Banner stared, a head full of question marks.
"Hm? Why a swimsuit, meow?"
Akasha narrowed her eyes, as if she had pieced something together.
"I think I know where Hoshino-nee's outfit came from…"
Why a swimsuit? Because Okita's original outfit was currently being worn by Hoshino.
"By the way, Okita, in this form… are you considered your normal Saint Graph, or your swimsuit Saint Graph?"
"Master, just play me like usual. My Jet Pack isn't equipped yet anyway—that's my trump card!"
Drawing her sword, Swimsuit Okita somehow also had a random black scarf wrapped around her otherwise bare body. The incredibly mismatched combination left Hoshino unsure where to even begin complaining.
"Then I'll activate Okita's special effect—"
[When this card is Special Summoned: Set 1 Spell/Trap from your Deck that lists "Okita Sōji", or 1 "Haori of the Vow", to your field. A card Set by this effect can be activated the turn it was Set.]
Hoshino searched her Deck for a card that listed "Okita" and slotted it into her Duel Disk, then immediately declared Okita's battle flow.
"Alright, let's take out one target first. Okita, attack Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
"Leave it to me, Master! I feel so much lighter now that I'm free from all that clothing!"
That feeling wasn't wrong. Her barefoot, scarf-only "Shukuchi" dash was more fluid than ever. The black scarf fluttered behind her, drawing a stylized arc through the air.
"This is the finishing blade of a true Ace Monster!" Okita shouted. "A mere 'dark knight'? Don't think having a horse makes you special!"
Akasha: "[・_・?] …Why is this Okita trash-talking?"
With a flash of silver, Okita's 200 ATK advantage sliced through Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight on Dark Magician Girl's field.
[Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight — Destroyed]
[Dark Magician Girl LP 3200 → 3000]
"Hmph, that wasn't even a warm-up. P–Pff—!"
[Weaknesss Counter ×1]
[Heroic Spirit – Okita Sōji ATK 2500 → 2400]
"Ah… it's been so long since this drawback triggered, I almost forgot."
[When this card battles: Place 1 "Weaknesss" counter on it. This card loses 100 ATK for each counter.]
"This kind of outdated trait should've been scrapped ages ago! The modern Okita-san is nothing like the old days!" She wiped the blood from her lips, refusing to let the coughing dull her spirit.
"That means… it's time for that, Master!"
Okita shot Hoshino a thumbs-up. Their eyes sparkled in perfect synchronization.
"Okita-san's final secret weapon—the essential tool for overcoming any crisis… Jet Style!"
"And this outfit of yours fits the mode perfectly!" Hoshino threw a card into the Duel Disk. "Let's settle this in jet mode! Quick-Play Spell—Phantasmal Summon, activate!"
Fusion light erupted. From her hand, Hoshino sent Heroics Spirit – Lancelot (WATER) to the GY as Fusion Material, along with Okita on the field.
A top-secret machine tore down from the heavens, locking precisely onto Okita's back.
"—Unite! Surpass the Sky, M·DRIVEREX! This is Okita-san's Natural Style ultimate jet pack!"
[Heroic Spirit – Okita J. Soji ★★★★★★★(Level 7)][WATER][Machine/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2000]
["Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji" + 1 WATER "Heroic Spirit" monster]
[This card is also treated as "Servant – Okita Souji."]
"Break through the heavens, Okita!"
Pointing toward the airborne Okita J—thrilled by the jet pack's acceleration—Hoshino slammed the Fusion card onto the Duel Disk.
[When Fusion Summoned: Target 1 face-up card on the field; destroy it.]
"Targeting Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning! Go!"
"MAKOTO·DRIVE, full throttle! Hold together, my body!"
The hidden super-engine MAKOTO·DRIVE roared to life—launching Okita J. into a miracle-class strike.
"Swift, as in supersonic! Mumyou, as in a slash!"
Accelerating to near-light speed with jet propulsion beyond physical limits, she unleashed a triple strike so intense it warped the surrounding space.
Originally designed for a single target, its violent output forcibly dragged all nearby objects toward annihilation.
"Trinity, as in my special move! My deadly blow! Jet Sandanzuki!!!!!"
The blast kicked up so much wind that the audience couldn't even keep their eyes open. Only Professor Banner—already used to squinting at everything—managed to observe the battlefield.
"Amazing, meow! If that hit destroys Black Luster Soldier, the opponent will have no defenses left, meow!"
"What is this ridiculous sequence…?"
Even with her eyes shut, Dark Magician Girl could feel the terrifying energy locking onto her monster.
After all, on top of the sword, the jet pack was loaded with photon cannons, photon missiles, and an arsenal of weapons that had no business being scientific—but somehow were.
Why does an Assassin need this kind of heavy weaponry?
"This will destroy it—I can't let that happen!"
Driven purely by instinct, Dark Magician Girl flipped her last Set card and threw her final hand card into the Duel Disk, launching her counterattack—!
"The so-called strongest warrior in legend isn't going to lose to some goofy character that easily! Trap Card, activate — Super Soldier Rebirth!"
[Target 1 "Black Luster Soldier" monster you control; send it to the Graveyard, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Black Luster Soldier" monster from your hand with a different name from that monster, ignoring its Summoning conditions.]
