Chapter 97

"Victory? Against this thing…" Nobunaga looked up at the towering Ancient Gear Golem, commenting, "Although I prefer modern-style giant robots, this retro style has its charm. It would be even better if it weren't in cartoonish form."

"This isn't the time to discuss your robot fetish; get ready to move!" Hoshino urged Nobunaga, snapping her out of her fantasy.

"Master? You said to attack, but where do I even start with something this huge?" Nobunaga, still surveying the giant, seemed to suggest that with an equal attack power of 3000, she couldn't defeat the giant.

"Hmph, I never said you'd be the one fighting~" Hoshino gave a smile and placed the second card she drew on the table. "A giant robot should be dealt with by another giant robot!"

"Oh, oh! A battle between giant robots! Just thinking about it gets me fired up, Master!" Nobunaga, realizing Hoshino's strategy, was visibly excited.

"First, I summon the monster card, [Silver Mecha Nobu]!" A smaller version of the Giant Mecha Nobu, Silver Mecha Nobu, appeared on the field, raising its mechanical arm enthusiastically.

[Silver Mecha Nobu★★★★ (4 Stars) Light][Machine/Effect][ATK1500/DEF500]

"It's Silver Mecha Nobu!" Nobunaga, recognizing the familiar form on the field, seemed to know the routine. "Since Silver Nobu is here, next must be…"

"Exactly!"

Nodding emphatically, Hoshino played another card. "I activate Silver Mecha Nobu's special effect!"

[When this card is summoned or Special Summoned, you can Special Summon one [Nobu] monster from your deck, except [Silver Mecha Nobu].]

"I Special Summon [Gold Mecha Nobu] from my deck!"

[Gold Mecha Nobu★★★★★★ (6 Stars) Light][Machine/Effect][ATK2000/DEF1000]

"NOBU!" Gold Mecha Nobu appeared on the field with a serious expression.

"Mm, the mischievous Silver Nobu and the serious Gold Nobu, they make a perfect pair." Nobunaga, looking satisfied, crossed her arms and nodded.

"Enough chatter, it's your turn, Nobu!" Hoshino, having played both cards, repeatedly tapped Nobunaga's card on the table.

"Hahaha, Master, you're tickling me~" Nobunaga, initially looking cool with her arms crossed, now clutched her stomach, laughing. "Alright, alright, I'll start right away!"

"I activate the special effect of [Heroic Spirit – Oda Nobunaga]!"

[If there are 5 [Nobu] monsters in your graveyard, you can tribute this card to Special Summon up to three [Nobu] monsters from your graveyard in Defense Position. The monsters summoned this way cannot be used as Tribute for a Tribute Summon.]

"Although I didn't get to fight this time, at least I made a big impact." As Nobunaga was tributed, she grumbled with a slightly reluctant expression, "Don't think that Nobunaga is weak; remember the formula: one Nobunaga equals three Nobus!"

Since Nobunaga was summoned by the effect of [Final Guard], she was not sent to the graveyard but was instead banished from the game.

"You guys!" As she was about to disappear, Nobunaga adjusted her hat and, with a serious expression, gave her final order to the three Nobus that had appeared on the field, "Make sure to win!!"

"NOBU!!" x3

The three Nobus saluted in unison, watching Nobunaga's departure.

"Well, time to head back and hang out with Okita."

"Because of Oda Nobunaga's special effect, I Special Summon three Nobus from the graveyard in Defense Position!" After tributing Nobunaga, Hoshino quickly played three monster cards on the table.

"Come forth, Nobu Corps! Gold and Silver Giant Mecha Nobu!"

[Nobu Corps DEF100]

[Gold Giant Mecha Nobu DEF2000]

[Silver Giant Mecha Nobu DEF1000]

"Hahaha, that's quite an amusing strategy, Hoshino-girl!" Pegasus clapped, seemingly impressed with Hoshino's rapid field-filling tactics. "If Duel Monsters were about summoning weak monsters quickly, you'd surely be number one."

