Chapter 348

"——Brahmastra Kundala!!"

The vast, anti-army Noble Phantasm was hurled with full force by Karna Illya. The overwhelming mana cost forced Illya to shut one eye in pain, and even the divine spear itself began to crack under the strain.

But no matter how painful it was, it was still preferable to being obliterated by Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning's thunderous strike.

"The special effect of Magical Girl – Karna Illya activates—once per turn, while face-up: by discarding one card from my hand, all opponent's monsters with lower ATK than this card are destroyed!"

The spearhead that had pierced the ground shattered completely, obliterating the counterattack lightning and bringing down the Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning with it.

[Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning destroyed.]

"As a side effect of activating this ability, Karna Illya's ATK becomes 0. But Jonouchi—this also means your last chance at a comeback is over!"

[Magical Girl – Karna Illya ATK 5600 → 0]

Jonouchi had already used his Normal Summon for the turn. And while Karna Illya had lost her offensive power, without any further plays, he could no longer take that final step forward.

"Hahaha! Hoshino, you really are incredible! Even though I played my best, I still couldn't beat you…"

Rather than frustration, Jonouchi suddenly burst out laughing—not the over-the-top performance of an 'Ultimate Lucky Guy,' but a genuine smile of satisfaction at the outcome of their duel.

"But because of that, I was able to surpass my past self—to break through my limits as a duelist! I bet everything on you countering my move and destroying my Archfiend of Lightning—and that's what allowed me to execute this final, all-or-nothing strategy!"

Jonouchi slammed his last remaining card into the Monster Zone. A storm of black flames and crackling thunder erupted once more across his field.

"—I activate the effect of Red-Eyes Retro Dragon from my hand! When a Level 7 or lower 'Red-Eyes' monster I control is sent to the Graveyard by the opponent, I can Special Summon this card in Defense Position!"

[Red-Eyes Retro Dragon ★★★★ (Level 4)][DARK][Dragon/Effect][ATK 1700/DEF 1600]

"ROOOAARRR!!" From within the black flames, Retro Dragon soared onto the field. Its piercing screech seemed to distort the very flow of time itself—as if it were reversing it.

"When Red-Eyes Retro Dragon is Special Summoned this way, I can revive the destroyed 'Red-Eyes' monster in the same battle position it was in before!"

[Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning ATK 2500]

The Archfiend of Lightning returned to the field, albeit as a Normal Monster, no longer bearing the power of its former Gemini Summon. Even so, its sheer attack strength remained a serious threat. Meanwhile, Karna Illya had lost all offensive capability.

Hoshino's expression turned serious. "You mean to tell me you planned to use my counterattack to revive your monster? Don't tell me… you planned all of this?!"

Jonouchi smirked. "And that's not all! I knew that just bringing back my monster wouldn't be enough to beat you. Now that Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning was Special Summoned from the Graveyard—Card of Safe Return activates! I draw three cards!"

With each card he drew, Jonouchi's confidence visibly grew.

"Next, I activate the effect of Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon from my hand! By banishing one face-up Dragon monster I control, I can Special Summon this card!"

In an instant, the reflective surface of Retro Dragon's metallic body shimmered—and it vanished. In its place, a monstrous Red-Eyes dragon, clad in gleaming black steel armor, emerged with a deafening roar.

[Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Dragon/Effect][ATK 2800/DEF 2400]

"Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon has another effect—it lets me Special Summon one Dragon-Type monster from my hand or Graveyard once per turn, as long as it isn't another Darkness Metal Dragon!"

Hoshino's eyes narrowed. "That effect… this card might end up on the Limited List someday."

The ground beneath them trembled as yet another Red-Eyes dragon soared into the battlefield, trailing waves of ominous black flame.

"—Come forth from my Graveyard, Red-Eyes Black Dragon!!"

[Red-Eyes Black Dragon ATK 2400]

Watching Jonouchi, who had barely clung to life with only 50 LP remaining, Honda wasn't sure how to react to this unbelievable comeback.

