"Then you probably didn't see it—the other future where you're wiped out!"
Miles flipped open his set Trap Card. Since the future where his Barrier was seen through, it was time to move on to Plan B.
Both sides had transformations, but the biggest difference between HEROes and Exosisters… was that HEROes had other summoning routes beyond transformation.
As expected, the duel would be decided by Fusion Summoning!
"The clash between Xyz and Fusion—begin! Trap Card, activate: [Necro Fusion]!"
[Banish Fusion Material Monsters from your Graveyard face-down, as listed on a Fusion Monster Card, and Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack this turn.]
Using materials banished face-down from the Graveyard, Miles initiated his first—and most crucial—Fusion Summon of the duel.
"W-Wait!"
Still reeling from Erin's firm rejection, Korys gradually came back to her senses. The duel wasn't over—she hadn't given up yet.
Maybe, just maybe, winning this duel could make Erin change her mind.
After all, there were plenty of stories like that… where the girl who loses ends up falling for the winner.
"Then this is my burning resolve, Erin! Quick-Play Spell, activate—[Photon Lead]!"
[Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower LIGHT monster from your hand in face-up Attack Position.]
Acting a moment before [Necro Fusion] could resolve, Korys tossed out her Quick-Play Spell, and from her hand came a bright flash of light—
"Come forth! Special Summon—[Exosister Stella]!"
[Exosister Stella] Level 4│LIGHT│Spellcaster│300 ATK
The final Level 4 Exosister in Korys's Deck before transformation—her outfit indicated she paired naturally with the first to appear, [Exosister Elis].
"A bait trap, huh?" Miles raised an eyebrow.
She could've Normal Summoned that low-Level monster earlier, but instead, Korys kept it hidden in her hand until Miles activated [Necro Fusion]—then pulled it out with a Quick-Play Spell.
Because all Level 4 Exosisters shared a common effect:
[When a card leaves either player's Graveyard due to your opponent's effect: You can Xyz Summon 1 'Exosister' Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck by using this card you control as material. (This is treated as an Xyz Summon.)]
Once again—it bears repeating—Exosisters banish evil from the Graveyard.
The moment any card leaves the Graveyard, their Level 4 monsters can stack themselves into an immediate Xyz Summon—a direct transformation.
And the [Necro Fusion] Miles activated, precisely removed monsters from the Graveyard as materials.
At nearly the same instant, both players' fields erupted in the light that connected to their Extra Decks.
Fusion Summon VS Xyz Summon—
In the land of the Axet Republic, this was a rare spectacle indeed.
The crowd, initially drawn by the allure of cute girls dueling, soon realized—the duel itself was even more captivating.
Even the crepe vendor, who'd prepared an extra-large strawberry order for the show, stood frozen, watching the twin rays of light—neither belonging to the nation of Synchros—collide and intertwine in midair.
"I banish [Elemental HERO Solid Soldier] and [Elemental HERO Bubbleman] from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials! Freeze the earth with your pale fists—Fusion Summon! [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero]!"
[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero] Level 8│WATER│Warrior│Fusion│2500 ATK
["HERO" monster + WATER monster]
"Overlay atop [Exosister Stella] to Xyz Summon! The sacred spear that purges evil—manifest your transformation, Exosister of justice! Appear—[Exosister Kaspitell]!"
[Exosister Kaspitell] Rank 4│LIGHT│Warrior│Xyz│2300 ATK
Riding on rippling waves of azure mana, spear in hand, the final Exosister soared through the sky—the culmination of all Korys's strength.
At this point, all four Exosisters—and their transformed forms—had appeared.
Facing them stood [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero], its cape billowing as it crossed its arms atop the frozen ground, embodying the HERO's creed: never retreat from battle.
Ren muttered, "He actually fused into Absolute Zero…"
Even Ren hadn't expected Miles's final move—[Necro Fusion]—to lead here.
[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero] did indeed have an effect that destroyed all opponent's monsters when it left the field.
However… a serious issue loomed before them.
Both Miles's and Korys's Graveyards were pierced by sealing arrows; with [Exosister Asophiel] present, effects that activate from the Graveyard were sealed off.
With the Graveyard sealed, even if [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero] were destroyed and sent there, its field-wiping effect couldn't trigger.
Miles said then: "Yeah, the Graveyard's sealed tight. Anyway, Ren… did you forget? There's still one other place I can use!"
Ren blinked, then her eyes widened. "Wait—you mean… right! That method!"
"Let's show her the classic [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero] combo!"
Miles flipped open his final set card.
Three set Traps—just as he'd planned—this was the moment that would decide victory's balance.
"Trap Card, activate—[Interdimensional Matter Transporter]!"
[Target 1 face-up monster you control; banish it until the End Phase of this turn.]
A Trap that temporarily banished his own monster until the End Phase—most often used to dodge enemy effects.
For example, when [Raigeki] or [Dark Hole] activated, one could use it to make a key monster vanish temporarily, avoiding destruction.
But paired with [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero]—it became the centerpiece of a devastating combo.
[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero / Effect: When this card leaves the field, destroy all monsters your opponent controls.]
The trigger wasn't destruction—it was simply leaving the field.
Which meant even temporary banishment fulfilled the condition.
And most importantly, the Exosisters' Graveyard seal had no bearing on the Banished Zone, leaving [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero]'s effect free to activate.
You sealed the Graveyard—so what does that have to do with my Banished Zone?
"Using [Interdimensional Matter Transporter], I temporarily banish [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero] from my field!"
As [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero] was sent to another dimension, a surge of freezing air burst forth, transforming into a white blizzard tornado that swept upward from the frozen ground into the sky.
"I call this—Secret Technique: Dimensional Absolute Freeze!!"
When the storm subsided, Korys's three Exosister monsters stood frozen solid—three exquisitely sculpted ice statues.
Beautiful girls turned into crystallized stillness—Korys, having failed to foresee this alternate future of her Exosisters' annihilation, was left standing amidst what would've been a bad ending in an anime scene.
...
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