Unable to move even an inch under the sealing effect of [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL], even the chaotic starry sky above Zepha was covered by that miraculous radiance.
"Damn it! So this was your real goal all along, Miles, Aisha! Damn it!"
Victory had been only a single step away—the progression from the Draw Phase to the Standby Phase. Yet Zepha had been truly stopped by Miles just before reaching it.
"What pathetic rage, Zepha. Has your mentality already collapsed from something like this?" Miles mocked without restraint.
Even though anyone would probably lose their composure after being continuously sealed by the effect of [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL], that did not stop Miles from taunting Zepha now.
"Through the descent of the God of Destruction, you did obtain tremendous power. But that is merely power itself. As for you—you are still that same weakling who could never gain recognition!"
Perhaps it could be called being unworthy of one's position. Holding the forbidden strongest planetary card and the original "Number" cards granted by the Numeron god, Zepha had indeed obtained the power he had long desired.
But his mentality as a Duelist had not caught up with the sudden and explosive growth of that power.
"Weakling? You call me a weakling!"
Miles had struck precisely at Zepha's most sensitive nerve; the veins on Zepha's forehead bulged violently.
"You don't understand me at all, Miles, Aisha! You don't understand what it feels like to live under the shadow of a younger sister who is monstrously powerful! No one has ever truly understood me!"
"Zepha…"
Zepha's unwilling roar beneath the starry sky made Quaedes realize for the first time that this "family member" who had been by her side since birth held such anger toward her existence.
Of course, this could not entirely be blamed on Quaedes. Such was the culture of the Varian Empire. Children were raised to believe that absolute power was everything, and that nothing else truly mattered.
That belief—one that revered power above all—had caused Quaedes, who had been born with overwhelming strength, to completely overlook many things around her that should have been cherished.
"To obtain power great enough to surpass Quaedes, I tried every possible method. And now, the descent of the God of Destruction is proof of my resolve."
Zepha's expression suddenly became more serious than ever before.
"If obtaining power means making a contract with the devil, then I would gladly sell my entire soul to that devil!"
Behind him, the enormous Numerounius spread its chaotic wings across the starry sky, looming like the backdrop of the duel.
"It evolved again under these conditions?" Miles was startled.
Just like in the previous turn, when Zepha obtained the power of Numeron and summoned the four Numeron Gates—the original "Number" cards.
As the turns of the duel progressed, the chaos dwelling within Zepha seemed to swell again, almost as if it were evolving.
That was proof that the massive Numerounius behind him was interfering with the duel. By amplifying the power of the summoner's deck, it displayed its destructive might.
And this ever-expanding chaotic power was not completely stopped, even in the presence of [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL].
Dark Aisha: "It can still keep evolving, Miles?"
Aisha: "The Numeron Gates that evolved last turn were already terrifying. What could it be this time, Mr. Miles?"
Miles: "No matter what kind of power Zepha gains this turn, because of the sealing effect of [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL], it cannot be used. If I had to guess…"
A power greater than the world's original four "Number" cards, the Numeron Gates—Miles could only think of one possibility.
That would be [Number C1000: Numerounius] itself.
By gradually amplifying the power of the summoner's deck until it could finally descend into the duel, the God of Destruction would achieve its true objective.
Though he was called the "summoner," Zepha had unknowingly become the final sacrifice required for the God of Destruction's arrival.
Miles sighed. "Trying to outplay a god that once nearly destroyed the world really was too dangerous."
Yet perhaps this outcome was exactly what Zepha had sought all along. Just as he had said earlier: "If obtaining power means making a contract with the devil, then I would gladly sell my entire soul to that devil!"
"I Set two cards!"
Including the card he had already Set earlier, Zepha now had three face-down cards in his back row.
And this was the only way to deal with [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL].
Since activating card effects during his own turn would be sealed, the only option was to use Set cards and find an opportunity during the opponent's turn to destroy Utopic ZEXAL.
"End turn!"
