"Transcending the boundaries of time and space… Fusion Summon the evolved supreme dragon — the mightiest, the ultimate dragon!!"
Holding her Duel Disk high into the air, Hoshino's Fusion light engulfed the field. Within its radiance, the ultimate dragon bearing the mark of the strongest upon its three heads let out a majestic, emperor-like roar.
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon ★★★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 12)][LIGHT][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 4500/DEF 3800]
"I-It actually…!"
Faced with the sudden appearance of Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, the dragon girl was left speechless.
"Well? Surprised?" Hoshino grinned smugly. "Kaiba isn't the only one who can summon Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, you know~"
"I'm not talking about the Fusion Monster!"
Ignoring the freshly Fusion Summoned dragon entirely, the dragon girl pointed accusingly at Hoshino.
"The two of you delivered that chant with perfect timing! And you still expect me to believe there's nothing going on between you?!"
(Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon: This is probably the least dignified entrance I've ever had…)
Eve sighed.
"No, Hoshino. I kind of agree. You were getting way too into it. It sounded like the two of you had rehearsed those lines beforehand."
"Hmph. Barely acceptable. Ninety-five points."
Watching from the sidelines, Seto Kaiba gave a cold snort.
["Σ(ﾟдﾟ) A 95 from Kaiba?! That's practically a perfect score!"]
Scratching her cheek, Hoshino finally realized that ever since Blue-Eyes White Dragon had come under her control, it felt as though some strange switch inside her had been flipped, leaving her unusually fired up.
"But you can't blame me! Those lines are way too catchy! Now that I finally had the chance, how could I not say them at least once?"
And honestly, Hoshino wasn't alone.
Anyone using a Blue-Eyes Deck would find it almost impossible to resist shouting those over-the-top lines while Fusion Summoning Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
"Damn it! Don't think you've won just because you got ahead of me!"
The dragon girl activated a card on her icy Duel Disk.
"The moment you activated Heroic Spirit – Yan Qing's effect, Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter's effect also activated!"
As long as the opponent activated a Spell, Trap, or monster effect, a Tribute Summoned True Draco monster could trigger its effect once per turn.
However, only monsters that had actually been Tribute Summoned could do so. Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter — which had been Special Summoned from the Graveyard — couldn't activate its own effect.
"I activate the Continuous Trap True Draco Apocalypse directly onto my field!"
"Then I'll Normal Summon my monster as well!"
Hoshino slapped a card onto her Duel Disk.
Since it was a monster she could simply Normal Summon, it obviously wasn't the infamous "brick" Okita Souji.
"I Normal Summon Heroic Spirit – Sima Yi (Reines) in Attack Position!"
A summoning circle unfolded as a young girl with flowing golden hair and porcelain-white skin slowly appeared.
Although she possessed the refined beauty of a typical European noblewoman, she was dressed in the robes of an ancient Chinese military strategist.
[Heroic Spirit – Sima Yi (Reines) ★★★★ (Level 4)][DARK][Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]
"Sima Zhongda has arrived… though calling me Reines is perfectly fine as well."
As Lord El-Melloi II's younger sister, Reines had become the vessel for Sima Yi due to a "chain summoning" phenomenon.
Since Waver had become the host of Zhuge Liang (Lord El-Melloi II), Sima Yi — whose destiny had long been intertwined with Zhuge Liang's — was likewise summoned, choosing Reines as his host.
Unlike Zhuge Liang, who merely lent his abilities to Lord El-Melloi II while leaving him in complete control, Sima Yi wasn't nearly as detached.
He frequently revealed his own personality through Reines.
"No need for further discussion. Let the trampling begin, Master~"
With a graceful flick of her finger, Sima Yi opened another Summoning Circle beside herself.
[When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 "Heroic Spirit" monster from your hand in Defense Position.]
Hoshino placed another card onto her Duel Disk horizontally.
Lightning burst from within the Summoning Circle.
