"Go, Flame Wingman! On the stage that belongs to heroes, claim victory!"
Because the Field Spell Adventures in the Children's Kingdom had been destroyed, Paul's attack power had dropped.
In contrast, Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, now empowered by Skyscraper, gained the strength to rise above the crisis.
[Skyscraper – Field Spell effect: If an "Elemental HERO" monster attacks a monster that has a higher ATK, the attacking monster gains 1000 ATK during damage calculation only.]
[Heroic Spirit – Paul Bunyan ATK 3400 → 3100]
[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman ATK 2100 → 3100]
"Their attack power's equal. Looks like Jaden is giving it everything this time."
"This is Flame Wingman's counterattack—Skyscraper Shot!!"
Flapping its wings and soaring above the towering skyscraper, Flame Wingman aimed straight down at Paul, unleashing a blazing torrent from the dragon head on its arm.
"Paul won't lose either!"
Swinging its massive axe from below, Paul cut through the flames with brute force, straining against the scorching inferno.
"(｡・`´･) Jaden, you really are a handful..."
Not wanting a mutual destruction outcome, Akasha flipped over a Set card.
"But I still intend to win this duel! Trap Card activate—Graverobber!"
[Graverobber – Trap Effect: Select 1 Spell Card from your opponent's Graveyard. You can use it as your hand until the end of the turn. If you use it, you take 2000 points of damage.]
Jaden frowned. "At a time like this… you're choosing to use a Spell from my Graveyard?"
From the Graveyard emerged a grinning thief, holding up the stolen card.
"The one I'm taking is the Quick-Play Spell you used before—De-Fusion!"
Snatching the card from the thief, Akasha immediately slapped it onto her Duel Disk.
"With De-Fusion's effect, I return Paul Bunyan to my Fusion Deck, and Special Summon the three Lily monsters that were its Fusion Materials to my field!"
[Akasha LP 2900 → 900]
Paying 2000 LP, Akasha activated the De-Fusion stolen from Jaden's Graveyard. Paul's massive body split into three beams of light, reforming into the Lilies on her field, cutting the mid-attack short.
[Nursery Rhyme ATK 800]
"Ahhh, so exciting! That was really close!"
[Artoria Pendragon Lily ATK 1200]
"It's such a dangerous battle! I thought it was just a game between children."
[Jack ATK 800]
"Even if it's just kids playing, you still have to go all out! I can keep fighting!"
Jaden's eyes widened. "To think you'd steal my De-Fusion just to stop my battle… that's so like you, Akasha!"
"But splitting them up makes it even harder for you to beat Flame Wingman—actually, it gives me the advantage! Continuous Trap activate—All-Out Attacks!"
[All-Out Attacks – Continuous Trap Effect: Any monster Special Summoned is changed to Attack Position. If they can attack, they must do so that turn.]
"Because of this trap, your three Special Summoned Lilies must attack me this turn!"
On Jaden's field, the strongest monster was Flame Wingman with 3100 ATK, followed by Bubbleman in Defense with 1200. On Akasha's side, her highest ATK belonged to Artoria Lily, with only 1200.
"Trying to bait me into attacking? That's unnecessary~"
Smiling lightly, Akasha opened the storybook in Nursery Rhyme's hands.
"Since Nursery Rhyme was Special Summoned again, her effect activates—"
[②: If this card is Special Summoned, you can add 1 Spell Card that lists "Heroic Spirit" or "Lily" from your Deck to your hand.]
"The Spell I'll add is the Quick-Play Spell—The Misty Night of London!"
From the rapidly turning pages, a deadly spell was drawn forth. In an instant, dense mist spread across the skyscrapers, transforming the stage into the cold, eerie fog of a cursed London street.
"Now the hero's stage is swallowed up. And my Battle Phase isn't over yet, Jaden!"
Slotting the newly added Spell into her Duel Disk, Akasha declared:
"Quick-Play Spell—The Misty Night of London! Jack, take their life in the darkness!"
[The Misty Night of London – Quick-Play Spell Effect: Target 1 "Heroic Spirit – Jack the Ripper" monster you control; this turn, that monster can attack a second time during each Battle Phase. When it attacks, you can change the battle position of 1 monster your opponent controls.]
"With The Misty Night of London, when Jack attacks, I can switch Flame Wingman into Defense Position! And thanks to Jack's own effect, when she battles a Defense Position monster, it's destroyed without damage calculation!"
[Flame Wingman DEF 1200]
"Time for dissection~ From here on, it's hell..."
Jack, gripping her twin blades, sprinted along the skyscraper wall toward the top floor where Flame Wingman stood. Emerging from the mist, her small figure radiated a killing intent utterly at odds with her cute appearance.
"—Power, bring slaughter to this place!!"
"Now! Open—Mirror Gate!"
Just as Jack's blades were about to strike Flame Wingman, Jaden flipped his Set card, activating a Trap that engulfed both monsters.
Layers upon layers of mirrored pathways overlapped, twisting the structure of the dimension and swapping the positions of both duelists.
[Mirror Gate – Trap Card Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack targeting a face-up "Elemental HERO" monster you control: Switch control of the opponent's attacking monster with the targeted monster you control, then calculate damage. Control of both monsters switches back during the End Phase.]
"Because of Mirror Gate, Jack and Flame Wingman swap control for damage calculation!"
