ALL NOVEL Chapter 232: Chapter 232
[Ishizu LP: 3800 → 2800]
"This is the end. With no cards left to draw next turn, you'll lose by the rules!" Ishizu declared confidently, her voice resonating with finality. The activation of Exchange of the Spirit had set the stage for the victory she had foreseen.
"Exchange of the Spirit, huh? So that's how this card works…"
Hoshino glanced at her thick deck, now entirely sent to the Graveyard. She couldn't help but marvel. "A strategy that forces a victory by bypassing Life Points… no wonder you called it unbeatable."
"Are you ready to surrender, Hoshino?"
Hoshino shrugged with mock helplessness. "The Millennium Necklace letting you see the future… Honestly, that feels so unfair. It's even more OP than the Millennium Eye."
"This is the power granted to the bearers of the Millennium Items, along with the heavy fates they carry. Just as some duelists possess great luck(Jonouchi) or exceptional intellect(Kaiba), I don't see this ability as cheating or unfair," Ishizu replied, addressing Hoshino's persistent complaints with calm poise.
"Well then, let me ask you something." Hoshino's tone shifted from casual to serious, her eyes locking onto Ishizu's with determination.
"You said this is the end. But, Ishizu, you've never actually seen a future where you claim victory, have you?"
Ishizu faltered, her confident demeanor cracking ever so slightly. "Hoshino, do you truly believe you still have a chance to win in this situation?"
"I knew it. If you're not answering directly, then your predictions only extend this far!"
Hoshino's eyes glinted with resolve as she gazed at the neatly stacked cards in her Graveyard. "From here on out, I'll carve out my own future!"
Ishizu stepped back involuntarily, shaken by the sheer determination radiating from Hoshino. For the first time, Ishizu realized her foresight, empowered by the Millennium Necklace, had reached its limits.
"Summoning the monster Mudora in Attack Mode!" Ishizu declared, a note of urgency creeping into her voice.
[Mudora★★★★ (Level 4)][EARTH][Fairy/Effect][ATK 1500/DEF 1800]
"That monster again?" Hoshino commented, recognizing the card.
"This Mudora is entirely different!" Ishizu's tone grew resolute as a massive surge of energy flowed from her Graveyard into the monster.
"Because I sent my entire Deck to the Graveyard, there are now 10 Fairy-Type monsters in it! Due to its effect, Mudora's ATK increases by 2000!"
[Mudora ATK: 1500 → 3500]
"A Level 4 monster with enough ATK to crush Blue-Eyes White Dragon? That's pretty insane," Hoshino admitted, eyes widening slightly.
"But this just proves you're scared, Ishizu! The strategy of Exchange of the Spirit isn't about relying on monsters for victory. Yet here you are, relying on brute force because you're afraid exploiting the rules alone won't defeat me."
"Mudora, attack directly!"
"Not happening! I activate the Counter Trap card Ryuudou Temple's Gate!"
[Ryuudou Temple's Gate Counter Trap Effect: If an opponent's monster declares a direct attack: Special Summon 1 [Heroic Spirit - Sasaki Kojirou] from your hand or Deck in Attack Position.]
"Special Summon Sasaki Kojirou!"
[Heroic Spirit – Sasaki Kojirou (★ Level 1)][DARK][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 500]
"When this card battles, its effect activates at the start of the Damage Step. Its ATK triples until the end of the Damage Step. Battle, Sasaki!"
"No matter how much it triples, it still won't surpass my Mudora's ATK!" Ishizu countered sternly.
"Oh? You really can't see even that much? Ishizu, you're far too reliant on the Necklace's power."
"Secret Sword!"
Kojirou raised his long blade to eye level, his voice calm as three strikes flashed simultaneously.
"—Tsubame Gaeshi!"
Three slashes struck Mudora at once, destroying the monster as it charged toward Hoshino.
"How… How is this possible?" Ishizu gasped, stunned as her Mudora, boasting an ATK of 3500, was easily defeated.
"Lady, did you forget about me?" Waver flicked ash from his cigarette, smirking. The traces of mana at his fingertips hadn't yet dissipated.
[Sasaki Kojirou ATK: 1000 → 1300 → 3900]
[Mudora] destroyed
[Ishizu LP: 2800 → 2400]
The sound of Kojirou's long blade breaking echoed as his ATK dropped to zero due to his own effect.
"So, do you still want to keep attacking? You've got a Morphing Jar on the field, don't you?" Hoshino taunted.
"No, this attack ends here."
Kojirou's three consecutive slashes unexpectedly calmed Ishizu. "If the Necklace guided me to this point, acting recklessly would dishonor the power of the Millennium Necklace."
"Using the effect of Makyura, I activate the Trap Card [Supernatural Regeneration] from my hand!"
[Supernatural Regeneration Trap Card Effect: Activate only during the End Phase. Gain 1000 Life Points for each Psychic-Type monster sent to the Graveyard this turn.]
"There are five Psychic monsters in my Graveyard, so I restore 5000 LP."
