"I won't keep falling for your tricks!"
Seeing Hoshino once again sending a low-attack monster to crash into him, Gekko seemed less calm than before.
"Counterattack, flames of fury! Obliterate!"
As Exodia Incarnate prepared to release a powerful blast of fire toward the airborne Artoria, who was about to strike with her holy sword, it opened its massive yellow hand and unleashed a fierce flame.
The yellow flames and golden light clashed violently, creating a blinding heatwave.
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate ATK 3000]
[Artoria ATK 2400]
"Vanish in the flames of fury!"
"You're the one who's going to vanish, Exodia!"
Hoshino pulled out the Artoria card and displayed both of the monsters in her hand to her opponent.
"This is Artoria's counterattack, empowered by Elizabeth!"
[①: Once per turn, during damage calculation when this card battles an opponent's monster, you can reveal any number of 'Heroic Spirit' monsters from your hand to your opponent. This card gains ATK/DEF equal to the number of revealed monsters x 500 until the end of the turn.]
"The two Heroic Spirit monsters in my hand are [Heroic Spirit – Gilgamesh] and [Heroic Spirit - Elizabeth Báthory]. Based on the effect, Artoria's attack power increases by 1000 points!"
"Serves you right! That's what you get for sending Hoshino-nee's monster back!" Akasha made a face at Gekko, her expression filled with glee as if she were the one dueling.
[Artoria ATK 2400 → 3400]
"Mana Burst, Idol Star!"
Shouting out a random special move name, Artoria swung her golden sword, the blade cutting through Exodia's enormous body.
"She did it! Hoshino defeated Tenma Gekko's monster again!"
"No, not yet..."
Hoshino frowned, keeping her eyes fixed on Gekko, whose life points hadn't decreased at all. She had no time to blame Mokuba for jinxing her earlier.
"You really can't let your guard down for a moment when dueling you, Tenma Gekko!"
"Heh, I should be saying that to you, Duel King!"
With a bitter laugh, Gekko flipped his last face-down card. "This is my last defense, though I didn't expect to be forced to use it in just one turn."
"Trap Card [Waboku]!"
[Waboku - Trap Card Effect: You take no battle damage this turn. Your monsters cannot be destroyed by battle this turn.]
Duelists who use traditional Exodia decks usually include defensive trap cards to buy time until they can draw all five pieces.
Although Gekko's deck clearly differed from the typical Exodia deck, he hadn't abandoned this defensive strategy.
"Hoshino's attack failed this time, that's a problem."
Mokuba began to worry, not realizing he had jinxed Hoshino earlier.
"Tenma Gekko already has the 'Head' and the 'Right Arm' in his hand, with the other three pieces in the graveyard. If he draws another piece with The Heart of the Underdog, Hoshino won't have much time left."
Of course, Mokuba didn't dare to speculate about Gekko drawing two pieces in a row because that would mean Hoshino would lose immediately.
"I set two cards face-down and end my turn."
Interrupted by Gekko, Hoshino had no choice but to end her turn, now left with only two monsters in her hand.
"My turn, draw!"
Even though it was just a normal draw phase, all three pairs of eyes were glued to Tenma Gekko's field, focusing on the face-up Continuous Spell, Heart of the Underdog.
And then, the card they were all watching began to glow with a mocking light.
"Don't be so tense. While I did draw a normal monster..."
Gekko flashed his signature smile as he revealed the card he drew. "It's the [Right Arm of the Forbidden One]. Unfortunately, it's a duplicate."
"Whew..." (x3)
All three sighed in relief.
"But thanks to the effect of The Heart of the Underdog, I get to draw again."
"!!!"
Then, as if fate was playing tricks on them, the card under Gekko's feet flashed with a taunting glow once more.
"Looks like luck is really on my side today. This time, it's the [Left Arm of the Forbidden One]."
Gekko showed off the card he drew, a hint of joy flashing in his arched brow. "Sorry, but I get to draw again."
"Damn it, am I going to lose just like that?" Hoshino, breaking into a cold sweat, was filled with helplessness. "I thought I'd finally left my bad luck behind."
