The Next Day —
Inside Hoshino's office, an unusual gathering had formed:
Kaiba, Yugi, Hoshino, Eve, and, surprisingly, Crowler.
Since Duel Academy's main school building had been completely incinerated by the Flame King, classes had inevitably been suspended. In a situation like this, economic losses were the least of their concerns.
However, the academy cafeteria and convenience store remained operational to support the students' daily needs. After roughly calculating the remaining supplies on campus, they estimated that, at the current rate of consumption, they could last for about a month.
"A month, huh? That's a decent amount of time. Even so, under the current circumstances, I'd still prefer to solve this problem as soon as possible."
Sitting behind her desk with her hands clasped beneath her chin like Gendo Ikari, Hoshino analyzed the situation.
After all, if the entire world remained fragmented, even if the academy could endure for a month, many other places wouldn't hold out nearly as long.
"Mamma mia… Why did something like this have to happen, no ne…"
Holding his stomach, Crowler — who had spent yesterday bedridden with stomach pain — found himself waking up to a world that had completely changed overnight. His already gaunt features looked even more haggard now.
"That slacker Jaden actually threw the whole world into chaos, no ne! I'm doomed! I've made things difficult for him so many times before — he'll definitely find a chance to take revenge on me, no ne!"
"I don't think Jaden would do something like that, Professor," Hoshino said.
"More importantly, Supreme King Jaden probably doesn't even have the time to pay attention to someone like you."
"Headmistress is absolutely right, no ne! After all, I'm just an insignificant nobody. May the busy and all-powerful Supreme King please forget I even exist, no ne~"
Ignoring the cowering Crowler in the corner, Kaiba turned toward Hoshino.
"So, if we're going to resolve this situation as quickly as possible, how is Da Vinci's investigation progressing — that doll… no, that so-called Universal Genius?"
"Three days," Hoshino answered.
"To analyze the structure of the dimensional fusion and identify the critical point needed to reverse it. Even Da Vinci said she'd need at least three days."
"Only three days?"
Even Kaiba looked surprised by the answer.
Yugi couldn't help but marvel as well.
"A fusion between dimensions… two entire worlds merged together. Being able to analyze something that complicated and find a solution in just three days is incredible."
"Hoshino," Kaiba continued, "where exactly did you meet someone this talented? Even if she looks like a doll, I'd like to recruit her into Kaiba Entertainment Group if at all possible."
Hoshino's eye twitched.
"I don't think Da Vinci is considering a career change anytime soon."
"Salary is negotiable."
Hoshino Alter complained:
["Damn it, Kaiba! He's even trying to poach talent from Chaldea now. Aibo, tell him money can't solve everything!"]
Still, with a mind worthy of the title Universal Genius, Da Vinci would be in demand anywhere.
If salaries were actually compared, she might end up earning more than Hoshino herself.
That absolutely could not be allowed.
"If you're trying to hire the Universal Genius, even Kaiba Corp's finances couldn't support it."
Hoshino kept a straight face as she deflected him.
"You should give up, Kaiba. That's not someone you'll ever possess~"
"A man?"
Yugi looked confused.
Returning to the topic, Hoshino continued:
"Anyway, we have two options during the three days Da Vinci needs for her investigation."
"The first option is to stay put."
"It's the safest choice. No one can predict what dangers came with the dimensional fusion. Acting recklessly in a completely unknown world is guaranteed to carry significant risks."
"I vote for staying put, no ne!" Crowler immediately raised his hand.
Kaiba shot him a cold glare, as if to say:
Know your place. Small fry like you don't get speaking rights in a meeting like this.
Intimidated, Crowler quietly lowered his hand.
"The second option is the one Da Vinci mentioned yesterday."
"Now that the human world and Yggdrasil have undergone a super fusion into the same space, we could take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and launch an offensive against the remaining Kings."
"I don't approve of that plan, no ne…" Crowler muttered under his breath.
"We have to take the initiative!"
Eve suddenly cut in, slamming her hands onto Hoshino's desk.
"If we don't act now and wait for the worlds to separate again, won't we lose our chance to recover the remaining two World Legacy relics forever?"
"That's exactly what we're discussing," Hoshino replied.
