"The one who pioneers the future—Number Zero!"
Rising again, Aisha's Spirit Eyes, dim with exhaustion, connected at that instant to an immense future.
"Number Zero?" Krista asked cautiously. "Carlos, are you planning to use four Mokeys to fight against the Trinity Accel Synchro—against Stardust Zero?"
Using four blocks of tofu to fight the Trinity Accel Synchro monster [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon]... even in her dreams, Krista would never imagine such a ridiculous scenario.
Viel's little mouth opened a bit. "Four Level 1 monsters... is it coming again?"
That familiar formation… Aisha Carlos had shown it once before at the start of a duel.
However, that time, it was three Level 1 Normal Monsters and one Level 2 Normal Monster.
Then Aisha successfully called forth The Winged Dragon of Ra.
And this time, it was four Level 1 monsters… four blocks of tofu.
"Aisha Carlos, what kind of future does your bond with low-level monsters connect to?"
Even Viel Sandrion, one of the Three Sages, couldn't see through the future now taking shape behind the girl.
It transcended even the concept of 'low-level'.
"Let's go, Mokeys!" Aisha swung her arm across, overlaying the two Mokeys on the field to construct an overlay network of light.
"Rank 1, Xyz Summon—[Slacker Magician]!"
[Slacker Magician] Level 1│LIGHT│Spellcaster│ATK 200 / DEF 2100
[2 Level 1 monsters]
Completely lacking in battle power, with effects meant purely for defense, the Rank 1 Xyz Monster materialized and floated on Aisha's field.
"Another Xyz Summon?"
Krista was starting to go numb… she could barely keep track of which academy her opponent even belonged to anymore.
Regardless, for Aisha, who had already mastered the technique of Rank 1 Xyz Summons, coordinating between [Mokey Mokey Adrift] and [The League of Uniform Nomenclature] allowed her to bring out four Mokeys for Special Summon—indeed, quite a decent Xyz formation in some sense.
Albeit only under normal circumstances.
Even if a Rank 1 Xyz Monster could perform in battle, its power was still that of a Rank 1.
Compared to the Level 12 Trinity Accel Synchro [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon], the gap was absolute.
This Rank 1 [Slacker Magician], to put it bluntly… was only good for survival.
Even if it tried to activate its effect, it would be negated and destroyed by Stardust Zero.
"Ai-san..." Inside the Soul Room within the Millennium Puzzle, Ren nervously wrung her hands.
Of course, she wanted Aisha to win this duel.
Yet deep down, she feared Aisha might overuse this power.
Especially when it involved the 'power of low-level stars and the future'—that always filled Ren with unease.
"It's not over yet!"
Yet, Aisha clearly had no intention of stopping—nor would she ever stop.
This duel was about the most important person to her. She didn't want Miles to feel disappointed in her.
"I overlay [Mokey Mokey Adrift] and [Mokey Mokey] on the field! Xyz Summon, Rank 1—[Sylvan Princessprite]!"
[Sylvan Princessprite] Rank 1│LIGHT│Plant│ATK 1800 / DEF 100
[2 Level 1 monsters]
After her dark side was separated by the Millennium Key, the first Xyz Monster Aisha ever summoned was this very Rank 1. It was this card that opened the door to Aisha Carlos's path of Xyz Summoning.
Now, that very first Xyz was about to connect to the ultimate future.
Two consecutive Rank 1 Xyz Summons caused the light in Aisha Carlos's Spirit Eyes to surge from dimness to brilliance—brighter even than when her soul power had doubled.
No… this radiance was beyond doubling. It was the light that touched the future.
"Two Rank 1 monsters? So after summoning four Mokeys in your final turn, this is the limit you can reach, Carlos."
From Krista's perspective, evolving from Levels to Ranks was a one-way progression—and Rank 1 Xyz Monsters were already the limit of what a Level 1 could achieve.
"But it's a pity... Rank 1 monsters can't stir a ripple before the Trinity Accel Synchro!"
"They're not just Rank 1, Krista!"
Aisha thrust her palm forward—the light of her Spirit Eyes enveloping the two Rank 1 Xyz Monsters on her field.
"The Xyz Summon that creates the future transcends both Levels and Ranks! Ultimate Xyz—Number Zero! This is the future I'll create together with Miles!"
The tremor resonating through the soul came both from Miles, whose spirit was now within Ren's body, and from Ren herself.
"So this... this is the future you wanted to see?"
Ren could feel the excitement welling up from deep within her soul—an emotion that transcended time and space.
A future different from despair.
"I overlay my two Rank 1 Xyz Monsters! Constructing the overlay network that leads to the future!"
