Mechaba, galloping through the skies, cast down a curtain of light, dividing the battlefield in half between chariot and war god.
"Elemental plane… a Fusion Summon of a LIGHT Invoked monster?" Quaedes said. "At the very end, you've truly shown me something rather interesting, Miles."
Her tone returned to calmness, though concealed within it was fearless confidence.
With 2500 Attack, [Invoked Mechaba] could not threaten the 6000 Attack [CXyz Barian Hope].
"It's not over yet. This turn's bonded assault continues—with this card! — Spell Card [Xyz Change Tactics], activate!"
[If your opponent controls an Xyz Monster: Target 1 Xyz Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Defense Position.]
Accompanied by the resonant call between Xyz Monsters, the light of revival reached deep into Miles and Aisha's Graveyard, then shone once more upon the field.
"I Special Summon it in Defense Position—toward the boundless future that races endlessly ahead! [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
[Number F0: Utopic Future, DEF: 0]
Wielding twin blades of future and hope, the Rank 0 king who could seize control of an opponent's monster during the Battle Phase descended once more.
"You revived Utopic Future at a time like this? Too bad. It can't attack this turn!"
Miles' crucial revival drew sighs of regret from his companions.
If he used the effect of [Number F0: Utopic Future] to attack [CXyz Barian Hope], he could take control of it during the Battle Phase and leave Emperor Quaedes wide open.
Unfortunately, a monster revived by [Xyz Change Tactics] was summoned in Defense Position and could not declare an attack this turn.
"So we have to wait until next turn to attack?" Nova said.
"No. The revived Utopic Future won't survive a turn," Irena replied.
If they waited until next turn to attack, Quaedes—who also knew [Number F0: Utopic Future]'s effect—would undoubtedly inherit Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon from the Graveyard again and activate its effect.
At that point, with all face-up card effects negated, even though [Number F0: Utopic Future] could not be destroyed by battle nor would Miles take battle damage from battles involving it, it would still be effortlessly defeated by [CXyz Barian Hope].
"More importantly, there's no extra time left," Alice added.
With both sides reduced to 1 Life Point and 100 Life Points, it was like a final duel fought at the edge of a cliff.
Every additional turn increased the unknown danger exponentially.
Elra said, "So you saw it too, Alice. If we want to defeat the Empire's strongest Emperor, this turn is our last chance."
"Then we settle it this turn!" Miles declared.
A mutual understanding? No. It was simply that in a situation like this, if Alice and Elra could see it, there was no way Miles couldn't foresee it as well.
This turn was the perfect moment to gamble everything and decide the victor.
"Create a victorious future!"
Miles roared as overlapping power of the future erupted once more, calling forth a brand-new form in the duel.
"This is the blade that carves open the future! I overlay on [Number F0: Utopic Future] to Xyz Summon!"
An evolved form born from Number 0: Utopic Future.
"With twin blades to carve the path, soar toward the endlessly expanding future! Number F0: Utopic Future Slash!"
[Number F0: Utopic Future Slash] │Warrior│Xyz│0 ATK
[You can also Xyz Summon this card by overlaying it on a "Utopia" monster or "Number F0: Utopic Future" you control.]
Using the Defense Position Utopic Future as a stepping stone, he overlaid to Summon the Future Slash form that could attack.
Like the original Utopic Future, Future Slash likewise had no Rank, no Attack, and no Defense.
The difference lay in their effects.
[This card gains 500 Attack for each "Number" Xyz Monster in both players' Graveyards.]
In place of its control-seizing effect, it now gained Attack based on the total number of "Number" Xyz Monsters in the Graveyards.
"Based on the total of 8 'Number' Xyz Monsters in both Graveyards, [Number F0: Utopic Future Slash] gains 4000 Attack!"
[Number F0: Utopic Future Slash, ATK: 0 → 4000]
From 0 to 4000 Attack in an instant—amid a duel dominated by "Number" cards, this overlaid Future Slash in the endgame was undeniably powerful.
Quaedes said, "Still not enough! Even at 4000 Attack, [Number F0: Utopic Future Slash] cannot compare to the 6000 Attack of [CXyz Barian Hope]."
"But what I need right now isn't Attack itself."
"What did you say?"
"The condition I need is simply that [Number F0: Utopic Future Slash] is a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck!"
At this moment, the Fusion Spell in Miles' hand was already prepared.
"At the moment of final battle, let all our bonds fuse into one! Spell Card [Fusion], activate!"
The most ordinary Spell Card, Fusion—yet capable of creating the most astonishing miracles.
Just like now, as the spiraling Fusion effect simultaneously enveloped the two monsters on Miles' field: [Invoked Mechaba] and [Number F0: Utopic Future Slash].
Irena gasped, "You can even perform a Fusion like that?!"
Fusing an Invoked monster with a Utopia—Miles' ultimate trump card of this decisive turn.
"This is the final Fusion! Together now, Aisha, Alester!"
Alester said, "I'll leave it to you! Unleash this power without restraint, Miles!"
Aisha: "┌(.Д.)┐ W-wait, why do I have to team up with that perverted stalker?!"
It was already too late to refuse.
"I fuse [Invoked Mechaba] and [Number F0: Utopic Future Slash] on my field!"
Two entirely different planar powers transformed into twin beams of light, converging within the spiraling effect to give birth to a colossal being that pierced the heavens.
"DARK," "EARTH," "WATER," "FIRE," "WIND," "LIGHT"—in this instant, behind Miles, every elemental Attribute except "DIVINE" shone brilliantly through this Fusion Summon.
