The two separated with a click. Yūga Hōzumi took the Duel Disk and picked out three Kiteroid cards from the deck. After a moment's thought, he put the remaining cards away along with the Duel Disk.
"You..." The Bionic-Arm Brute's eyes widened, so enraged by Yūga Hōzumi's actions that he was speechless. Yūga Hōzumi didn't give him a chance to speak, swiftly turning him into a card.
The art on the card he became still depicted his furious, man-eating expression.
Meanwhile, Yuto finished off the remaining enemies and came to Yūga Hōzumi's side.
"We should retreat. It'll be a real hassle to break through if their reinforcements arrive," Yuto reminded him.
Hearing this, Yūga Hōzumi looked around. Many Resistance Army soldiers had already finished their battles, each turning their opponents into cards. Moreover, some of the Obelisk Force minions, seeing the situation was hopeless and acting on pure survival instinct, had already thrown down their Duel Disks and fled.
Yūga Hōzumi nodded and shouted to Blondie, who was about to lead a group after the deserters, "Reynold, have everyone rest for a bit! We're preparing to retreat!"
Hearing Yūga Hōzumi's words, the crowd, who had just obtained new cards and were somewhat caught up in the thrill of battle, calmed down. The enemy's nearest base was only five kilometers away. They had likely already received the message and were heading this way.
Just then, the comms on Yūga Hōzumi's Duel Disk rang.
"Huh? Weren't all the comms towers in Heartland City destroyed? Where is this new signal coming from?" Yūga Hōzumi raised his left hand in confusion, only to realize it wasn't his own Duel Disk.
After a moment's pause, Yūga Hōzumi remembered he had another Duel Disk on him.
He took out the Duel Disk he had just confiscated from his pocket, looking at the caller ID—Commander Aster Phoenix. Yūga Hōzumi shrugged and answered with a sneer.
"Millard, D-24 Branch just picked up your signal. So, is the situation resolved?" Aster Phoenix's face appeared on the Duel Disk's screen.
"So his name was Millard. Commander Aster Phoenix, if you're too scared to come yourself next time, could you at least send someone a bit stronger to die?" Yūga Hōzumi retorted without any courtesy.
"It's you?" Aster Phoenix gritted his teeth, realizing the person on the other end of the screen wasn't his subordinate, but Yūga Hōzumi, the one who had dealt him a humiliating defeat.
"It seems Millard has already failed?" Aster Phoenix quickly calmed down, staring intently at Yūga Hōzumi.
"That guy wasn't using a standard-issue Ancient Gear deck. He seemed to be one of your elites, right? Your elites are truly pathetic," Yūga Hōzumi said with a cold laugh. "Why don't you come yourself next time?"
"You dare to spout such nonsense just because you won by a fluke?" Aster Phoenix said coldly.
"Speaking of luck, how can I compare to you? The guy who had someone cross dimensions just to save him after losing a duel," Yūga Hōzumi said. "Judging by your movements, you're planning to launch a full-scale assault on our camp, aren't you? When that happens, I'd love to see if that old geezer, Yusho Sakaki, still decides to show up."
"What do you mean by Yusho Sakaki..." Aster Phoenix froze, but by the time he could ask for clarification, Yūga Hōzumi had already hung up.
In Aster Phoenix's office at the Obelisk Force Headquarters.
Aster Phoenix, having been hung up on, wore a grim expression.
"'He said Yusho Sakaki saved me last time?'" he mused. "'No wonder... that Smile World card...'"
Aster Phoenix gripped the armrests of his chair tightly as the image of Yūga Hōzumi's glittering golden form reappeared in his mind.
"I will personally wash away the humiliation of our last encounter with the new power I've gained," Aster Phoenix gritted his teeth and pulled a purple card from his deck.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer
...
It was evening by the time Yūga Hōzumi returned to the camp. Not long after he got back to his room and lay down, Allen came knocking.
"Brother Yūga Hōzumi, can you please do something about that woman who looks just like Sister Ruri!" Allen's complaint left Yūga Hōzumi utterly bewildered.
"Last night, she seemed like she was about to do something to the children in the Orphanage. I stopped her. I didn't say anything since she didn't try anything else after that."
"But this morning, she showed up at our door, insisting she wanted to help. Aunt Yuko, not knowing who she is, happily took her in. Since you haven't revealed her identity, I couldn't really stop it, so I just kept an eye on her. But all day, she's done nothing but get in Aunt Yuko's way with her clumsiness! Does she have no self-awareness as a captive at all?" Allen complained, exasperated.
Hearing this, Yūga Hōzumi gave a mysterious smile. "Take me to see her."
...
Inside the Orphanage in Orion District.
It was late, and time for the children to sleep.
"Lianna, you can't eat candy after brushing your teeth, okay? You'll get cavities," Serena said, patting the pouting little girl's head after finding a few candies under her pillow.
"But, I want to finish them quickly so Mommy can come back," the little girl said pitifully.
Serena's expression faltered for a moment, but she still managed a smile. "But, when your mommy comes back, if she sees Lianna can't sleep because of a toothache, she'll be very sad. Does Lianna want to make her mommy sad?"
The little girl thought for a moment, then her small hand fumbled inside her blanket, pulling out a few more candies. She placed them in Serena's hand. "Okay, Lianna doesn't want to make Mommy sad. You can have these too. Big Sister, please keep them safe for me."
"Okay, Big Sister won't secretly eat them," Serena smiled and tucked the little girl in. Just as she turned off the light, Lianna's voice called out from the darkness.
"If you want some, Big Sister, I can share a little with you. But don't eat too many, okay? If you eat too much and get a cavity, I'll be sad for you too."
...
(end of chapter)