"That hurts, Mash! Even if you're being controlled, couldn't you at least go a little easier on me?"
Still reeling from Mash's direct shield bash, Hoshino groggily rubbed her head.
"You're crying over something so small? That was merely a friendly greeting to start the duel~"
Wearing an expression full of amusement, White Hoshino casually drew her second card and slotted it into the Duel Disk, completely absorbed in the moment.
"—After my attack, I activate the Spell Card [The Black Grail]!"
[The Black Grail – Spell Card Effect
①: Choose one of the following effects to activate.
● Send 1 DARK-Attribute "Heroic Spirit" monster from your hand or field to the Graveyard; draw 2 cards.
● Select 1 "Alter" monster in your Graveyard; negate its effects and Special Summon it, ignoring its Summoning conditions.]
"I choose to discard 1 DARK-Attribute monster from my hand to draw 2 cards! Then, I banish The Black Grail from the game after activation, allowing me to Set 1 'All the Evils of This World' directly from my deck!"
"!?"
If it were just for hand advantage, Hoshino wouldn't be concerned. Which meant the card's true purpose had to be something more dangerous.
"...You mean Angra Mainyu?"
"Heh, of course not. I'm not talking about that utterly useless, weakest Avenger. I mean the true 'Evil'—one capable of drowning the world itself!"
White Hoshino flipped the Set Field Spell on her Duel Disk. The space above the battlefield cracked open into a void, from which spilled a vile, black mud that instinctively repelled all who witnessed it.
Sensing the ominous energy surging beneath them, Yugi furrowed his brows. "Kaiba! This feeling… it's the same as back in Battle City…!"
"Yeah, that's right! I'll never forget it—the power that even surpassed our combined God Cards!"
That scene was burned into Kaiba's memory. Even when he and Yugi had joined forces, commanding Slifer the Sky Dragon and Obelisk the Tormentor, they had struggled against Alter's power. Though Hoshino had previously used "Alter" monsters, she had never wielded darkness on this scale.
"As long as 'All the Evils of This World' remains on the field, the Equip Spell 'Imaginary Number Magecraft' won't be destroyed during the End Phase~"
Lovingly caressing Mash's card, White Hoshino smirked and Set two more cards into her Duel Disk.
"So, to sum it up—there's no way I'm giving back my adorable Kohai anytime soon! I Set two cards and end my turn!"
[White Hoshino's: 3 Hand Cards]
"My turn! Draw!"
Hoshino's eyes blazed with determination.
"You dare use something this dark to take my precious Mash? There's no way I'm letting you get away with that!"
As her turn began, Hoshino quickly assessed the situation. Though Mash had been switched to Attack Position for the earlier assault, her effect still allowed her to change battle positions once per turn. A single attack wouldn't be enough.
"Then, I activate the Quick-Play Spell—[Firefly's Flame of Integrity]!"
[Firefly's Flame of Integrity – Quick-Play Spell Effect:
● Special Summon a [Heroic Spirit – Okita Souji] in Defense Position from your Deck.]
"I Special Summon Okita Souji in Defense Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Okita Souji ★★★★★★★ (Level 7)] [WIND] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 2500 / DEF 2000]
A verdant silhouette flickered into existence, carried by a swift breeze. After what felt like countless chapters of absence, Okita finally stepped onto the dueling field once more.
"The strongest, most dazzling ace—invincible Okita has arrived! Though, summoning me in Defense Position is a bit of a letdown… But hey, not going straight to the Graveyard is already an emotional moment!"
Hoshino drew her next card and placed it into her Duel Disk with conviction.
"I'm counting on you. You're the only swordsman who can break through Mash's shield!"
Okita nodded in satisfaction, striking a stylish pose.
"Mhm, mhm! Master, you've got great taste! Okita-san's defense-piercing ability is top-tier, after all!"
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell—[Buddhism of Emptiness]! I tribute Okita on the field to Special Summon Musashi from my Deck!"