The moment Zepha declared the end of his turn, the radiant light covering the entire sky faded instantly, and the chaotic starry sky swirling in the night once again appeared before everyone.
And now that it had broken through the light again, the chaotic sky looked even more terrifying.
"We can't drag this out any longer."
If Zepha's power continued to expand infinitely every turn because of that enormous Numerounius looming behind him,
then even though [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL] still had three materials left—enough to seal the opponent for three more turns—Miles had no intention of prolonging the battle.
"This turn, we go all out! My turn, draw!"
Drawing the card that began his turn, Miles immediately threw out the Spell he had drawn.
"—Spell Card [Pot of Avarice]! I choose 5 monsters in my Graveyard, shuffle them back into the Deck, then draw 2 cards!"
Compared to drawing two cards, the effect of returning monsters from the Graveyard with [Pot of Avarice] was even more important.
Through this card, Miles could return the only [Number 39: Utopia] in his Graveyard and Xyz Summon it again.
"I return [Number 39: Utopia], [ZW - Leo Arms], [ZW - Dragonic Halberd], [Kuriboh], and [Kuriphoton] to the Deck, shuffle them, and draw two cards!"
Aside from the two Kuriboh monsters, all the cards Miles returned were monsters from the Extra Deck.
"Draw! Draw!" After drawing two cards in succession, Miles glanced at them and continued by throwing another Spell onto the field.
"—Continuous Spell [Xyz Change Tactics]!"
[When a monster with "Utopia" in its name is Xyz Summoned to your field, you can pay 500 LP; draw 1 card. You can only control 1 face-up "Xyz Change Tactics".]
A support Spell that allowed him to pay Life Points to draw whenever Utopia was Xyz Summoned.
Even though Miles and Aisha no longer had much Life Points left, at a crucial moment like this, converting Life Points into more cards—even for a 1% greater chance of victory—was worth it.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—[Zubababancho Gagagacoat]!"
The monster whose name sounded like a stuttering string of syllables appeared on the field.
[Zubababancho Gagagacoat] Level 4│EARTH│Warrior│1800 ATK
"Next, I activate the effect of [Zubababancho Gagagacoat]! I Special Summon one "Dododo" monster from my Graveyard!"
The "Dododo" monster in Miles's Graveyard was the [Utopic Onomatopoeia] that had been sent there last turn as Xyz Material when the effect of [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL] was activated.
"After Special Summoning [Utopic Onomatopoeia] from the Graveyard, I now have two Level 4 monsters on the field. Let's go, Aisha!"
"Yeah!" ×2
Two voices answered as the shining light of hope overlaid together, transforming the miniature form of [Utopic Onomatopoeia] into the true form of Utopia.
"Overlapping emotions and connected hearts will change the world! Seize the shining path of victory ahead! Rank 4 Xyz Summon—[Number 39: Utopia Double]!"
[Number 39: Utopia Double] Rank 4│LIGHT│Warrior│0 ATK
[2 Level 4 monsters]
This was the doubled form of Utopia once obtained when the souls of Aisha and Dark Aisha had connected. Even beneath the chaotic starry sky, its radiance of hope shone twice as brightly.
"When a Utopia monster is successfully Xyz Summoned, I activate [Xyz Change Tactics]! I pay 500 Life Points to draw 1 card!"
[Miles × Aisha, LP: 1250 → 750]
"It's not over yet! I activate the effect of [Number 39: Utopia Double]!"
[Detach 1 material from this card; add 1 "Double or Nothing!" from your Deck to your hand.]
"I add the Quick-Play Spell [Double or Nothing!] to my hand, then evolve Utopia Double by overlaying it!"
[Then Special Summon 1 "Utopia" Xyz Monster, except "Number 39: Utopia Double," from your Extra Deck by using this card as material. The summoned monster's Attack becomes doubled, but it cannot attack directly.]
"I overlay the original [Number 39: Utopia] on top of Utopia Double and Xyz Summon!"
The doubling of souls guided the original form of hope, and its Attack was immediately doubled as well.
