"Nice! That single strike wiped out all of that old woman's monsters—just what you'd expect from the Saint!"
As the seawater stirred by the blue whale's cry splashed at her feet, Eve felt a refreshing chill seep into her body. Yet when she looked at Jeanne's cheeks, her own face flushed hot and burning.
"Someday, I want to become someone as elegant and noble as you, Saint!"
"Elegant and noble—you mean Jeanne?" Hoshino shot Eve a doubtful sideways glance. "That shrine maiden is definitely the easy-to-fool type. The kind you could trick away with just a single piece of candy."
"The attack isn't over yet, Master!"
Taking over the triple strike from Jeanne, the Summer Saint, the swimsuit-clad Jeanne—wearing a school-style swimsuit—had already picked up a dolphin, eager to join the action.
"Next comes the direct attack, right? I'm ready."
[Heroic Spirit – Swimsuit Jeanne ATK 3800]
"Alright!" Hoshino declared with a wave of her hand. "This strike will decide the duel—direct attack with Heroic Spirit – Swimsuit Jeanne!"
"—Activate my face-down Continuous Trap Card: Zoma the Spirit!" After revealing the last set card in her back row, Hela summoned a brand-new undead monster in response to Hoshino's attack.
[When this card is activated, it becomes an Effect Monster (Reptile/DARK/Level 4/ATK 1800/DEF 500) and is Special Summoned in Defense Position to your Monster Zone. This card is still treated as a Trap Card.]
"Through the effect of my Continuous Trap, become the wall that protects me—Zoma the Spirit!"
A purple aura surged out from the trap card, materializing into a ferocious undead creature on Hela's field.
[Zoma the Spirit DEF 500]
"So it's that trap card… troublesome. Hold on for a moment, Jeanne."
With a flick of her hand, Hoshino ordered Jeanne to halt her attack. If this had been under the old rules without attack replay, that strike would have gone through no matter what.
However, Zoma the Spirit has another effect: when it is destroyed by battle, it inflicts damage to the opponent equal to the attacking monster's ATK—in this case, 3800 damage.
Even with 4000 Life Points remaining, taking 3800 effect damage would be extremely dangerous. Moreover, if Jeanne's attack were blocked by Apophis, then since Tomoe Gozen was Special Summoned in Defense Position, the only monster left capable of attacking would be the Fuuma Token.
With only 500 ATK, the Fuuma Token wouldn't pose any real threat even with a direct attack. Trading 3800 damage for 500 is clearly a losing exchange. Even if it results in entering a "life-lock" state, there's a world of difference between choosing to lock your Life Points and being forced into it.
"You're not going to continue the attack, Master?" Jeanne asked regretfully, still holding the dolphin.
"Yeah, there's an attack replay. I'll end the Battle Phase."
To play it safe, Hoshino inserted three cards from her hand into the Duel Disk, temporarily giving up on pressing the attack this turn.
"I set three cards and end my turn."
[Hoshino's: 1 Hand Cards | 4 Set cards]
["Is it just me, or does it feel like your deck is full of traps, aibo?"]
Just like on the first turn—despite Okita and Eve both bricking—Hoshino had still set four cards. And now, on the second turn, her back row was nearly full again. Anyone who didn't know better might think Akasha had taken over.
"Well, this Synchro system has such high resource efficiency, so I stuffed in a few more Spell and Trap cards."
With just three cards, she had completed the Synchro Summon of three boss-class Heroic Spirits.
In a sense, that level of resource efficiency was even more terrifying than magical girls who could only activate their Phantasm Summon once per turn.
"And besides…" Hoshino glanced at Atem beside her before continuing, "in a tag duel, coordination matters more than anything. When it becomes my partner's turn again, supporting them with set cards is just as important."
Although Atem's expression remained calm, it wasn't hard for Hoshino to tell—after wiping out the three Egyptian Gods in a single turn, blocking Hela's offense, and counterattacking to defeat Obelisk once more—
Even after such a dazzling performance, he had already spent most of the resources in his hand.
