"Continue the attack! Number 2: Numeron Gate Dve!"
The second blast from the Numeron Gate, its Attack doubled to 4000, had now reached the same level as the 4000 Attack of Number 39: Utopia.
Under normal circumstances, Miles would certainly have activated Utopia's Crescent Shield to negate this attack.
Unfortunately, Utopia was still wrapped in the effect-negating debuff of Forbidden Droplet.
"Looks like I'll have to take it head-on!" Miles clenched his fist and declared his counter. "I'm counting on you—Tornado Bringer!"
The ZW weapon stirred up a tornado ahead of it and collided with Numeron Gate No.2.
The four Numeron Gates all share identical effects, so Number 2: Numeron Gate Dve likewise could not be destroyed by battle.
As for Number 39: Utopia, clashing directly against it, the shattering Tornado Bringer became its final will.
[ZW - Tornado Bringer Effect: If the equipped monster would be destroyed by battle, destroy this card instead.]
"I destroy Tornado Bringer as the cost, taking its place for Utopia's battle destruction!"
[ZW - Tornado Bringer] Destroyed
[Number 39: Utopia, ATK: 4000 → 2700]
"Barely managed to survive? But what will you do about the battles that come next? The effect of Number 2: Numeron Gate Dve activates!"
[If this card battled an opponent's monster, at the end of the Damage Step: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; the Attack of all "Numeron" monsters you control becomes doubled until the end of this turn.]
The Numeron Gates' shared Attack-doubling effect triggered once again after battling with Number 2.
The Numeron energy erupted. The dense and complex Numeron network twisted under the violent amplification of power, turning into a terrifying purplish-red beneath the starry sky.
After the Attack had doubled three times, the four Numeron Gates on the field had all reached 8000 Attack.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Zepha Soroya's maniacal laughter, empowered by ultimate strength, echoed through the chaotic starry sky.
"The power of Numeron that nothing can stop—it can create worlds, and it can destroy them! This is the ultimate power I pursue!"
The third Numeron Gate fired its fatal third blast toward Number 39: Utopia, which had already lost Tornado Bringer.
"Before this ultimate power, be completely annihilated into nothingness! Miles, Aisha Carlos!"
Impossible to withstand, the 8000 Attack Numeron Gate shattered Number 39: Utopia—still equipped with ZW weapons—beneath the starry sky.
[Number 39: Utopia] Destroyed
Total battle damage: 5300.
In this duel within the domain of the gods, the destructive spectacle of this damage had already surpassed the gigantic Neptune that fell during the first turn.
The explosive heat gathering within the Numeron network surged toward Miles's body, as if this single explosion could erase space itself.
"Miles! Aisha!" Alice cried out in worry.
Aisha: "(╯°Д°)╯ We're not going down here! Take this—Kuriboh!"
Although Aisha shouted with great excitement, the one who actually threw Kuriboh at the crucial moment was still Miles, controlling their fused body.
"I discard Kuriboh from my hand to activate its effect, making this battle damage 0!"
"Kuri kuri!"
The tiny body of Kuriboh completely absorbed the Numeron blast powerful enough to collapse space, instantly changing Zepha Soroya's expression.
"Another Kuriboh monster!"
Last turn, it blocked the Neptune that should have given Zepha a First Turn Kill, and this turn it blocked the Numeron blast that should have secured victory.
"Using these trash monsters of yours to insult a duel in the domain of the gods!"
"Did this guy forget he started with trash monsters too?" Miles could not help muttering.
All of those Lyrilusc monsters were only Level 1. By this world's standards, they were not much different from Aisha's so-called trash summons.
"The great Numeron god will not be stopped by trash! After the battle, the effect of Number 3: Numeron Gate Trini activates! All Numeron monsters on the field double their Attack once again!"
The final surge of Numeron energy erupted, doubling the 8000 Attack into 16000 Attack—surpassing even a Number 39: Utopia equipped with five ZW weapons.
A terrifying escalation like an exponential explosion: from the initial 1000 Attack, doubling again and again until reaching 16000 Attack. And all it required was a single Battle Phase.
"There are no monsters left on your field, Miles, Aisha Carlos! This final Numeron blast will burn even your DNA to ashes. Not a single particle of you will remain in this starry sky!"