[Ishizu LP: 2400 → 7400]
"You've really packed your deck with some strange cards," Hoshino quipped. "The more you do this, the more you reveal your fear. Without the Millennium Necklace guiding you, you've completely lost your confidence."
"I'll end my turn here, Hoshino. Show me how you'll break through this situation, having no cards in your Deck." Ignoring Hoshino's remark, Ishizu took a deep breath, regained her composure, and gestured for Hoshino to proceed.
"So, it's my turn now? Alright, I draw…"
Hoshino shook her head and smiled. "Nope, no cards left to draw."
Suddenly, the Graveyard on Hoshino's Duel Disk, containing her entire deck, began to emit a gentle light.
"Let this card take me beyond the future you predicted, Ishizu!" Raising her Duel Disk, the corners of Hoshino's cherry-pink lips curved into a confident smile.
('Total of 175 Saint Quartz, thank you for your purchase~ You've received three Heroic Spirit cards along with their accompanying Spell and Trap cards. Please check your inventory!')
('Huh? Wait a minute, Da Vinci-chan, this card?')
('Oh, that one? Just consider it a lucky charm from the kind and generous Da Vinci-chan. You'll definitely need it someday!')
"The kind and generous Da Vinci-chan's lucky charm, huh?" Feeling the light emanating from her Graveyard, Hoshino smiled knowingly. "This card really does feel incredibly kind."
"—I activate the Spell Card in my Graveyard, [Fate/Grand Order Memories I]!"
[Fate/Grand Order Memories I - Spell Card Effect: ② You can activate this card from your Graveyard by targeting yourself. Instead of your Draw Phase this turn, add this card to your hand.]
Revealing the Spell Card she had drawn from the Graveyard, Hoshino boasted, "With this, I don't need to draw from my deck anymore!"
Ishizu stared in disbelief at the radiant, miraculous light emanating from the card. "A card that disrupts the Draw Phase… she actually has one…"
"The tide has completely turned, Ishizu! Do you understand what sending my entire deck to the Graveyard means?"
"Impossible! there's no way you can defeat me, especially with this much LP remaining!"
Hoshino raised her Duel Disk high. "Feel it! This is a future you never foresaw! I activate the special effect of the Spell Card Divine Three-Legged Race from the Graveyard!"
[Divine Three-Legged Race - Spell Card Effect: ② During your Standby Phase, you can banish this card and 4 other cards from your GY; return the Fusion Materials specified for 1 [Heroic Spirit] Fusion Monster from among the banished [Heroic Spirit] monsters to the GY, and Fusion Summon that monster.]
"I banish this card along with four other Heroic Spirit monsters from my Graveyard. Then, from the banished monsters, I return Okita, Nobunaga, and Spartacus to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon!"
Okita and Nobunaga, who had been waiting in the banished zone, descended back onto the battlefield.
Nobunaga: "Who was it that bad-mouthed me to Master and got me benched?!"
Okita: "A ace is one that can save the day at a critical moment and secure final victory!"
Spartacus: "This is… the final battle of rebellion!"
"Fusion!!"
"Fusion Summon! [Heroic Spirit – Majin-Okita Sōji (Alter)]!"
A swirling black vortex enveloped the field, coalescing into a single point of energy before Hoshino.
Screeeech—!
Then, in an instant, a blade of endless light severed the black spiral.
[Heroic Spirit – Majin-Okita Sōji Alter ★★★★★★★★★★ (10 Stars)][DARK][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
Drawing her massive sword, Rengoku, the Okitan spoke coldly. "With the power to sever even the void itself, I will end this battle!"
"According to Okitan's effect, her ATK increases by 1000 for each Heroic Spirit monster banished! I have five Heroic Spirit monsters in my banished zone!" (Leonidas and four others due to the effects of Divine Three-Legged Race.)
[Okita Alter ATK: 3000 → 8000]
"And thanks to the effect of Waver on the field, her ATK increases by another 300."
[Okita Alter ATK: 8000 → 8300]
Although the 300-point boost seemed minor, it was enough to deliver the decisive blow to Ishizu.
[Morphing Jar ATK: 700]
[Ishizu LP: 7400]
"Impossible… something like this…" Staring at the overwhelming attack power of Okita Alter, which perfectly surpassed her remaining LP, Ishizu couldn't hide her panic. "This is an impossible future… The Millennium Necklace never foresaw this…"
"It's because the future is full of countless variables and possibilities that it's so fascinating to anticipate!"
Reaching toward the sky, Hoshino issued her final command to Okita Alter. "End this duel, Okitan!"
"Special Move—!"
Black radiance surged forth from the Rengoku sword. The piercing light cut through Morphing Jar on the field and struck Ishizu's Millennium Necklace, severing the incomprehensible future it symbolized.
"—Majin BEAM!!!!"
"The future that cannot be predicted… is the true future!"
[Ishizu Ishtar LP: 7400 → 0]
(*****)
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