BOOM!!!
A column of roaring flames erupted skyward, and a wave of scorching heat blasted toward Alicia—abruptly, once again, a fuzzy violet barrier appeared, blocking the blast completely.
"Yuui-san!"
Alicia looked at Yuui, who stood protectively before her. Just as she'd believed—Yuui-san would always save her.
Though the actual damage was nullified, her Life Points had still been reduced.
[Alicia, LP: 4000 → 1100]
On the other side, Neos said nothing as he watched Yuui shield her again. His voice remained calm and detached. "Turn end. At this moment, Flare Neos's effect activates—at the End Phase, it returns to the Extra Deck. However, because Instant Neo Space is equipped, this Fusion Monster does not return during the End Phase."
"So that's the point of that Equip Spell," Alicia murmured, gazing at the shimmering ring beneath Flare Neos's feet. "Then if I destroy it, Flare Neos will disappear at the end of the next turn."
She thought aloud, not noticing the faint frown on Yuui's face as she spoke.
"My turn—draw!"
Alicia drew and glanced at her card. "I Set one monster in face-down Defense Position, then Set one card. Turn end."
[Face-down Defense Position ×1]
"Since another Spell or Trap has appeared on your field, Flare Neos gains 400 Attack!"
[Elemental HERO Flare Neos, ATK: 2900 → 3300 | Equipped: Instant Neo Space]
Alicia ended her turn at once. Neos immediately responded. "My turn—draw!"
He looked at the drawn card, then placed another on his Duel Disk. "I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Neos Alius!"
[Elemental HERO Neos Alius, ATK: 1900]
"Battle Phase! First, Neos Alius attacks your face-down monster—Neos Punch!"
"Hah!"
The youthful Neos shouted and charged forward like a bolt of light, slamming his fist into the hidden card. The card flipped to reveal a mechanical hound.
[Wroughtweiler, DEF: 1200]
"Wroughtweiler, huh? No matter," Neos said dismissively.
Neos Alius's strike shattered the hound into fragments, sending a ripple of impact through the air. Alicia staggered but swiftly recovered and raised her hand.
"Wroughtweiler's effect! When it's destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can add one 'Elemental HERO' card and one Polymerization from my Graveyard to my hand! And I activate my face-down Trap—Hero Signal! When a monster I control is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Elemental HERO from my hand or Deck! I choose Elemental HERO Stratos!"
The sound of turbines roared as fierce winds swept across the field. A blue-armored hero descended through the gale.
[Elemental HERO Stratos, DEF: 300]
"Stratos?" Neos murmured, slightly surprised. Of course, he recognized the hero—after all, he'd once fought alongside Yuui himself. He hadn't expected Alicia to wield such a card, though he suspected it was Yuui's doing.
As Stratos landed, Alicia continued, "Then, by Wroughtweiler's effect, I add Elemental HERO Clayman and Polymerization from my Graveyard to my hand!"
After retrieving the cards, she went on, "Now, Stratos's effect activates! When this card is Special Summoned, I can add one 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand. I choose Elemental HERO Sparkman!"
Drawing another card from her Deck, Alicia's hand increased to three, and with Stratos now defending her field, her situation stabilized.
She pointed at Flare Neos. "And because my Trap Card disappeared, Flare Neos loses the 400 Attack it gained earlier!"
[Elemental HERO Flare Neos, ATK: 3300 → 2900 | Equipped: Instant Neo Space]
"Impressive," Claire whispered from the sidelines, eyes wide. She hadn't expected Alicia to recover her position so quickly. Perhaps this girl was far stronger than she'd realized.
However, such a small counterattack didn't faze Neos. He gestured forward coldly. "Then battle continues! Flare Neos attacks Stratos—Flare Burst!"
The fiery blast consumed Stratos, smashing him to pieces.
Neos then placed his remaining card face-down. "I Set one card. Turn end. Show me what more you can do."
[Elemental HERO Flare Neos, ATK: 2900 → 3300 | Equipped: Instant Neo Space]
"I don't need you to tell me! My turn—draw!"
Alicia looked at her card, then held up two more. "I fuse Elemental HERO Sparkman and Elemental HERO Clayman from my hand!"
A vortex of fusion swirled in the air, drawing the two heroes inside.
Below, Claire's eyes widened. "She's summoning Thunder Giant, isn't she? But Thunder Giant alone can't break through this situation..."
The next moment, Alicia's declaration caught her off guard.
"Fusion materials—two 'HERO' Normal Monsters! Combine your strength to become the light that pierces the darkness! Fusion Summon! Shatter everything—Elemental HERO Grandmerge!"