"Come forth! I Special Summon Heroic Spirit – Frankenstein in Defense Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Frankenstein ★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Psychic/Effect][ATK 1350/DEF 800]
"Hee-ya! Lightning, ready!"
"Looks like Fran's all fired up too!" Hoshino smiled.
Seeing the two Level 4 monsters appear one after another, the dragon girl frowned.
"Two weak Level 4 monsters at once? You're planning to Xyz Summon, aren't you, Hoshino?"
"Xyz?"
A mysterious smile curved across Hoshino's lips as her fingers swept dramatically over the cards of Sima Yi and Frankenstein.
"This time…"
"…it's the Synchro Summon that you all fear like the devil!"
"I tune my Tuner Monster, Heroic Spirit – Sima Yi (Reines), Level 4…"
"…with my non-Tuner Monster, Heroic Spirit – Frankenstein, Level 4!"
The rings of Synchro Light blossomed across Hoshino's field, passing over the bodies of both Sima Yi and Frankenstein.
"W-What?! You're using Synchro Summoning already?!" the dragon girl exclaimed.
"— Pure-hearted maiden knight of the White Feathers! Continue pursuing the hope that shines ever brighter, and engrave beneath the heavens the glory of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins!"
"Synchro Summon! Heroic Spirit – Bradamante!!"
[Heroic Spirit – Bradamante ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][LIGHT][Warrior/Synchro/Effect][ATK 2800/DEF 2100]
[1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
"One of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins — the Lancer, the Knight of the White Feathers, Bradamante! Gather the light and uphold justice!"
Bathed in sacred Synchro Light, the young knight descended with a noble grace worthy of a Valkyrie, carrying her radiant shield.
"I'm not done yet!"
"The instant my Synchro Summon succeeds, I activate the effects of both Heroic Spirit – Sima Yi (Reines) and Heroic Spirit – Frankenstein, which were sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Materials!"
Pressing her advantage, Hoshino inserted the two monsters that should have been sent to the Graveyard into the Spell & Trap Zone of her Duel Disk instead.
[Sima Yi's Effect: If this face-up card is sent from the Monster Zone to the Graveyard: Place this card face-up in your Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.]
"Nothing under heaven escapes the setting sun. Now, witness my strategy~"
Retreating from the front lines, Sima Yi — just like Zhuge Liang — could remain on the field as a Continuous Spell after leaving the Monster Zone.
[Frankenstein's Effect: If a "Heroic Spirit" monster is Normal or Special Summoned to your field: You can equip this card from your Graveyard to that monster as an Equip Card. The equipped monster gains 300 ATK and DEF for each face-up Spell/Trap Card on the field.]
"Next, I equip Heroic Spirit – Frankenstein to my Synchro Summoned Heroic Spirit – Bradamante!"
A radiant sword of lightning materialized, carrying Fran's will. It burst forth from a crack in the frozen earth and was grasped by the White Feather Knight.
"I have two face-up Spell Cards — Sima Yi and Frankenstein — while you have two face-up True Draco Continuous Traps. That makes four face-up Spells and Traps in total, so Bradamante gains 4 × 300 = 1200 ATK!"
[Heroic Spirit – Bradamante ATK: 2800 → 4000]
"Another monster with 4000 ATK! You're really bringing the pressure, Hoshino!" Eve cheered. "Now show her what you've got!"
After a Fusion Summon followed immediately by a Synchro Summon, Hoshino had completely seized control of the field.
"Like I'd let you surpass my monsters' ATK so easily!"
The dragon girl pouted as she activated her Continuous Trap.
"I activate the effect of True Draco Apocalypse!"
[Continuous Trap Effect: Target 1 other "True Draco" card you control; destroy it, and if you do, halve the ATK and DEF of all face-up monsters your opponent currently controls.]
"I destroy my Special Summoned Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter, offering the maiden's magical power as a sacrifice to unleash the judgment of the True Draco Apocalypse!"
Guided by the Apocalypse, the True Draco maiden released every ounce of her magical power.
The emerald gale instantly expanded into a massive tornado that swept across the frozen battlefield and engulfed Hoshino's field.