"Man… you just won't stay down. Even when you're on the verge of losing, you refuse to give up… But seriously, it's just a friendly duel to test Hoshino's new deck. Did you really have to go all out like this?"

Yugi, however, looked at Jonouchi with a deep sense of understanding. "That may be true, but Jonouchi has been waiting for this rematch for a long time. Ever since he lost to Hoshino in Duelist Kingdom, he's been working to improve—to surpass himself. This duel is more than just a test run for Hoshino's deck."

Anzu nodded, moved by the moment. "So even though it's just a friendly match, he can't bring himself to lose without a fight… He refuses to let all his hard work be in vain."

"Jonouchi, I can feel your determination through this storm of Red-Eyes summons!"

Faced with Jonouchi's desperate comeback, Hoshino didn't hesitate for even a second. She activated one of the face-down cards on her Duel Disk.

"The best way to honor your determination… is to give this duel my all as well! I'll end this with my Quick-Play Spell—[Kaleid Ruby]!"

[Kaleid Ruby (Quick-Play Spell)Effect: Target up to the number of "Magical Girl" monsters you control; destroy that many monsters your opponent controls.]

"I control three Magical Girl monsters—just enough to wipe out your three Red-Eyes monsters! Prepare yourself, Jonouchi—this is the final strike of this duel!"

Sensing the spell's activation, Hoshino's three distinct forms of Illya ascended into the air. Their combined magical power coalesced into a trinity of shining beams, locking onto all of Jonouchi's dragons.

"Let's go, Illya! Magical Girl Barrage!!"

"Oooohhhhhh—!!" ×3

With synchronized battle cries, the three Illyas unleashed a final, all-consuming blast of pure magical energy. The dazzling starburst explosion engulfed Jonouchi's field, annihilating all of his monsters in a single, climactic strike.

"Your Red-Eyes are wiped out! This duel is mine!"

The shockwaves from the triple barrage engulfed the entire field, dazzling the spectators with their breathtaking holographic display.

Struggling to regain his vision through the haze, Sugoroku looked around with concern. "Hoshino really doesn't know how to hold back… Just don't go blowing up my precious shop, alright?"

"ROOOOAAAARRR——!"

An unnatural roar pierced through the fading starlight from Jonouchi's field. It wasn't the cry of the Black Dragon or the wrathful thunder of the Archfiend of Lightning. This sound—a dreadful fusion of dragon and demon—sent shivers down Hoshino's spine.

Even the three Illyas on her field wore uneasy expressions.

"No way… even that wasn't enough? What kind of monster is this!?"

Illya wasn't exaggerating. The being that had emerged from the star-shattered battlefield hardly resembled a "monster" anymore—it was a beast.

A massive dragon, spewing crimson flames from its maw, bore a grotesque, demonic face. The unnatural fusion of its draconic body and nightmarish visage was utterly terrifying—a sight capable of draining one's sanity at a single glance.

Jonouchi held up a Spell Card, revealing the truth behind its sudden arrival.

"To evade your attack, I activated the Quick-Play Spell [Flash Fusion] and uncovered a new possibility for my Black Dragon!"

[Flash Fusion – Quick-Play Spell Effect: Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters you control as Fusion Material. Destroy it during the End Phase.]

Hoshino raised an eyebrow. She recalled that Jonouchi had used this Fusion Spell in the future as well.

"So it was Flash Fusion… You managed to come up with a counter in just that brief moment of attack?"

"That's right! Using Flash Fusion, I fused my Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning!"

"So this is the monster you summoned in that desperate moment…"

[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)][DARK][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3200/DEF 2500]

[Fusion Materials: 1 Level 6 "Archfiend" Normal Monster + 1 "Red-Eyes" Normal Monster]

Jonouchi proudly raised his Duel Disk above his head.

"That's right! This is my fusion monster that surpasses the limits of Red-Eyes—[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon]!"

