"A Duel that gambles life…? Don't tell me—"
Akasha saw straight through Hoshino's thoughts at a glance.
"Hoshino-nee, are you planning to use this Duel to restore your body back to how it used to be?"
If obtaining life force through the Three Sacred Beasts' cards could turn a hundred-year-old man like Kagemaru into a young, robust adult, then having life force taken by the Sacred Beasts might—just maybe—allow her own body to grow a little.
Even though the possibility was slim, Hoshino couldn't help but entertain the thought.
She didn't need some mature, bombshell figure—being the same as before would be enough!
Of course, a gamble was still a gamble.
The true goal of this Duel against the Sacred Beasts was victory.
[Duel!]
[Hoshino Chiyuki LP 8000]
VS
[Kagemaru LP 8000]
"Then I'll go first~"
Kagemaru, taking the first turn, clenched his thick fingers and drew a card.
"This feeling is wonderful—being back at the peak of my physical body. Even my luck with drawing cards has returned to its prime."
Hoshino shot back, "Cut the crap already! If you've got guts, then give me a three-move handicap!"
"Wow, how lame, Headmistress~ You're chickening out before he's even played a card," Minazuki commented.
"What do you know? This is called 'subduing the enemy without fighting'!"
Hoshino retorted.
"When someone comes out swinging with that much swagger, if they don't give me a handicap, then all that bravado they showed off earlier goes to waste!"
Minazuki suddenly realized, "Ahh, so this is a high-level psychological tactic. I've learned something today."
"Hmph. Just a loud-mouthed little girl,"
Kagemaru sneered.
"Let's see if you're still laughing in a moment!"
Ignoring Hoshino's provocation, Kagemaru continued his turn and placed three cards face-down onto his Duel Disk.
"This turn, I set three Trap Cards in my back row!"
"Set three Trap Cards?"
The surrounding students exchanged confused looks, unable to understand the move.
"Have you been out of the game for a few hundred years and forgotten the rules?"
Hoshino bluntly pointed out the questionable play.
"If you're setting cards anyway, why are you specifically announcing they're Trap Cards? Quick-Play Spells get set all the time too."
Kagemaru gave a disdainful smile, his expression clearly saying as if you need to teach me how to Duel.
"Three set Trap Cards… I get it now!"
Uria, watching from behind Hoshino, exclaimed in shock.
Slamming a crimson card onto the Duel Disk, Kagemaru threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! Behold the Sacred Beasts' power that makes heaven and earth tremble!
I offer my three set Trap Cards as Tributes to Special Summon Uria, Lord of Searing Flames from my hand!"
"Using set Trap Cards to directly Summon Uria…?! That kind of Summoning method actually exists?!"
Akasha exclaimed.
She suddenly recalled their previous battle against Uria controlled by Atticus.
Back then, it had been Special Summoned by effect, ignoring its summoning conditions.
But Uria's true summoning requirement had never been revealed—until now.
The ground split apart.
Though it was merely a virtual projection from the Duel Disk, it looked as though real magma was erupting from beneath the shattered academy grounds.
[Uria, Lord of Searing Flames ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][FIRE][Pyro/Effect][ATK 0 / DEF 0]
[Cannot be Normal Summoned. Must be Special Summoned by sending 3 Trap Cards you control to the GY.]
The ferocious crimson dragon that burst forth from the magma looked nothing like the cute red-haired little girl who stood nearby.
Hoshino glanced at Uria on the field, then turned to look at the Uria standing behind her—and felt a strange sense of confusion.
The card representing her true form was already in someone else's hands, yet this little girl was still standing there perfectly fine.
Even evil gods usually transform into their true forms during a Duel.
So what exactly are the Three Sacred Beasts made of?
Two souls in one body?
"Uria, Lord of Searing Flames gains 1000 ATK for each Trap Card in your GY!"
