"— I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, Super Polymerization!!"
The ultimate power that shook the very fabric of dimensional space erupted.
The target of the Trap Card High-Speed Divine Words that Hoshino had activated was none other than the Super Polymerization lying in Supreme King Jaden's Graveyard.
Supreme King Jaden stared in disbelief.
"How is that possible?! You can use the ultimate power too?!"
"Arrogant Jaden, nobody ever said you were the only one who could use Super Polymerization!" Minazuki excitedly taunted him. "Though I have to admit, thinking of using the Super Polymerization in Jaden's Graveyard is certainly an unconventional move by Headmistress!"
Supreme King Jaden's brows furrowed deeply. He had no time to bother with Minazuki's provocation, his eyes fixed on the field where Hoshino's Super Polymerization was unleashing its power.
The so-called ultimate power did not refer merely to the effect of Super Polymerization itself.
"This really is… an incredible power."
Likewise, only after using Super Polymerization herself did Hoshino truly understand what made this card "ultimate."
Super Polymerization was far more than simply using the opponent's monsters as Fusion Materials.
The ultimate power of Super Polymerization lay in its ability to search for possibilities of Fusion across countless other dimensions, even if there was no causal connection or contact with those possibilities within the current dimension.
Put simply, even if there was a card that had never existed in your possession, as long as the concept and causality of it existed somewhere in another dimension, Super Polymerization could manifest that card right here and now.
[Super Polymerization — Quick-Play Spell Card Effect: Discard 1 card; Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from either field. Neither player can activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation.]
"I discard Heroic Spirit – Okita Souji from my hand to activate it!"
Finally getting the chance to get rid of one member of the troublesome deadweight duo, Hoshino decisively sent Okita back to the Graveyard as the cost for activating Super Polymerization.
"The effect of Super Polymerization! I fuse my Heroic Spirit – Medea Lily with your Yubel – Ultimate Nightmare!"
This turn, if Hoshino wanted to deal with Ultimate Nightmare on Supreme King Jaden's field, there was only one solution —
Fuse it away with Super Polymerization.
The spiral effect of Super Polymerization swept across the field, engulfing Medea and the screaming dragon together.
The ultimate power that transcended dimensional causality condensed into the form of a brand-new card, appearing between Hoshino's fingertips.
"— Fusion Summon! Heroic Spirit – Space Ishtar!"
Hoshino Alter stared blankly.
["Ishtar… Space? What the heck is that supposed to be, Aibo?"]
"I don't know either! Just summon her first and figure it out later!"
Hoshino slammed the card onto her Duel Disk.
Although she had never managed to draw Ishtar from the gacha, if they were talking about the Goddess of Venus — Ishtar, who always seemed to fall apart at the most important moments — then Hoshino certainly knew her.
But once the prefix "Space" was added to Ishtar's name, it was just like Artoria having the Caster class.
It had gone completely beyond Hoshino's understanding.
And for some reason, simply adding the word "Space" to a character's name gave them an inexplicably powerful and high-status feeling.
[Heroic Spirit – Space Ishtar ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Fiend/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2900/DEF 2900]
["Heroic Spirit" monster + DARK monster]
[Must be Special Summoned with the effect of "Super Polymerization".]
With a black blade hanging at her waist, Ishtar transferred into existence through the dark cosmic dimension.
She coldly glanced at Hoshino.
"Fear me and worship me, human. I am the new ruler of the universe — the Goddess among Goddesses who is preparing to unleash her revenge upon all of humanity. They call me Space Ishtar!"
["Her Summon is restricted specifically to Super Polymerization?! Aibo, there's no way you'd actually run a card like this, right…? Wait, and what's with that deadpan expression? Is she really that Goddess Ishtar?"]
Dressed in a strange black outfit and carrying a black sword at her waist that was obviously no ordinary weapon, the expressionless and aloof Space Ishtar was completely different from the Goddess Ishtar Hoshino knew.
"I never expected Space Ishtar to be this cold and aloof," Hoshino remarked.
However, that cool entrance lasted only a few seconds.
Space Ishtar, who had just declared herself the ruler of the universe, looked left and right several times.
Her expression immediately fell apart.
"Wait… where is this? This isn't space? …Earth? No, no, no. None of the known data matches this spatial environment."
Manipulating what appeared to be a sophisticated electronic device worn around her wrist, Space Ishtar completely lost the calm and icy demeanor she had displayed upon appearing.
Hoshino Alter nodded in satisfaction.
["Yep. Now that's Ishtar. That's more like it!"]
After all, the dimensional space created by Super Polymerization would be strange if it actually matched any known data.
Space Ishtar glanced at Hoshino behind her again.
