"Tear her apart, Dark Soul Token!"
The dolphin, now several times more ferocious after being corrupted, lunged forward and viciously tore into Jeanne, who had already lost all will to fight.
[Heroic Spirit – Swimsuit Jeanne destroyed]
[Hoshino & Atem LP 4000 → 1500]
"Yeah… that saint is completely useless now," Hoshino sighed faintly as she sent Jeanne's card to the Graveyard. "But at least it opened up the field. I'll give you some credit—next time I go shopping, I'll take you along."
With both having 3000 ATK, after Jeanne clashed with Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon, Marik's field was left with only Zoma the Spirit in Defense Position and the Dark Soul Token.
"Gahaha! This is great, absolutely great! I've been wanting to see it for a long time—Hoshino, that cute face of yours showing a helpless, frustrated expression!"
Marik's grin grew increasingly deranged, his personality seemingly warping further away from that of a normal human.
"You look pathetic, Marik." Flipping a face-down card, Hoshino declared, "Activate my set Trap Card—Hero's Return!"
[When a "Heroic Spirit" monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect, target 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it.]
"The moment Jeanne was destroyed, I Special Summon Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji from my Graveyard!"
[Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji ATK 2500]
Returning to the field, Okita wore a playful smile, her mouth curling into a "w" shape.
"I didn't expect that Saint to care so much about how cute she looks. That's something Okita never has to worry about—because no matter when, as the ace, I'll always be the coolest."
"That's right! When the cool Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji is Special Summoned to my field, I can set 1 Spell or Trap from my Deck that specifically mentions 'Okita Soji'!"
Okita: "⁄(⁄⁄•⁄⁄•⁄⁄)⁄ M-Master, why are you suddenly being so direct? Complimenting me like that… I might actually fall for you."
"After what happened with Jeanne just now, I realized something. Even Heroic Spirits care about their appearance. So if I praise you a bit, Okita… maybe you'll fight even harder for me?"
"(°Д°) Fight harder?!" Okita panicked. "Master, you're not planning to trick me into doing something like Arash, are you?! Put Chen Gong down—we can talk this out!"
["Don't worry, Okita. Chen Gong is usually for farming (Academy Kids). He won't just fire off fireworks in a high-difficulty battle."]
After setting the card that mentions "Okita Soji" from her Deck, Hoshino looked toward Marik, whose expression had grown even more twisted.
"Even if I'm partly responsible for how you've turned out… I'll take responsibility and send you back where you belong, Marik!"
"Of course… if you fall into hell together with me, Hoshino, that would be the best ending for me."
Placing all of his remaining cards into his Duel Disk, Marik simultaneously activated effects from his Graveyard.
"I set two cards, and by banishing Eldlixir of Black Awakening, Eldlixir of White Destiny, and Guardian of the Golden Land from my Graveyard, I can set three Golden Land/Eldlixir Spell/Trap Cards from my Deck!"
These cards clearly belonged not to Marik, but to Hela. Using Marik's actions to banish them was simply a way to utilize the Graveyard's resources one turn earlier.
"Well done, Marik." As the three cards were set from the Deck, Hela's tightly furrowed brows finally eased slightly after all the Synchro monsters had been cleared from the field. "That demonic Synchro Summoning method that brings destruction… must not be allowed to remain in this world."
"I don't need your praise," Marik replied coldly as he ended his turn. "Whether the world is destroyed or not has nothing to do with me. We're only working together because we share the same goal."
[Marik's: 0 Hand Cards | 5 Set Card (Including Hela Set Cards)]
"My turn—draw!"
"At the start of your turn, Lava Golem's effect activates!" Marik pointed at Hoshino, still trapped in the iron cage. "During the Standby Phase, it inflicts 1000 damage to its controller. Suffer!"
"!!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ H-Hot, hot, hot!"
Boiling magma poured down from above. Though Hoshino managed to dodge part of it with her not-so-agile movements, the moment the virtual flames touched her skin, she still let out a pained cry.
[Hoshino & Atem's LP 1500 → 500]
"If even a virtual projection is this hot… how did Jonouchi endure it during a Shadow Game…" Hoshino muttered as she shook off the molten illusion clinging to her body.
"Sorry, Hoshino. I couldn't block that damage for you." Looking at the single card in his hand, Atem showed a hint of apology.
Compared to the nearly full back rows on both sides, Atem—who had gone all-in last turn to wipe out the three Egyptian Gods—was left, just as Hoshino expected, with only the one card he had drawn this turn.
If Marik had switched Zoma the Spirit to Attack Position last turn and destroyed the Fuuma Token, their Life Points would now be in an extremely dangerous state.
However, having faced Hoshino before, Marik understood that with four set cards, she wouldn't be defeated by such a simple attack—and on his side, he didn't have the Life Point margin to risk changing Zoma the Spirit to Attack Position.
"I already anticipated this! Don't worry, Yugi—just accept this support!" Hoshino immediately flipped another set card.
"—Activate Trap Card Victor of the Moon!"
[Discard 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster or a Spell that mentions "Heroic Spirit"; then target 1 Spell/Trap in either player's Graveyard and set it to your field. That card can be activated this turn.]
"I discard Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette from my hand to set your Card of Sanctity from your Graveyard! And since I discarded Marie, I can also search another Heroic Spirit monster!"
Replacing the image of Victor of the Moon in Hoshino's back row was none other than that powerful hand-replenishing Spell Card.
"Go on, don't hold back, Yugi! I believe in your drawing abilities." Hoshino gave a thumbs-up with a grin.
Atem's eye twitched slightly, but he smiled and set the card he had just drawn before gladly accepting Hoshino's support.
