"Hahaha, hero! You've won, but this world is already doomed!"
"Is it finally over?!" Although Hoshino had looked like the high and mighty victor when rebuking the Evil of the World, that final summoning, powered by her heroic strength, had drained her considerably.
Breathing heavily and leaning on her knee, Hoshino forced one eye open to look at the nearly vanished body of the Five-Headed Dragon.
"Yes, it's all over, Master." BB's voice was calm and emotionless, not indicating joy or sorrow. "The Evil of the World has been defeated, and the game data of the Five-Headed Dragon in the Dragon God's Domain has completely disappeared. You've cleared the game."
The shaking of the Dragon God's Domain, caused by the Evil of the World's final roar, had become so intense that Hoshino and the others could barely stand.
"You should be able to log out of the game now!" Kaiba, checking the data on his Duel Disk, reminded the others.
Even though their souls were in this world, their bodies were still lying in the real world, connected to the VR equipment.
"Log out? How do we do that?!" Jounouchi, completely clueless, was panicking, terrified of being left behind.
"You idiot, Jounouchi! Just press the power button on your Duel Disk!" Mokuba disdainfully pointed out, showing him the Duel Disk. "I'm heading back now. See you all on the other side!"
As Mokuba pressed the power button on his Duel Disk, his body disappeared like a hologram before everyone's eyes.
"Oh, so it's that simple! Alright, I'm out too!" Jounouchi immediately pressed the button without hesitation.
"Hoshino, see you later!" Yugi, having swapped back with the Pharaoh, waved his hand before disappearing.
"Hoshino!" Just as everyone else had left, the usually silent Kaiba suddenly called out to her.
"Hm?" Hoshino tilted her head to look at Kaiba.
"Even though I still believe that your assistance was entirely unnecessary…"
"Thank you for protecting Mokuba." Leaving those words behind, Kaiba gave Hoshino no time to respond, pressing his logout button and exiting the game.
"Oh my God, Kaiba said thank you!"
In disbelief, Hoshino stared at the spot where Kaiba had vanished, stunned. "Could he be a total brocon after all?"
"Alright, Master, we should get going too." With a slightly impatient tone, BB smiled and gave Hoshino a gentle push.
"But I don't have a Duel Disk! How am I supposed to leave? I don't exactly have a power button on me."
"Master, with me, the almighty super AI BB here, don't you think making a power button is a piece of cake?"
"Oh, true." With BB by her side, Hoshino felt like there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Yet for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
"Alright, Master, get ready, we're about to—" BB, waving her conductor's baton with a commercial smile, looked at Hoshino.
But just as they were about to leave, Hoshino saw something emerge from the depths of the shaking Dragon God's Domain—a dragon.
Then came a second, a hundred, a thousand. Like headless flies, they crazily smashed into the walls of the Dragon God's Domain, frantically trying to escape.
"BB, what's going on?" Feeling that something wasn't right, Hoshino stopped BB from logging her out.
"Master, you've already done everything you could. There's nothing more to worry about." BB's commercial smile instantly froze.
"BB, you're hiding something from me, aren't you?" The sudden appearance of the dragons only confirmed Hoshino's nagging feeling of unease.
"There are some things you're better off not knowing." BB hesitated.
"I command you, as your Master, BB, to tell me the truth." Hoshino's serious gaze made it clear to BB that she wasn't joking.
"Sigh... seriously!!" BB let out a frustrated sigh, pouting. "Even if I tell you, Master, what could you possibly do about it?!"
"This world has been doomed from the very beginning!"
"?!"
"What do you mean by that, BB?" Shocked by BB's startling revelation, Hoshino hurriedly pressed her for answers.
"The Evil of the World has been defeated, and with that, the Dragon God's Domain has lost its final support and restraint. It's about to crash to the ground. When the millions of dragons trapped within the Dragon Domain are released, they will cause catastrophic damage that humanity has no means to resist," BB explained, her voice filled with resignation.
"So, by defeating the Evil of the World, I haven't saved the world at all—I've actually destroyed it." Hoshino's wide eyes were trembling, struggling to process the truth.
"No, it's not your fault, Master. BB just told you, this world was doomed from the start."
BB sighed, knowing exactly how Hoshino would react. "That's why I didn't want to tell you. I knew you'd take on a huge burden of guilt."
"The minions of the Evil of the World—the dragons—are destroying the world bit by bit. Even if humanity survives this century-long catastrophe, this world will likely cease to exist before the next century arrives."
"The Five-Headed Dragon only accelerated the actions of the Evil of the World. They just sped up the inevitable destruction."
