"Is it really as exaggerated as you say, Eve?" Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Hoshino looked at Eve suspiciously as she spoke so solemnly.
"Of course! Otherwise, I wouldn't have come all this way to find you, Hoshino!" Eve nodded vigorously, the bandage on her head clearly starting to loosen.
"This won't work after all." Florence Nightingale frowned and pointed out, "Just tying her down won't stop the wound from reopening. We'll have to amputate!"
"Awu—gah, I won't move anymore!"
…So Nightingale, are you planning to cut off Eve's head? After all, if there's no head, she naturally won't move.
"If you don't inherit the power of the Grail and follow its guidance to search for the Relics, you won't be able to fight the Kings," Eve explained seriously, lying completely still.
"So you really have to inherit that power to fight the Kings?"
Hoshino stroked her chin, trying to analyze the enemy's weakness.
"You said earlier that the Nine Realm Kings become unbeatable when dueling the race they command because of their ability. Then wouldn't it be fine if we defeated them using a different race?"
And what exactly does that 'race ability' even mean in a duel? A guaranteed perfect draw or something? Wouldn't that overlap with Yugi's role?
"Shocking! There's actually such a despicable method!" Eve gasped, still frozen in place.
Hoshino sighed. "Isn't that just normal logic? If the King has an advantage against their own race, why would we smash eggs against rocks?"
"No." Kaiba Man added, "As far as I know, if you want to erase the concept of a King and truly remove the Nine Realm Kings' influence from this world, you can't avoid a direct confrontation. In other words, defeating them with another race has no meaning."
"R-right!" Eve secretly breathed a sigh of relief at Kaiba Man's save and continued, "There seems to be a rule—if you want to defeat a corresponding King, you must use Duel Monsters of the corresponding race."
Hoshino nodded. "I see… That sounds a bit one-sided. But since the opponent is a King, a little restriction like that isn't unacceptable."
After all, she'd met far more unreasonable kings before. Once kings get stubborn, they're even more troublesome than ordinary people.
If she really had to use a single-race deck to challenge a King, Hoshino would have to think carefully about how to match up Heroic Spirits of each race.
The Warrior race, with the most members, could easily form a deck.
Spellcasters next—she could build around a few Casters as the core. Though speaking of that, wasn't that guy originally a Rider?
The real headache would be the rarer races. For Rock-types, it seemed like only Enkidu existed so far… Sea Serpents were even rarer.
Fortunately, the Nine Realm Kings represented at most nine races. Duel Monsters had over twenty races if you excluded the three special ones like Divine-Beast, Wicked God, and Creator God. They probably didn't cover them all.
"So there's no time to lose—let's set off right away!" Eve urged.
"Set off? Where, the Academy?"
"Of course not! You need to follow the Grail's guidance and search the world for scattered Relics!"
"(˘••˘) Sounds like a pain. We're not in Dragon Ball—I don't want to travel the world just for that."
Kaiba Man stared at Eve and asked, "I understand all that, but one question remains… Why must Hoshino inherit the Grail? Shouldn't you be the shrine maiden chosen for it, Eve?"
Eve's expression suddenly froze. She looked away awkwardly and stammered, "Th-th-that's because… Star Grail, Hoshino, Star Relics—they all start with 'Star'! Doesn't that mean it's destiny?!"
Hoshino and Kaiba looked at each other… No matter how you looked at it, that sounded like an excuse she'd just made up. Was this Star Grail shrine maiden even reliable?
(***)
Duel Academy—
"You have no chance left, loser!"
Using the power of Cyber Dragon Infinity to devour the last Machina Fortress on Dovelgus's field, the scales of victory tilted heavily toward Zane.
"I end my turn. Your move."
[Zane: 0 Hand Card | 3 Set Cards]
"You dare let evolution reach infinity and try to rival the King's power?!"
From within the giant mechanical body, scorching steam burst from the joints of Dovelgus, raising the temperature of the entire academy.