"Unfortunately, this time, it's not a normal monster." Even though he didn't draw both pieces immediately, Gekko was already confident in his victory.
Tenma Gekko's hand contained: the Head, Left Arm, and two Right Arms.
"However, I'm sorry to say, Duel King, this duel is already over."
Gekko placed the card he just drew onto his duel disk, calling it the final straw that would break the camel's back. No, it should be called a feather.
"Spell Card, [A Feather of the Phoenix]!"
[A Feather of the Phoenix - Spell Card Effect: Discard 1 card, then target 1 card in your GY; return that target to the top of your Deck.]
"I discard the extra [Right Arm of the Forbidden One] from my hand to return the [Right Leg of the Forbidden One] from my graveyard to the top of my deck."
"No way..." Hoshino gasped in disbelief. Although Gekko hadn't drawn both pieces in one go, drawing this spell card was almost as good as doing so.
As long as Gekko ended his turn, he could use Exodia Incarnate's effect to retrieve another piece from the graveyard, which would mean he'd have four pieces in hand, virtually locking in his victory.
"Checkmate, Duel King Hoshino Chiyuki!"
Placing the Right Leg on top of his deck, Gekko's expression was that of a victor, calm and collected.
"And since the [Right Arm of the Forbidden One] was sent to the graveyard, Exodia Incarnate's attack power increases once again."
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate ATK 3000 → 4000]
"Let's have one final battle. Although whether I attack or not won't change the outcome, just to prevent any last-ditch effort from you..."
Gekko pointed his card toward his opponent, initiating the battle phase.
"Let's celebrate victory with these flames that consume all, Exodia Incarnate! Attack the opposing monster!"
"I thought you'd calculate everything perfectly from start to finish..."
Hoshino forced a smile, her slightly raised lips filled with helplessness and resentment, but also with determination and resolve.
"Thank you for giving me one last chance to struggle so I can drag you down to hell with me in this desperate situation! Tenma Gekko!!"
"Even at this point, you still haven't given up, Hoshino?!"
Gekko's victorious smile was tinged with doubt. He didn't understand, nor could he comprehend, the reason for the girl in front of him to keep fighting. His victory was already assured; all he needed to do was draw a card. Nothing could be simpler.
"Gekko, if you had ended the battle without doing anything, I might have truly lost hope. But you are a perfect duelist; every action you take aims for perfection. Because Exodia Incarnate is unaffected by other card effects, it doesn't fear most traps. For you, defeating my Artoria this turn is the perfect move."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that sometimes, a little mistake, a slight flaw, or an unexpected event—that's what makes a real duel, a real life! Something perfect will never truly be perfect, Gekko!!"
With a surge of energy from her heart, Hoshino tried to instill her otaku life philosophy into Gekko. While it might not make much sense upon closer inspection, it did shake Gekko to some extent in the current situation.
"Watch closely, Mr. Perfect—this is the counterattack of an imperfect girl! I activate my face-down trap card [Nagging Shopkeeper]!"
[Nagging Shopkeeper - Trap Card Effect: When a monster with 'Heroic Spirit' in its name is targeted for an attack, you can activate this card. Special summon a Level 4 or lower monster from your deck in defense position to take the attack instead. The summoned monster's DEF is increased by 500 points.]
"It's useless! Trap cards don't work on Exodia Incarnate!" Even though the trap card was activated, Exodia Incarnate's attack still landed squarely on Artoria.
"When Artoria is attacked, I activate her effect! I reveal the monsters in my hand to increase her ATK by 1000 points!"
[Artoria ATK 2400 → 3400]
"Even with the increased ATK, she still can't defeat Exodia Incarnate!"
[Exodia Incarnate ATK 4000]
"Master, the rest is up to you, and..."
The blue figure of Artoria Pendragon gradually dissipated within the inferno of Exodia Incarnate's flames.
[Heroic Spirit - Artoria Pendragon] Destroyed
[Hoshino Chiyuki LP 2500 → 1900]
"You're still trying to hold onto your life points at this stage?" Gekko asked, genuinely puzzled. He didn't understand Hoshino's insistence on struggling when the outcome seemed inevitable.
"What do you mean, 'this stage'? I haven't lost yet! Every move I'm making now is to defeat you in the end!"