[Uria, Lord of Searing Flames ATK: 3000]
Unlike the Uria previously force-summoned with 0 ATK by ignoring its conditions, this properly summoned Uria entered the field with a starting ATK rivaling Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Hoshino spoke cautiously, "Opening with a 3000 ATK Uria, huh… No wonder you said your draw luck was amazing."
Opening with three Traps and Uria might not be as insane as Kaiba's triple Blue-Eyes hand, but it was still a ridiculously perfect start.
"This isn't over yet! I know you've defeated Uria before—so how about this?!"
Throwing a monster card from his hand onto the Duel Disk, Kagemaru declared:
"For my Normal Summon this turn, I summon Dark Beckoning Beast in Defense Position! I activate its effect to add Dark Summoning Beast from my Deck to my hand—and gain an additional Normal Summon to Tribute Summon!"
[Dark Summoning Beast ★★★★★ (Level 5)][DARK][Fiend/Effect][ATK 0 / DEF 0]
"Then I activate Dark Summoning Beast's effect—by Tributing this card, I Special Summon Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder from my Deck in Attack Position, ignoring its summoning conditions!"
"Two Sacred Beasts in a single turn already?! You old man—you're not holding back at all!" Akasha shouted.
Thunder roared across the sky, briefly illuminating the darkness.
From within the lightning emerged the second Sacred Beast, its massive golden body crackling with electricity as it stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Uria.
[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][LIGHT][Thunder/Effect][ATK 4000 / DEF 4000]
"Both its ATK and DEF are 4000… on par with Obelisk the Tormentor."
Going second, Hoshino had no way to interrupt.
All she could do was watch as Kagemaru put on what could only be described as a Sacred Beast summoning magic show right in front of her.
Crowler panicked. "Su-su-super Mama Mia! Just by sacrificing the resources of a single monster, you can summon something of this level straight from the Deck… Aren't the Three Sacred Beast cards a bit too overpowered, nyone?!"
Banner analyzed, "Unlike the Egyptian Gods, which each possess astonishing strength on their own, what truly makes the Sacred Beasts terrifying is the multitude of powerful combo cards they have, meow!"
Combined with that near-cheat-level card, Illusion Gate, the effects possessed by the Three Beasts might really surpass those of ordinary Duel Monster cards.
"End of my turn!" Kagemaru raised his arm toward Hoshino. With two Sacred Beasts standing on his field, he flashed a confident grin.
"Now then—let me see it, Hoshino! The one once called the strongest Duelist—the King of Duel! Facing such a scene of despair, what can you possibly do?!"
[Kagemaru's remaining hand: 1 card]
"Calling this situation 'despair' just means you're still underestimating me. My turn—draw!"
Glancing over the cards in her hand, Hoshino's lips curved slightly upward. She clearly already had a plan.
"Before I start my turn, there's something I still don't quite understand. May I ask you?"
"Ask away. I'll make sure you die understanding everything perfectly!"
"Banner's soul didn't collapse—so why were you still able to gather the power needed to release the seal on the Three Sacred Beasts?"
"Heh heh. You managing to save Banner under those circumstances was indeed outside my expectations. However… there was one point that both you and I miscalculated."
"You mean both of us miscalculated?" Hoshino asked, puzzled.
Pointing behind Hoshino toward Jaden, Kagemaru explained, "You—Jaden Yuki. There's a dueling spirit power hidden within you that can only be described as terrifying."
"Huh? Me?" Jaden pointed at himself in confusion.
"Just a single Shadow Game was enough to draw out that enormous spirit power within you—and it perfectly filled the missing amount required to unseal the Sacred Beasts!"
"You're saying Jaden has terrifying spirit power hidden inside him?" This was the first time Hoshino had ever heard such a thing. After all, she had spent many years with Jaden and had never noticed anything unusual.
"(｡・`´･) Whether it's true or not, Jaden, just take the blame for now." Akasha patted Jaden's back, slapping an invisible black iron pot onto him.
Kagemaru nodded in satisfaction. "Such abundant power makes excellent nourishment for the Three Sacred Beasts. Raising a student like this makes the massive investment I made in building Duel Academy well worth it."