"And why was I summoned by you in the first place? Don't you think that's strange? This makes absolutely no sense!"
Hoshino nodded emphatically.
"Of course it's strange! Everything about this world — and everything that's happened recently — is ridiculously strange. It's gotten so strange that if something even stranger happens now, I probably won't even find it strange anymore!"
"You…"
Space Ishtar clearly hadn't expected such a straightforward answer from Hoshino.
She muttered under her breath.
"But what does it matter if it's strange? The world is full of things that don't make sense in the first place. Rather than worrying about what exactly happened, or trying to figure out what that Supreme King is plotting…"
Hoshino clenched her fist.
"I simply want to beat him up!"
Although she appeared to be answering Space Ishtar's question, Hoshino was clearly saying those words for the Supreme King standing across from her.
"You know…"
Space Ishtar looked at Hoshino after hearing that answer.
"Your eyes are pretty good."
Surprisingly, she seemed to relax.
"Maybe I actually like your type. Fine, I get it. I won't worry about the other stuff for now."
Space Ishtar drew the black sword from her waist and assumed a battle stance.
"As long as I beat up that deadpan-faced idiot over there, I should be able to finish my mission and go home, right?"
Coming from the biggest deadpan-faced idiot around, you've got some nerve calling the other guy that.
"Exactly!" Hoshino continued. "And because Heroic Spirit – Space Ishtar was Fusion Summoned, the monster with the highest ATK on the field has changed. Therefore, the ATK of The Wicked Avatar increases!"
[The Wicked Avatar ATK 2901]
The Wicked Avatar transformed into the appearance of Space Ishtar.
Combined with the Space Ishtar-like black outfit, its already-dark appearance became even darker.
Black on black.
Space Ishtar jumped in surprise.
"You scared me! I thought some deadpan-faced idiot had suddenly popped out of nowhere. So there's actually another exact copy of me here? This world really does have a lot of weird things."
Supreme King Jaden demanded, "The Darkness of the Universe… why, Hoshino Chiyuki, can you use the same Darkness of the Universe as Yubel?"
"The Darkness of the Universe? Sorry, I don't know anything about that~" Hoshino replied with a fake smile.
"All I know is that you're going to have a very bad time this turn, Jaden! Battle!!"
The Duel entered the Battle Phase.
After Super Polymerization had used Yubel – Ultimate Nightmare as Fusion Material, Supreme King Jaden's field was once again completely empty.
Hoshino raised her hand and declared the attack.
"Space Ishtar, direct attack! You've only got 999 Life Points left. This is a one-slash, 999-damage finish!"
The black katana was drawn from its sheath.
Space Ishtar's long black hair fluttered in the wind as a fierce killing intent wrapped itself around the blade.
"I won't hold back. Witness the ultimate secret technique of the Cosmic Divine Style! Open your eyes wide — 'Telekinetic Water Moon, One Slash in Two!'"
Space Ishtar lunged forward, her body surging ahead as a brilliant blade of light traced through the air.
The slash, powered by the energy she drew from her surroundings, genuinely possessed the bearing of a great swordsman.
Without hesitation, Supreme King Jaden immediately activated his Set card.
"— I activate the Set Quick-Play Spell Card, The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh!"
[The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh — Quick-Play Spell Effect: Take 1 "Kuriboh" or 1 "Winged Kuriboh" from your Deck, and either add it to your hand or Special Summon it.]
A melodious, cheerful flute song pierced through the darkness.
From Supreme King Jaden's Deck, a little ball of fluff with tiny wings fluttered out, following the sound of the music until it arrived on the field.
"By the effect of The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh, I Special Summon Winged Kuriboh from my Deck in Defense Position. Please, help me!"
[Winged Kuriboh ★ (Level 1)][LIGHT][Fairy/Effect][ATK 300/DEF 200]
"And during the turn that Winged Kuriboh is destroyed, all battle damage I would take becomes 0! So you can't finish the Duel this turn!"
"Kurii! Kurii!"
Winged Kuriboh waved its little arms, its eyes radiating an almost absurdly fierce expression, as if trying to add momentum to Supreme King Jaden's side.
"Can't finish the Duel? That's not necessarily true!"
Hoshino immediately activated Ishtar's effect.
"Heroic Spirit – Space Ishtar's effect activates! When this card declares an attack, I can draw 1 card from my Deck. If that card is a Monster Card, this card can attack directly this turn!"
As long as Space Ishtar's attack could be converted into a direct attack, she could simply bypass the Defense Position Winged Kuriboh.
That would also avoid triggering Winged Kuriboh's effect after it was destroyed, allowing Hoshino to finish the Duel in a single strike.