The girl who never knew how to give up continued to place card after card on her Duel Disk, doing everything she could to slightly increase her odds of victory—even if it was just from 0% to 1%.
"Can she really win, Hoshino?" Mokuba asked, doubt creeping into his voice.
"She will win! Hoshino-nee will win!" Akasha exclaimed. Perhaps it was Hoshino's persistence that had inspired her, or maybe Akasha had never doubted her in the first place.
"Because Hoshino-nee's field is already glowing with a light. It's weak, but at this moment, it outshines Akasha's light."
"A light...?" Mokuba, incredulous, turned his gaze back to the gradually dissipating flames on the field.
"It's our turn again, isn't it?" A familiar voice rang out. Though it seemed more immature than before, it was unmistakably Artoria's.
"Because Artoria was destroyed, according to her effect, I can special summon [Heroic Spirit - Artoria Pendragon (Lily)] from my deck in attack position!"
[Heroic Spirit - Artoria Pendragon (Lily) ★★★★ (4 stars)] [LIGHT] [Dragon/Effect] [ATK 1200/DEF 800]
"Yes, but the situation doesn't seem too good right now," the smaller, younger Artoria admitted. Her voice was soft, but her eyes were filled with determination.
"Next, I activate the special effect of [Nagging Shopkeeper] to special summon [Heroic Spirit - Medea (Lily)] from my deck in defense position!"
[Heroic Spirit - Medea (Lily) ★★★★ (4 stars)] [LIGHT] [Spellcaster/Effect] [ATK 1000/DEF 1500 → 2000]
"There are two Level 4 monsters on the field. Hoshino-nee is starting her magic again!" Akasha shouted excitedly, understanding what was coming next.
"Let's go, Saber Lily, Medea!" Hoshino, her momentum growing, gave the order to the two girls on her field.
"Don't hold back now, Master!" Medea twirled her staff, her lithe body spinning gracefully.
"Oh! I won't lose either!" Raising her golden sword, Saber Lily displayed the aura of a young king to the fullest. "A one-man army who can fight off a thousand foes—Heroic Spirits, heed the call of your king!"
"According to the effects of Medea Lily and Saber Lily, I add [Rule Breaker] and [Heroic Spirit - Atalanta] from my deck to my hand!"
"And it's not over yet—I activate my final face-down card!"
Hoshino, without any hesitation, continued her plays despite being in her opponent's turn.
"Quick-Play Spell, [Heroic Spirit Bond]!"
[Heroic Spirit Bond - Quick-Play Spell Effect]: Discard 1 [Heroic Spirit] monster from your hand to activate this card. Shuffle your deck and draw 1 card. If that card is a [Heroic Spirit] monster, special summon it to your field.]
"Using this card's effect, I discard the [Heroic Spirit - Atalanta] I just added to my hand, then shuffle my deck..."
As Hoshino sent the card to the graveyard, a green light emanated, accompanied by a faint chuckle.
"Finally, I draw a card!"
"Hoshino, did you draw a monster card?" Mokuba asked, even more nervous than Hoshino herself.
"As long as you believe in your deck, it will surely respond to your expectations. That's what Hoshino-nee said." Akasha's voice carried a firm belief. Recalling the words Hoshino had said when she defeated her, Akasha believed without a doubt that Hoshino's draw would trigger a miracle.
"It's over, Gekko. I've gathered all the pieces of my counterattack!" Hoshino declared with unprecedented confidence, slamming the drawn card onto her Duel Disk.
"Now it's time for me and the Heroic Spirits to shine! I'll special summon the monster I just drew with [Heroic Spirit Bond] in attack position. Come forth…"
"The Incarnation of Destruction, [Heroic Spirit - Altera]!"
Three-colored light spread from a single point, instantly illuminating the entire battlefield.
"I destroy, I conquer, from now until forever."
The calm voice conveyed confidence in her power and an indescribable sense of 'emptiness.'
[Heroic Spirit – Altera ★★★★★★★★★★ (10 stars)] [LIGHT] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 3350/DEF 2400]
"I am Altera, descendant of the Huns and the God of War's warrior,"
(*****)
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