Loptr said nervously,
"Foolish humans, you actually angered the Dwarf Union King. Once the King wins this duel, this shabby academy will be flattened. If you want to live, you'd better run."
"You said 'once the King wins,' right? Then there's nothing to be afraid of." Exchanging knowing looks, the academy students showed no fear.
"Our King is fighting too. How could we run away now?"
"Crush him, Zane! This pile of scrap metal calling itself a King can't beat you!"
Cyber Dragon Infinity's absolute suppression and Zane's overwhelming field advantage gave everyone courage.
Even though the Nine Realm Kings' first appearance was terrifying, as Zane fought on, the academy—and humanity's persistence and possibilities—began to shine through.
"You completely misunderstand the King's power. There's no way you can win using Machine Cyber Dragons."
Even so, Loptr knew that once Dovelgus went berserk, he wouldn't care about collateral damage. To avoid getting caught up in it, Loptr needed to slip away the first chance he got.
"Humans, turn to ashes before the King's power! Draw—!"
Different from his earlier draws, blazing steam mixed with a golden glow as Dovelgus drew a shining virtual card.
Akasha: "(｀ﾟДﾟ´)ゞ Wow, a golden! Is this the famous shiny draw?!"
Zane frowned. He'd thought that after establishing Cyber Dragon Infinity, victory was secure. But for some reason, that final draw from Dovelgus gave him a terrible premonition. Even surrounded by scorching steam, a chill crept up his spine.
"Witness the absolute power of a King who reigns over his race! Magic Card—Iron King's Wall · Mountain!" (OC Card)
The moment Dovelgus threw down that golden card, the earth and mountains shook violently. An electronic field spread from the card's center, covering the entire academy in an instant.
"Negate its activation, Cyber Dragon Infinity!" Knowing instinctively how dangerous the card's effect would be, Zane didn't hesitate—he immediately activated Infinity's power to suppress it.
However, Cyber Dragon Infinity, covered by the electronic field, seemed to malfunction and couldn't activate its ability.
"Useless! Iron King's Wall · Mountain Collapse is a King's Spell Card that can only be used when my Life Points are above 10,000. It's activated by releasing all Machine monsters on my field. I draw 1 card from my Deck, then add 4 Machine monsters to my hand. But during the turn this effect is activated, I cannot conduct the Battle Phase!"
Because releasing all Machine monsters on the field was part of the activation cost, by the rules, the moment the card's effect was activated, Cyber Dragon Infinity had already been released by Iron King's Wall · Mountain Collapse and left the field—so it couldn't activate its counter effect.
With a wild surge of cards added to his hand, plus the Super Express Bullet Train he had retrieved earlier from the Graveyard, Dovelgus now held a full hand of five Machine monsters.
"I continue by activating the effect of Iron King's Wall · Mountain in my Graveyard! Banish this card to Special Summon Dovelgus, Generaider Boss of Iron from my Deck in Defense Position! After that, summon as many Iron Tokens as possible!"
[Dovelgus, Generaider Boss of Iron ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)][EARTH][Machine/Effect][ATK 1500/DEF 2500]
[You can only control 1 face-up 'Dovelgus, Generaider Boss of Iron.']
[Iron Tokens ★ (Level 1)][EARTH][Machine/Token][ATK 0/DEF 0] X4
In an instant, the field was flooded. This effect was practically comparable to those cheating cards that once required staking one's soul to use.
The gigantic mechanical body of Dovelgus, Generaider Boss of Iron stepped onto the battlefield personally. In war, when a king leads the troops himself, there are only two possibilities:
One—certain victory.
Two—a desperate last stand.
Which it was… no one could tell yet.
Dovelgus's Duel Disk transformed into a massive war hammer and smashed into the ground.
"My effect is this—release any number of Machine monsters on my field, then Special Summon the same number of Machine monsters from my hand in Defense Position!"