"This isn't a battle I'm fighting alone. Just like the wish to protect this world isn't mine alone."
"Hoshino Chiyuki, I'll prove to you that the world you wish to protect is fragile and weak! My turn—draw!"
After drawing his card, Marik resumed his mocking tone and suddenly flung a card from his hand straight at Hoshino's face. "Die!"
Smack—
Catching the card cleanly between two fingers before it could hit Hoshino, Atem glared angrily. "Marik, have you lost even the most basic dignity of a duelist? To think you'd try to harm someone like this during a duel."
"So scary, so scary. Is this what the Pharaoh looks like when he's angry?" Despite his words, Marik's sinister grin remained as punchable as ever.
Mokuba snapped, "That's so underhanded!"
Eve complained indignantly, "Where's the judge? He should be disqualified!"
"Are you alright, Hoshino?"
"I'm fine. Thanks."
Snapping out of her brief shock, Hoshino hadn't expected Marik to pull something like that—nor had she expected Atem to react so quickly and catch the card for her.
"So, what exactly is this card Marik threw?"
"Hahahaha!" Marik burst into laughter, covering his face. "Then, as compensation for my little rudeness, I'll gift you a powerful monster. The effect of Lava Golem—"
[This card cannot be Normal Summoned. It must be Special Summoned to your opponent's field by Tributing 2 monsters they control. During the turn you Special Summon this card, you cannot Normal Summon.]
"I tribute your Heroic Spirit – Jeanne, Summer Saint and Heroic Spirit – Tomoe Gozen to Special Summon Lava Golem to your field!"
The forced flames of sacrifice instantly engulfed the two Synchro monsters on Hoshino's field—both of which had resistance.
Tomoe Gozen, who couldn't be destroyed by battle, and Jeanne, Summer Saint, who could avoid destruction once per turn, were removed from the field in this completely unexpected way.
"Don't hold back—use this power to your heart's content!"
The two clusters of sacrificial flames gathered upon the land of the underworld, condensing into boiling magma. They then took the form of a wailing monster, trapping Hoshino inside the iron cage embedded in the chest of the Lava Golem.
[Lava Golem ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][FIRE][Fiend/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
"Damn it—using my powerful Synchro monsters just to forcibly summon something like this…"
Suddenly imprisoned within the iron cage and unable to move, Hoshino could feel the scorching magma pressing close to her skin. It no longer felt like a mere hologram—the heat burned her once pale complexion into a vivid red.
["This really is something… even I can feel the heat, aibo."]
Digging at his ear with exaggerated disdain, Marik sneered, "This powerful monster has the same ATK and DEF as Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Aren't you satisfied, Hoshino?"
"Of course, such great power comes with a price," Marik added. "During each of your Standby Phases, Lava Golem will burn away 1000 of your Life Points."
"Tch—only as strong as Blue-Eyes, and it still costs 1000 Life Points every turn? What a piece of junk. Whoever wants it can take it."
Even so, no matter how much Hoshino complained while trapped in the iron cage, it didn't change the fact that a powerful monster now stood on her field.
"Enjoy your bath in boiling lava, Hoshino!"
Continuing his turn, since he had Special Summoned Lava Golem to Hoshino's field, Marik was unable to Normal Summon. Instead, he activated a Spell Card from his hand.
"—Spell Card: Dragon's Mirror!"
[Fusion Summon 1 Dragon Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by banishing Fusion Materials listed on it from your field or GY.]
"Fusion Summoning a Dragon from the Graveyard? But aren't there only Zombie-type monsters in the Graveyard right now?" Eve asked in confusion.
"Zombie monsters are exactly what I need," Marik replied. "I banish two copies of Despair from the Dark from my Graveyard to Fusion Summon—Roar! [Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon!"]
[Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 0]
[2 Zombie-Type monsters. This card can only be Special Summoned by Fusion Summon.]
"ROOOAR—!"
The Dragonecro Dragon, born from the land of the dead and fused from twin despair, emerged in an undead form, letting out a sorrowful roar.
