Chapter 780 - 780

"This is my final draw — the Monster Card! I activate the effect of Space Ishtar! This turn, this card can make a direct attack!"

Breaking through the darkness above Supreme King's Castle, the radiant cosmic crown appeared.

Ishtar's full-powered beam pierced straight through Neos Wiseman on Jaden's field, its searing energy heading directly for the Duelist himself.

"Working with you on this mission is surprisingly enjoyable. Once this Duel is over, why don't I recruit you as a subordinate of the New Space Tohken-ryu? I just happen to be short on talented people like you~"

"As expected of Ishtar. Even in a situation like this, you still can't resist setting a flag. Well, it doesn't matter anymore, but I'll have to decline the subordinate offer…"

"Is that also a flag? Human rules really are difficult to understand. But for now, let's just give it everything we've got and win this thing! — 'Crown Shining in the Primordial Universe,' full energy release!"

The intensified cosmic blast seemed powerful enough to melt the entire planet in an instant.

"Activating my Set Trap Card…"

Jaden still had two Set cards remaining this turn.

Just as Hoshino had expected, he certainly wasn't going to simply sit there and allow Ishtar's direct attack to land.

"It's useless! No matter what Trap you activate, I can chain the effect of Irisviel von Einzbern and make Ishtar unaffected by it!"

"— Trap Card, Chain Material!"

[Chain Material — Trap Card Effect: During the turn this card is activated, if you would Fusion Summon, you can banish Fusion Material Monsters listed on the Fusion Monster from your hand, Deck, field, and/or Graveyard instead, and use them as Fusion Materials. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase during the turn you activate this card. Destroy the monster Fusion Summoned by this effect during the End Phase.]

Facing Space Ishtar's lethal direct attack, Jaden's activated Trap left Hoshino completely unable to understand what he was trying to accomplish.

"Chain Material?"

"Hoshino Chiyuki, you really are incredible. I'm not just talking about your strength in Duels, but also your incredible luck, and your ability to create and maintain causality even across dimensions."

The causality across dimensions Supreme King Jaden was referring to should have been the fact that Hoshino had used Super Polymerization to summon Space Ishtar from another universe.

And it was precisely because Space Ishtar had crossed dimensions to arrive here that the Duel had been pushed toward its final stage.

"But whether it's your 'luck' or your 'causality,' they exist because you possessed the resolve and courage to take that one step forward. Infinite possibilities respond to those who are willing to reach for them… that's why you're stronger than anyone else."

"Jaden? Supreme King?"

Hoshino hesitated.

For the first time, she found herself uncertain whether the person standing before her was closer to the Supreme King — or to Jaden's original personality.

After fusing with Yubel, even the Evil Gods had recognized him as a terrifying existence capable of destroying the world in an instant.

Yet in Hoshino's heart, she still instinctively saw him as the person she had once known so well:

The cheerful, optimistic, slightly idiotic student who could continue smiling and Dueling no matter what difficulties he faced — the student she was most proud of.

Placing his finger on the final Set card on his Duel Disk, Supreme King Jaden quietly said:

"But even so… even if defeating you is harder than defeating anyone else, I still have a reason why I must win. Hoshino Chiyuki… no. Sorry, Sensei. Please allow me to call you that one last time."

"You said you have a reason you have to win?"

Hoshino simply couldn't understand.

"I don't think I've done anything to you that could possibly justify such a deep grudge! I even helped you finish your summer homework when you forgot to do it!"

Akasha asked in surprise, "Could Jaden really still have a way to turn this around even now?"

"Even if I tear my soul apart… even if I shatter my very existence into pieces, the Twelve Dimensions fused together at this moment will still grant me victory! This is my final… Super Polymerization!!"

Under Supreme King Jaden's roar, he flipped over his final Set card.

A Quick-Play Spell.

Super Polymerization.

"Using the effect of Chain Material, I banish one monster of each Level from Level 1 through Level 12 as Fusion Material! Gather the power of the Twelve Dimensions! Here, the strongest Supreme Fusion God shall be born — and I will overcome fate!"

The final Super Polymerization unleashed energy more powerful than any previous eruption.

It immediately dragged the Level 10 Space Ishtar and Level 4 Medea Lily from Hoshino's field into the Fusion vortex.

"Ahhh! I'm getting sucked in! Hurry up and think of something!"

Even while desperately clinging to the hat of Xyz Nobunaga beside her — who had a Rank rather than a Level — Ishtar was unable to resist the force of Super Polymerization.

"Let go already! You're practically going to rip my head off!"

What could Hoshino possibly do?

Once Super Polymerization had been activated, it could not be chained to by other card effects.

Even if Hoshino wanted to activate Irisviel's effect right now to grant Ishtar protection, she couldn't chain it.

Who would have thought that after pulling off such a long string of combos, this woman would still fumble at the very end?

After discarding his final card from his hand as the cost for Super Polymerization, another ten monsters from Jaden's Deck and Graveyard — the other Fusion Materials — flew out and were likewise swallowed by the storm of Super Polymerization.

Level 1: [Winged Kuriboh]

Level 2: [Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy]

Level 3: [Elemental HERO Avian]

Level 4: [Heroic Spirit – Medea Lily]

Level 5: [Evil HERO Sinister Necrom]

Level 6: [Evil HERO Malicious Fiend]

Level 7: [Elemental HERO Neos]

Level 8: [Lava Golem]

Level 9: [Elemental HERO Core]

Level 10: [Heroic Spirit – Space Ishtar]

Level 11: [Yubel – Terror Incarnate]

Level 12: [Yubel – Ultimate Nightmare]

A powerful sense of foreboding welled up within Hoshino.

Looking toward the center of the Super Polymerization vortex, which was raging far more violently than before, Hoshino said:

"Using twelve monsters with twelve different Levels as Fusion Materials… this Supreme Fusion God… just what kind of monster is it?"

"The strongest god capable of crushing and grinding all dimensions into nothingness! Descend, Supreme Fusion God!"

Even Supreme King Jaden himself was swallowed into the final Super Polymerization vortex.

Just as he had said before, even if the price of this card was sacrificing his soul and his very existence…

Even if his original personality ceased to exist, even if everything that made him who he was was torn apart and scattered…

He would still win this Duel.

[Supreme Fusion God (Level ???)][DIVINE]

[Fusion/Divine/Effect][ATK 5000/DEF 5000]

[Can only be Fusion Summoned using 1 monster each from Levels 1 through 12 as Fusion Material. This card can only be Special Summoned by the effect of "Super Polymerization".]