"Whew!"
Yuui took a deep breath and looked at the last three cards in his hand: Bubbleman, Burstinatrix, and the Spell Card Card Destruction.
Compared to Roland's Gladiator Beasts, the strength of their Deck was overwhelmingly inferior, and its ability to run smoothly was also not on the same level. The only reason Yuui had been able to hold out until now was entirely due to the various rare cards they'd obtained during this time, along with the combined efforts of the Spirits in their Deck.
So whether he could make any effective counterattack from here on out depended entirely on this final card in his hand that still had a chance to turn the situation around—as well as on his and Alicia's luck.
With that in mind, Yuui declared, "I activate the Spell Card Card Destruction. Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number of cards they discarded from the Deck. My hand had two cards, so I draw two!"
On the other side, Roland raised an eyebrow at Card Destruction, then spoke with a hint of mockery: "So your last hope is luck, huh? Well, I suppose that makes sense. Someone like you can only rely on luck!"
Hearing that, Yuui gave a helpless little smile.
"Yeah, sometimes all I can rely on is luck. But luck isn't the only thing I have—I also have my partners and my family!"
As his words fell, Neos, Liquid Soldier, Stratos, and Slower Swallow—the Spirits Alicia had obtained one after another—all appeared, gathering around Alicia and Yuui.
"Everyone, please lend me your strength!"
The four Spirits each sent their power into Yuui's body, while the little girl Alicia cheered them on at his side.
"Yuui-san, do your best!! ( ^0^)ノ"
"Dra~w!!"
Two streaks of light tore through the air. Yuui glanced at the two cards he drew, then immediately revealed one of them: "I activate the Spell Card Fifth Hope. I choose five cards in my Graveyard with Elemental HERO in their names and return them to my Deck to shuffle. Then I draw two cards.
"I return Elemental HERO Bubbleman, Burstinatrix, Clayman, Sparkman, and Elemental HERO Grand Neos to the Deck, then draw two."
"Tch, lucky brat." Roland frowned.
Although the documents had stated that Alicia (Yuui) seemed to have very good luck in Duels, it wasn't until this very Duel that he truly understood.
There had been so many situations in which Alicia (Yuui) should have already lost, yet the opponent somehow managed to use that vague, intangible thing called luck to gain new opportunities through draws—and now was the same.
Anyhow, no matter. With the lineup he had on the field right now, even if his opponent summoned another powerful monster, he was confident he could crush any counterattack.
Victory would undoubtedly be his!
On the other side, Yuui looked at the two new cards he had drawn and finally let out a long breath.
"You finally came! Thanks, everyone!" Yuui smiled, then declared, "I activate the Spell Card Monster Reborn to revive one monster in my Graveyard. I choose to revive Elemental HERO Spirit of Neos!!"
Light shot into the sky as the phantom Hero of light appeared once more!
[Elemental HERO Spirit of Neos, Defense 2000]
"Spirit of Neos's effect activates. When this card is Special Summoned, I add one Spell, Trap, or Fusion that lists an Elemental HERO monster's name from my Deck to my hand.
I add Polymerization from my Deck!"
"Then I activate Spirit of Neos's last effect!" Yuui continued. "During my Main Phase, Spirit of Neos returns to the Deck, and I Special Summon one Elemental HERO Normal Monster from my Deck.
"I return Spirit of Neos to the Deck and Special Summon Elemental HERO Neos!!"
The dense light enveloped Spirit of Neos again, and its form solidified bit by bit. Elemental HERO Neos appeared once more!
[Elemental HERO Neos, Attack 2500]
"After all that work, you brought him out again?" Roland's eyes were full of disdain. "As expected, I really cannot understand you people."
"Heh, you don't need to understand!" Yuui chuckled, then revealed all three cards in his hand.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card Polymerization. I fuse Elemental HERO Stratos and Liquid Soldier from my hand! The Fusion Materials are: one Elemental HERO monster plus one WIND monster!
"Break your chains, embrace the spirit of the wind, and become the Hero that brings forth the storm! Fusion Summon—roar forth, Elemental HERO Great Tornado!!!"
Dark clouds gathered, fierce winds howled, and the black tornado raged like a freed, rampaging dragon that sought to devour everything.
Then, in the next instant, a burst of light detonated within the storm. The winds calmed, and the dragon fell silent.
Sunlight returned to the field—and illuminated the form of the Hero.
Elemental HERO Great Tornado descended!
[Elemental HERO Great Tornado, Attack 2800]
"At this moment, Liquid Soldier's effect that activates when it's sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material for a HERO Fusion Monster triggers. I draw two cards, then discard one.
Next, Great Tornado's effect activates. When this card is Fusion Summoned, all monsters on your field have their Attack and Defense halved—Storm Cyclone!!"
Great Tornado spread his arms, unleashing the raging storm once more toward Roland's field.
In a flash, the armor on Roland's two Gladiator Beasts cracked apart, and even their weapons developed fine fractures.
[Gladiator Beast Domitianus, ATK 3500 → ATK 1750]
[Gladiator Beast Tamer Editor, ATK 2400 → ATK 1200]
Looking at the Attack of his two ace monsters suddenly plummeting to the level of "small fry," Roland felt anger rise in his chest, but he was not truly worried.