"Big brother, that's another monster with 3000 ATK," Mokuba pointed out.
"I know!" Kaiba frowned deeply. He clearly remembered seeing this monster in Dartz's hands before. "This is troublesome… why does Marik have that Dragon?"
"Gahaha! Battle—Dragon!" Pointing at Heroic Spirit – Swimsuit Jeanne on Hoshino's field, Marik declared, "Drain that detestable saint dry!"
[Heroic Spirit – Swimsuit Jeanne ATK 3000]
"Why would he choose to attack the Saint?" Eve asked in disbelief.
Even after losing the +800 ATK boost from Summer Saint Jeanne, Swimsuit Jeanne had returned to her base ATK—but at 3000, she still matched the Underworld Dragon.
Meanwhile, aside from Jeanne and the equally powerful Lava Golem, Hoshino also had a Fuuma Token with only 500 ATK. Under normal circumstances, attacking the token would be the obvious choice.
At least, that's how Eve understood it.
"The attack's coming—be careful, Jeanne!" Hoshino warned.
"Don't worry, Master!" Jeanne patted her chest confidently. "With equal ATK, I won't back down!"
"No, I mean—" Just like Kaiba, Hoshino clearly remembered this dragon and its troublesome effect.
"Effect of Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon activates—!"
[Monsters cannot be destroyed by battle with this card. At the end of the Damage Step, if this card battled a monster: Change that monster's ATK to 0.]
"Be consumed by the despair of the Nethersoul Dragon, false saint!"
A sinister breath spewed from the dragon's mouth, engulfing Jeanne. Her snow-white body, clad in her swimsuit, was swallowed by corroding darkness.
[Heroic Spirit – Swimsuit Jeanne ATK 3000 → 0]
"How… my strength is gone…" Jeanne's legs gave out as she collapsed to the ground, trembling weakly.
Grinning as his scheme succeeded, Marik continued, "After battling with Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon, I can Special Summon one 'Dark Soul Token' to my field with the original Level and ATK of that monster!"
The power extracted from Jeanne's body condensed into form, taking on her appearance—but with a cold, gloomy expression.
[Dark Soul Token (Jeanne – Swimsuit) ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Zombie/Token][ATK 2500/DEF 0]
Jeanne's original ATK of 2500 was used—excluding the additional 500 ATK from buffs.
"How can there be… another me?" Jeanne stared at her counterpart on Marik's field, her emotions in turmoil after having her strength stolen.
And this feeling… it wasn't like facing Jeanne Alter. It was more like confronting her own dark reflection—her inner self laid bare. A faint fear crept into her heart.
"…Honestly, I've just been putting on a brave front this whole time," the Dark Soul Jeanne suddenly spoke in a low voice. "Swimsuits, fashion… I don't understand any of it…"
"W-Wait!" Jeanne panicked, sensing something was wrong. "Don't—don't say any more!"
Ignoring her, the Dark Soul continued, "I was just copying Marie's style, trying to look a bit cuter and more modern. After all, someone as rustic as me being called a country bumpkin behind my back isn't surprising at all…"
"Is that so? So even though you always act cheerful, you actually care about that a lot?" Hoshino asked gently.
"That's not true! That's not true, Master! Don't listen to her nonsense!" Jeanne protested desperately—but her face, burning as red as the Lava Golem's heat, completely gave her away.
"I understand how you feel, Saint!" Eve said empathetically. "People call me a useless shrine maiden all the time. I act like I don't care, but deep down, I really want to prove myself too!"
["So even Eve cares about that kind of thing, huh…"]
"W-Why is everyone suddenly so understanding and concerned at a time like this?!"
Finally slumping forward in defeat, Jeanne admitted, "Fine, I admit it! I do want to change my image as a country girl! Is that so wrong? Even as a saint, I want to be cute like everyone else!"
"Enough of this farce!" Marik interrupted coldly. "Dark Soul Token—attack! Crush that spineless, spiritless 'salted fish' of a saint!"