"The gates of the all-elemental plane, open to their ultimate extent! Gaze down upon the planet from between the heavens! Fusion Summon—[Invoked Elysium]!"
[Invoked Elysium] Level 10│LIGHT│Fairy│3200 ATK
["Invoked" monster + 1 monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck]
[While this card is in the Monster Zone, it is also treated as DARK, EARTH, WATER, FIRE, and WIND.]
Its massive, elongated body physically shattered through the palace ceiling.
As though connecting heaven and earth, extending into the cosmos itself—Elysium, Alester's strongest Invoked monster, was now fully Fusion Summoned by Miles.
The Fusion requirements of [Invoked Elysium] demand not only an "Invoked" monster, but also a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck.
Although [Number F0: Utopic Future] revived from the Graveyard was originally an Xyz Monster, because it was revived from the Graveyard, it did not fulfill the condition of being Special Summoned from the Extra Deck.
Only by overlaying the original [Number F0: Utopic Future] into [Number F0: Utopic Future Slash] could he satisfy the Fusion condition of this ultimate Invoked monster.
"This is the Fusion Summon that will decide it all—take this, Quaedes!"
Commanding the Fusion Monster whose size rivaled the cosmos, Miles immediately activated the effect of Invoked Elysium.
"The ultimate elemental plane detonation! [Invoked Elysium]'s effect, activate!"
[Once per turn: You can target 1 "Invoked" monster in your field or Graveyard; banish it, and if you do, banish all monsters your opponent controls with the same Attribute as that monster. This effect can also be activated during your opponent's turn.]
A Quick Effect banish based on Attribute as the determining factor. To activate [Invoked Elysium]'s effect, Miles selected the monster to banish as cost.
"I banish the LIGHT Attribute [Invoked Mechaba] from my Graveyard—and banish all LIGHT monsters on your field as well! — 'Light Detonation'!"
All LIGHT Attributes on Quaedes's field were erased, and the target was obvious.
—The LIGHT Attribute [CXyz Barian Hope].
From the vast body of Elysium descended a judgmental beam of light from the cosmos, swallowing Emperor Quaedes's strongest Xyz Monster into the annihilating elemental plane of light.
[CXyz Barian Hope] Banished
"It worked!" The people of Livorden outside the arena could not help but cheer loudly, caring neither that they stood in the Varian Empire's territory nor that their opponent was the Emperor herself.
The ultimate clash between the strongest Xyz and Fusion monsters ended with [Invoked Elysium] erasing all light.
Emperor Quaedes was successfully forced into an empty field.
"I'll end this with this strike!"
Miles thrust his arm toward the sky, declaring entry into the Battle Phase of the final turn.
"[Invoked Elysium] attacks directly! Omni-Element Spiral Bombardment!"
From the cosmos overhead, six-colored elemental lights spiraled together, blasting downward like an orbital cannon.
"I activate my Set card!"
Facing the lethal direct attack descending from the heavens, Quaedes flipped her long-set Trap Card, tearing open a terrifying dimensional rift.
"—Trap Card [Dimensional Prison]!"
[When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target that attacking monster; banish that target.]
[Invoked Elysium] did not possess Utopia Ray Victory's Spell/Trap sealing effect during battle.
The long-awaited [Dimensional Prison] tore open a massive spatial crack in outer space itself, swallowing the enormous body whole.
[Invoked Elysium] Banished
Silence fell once more. In this decisive turn, the strongest representatives of Xyz and Fusion had both left the field in the form of banishment—an outcome no one could have imagined.
"In the end, it is I who secured the crucial step, Miles!"
Seizing the opening created by the empty field, Quaedes finally flipped the last card at her feet.
"—Trap Card activate! [Chaos Over-Hundred Resurrection]!"¹
[If neither player controls a monster: Special Summon 1 "Chaos Number 10X" Xyz Monster (X is 1–7) from your Graveyard or Banished Zone in Attack Position. Gain Life Points equal to that monster's Attack.]
A revival Trap dedicated to Over-Hundred "Number" Xyz Monsters. The moment both sides' ace monsters were banished and the field emptied, Quaedes revived the greatest Number from her Graveyard.
"The greatest Number—Chaos Number 107! Now, become the power that transcends light and reverses time! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!"
[Number C107: Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon, ATK: 4500]
[Quaedes, LP: 1 → 4501]
As the golden galactic dragon revived in radiant brilliance, Quaedes's Life Points soared far beyond the brink of defeat.
"The victory of this duel still belongs to me, Miles!"
What had seemed like a final clash with nothing left now saw Quaedes standing with a 4500 Attack Xyz Monster and Life Points even exceeding their starting total.
"You truly are incredible, Emperor Quaedes."
Just as Miles had first remarked, Emperor Quaedes's strength was like a bottomless ocean—its depths impossible to fathom.
"No. Haven't we already seen it? The bottomless end!"
The final Set card. The greatest Number. The ultimate Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon.
Without a doubt, this was the limit of Emperor Quaedes's power.
Having fought to this very moment, Miles needed only one final step at the edge of the abyss.
"The greatest Number 107—I'll break through it head-on with Number 0! — Continuous Trap activate, [Call of the Haunted]!"
The classic revival Trap shone with light upon Miles's field.
At the final moment of this duel against the Emperor of the Varian Empire—the greatest Chaos Number 107 versus the smallest Future Number 0!
"Gather all the power of the Numbers and unleash the blade that changes the future! Special Summon—[Number F0: Utopic Future Slash]!"
…
¹ Couldn't find such a card hmmm
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