Archfiend Black Skull Dragon had indeed broken free from the constraints of the Red-Eyes lineage. It no longer resembled the signature black dragon, nor did it bear the familiar "Red-Eyes" name.

However, in exchange, it exuded an overwhelming, suffocating pressure far beyond any ordinary Black Dragon.

"Hoshino, no matter how strong you are, even you have a moment of vulnerability after a counterattack! Your Karna Illya, with its attack power reduced to zero, is the perfect opening!"

Hoshino had used Kaleid Ruby without hesitation, aiming to wipe out all of Jonouchi's Red-Eyes monsters in one decisive strike. A large part of that decision was due to Illya's weakened state after using Brahmastra Kundala.

But because Darkness Metal Dragon had revived Red-Eyes Black Dragon from the Graveyard, Card of Safe Return activated, allowing Jonouchi to draw three more cards.

"As long as I have an attacking monster on my field, I can land the finishing blow!"

Guiding his Archfiend Black Skull Dragon, Jonouchi wore a triumphant expression.

"And with Archfiend Black Skull Dragon's effect—whenever it battles, you cannot activate any Spells, Traps, or Monster effects until the end of the Damage Step! You won't be able to use your Set cards to counter this, Hoshino!"

Hoshino's lips curled slightly.

"Jonouchi… thanks for letting me know that!"

Without waiting for him to attack, she activated her Set Trap Card.

"Before you enter the Battle Phase, I activate my Trap—[The End Of The Other Side]!"

[The End Of The Other Side – Trap Card Effect: Target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; until the end of this turn, that monster loses ATK equal to the DEF of 1 face-up "Heroic Spirit" monster on your field.]

Jonouchi frowned.

"Lowering my monster's ATK… but the highest DEF on your field is Karna Illya's 2000, isn't it?"

Even if Archfiend Black Skull Dragon lost 2000 ATK, it would still be more than enough to finish off Hoshino's remaining 1000 Life Points.

"No, the highest DEF on my field is…"

Hoshino drew a card from her Spell & Trap Zone and flipped it over, revealing her trump card.

"The highest DEF on my field belongs to Illyasviel, who is equipped with Altera! Thanks to its effect, Illya gains ATK and DEF equal to the equipped monster's stats!"

[Heroic Spirit – Altera DEF 2400]

[Illyasviel DEF 1000 → 3400]

"Final Deployment! Civilization… Destruction!"

Illya lunged toward Archfiend Black Skull Dragon, the Sword of the War God in her hands leaving behind a seven-colored trail. In a flash of steel and light, the blade sliced cleanly through the massive dragon's body, severing its blazing wings.

[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon ATK 3200 → 0]

"Because of The End Of The Other Side, your dragon's ATK has been reduced to zero! And at the end of this turn, it will be destroyed by the effect of Flash Fusion!"

With its wings severed, the mighty dragon lost not only its ability to fly, but also its final fangs for counterattack.

"Even if it has lost its wings, it must not lose its will to fight! Archfiend Black Skull Dragon, continue your attack!"

To everyone's shock, Jonouchi commanded his ATK 0 dragon to charge straight at Hoshino's field.

Honda sighed, rubbing his temples.

"This idiot… Has Hoshino finally beaten him senseless?"

Archfiend Black Skull Dragon, now unable to soar, clumsily stomped forward on its thick, muscular legs, rushing toward Hoshino's monsters. The scene was almost comical, like a giant lizard throwing itself forward in a desperate struggle.

According to Duel Monsters rules, when two ATK 0 monsters clash, neither is destroyed—it would be like watching two turtles slap each other uselessly.

But Yugi suddenly spoke up, his expression sharp.

"No… Jonouchi isn't just attacking for no reason. He hasn't given up yet!"

Illya, watching the oncoming dragon, felt a shiver down her spine.

"Wait a second—something about this charge doesn't feel like it's at 0 ATK!!"

(*****)

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