Chapter 281

"An attack with equal strength?!" Paradox's pupils trembled slightly, clearly surprised that Hoshino had managed to boost Illya's attack power to match that of Malefic Paradox Dragon.

Hoshino-Sensei pointed toward Illya, who was unleashing her full power in the sky. "Thanks to Chiyuki-chan's efforts in destroying all of his monsters except Paradox Dragon, we were able to create this opportunity for a counterattack!"

If it hadn't been for Hoshino enduring the 6500 ATK debuff imposed by Paradox Dragon's effect to destroy Stardust Dragon and Malefic Cyber End Dragon, there would have been no way for Illya to stand a chance against Paradox Dragon.

"No matter the era, we will never abandon the hope for survival! Get this through your head, Paradox!"

With a roar, Illya's explosive magic clashed with the dark energy of Paradox Dragon's attack, igniting a brilliant explosion of starlight and shadow that engulfed the entire battlefield.

The swirling smoke wreaked havoc within the confined space of Malefic World, making it nearly impossible to see the outcome clearly.

"Wouldn't attacks with equal strength result in mutual destruction?" Shielding her eyes with one arm, Hoshino squinted toward the origin of the energy storm in the sky.

"No, it's our victory, Chiyuki-chan!"

"Sensei?!..."

As the chaotic energy gradually dissipated, Illya hovered in the sky, her face smudged with soot, her hair slightly ruffled. But none of that mattered—what mattered was that she had not been destroyed.

[Malefic Paradox Dragon – Destroyed]

"The special effect of Illyasviel von Einzbern: When this card would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can send one of its equipped cards to the Graveyard instead!"

[Equipped Card - Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X - Sent to the Graveyard]

[Illyasviel ATK 4000 → 1000]

Now fully understanding, Hoshino's eyes widened as she exclaimed in delight, "So that's it! By sacrificing the equipped card instead, Illya survives and wins against Paradox Dragon!"

"That's right. And after the substitution effect is activated, I can set one Spell/Trap from my hand onto the field." Hoshino-Sensei nodded, then turned to Hoshino. "Chiyuki-chan, I don't have any cards left in my hand, so I'll leave this to you."

"Huh? You want me to do it?" Momentarily startled, Hoshino glanced at her hand, then looked up at Illya in the sky. A grin spread across her lips. "In that case, I've made my decision! I'll set this card!"

[Hoshino's Set Cards: 2 → 3]

Through the fading smoke, Paradox's figure became faintly visible. "Your strongest Synchro monster, Paradox Dragon, has been destroyed. With no monsters left on your field, are you still planning to struggle?"

Unexpectedly, a crazed, maniacal laugh echoed from within the smoke. "Me, struggling? Don't make me laugh! The ones truly cornered right now are you!"

"Master, this isn't good! There's something terrifying on the other side..." Hovering midair, Illya could feel the overwhelming surge of energy emanating from Paradox.

"Hoshino Chiyuki, as a teacher, you shouldn't go around making baseless statements!" From within the swirling smoke, Paradox's Duel Disk glowed with the unmistakable light of a summoning.

"Allow me to correct two mistakes in your previous statement. First, Paradox Dragon is not my strongest monster. And second, my field is far from empty!"

The massive surge of energy made both Hoshinos feel an overwhelming sense of dread.

"Even now, he still has another move? Just how terrifying is this guy?"

Despite their pride, both of them silently acknowledged that teaming up against Paradox was the right call. With his strength on full display, neither could deny that facing him one-on-one would likely have led to the same fate as the defeated Hoshino he had mentioned—a crushing loss.

"Activate the set Trap Card—[Malefic Paradigm Shift]!"

[Malefic Paradigm Shift - Trap Card Effect: Activate only when a "Malefic Paradox Dragon" you control is destroyed (by battle or card effect). Pay half your LP. Special Summon 1 "Malefic Truth Dragon" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.]

"With the effect of Malefic Paradigm Shift, I pay half of my Life Points to summon my ultimate monster!"

[Paradox LP: 500 → 250]

As soon as Paradox paid the cost, his Duel Disk automatically ejected a card from his Deck—the very trump card he had been waiting to unleash.