Okita froze mid-pose. A soft white light enveloped her as her tribution began. Her vacant eyes blinked in disbelief.
"Huh? Master, the swordsman you're relying on… wasn't me? You mean to say I was just passing through, and your real beloved swordsman is someone else?"
As Musashi's card was pulled from the deck and placed into the Duel Disk, Okita's fleeting moment of "glory" ended. Her card quietly returned to its rightful place—the Graveyard.
"ヽ（≧□≦）ノ I demand that the opponent's Master steal me like they did with Mash! Let me become Alter too!!"
Yeah… but your Alter version gets way better treatment. You wouldn't betray us so easily…
[Heroic Spirit – Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)] [WIND] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 3000 / DEF 2900]
[Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned by the effect of "Buddhism of Emptiness."]
Carrying her small tachi over her shoulder, Musashi wore a slightly apologetic expression.
"Master… Okita was crying so much just now that I almost feel bad about this…"
"Don't worry, Musashi. Even if Okita isn't on the field anymore, the proof that she fought here—the will she left behind—lives on through us! Thanks to [Buddhism of Emptiness], Musashi gains ATK equal to half the tributed monster's ATK!"
[Shinmen Musashi ATK 3000 → 4250]
"Whoa! This blade's got some serious bite!"
Inheriting Okita's strength, Musashi's twin swords morphed to resemble Okita's beloved katana.
"Next, I activate the Spell—[Triple-Linked Crane Wings]! This turn, Musashi's ATK is halved, but she can attack three times during the Battle Phase!"
[Shinmen Musashi ATK 4250 → 2125]
"Attack, Musashi! If anyone can break through Mash's defense—it's you!"
Mash possessed an effect that prevented her from being destroyed once per turn. To counter this, Hoshino had devised a plan. By pairing Musashi's dual-blade style with Crane Wing Triple Strike, she could launch multiple attacks in a single battle phase. With an attack power of 2125, Musashi could surpass Mash's 2000 DEF.
"This sword is my path to the void! Take this, Mash!"
Twin blades stirred a storm of steel as Musashi's slashes flew toward Mash, who stood in Attack Position on White Hoshino's field. Though Musashi's form appeared slender, the ferocity behind her swordplay radiated a presence far beyond that of ordinary swordmasters.
In response to Musashi's relentless assault, White Hoshino swiftly issued her command.
"Mash's effect! Once per opponent's Battle Phase, she can change her battle position! And while in Defense Position, she can't be destroyed by battle or card effects!"
The clash of blades and shield erupted in a burst of sparks. Even with the force of Musashi's dual-wielded strikes, not a scratch marred Mash's steadfast defense. However, a trace of sword energy slipped past the guard, grazing White Hoshino's cheek and slicing a few strands of her silken silver hair.
"Musashi's piercing effect! Damage is inflicted equal to the difference between her attack and Mash's defense!"
[White Hoshino LP 4000 → 3875]
No one knew Mash's effect better than Hoshino. And just as expected, once Mash was attacked, she lowered her shield.
"When Mash is attacked, she's forcibly switched back to Attack Position! And since Musashi activated Crane Wings, she still has two more attacks this Battle Phase!"
[Mash ATK 1000]
"Sorry, Mash… but if it means saving you from this darkness, I'd rather send you to the Graveyard to have tea with Okita-san!"
With a glimmer of steel, Musashi readied herself again. Her twin blades gleamed, poised for a second strike.
"This time, I'll get serious—With sword, break the stance! Kengou Battō!"
"Heh, you really are predictable, you know~"
No one understood Mash's effects better than Hoshino—but by that same token, no one understood Hoshino's thought process better than herself. Just before Musashi's second strike landed, White Hoshino flipped one of her Set cards.
"If brute force were enough to win, then you seriously underestimate me! Face-down Trap Card, activate—"
At that moment, a wave of malevolent energy surged forth, engulfing Mash's form and halting Musashi's strike just before it could reach its target.
