"So her attack power is equal to Illya in Heracles form!"
Because Sparkman had been sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material, Aster's Shining Phoenix Enforcer gained an additional 300 ATK.
"Even if you're the predecessor of HERO Decks, the new generation of heroes won't lose to Magical Girls!"
Entering the Battle Phase immediately after Fusion Summoning, Aster waved his hand and ordered Shining Phoenix Enforcer to attack Heracles Illya on Hoshino's field.
"Shatter the myth! Phoenix Enforcer, attack—Shining Phoenix Kick!!"
Flapping its mechanical wings, a kick of interwoven light and flame slammed violently into the massive stone axe wielded by Heracles Illya.
Crack—!
With a sharp sound of metal breaking, the axe shattered apart in Illya's hands.
With both monsters at 2800 ATK, and Shining Phoenix Enforcer being immune to battle destruction, the advantage was clearly on Aster's side.
[Magical Girl – Heracles Illya destroyed]
"What heroes carry isn't just some cheap transformation trick," Aster taunted after destroying the Fusion-Summoned Illya.
"Oh? You think this is nothing more than a costume change?"
Hoshino smiled as she retrieved Illya's destroyed card from the Graveyard.
"Then that just proves—you're still young in every sense of the word."
Only kids fail to understand the true charm of Magical Girls.
"—Heracles Illya's effect! When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, it can Special Summon itself to my field! And the Illya summoned by this effect also cannot be destroyed by battle!"
Bearing the Noble Phantasm Twelve Labors, Illya's scorched body rapidly regenerated, her damaged skin restoring itself at a visible speed.
[Heracles Illya ATK 2800]
"So the first clash ends in a draw," Clara praised.
"Both Illya and Elemental HERO are amazing."
Hoshino smiled.
"But I'd say I came out slightly ahead. The Magical Girl's effect activates—"
All Magical Girl Fusion Monsters shared a common effect.
[③ If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can add 1 "Phantasm Summon" from your Graveyard to your hand.]
Recovering the Fusion Spell, Hoshino pointed at Aster.
"Aster, a duel's outcome is decided by the duelist. The cards themselves don't have superiority or inferiority."
"So after reviving, it gains the same 'cannot be destroyed' resistance as Shining Phoenix Enforcer…"
Aster said, staring at the fully restored Heracles Illya.
"But as more Elemental HERO monsters accumulate in my Graveyard, Shining Phoenix Enforcer's ATK will keep rising—and the gap will only grow wider."
Ending his Battle Phase, Aster placed a card onto his Duel Disk and activated the hidden Field Zone.
"I set one card, then activate the Field Spell—Clock Tower Prison. Turn end!"
A massive European-style clock tower rose within the courtyard, instantly dragging the bright sky into artificial night.
"I end my turn."
[Edo's: 1 Hand Card | 1 Set Card]
Looking around at the transformed surroundings, Jaden exclaimed,
"What kind of Field Spell is this? I've never seen anything like it in an Elemental HERO Deck!"
"Same here," Clara agreed.
"I've dueled Aster so many times, and this is the first time he's ever used this card."
"My turn—draw!"
As Hoshino drew her card, the hands of Clock Tower Prison shifted slightly to the right, accompanied by a faint, chilling growl echoing from within.
Rubbing her palms nervously, Mash whispered,
"Senpai… is there something trapped inside that tower? Like in those horror stories…"
Aster declared,
"Clock Tower Prison's effect activates—during each of your Standby Phases, place one Clock Counter on this card."
[Clock Counter ×1]
"So it just gains a counter… but the actual effect still isn't revealed?"
As the solemn bell echoed, Hoshino could at least be grateful that it wasn't her own funeral bell ringing.
"Then it's my turn! I activate the Quick-Play Spell I just recovered—Phantasm Summon, banishing Magical Girl Illya on the field as Fusion Material!"
Once more, Illya drew out a Class Card from her thigh, responding to Hoshino's Fusion call as starlight enveloped her.
"Class Card—Caster! Tamamo-no-Mae! Dream Install—"
"Come forth! Fusion Summon—Magical Girl Tamamo-no-Mae Illya!"
Slamming the Fusion card onto the Duel Disk, Illya—now bearing Tamamo-no-Mae's Spirit Origin—appeared wearing a light-blue shrine maiden outfit, her fluffy tail swaying adorably.
[Magical Girl Tamamo-no-Mae Illya ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][WATER][Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]
"Migu~ It's been a while since I used this form… My clothes around the chest feel like they're about to slip off,"
Tamamo Illya muttered awkwardly as she tugged at her outfit.
Well, Tamamo's outfit was designed for someone with a larger bust. For Illya's size, it was obviously a tight fit.
"When Magical Girl Illya is banished as Fusion Material, I can Special Summon her to my field!"
[Magical Girl Illya ATK 1000]
Placing the newly summoned Illya in Attack Position, Hoshino clearly prepared to press the offensive.
"Next, Tamamo-no-Mae Illya's effect—when this card is Fusion Summoned, I can add one Spell or Trap with 'Heroic Spirit' in its text from my Deck to my hand."
Hoshino revealed the card she searched.
"And the card I added is—Mad Enhancement EX!"
"Mad Enhancement EX… that's the card that inflicts extra damage when you destroy an opponent's monster by battle, right?" Jaden recalled.
"But Shining Phoenix Enforcer can't be destroyed by battle," Mash said, confused.
"An effect that prevents battle destruction? That might've been troublesome before—but times have changed!"
Flipping open the Trap Card she had set on the first turn, Hoshino connected to the Xyz Overlay Network.
"I activate my Set Trap—Heroic Spirit: MageMIX!"
[Heroic Spirit: MageMIX Trap Effect: Target 1 face-up 'Heroic Spirit' monster you control. Special Summon this card as a Normal Monster with the same Level as that monster (Machine / EARTH / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000). This card is not treated as a Trap.]
"I target Magical Girl Tamamo-no-Mae Illya, turning Heroic Spirit: MageMIX into a Level 8 Machine monster."
"And now, I continue!"
After that, using only this card and the targeted monster, Xyz Summon 1 Machine-type 'Heroic Spirit' Xyz Monster.
"With two Level 8 monsters, I overlay MageMIX and Tamamo-no-Mae Illya—Overlay!"
The radiant Xyz light tore apart the false night created by Clock Tower Prison.
The bond between a blue combat machine shattered the limits of the era.
"This is the mechanical light of Heroic Spirits that transcends time itself!
Xyz Summon—Heroic Spirit Tamamo-no-Mae: Divine Armored Machine!"
[Heroic Spirit – Tamamo-no-Mae MegaMix ★★★★★★★★ (Rank 8)][LIGHT][Machine/Xyz/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 3000]
[2 Level 8 'Heroic Spirit' monsters]
"SUPER EVOLUTION!!"