"My turn. I draw! I activate the Spell Card Graceful Charity!"
Using the same card Hoshino had played last turn, Yugi drew three cards with Graceful Charity, then sent two cards from his hand to the Graveyard.
"Next, I activate the effect of the monster Apprentice Illusion Magician from my hand—by discarding one card, she can be Special Summoned!"
He discarded a card, and a cute, dark-skinned magical girl bounced onto the field.
[Apprentice Illusion Magician ★★★★★★ (Level 6)] [DARK] [Spellcaster/Effect] [ATK 2000 / DEF 1700][You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) by discarding 1 card.]
"A dark-skinned version of Dark Magician Girl—how cute!" Even in the middle of a duel, Hoshino couldn't help but be drawn in.
However, Apprentice Illusion Magician puffed out her cheeks at Hoshino's comment, clearly displeased at being compared to Dark Magician Girl.
"Even if she looks similar, Apprentice Illusion Magician has her own charm." Understanding the spirit's feelings, Yugi gently explained.
"—Now I activate Apprentice Illusion Magician's effect: When she is Special Summoned, I can add one Dark Magician from my Deck to my hand."
After searching out his ace monster, Dark Magician, Yugi slotted an Equip Spell Card into his Duel Disk.
"I activate the Equip Spell Premature Burial! By paying 800 Life Points, I Special Summon Valkyrion the Magna Warrior from my Graveyard in Attack Position!"
[Yugi LP: 4000 → 3200]
[Valkyrion the Magna Warrior ATK: 3500]
"Lastly, I Tribute Valkyrion to Special Summon the three Magnet Warriors I just sent to the Graveyard!"
[Alpha the Magnet Warrior ATK: 1400]
[Beta the Magnet Warrior ATK: 1700]
[Gamma the Magnet Warrior ATK: 1800]
Using Graceful Charity and Apprentice Illusion Magician, Yugi had discarded all three Magnet Warriors from his hand. Then, with Valkyrion's effect, he repopulated his field in an instant. Worst of all, he still had four cards left in his hand.
[Slifer the Sky Dragon ATK: 4000]
Mokuba said nervously, "All of Hoshino's monsters have practically zero defense… If the Magnet Warriors break through and Slifer attacks directly, wouldn't that be game over?"
Kaiba, silently watching, crossed his arms and stared at Slifer the Sky Dragon circling above Yugi's field.
"Battle! Alpha the Magnet Warrior, attack Ideal King of Knight – Lily!"
Swinging its metallic blade, the Magnet Warrior charged toward Lily, who had only 100 DEF.
"Quick-Play Spell! I activate Heroic Spirit Bond!"
[Heroic Spirit Bond – Quick-Play Spell: Discard 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster from your hand; shuffle your Deck and draw 1 card. Reveal it to your opponent. If it's a "Heroic Spirit" monster, Special Summon it.]
"I discard Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette, which I added last turn via Lily's effect, then draw one card! Also, thanks to Marie's effect, I can search for another 'Heroic Spirit' monster!"
If the card Hoshino drew was a monster, she'd block another attack—but her hopes rested on something more than just defense.
"The bond with my deck means it will respond to my hopes at a crucial moment! Draw—Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight!"
Proudly showing the drawn Mash to Yugi (My wife, isn't she cute?), Hoshino laid the card sideways onto her Duel Disk.
"Thanks to Heroic Spirit Bond, I Special Summon Mash in Defense Position! She'll take the hit instead of Lily!"
[Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight DEF: 2000 → 0]
Though her DEF was reduced to 0 by Slifer's Thunder Force, the indomitable shield in Mash's hands—symbolizing unwavering will—still deflected the divine attack.
"When a monster attacks, it must target Mash in Defense Position—and she can't be destroyed in battle!"
"Exalted Impervious Wall of Snowflakes!!" Sparks flew from the clash of metal as Mash blocked Alpha's attack.
"You actually drew Mash at that moment...?" Yugi furrowed his brow. The moment she appeared, he knew—it was impossible to defeat Hoshino this turn.
Still, if he couldn't win, he would push his advantage.
"Continue attacking, Magnet Warriors! When Mash is attacked, her battle position changes to Attack Position!"
"—Don't retreat, Mash! Once per turn, she can change her battle position again!"
[Once per turn, during the opponent's Battle Phase: Target 1 face-up Attack Position monster you control; change its battle position.]
"Senpai, leave this to me! Shield of Rousing Resolution!"
Slamming her shield into the ground with full strength, Mash braced again, blocking the second Magnet Warrior's assault.
Even after two failed attacks, Yugi didn't stop. He pointed to the last Magnet Warrior:
"This is the limit of Mash's defense! Gamma, finish her!"
A sword slash flashed across the field in a brilliant arc—
—but it didn't come from the Magnet Warrior.
The glowing slash, blue like a still lake, wasn't Gamma's.
"Since Master is protected by Mash—I'll protect Mash!"
"Father?!" Mash looked up at the familiar figure before her.
Dressed in white knight's armor and a blue cape—he was the strongest Knight of the Round Table—Lancelot.
With one clean strike, he cut Gamma in two. Blue mana poured from the wound, the cost of pushing his invincible light beyond its limits.
"—To the very end, beyond the limit. O distant King, behold this light! Restraint Lifted – Arondight Overload!!"
Hoshino played Lancelot's card sideways into her Duel Disk, answering the call of King Arthur to protect his daughter. In that moment, Lancelot stood at the very peak of his knighthood.
"I activate the effect of Heroic Spirit – Knight of the Round Table Lancelot, which I added to my hand via Sword of Promised Victory! Return one Level 4 or higher 'Heroic Spirit' monster on my field to my hand, and Special Summon Lancelot from my hand!"
[Heroic Spirit – Knight of the Round Table Lancelot ★★★★★★★ (Level 7)] [WATER] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 2100 / DEF 2000 → 0]
"Father!" This time with certainty, Mash cried out joyfully. "Father, you're so cool!"
...
[Heroic Spirit – Lancelot is destroyed]
(*****)
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