"My battle continues from here! White wings that carry hope—appear! Number 39! Bringer of light, Utopia!"
[Number 39: Utopia, ATK: 2500 → 5000]
The Xyz Summoned Number 39, whose Attack had doubled, once again triggered the effect of the Continuous Spell [Xyz Change Tactics].
[Miles × Aisha, LP: 750 → 250]
Every time Utopia transformed, it allowed a draw—that was why it was called the Xyz "Transformation" Tactic. Unfortunately, Miles and Aisha no longer had enough Life Points left to keep paying the cost.
Even so, Miles would transform once more.
The reason was simple: the Utopia Summoned through Utopia Double's effect could not attack the opponent directly. He needed another transformation to remove that restriction.
"I overlay on top of Utopia—Chaos Xyz Evolution! Turn chaos into the messenger of light!—[Number C39: Utopia Ray]!"
After continuous transformations of Utopia, the final form that appeared on the field was the Chaos Xyz form. And because Miles and Aisha's Life Points had dropped below 1000 due to [Xyz Change Tactics], the activation condition for Utopia Ray's effect was also satisfied.
"Battle! Utopia Ray! Utopic ZEXAL!"
With the Attack of the two Xyz Monsters on Miles and Aisha's field, if either one landed a direct attack on Zepha, it would be more than enough to wipe out his remaining 2000 Life Points and secure victory.
"Direct attack, Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL! Hope Sword · ZEXAL Slash!!"
Pointing his blade at the empty field where Zepha stood, Number S0 struck first, unleashing a radiant slash that tore through the chaos.
Zepha countered by flipping over a Set card. "—Trap Card [Storm Dragon's Return]!"
[Target 1 monster that is banished, yours or your opponent's; Special Summon it to your field. The monster Special Summoned by this effect returns to its owner's hand during the End Phase.]
"I target the banished [Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya] and Special Summon it to my field in Defense Position!"
Under the chaotic starry sky, a raging storm of dragons gathered, forming a thunder-crossed rift in another dimension.
From within that thunder-laced dimensional vortex, the Numeron Gate that Zepha had failed to Special Summon last turn slowly descended.
[Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya, DEF: 1000]
Since its own Special Summon effect had been sealed by Number S0, the Chaos Numeron Gate that was now Special Summoned from the Banished Zone by another card effect would not trigger its additional damage effect.
In other words, the Chaos Numeron Gate standing before Zepha could only serve as a wall to block a single attack.
"Cut through the chaos of Numeron—ZEXAL of Hope!"
A mere 1000 Defense could not possibly withstand the 3000 power of the Hope Sword, rivaling the Attack of Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
The shining blade cleaved through the pitch-black gate of hell, splitting the Chaos Numeron in two from the center of the gate.
[Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya] Destroyed
Fragments of the shattered gate scattered across the chaotic starry sky, the overlapping darkness creating an eerily unsettling atmosphere.
"Heh… hahahahaha!"
Even the rhythm of Zepha's laughter had changed. It was no longer the bold, arrogant laughter from before—now it sent chills down one's spine.
"So you finally did it. You destroyed the original Chaos "Number" card and awakened the great form hidden within the gates of hell."
"The great form hidden within the gates of hell…? Don't tell me—!"
Hearing Zepha's description, Miles suddenly felt a sense of dread.
"It was you who did this, Miles, Aisha! It was your battle that allowed the Numeron god of creation and destruction to truly descend!"
Before the shattered fragments of [Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya] had even finished scattering, Zepha flipped over another Set card in his back row.
"—Trap Card [Speed Spell - Sonic Detonation]! I send 1 Normal Spell from my hand to the Graveyard and activate that Spell that was sent!"
Through [Speed Spell - Sonic Detonation], Zepha sent a Normal Spell to the Graveyard as a Chain Speed 2 effect, guiding forth the true form of Numeron chaos.
"—Spell Card [Numeron Chaos Ritual]!"
Despite the word "Ritual" in its name, it was not a Ritual Spell used to summon Ritual Monsters.
