"(°Д°) A decisive anti-King mech that's a hundred times larger than the Iron King…? Is something like that really possible to build?" Akasha asked in astonishment.
"You seem to be questioning the authority of us dwarves," the Dwarf King replied sternly. "The question isn't whether it can be built — it absolutely will be built, and we'll prove it to you. Under the King's command, as long as something can be imagined, there is nothing the Dwarf Race cannot forge!"
["S-So impressive… and she's just a tiny little girl."]
"Now that I think about it, aren't there no male dwarves?" Hoshino pondered. "The ones confidently declaring they'll build such a gigantic mech are actually a bunch of little girls. The contrast is strangely adorable."
The Dwarf King added, "Rather than worrying about our task, your responsibility as Duelists is to spend this time discussing how to increase your chances of victory in the Duel. Let me remind you — this is your only opportunity. If you fail, there will be no way left to stop King Utgarda."
"And if we really do fail?" Minazuki asked curiously.
"Then prepare to be crushed into scrap and sink into the sea."
"Mamma mia!!" Crowler's complexion grew even paler.
"I understand."
Standing up from the Academy Headmaster's chair, Hoshino looked around at everyone present and declared:
"The operation against King Utgarda — Gurren Lagann Breakthrough! As the highest authority of the Academy, I officially approve it!"
Kaiba's eyebrow twitched as he glanced at Hoshino in mild surprise. Though he didn't explode on the spot, his expression clearly seemed to say: Since when did you become the highest authority? I'm the Chairman and I'm still standing right here.
Hoshino answered him with a look that seemed to say: At Duel Academy, the Headmaster outranks everyone.
"According to the intelligence provided by Wangba, King Utgarda is a colossal King that commands Rock-Type monsters. To destroy it completely, we must use Rock-Type Duel Monsters. Otherwise, even if we win the Duel, it will be meaningless."
Just as the Dwarf King had said, they only had one chance. In a single Duel, they had to erase not only the physical body of King Utgarda but the very concept of its existence.
"So, everyone gathered here has experience defeating a King before. If anyone is confident in using Rock-Type monsters, please step forward."
["Aibo, aren't you planning to duel personally this time?"]
Hoshino answered inwardly: "There are only so many Rock-Type Heroic Spirit monsters available to me. If another powerful Rock-Type Duelist can fight alongside me, making it a two-versus-one battle, it'll give us a much greater advantage in the final showdown."
Kaiser, who used a Cyber Dragon Machine Deck, was the first to shake his head.
Akasha quickly waved her hand as well.
"I'll pass too, Hoshino-nee. I've never used Rock-Type monsters before."
Eve sighed.
"I can't either. I don't even own any Rock-Type monsters."
Who asked you, you useless priestess?
With your current status, you should be squatting quietly in the corner with Crowler.
"As for Kaiba, that dragon fanatic definitely doesn't use Rock-Type monsters," Hoshino muttered after glancing at the silent Kaiba, making the call for him herself.
"So that leaves… Minazuki and Yugi?"
Minazuki gave an awkward smile.
"I do have experience using Rock-Type monsters, but they were only low-Level fodder monsters in my Weakling Deck. Even if I could use them, I doubt they'd be able to inflict any meaningful damage on a King of this scale."
"This guy's no good. It should be Hoshino-nee and Yugi-nii instead."
Dragging Minazuki backward, Akasha said:
"A team made up of the world's two strongest Duelists? Even the King would have a hard time dealing with that!"
"A partnership between the Headmistress and Mr. Yugi… Just imagining it is terrifying," Minazuki agreed.
Eve placed her hands on her hips proudly.
"The world's two strongest Duelists already sent the King packing yesterday. And I, Eve, had the honor of witnessing that Duel with my own eyes!"
"But the real issue is…"
Hoshino turned her gaze toward Yugi.
"Isn't the Dark Magician a Spellcaster-Type monster? Are you confident you can handle Rock-Type monsters?"
The moment she said it, Hoshino realized she was overthinking things. For Atem, whose miracle draws came as naturally as breathing, wasn't any type of monster equally easy to master?
However, contrary to Hoshino's expectations, Yugi did not immediately hand control over to Atem's soul inside the Millennium Puzzle.
"Dark Magician is my other self's ace monster. But this time… I want to fight alongside you myself, Hoshino, without relying on his power."
Scratching his cheek, Yugi made the rare decision not to have the Pharaoh take over, choosing instead to duel on his own.
"And when it comes to Rock-Type monsters… I'm actually more proficient with them than my other self."
"Yugi, you…"
To be honest, Hoshino had rarely seen Yugi duel personally. Whenever a Duel came up, big or small, it was almost always Atem who stepped forward. As a result, even Hoshino wasn't truly familiar with Yugi's real strength.
"Hmph. So instead of letting Atem fight, you're stepping up yourself?"
Kaiba snorted mockingly.
"How arrogant… Yugi!"
"Hoshino… Kaiba… please!"
Yugi's eyes were filled with determination.
"I made up my mind a long time ago that I wouldn't keep hiding behind my other self forever. This is the perfect chance for me to prove it!"
Looking down at Yugi, Kaiba replied without hesitation:
"Don't be naïve, Yugi! At a time like this, there isn't any room for you to play around. Proving yourself doesn't matter in the slightest. What matters is bringing Atem out, winning the Duel for certain, and nothing else!"
"K-Kaiba…"
Faced with Kaiba's blunt rejection, Yugi seemed momentarily at a loss.
The Millennium Puzzle flashed.
With a hint of anger in his eyes, Atem replaced the flustered Yugi, stepped forward, and locked eyes with Kaiba.
"Kaiba, let me make one thing clear — Yugi is incredibly strong! The strength born from his sincerity and kindness can even surpass yours and mine. I want you to take back what you just said!"
"Hmph. A soul that has hidden behind you all this time, too afraid to even step onto the battlefield of a Duel… what right does it have to call itself strong?"
Kaiba met Atem's gaze without yielding an inch.
["Why are these two arguing at a time like this? By the way, where's the Head-Pressing Squad when you need them?"]
"That's enough!"
Interrupting the increasingly heated standoff between Kaiba and Atem, Hoshino declared:
"A Duelist's strength isn't determined by how many Duels they've fought. I choose to believe in Yugi, Kaiba!"
Turning to the Dwarf King, Hoshino made a request.
"As for the decisive battle mech… can it be modified for a Tag Duel?"
"A Tag Duel, huh…"
After thinking for a moment, the Dwarf King nodded.
"No problem. We only need to make a few adjustments to the existing blueprints. But that's only if you're convinced that fighting as a team will further increase your chances of victory."