Chapter 751 - 751

"So Metaltron XII, the True Dracombatant standing before you has reached its ultimate form — completely unaffected by the effects of any cards!"

The gigantic golden True Draco machine let out metallic clangs as its armor plates collided against one another. Despite being classified as a Wyrm, it looked far more like a mechanized weapon of war built solely for slaughter.

"She summoned a monster like that using only one card in her hand… Isn't that practically cheating?"

Eve stared blankly at the field.

Only moments ago she had been relieved that their opponent had just one card left. Now she felt like an idiot.

"Even with only one card in hand, she took advantage of the interactions between her Continuous Spells and Field Spell. More importantly…"

Seto Kaiba gestured toward the dragon girl's hand.

Before summoning Metaltron XII, the True Dracombatant, she had replenished her hand with the effect of Disciples of the True Dracophoenix.

"It's not over yet. Since Metaltron XII was Tribute Summoned by Tributing a Continuous Spell and a Continuous Trap, both of their effects will activate."

The True Draco Continuous Spell would destroy one Spell/Trap on the opponent's field when it left the field.

One emerald-green vortex and one crimson vortex — representing the powers of Spell and Trap Cards — coiled around Metaltron XII's steel arms.

One locked onto a face-down card Hoshino had just set last turn.

The other targeted Katsushika Hokusai.

"Witness the secret technique of Metaltron XII — Twin Dragon Heaven-Shattering Break!"

As the dragon girl dramatically shouted the name of her finishing move, twin torrents of draconic energy surged toward Hoshino's field.

"I chain the face-down Trap you've targeted for destruction!"

Hoshino immediately flipped her Trap Card face-up.

Just like Kaiba Man's earlier situation, if she didn't activate it now, it would simply be destroyed for nothing.

"Trap Card — Omen of Disaster in a Foreign Land!"

[Omen of Disaster in a Foreign Land Effect: Target 1 "Heroic Spirit" Synchro Monster you control; until the End Phase, control of that monster switches to your opponent.]

Countless black tentacles emerged from beneath the frozen ground.

They tightly bound Hokusai's slender limbs as the thoughts of an indescribable Outer God slowly synchronized with her mind.

"I target the Hokusai on my field."

"Until the End Phase, control of Hokusai is transferred to your field!"

The dragon girl scoffed.

"Pointless. Even if she comes to my field, she'll still be destroyed."

"Not necessarily."

Hoshino pulled the activated Trap Card from her Duel Disk and explained:

"As long as a monster whose control was changed by Omen of Disaster in a Foreign Land remains face-up on your field, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, nor can it be Tributed."

Dragged onto the dragon girl's field by the writhing black tentacles, Hokusai remained completely silent.

The tentacles also wrapped themselves around the dragon girl's icy Duel Disk.

"Furthermore, while the transferred Hokusai remains on your field, you cannot declare attacks with any of your other monsters."

"Hoshino! Using such a dirty trick!"

The dragon girl tried to pull her arm free.

Instead, the slick octopus-like tentacles only tightened their grip.

Eve looked puzzled.

"Can that really stop True Draco Swordmaster and Metaltron XII from attacking? Aren't they both unaffected by Trap Cards?"

Kaiba explained:

"Those monsters may be unaffected by Traps, but Hoshino's Trap isn't affecting the monsters."

"It's restricting the Duelist herself — the act of declaring an attack."

If the Duelist couldn't declare an attack in the first place, even perfect immunity wouldn't help.

Judging from the dragon girl's frustrated expression while tangled in the tentacles, she clearly understood that.

"Even if I can only attack with Katsushika Hokusai this turn, World Legacy Clash reduced Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon's ATK to 0. It's nothing more than a target!"

"Interesting."

Kaiba Man smirked.

"A target with 0 ATK, huh? Then come and attack if you've got the guts."

"Who says I don't?!"

The dragon girl shot back.

Watching her take the bait so easily, Eve muttered:

"She's surprisingly easy to provoke… Isn't she worried about walking into a Trap?"

With four face-down cards between Hoshino and Kaiba Man, the threat on their back row was obvious.

"Not quite."

Kaiba shook his head.

"Neither of her True Draco monsters are affected by Traps. The only monster that can be affected is the Hokusai Hoshino gave her. She's not afraid of destructive Traps."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Don't let her appearance or attitude fool you. The Ice King is probably far more calculating than anyone else here."

"Before that…"

The dragon girl placed another card onto her Duel Disk.

"I activate the Continuous Spell — True Draco Heritage!"

[True Draco Heritage Effect: During your Main Phase: You can draw cards equal to the number of "True Draco" and "True King" card types (Monster, Spell, and Trap) sent from the field to the GY this turn.]

"This turn, I Tributed a Monster, a Spell, and a Trap to Tribute Summon Metaltron XII, the True Dracombatant! Therefore, I draw three cards!"

An even stronger draw effect than Pot of Greed.

Not only did she keep a True Draco Continuous Spell on the field, but her hand also increased to three cards.

And it had all started from a single Monster Reborn.

Still bound by the black tentacles, the dragon girl struggled to draw her three cards.

Instead of playing any of them, she immediately entered the Battle Phase.

"Battle!"

"Heroic Spirit – Katsushika Hokusai, attack the 0 ATK Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon!"

"What was the name of that move again… Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji? I like the sound of it!"

Although she called it Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, after being corrupted by the Outer God's tentacles, there wasn't a trace of traditional ukiyo-e left.

Using the writhing tentacles as her brush, the resulting artwork resembled the whispers of an eldritch god, polluting the minds of all who beheld it.

"Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji — Journey of the Alien Abyssal God!"

"What a revolting sight."

Kaiba Man flipped over another face-down card.

"Now, Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon! Let the radiance that ends the world ascend!"

