"Transcending time and space, giving it my all—I'll come to your side~♪♪"
Back on the battlefield and in high spirits, Tamamo began humming a tokusatsu theme song she'd picked up from who-knows-where.
"Futile resistance. At this level, monsters like that are nothing before D·HEROes! I switch Destiny HERO – Captain Tenacious to Attack Position—battle begins!"
The moment the Fusion Summon was complete, Aster moved straight into the Battle Phase, intending to overwhelm Hoshino in one decisive wave with D's full offensive power and wipe out her remaining 950 Life Points.
"The power of the future can only be wielded by Destiny HEROes. Disappear! Dogma, attack!"
Jet-black energy spread from the sharp blades on Dogma's arms, locking onto Okita on Hoshino's field.
Because Okita's ATK was 2800—equal to Destiny HERO - Dystopia—the only way for Aster to break through was to attack with his highest-ATK monster: Dogma.
"—Destiny Sever!"
A cold, black flash cut through the air. Dogma's strike severed Okita along with the thrusters mounted behind her.
"Damn it! I beat you once already—how did you revive and turn the tables on me?!"
[Heroic Spirit – Okita Soji Destroyed]
[Hoshino Chiyuki LP: 950 → 350]
"Hoshino Chiyuki, this is the difference in our resolve. In a duel that bears destiny itself—you will never defeat me!"
Without slowing his assault after destroying Okita, Aster immediately ordered his 2800-ATK Dystopia to attack.
"Destiny HERO - Dystopia, attack! Be swallowed by the spiral of destiny!"
The energy erupting from the Fusion-born Destiny HERO's hand spun like a drill, piercing straight through the azure mech.
"This victory is mine now, Hoshino!"
[Heroic Spirit – Tamamo-no-Mae MegaMix Destroyed]
Jaden and Mash were so tense they barely dared to breathe.
"Don't tell me… Sensei (Senpai)… she's really going to lose?"
(***)
Sartorius: "So Upright 'The Chariot' truly represents victory… Is this the correct flow of fate after all? Then this is as far as it goes."
(***)
[Hoshino Chiyuki LP: 350 → 50]
"Sorry—locking at 50!"
At the start of the duel, after Aster's first turn of attacks, he had been left with 900 Life Points, while Hoshino was still at a full 8000.
Yet no one had expected that Hoshino would be the first to fall into a 50-LP lock.
"It's time, Master!" Tamamo shouted at the top of her lungs, surrounded by a swirling black vortex.
"I've been waiting for this—finally, my chance! Activate the set card—!"
Just as Hoshino had calculated, this turn was the only opportunity to activate that face-down card. And those remaining 50 Life Points were the foundation of her absolute confidence.
"Watch closely! This is the light that breaks the chains of fate—the final connection of the Xyz Overlay! —Quick-Play Spell activated: Rank-Up-Magic – Command Seal!"
Although the rules of a duel limited players to only two Xyz Summons per duel, they placed no restriction on the type of Xyz Summon.
And this Rank-Up-Magic was another form of Xyz Summoning—Hoshino's second chance to ascend.
[Rank-Up-Magic – Command Seal Quick-Play Effect: ① Can only be activated when an "Heroic Spirit" Xyz Monster you control is destroyed by your opponent. Special Summon from your Extra Deck, by overlaying it on that monster, an Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher, treating it as an Xyz Summon. If this effect is activated during your opponent's Battle Phase, your opponent must attack that monster if able.]
Clara gasped in amazement. "A Rank-Up-Magic… Not just Xyz Summoning—Hoshino can even use Rank-Up-Magic?!"
Having studied Madolche Xyz tactics, Clara was familiar with Rank-Up-Magic cards.
But because Xyz Summoning itself was still relatively new, Rank-Up-Magic cards on the market were even rarer than many classic high-rarity cards.
Naturally, the Rank-Up-Magic Hoshino possessed was one she'd obtained with blood, sweat, tears—and Saint Quartz.
"Since the destroyed Heroic Spirit – Tamamo-no-Mae MegaMix was a Rank 8 Xyz Monster, after activating Rank-Up-Magic, I can overlay and Summon a Rank 9 Xyz Monster!"
Aster understood immediately. "Ranking up your Xyz and forcing an attack… Is that your strategy, Hoshino?"
On Aster's field, Destiny HERO – Captain Tenacious in Attack Position was the only monster that hadn't attacked yet. According to Rank-Up-Magic – Command Seal, he would be forced to attack Hoshino's newly Summoned Xyz Monster with Captain Tenacious.
"A splendid performance, Hoshino. But as a final counterattack—it still falls far short!" Aster shot back. "My Destiny HERO – Captain Tenacious cannot be destroyed by battle! And as long as the Field Spell Clock Tower Prison remains, I take no damage!"
Unchanged. Perfect. Absolute D. Even Hoshino's last set card couldn't affect Aster in the slightest.
"Hoshino, no matter how desperately you struggle, you won't even stir a ripple in this raging river of destiny!"
"Sore wa dō kana?"
At some point, a brand-new black-framed Xyz Card had already slipped between Hoshino's fingers. The radiance layered atop Heroic Spirit – Tamamo-no-Mae MegaMix multiplied, momentarily overwhelming the nightfall imposed by the Field Spell.
"All this talk about bearing fate, about resolve in duels—honestly, it's annoying. Do you really think you're the only tragic hero here? Don't be so naïve, kid."
Had Hoshino's life really been easy? Thrown alone into an unfamiliar world, enduring countless life-and-death Shadow Games, shouldering battles that determined the fate of an entire planet—only to see her own father perish together with Orichalcos.
And yet, Hoshino had never complained to anyone.
Even after learning from Doctor Roman about the battles waiting in the distant future, she had resolved to face them head-on.
The Aster standing before her now was just like her past self in Duelist Kingdom—once stripped of comfort and safety, he could only cling to battle, forcing his own destiny onto Destiny HEROes.
"Aster, the one truly shackled by 'fate'… is you! —And now, I'm going to knock some sense into you!"
Slamming her final Xyz Card onto the Duel Disk, the shattered scenery of a crimson sky unlike the night, and endless yellow sands, completely overwrote Clock Tower Prison.
"—Rank-Up Xyz Summon! Heroic Spirit – No Name Archer!"
[Heroic Spirit – No Name Archer ★★★★★★★★★ (Rank 9)][WIND][Warrior/Xyz/Effect][ATK 3100/DEF 3000]
[3 Level 9 "Heroic Spirit" monsters]