"I send my Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning to the graveyard, which means Okita J. no longer has a battle target to destroy! Then I Special Summon my final card—Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Evening Twilight—from my hand, ignoring the conditions!"
[Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Evening Twilight ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Warrior/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
The warrior's black armor transformed into gleaming silver—the reborn Envoy of the Evening Twilight successfully avoided Okita J's finishing strike and remained on the field.
"Dodged it, huh? What a troublesome opponent… but Okita-san's attack isn't over yet!"
Drawing her blade mounted on her jet pack, Okita—refusing to give up—continued her long, summer-like combo.
"If effect destruction is avoided, then I'll just settle this properly—through battle! Jet Pack, Second Form—Kiku-Ichimonji Blade Mode!"
Switching modes, Okita donned the black-striped haori of her Ascension form and slashed toward Envoy of the Evening Twilight.
"Is she… getting carried away from that last attack?" Akasha frowned.
"You may be an ace monster, but that Black Luster Soldier still has 3000 ATK. Your ATK is obviously lower!"
"My ATK may be lower—but I'm not fighting alone! Full power, Master!!"
"Of course! This is the Trap Card we set earlier when Heroic Spirit – Okita J. was Special Summoned—Beyond the Azure Sky! Activate!"
The Set card flipped open, and Okita's jet pack ignited with sky-piercing radiance.
[Target 1 face-up "Heroic Spirit" monster you control; equip this card to it as an Equip Spell. It gains 500 ATK/DEF.]
[Okita J. Soji ATK 2500 → 3000]
"This time, we definitely won't lose! Okita, attack — Sakura Mumyo Sword!"
Their blades clashed—bright sparks bursting forth. Another equal-ATK showdown, just like last turn's clash between Black Luster Soldier and Mysterious Heroine X Alter.
"I won't lose again—because this time, Okita-san has reliable allies… right, Nobu?"
Behind Okita, perhaps born from the jet pack's heat mirage, a blazing silhouette appeared—
Oda Nobunaga, burning like Magician's Red, a phantom turning into reality.
"Effect of Heroic Spirit – Okita J.: If Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga is in the GY, this card cannot be destroyed by battle."
Showing Nobunaga's card in the GY, Hoshino explained:
"And this turn, as the cost for the Spell Okita × Nobu Fight!, I sent a copy of Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga from my Deck to the GY."
"Because Nobu is in the grave, Okita cannot be destroyed in battle, nya! Which means this time…"
Banner's eyes sparkled.
This time, the blade did not shatter.
With the final burst of power from Beyond the Azure Sky, Okita's sword finally pierced the snowy white armor of Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Evening Twilight.
Hoshino & Okita:
"This time—WE WIN!"
[Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Evening Twilight – Destroyed]
The legendary strongest warrior was finally defeated. Hoshino pressed her finger to the Trap still equipped.
"And now—this is the final effect of Beyond the Azure Sky!"
[Once per turn, if the equipped "Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji" destroys a monster by battle: Special Summon 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster with the same Level as that monster from your hand or GY.]
"Since Okita J. destroyed a Level 8 monster, I can Special Summon a Level 8 Heroic Spirit from my graveyard!"
Revealing a card engulfed in flames, Hoshino pointed dramatically at the Dark Magician Girl counterpart.
"Prepare yourself—this is the finishing blow! I Special Summon the only Level 8 Heroic Spirit in my graveyard—Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga!"
[Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][FIRE][Warrior/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
Okita's jet pack burst apart, and from the flames, Nobunaga strode forth—her phantom manifestation becoming reality.
"Gods and Buddhas turn to dust before me! Echo through heaven and earth—our burning souls, ROCK… ON!!"
Okita blinked, stunned.
"Why… are you in a swimsuit too, Nobu?"
"Okita… do you feel my burning rage?"
Nobunaga grinned dangerously, her flames hotter than ever—hot enough to incinerate.
"Why do YOU get to shine in a swimsuit while I become a sacrifice for your Summoning cost?!"
"=w= Puhuhu~ Were you that bothered by it, Nobu? Sorry~ Okita's swimsuit form is just really strong, you know? This whole victory is thanks to Okita-san's big performance~"
"SHUT UP, YOU SICKLY SWORDSWOMAN! I'LL BURY YOU AND OUR OPPONENT TOGETHER!"
Fire erupted beneath Nobunaga's feet, forming a demonic barrier.
Three thousand muskets converged, shaping into a massive skeletal titan encompassing the entire field.
"—Mara Reincarnation: Demon King of the Three-Thousand Worlds!!"
"H-hey!! Wait!! Using a Noble Phantasm on your own ally—Okita-san may lack Divinity, but it still hurts!!"
The direct attack swallowed both Okita J and the opponent's transformed Dark Magician Girl whole.
[Dark Magician Girl LP 3000 → 0]
The remaining 3000 LP matched Nobunaga's 3000 ATK—perfect lethal.
Gods and Buddhas perish alike.
Under the summer sky, Nobunaga's blazing inferno consumed everything.
[Winner of the Duel: Okita So—… Hoshino Chiyuki!]
"Next time, Master, you'd better summon ME in swimsuit form too… okay?"