Carlos family manor…
While calculating the spring seed allocations, Alice suddenly heard a sound from the Millennium Ring at her ear.
Elra's mature voice promptly echoed in Alice's mind.
"Alice, that card you gave your sister… it's been used."
Calmly flipping through the accounts in her hand, Alice said, "It doesn't really count as a card I gave Aisha. I only offered her a little help. Being able to summon that card was entirely Aisha's own power."
"Heh-heh, if you put it that way… you're not wrong."
There was a particular meaning hidden in Elra's laughter; then, in a softer tone, she muttered:
"What a family of monsters…"
Even as the refined girl's face stayed composed, the link she sensed through the card with her sister soothed her. Though a world apart, Alice still felt a small, healing reprieve amid the busy life of a fief lord.
"Aisha… only you. I hope you can live exactly the way you wish."
…
"By Tributing the [Stardust Spark Dragon] on your field, I Special Summon—Kurikara Divincarnate!"
[Kurikara Divincarnate] Level 1│FIRE│Fairy│1500 ATK / 1500 DEF
Barefoot upon the flames, hovering in the sky of Speed World, the pink-haired loli's adorable face contrasted sharply with the massive crimson black-iron greatsword borne upon her small back.
"Stardust has a pretty good flavor~"
Licking her lips with a teasing air, the self-aware Kurikara Divincarnate looked satisfied.
"You… you actually ate my [Stardust Spark Dragon]! What is going on!?"
Watching her own [Stardust Spark Dragon] get devoured by that Eastern fire dragon, Krista's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
"Surprised, little girl?" Kurikara's mouth curled into a wicked smile. "Weren't you the one who tempted me first?"
"Tempted…"
What kind of scandalous line was that… is that something a Duel Monster spirit is allowed to say?
With her Stardust swallowed, Krista found herself more bewildered than ever.
Miles said, "Krista, do you know why I insisted on making the Stardusts battle, even though it meant mine would be destroyed? I told you: I'm not some fool who only rushes forward."
"Insisted on making them battle… Don't tell me—"
"That was to make you activate [Stardust Spark Dragon]'s effect. And this is the effect of [Kurikara Divincarnate]!"
[This card cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned (from your hand) by Tributing all face-up monsters on the field that activated their effects this turn (in either player's Monster Zone).]
"Kurikara Divincarnate can Special Summon itself by Tributing every monster that activated its effect this turn!"
The fire dragon behind the pink-haired girl can only devour monsters that activated their effects that turn.
In order not to trade with [Stardust Dragon] in battle, Krista had chosen to activate Spark Dragon's once-per-turn protection.
That very activation became the opening Kurikara needed to descend and devour Stardust.
Aisha chirped, "So this card is that strong!"
Though Level 1, this pink-haired loli with a crimson iron greatsword—and an Eastern fire dragon for a familiar—was on a completely different level from other Level 1 monsters.
Soloing [Stardust Spark Dragon]? You could put it that way.
Not only did she devour the opponent's ace, but she also grew stronger from it.
[The ATK of this card becomes the number of monsters Tributed to Special Summon this card × 1500.]
The loli drew her sword.
Barefoot in the flames, Kurikara's slender fingers wrapped around the hilt of the greatsword. With strength that defied logic, she hefted the black-iron blade.
Fire coiled along the blade—together with the stardust just consumed.
[Kurikara Divincarnate, ATK: 1500 → 3000]
Not only did she devour your [Stardust Spark Dragon], she used it to push her Attack beyond your Stardust's.
A mere Level 1 monster now stood shoulder to shoulder with Blue-Eyes White Dragon's power.
"What kind of Level 1 monster is that?" Over on XYZ Academy's side, Leon muttered the perfect verdict: "That Level was filled in at random, right?"
Krista's small mercy was that Miles had already entered his Battle Phase this turn to bait out Spark Dragon's effect.
Otherwise, the pink-haired girl floating over Speed World could have simply brought her empowered greatsword down and ended the duel at once.
Of course, that was only a hypothetical.