Golden lightning crashed from the swirling vortex, and a new hero descended—its body shining with traits of four elements: wind, fire, earth, and light.
[Elemental HERO Grandmerge, ATK: 0 | DEF: 0]
"Grandmerge!?" Claire gasped. Even among HERO cards, that was an exceptionally rare and valuable Fusion Monster. She never expected Alicia to possess one.
Alicia raised her hand. "Elemental HERO Grandmerge's effect activates! Its Attack and Defense increase by 300 for each Level of its Fusion Materials combined! Sparkman and Clayman's combined Levels total 8—so Grandmerge's Attack and Defense become 2400!"
[Elemental HERO Grandmerge, ATK: 0 → 2400 | DEF: 0 → 2400]
Alicia thrust her arm forward and shouted, "Battle Phase! Grandmerge, attack Elemental HERO Neos Alius—Thunderlight Burst!"
Grandmerge raised his right arm, the launcher on his wrist flashing before a golden sphere of lightning shot forth, piercing straight through Neos Alius's chest in a burst of sparks. For the first time since the duel began, Alicia managed to land a hit on Neos.
[Neos, LP: 4000 → 3500]
"It's not over yet!" Alicia continued. "Elemental HERO Grandmerge's effect activates! When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, I can Tribute it to Special Summon one 'Elemental HERO' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions! I Tribute Grandmerge—now, light that pierces despair, blaze the path to my future! Descend, Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman!"
"Haaah!!"
Grandmerge roared, his body cracking apart as radiant light burst from within. From that brilliance, a new hero emerged—shining brighter than all before.
"That's...!" Claire gasped, eyes shot open with awe, while Yuui's solemn face finally softened.
Holy light flooded the entire space as the hero descended in gleaming silver armor. Golden energy lines pulsed across his body, wings of sleek, radiant metal extending behind him. His form shone with divine luminescence, majestic and sacred.
This was Alicia's ultimate hero—the strongest she could summon without Yuui's help: Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman!
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman] LIGHT│Warrior│Fusion│Effect│ATK 2500│DEF 2100
Materials: Elemental HERO Flame Wingman + Elemental HERO Sparkman
Must be Fusion Summoned and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways.
(1): This card gains 300 ATK for each 'Elemental HERO' card in your Graveyard.
(2): When this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK.
"Shining Flare Wingman, huh? I didn't expect you to summon him, girl. I'm impressed," Neos said calmly, though his tone carried not even a trace of surprise.
Alicia felt a twinge of unease but pressed on. "Shining Flare Wingman's effect! He gains 300 Attack for every Elemental HERO in my Graveyard. I have six, so his Attack increases by 1800—Heroic Radiance!"
"Haah!!"
Shining Flare Wingman spread his gleaming wings wide as the spirits of six fallen HEROes emerged from Alicia's Graveyard, merging into his light.
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman, ATK: 2500 → 4300]
"4300 Attack Points... Incredible!" Claire nearly jumped in excitement. She knew this attack could decide the duel's outcome.
Alicia understood it too. She raised her hand high. "Go, Shining Flare Wingman! Attack Elemental HERO Flare Neos—Shining Shoot!"
Shining Flare Wingman soared upward, wings blazing, before slamming a fist down toward Flare Neos.
Flare Neos spread his wings and countered with a fiery punch. Their attacks collided midair, light and flame clashing violently.
[Elemental HERO Flare Neos, ATK: 3300 → 2900 | Equipped: Instant Neo Space]
The shockwave was so immense that Alicia and Claire were forced back several steps, shielding their eyes—yet, neither looked away.
A moment later, Flare Neos plummeted like a falling comet, crashing into the ground with explosive force. Neos's Life Points dropped sharply.
[Neos, LP: 3500 → 2100]
"We did it! That must be it… we've won!" Claire cried, clenching her fists in joy.
"No! That drop was too steep!" Yuui suddenly shouted.
"What?" Alicia stared blankly, then looked back at the field. Flare Neos was still standing.
Neos's calm voice echoed. "Trap Card—Impenetrable Attack! I can activate this during the Battle Phase, targeting one monster on the field. That monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects during this Battle Phase. When Shining Flare Wingman attacked, I activated it to protect Flare Neos. He cannot be destroyed, and you cannot use your Wingman's effect to finish me."
Alicia, Yuui, and Claire all turned to see the fading Trap Card behind Neos.
Neos glanced toward Yuui with a soft smile. "Master, you once taught us that the best time to play a Trap Card... is when your opponent least expects it. How did I do?"
...
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