The direct attack with 16000 Attack surged forward violently, tearing apart the crimson-violet Numeron network as it blasted toward Miles.
"The great gods really can't be stopped by trash monsters? Then what about this card!"
Miles roared in counterattack, flipping open the Trap card set in his back row—the one awakened after their fusion.
On the card's artwork was an enormous King's Key.
"—Trap Card [Halfway to Forever]!"
[Target 2 monsters in your Graveyard; Special Summon those monsters with their effects negated, then immediately Xyz Summon 1 LIGHT "Utopia" Xyz Monster using only those monsters as material.]
"With this card, I Xyz Summon the primal Utopia that once cut through the assault of the very first "Number" cards!"
The effect activated by targeting two monsters in the Graveyard.
And the two monsters Miles temporarily summoned onto the field as Xyz materials seemed almost like a mockery of Zepha Soroya's earlier arrogant declaration.
Level 1 [Kuriphoton] and Level 1 [Kuriboh].
"I Special Summon the two Level 1 trash monsters from my Graveyard, then overlay Kuriphoton and Kuriboh to Xyz Summon!"
Not only would a lowly Kuriboh block the Numeron attack, but even the monster Xyz Summoned from those so-called trash Kuribohs would stop this ultimate strike.
"Light of hope, charge forward toward evolution—release the memory of the origin, power without flaw! Rank 1! — Number 39: Utopia Roots!"
[Number 39: Utopia Roots] Rank 1│LIGHT│Warrior│500 ATK
[2 Level 1 monsters]
Shedding the golden armor of the original Utopia, the primal azure form shone beneath the starry sky as Rank 1 Number 39: Utopia Roots arrived in emergency deployment.
"The effect of Number 39: Utopia Roots activates! — 'Primal Crescent Shield'!"
[When a monster declares an attack: You can detach 1 material from this card; negate that attack, and if that monster is an Xyz Monster, this card gains Attack equal to that monster's Rank × 500.]
"I detach Kuriphoton as Xyz Material and negate the attack of Number 4: Numeron Gate Catvari!"
Facing the 16000 Attack head-on, the clash between Numeron and Utopia Roots shook the starry sky itself. Even the imperial capital far below trembled from the violent shockwaves of the battle.
Aisha: "o(*≧д≦)o Block that attack, Utopia Roots!"
The strongest strike from Numeron Gate Catvari was completely neutralized, and Utopia Roots also gained an Attack boost based on the opponent's Xyz Rank—though it was only a Rank 1 increase of 500 Attack.
[Utopia Roots, ATK: 500 → 1000]
"Well? Not only was my DNA not erased, I'm still flying perfectly intact in this starry sky. You're the one who failed, Zepha!"
As long as the Numeron Gates' assault this turn could be completely blocked, then during the End Phase the four gates Special Summoned by Numeron Network would all be banished from the game due to its side effect.
Miles smiled. "The continuous assault of the Numeron Gates is certainly fierce, but it has no follow-up power."
Zepha Soroya sneered in response. "Heh heh, no follow-up power? That's what you think? Unfortunately, I still have one gate left to summon!"
Aisha gasped. "There's still another gate you haven't summoned?"
Miles, however, showed little concern. Even if Zepha Soroya summoned another Numeron Gate with 32000 Attack, he could still use Utopia Roots' effect to block the attack.
"The final—and the first—Numeron Gate isn't meant for attacking at all!"
Seeing through the confidence Miles placed in Utopia's defensive ability, Zepha Soroya directly declared the end of the Battle Phase and raised his hand toward Number 1: Numeron Gate Ekam.
In an instant, the chaotic power of the colossal Numerounius looming in the background coiled around the first gate.
"I overlay Xyz on Number 1: Numeron Gate Ekam! Appear, Chaos Number 1! Destroy all order and open the path to the darkness of chaos. Guide the world to its true form—Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya!"
[Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya] Rank 2│DARK│Machine│2000 ATK
[This card can also be Xyz Summoned by using "Number 1: Numeron Gate Ekam" you control as the material.]
