NOVEL NEXT Chapter 279: Chapter 279
With momentum decisively shifting, Illya, now transformed into King Arthur, held Excalibur aloft. The radiant starlight enveloping her merged with the sacred sword's brilliance.
[Magical Girl – Artoria Illya★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][LIGHT][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 1000]
Paradox's disdain deepened. "Such futile resistance. No matter how hard you try, your monsters will never surpass Malefic Cyber End Dragon!"
"Fight back, Illya! Use your sword to cut them down!" Hoshino–Sensei commanded, pointing directly at Paradox. The dazzling radiance of Illya's presence seemed to dull even the ominous aura of the Malefic Cyber End Dragon.
"I won't lose!" Illya shouted, gripping Excalibur tightly. The stellar energy roaring to life around her mirrored her unwavering determination.
[Effect: During damage calculation, when this card battles an opponent's monster: You can reveal any number of "Heroic Spirit" monsters from your hand to your opponent. This card gains ATK/DEF equal to 1000 x the number of revealed monsters until the end of this turn.]
"Look closely at the monsters in my hand! These cards represent the willpower proudly imbued into Excalibur!" Hoshino–Sensei declared as she revealed a card from her hand—[Heroic Spirit - Okita Souji].
Even after ten years, Okita Souji's reputation for being an unfortunate draw hadn't changed.
Paradox sneered. "Pathetic. One Heroic Spirit card isn't enough. Even with that, her attack power is still below mine."
"Did you forget about me?"
"Huh?!"
Hoshino, already holding a card, mirrored her future self perfectly. Their synchronization was so precise it felt as though they were one person.
"Even though we're both Hoshino Chiyuki, you're dueling against not one but two genuine duelists! I reveal the card I just searched for—[Heroic Spirit – Von Hohenheim Paracelsus]!"
Hoshino–Sensei smiled, clearly pleased. "Paradox, you're facing the world's strongest duo, with maxed-out synergy. By revealing these cards, Artoria Illya's ATK increases by 2000!"
[Magical Girl – Artoria Illya ATK 2500 → 4500]
With excitement, Hoshino exclaimed, "Now her attack power surpasses it! Illya-chan, do it!"
Illya swung her sacred sword downward, golden radiance surging forth to meet the three-headed mechanical dragon's deadly sparks. "Noble Phantasm Deployment—Excalibur!"
The intertwined wills of the two Hoshinos finally shattered the destructive assault. The radiant blade cleaved through the electronic tide, severing the massive body of Malefic Cyber End Dragon.
[Malefic Cyber End Dragon destroyed]
[Paradox LP 4000 → 3500]
Caught in the dazzling light, Paradox's composed expression finally faltered. "I didn't expect you two to be this troublesome!"
For the first time, doubt crept into Paradox's voice. He had defeated a far-future version of Hoshino Chiyuki—her supposed peak form.
If the younger Hoshino was still growing, and the current Hoshino represented her maturity, then the Hoshino of his era should have been her ultimate version.
Yet here stood these two earlier iterations, pushing him harder than ever.
"Due to Artoria Illya's effect, I can select a [Artoria]-named Spell or Trap card from my Deck and set it on the field," Hoshino–Sensei declared, searching her deck.
Paradox, however, flipped his final set card. "When Malefic Cyber End Dragon was destroyed, I activate the Trap Card [Malefic Tune], allowing me to draw two cards."
"Replenishing his hand again? He's clearly aiming to wear us down," Hoshino muttered, analyzing his strategy.
With his hand now refilled to six cards, Paradox's demeanor shifted. "I'll admit I underestimated you earlier. But now, allow me to confront you with the strongest Malefic monster, summoned using a method that transcends this era!"
Hoshino–Sensei furrowed her brow. "Transcends this era?"
Paradox raised his duel disk dramatically. "Feel the power born from dimensional rifts! On this stage transcending time, let the curtain rise on destruction! I Normal Summon [Malefic Paradox Gear] and activate its effect!"
A small black mechanical gear monster appeared on the field, starkly contrasting the imposing Malefic monsters summoned before it.
[Malefic Paradox Gear ★ (Level 1)][DARK][Machine/Effect][ATK 0/DEF 0]
[Effect: If a face-up Field Spell is on the field: You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 "Malefic Parallel Gear" from your Deck, then, add 1 "Malefic" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Malefic Paradox Gear". If a "Malefic" monster would banish a monster to Special Summon itself by its own way, you can banish this card you control or in your GY instead.]
"I Tribute Malefic Paradox Gear to Special Summon [Malefic Parallel Gear] and add [Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon] to my hand!"
The gear transformed into its sleek parallel counterpart.
[Malefic Parallel Gear ★★ (Level 2)][DARK][Machine/Tuner/Effect][ATK 0/DEF 0]
"Next, I activate the special effect of [Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon]! By banishing Malefic Paradox Gear from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon it to the field!"
A streamlined, hybrid black-and-white version of Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared onto the battlefield.
[Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][LIGHT][Dragon/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
Hoshino crossed her arms confidently. "A Malefic Blue-Eyes won't be enough to defeat Illya, who's now transformed into King Arthur!"
Raising his hand dramatically, Paradox roared, "Then witness the darkness born from dimensional rifts! On this stage transcending time, let destruction take form! Synchro Summon—!"
"Synchro Summon?!" Both Hoshino's eyes widened in shock.
The gentle light of Synchro Summoning enveloped both Malefic Parallel Gear and Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, merging them into a new Malefic monster. Another dimension of chaos unfolded before Hoshino's eyes.
"Using Malefic Parallel Gear and Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, I Synchro Summon for a total Level of 10! Appear, [Malefic Paradox Dragon]!"