"This is my final and strongest Malefic monster! With this card, I will end everything! Special Summon—[Malefic Truth Dragon]!"

[Malefic Truth Dragon★★★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 12)]

[DARK][Dragon/Effect][ATK 5000/DEF 5000]

With terrifying arcs of yellow lightning, a gigantic dragon descended, its sheer size nearly twice that of Paradox Dragon. Summoned at the cost of half of Paradox's Life Points, this dragon was connected to his very life force through the power of Malefic World.

When the smoke finally cleared, Paradox was no longer standing in his original position. Instead, in his place was the massive head of Malefic Truth Dragon, fused with Paradox himself.

This fusion of man and monster reminded Hoshino of Marik and his fusion with The Winged Dragon of Ra.

"Seriously, what's with all these bosses fusing with their monsters? Is this a requirement or something?"

"An ATK of 5000... A Level 12 monster that surpasses even Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Incredible."

Hoshino couldn't help but once again use Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon as her power benchmark, but there was no denying that a 12-star monster like this even surpassed the raw strength of Obelisk the Tormentor, whose ATK was 4000.

"Hahahahaha!" Paradox, now fused with Truth Dragon, let out another maniacal laugh. "A devastating attack power of 5000! How can your feeble monster, with only 1000 ATK, possibly withstand this? This is the end!"

Illya started to panic again. "Master, think of something quickly—"

"Sorry, I wasn't prepared for this either." Hoshino-Sensei, ever direct, wasted no time dousing Illya's hopes with cold water.

Perched atop Malefic True Dragon's massive head, Paradox raised his arm and commanded, "Now, vanish forever into the darkness! Attack, Malefic True Dragon—Malefic Burst Obliteration!"

The colossal dragon unleashed a blinding light, accompanied by searing heat, aimed directly at Illya, leaving no room for escape.

[Illyasviel von Einzbern – Destroyed]

"Now, take this 4000 damage and disappear from this world forever!"

"I refuse! I love nothing more than saying NO to people who think they have the game in the bag!"

"Hm?!"

Hoshino-Sensei sternly rejected Paradox's claim, as a gentle curtain of light unfolded before her. Within this barrier, a beautiful vision, distinct from the darkness of Malefic World, began to emerge.

"I cannot lose here. The limitless potential of a young girl has brought us this far. Giving up now would be an insult to everyone's efforts!"

"Potential... Sensei, are you referring to...?"

Hoshino's gaze landed on the card she had set earlier thanks to Magical Girl – Altria Illya's effect—that card.

"The limitless possibilities within a young girl extend infinitely into the future! And this card embodies that very potential! Activate Trap Card—[Garden of Avalon]!"

The reflection on the shimmering screen of light was none other than the towering stronghold within Avalon—the alias of the planetary soul sanctuary known as Earth. The ground was adorned with blooming flowers, and despite the overwhelming darkness of the Malefic World, warm sunlight illuminated the land.

[Garden of Avalon – Trap Card Effect: For the rest of this turn, all damage you take becomes 0. Afterward, add 1 [Altria] monster from your Graveyard to your hand.]

A lone magician watched over the world through a solitary window. This was such an ordinary tale—one about the end of the world.

"From the stars of the inner sea and the tower of insight... From the four corners of paradise, let them know: Their story is filled with blessings. Only those free of sin may pass... Garden of Avalon!"

The radiance of Avalon nullified the fatal damage Malefic Truth Dragon was about to inflict. Within the glowing barrier, the faint image of a white-haired man appeared on the screen of light, his lips curling into a gentle smile.

"This is my final blessing for the battle to reclaim the future. Did you receive it well, Master?"

"Again and again, over and over!" Paradox, still perched atop the Truth Dragon's head, trembled with rage.

"Why do you keep resisting?! What value is there in a future doomed to destruction?!"

"Of course there's value in fighting for the future!" Hoshino-Sensei's voice rang out with conviction. Though reasoning with Paradox in his current state seemed futile, she still chose to voice her belief.