[Heroic Spirit – Bradamante ATK: 4000 → 2000]
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon ATK: 4500 → 2250]
"Hahaha! With ATK like that, you still dare claim you're suppressing me?"
As the raging winds swirled around her, the dragon girl smiled triumphantly.
"And now, I activate True Draco Apocalypse's second effect!"
[Continuous Trap Effect: During your opponent's Main Phase: You can Tribute Summon 1 "True Draco" monster face-up.]
She placed another True Draco card onto her icy Duel Disk.
The light of a Tribute Summon enveloped the activated True Draco Apocalypse, offering it as Tribute.
"I Tribute my Continuous Trap and Tribute Summon Dreiath III, the True Dracocavalry General in Defense Position!"
[Dreiath III, the True Dracocavalry General ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][EARTH][Wyrm/Effect][ATK 2200/DEF 2800]
[If this card is Tribute Summoned face-up, you can Tribute face-up Continuous Spells and Traps you control instead of monsters.]
Drawing a silver-blue spear from the frozen ground, the heavily armored True Draco knight materialized onto the battlefield.
"I'll use this spear to pierce that monster — and let you experience the wrath of a girl in love, Hoshino!"
Removing True Draco Apocalypse, which had been Tributed, from her Graveyard, the dragon girl activated its final effect.
[True Draco Apocalypse – Continuous Trap Effect: If this card is sent from the Spell & Trap Zone to the Graveyard: Target 1 monster on the field; destroy it.]
"I choose to destroy your Heroic Spirit – Bradamante!"
"Too naive!"
Hoshino immediately shot back.
"Even though her ATK has been halved, Bradamante's protection hasn't changed!"
[Bradamante's Effect: This card cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects, and cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.]
Raising her radiant holy shield before her, Bradamante stood firm.
Since she couldn't even be targeted by her opponent's effects, True Draco Apocalypse couldn't legally choose her as its target.
"Tch…"
Clicking her tongue in frustration, the dragon girl reluctantly changed targets.
"Fine! Then I'll just destroy Kaiba Man's Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon instead!"
Hoshino Alter commented:
["Why does it feel like she's treating Aibo differently? Besides, shouldn't she destroy the stronger monster first?"]
Hoshino nodded thoughtfully.
"A girl in love may be perceptive about everything else… but when it comes to the person she likes, she's surprisingly blind."
["Aibo… you've only ever played dating sims, yet you're analyzing this like an expert?"]
A textbook case of someone with endless theoretical knowledge… and absolutely zero practical experience.
"Too naive!"
Echoing Hoshino's exact words, Kaiba Man activated his Set card just as the spear was about to strike Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
"I activate the Trap Card I set last turn — The Ultimate Creature of Destruction!!"
[Target 1 "Blue-Eyes" monster you control. Until the end of this turn, that face-up monster is unaffected by the effects of all other cards and cannot be destroyed by battle.]
"I target Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon! Grant this perfected, evolved dragon absolute protection!"
"ROOOAAARRR!!"
As the Trap resolved, the three-headed dragon became completely unaffected by every card except itself.
Throwing back its heads with a thunderous roar, it shattered the incoming spear through sheer overwhelming presence.
At the same time, freed from all outside effects, the dragon was no longer affected by True Draco Apocalypse's ATK-halving effect.
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon ATK: 2250 → 4500]
"Nicely done, Kaiba Man!" Hoshino praised. "Now we've taken back the ATK lead!"
"Then stop wasting time and show them the overwhelming destructive power of the strongest dragon!" Kaiba Man declared proudly.
"Battle!!" ×2
Eve couldn't help but complain.
"(°Д°) H-Hey! Aren't those two just a little too in sync? At this rate, I'm actually starting to believe King Nidhogg's suspicions…"
Hoshino Alter tilted her head.
["Is it really just good teamwork? Somehow… it feels less like they're naturally in sync, and more like Kaiba Man is deliberately matching Aibo's rhythm."]