The shattered Iron Tokens turned into energy absorbed by the electronic field, replaced by the Machine monsters he had just added to his hand.
[Machina Fortress DEF 1600 ×2]
[Machina Force LV10 DEF 4100]
[Heavy Freight Train Derricrane LV10 DEF 2000]
"Then I overlay Level 10 Machina Force and Heavy Freight Train Derricrane—Xyz Summon! Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max!"
[Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (RANK 10)][EARTH][Machine/Xyz/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 3000]
"Wait, why can this guy Xyz Summon three times?"
"Isn't the rule only twice?"
The reappearing black giant cannon sparked complaints among the crowd.
Ready to run at any moment, Loptr mocked them:
"So backward humans can only Xyz twice? How laughable. How could a great King be bound by such rules!"
"And since only EARTH Machine monsters are on my field, I Special Summon my last monster from my hand—Super Express Bullet Train!"
[Super Express Bullet Train ATK 3000]
Five absurdly massive machines filled the field. From afar, the academy looked like a steel factory in wartime.
"Finally, Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max's effect! I detach Heavy Freight Train Derricrane as material and inflict 2000 damage to you—FIRE!"
Another explosive blast from the black cannon struck Zane directly.
[Zane LP 2800 → 800]
"It's over, human. Those who resist the King meet only death!"
Steam burst violently from Dovelgus's joints like an overloaded engine. His voice burned with fury.
"When Heavy Freight Train Derricrane is sent to the Graveyard as Xyz Material, I destroy 1 card on your field."
Zane had no monsters—only three set cards, one of which had been set on the first turn.
"Last turn, to avoid Machina Fortress destroying your hand, you set all your cards, didn't you? That means the last two aren't crucial. I destroy the card you set on your first turn!"
Even in berserk mode, he hadn't lost his analytical edge.
"Ha." Zane smirked confidently as the explosion revealed his card.
"In the end, I'm still one step ahead, scrap-iron King! The first card I set was—Quick-Play Spell Quick Booster!"
[If this card you control is destroyed by your opponent's card and sent to your GY: You can add 1 Quick-Play Spell from your Deck to your hand, except "Quick Booster".]
"When you destroyed it, I could add a Quick-Play Spell from my Deck to my hand. Come—my chosen card is Limiter Removal!"
"Even now you refuse to give up? Ugly struggle of a worm-like human!"
After setting his final card and building an iron wall of Machines, Dovelgus ended his turn due to Mountain Collapse preventing a Battle Phase.
"I won't lose!" shouted Zane from the academy's highest point. "Even if it's an ugly struggle—so long as it's to survive, humans can unleash power beyond infinity! Watch closely, scrap King! Draw—!"
He drew, then banished another Cyber Dragon Core from his Graveyard to Special Summon a Cyber Dragon from his Deck.
"I Special Summon Cyber Dragon Nachster and activate its effect!"
"When this card is summoned, I Special Summon 1 Machine monster with 2100 ATK or DEF from my Graveyard."
"Revive—Cyber Dragon Infinity!"
[Cyber Dragon Infinity ATK 2100]
Infinity returned to the field.
Dovelgus sneered, "Muda! In this situation, even Cyber Dragon Infinity cannot break the King's ultimate iron wall!"
"Then I'll turn that iron wall into my own power!" Zane roared, displaying humanity's unyielding will.
"I send my two Cyber Dragons—and your five Machine monsters—to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials!!"
"What?! Using my monsters as Fusion Material?!"
"Watch closely! This is humanity's struggle to survive! Fusion Summon—Roar forth, Chimeratech Fortress Dragon!!"
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Machine/Fusion/Effect][ATK 0/DEF 0]
["Cyber Dragon" + 1+ Machine monsters. Cannot be used as Fusion Material. Must first be Special Summoned (from your Extra Deck) by sending the above cards from either field to the GY.]