"Shut up!" Hoshino scolded sternly. "As chairman, saying something like that—I can't accept it."
"Hmph. Just a mere academy headmaster, yet you talk quite boldly," Kagemaru mocked, folding his arms.
"The academy doesn't exist for you to do something this absurd! After you lose this Duel, you'd better repent properly, Kagemaru!"
With her turn officially underway, Hoshino placed a Spell Card into her Duel Disk.
"—I activate the Spell Card Purely Bloom! By this card's effect, I Special Summon Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon – Lily from my Deck!"
Catching the monster card ejected by the Duel Disk's automatic search, Hoshino flicked her finger lightly to complete the summon.
"Let the radiance of the holy sword illuminate the darkness! Saber Lily's effect—when this card is Special Summoned, add 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
Jonouchi exclaimed, "Man, that takes me back. Hoshino's signature opening combo. Even against two Sacred Beasts, she's completely unfazed—just like Hoshino."
Akasha analyzed, "Hamon still has unknown effects, but Uria completely shuts down Trap Cards. If Hoshino-nee wants to win, she has to rely on the Heroic Spirits to break through head-on this turn. Dragging it out will only let her get further suppressed."
Even so, though Uria completely counters Trap Cards, it had been caught once by Akasha's trap—but Hoshino definitely wouldn't be running Mirror Force Launcher.
"Mama Mia… summoning a monster capable of breaking through two of those on the very first turn—can that really be done, nyone?" Crowler said nervously.
"It can—if it's Sensei!" Jaden said with absolute confidence.
Revealing the monster added to her hand by Saber Lily, Hoshino immediately activated its effect.
"I activate the effect of the monster I just searched—Heroic Spirit – Geronimo!"
[①: During your Main Phase: You can discard 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster, except this card; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
Skillfully selecting a monster from her hand and sending it to the Graveyard via the Duel Disk, another summoning light flared on Hoshino's field.
"I discard Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette from my hand. Come forth, Geronimo—Special Summon in Attack Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Geronimo ★★★★★ (Level 5)][EARTH][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1900/DEF 1000]
The Heroic Spirit appeared alongside his white wolf, staring down the two massive beasts before him.
Kagemaru pressed a hand to the back of his neck, taunting casually. "Summoning trash monsters like this one after another really doesn't excite me."
"No—now is the moment your nerves tighten!" Hoshino declared. "Because Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette was sent to the Graveyard, I can add another 'Heroic Spirit' monster to my hand!"
A violent aura erupted instantly. The oppressive atmosphere created by the two Beasts just moments ago was completely overturned.
"The Heroic Spirit I add to my hand is—Heroic Spirit – Heracles!"
"What—Heracles?!" Kagemaru frowned deeply. Even he had heard of Heracles' fame, and his relaxed demeanor vanished under the surging pressure.
"Next, I activate the effect of Heroic Spirit – Geronimo on my field—once per turn, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'Heroic Spirit' monster from my Graveyard, with its effects negated! Return to the field, Marie!"
The white wolf roared as lilies bloomed. From the swaying darkness, the beautiful queen emerged with graceful elegance.
[Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette ★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]
"Don't forget, Kagemaru—I still haven't used my Normal Summon this turn!" Hoshino drew out the Heracles card from her hand, the curve of her smile rising even further.
Kagemaru exclaimed, "Without even using your Normal Summon, you've assembled three monsters on your field in an instant?!"
"Now—I offer the three Heroic Spirits on my field as tributes!"
Threefold release light flashed through the night as Hoshino slammed the searched Heracles card onto her Duel Disk.
"This isn't the dreamlike form anymore—it's the real thing! A god who shakes the earth with sheer, savage power! Tribute Summon—Heroic Spirit – Heracles!"
[Heroic Spirit – Heracles ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)][EARTH][Warrior/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2800]
"When Heracles is successfully Summoned using three monsters, including 'Heroic Spirit' monsters, place 12 'Valor' counters on this card!"
[Valor ×12]