Now in Akasha's Monster Zone, Flame Wingman faced off against Jack the Ripper, who had been moved into Jaden's Monster Zone, resuming their unfinished clash. But this time, it was Jack—under Jaden's control—who cut Flame Wingman down.
[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman Destroyed]
Hoshino's eyes lit up. "Interesting… so there's even this kind of defensive tactic. If Jaden keeps control of Jack until the end of the turn, Akasha will have trouble maintaining her offense."
Stamping her foot, Akasha shot Hoshino a sharp glare. "(╯>д<)…"
"Oh? Well, Jaden is my number-one student after all. Of course he'd pick up some of my style~"
Jaden froze, his hand pausing mid-motion as he prepared his counterattack.
"Eh?! I'm… Hoshino's number-one student? The Duel King herself is calling me her student?!"
Hoshino tilted her head. "What's wrong, Jaden? You don't want to be?"
"How could I not want to?! If I can be the Duel King's student, I'll definitely become even stronger!"
His right hand trembled with excitement as he slammed the activation button on his last set card.
"Watch closely, Hoshino—no, Sensei! This is the new possibility I've created, crossing the wall between Heroic Spirits and Heroes, inheriting your power!"
Akasha, sensing the danger radiating from the card Jaden revealed, nervously stepped back. "Crossing the wall between Heroic Spirits and Heroes… Judai, you—?"
"Quick-Play Spell – Flash Fusion! I fuse my controlled Jack the Ripper with my Defense Position Bubbleman!"
Hoshino smiled warmly. "A fusion of Heroic Spirit and HERO… I didn't expect you to use that card so soon after I gave it to you. I really didn't misjudge you."
"The interwoven souls call forth a miracle! The hero who looks toward the future will bring me my final victory! Remember your promise, Akasha!"
On Jaden's field, light gathered into a single point before solidifying into the form of a Fusion Monster, standing atop a towering skyscraper.
"This is my final fusion—Artificial–HERO Sieg!"
[Artificial–HERO Sieg ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][LIGHT][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK: ? / DEF: ?]
[1 "Heroic Spirit" monster + 1 "HERO" monster]
Bathed in the brilliance of both Heroic Spirits and Heroes, Sieg stood proudly atop the skyscraper, gazing over the city.
"It is your unwavering will that has called forth the hope of victory! Though I am but an artificial hero, please allow me to fight alongside you, Jaden Yuki!"
"Yes—please do! Sieg, activate your special effect—"
[Once per turn: Target 1 Warrior monster in your GY; equip it to this card as an Equip Spell Card. (You can only equip 1 monster at a time.) This effect can be activated during either player's turn.]
"I target Flame Wingman in my Graveyard, equipping the hero's power to Sieg!"
Although Flame Wingman had been destroyed while on Akasha's field, by rule, unless otherwise specified, a monster whose control was swapped still goes to its original owner's Graveyard when destroyed.
"Hero—lend me your strength!"
Flames erupted from Sieg's sword, spreading across his body until they formed crimson wings resembling those of Flame Wingman.
[Sieg ATK: ? → 2100]
"You actually snuck a card to Jaden? Hoshino-nee, you're way too biased!" Akasha puffed out her cheeks adorably.
Hoshino silently grumbled in her heart. Please, I only gave Judai one Heroic Spirit. Meanwhile, I lent you almost the entire Lily deck, and you still say I'm biased?
"But even if you've fused into a new hero, if I just don't attack, Sieg will be destroyed at the end of the turn due to Instant Fusion's drawback!"
Jaden smiled mysteriously, pointing at Sieg standing atop the skyscraper. "Not attacking? Akasha, have you forgotten my Continuous Trap—All-Out Attacks?"
Hoshino couldn't help but praise him. "What a beautiful duel you've played, Jaden!"
"Because of All-Out Attacks' effect, all Special Summoned monsters must attack! That means your remaining two Lily monsters have to attack my Sieg!"
[Nursery Rhyme ATK 800]
"What…? They have to attack even knowing they can't win?"
"What overwhelming compulsion… it makes my sword yearn to cut down the monsters before me."
"This is the end! Sieg, counterattack!"
"Leave it to me! Switching to battle mode—even if only for a moment…"
Channeling Flame Wingman's power through his entire body, Sieg's blade and hands blazed as he aimed at the two Lily monsters below.
"Even if it's only a fleeting strength—turning back, the pilgrimage begins… all shall melt away! Ákafiloga All-gríð!"
Unleashing the full force of his Noble Phantasm, Sieg poured a tidal wave of searing dragon's breath across the field. The crimson light piercing between skyscrapers symbolized a boy's perseverance—falling many times, yet rising again—until he finally seized his hard-won victory.
Nursery Rhyme & Saber Lily: "So hot… so hot…! We'll be back!!"
[Akasha LP: 900 → 0]
[Duel Over – Winner: Jaden Yuki!]
"We won!" Jaden beamed, flashing a victory sign toward Akasha. "That was a really fun duel, Akasha!"
Jaden's victory speech even carries the same playful sting as Hoshino's… he's definitely inherited her style.
"(╯>д<)…"
Akasha stomped her little fists in frustration, nearly rolling on the ground. She'd probably never even considered the possibility that Jaden might beat her before this duel.
Jaden reached out his hand toward the sulking Akasha, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.
"Now we're truly friends, Akasha! All my persistence in challenging you was worth it."
Go for it, boy! Hoshino cheered silently in her heart. There's still a long way to go, but at least you've taken the most important first step.