Aisha extended her arm toward the sky, guiding the infinite column of light reaching into the heavens.
Two Xyz Monsters—six cards in total—formed a magnificent and intricate overlay network.
Such an extraordinary Xyz Summon—something even Leon of XYZ Academy had never seen.
"You're actually overlaying two Xyz Monsters?" Krista exclaimed in shock.
The rule of Xyz Summoning was to overlay two monsters of the same Level to form a Rank for an Xyz Summon.
But to overlay two monsters that already had no Level—only Rank—was itself a breakthrough beyond the basic laws of summoning.
Even Leon from XYZ Academy had never witnessed such a phenomenon—so there was no way Krista from Synchron Academy could have known it possible.
"Number Zero—set free! Racing toward the infinite expanse of the future, this is my Summon of Zero! Transcend time and space—descend now, [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
[Number F0: Utopic Future] Rank 0│LIGHT│Warrior│ATK 0 / DEF 0
[Xyz Monster ×2]
"Number F0?" Krista's violet-blue eyes flew open in disbelief as she gazed at the new Hope that soared forth from the radiant overlay network—Utopic Future.
Miles said, "Not hope, but the future! This is Aisha's power to create it!"
"How about it, Krista? I've got a Zero too!"
Aisha Carlos's Number Zero and Krista's Stardust Zero.
How deep did their obsession with 'Zero' run, exactly?
"It's not just Number 0," Viel analyzed, eyes fixed on the collision of light above. "Its Attack and Defense are both zero. It doesn't even have a Level… or rather, not even a Rank. That's zero too."
If Aisha Carlos was the girl most attuned to the power of low-level monsters, then now she had transcended even her own concept of 'low'.
Not breaking upward to higher stars… but breaking downward, to something lower than Level 1: Level 0.
"Alester... looks like even you misjudged her this time. Aisha Carlos is far more outrageous than you thought."
"This is the final battle, Krista!"
As the Battle Phase began, Aisha charged forth without a shred of doubt—her Number Zero clashing head-on with Stardust Zero.
"This strike shatters Stardust and opens the path to the future! [Number F0: Utopic Future] attacks!—Future Sword: Pathbreaker Slash!"
The final showdown erupted above Axet's skies—the power of the future colliding with the light of Stardust.
Both sides unleashed the pinnacle of their might.
"Using a monster with 0 Attack to attack [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon]?"
Krista knew, if Aisha Carlos wasn't a fool, then [Number F0: Utopic Future] must possess a unique way of fighting.
Although even through effects, the Trinity Accel Synchro [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon] had its own countermeasures.
It was the decisive moment—now was no time to hold back.
Advance. Fight. Push through! Only then could victory be reached.
Krista stepped forward firmly, declaring her counterattack. "Face it, Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon! This strike reforges the stars—Stellar Blast: Divine Flash!"
The proactive slash of the Future Sword and the reactive counterstrike of the Divine Flash collided at a single point.
Light engulfed the entirety of Axet City.
Krista shouted, "There's a 4000 Attack difference! What are you going to do now, Aisha Carlos!?"
Aisha replied, "There won't be any damage! That's the effect of [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
[Number F0: Utopic Future] Rank 0│LIGHT│Warrior│0 ATK
[This card cannot be destroyed by battle. Any battle damage involving this card becomes 0.]
It could not be destroyed by battle, nor take battle damage—that was the power behind [Number F0: Utopic Future], whose Attack and Defense were both zero.
Shielding her eyes from the blinding light, Viel asked curiously, "Oh? Then how do you plan to win?"
"Like this!" Aisha declared. "[Number F0: Utopic Future], activate its effect!"
[When this card battles an opponent's monster: You can take control of that opponent's monster until the end of the Battle Phase.]
"Through [Number F0: Utopic Future], I'll seize control of [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon] in this battle!"
"I won't let you, Carlos! When your monster's effect activates, [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon] activates its effect too!"
[Once per turn, when your opponent activates a monster effect: You can negate that effect, and if you do, destroy 1 card on the field.]
"I'll negate [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s effect and destroy it! Stardust Zero—Stellar Field of Sanctity!"
Zero clashed against Zero, neither side yielding an inch.
Krista's field of gathered starlight negated [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s effect and targeted Aisha's only monster for destruction.
The starlight drowned out the future's radiance—yet the next second, that same light reappeared within the dust of the stars.
[Number F0: Utopic Future, ATK: 0]
"Nani?" Krista exclaimed. "Number Zero… Utopic Future wasn't destroyed!?"