Because up until now, Alicia (Yuui) still had not touched the true core of his field setup.
Abruptly, then, in the next moment, Yuui shouted: "Next is Liquid Soldier's effect—I draw 2 cards. After that, I discard 1 card from my hand.
My partners, grant me true good fortune! Draw!!"
"Chuu!!"
The Lucky Swallow let out a clear chirp, and two streaks of light shot out once again as Yuui drew. Instantly, an ominous premonition surged through Roland's heart.
Next, Yuui glanced at the drawn cards, then smiled and declared: "I discard Slower Swallow from my hand, then activate the Equip Spell Favorite HERO. This card can only be equipped to a Level 5 or higher HERO monster. I choose to equip it to Elemental HERO Neos."
[Elemental HERO Neos, ATK: 2500, Equip: Favorite HERO]
"Next, we enter the Battle Phase!" Yuui swept his arm forward. "And at this moment, the effect of Favorite HERO activates. At the start of either player's Battle Phase, I can activate 1 Field Spell directly from my hand or Deck.
"I choose to activate the Field Spell Neo Space from my Deck!!"
A rainbow glow burst outward from Neos as its center, spreading in every direction. In the blink of an eye, the luxurious Colosseum was swallowed by the light.
The Field Spell Flavian - Colosseum of the Gladiator Beasts—the most fundamental core of Roland's entire Gladiator Beast strategy—collapsed completely.
Yuui watched Roland's expression twist from rage, then said coldly, "The effect of Neo Space: Elemental HERO Neos and any Fusion Monsters that list Elemental HERO Neos as Fusion Material gain 500 Attack.
"Next is the other effect of Favorite HERO. If there is a card in my Field Zone, the equipped monster gains Attack equal to its original Defense, and your opponent cannot target the equipped monster with card effects.
"So Neos' Attack becomes… 5000!"
[Elemental HERO Neos, ATK: 2500 → ATK: 3000 → ATK: 5000, Equip: Favorite HERO]
"Ha~~haa!!"
The rainbow brilliance wrapped around Neos, and an overwhelming pressure exceeding even Domitianus burst from his body.
"It's over!" Yuui commanded. "Neos—crush that so‑called king and his throne with him!
"Neos, attack Gladiator Beast Domitianus—Wrath of Neos!!"
Neos leapt high, his right arm wrapped in rainbow light, forming a blade-hand strike aimed straight at Domitianus.
Domitianus raised his trident in panic to block, but a weapon already covered in cracks had no chance of stopping Neos' attack.
At the moment of impact, the trident shattered, and Neos' strike landed squarely on Domitianus.
"GRAAAH!!"
The sea-dragon let out a howl of agony before exploding, the shockwave blasting toward Roland.
[Roland, LP: 2000 → LP: 0]
As Roland's Life Points hit zero, the Duel ended with Yuui's victory.
Still, Alicia and Yuui looked toward Roland's side. When the smoke slowly cleared, Roland still stood in the same place—not a single step back.
His face was covered in dust, and his refined formal attire was scorched and stained black from the explosion.
Yet he remained standing like the sturdiest of stones.
"Huu~~"
After a long pause, Roland exhaled a heavy breath, lifted his head, and said coldly to Alicia (Yuui): "The Duel… is yours. Since I have lost, our Babar family will no longer pursue you over this matter.
"As for Neos… he is the Spirit His Highness the Grand Prince desires. He is important to that lord, so do not think this matter ends here."
With that, Roland turned and left the Duel arena without looking back. Not far away, an elderly servant wearing the Babar family crest was already waiting.
Watching Roland and the old retainer depart together, Alicia spoke in confusion:
"Yuui-san, what did he mean? Does this mean someone else will come after us?"
"Mm. He came as the Babar family's representative. He lost, so the Babar family won't continue their pursuit over this matter. That said, just because he won't make a move doesn't mean the Grand Prince has no other subordinates. So yes… someone will definitely come for us."
"I see… sigh (;^:), Yuui-san, I feel so tired. Why do we keep running into so many troublesome things? We only want to make something of ourselves and live a happy life…"
"…It's fine. I'm here. Our promise—I'll definitely fulfill it."
"Mm. I believe in you, Yuui-san!"
"Alicia, I… will become stronger!"
"Me too, Yuui-san."
"Hehe, then good. First step to becoming stronger! Let's get something to eat!"
"Eh [·^·?], eat? Go to the cafeteria?"
"Don't forget, we ordered so much good food earlier! It'd be a waste to leave it behind!"
"Oh yeah! (><) Yuui-san, I want to eat that hamburger steak! I heard it's really good!"
"Hahaha, don't worry—it's all yours. I'll just taste a little."
"Hehehe, you're the best, Yuui-san!!!"
In the distance, a certain instructor stood atop a tall tower, having watched the entire Duel from start to finish. He pushed up his glasses.
The bright lenses reflected an unnaturally dark gleam. In his eyes swirled a greed like the depths of an abyss.
"Even the Duke Babar's son wasn't his match… Looks like I'll have to move quickly. Otherwise, that 'treasure' will be taken by the Grand Prince's faction first…"
...
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