"The future you claim is destined for ruin is simply one you abandoned!"

Hoshino glanced at her older self. The unwavering determination reflected in her crimson eyes made it clear—no matter how many years passed, she would always make the same choice.

Paradox let out a furious roar. "Then prove it! Stand before Malefic Truth Dragon and use the 'hope' you cling to as your weapon against the strongest Malefic beast!"

"Gladly! This is where we settle things, Paradox! Trap Card, activate—[Unforgettable One]!"

[Unforgettable One – Continuous Trap Card Effect: Target 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster sent to the Graveyard this turn; Special Summon it. If the monster Special Summoned by this effect is a "Magical Girl" monster, you can also Special Summon 1 "Heroic Spirit" monster from your Graveyard. When this card leaves the field, destroy the monsters Special Summoned by this effect.]

"With the effect of Unforgettable One, I Special Summon [Heroic Spirit – Illyasviel von Einzbern], who was just sent to the Graveyard!"

Once again, the magical girl's figure shimmered back into existence.

[Heroic Spirit – Illyasviel von Einzbern ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]

"Phew, I'm exhausted." Illya rubbed her cheeks with both hands, trying to pep herself up. "Come on, Illya! Everyone's fighting their hardest too! Just a little more!"

"Since a Magical Girl monster was Special Summoned, I can also revive a Heroic Spirit from my Graveyard! Return to the field—[Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X]!"

"Huh? What just happened?" MHX blinked as she reappeared, looking completely disoriented. "Was I defeated earlier? Impossible! I'm the strongest! This must be a dream—yeah, definitely a dream!"

[Heroic Spirit – Mysterious Heroine X ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)][LIGHT][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2000]

Despite the dramatic resurrection, Paradox remained unimpressed. "Summoning monsters that were already defeated—what good will that do? You're clinging to the past, Hoshino! You'll never grasp the true future that way!"

"I set one card and end my turn!"

[Paradox's Hand: 0 | Set Cards: 1]

"Abandoning the past to try and remake the world? You'll never understand the strength drawn from precious memories!" Hoshino-Sensei declared. "My turn—draw!"

She drew her next card, her fingertips glowing with the light of possibility—an unwavering hope that stretched toward the future.

"This turn, We will defeat you, Paradox! With this star-crossed bond that transcends time, I will awaken the power of the cosmos!" She pointed toward Illya and MHX, her crimson eyes shimmering with celestial light.

"This is my ultimate Magical Girl Fusion! I banish Illyasviel von Einzbern and MHX from the field to Fusion Summon the strongest Magical Girl!"

"What?! You're fusing MHX and Illya? Even after all that?!"

Hoshino's eyes widened. A Fusion that stacked upon previous ones—fusing two already-fused monsters into yet another.

"That's right, Chiyuki-chan!" Hoshino-Sensei affirmed. "Born of intertwined fates, forged in a battlefield shared by past and future—this is a Bond Beyond Time!"

The sealed sky of the Malefic World suddenly shifted, revealing a breathtaking expanse of deep, starry night.

"This is the final transformation—take flight, Illya!"

"Yes, Master!" Illya soared toward the starlit sky, her body radiating twin streams of brilliant light. "I will never... give up on anything again!!"

Ruby: "Muscle system, nervous system, vascular system, lymphatic system—suspected magic circuit transformation, complete!"

Illya: "This is all of me...!!"

"The radiance of the stars illuminates the future—answer the wishes of hope that traverse earth, sky, and the universe! Fusion Summon—[Magical Girl – Illya Zwei Form]!"

Wings of multicolored light unfurled behind her, her burning life force forming an aura befitting the ideal Magical Girl—one born from the prayers of countless stars.

[Magical Girl – Illya Zwei Form ★★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 11)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]

[1 "Illya" Fusion Monster + 1 Fusion Monster]

[This card is also treated as a "Heroic Spirit" while on the field. Must be Special Summoned by banishing the listed monsters from your field (Fusion Spell is not required).]

Bathed in starlight, the girl clad in celestial armor stared down at the towering Malefic Truth Dragon.

"This is it—the final battle!"

(*****)

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