"So it's all the fault of the Evil of the World and the Five-Headed Dragon—it's not your fault, Master."
"Isn't there any way to save this world? Chaldea can save humanity, can't we find a way to save this world?" With a trace of desperation in her voice, Hoshino clutched BB's black sleeve tightly.
BB shook her head slowly. "Master, you know as well as I do that Chaldea doesn't have the means to interfere with other worlds. If it could, you would have already been brought back to your original world."
"Now that the Dragon God's Domain is falling, this land, as large as Atlantis in the sky, will bring about the same disaster as a meteor crashing to the ground. Add to that the millions of demonic dragons within the Dragon Domain..." BB hoped that this final explanation would convince Hoshino.
But Hoshino's eyes suddenly lit up after hearing BB's last statement.
"BB, you're a genius!"
"Huh? Did you hit your head again, Master?"
"Meteors! You just mentioned meteors!" Hoshino pulled out a card from her leg pocket, her eyes gleaming with renewed hope. "If the Dragon God's Domain is the cause of the disaster, we just have to destroy it while it's still in the sky!"
"Master, are you joking? Destroy it in the air? BB just said it's as big as a meteor!"
"Hmph," Hoshino smirked and flipped over the card in her hand, showing it to BB.
"Though there are countless beings capable of shooting down stars, there's only one who can shatter them!"
"Master, are you planning to use Arash's Noble Phantasm?" A puzzled expression crossed BB's face.
"You, of all people, should know the cost of Arash's Noble Phantasm. And without a Duel Disk, you can only perform a Phantasm Summon now!"
"Are you really going to use your own body to unleash [Stella]?"
However, what responded to BB was an exceptionally determined gaze from Hoshino.
"You're crazy, completely crazy. BB won't play along with you anymore!" BB turned her head away, sounding annoyed. "What reason could there possibly be for you, Master, to go this far for this world?"
"Heh, I couldn't say," Hoshino replied, scratching her head in confusion. Even though she feared death more than anyone, she felt compelled to do this.
"Perhaps it's the responsibility that comes with being a hero!"
("The Hero's Sword is an armament that only the strongest hero of legend can wield. It symbolizes not only unparalleled strength but also great responsibility!")
At this moment, Hoshino fully understood the true meaning behind the elder's words.
"Besides, Arash blows himself up so many times a day without a problem. If I use it once or twice, it should be no big deal, right?" Hoshino reassured herself while also trying to convince BB.
"No way!" BB quickly shot down Hoshino's thoughts, almost like she was throwing a tantrum. "Arash detonates himself as a Heroic Spirit! At worst, he just returns to the Throne of Heroes. But you're going to self-destruct with a mortal body! No one knows what might happen!"
"Hahaha, don't scare me like that!" Hoshino patted BB's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "I know BB better than anyone. You might talk like that, but you have a way to handle it, right? After all, you're a super AI capable of anything!"
"Praising BB won't help you now." Although BB's tone was still tough, the hint of pride in her voice gave her away.
"We can't delay this any longer. The sooner we shatter the Dragon God's Domain, the less harm it'll cause the world." Confident that BB could find a way to protect her, Hoshino raised Arash's card high.
"Phantasm Summon! Install—Arash!"
[Heroic Spirit - Arash (Hoshino) ★★][Wind] [Fairy/Effect][ATK 300/DEF 300]
A gentle wind swept over Hoshino, enveloping her entire body.
"What a strange feeling. I never thought I'd wear Arash's clothes." Hoshino marveled as she examined the familiar outfit she now donned.
"Master, let me make it clear. BB's method can't fully guarantee the safety of your soul. BB can only promise to try her best. Even so, will you still go?" BB warned Hoshino once again, her tone serious.
"Then I'll be counting on you, BB," Hoshino replied with a confident smile, one that resembled that of a true hero.
"But it feels a bit cramped inside the Dragon Domain. Let's find a way out!" Hoshino glanced around quickly and spotted an opening in the ceiling leading outside.
Thanks to the high stats of [Strength B] and [Agility B+], Hoshino now scaled walls with ease. She sprinted along the vertical surface, rapidly approaching the exit at the top.
"Master, watch out!" BB urgently warned. The mindless dragons that had been crashing aimlessly around the domain had now locked their attention on the rapidly ascending Hoshino.
The minimum attack power of these evil dragons was 1000, while Phantasm Summoned Arash only had 300 attack points...
A Tyrant Dragon flapped its wings and shot a doomsday-like breath of fire straight at Hoshino.