"Here we go, here we go! I know this one!" Minazuki became excited once again.
"Dorō! Monsutā Kādo!!"
"This is the crucial draw, Supreme King!"
Hoshino gently placed her fingertips against the Deck on her Duel Disk.
She could almost feel the response from the bond between herself and her Deck.
The card I draw next will absolutely be a Monster Card!
"Get ready, Space Ishtar! Draw!!"
"You've got some spirit!"
Space Ishtar's movements were synchronized with Hoshino's draw almost perfectly.
As Hoshino pulled the card from her Deck, Space Ishtar simultaneously swung her blade.
Her stance was confident.
Cool.
Absolutely magnificent.
"The outcome is already decided! There's no way a fluffy little creature like this can withstand the Cosmic Divine Yin Style! Your Life Points are already like a dying candle flickering in the wind!"
Hoshino Alter: "(ﾟДﾟ＃)!"
Minazuki: "Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)!"
Alexis: "ﾉ)ﾟДﾟ(!"
Akasha couldn't hold herself back and shouted:
"You idiot! What the hell did you just say?! That is an absolute forbidden phrase in a Duel!!"
The Dying Candle in the Wind Curse.
At that instant, Hoshino suddenly felt as though the bond between herself and her Deck had been severed.
"N-No…"
She stared at the card she had drawn, the corner of her mouth twitching awkwardly.
"I didn't draw a Monster Card…"
Space Ishtar froze.
"Eh? D-Did I say something wrong?"
She suddenly sensed that something was terribly wrong with the atmosphere and became inexplicably nervous.
Hoshino Alter sighed.
["Just as I thought. Even after putting the word 'Space' in front of her name, this woman will still completely screw up at the most important moment."]
Since Hoshino had failed to draw a Monster Card, Space Ishtar could not bypass Winged Kuriboh and make a direct attack this turn.
The clean and decisive slash easily destroyed Winged Kuriboh.
However, once Winged Kuriboh's effect was triggered, Hoshino could no longer inflict any further battle damage.
"Was that my fault?" Space Ishtar asked.
"No. It was the fault of the timing," Hoshino replied helplessly.
There wasn't really any solid basis for blaming Ishtar just because some mystical "dying candle in the wind" curse had altered the outcome of her draw.
Besides, even though Hoshino hadn't drawn a Monster Card, Space Ishtar's attack had at least allowed her to replenish her hand with one additional card.
With her resources running dangerously low, that extra card was practically a lifeline.
"I Set two cards and end my turn!"
Because Winged Kuriboh had prevented any further battle damage, Hoshino Set every card in her hand except Oda Nobunaga, then chose to end her turn.
"Then, at the moment my turn ends, the effect of the Field Spell Fusion Recycling Plant activates! I can return the Heroic Spirit – Medea Lily that was sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material by Super Polymerization this turn to my hand!"
Taking advantage of the Field Spell that Supreme King Jaden had activated at the beginning, Hoshino recovered Medea's card — the Fusion Material she had sacrificed.
"My turn. Because of the effect of Yubel – Ultimate Nightmare, I can draw two cards."
At the start of his turn, Supreme King Jaden replenished his hand back to three cards.
However, there was one thing Hoshino couldn't understand.
If Supreme King Jaden didn't even have any use for Elemental HERO Neos, then why had he searched for it so early and kept it stuck in his hand all this time?
Was he deliberately trying to imitate her and maintain the classic state of having his ace monster clogging up his hand?
"I activate the Spell Card Pot of Greed! I can draw two more cards from my Deck!"
Crowler's green face seemed to crack apart as Supreme King Jaden drew two more cards.
And judging from his expression, he had finally drawn the key card he had been waiting for.
"I've been waiting for this card…"
Supreme King Jaden looked toward the field.
"Yubel, lend me your power once again!"
He threw the newly drawn Spell Card onto his Duel Disk.
The light of Neos in Supreme King Jaden's hand intertwined with the darkness of the universe within his Graveyard.
"Activate Spell Card — Miracle Contact!"
[Miracle Contact — Spell Card Effect: Shuffle into the Deck, from your hand, field, or Graveyard, the Fusion Materials mentioned on an "Elemental HERO" Fusion Monster that lists "Elemental HERO Neos" as material, then Special Summon that Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions.]
In a sense, it was the Neos version of Hoshino's "Purely Bloom"/"Dream Contact."
Supreme King Jaden returned the Elemental HERO Neos in his hand together with the monster in his Graveyard to the Deck as Fusion Materials, calling forth a new Miracle Fusion.
"I return Neos and Yubel to the Deck! Miracle Contact Summon — Elemental HERO Neos Kluger!"