It was a genuine Spell capable of summoning the highest-ranked Xyz Monster.
[Can only be activated during the turn your "Number C1: Numeron Chaos Gate Sunya" was destroyed. From your Graveyard and among your banished cards, choose 1 "Numeron Network" and 4 monsters with "Number" in their names; treat those cards as Level 12 monsters and use only them as materials to Xyz Summon 1 Xyz Monster.]
Two Numeron Networks reacted simultaneously. The blazing crimson Numeron light did not come only from the Field Spell [Numeron Network] currently on Zepha's field.
In Zepha's Graveyard, there was also a second [Numeron Network] that had been discarded earlier when he activated [Forbidden Droplet].
The doubt Miles had felt earlier, why Zepha had deliberately discarded the second [Numeron Network], was finally answered.
It was to ensure that once [Numeron Chaos Ritual] was activated, a second [Numeron Network] existed in the Graveyard. Then the [Numeron Network] in the Graveyard and all the Numeron Gates together would become Level 12 Xyz Materials.
Zepha loudly declared, "I treat the Field Spell [Numeron Network] in my Graveyard together with the Numeron Gates Number 1 through Number 4 in the Banished Zone—five cards in total—as Level 12 monsters and perform an Xyz Summon!"
"Five Level 12 monsters for an Xyz Summon?!"
Everyone within the imperial capital who witnessed the scene cried out in shock.
Such an exaggerated Xyz formation was unprecedented even across the entire Varian Empire.
However, the witnesses of what came next were no longer limited to those within the capital.
Across the entire Varian Empire—even the whole Spirit Continent—anyone who looked up at the night sky could see the colossal chaotic body that seemed to break the very concept of space itself.
Only a being worthy of the highest standard—five Level 12 monsters used as materials—could answer such an Xyz Summon. A planetary calamity-class summoning, the enormous god that once destroyed prehistoric civilization.
"Appear, Chaos Number 1000! Chaos sorrow is the work of mortals, while the dream between heaven and earth is an endless illusion. God of the void—wield darkness as your weapon and smash the light with your hammer! Xyz Summon! — [Number C1000: Numerounius]!!"
[Number C1000: Numerounius] Rank 12│LIGHT│Fiend│10000 ATK
[5 Level 12 monsters]
The gigantic Chaos Number 1000, which had loomed as the backdrop of the entire duel, finally spread its black-and-white chaotic wings and personally descended onto the battlefield of this divine domain.
"That is… God?"
The fingers clutching the silver cross at her chest trembled slightly. Sylvia's faith suffered an unprecedented shock.
Was that really a god? It looked more like… a demon.
Sure enough, in this world, monsters that looked like angels were often anything but angels.
Even though the Chaos attribute leaned toward light, [Number C1000: Numerounius] was undeniably a Fiend.
Thinking back, when they first met in the cathedral, Sylvia had been angry because of the multiple demonic presences within Miles's soul and because he had summoned Fiend monsters inside the church. She had believed he had defiled the sacred cathedral.
Yet now she realized that the god worshiped within that sacred cathedral—the object of her unwavering faith—was in fact the greatest demon of all.
What a cruel irony.
With her faith completely shattered, Sylvia lowered the cross in her hand. Her pupils lost focus as confusion filled her gaze.
"From today onward… what should I believe in? What can I possibly believe in anymore?"
Faith in a god often became the anchor of a person's soul. When that anchor was ripped away, the more devout the believer, the deeper the despair they felt.
Sylvia had served as a nun in the imperial cathedral since she was old enough to remember.
"What's there to be confused about?" Alester pointed toward the battlefield beneath the starry sky, where light and darkness clashed beyond all limits. "Look up and watch carefully, then follow your own heart. In a situation like this—who do you want to believe in?"
"Who do I want to believe in…?"
Even though she disliked being lectured by that perverted man, Sylvia—whose heart had been swallowed by confusion—still raised her head to look.
In the sky above, one side was the catastrophe that symbolized the destruction of the world: the chaotic Numerounius.