The searing flames engulfed Hoshino on the wall in an instant.
"Master, stop pushing yourself..." BB averted her gaze, unable to bear watching any longer.
"If I give up, this world is doomed!" Hoshino's figure emerged from the flames, her body glowing with the light of [Avalon].
[Trap Card: Avalon Of The Radiant Path Effect: ①: Target one attack-position monster you control with [Heroic Spirit] in its name. As long as this card is on the field, the targeted monster cannot be destroyed. The monster also cannot change to defense position.]
Gritting her teeth, Hoshino endured the pain, knowing that while [Avalon] protected her from destruction, the agony was very real. If she took a couple more hits, her mind might not hold up.
As if things couldn't get worse, after the Tyrant Dragon's attack, both the [Serpent Knight Dragon] and [Blackland Fire Dragon] had noticed Hoshino and were eagerly preparing to strike.
"Normally these guys are just trash mobs, but it seems like I've hit rock bottom here!" Hoshino muttered, smiling bitterly.
"Hah! Our Master sure is reckless!" A man's hearty laugh suddenly echoed from the top of the exit.
"But after all the trouble I've caused, I guess I don't have the right to say that!"
"Beowulf!" Hoshino exclaimed in surprise as she spotted Beowulf's sturdy figure crouching by the exit.
"Yo, Master! Long time no see!" Beowulf grinned widely as he leaped into the Dragon God's Domain. "Sorry for getting lost for so long!"
As he descended, Beowulf kicked off the wall to alter his trajectory. With his red-handled sword, [Hrunting], he slashed through the [Serpent Knight Dragon] and [Blackland Fire Dragon] in a single stroke.
"As payback for all the trouble I've caused you, I'll handle these small fry!"
"Beowulf..." Hoshino felt a wave of gratitude as she watched the man battle valiantly against the swarm of dragons. The entire domain echoed with the sound of their roars.
("Looking back now, every step I've taken, every mark left behind, was meaningful. Each experience has provided Lily with the strength to move toward the future.")
"As an opponent, he's a headache, but as an ally, he's incredibly reliable. Beowulf!" Now reassured, Hoshino dashed toward the peak of the Dragon Domain.
"It's worse than I thought, Dragon God's Domain!" Hoshino gasped in awe as she observed the situation from outside. The flaming Dragon Domain was plummeting at an alarming speed, like a countdown to the end of the world.
"But this will all end soon!" Drawing her longbow with all her might, Hoshino silently recited the words in her heart, "After all, I inherited the will of the great hero who ended wars. I have to make sure this is done perfectly!"
In terms of range, it was comparable to an anti-army Noble Phantasm.
Both the Noble Phantasm and its user would be destroyed.
"O sacred Lord."
"O holy Lord. O radiant Lord who grants wisdom, majesty, and strength."
"My heart, my thoughts, and all that I can see."
"O Creator of stars and the moon, see my actions, witness my final moments."
"With all my might, I shall release this one arrow and let my body be crushed upon this place!"
As Hoshino muttered the incantation, cracks began to appear on her slender body.
"How painful this is, and I haven't even fired it yet! How does Arash endure blowing himself up so many times a day?" Hoshino thought as she gritted her teeth, barely keeping one eye open. "After experiencing this pain, I'll never dare to use Arash to farm EXP ever again!"
"But now, there's no turning back. I'm not allowed to turn back!"
After releasing this all-out attack, my sturdy body will immediately shatter to pieces!
"Stella: Lone Meteor!!"
In the endless desert kingdom, a bright light streaked across the dark night sky like a shooting star, representing the last hope for this world.
————
"Wow! A shooting star! How beautiful!" The radiant light that illuminated the night sky like dawn broke through the hustle and bustle of the desert night market, drawing everyone's attention.
"Granny, granny, there's a rainbow after the aurora, and now a shooting star!" A child's innocent voice clung to the elderly woman's sleeve. "Tonight's sky is so much more beautiful than usual!"
"Ohhh!! Hero!" The old woman trembled, tears streaming down her face as she knelt on the hard, sandy ground.
"The Hero has reversed the countdown to this world's end!"
("Granny, I'll bring back some souvenirs from the Dragon God's Domain for you!")
"This... this is the greatest souvenir I've ever received, Hero Hoshino!"
"The legend of Hoshino Chiyuki the Hero will live on forever in this world."
"A legend of a legendary Hero!"
(*****)
If you'd like to read 25 chapters ahead, please consider joining my Patreon: patreon.com/ANeet. Your support means a lot. Thank you!