"—[Pelt of the Calydonian Boar]!"
[Pelt of the Calydonian Boar – Trap Card Effect:
Target 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster you control; banish it, then Special Summon 1 "Alter" monster from your Deck whose card text specifically lists that banished monster, ignoring its Summoning conditions. Equip this card to the Special Summoned monster.]
"A soul tainted by imaginary numbers won't break free so easily! This time, it's not the Mash who was merely controlled—but the genuine article…"
White Hoshino slammed a card from her Deck onto the Duel Disk. From its mechanical crevices, thick black mist seeped into the Monster Zone.
"The genuine—Mash Kyrielight Alter! With Calydonian's effect, I banish Mash from the field and Special Summon [Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight Alter] in Defense Position from my Deck!"
[Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight Alter ★★★★★ (Level 5)][DARK][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 2000]
Clad in a alter version of her armor, the altered Mash now stood firm. Her shield had transformed into a crimson spear, crackling with ominous energy.
"Senpai… I'm so lonely…"
Her once-innocent eyes now brimmed with sorrow, black streaks of corruption staining her face as she stared at Hoshino.
"Mash…?"
"Can I no longer fight beside Senpai to save humanity? I miss those days… Even though you're still out there, saving the world… I can't be by your side the way I used to. What I truly want… is for Senpai to belong to me, and me alone."
Her suppressed feelings had twisted into an obsession. A wicked smile curled on her lips.
"So let me devour you, Senpai—body and soul! Let's sleep together, do all sorts of fun things in bed, okay, Senpai?"
"—There's no way my corrupted kouhai could be this lewd!"
A blunt, unfiltered proposition like that left Hoshino momentarily speechless.
"Mash, I used to joke about calling you a Lustful Eggplant, but I think I actually preferred your more reserved self…"
Mash Alter's boldness was overwhelming—even Hoshino struggled to keep up.
"Hahahaha! This is hilarious!"
White Hoshino clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably at both the line and Hoshino's stunned expression.
"You…! You dare manipulate Mash's mind and twist her like this—I won't forgive you!"
Enraged, Hoshino resumed the battle, commanding Musashi to continue her second strike.
Wiping away a tear from her eye, White Hoshino chuckled softly. "Hey, don't go blaming me. I didn't make Mash feel this way. Alter forms are just reflections of a Heroic Spirit's suppressed nature. Who knows? Maybe this was the hidden wish buried deep in that innocent kouhai's heart~"
"Come fight me, Senpai!" Mash Alter's crimson eyes gleamed as she lunged toward Musashi. "If I win, then Senpai will be mine—body and soul!"
Her crimson spear scraped against the ground, sending sparks flying to obscure Musashi's vision. As she sprang forward, she aimed a piercing thrust for Musashi's heart.
"This kind of diversion… won't work on me, Mash!"
Musashi closed her eyes for a heartbeat, parried with her short blade, and swung her longer sword in a clean, decisive arc.
"My blade has reached 'Emptiness'—my roaring sword, now unsheathed! Ishana, Daitenshou!"
The silver arc cleaved through Mash Alter's torso. But no blood spilled—only the malevolent energy of the Calydonian Pelt burst forth.
"Pelt of the Calydonian Boar's effect! If the equipped monster would be destroyed, I can send this card to the Graveyard instead!"
White Hoshino slid the Trap Card into her Graveyard as the cost for protecting Mash Alter.
"Even if destruction was prevented, Musashi's piercing effect still goes through! And the battle's not over yet! Crane Wings—this is the final strike, Musashi!"
[White Hoshino LP 3875 → 3750]
Still within the same Battle Phase, Hoshino issued her command—Musashi's third and final strike.
"Without the Calydonian Pelt's protection, this next blow will decide everything!"
"You fool! Losing Calydonian Pelt was exactly what Mash Alter needed to unleash her true power! I told you—you'll never defeat me!"
(*****)
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