On the other side were Miles and Aisha, fighting with the light of hope to carve out a path for survival in the face of the coming destruction.
"You're a servant of God, aren't you?" Alester said seriously. "Then, from your perspective, which side deserves faith? Let me tell you something.
"Only the living are qualified to talk about faith!"
"I…"
Alester's words struck deeply into Sylvia's heart. He had seemed like a pervert when they first met, yet this man saw the situation more clearly than anyone else.
Only the living are qualified to talk about faith.
It was too real—so real that even within the church, the clergy avoided discussing such a question. They simply comforted believers by saying that after death they would enter a blissful heaven none of them had ever seen.
Nothing was more important than staying alive. That, too, was undeniably a truth.
"I…!"
Standing atop the back of Disaster Leo, Sylvia made her decision. She clenched the silver cross at her chest, tore it off, and hurled it toward the ground below.
"This is my final prayer. Whether God forgives my sins or not doesn't matter! Miles… defeat that demon trying to destroy the world!"
Within the duel where a god had entered the field, Miles—still in the Battle Phase—looked forward seriously at the Number that had finally appeared.
This was undoubtedly the final and greatest Number.
Aisha stared in disbelief. "Just its printed Attack and Defense are ten thousand?!"
Before this, excluding monsters whose Attack increased through effects, the highest printed Attack and Defense values recognized across the Spirit Continent were only 5000.
The [Number C1000: Numerounius] now appearing before everyone shattered the limits of human understanding with its real, tangible Attack value.
"I did it... I finally succeeded in summoning the ultimate power!"
The red-and-black bloodlike tear marks that had once only run down both sides of Zepha's face spread across his entire body like cursed sigils, turning his skin the same crimson-black color.
Yet the abnormal state of his body was nothing compared to Zepha's excitement at having summoned the God of Destruction.
"Behold! This is the Numerounius that reigns above all chaos! Chaos Dominion!"
[As long as this card remains face-up on your field, all monsters with "Chaos" in their names on your opponent's field cannot declare attacks.]
Under Chaos Dominion, the [Number C39: Utopia Ray] on Miles's field—which had not yet attacked—was now unable to declare an attack.
However, facing a monster with a printed 10000 Attack, Miles would never choose such a suicidal action even if he could attack.
"This power is simply overwhelming!" Zepha continued. "Numerounius's Xyz effect activates! Chaos Substitution!"
[Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 monster on the field; destroy it. After that, the controller of the destroyed monster Special Summons 1 monster with "Chaos" in its name from their Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions. This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn.]
Once per turn, it could destroy any monster at Chain Speed 2. And with five Xyz Materials attached, Numerounius could use this destruction effect up to five times.
It could destroy Zepha's own monsters to replace them with even stronger Chaos monsters.
Or it could destroy Miles's monsters—at which point the Chaos monster summoned onto Miles's field would still be unable to attack because of Numerounius's 'Chaos Dominion' effect.
"With this strike, let the ZEXAL of Hope be extinguished!"
Clearly, Zepha's choice was to destroy the greatest threat on Miles's field first—[Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL].
"I detach the Xyz Material [Numeron Gate Ekam] to activate the destruction effect!"
From the enormous crimson head of Numerounius, a scarlet death beam gathered and fired straight toward ZEXAL.
"I won't let you destroy it! Continuous Trap [Dimension Guardian] activates!"
Miles flipped the only Set card in his back row.
[Activate by targeting 1 face-up Attack Position monster you control. While this card remains in the Spell & Trap Zone, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. If that monster leaves the field, destroy this card.]
"With the power that protects dimensions, I grant [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL] immunity from destruction!"
Clashing against the scarlet death beam fired by Numerounius, the ZEXAL of Hope had to be protected at all costs—Miles's final remaining force capable of fighting.
"Even before the mightiest God of Destruction, you still refuse to abandon hope. Very well… then keep it!"
As long as ZEXAL of Hope remained on the field, next turn it would still be able to seal the activation of all Zepha's card effects once again.