They had already informed Kaiba and Yugi that the World Chalice had located the final two World Legacy relics somewhere on the continent of Yggdrasil.
As such, any strategy they formulated would have to take that into consideration.
"But are the World Legacy relics really that necessary?" Kaiba questioned.
Like Hoshino the previous night, he believed that after defeating six Kings in succession, they might simply continue pushing forward and win the war through sheer momentum.
"The situation isn't nearly that optimistic!"
Without warning, the office door burst open.
Zane Truesdale — now the Hell Kaiser — strode in dressed entirely in black.
Akasha and Minazuki followed behind him.
The three practically stormed into the office.
Behind them was a young girl Hoshino had never seen before.
"So you're awake?"
Hoshino smiled helplessly.
"First of all, congratulations on becoming the first person to defeat one of the Kings and survive the encounter through your own strength."
"But next time, could you please knock before entering my office?"
Hoshino Alter remarked:
["Speaking of knocking, Aibo, didn't you once blast an entire door off a Kaiba Corp building?"]
"That was a special circumstance! It's completely different."
Hoshino waved the comparison away.
"Still, that's quite an unusual group you've brought with you."
"Instructor Hoshino, the situation is already extremely urgent."
Zane spoke seriously.
"If we don't act quickly, we'll simply be waiting for disaster."
"Instructor? Why Instructor?" Crowler asked in confusion.
"Ahem. Let's set the special training aside for now."
Hoshino coughed awkwardly.
"Please call me Headmistress while we're here."
Then she asked:
"Why do you think the situation is so dangerous?"
"It's not Zane who thinks it's dangerous."
A girl's voice answered.
"I'm the one who told him how dangerous our current situation is."
Following the others into the office, the short-haired girl stepped forward.
Her pale, bare legs and exposed midriff contrasted with her light gray outfit, whose design carried a distinctly mechanical aesthetic.
The sight immediately caught Hoshino's attention.
"Excuse me… and you are?"
"Hoshino-nee," Akasha sighed helplessly, "try not to get too excited after you hear this."
.
..
...
"Huh?! This little girl is the Dwarf King? One of the Kings — the Iron King — that was defeated by Zane?!"
The revelation was enough to leave Hoshino stunned for an entire year.
Hoshino Alter commented:
["So she's supposed to be a dwarf, but judging from her appearance, she's just a plain little girl? Hmph, I knew it. There are no proper dwarves left in this world anymore."]
"Although I'm called the Dwarf King, I'm only one of the Kings."
The girl explained:
"Controlling the giant mechanical body of the Iron King requires twelve dwarf-girl pilots working together. Those twelve selected pilots are collectively known as the Dwarf King."
"First, I need to ask a completely unrelated but extremely important question."
Hoshino leaned forward curiously.
"Why do the pilots specifically have to be dwarf girls? Is there some kind of restriction that requires the pilots to be female?"
Just imagining that giant black mech wielding a massive hammer being operated internally by twelve little girls…
Hoshino could only say one thing:
Excellent work.
"There isn't any special restriction."
The girl answered matter-of-factly.
"It's simply because there are only women left in the Dwarf Kingdom now."
!!!
"I'm going to the Dwarf Kingdom. Even if I collapse on the way, I'll crawl there if I have to!"
"See?"
Akasha sighed.
"I told you this kind of setting would hit every one of Hoshino-nee's weak points."
"Headmistress, as much as I'd also like to visit the Dwarf Kingdom, the existence of the Dwarf King isn't the important issue right now."
Minazuki gritted her teeth.
"We have more urgent information to discuss."
The Dwarf King nodded.
"The remaining three Kings are highly abnormal beings. They absolutely cannot be judged by common sense."
"The remaining Kings?"
Hoshino suddenly realized something.
"Come to think of it, Eve, I don't think you've ever told us anything about them."
Eve immediately shook her head frantically.
"It's not that I didn't want to tell you! I genuinely don't know!"
"Even within the thousand years of historical records passed down through the World Chalice Priestesses, there isn't a single mention of the remaining three Kings."
The three remaining Kings appeared only in ancient myths from the era of the Nine Realms War.
As far as the human world was concerned, they were practically beings from before recorded history.