Holding his Duel Disk high overhead, Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon spread its wings, releasing every last fragment of its remaining light.

"Trap Card — King's Synchro!"

[King's Synchro Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack on your Synchro Monster: Negate that attack. Then you can apply the following effect…]

"King's Synchro negates Katsushika Hokusai's attack this turn!"

Eve blinked.

"It's only negating one attack… Did you really have to make such a grand speech?"

"The real effect comes now!"

Kaiba Man drew the Trap Card forward and pointed toward Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon.

"Fly beyond the heavens! Fly toward the brilliant future of hope, Silver Dragon!"

[King's Synchro: Then, you can banish that Synchro Monster you control and 1 Tuner from your GY; Special Summon from your Extra Deck 1 Synchro Monster whose Level equals the combined Levels of those banished monsters, treating it as a Synchro Summon.]

"I banish Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon together with The White Stone of Ancients from my Graveyard!"

"Synchro Summon a Level 10 Synchro Monster!"

Hoshino's eyes lit up.

"You still have a Level 10 Synchro Monster, Kaiba Man?!"

"No."

Kaiba Man abruptly changed his tone.

"I don't anymore."

He turned to Hoshino.

"But you do."

"Me?"

"You are the one chosen by the Stars! Even in this twisted world after Super Fusion, you can continuously draw power from that pale, ruined future!"

Pointing directly at Hoshino, Kaiba Man declared:

"King's Synchro ignores the usual Summoning conditions as long as the Levels match! Show the King of another world the limitless possibilities that rest in your hands!"

"…The limitless possibilities in my hands."

Hoshino lowered her gaze to the Deck attached to her Duel Disk, where stardust-like particles shimmered.

Within it rested the hopes entrusted to her by Heroic Spirits from another timeline — those she had already met, and those she had yet to encounter.

"As long as it's a Level 10 Synchro Monster…"

"Choose the Heroic Spirit who can break through this situation, Hoshino!"

"I understand!"

"Let's show them our true strength, Kaiba!"

"King's Synchro, activate!"

The light of King's Synchro burst forth.

The Synchro energy gathered from Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon and The White Stone of Ancients converged into Hoshino's hands.

"Race across the heavens like a shooting star streaking through the night sky! Ride the raging winds — Synchro Summon! Heroic Spirit – Achilles!"

[Heroic Spirit – Achilles ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][WIND][Warrior/Synchro/Effect][ATK 4000/DEF 0]

[1 Synchro Tuner + 1 or more "Heroic Spirit" monsters]

Although Achilles normally required the difficult material of a Synchro Tuner, King's Synchro allowed Hoshino to bypass that restriction entirely and perform the Synchro Summon directly.

Just like the Greek hero himself, he embodied unrivalled speed and resilience.

No one, whether living or dead, had ever surpassed him in speed.

"Don't stop, Achilles!"

Achilles laughed.

"Master, you always shout things I don't understand. But as the fastest hero ever known, even if I stopped moving, I still wouldn't get hit so easily!"

He landed upon the frozen blue surface with a single step, a magnificent gale erupting beneath his feet.

"Achilles, reporting for duty! My heel may be my weakness, but good luck trying to hit it!"

Eve cheered.

"A Heroic Spirit with 4000 ATK! That's even stronger than the Field Spell-boosted True Draco Swordmaster! As expected of the miracle created by King's Synchro!"

Kaiba, however, immediately realized something.

"But our opponent still has one move left. Even if she can't attack this turn, True Draco Swordmaster still has its own effect!"

"True Draco Swordmaster's effect activates! — Once per turn, by banishing 1 True Draco Continuous Spell or Trap from my Graveyard, I destroy 1 card on your field!"

Without hesitation, the dragon girl activated the effect.

The strongest True Draco warrior swung its blade, cleaving through the frozen ground toward Achilles.

"What a fiery temper you've got, Miss."

Achilles casually tossed his shield forward.

Among the many Noble Phantasms bestowed upon him by the gods, his most famous defensive Noble Phantasm was the divine shield forged by Hephaestus.

Its surface projected the very world Achilles had witnessed, while the sea itself flowed around its outer edge.

"Noble Phantasm — Akhilleus Kosmos!"

To stand against this shield was to stand against an entire world.

Once deployed, it could defend against Anti-Personnel, Anti-Army, Anti-Fortress, Anti-Country, and even Anti-Divine Noble Phantasms.

Thus, even True Draco Swordmaster's full-powered slash was completely blocked.

Hoshino explained:

"Heroic Spirit – Achilles cannot be destroyed by battle while in Attack Position. In addition, once per turn, it also cannot be destroyed by a card effect!"

"A once-per-turn destruction immunity."

Kaiba Man nodded approvingly.

"Perfect, Hoshino."

Against True Draco Swordmaster's once-per-turn destruction effect, Achilles held the advantage in both raw power and defensive ability.

"Being forced to fight so cautiously is really irritating!"

Whether because Achilles had blocked her attack or because she disliked Hoshino and Kaiba Man's seamless teamwork, the dragon girl angrily yanked at the black tentacles binding her arm.

"Once the effect of Disaster Foretold in a Foreign Land ends, you won't be so lucky next turn!"

She set two cards onto her icy Duel Disk and ended the Battle Phase.

"I set two cards."

"At the End Phase, control of Heroic Spirit – Katsushika Hokusai returns to you."

"Take your annoying monster back already, Hoshino!"

[Ice King: 1 Hand Card | 2 Set Cards]

The indescribable black tentacles slowly dissolved into nothingness, releasing both Hokusai and the dragon girl's arm.

Back on Hoshino's field, Hokusai looked completely confused.

"Um… what exactly happened, Master?"

Hoshino scratched her cheek.

"To sum it up… you managed to thoroughly disgust our opponent."