Aisha raised her hand. "When [Number F0: Utopic Future] would be destroyed by a card effect, I can detach 1 Xyz Material instead!"
Not only could it not be destroyed by battle—it could also replace destruction by detaching an Xyz Material.
The intricate overlay network spread across the twin wings of the shining Hope, stretching to the ends of the sky.
Those two Xyz Monsters used as materials formed the foundation of [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s indestructible power.
"I detach [Sylvan Princessprite] to prevent its destruction!"
The clash of future and starlight separated in the skies above—neither side destroyed.
The tension of the duel made sweat trickle down Krista's temple. "A troublesome monster indeed, [Number F0: Utopic Future]. But that alone changes nothing."
[Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon]'s effect could only be used once per turn, while [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s Xyz Materials would eventually run out.
"The Trinity Accel Synchro—Stardust Zero—is still stronger!"
"Once per turn, huh?" Aisha's emerald eyes pierced through the veil of stardust. "But Krista—[Number F0: Utopic Future]'s effect isn't limited to once per turn!"
Aisha Carlos's final hidden card.
At the end of the previous turn, she had two cards in hand. After discarding one [Kuriboh], only one remained.
"This is the last card! Quick-Play Spell, activate—[Swords at Dawn]!"
[Target 1 Equip Spell in your Graveyard and 1 appropriate monster on the field; equip that Equip Spell to that target. The Equip Spell equipped by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase.]
At that instant, the activation of the Quick-Play Spell mirrored her duel with Ren amid the fog of the royal capital.
But this time, Aisha refused a draw.
For Miles's future, she would carve out a true victory.
"An Equip Spell?" Krista recalled only [Reverse Breaker] being in Aisha's Graveyard.
Even so, there was another… a card long overlooked, discarded as cost for [Joker's Straight].
A forgotten card—Aisha Carlos's ultimate trump.
"Draw your blades, [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
Amidst the lightning-laced radiance, Aisha shouted her cry of victory as twin shining blades descended from the sky, landing in Utopic Future's hands.
"I equip from my Graveyard—the Equip Spell [Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce] to [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
[You can send 1 card from your hand to the Graveyard to equip this card. The equipped monster loses 500 Attack. The equipped monster can attack twice during the same Battle Phase.]
Because it was equipped via [Swords at Dawn]'s effect, no discard was required.
And since [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s Attack was 0, the -500 reduction was meaningless.
The twin blades of thunder now granted Utopic Future one effect alone: the power to attack twice in a single Battle Phase.
[Number F0: Utopic Future]'s effect was not limited to once per turn—that was its advantage over Stardust Zero.
"Second strike! [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
With the radiant blades of thunder cutting through the heavens, Aisha Carlos finally grasped the future—and victory.
"—Shining Future Sword: Thunder Pathbreaker Twin Slash!"
The twin blades that pierced through the starlit sky struck directly at the Dragon of the Stars.
"You can't negate this one, Krista!"
As Krista herself had declared, [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon]'s effect could only be used once per turn.
Against [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s second attack, even Krista had no way to respond.
[When this card battles an opponent's monster: You can take control of that opponent's monster until the end of the Battle Phase.]
"[Number F0: Utopic Future], activate your effect—Reversal of the Future!"
The mightiest Trinity Accel Synchro—Level 12 [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon]—had its control reversed in that battle.
In the final moments of the duel, space distorted, starlight reversed, and the stars returned to the cosmos.
[Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon, ATK: 4000]
Having wagered everything to create the future, Aisha now commanded two Zeros upon the field—Number Zero and "Stardust Zero".¹
And the future where Miles existed.
"I did it, Miles-san!"
Holding the power of even the Trinity Accel Synchro's starlight, Aisha intertwined the future and the stars, forging a path never before seen.
No one knew where that path led.
Nonetheless, without question, it was a new future untouched by anyone.
"This is the final strike, Krista!"
"So it's over..."
Lowering her hand, the Spirit Eyes dimming, Krista strangely felt she had foreseen this scene long ago.
Perhaps the moment Miles reawakened Aisha, her own fight had lost its meaning.
"A bet's a bet. Do it, Carlos!"
"Krista… you said it yourself. Only those strong enough have the right to seize their destiny. Then with this power—direct attack with [Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon]!"
"—Stellar Forge: Divine Flash!"
The brilliance of the stars erupted as Krista's body was swallowed by the radiance that marked the merging of future and starlight.
[Krista, LP: 1000 → 0]
The evolved Aisha, who had touched the immense power of the future, guided her way to ultimate victory!
…
¹ Yeah, the original card's name has "Stardust Zero" in it
...
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