In the current situation, simply sealing a card's effect activation had already become meaningless.
The Attack of [Number C1000: Numerounius] was 10000. Even without activating any effects, a direct clash with ten thousand Attack was more than enough to instantly reduce the pitiful Life Points of Miles and Aisha to zero.
"I end this turn's Battle Phase." Miles gritted his teeth as he declared.
"Now then—[Number C1000: Numerounius]'s effect!"
As Zepha Soroya continuously declared effect after effect, the gigantic god of destruction unleashed one ability after another, bringing wave after wave of devastation.
[At the end of the Battle Phase, destroy all monsters your opponent controls. After that, Special Summon as many monsters as possible that were sent to the Graveyard this turn to your field in face-up Defense Position. If this card on the field would be destroyed, you can destroy 1 monster you control instead.]
"—Chaos World-Destroying Numeron Spirit!"
It was as if the calamity that had once destroyed the world ten thousand years ago had returned to the sky and earth.
Not only the imperial capital of the Varian Empire—even the entire Spirit Continent felt the destructive shockwave unleashed by the god of destruction in that instant of the battle.
With Numerounius at its center, the starry sky was dyed an ominous crimson, as though the stars themselves had been set ablaze.
All monsters on the opponent's field were destroyed. However, because Utopic ZEXAL was protected by [Dimension Guardian], the only monster destroyed by that effect was [Number C39: Utopia Ray].
However, the monsters forcibly summoned onto Zepha's field afterward were not limited to the Utopia Ray that had just been destroyed.
Monsters that had been sent to the Graveyard this turn could be Special Summoned in Defense Position as much as possible.
As long as they satisfied the condition of being "sent to the Graveyard," they could be summoned onto Zepha's field by Numerounius.
"I Special Summon in Defense Position [Number 39: Utopia], Utopia Double, Utopia Ray, and Utopic Onomatopoeia!"
It was an extremely obvious piece of bad taste. Zepha Soroya directly chose to Special Summon every Utopia monster sent to the Graveyard this turn onto his own field.
"Now, both Chaos and Hope exist on my field. Do you still have any reason to continue fighting, Miles, Aisha Carlos!"
After Special Summoning all the Utopia monsters from the Graveyard, according to the effect of [Number C1000: Numerounius], if this card would be destroyed, another Utopia monster on the field could be destroyed instead.
Beneath the ominous crimson sky, the colossal god of chaos twisted what had once been hope into despair, spreading through the hearts of every human who witnessed the scene.
It was a despairing calamity capable of destroying the world.
Zepha continued to emphasize, "Even if next turn you use [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL] to seal my effects again, an attack-position Utopic ZEXAL still won't be able to stop this blow!"
In theory, with [Dimension Guardian] equipped and its resistance to being destroyed by battle and effects, as long as Miles turned Utopic ZEXAL into Defense Position, he could still endure several more turns.
Unfortunately, a monster that had already attacked this turn could not change to Defense Position.
"Regret it as much as you like. Regret that the attack you launched this turn awakened the strongest god slumbering behind the gates of hell!"
"How could we regret it!"
"Yeah!"
"That attack this turn was exactly what we wanted!" Miles roared.
"Even if this strike awakened a god—even if it cannot change the situation! It still created the greatest hope!"
Raising his hand toward the sky where calamity spread, lightning that even the gods feared began to surge from Miles's fingertips in that instant.
"You must have waited for this moment for a long time. The hatred of the world's destruction ten thousand years ago—the things you once failed to protect—turn all of it into the thunderous fury that slays a god!"
"This power… Impossible!"
No matter how hard Zepha Soroya tried, he could not understand how Miles, while being completely suppressed by Numerounius, had summoned thunder powerful enough to rival the god of destruction at the final moment.
"I overlay on top of [Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL] and Xyz Summon!"
"With humanity's greatest and final ultimate strike, eliminate the calamity! Lightning that tears apart a god! Rank 12—Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder!!"
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