The LIGHT-attributed Numeron transformed through Xyz evolution into the DARK-attributed Chaos Numeron. The appearance of the Chaos Number 1 gate resembled a true gate of hell being opened—terrifying to behold.
"The effect of [Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya]! When this card is Xyz Summoned, activate—banish all monsters on my field!"
The Chaos Numeron Gate opened, sending all other Numeron Gates on the field, including itself, into another dimension.
"He banished the Numeron Gates himself?"
Although due to the side effect of [Numeron Network] Special Summoning four at once, all the Numeron Gates would have been banished during the End Phase anyway.
But being banished by a side effect and being banished deliberately by one's own effect carried completely different meanings.
Especially after the transformation into Chaos, [Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya] itself only appeared for a brief moment before vanishing from the field, making the situation even more bizarre.
"One turn of time. This will be the countdown to your end, Miles, Aisha Carlos!"
Zepha Soroya raised his arm and pointed toward the empty starry sky above.
"During the Standby Phase of my next turn, [Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya] will return to my field and inflict damage equal to the combined Attack of the monsters that were banished. At that moment, you will bear the full wrath of Numeron!"
Effect damage equal to the total Attack of all the Numeron Gates—this was not something Miles and Aisha, who had only 1250 Life Points left at the start, could possibly withstand.
In the pitch-black chaotic starry sky, indescribable stardust swirled. It was as if within that bottomless darkness, the approaching end truly lurked, ready to devour Miles and Aisha at any moment.
"I Set two cards and end my turn!"
With all monsters on his field banished, Zepha Soroya's field was empty. The cards he Set were undoubtedly defensive cards meant to help him survive for one turn.
"My turn, draw!"
As the turn changed, Miles drew the card that would begin his turn from the Spirit Eyes.
"The moment you draw your card, my Set Trap activates!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Zepha Soroya activated the Trap card Set on his field during Miles's Draw Phase.
"—Trap Card [Threatening Roar]!"
[Your opponent cannot declare an attack this turn.]
Extremely cautious, Zepha Soroya directly sealed Miles's ability to declare attacks this turn.
"With this, Miles, Aisha Carlos, you can only sit there and wait for defeat to arrive!"
If they could not attack, then no matter how powerful the monsters Miles and Aisha summoned were, they could not reach Zepha Soroya's remaining 2000 Life Points.
"Wait for defeat?" Yet Miles still maintained a confident smile. "That word has never existed in our dictionary! Just watch carefully and see who's really waiting to die!"
Even though attack declarations were sealed this turn, the fused body of Miles and Aisha still burst forth with incomparable brilliance beneath the chaotic black starry sky.
That radiance seemed almost as if it existed solely to oppose the approaching end guided by the Chaos Numeron within this sky.
"As long as 'Hope' still exists on the field, the 'Light' will never fade! Equip Spell [Different Dimension Reincarnation]! Special Summon Number 39: Utopia Roots from the Banished Zone!"
Shining together with a brilliance that split through the chaotic darkness, [Number 39: Utopia Roots] on Miles and Aisha's field leapt into a dazzling evolutionary effect.
At the same time, Miles threw a card toward the sky above. "Rank-Up-Magic—Limited Barian's Force!"
"Impossible!" Having witnessed the effect of this Rank-Up-Magic before, Zepha Soroya immediately denied it.
"Rank-Up-Magic—Limited Barian's Force should only work on Rank 4 Xyz Monsters. And Number 39: Utopia Roots is a Rank 1 monster!"
"I never said I was going to activate this Rank-Up-Magic!"
Miles clenched his fist tightly and swung it toward that brilliant light.
"I discard one 'Rank-Up-Magic' Normal Spell from my hand, allowing Number 39: Utopia Roots to undergo Shining Xyz Evolution!"
"Shining Xyz Evolution?!"
A brand-new evolutionary method guided by the light at the end of brilliance. Shining, Utopia, and the ZEXAL born from the fusion of Miles and Aisha together forged this completely new form.
"That is—" Alester said in shock. "An Xyz Monster that exists within the Gate of Truth!"
"Shine forth! Accept the limitless power of hope that spans across all horizons! Open the heavens and earth for a brand-new era! Soar beyond the skies! [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL]!"
---
If you want to support, please consider Patreon and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]