"Hoshino, you've become much more reliable than before. —Now then, activate the set Spell Card, Card of Sanctity! Everyone replenishes their hand to six cards!"
"That card… Card of Sanctity… is terrifying!" Mokuba exclaimed in shock.
Of the four duelists on the field, aside from Hoshino—who had searched one Heroic Spirit using Marie's effect—the other three had zero cards in hand. Drawing a total of 23 cards at once… it was perhaps the most terrifying "heavenly draw" Mokuba had ever seen.
As six cards were added to his hand in succession, the final card drawn by Atem released a golden radiance that spread beneath his feet, shaking the entire field.
"Heh… so it's finally here!" With a confident smile curling at his lips, Atem slammed the card onto his Duel Disk.
"—Now, answer my call! Palladium Oracle Mahad!"
[Palladium Oracle Mahad ★★★★★★★ (Level 7)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2100]
[①: When you draw this card: You can reveal it; Special Summon it from your hand.]
Bathed in radiant light—distinct from the dark magic of the Dark Magician—the power of the guardian priest manifested. Mahad materialized on the King's field, kneeling respectfully.
"My King, I, Mahad, have come late to your aid. Please forgive me."
"No… your timing is perfect, Mahad!" Atem nodded.
Okita was left stunned—Mahad's dazzling entrance and overwhelming presence completely overshadowed her as the ace.
"So this is Starfish-head's new ace? He's got the same stats as the Dark Magician…"
"Mahad—you're Mahad, right? You actually became a Duel Spirit on your own!" Hoshino exclaimed excitedly.
Seven years ago, during the ultimate Shadow Game within Atem's memories, Hoshino had met not only Mana—the original form of Dark Magician Girl—but also Mahad, the original form of the Dark Magician.
But because she had fallen into Bakura's scheme and was forcibly ejected from the Shadow Game, Mahad was ultimately killed by the Thief King Bakura… something Hoshino had always felt guilty about.
"Or… do you not remember me, Mahad?"
After all, that encounter had only taken place within Atem's memories. Whether the real Mahad knew her or not was uncertain.
"No, how could I ever forget you, Hoshino?"
Mahad smiled gently, then gave her a respectful bow.
"With your incredible power, you saved the King and my kingdom from the dominion of the Great Dark Evil God. I never had the chance to thank you back then."
"I see…" Caught off guard by the sudden, sincere gratitude, Hoshino scratched her cheek awkwardly, feeling a little happy.
"And my disciple Mana… I've heard from the King that she caused you quite a bit of trouble recently."
Raising his golden staff, Mahad's gaze sharpened as he looked toward the opposing field.
"As a small token of thanks, allow me to repay you and the King through the power of this duel!"
Immediately entering the Battle Phase, Mahad pointed his attack straight at the Dark Soul Token on Marik's field.
[Dark Soul Token ATK 2500]
"Go, Mahad! On this lifeless land, bring forth light that will pierce the darkness!" Atem declared.
"Wait! That's a corrupted saint with the same 2500 ATK! If you crash into it, you'll both be destroyed!" Okita hurriedly warned.
"There is no need to worry. As I am now, I will never lose when facing darkness!"
Leaping forward, gathering dazzling golden magic, Mahad unleashed a radiant power—distinct from the Dark Magician's deep sorcery—as it surged toward the Dark Soul Token.
"Effect of Palladium Oracle Mahad—during damage calculation, if this card battles a DARK monster, its ATK doubles!"
[Palladium Oracle Mahad ATK 2500 → 5000]
"His ATK jumped straight to 5000!" Hoshino realized. "No wonder he said he wouldn't lose against darkness—that level of power surpasses most monsters!"
"—Activate my face-down Continuous Trap Card: Jam Defender!"
Flipping another set card and placing a monster from his hand face-up, Marik responded instantly to Mahad's overwhelming attack, activating his strongest defensive barrier.
[Continuous Trap Effect: Special Summon 1 'Revival Jam' from your hand. When an opponent's monster declares an attack, if you control a face-up 'Revival Jam,' the attack target is changed to it.]
"Block that attack for me—Special Summon Jam Defender in Defense Position!"
[Revival Jam ★★★★ (Level 4)][WATER][Aqua/Effect][ATK 1500/DEF 500]
Materializing on Marik's field, the blue slime formed a liquid barrier. The moment it intercepted Mahad's radiant strike, it instantly evaporated.
"Damn it—Mahad's attack was that strong, and it still got blocked by something like a slime?!" Okita lamented.
"But it doesn't end there," Marik added. "When Revival Jam is destroyed by battle or effect, it can Special Summon itself again!"
Though it had just been vaporized by the radiant magic, the slime immediately reformed, returning to Marik's field.
[Revival Jam DEF: 500]
"Hey, hey—unconditional infinite regeneration? What kind of cheating monster is that?!" Hoshino frowned. "Isn't that basically a fake card?"
"If it were fake, the Duel Disk wouldn't recognize it," Kaiba explained. "It's a failed card that's no longer in circulation—only a few people have it."
"Pharaoh, you remember this invincible defensive wall, don't you?" Marik smirked. "But this time, you don't have Slifer's Thunderforce to infinitely destroy it."
Back then, with the Continuous Spell Card Card of Safe Return on Marik's field, every time Revival Jam was Special Summoned, he would draw three cards—only for it to be destroyed again by Thunderforce.
That infinite loop had emptied Marik's deck in an instant, leading to his defeat.
"So that's how Slifer pulled off infinite destruction… impressive as always, Yugi!" Hoshino said in admiration.
"But it looks like we won't get to use Slifer this time. Still… I've got an idea we can try, Yugi!"
Her mind racing, Hoshino quickly identified a breakthrough—even against the absolute defensive wall formed by Revival Jam's infinite regeneration.