The Dwarf King continued:
"Of course there wouldn't be any historical records from the last thousand years."
"The Nine Realms War was the last time those three Kings ever appeared."
"If you calculate the time, it's been over ten thousand years."
Hoshino Alter reacted:
["Three Kings that haven't appeared for over ten thousand years? They're basically Dartz-level ancient monsters…"]
"Then maybe all three of them are already dead, no ne!"
Crowler suddenly brightened.
"If we can win without fighting, that would be wonderful, no ne!"
"Impossible."
The Dwarf King immediately dismissed the idea.
"If a King dies, the nation under their rule collapses as well."
"So as long as their kingdoms still exist, the Kings themselves must still be alive — even if they haven't shown themselves in ten thousand years."
"But if you're one of the Nine Kings yourself," Yugi asked quietly, "why are you giving us all this information?"
"Because Zane defeated me."
The girl looked directly at Zane without hesitation.
"No — he defeated all twelve of us."
"The six consecutive attacks of Chimeratech Overdragon made me acknowledge his path as a true king."
Hoshino summarized:
"To put it simply, this little girl got beaten into submission by Zane."
["As expected of my disciple. Extremely reliable!"]
"There's another reason too."
The girl's gaze shifted toward Hoshino.
"Hoshino Chiyuki."
"The relationship between dwarves and elves has always been very good."
"And you're the one who purified and saved the Realm of the Elves, aren't you?"
Using the effect of The Wicked Avatar, Hoshino had completely absorbed and devoured the negative energy polluting the Lake of Purification.
At the time, before she could properly receive Queen Mardel's thanks, the change in body control had forcibly ejected her from the Elven Realm.
"So after discussing it with Queen Mardel, I've decided to place my trust in humanity."
"And as repayment, I'll help you once."
"Help from Queen Mardel and the Dwarf King too…"
Hoshino rubbed the corner of her eye dramatically.
"I'm so moved I could cry. At long last, I don't have to rely entirely on this useless shrine maiden for information anymore."
The constant stress caused by Eve's questionable reliability finally seemed to ease up slightly.
"That's so mean, Hoshino!"
Eve protested.
"At least so far, none of the information I've provided has been wrong!"
"Now then."
The Dwarf King pulled a smartphone-like device from her pocket.
"The most important — and most urgent — piece of information."
Her small white fingers moved deftly across the screen.
"Wow, people from other worlds have smartphones too?"
Akasha leaned over curiously.
"The Dwarf Kingdom's technological development surpasses human society by several generations."
The girl replied.
"Having smart terminals isn't unusual."
The Dwarf Kingdom's technology was indeed highly advanced.
Although, thanks to Kaiba Corp, humanity's technology tree had developed in some rather unusual directions.
AR Duel Disks.
Duel Links systems capable of connecting duelists' consciousnesses.
In terms of dueling technology, humanity had already reached a level comparable to the Dwarf Kingdom.
The device projected an image into the air.
It was nearly identical to the fused-world map Hoshino had displayed using the World Chalice.
"If that's the information you're talking about, I already saw it last night!"
Perhaps out of a slight sense of rivalry, Eve sounded somewhat annoyed.
After all, they were both little girls from another world, yet the Dwarf King was overwhelmingly more competent than she was.
"No."
The Dwarf King pointed toward one of the three kingdoms surrounding Duel Academy Island.
"Look closer."
"This is a real-time projection."
"If you observe carefully, you'll notice something."
"Wait…"
Hoshino stared in the indicated direction.
"Is that continent moving?"
"Correct."
The Dwarf King's expression turned grave.
"There is no longer any time for you to peacefully recover and regroup."
"One of the legendary Kings that slept for ten thousand years has already begun moving toward your location."
"It's moving an entire continent?"
Minazuki stared in shock.
"That's absurd!"
"I already told you."
The Dwarf King's small, delicate face tightened into a serious frown.
Despite her youthful and delicate appearance, her expression now carried none of a child's innocence.
"The remaining three Kings cannot be judged by common sense."
"It's not that the King is moving the continent."
She pointed toward the steadily advancing landmass.
"The continent is moving because the continent itself is the King."
"The Rock-Type King of Battle —"
"Void King, King Utgarda — is the continent itself."