Hoshino and the others stood openly before him without any hesitation. Supreme King Jaden was still wearing the bizarre black armor from the previous battle against King Utgarda.
"But conversely, if I eliminate you, Hoshino Chiyuki, then there will be no one left capable of stopping my ambitions."
ヽ(-`Д´-)ノ "Stop making such big claims, Jaden!" Akasha provoked him. "You already lost once before. And this time, there won't be any substitute sacrifice to take the attack for you!"
Minazuki chimed in:
"You should wake up from your chuuni delusions already, Jaden! Otherwise, my Chuunibyou Friendship Punch isn't going to be a joke!"
The Supreme King's deep, gleaming eyes glanced at the people behind Hoshino. The corners of Jaden's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
"Jaden," Hoshino said, "your best friend and childhood friend crossed an entire planet to come and bring you home. If you keep acting stubborn, I'm going to get angry."
"No. Nobody is taking my beloved Jaden away from me. I won't allow it!"
Yubel's yandere voice echoed from the darkness.
"Your beloved Jaden?! It's only been one day, and the Supreme King already got himself a girl!" Akasha exclaimed in surprise.
"Damn it! Does becoming a king really let you do whatever you want? I'm so jealous!" Minazuki gritted his teeth unwillingly.
Following Supreme King Jaden's footsteps, the Duel Monster Spirit Yubel, whose demonic appearance included a pair of wings, quietly took her place beside him.
"Um… does she really count as a girl?" Alexis asked doubtfully.
Although Yubel's voice leaned toward the feminine side, her Duel Monster Spirit form possessed both feminine and masculine characteristics on her left and right sides respectively.
In other words, Yubel was essentially a dual-gender existence.
"Wouldn't that make it even better?" Minazuki said excitedly.
Ignoring Minazuki and the others, Yubel's gaze locked directly onto Hoshino.
"It's been a long time, Hoshino Chiyuki. The old me certainly received quite a lot of 'care' from you back then."
Yubel's sarcastic tone was probably referring to the time during their previous Duel when Shiki Ryougi severed the power of her curse.
However, according to Jaden's recollections from earlier, after Shiki severed Yubel's curse power, Yubel disappeared that very same night.
Yet seven years later, Yubel had not only reappeared, but was now standing beside Supreme King Jaden.
"But this time, I won't let you take Jaden away from me again… never!"
"Her yandere personality hasn't changed at all…" Hoshino sighed. "But what's going on here? The sheer amount of malice is practically overflowing from her."
From the moment Yubel appeared, Hoshino had noticed that the malice emanating from her was completely different from seven years ago. It was practically comparable to a Beast of Calamity.
Or, to put it more accurately, the Yubel standing before her was even more like a textbook Beast than the Beasts represented by the Orichalcos and Zorc that had appeared before.
The so-called Evil of Humanity, which constantly speaks of love, is humanity's love itself.
The desire to destroy humanity does not necessarily originate from hatred toward humanity. Hatred is only temporary; the more it is used, the thinner it becomes.
Therefore, the thing that truly threatens humanity is precisely the wish to protect Proper Human History.
The mentality that seeks to obtain a better future bares its fangs against the peace of the present.
"Enough talking. Duel me, Hoshino Chiyuki."
The specialized Duel Disk with black, angular edges unfolded on Supreme King Jaden's arm.
"What cannot be avoided is the battle of destiny that will determine the future of this world."
"As long as Jaden and I are together, we shall never lose!"
Energy condensed around Yubel's arm, and a bizarre Duel Disk materialized from her body.
"They're planning to fight two-on-one?!" Akasha said warily. "Then I'll help you too, Hoshino-nee!"
"No. You just stay here and watch, Akasha. Otherwise, you'll only get in my way."
Hoshino pulled the card case from her waist and loaded it into her Duel Disk. At the same time, she accepted the challenge from both Supreme King Jaden and Yubel.
"Give it everything you've got, Jaden. Don't disappoint me."
Duel—!
[Hoshino Chiyuki LP 8000]
VS
[Supreme King Jaden & Yubel LP 8000]
"I'll take the first turn, Yubel!"
After exchanging a tacit glance with Yubel, Supreme King Jaden drew a card from his Duel Disk and immediately opened the hidden Field Spell Zone.
"— I activate the Field Spell Card, Fusion Recycling Plant!"
[Fusion Recycling Plant — Field Spell Card Effect: Once per turn: You can discard 1 card; add 1 "Polymerization" from your Deck or GY to your hand.]