[Malefic Paradox Dragon ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Dragon/Synchro/Effect][ATK 4000/DEF 4000]
["Malefic Parallel Gear" + 1 non-Tuner "Malefic" monster]
The enormous dragon materialized, towering over the battlefield. Its sheer size and ominous presence made Hoshino unconsciously take a step back. "Whoa! It's huge! How did he even summon this thing?"
"Did you notice the card he just placed on his duel disk?" Hoshino-Sensei's sharp eyes caught the anomaly.
"A card with a white frame... Cards like that don't exist in this era."
Paradox smirked at their curiosity. "What you've just witnessed is Synchro Summoning. By using a Tuner monster and other monsters as materials, their combined levels allow the summoning of a Synchro Monster from the Extra Deck."
Raising his hand dramatically toward the massive dragon, Paradox declared, "Behold the strongest Synchro monster of Malefic World! [Malefic Paradox Dragon], activate your effect!"
[Effect: When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can select 1 Synchro Monster in either player's Graveyard and Special Summon it.]
Hoshino tilted her head, puzzled. "A Synchro monster in the Graveyard? Wait, aside from this one, was there another Synchro monster earlier?"
Paradox retrieved a card from his Graveyard, displaying it with theatrical flair. "Revive, shining star dust of light! Special Summon [Stardust Dragon]!"
As the majestic Stardust Dragon emerged, its elegant radiance stood in stark contrast to the corrupted Malefic Stardust Dragon they had previously faced.
[Stardust Dragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][WIND][Dragon/Synchro/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2000]
"So that's the original version of Malefic Stardust Dragon," Hoshino-Sensei murmured. "I see now. It was originally a Synchro Monster too."
Paradox smirked triumphantly. "But I'm not done. I activate [Monster Reborn] to bring back [Malefic Cyber End Dragon] from my Graveyard!"
The massive, three-headed mechanical dragon reformed amidst arcs of electricity, returning to the field with its imposing presence.
[Malefic Cyber End Dragon ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Machine/Effect][ATK 4000/DEF 2800]
"With Stardust Dragon and Malefic Cyber End Dragon both on my field, I now activate the special effect of [Malefic Paradox Dragon]!"
The roar of the Malefic Paradox Dragon filled the battlefield, scattering particles of stardust that seemed to suppress all opposition.
[Effect: All face-up monsters your opponent controls lose ATK equal to the total ATK of all other face-up Synchro Monsters you control.]
Caught in the storm, Illya, clad in her Saber armor, struggled to maintain her grip on Excalibur. "Master, this is bad… I feel my strength draining away. I can barely move…"
Paradox sneered. "Thanks to Malefic Paradox Dragon, all your monsters lose a total of 6500 ATK—the combined ATK of Stardust Dragon and Malefic Paradox Dragon!"
[Magical Girl - Artoria Illya ATK 4500 → 0]
"A permanent 6500 ATK reduction?! That's absurd!" Hoshino-Sensei exclaimed, her composure faltering slightly. "This Synchro Summoning is more troublesome than I expected."
Hoshino, however, rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "No wonder some Heroic Spirit monsters mention 'Tuner' in their text. If we can figure out how this works, we might be able to use this summoning method too!"
Hoshino-Sensei couldn't help but smile. "Impressive, Chiyuki-chan. Even in a tight spot, you're already thinking ahead. But don't forget—this turn is critical. If we don't act now, his next attack could end the duel!"
Hoshino puffed out her chest confidently. "Don't worry! I can't keep relying on future me to carry the fight. I'll show you my cool side this turn!"
Paradox interrupted with a smirk. "Enough chatter. I activate the Continuous Spell [Field Barrier] to protect Malefic World from being destroyed, and I set two cards. Your move!"
[Field Barrier Continuous Spell Effect: Field Spells on the field cannot be destroyed. Neither player can activate a new Field Spell Card.]
[Paradox's | Hand: 1 | Set Cards: 2]
Hoshino drew her card with determination. "My turn! Draw! During my Standby Phase, I activate the effect of [Phantasmal Summoning (Install)]!"
[Effect: Once per turn, during the Standby Phase: You can target 1 Level 4 "Magical Girl" monster in your GY or banished; Special Summon that monster with its effects negated.]
"Return to the field, [Magical Girl - Illya]!"
[Magical Girl – Illya ★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 1000 → 0/DEF 1000]
Appearing beside her knightly counterpart, Illya muttered, "This feels so awkward, standing next to myself…"
"And I'll Normal Summon the card I searched last turn: [Heroic Spirit – Von Hohenheim Paracelsus]!"
[Heroic Spirit – Von Hohenheim Paracelsus ★★★★ (Level 4)][DARK][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 1000 → 0/DEF 1600]
Paradox mockingly questioned, "So your plan is to summon more monsters with zero attack? That's the best you can do?"
"Just watch, Synchro Boy! The real counterattack begins now!"
Paradox twitched. "Synchro Boy…?"
Hoshino smirked. "Activating Hohenheim's effect! When summoned, I can search my deck for a Spell Card with 'Heroic Spirit' in its name. While on the field, he can also be treated as a LIGHT monster!"
Hoshino–Sensei's eyes widened in realization. "Three LIGHT monsters, including Artoria Illya… You're planning to—!"
"That's right!" Hoshino declared. "Activating the effect of [Phantasmal Summoning (Install)]! I'll fuse the three monsters on my field!"
The three monsters—Magical Girl - Illya, Hohenheim, and Artoria Illya—transformed into radiant streams of light, merging into a new, awe-inspiring form.
"Fusion Summon! Appear, [Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X]!"
(*****)
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