"Now, Yugi, you've lost your Slifer suppression. Ideal King of Knights Lily, attack Apprentice Illusion Magician!"
[Apprentice Illusion Magician ATK 1000]
[Ideal King of Knights Lily ATK 1200]
Pulling out the holy sword that had been embedded in the ground for defense, Ideal King of Knights Lily—now finally able to counterattack—gathered radiant magical energy onto her blade.
"Holy sword that symbolizes glory and victory, guide the path ahead in brilliance! Excalibur—!"
The shining impact of the holy sword surged toward the dark-skinned girl. Locked in as the attack target, Apprentice Illusion Magician cast a nervous, pleading glance toward the Dark Magician beside her.
"Quick-Play Spell Card activation—Flash Fusion! I fuse Apprentice Illusion Magician, who is being targeted, with Dark Magician on the field!"
The unexpected fusion pulled even the ace monster, Dark Magician, into the process.
[So even ace monsters like Dark Magician can't escape being used as fusion materials…]
"Weren't you sleeping? Why are you suddenly showing up again?"
Hoshino Alter giggled, trying to act cute.
[How could I possibly leave my partner alone during such a crucial duel? Wait a sec—I'll play a BGM for you! 'Wrath of the Gods'~]
While Hoshino's inner self made that quip, the fusion between Dark Magician and Apprentice Illusion Magician completed on Yugi's field.
"—Fusion Summon! The Dark Magicians!"
[The Dark Magicians ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2800 → 1400 / DEF 2300 → 1150]The pair stood side by side, crossing their staves to release dark energy, successfully neutralizing Ideal King of Knights Lily's holy light.
Seeing the newly fused monster, Akasha couldn't help but comment:
"Even Yugi-nii's using the ol' 'stand next to each other = fusion' trick, huh…"
Just as Hoshino was about to say the same, she noticed something odd.
"Wait a minute... wasn't it Apprentice Illusion Magician before? Why is it suddenly Dark Magician Girl?"
The cheerful, cute Dark Magician Girl now standing beside Dark Magician had a noticeably lighter skin tone than the earlier Apprentice Illusion Magician.
[This feels... complicated. Like a really awkward love triangle.]
Yugi explained, "The fusion condition for The Dark Magicians is simple—you just need either Dark Magician or Dark Magician Girl, plus any Spellcaster-type monster."
[Ah, I see. That's super convenient~]
"And now The Dark Magicians' ATK surpasses that of Ideal King of Knights Lily! Time for a counterattack—Double Dark Magic!"
The pair swung their staves in unison, unleashing dark energy to overwhelm Lily's shining blade.
"I didn't fight so hard to take down Slifer just to be suppressed again, Yugi! Quick-Play Spell Card activation—Hero Creation!"
[Hero Creation Quick-Play Spell Effect: Target 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster you control; it gains 1000 ATK/DEF until the end of the turn. Any battle damage it deals is doubled.]
As Hero Creation activated, the translucent spirit of Merlin appeared beside Ideal King of Knights Lily, gently placing his hands over hers as she gripped her sword.
Merlin: "O ideal king, is this the form you desire? If so, I will—as always—support you with everything I have~"
Ideal King of Knights Lily smiled warmly as his magic softly flowed into her blade.
"I'm so glad you're here, Merlin!"
Merlin: "You've been buffed. Go get 'em~"
[Ideal King of Knights Lily ATK 1200 → 1700]
"Ooooooh! Merlin, lend me your strength! EXCALIBUR—!!"
Empowered by Hero Creation, the radiant golden energy—symbolizing the roar of the Red Dragon of Britain—rushed forth, overpowering the combined Double Dark Magic from The Dark Magicians.
"The Dark Magicians' effect activates! Once per turn, when a Spell or Trap Card is activated, I draw 1 card from my deck!"
As Hero Creation resolved, Yugi drew one card due to The Dark Magicians' effect.
"If the card drawn is a Spell or Trap, I can Set it. If it's a Quick-Play Spell or Trap, I can activate it this turn."
He set the drawn card on his Duel Disk—but it was too late. The brilliance of the holy sword shattered the dark fusion.
[The Dark Magicians destroyed]
"A monster enhanced by Hero Creation deals double battle damage! The tables have completely turned, Yugi!"
[Yugi LP 2700 → 2100]
Having wiped out all of Yugi's monsters, Hoshino still retained the Evil God on her field. Just a turn ago, she was suppressed by Slifer, and all her Servants had 0 DEF. Now, the tide had shifted completely.
"Sore wa dōkana?" But after his monster was destroyed, Yugi's lips curled into a mysterious smile.
"Letting The Dark Magicians be destroyed by Ideal King of Knights Lily was all part of my plan—to defeat your Evil God!"
Raising his Duel Disk, Yugi drew one card from his Deck and another from his Graveyard.
"Final effect of The Dark Magicians—when this card is destroyed, Special Summon 1 Dark Magician and 1 Dark Magician Girl from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard!"
[Dark Magician ATK 2500 → 1250]
[Dark Magician Girl ATK 2000 → 1000]
The iconic duo returned to the field, now as separate entities.
"And when both Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl are on the field, I activate the Quick-Play Spell I just Set—Dark Burning Magic!"
[Dark Burning Magic Quick-Play Spell Effect: If you control monsters whose original names are "Dark Magician" and "Dark Magician Girl": Destroy all cards your opponent controls.]
"Teacher and pupil—unleash your magic together... and destroy the god!"
Their powers surged to the limit, fusing into a force like a magical nuclear detonation that erupted across the battlefield—aimed directly at the towering body of The Wicked Dreadroot.
"—Dark Burning Magic!!"
With Yugi's thunderous command, the Evil God's pale, colossal body was engulfed in the explosion and shattered into dust.
[The Wicked Dreadroot destroyed]
Hoshino twitched slightly.
The Evil God she had painstakingly summoned and protected… didn't even last one turn against Yugi.
"Yugi... just how terrifying is this guy's strength?"
(*****)
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