Activating the Field Spell's effect, Supreme King Jaden sent a card from his hand to the Duel Disk's Graveyard Zone, then searched his Deck for the key Fusion Spell that his HERO deck required.
"I send Elemental HERO Shadow Mist to the Graveyard and add Polymerization to my hand. At the same time, I activate the effect of Elemental HERO Shadow Mist."
[Elemental HERO Shadow Mist Effect: If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can add 1 "HERO" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist".]
"I choose to add this HERO to my hand — Elemental HERO Sparkman!"
Although it was a classic Elemental HERO, Hoshino found it strange that Supreme King Jaden hadn't immediately used the combination he was best known for: his domineering Evil HERO monsters and Dark Fusion.
"Activate the Spell Card, Polymerization!"
Supreme King Jaden inserted the Fusion Spell into his Duel Disk and sent the two monsters he had selected as Fusion Materials from his hand to the Graveyard.
At the same time, the Fusion effect appeared on Supreme King Jaden's field.
Elemental HERO Sparkman stood alongside a liquid monster with no definite shape.
"I send Elemental HERO Sparkman and King of the Swamp to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials! King of the Swamp's effect allows it to substitute for one Fusion Material monster when performing a Fusion Summon!"
King of the Swamp, undergoing a transformation, changed its appearance into the familiar form of Elemental HERO Flame Wingman.
"I'll use King of the Swamp to substitute for Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, and fuse it with Sparkman!"
"Appear — Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman!"
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][LIGHT][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2100]
["Elemental HERO Flame Wingman" + "Elemental HERO Sparkman"]
A brilliant light effect completely out of place within the dark Supreme King's Castle bloomed across the field as Shining Flare Wingman descended onto the field.
Because Shining Flare Wingman's Fusion Materials include Flame Wingman, which is itself a Fusion Monster, following the normal Fusion process would require at least two Fusion Summons.
However, just like Supreme King Jaden had done, by using King of the Swamp as a substitute for Flame Wingman, he could skip one Fusion process and directly Fusion Summon Shining Flare Wingman.
"Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman's effect! This card gains 300 ATK for every 'Elemental HERO' monster in my Graveyard! And I have two HEROes in my Graveyard — Shadow Mist and Sparkman!"
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman ATK 2500 → 3100]
"He fused a HERO with more ATK than Blue-Eyes White Dragon right from the start!" Alexis said nervously.
"Don't worry! When it comes to dealing with Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Hoshino-nee has more experience than anyone!" Akasha said confidently.
After completing the Fusion Summon, Supreme King Jaden Set two cards from his hand and then chose to end his turn.
"I Set two cards. Then, at the moment I end my turn, the effect of the Field Spell Fusion Recycling Plant activates — I can choose one Fusion Material that was used this turn and return it to my hand."
Taking King of the Swamp, which had substituted for Flame Wingman during the Fusion Summon, out of the Graveyard, Supreme King Jaden returned the versatile Fusion Material to his hand.
[Supreme King Jaden: 1 Hand Card | 2 Set Cards]
"My turn! Draw!"
At the start of her turn, Hoshino drew a card and glanced at the strangely radiant Shining Flare Wingman on Supreme King Jaden's field.
"Jaden, I told you to give this Duel everything you've got. But if this is all you've got, you're still not going to beat me this time!"
Hoshino threw a Spell Card into her Duel Disk. A brilliant radiance appeared on her field, contrasting with the light of Flame Wingman.
"— Spell Card, Purely Bloom! I can Special Summon Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon Lily from my Deck!"
[Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon Lily ★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Dragon/Tuner/Effect][ATK 1200/DEF 800]
Guided by the power of the holy sword, the Heroic Spirit was Special Summoned onto the field.
Saber Lily held her golden sword horizontally before herself and activated her effect.
"Because of Saber Lily's effect, I add Heroic Spirit – Paracelsus von Hohenheim from my Deck to my hand, then Normal Summon it in Attack Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Paracelsus von Hohenheim ★★★★ (Level 4)][DARK][Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1600]
Under the radiance of the holy sword, combined with the glow of the Philosopher's Stone, Hohenheim's search effect activated again immediately after being successfully Summoned.
"When Heroic Spirit – Paracelsus von Hohenheim is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add 1 Spell Card with 'Heroic Spirit' in its text from my Deck to my hand! And I choose — Rank-Up-Magic – Glory of the Round Table!"
Alexis exclaimed excitedly:
"She searched a Rank-Up-Magic and added it to her hand! And there are two Level 4 monsters on the field… As expected, Senpai is going to—!"
