"Zero Hole's effect," Lorenzo said. "Cyber Angel Idaten's effect is negated and she's destroyed!"
A massive void opened beneath the angel's feet; the Cyber Angel stumbled and plunged in, erupting in midair with a boom.
"Heh, what a pity. Looked like you were about to hit the Cyber Angel counterattack rhythm and swing back in one go, right?" Lorenzo chuckled. "I've heard about it.
Cyber Angels can flood the field fast; look away and you get OTK'd by a fierce onslaught. But now your tempo's cut. Too bad—seems my B.E.S. are superior…"
Alexis listened blankly; at that point, her lips curved—and she actually laughed.
"What?" Now Lorenzo frowned. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Hearing you made me realize this past year at Duel Academy wasn't wasted."
Alexis smiled.
"Then let me show you the further-evolved me—and Cyber Angels' next-level power!"
She swept her pale, slender arm.
"From the GY, I activate 'Cyber Angel Natasha'!
While this card is in the GY, you can Special Summon it by banishing another 'Cyber Angel' monster from your GY!"
A golden glow rose from her GY; the phantom of Cyber Angel Benten appeared behind her.
"I banish 'Cyber Angel Benten' from my GY," Alexis said, "to revive 'Cyber Angel Natasha'!"
Benten's image faded with the drifting gold, and a pillar of blazing flame surged up, forming the four-armed Cyber Angel.
Cyber Angel Natasha, revived!
[Cyber Angel Natasha, ATK 1000]
"Again with this angel," Lorenzo said. "Shoring up your defense? It's certainly strong defensively, but all she locks is attacks.
Just use removal to get rid of her…"
Alexis smiled faintly. "Is that really all?"
"Nani?"
"Cyber Angel Natasha's follow-up effect. When she Special Summons herself by her own effect from the GY, she also takes control of one monster your opponent controls."
Lorenzo: "???"
What a ntr-angel!?
"Natasha's effect—take control of 'B.E.S. Blaster Cannon Core' from your field!"
Natasha spread her four arms, a column of gold erupting beneath her. The same light flared under Lorenzo's warship; the pillar enveloped it, as if to charm it across the field like a NTR's spell.
"Tch, keep dreaming," Lorenzo barked. "Quick-Play Spell 'Effect Shut'! Negate a monster effect's activation and destroy that monster!"
He clenched a fist toward Natasha.
"Cyber Angel Natasha's activation is negated, her revival is negated, and the B.E.S.'s control won't change."
The ntr-angel, not yet steady, dissipated into a phantom and vanished.
"Still, that was surprising," Lorenzo smirked. "That brand-new Cyber Angel has such a power. I almost fell for it.
But too bad—now that I've gained the power of Light, I'm invincible! Shooting or dueling, I'll stand atop the academy—no, the world…"
Alexis deadpanned, "Then I'll activate 'Cyber Angel Natasha' from the GY again.
By banishing another Cyber Angel from the GY, Natasha can Special Summon herself."
Lorenzo's smile froze.
Huh?
"I banish 'Cyber Angel Idaten' from my GY."
A new burst of gold flared from Alexis's GY. She took the banished Ritual Angel—Natasha's last cartridge—showed it, then slid it into her deck case.
"Cyber Angel Natasha, revive again!"
Blazing flames roared, domineering atop the altar. Hooves tore through the fire curtain; crimson gleams flashed in all her eyes, cleaving the blaze itself.
[Cyber Angel Natasha, ATK 1000]
Lorenzo: "…"
Wait—
You're not even once-per-turn for the NTR, either?
"That's right—Cyber Angel Natasha can revive any number of times in a turn as long as there are other Cyber Angels in the GY to banish."
Alexis closed her eyes gently, murmuring to herself.
"Since joining him, I've changed—but it's not enough."
Though she'd joined Kira's circle and remained a founding senior of the lab, admired by newcomers for her results, Alexis never felt it was enough.
Because despite all her effort and achievements, she felt ever farther from that person.
At first he seemed an unfathomable classmate, a powerful rival. Now even the concept of "rivalry" had been erased. Even trying to look up at his back, it was a blur.
That's why she realized her smallness, and how trivial her current achievements were.
So she couldn't stop.
"Cyber Angel Natasha's effect. On Special Summon by her own effect, take control of one monster your opponent controls."
Alexis raised her hand.
"I take control of 'B.E.S. Blaster Cannon Core'."
Lorenzo: "…"
"Then Cyber Angel Natasha's other effect. Once per turn, target a monster you control and recover LP equal to half its ATK.
That effect is once per turn, but since Natasha just re-entered the field, the count has reset.
I'll borrow your warship one more time!
I choose 'B.E.S. Blaster Cannon Core' and recover LP equal to half its ATK."
[Alexis, LP 1700 → 2950]
Lorenzo: "…"
"Battle. B.E.S. Blaster Cannon Core, attack 'B.E.S. Tetran'!"
Full salvo—core cannons unleashed, beams and missiles from every angle. Lorenzo's remaining ship was pierced through in an instant, sunk and blown to twisted scrap.
[Lorenzo, LP 900 → 200]
"Although B.E.S.s aren't destroyed by battle, Tetran has no counters left," Alexis said. "So after damage calculation, 'B.E.S. Tetran' destroys itself."
"Cyber Angel Natasha, direct attack."
The four-armed angel charged in person, knocking Lorenzo flat; her trampling hooves mercilessly ground across his face.
[Lorenzo, LP 200 → 0]