In reality, Miles could no longer battle this turn. The duel wasn't over—Krista still had a chance to strike back.
Krista glanced at the face-down she had Set beside her D-Wheel at the end of the previous turn.
On this battlefield called Speed World, no matter how many times positions change, only the one who keeps racing to the end wins.
"I Set one card. Turn end."
Miles Set his last card; together with the other unknown face-down by his D-Wheel, he now had two cards lurking in his back row.
"Then, during your End Phase, I—"
Krista began to time her activation—then, abruptly, her outstretched hand seized up as Kurikara's blade traced a fiery arc.
Miles acted first.
"During the End Phase—[Kurikara Divincarnate]'s final effect activates!"
[During your End Phase: You can target 1 monster in your opponent's Graveyard; Special Summon it to your field.]
A Level 1 monster with three effects… and each more outrageous than the last.
The black-iron sword wreathed in stardust flame pointed toward Krista's Graveyard.
The next instant, the light of the devoured Stardust re-gathered—shining now on Miles's field.
"I choose to Special Summon from your Graveyard—Stardust Spark Dragon!"
The flash that had once torn through the sea of stars was reborn—only this time, it was reborn under Miles's command.
[Stardust Spark Dragon, ATK: 2500]
Not only did he devour your monster and grow stronger from it… he even Special Summoned your ace to his own field.
Kurikara Divincarnate—the embodiment of adorable malice—had single-handedly flipped the Turbo Duel on its head.
From the stands, Lost gaped. "No way! Krista's ace, Stardust Spark Dragon, got Special Summoned by Aisha Carlos! This is really bad!"
"But, Lost," Aoyao whispered, crouching by the railing and peeking through the bars, "Krista… seems to be smiling."
"Smiling? She is! How can she smile at a time like this?"
"Heh-heh-heh… hahahahaha!"
She really was laughing.
Even with the duel state at its worst and her ace stolen, Krista laughed.
"This is fascinating, Carlos. I didn't expect a Turbo Duel where Stardusts cross fates to be even more spectacular than I imagined!"
"I can't deny it, Krista," Miles agreed. "This is the most exhilarating Turbo Duel I've ever had!"
Granted… that's partly because the first one was miserable.
"Does your D-Wheel still have enough left, Aisha Carlos?"
"That's what I should be asking you."
"Then let's keep accelerating… push this Turbo Duel to the limit! With this card, we'll carry on this fated battle!"
Flipping her last face-down, Krista felt her heart resonate with the Millennium Scale lying beneath Synchron Academy.
The once-wavering balance grew steady—as calm as a silent lake—mirroring her state of mind.
"That feeling… a Millennium Item?"
The Millennium Puzzle at Miles's chest glowed in response.
A familiarity beyond doubt—the convergence of fate. It was the pull that always draws Millennium Item bearers together.
He hadn't expected it, but near the duel's endgame, Krista had finally revealed herself as a bearer.
"The Seven Millennium Items, huh."
Miles had already seen six of the seven. Which meant the one Krista carried had to be the last unseen relic—the Millennium Scale.
"With this card, we'll carry on this fated battle!—I activate my Set Trap, [The Deep Grave]!"
During Miles's End Phase, the Trap Krista flipped began to reshape starlight on her field as well.
[Target 1 monster in either player's Graveyard; during your next Standby Phase, Special Summon that target to your field.]
"The monster I'll choose needs no explanation!"
With the Trap resolved, the turn passed to Krista.
"My turn—draw!"
[Krista SPC: 4 → 5]
[Aisha SPC: 4 → 5]
As the Standby Phase began, both D-Wheels surged even faster.
And during Krista's Standby Phase, the monster selected by [The Deep Grave] would be Special Summoned to her field.
In this destiny-laden battle of stardust and memory—just as the endgame approached—came a twist that left everyone speechless.
Krista roared as she raced on. "Reforge the shining road on my field! Special Summon—Stardust Dragon!"
[Stardust Dragon, ATK: 2500]
Stardust Dragon vs. Stardust Dragon once more… only now, at the very last moment, their signature dragons had switched sides!
...
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