"I overlay the Level 4 Saber Lily and Level 4 Paracelsus von Hohenheim, Overlay!"
Hoshino's fingertip swept across the Monster Zone of her Duel Disk. After stacking the two cards together in the same position, she pulled an Xyz Monster from her Extra Deck and slammed it on top of the stacked cards.
"— The unwavering faith of Makoto, the sword wind of determination that races across the battlefield! Xyz Summon! Heroic Spirit – Okita Souji: Flag of Sincerity!"
[Heroic Spirit – Okita Souji: Flag of Sincerity ☆☆☆☆ (Rank 4)][WIND][Warrior/Xyz/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2000]
[2 Level 4 monsters]
Drawing her sword, the Xyz Summoned Okita Souji struck a cool pose for her grand entrance.
Akasha nodded approvingly.
"Now that's what a boss monster's stat line should look like! A generic Rank 4 Xyz, just like my Utopia!"
"Time for battle, Okita!"
"I'm in peak condition, Master! Xyz Okita isn't going to be casually bedridden!"
The Battle Phase began.
Hoshino and Okita had fought side by side countless times. Putting aside the possibility of drawing a bad hand, their coordination was practically maxed out.
"Her boss monster only has 2500 ATK. It can't beat Shining Flare Wingman, right?" Minazuki asked.
But at the very instant the battle began, Hoshino removed an Xyz Material from beneath Okita's card and activated her effect.
"I detach Saber Lily, which is being used as an Xyz Material, and activate the effect of Heroic Spirit – Okita Souji: Flag of Sincerity!"
[Once per turn, at the start of either player's Battle Phase: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; equip 1 Equip Spell Card to this card from your hand or Deck.]
"Go! Equip Spell Card — Headband of Resolve!"
[Headband of Resolve — Equip Spell Card Effect:
Can only be equipped to an "Okita Souji" monster.
The equipped monster cannot attack directly, and its ATK becomes doubled. During the End Phase, activate this effect: Send the equipped monster to the Graveyard.]
"Even if I was nothing more than a worthless member of the Shinsengumi who couldn't remain together with everyone until the very end… but the one word I carved into my heart — 'Sincerity' — is an unwavering truth!"
With a battle cry, Okita carved the character "Sincerity" into her heart and unleashed her slash, directly doubling the destructive power of this attack.
[Okita Souji ATK 2500 → 5000]
"Double — Secret Sword! Unnamed Six-Stage Thrust!"
The concept-destroying attack exploded forward.
Six simultaneous flashes of sword light erupted, instantly shattering the radiance of Flame Wingman.
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman] destroyed.
[Supreme King & Yubel LP 8000 → 6100]
"She's so strong, Senpai!" Alexis said with undisguised admiration. "Her very first attack not only surpassed the 3100 ATK Shining Flare Wingman, but also dealt a huge amount of battle damage!"
"Trap Card activated — Hero Signal!"
Supreme King Jaden flipped up his Set Trap Card.
[Hero Signal — Trap Card Effect: When a monster you control is destroyed by battle and sent to the GY: Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Elemental HERO" monster from your hand or Deck.]
"When Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman was destroyed, I activate the Trap's effect! Come forth, Elemental HERO Stratos!"
[Elemental HERO Stratos ★★★★ (Level 4)][WIND][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1800/DEF 300]
"And when Stratos is Special Summoned, I can add 1 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
Stratos, summoned by Hero Signal, was placed in Defense Position while Supreme King Jaden searched his Deck for another HERO monster.
Yubel, waiting for the next turn, said:
"Okita equipped with the Headband of Resolve is indeed powerful. But once the turn ends, that absurdly powerful equipment will cause her to be sent to the Graveyard. Hoshino Chiyuki will then be completely defenseless."
"Don't just arbitrarily declare that I'm 'completely defenseless'!"
Hoshino immediately threw a Quick-Play Spell Card onto the field.
Xyz radiance once again appeared, with one monster being overlaid on top of another.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell I searched earlier — Rank-Up-Magic – Glory of the Round Table!"
[Rank-Up-Magic – Glory of the Round Table — Quick-Play Spell Effect:
Target 1 "Heroic Spirit" Xyz Monster you control. Special Summon from your Extra Deck, by overlaying it on that target, 1 "Heroic Spirit" Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher than it, treating it as an Xyz Summon, and attach this card to it as an Xyz Material.]
"I overlay the Rank 5 Xyz Monster — Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga: Tenka Fubu — on top of Okita!"
Directly overlaying herself onto Okita, the Xyz Summoned Nobunaga appeared amid a sky full of flames, laughing boldly.