"But, weak monsters are still weak! You don't have [United We Stand], so summoning more monsters won't help, will it?" Pegasus, aware that Hoshino's last card was [Heroic Spirit – Spartacus], stated this with confidence, knowing that both sides were almost openly revealing their hands.

"Chiyuki, what are you planning?" Mai, watching the duel nervously, didn't understand Hoshino's strategy. "Pegasus has [Toon Ancient Gear Golem] on the field with piercing damage. If the Nobu Corps in Defense Position are attacked, Chiyuki will lose."

"Haha, Pegasus, I admit your Ancient Gear Golem combined with [Toon Kingdom] is strong, but…" Hoshino shouted, mimicking Nobunaga's gesture of pointing to the sky, exuding a powerful aura despite being extremely weak physically.

"Our goal is the stars and the sea!!"

"!!!" Pegasus looked shocked, unable to believe that Hoshino still had such a strong spirit. "You still have such strong willpower, Hoshino-girl?"

"Fusion, Nobus!" Hoshino, using all her strength, shouted her final battle command to the five Nobus on the field.

"NO!BU!" x5

"Fusion?" Jounouchi and Honda, eyes wide, seemed infected by Hoshino's aura and became excited. "Can these strange-looking Nobus combine?"

"Of course they can!" Hoshino answered loudly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "As long as there's spirit, the ultimate fusion is possible!"

As she finished speaking, the five Nobus leaped into the air, converging at a single point.

Gold and Silver Mecha Nobu: "Nobunobu! (We'll form the legs!)"

Silver Giant Nobu: "NOBU! (I'll form the arms!)"

Gold Giant Nobu: "NOBU!! (I'll form the body!)"

Nobu Corps: "Nobu! (I'll form the head!)"

"Fusion! Five Nobu Union!" Slamming the newly fused card onto the table, Hoshino glared at Pegasus's field. "Pegasus! Your beloved Toon Kingdom and Toon Ancient Gear Golem will be obliterated by my ultimate, unrivaled super robot!"

"Fusion Summon, [Mazinger Nobu]!!"

[Mazinger Nobu★★★★★★★★★★★★ (12 Stars) Light][Machine/Fusion/Effect][ATK4000/DEF3000]

["Nobu Corps" + 4 Machine-Type monsters with [Nobu] in their names]

[Can only be Special Summoned by banishing the above cards from your field. (No Polymerization card required)]

After the fusion, the enormous Mazinger Nobu descended slowly from the sky. Its massive form landed heavily on the ground, creating a windstorm that swept away the remaining ruins of Toon Castle, including the once-standing castle gate.

"It fused! So cool!" Jounouchi and Honda's eyes lit up, fully grasping the concept of 'giant robot is a man's romance.' "This is a complete turnaround, Hoshino is incredible!"

"Pegasus, because of Mazinger Nobu's effect, your Toon Kingdom has been destroyed!" Hoshino exclaimed, watching the ruins dissipate like smoke, knowing she had finally broken the invincible Toon myth.

[①: This card's Summon cannot be negated by other card effects. When this card is successfully Summoned, destroy all Spell and Trap cards on the field.]

However, the three Command Seals on Hoshino's hand also dissipated with the wind.

"Impossible, my [Toon Kingdom] has the protection of [Field Barrier]. Even if the effect destroys all Spell and Trap cards, according to the rules, [Toon Kingdom] should remain," Pegasus said, frowning, refusing to accept what had happened.

"Oh? You're talking about your [Field Barrier]~" Hoshino tilted her head and feigned innocence. "That thing was already negated by [Gold Giant Mecha Nobu]."

[Gold Giant Mecha Nobu Effect: You can target one face-up card each on your and your opponent's fields, other than this card; those cards' effects are negated until the end of the turn.]

"Your Field Barrier is nothing in the face of Nobu's strategy!"

"Hmph, I never imagined that Hoshino's Nobus could hide such immense power!" Even Yugi, rarely showing satisfaction, smiled at the sight of Mazinger Nobu, who stood as tall as the Ancient Gear Golem. "Hoshino, you've come this far, so don't overthink it, just go all out!"

"Alright!" Raising her right fist in response to Yugi's encouragement, Hoshino continued her play. "Because I successfully summoned [Mazinger Nobu], according to its effect, I will Special Summon as many [Mazinger Nobu Tokens] as possible to my field!"

[②: When this card is successfully summoned, you can Special Summon [Mazinger Nobu Tokens] (Machine-Type/Light/4 Stars/ATK/DEF 2000) to your field as many as possible. Tokens cannot attack the turn they are summoned.]

[Mazinger Nobu Token★★★★ (4 Stars) Light][Machine] x4

The field, which had been somewhat empty after the fusion, was instantly filled again, living up to the title Pegasus had given her as the fastest field-filling duelist.

"It's time for the showdown, Pegasus!" Hoshino, having completely turned the tables, launched an attack on Pegasus's Ancient Gear Giant. "A final battle between giant robots is a rare sight indeed."

"Attack the [Toon Ancient Gear Golem] on Pegasus's field, Mazinger Nobu!"

"Interesting, Hoshino-girl! Even though they looked like a bunch of weak monsters, they've created something as colossal as a war god." Gritting his teeth, Pegasus also ordered his Ancient Gear Golem to counterattack. "Don't hold back, engage [Toon Ancient Gear Golem]!"

The comical yet huge silhouette contrasted sharply with the imposing Mazinger Nobu. The two giant robots, both nearly breaking the ceiling, took steps toward each other. The massive chasm created by Nobunaga's attack last turn seemed insignificant in front of the giants.

Despite the giant size, it took only two steps for them to be within striking distance of the limited duel arena.

"Charge, Mazinger Nobu!" Jounouchi and Honda were filled with excitement, inspired by the giant form and the weight of the machinery.

As they spoke, Mazinger Nobu and the Ancient Gear Nobu simultaneously swung their massive iron fists at each other.

"Is this... a giant robot version of the Cross CounterPunch?" Jounouchi and Honda recognized the familiar stance. In a Cross CounterPunch, both sides get hurt, but... "Hoshino's monster has higher attack power! So..."

"So you have no chance of winning, Pegasus!" Hoshino shouted, putting her all into the command as if unleashing an ultimate move. "Feel the burning soul on this iron fist!"

"Steel Spirit!!"

With Hoshino's shout, the seemingly ordinary punch of Mazinger Nobu suddenly burned with a layer of emerald green starlight, as if the very soul itself was ablaze.

"Without the protection of [Toon Kingdom], even if the Toon Giant can still exist without relying on the field card, it is no longer indestructible!" Hoshino, straining to support her overexerted body, smirked with satisfaction. "This punch, this is a punch that can break through the stars and the sea! Go, Mazinger Nobu!"

"Starbreaker!!"

The emerald green starlight that covered the fist violently expanded and flickered as if ignited. The soul power that burst forth accurately met the Ancient Gear Golem's iron fist.

"Tenka Goken: One-Hit-Kill Star Shattering Fist!!"

The moment the fists of the Ancient Gear Golem and Mazinger Nobu made contact, the already somewhat outdated body of the Toon Giant began to disintegrate from the arm, unable to withstand the impact. Thousands of parts scattered across the arena, and like other destroyed monsters, it dissolved into a pile of holographic fragments.

[Toon Ancient Gear Golem] Destroyed

Pegasus LP 1400 → 400

After the attack, Hoshino realized she had overexerted her mental energy. Her entire body felt like it was falling apart, unresponsive. In a Shadow Game, not only does taking damage consume significant mental energy, but controlling monsters to attack does as well, and the stronger the monster, the greater the consumption.

"How about that, Pegasus!" Despite her condition, Hoshino couldn't help but feel a surge of joy seeing Mazinger Nobu destroy Pegasus's Ancient Gear Golem.

"Your precious Toon Kingdom and strongest Toon monster have been wiped out by me, by the Starbreaking Fist!"

(*****)

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