Chapter 38

"Chiyuki Hoshino, this darkness will be your grave."

Scar Man looked at his trump card with satisfaction, particularly his highest attack monster, [Dark Emperor]. Thanks to the Continuous Spell Card [Falling Dark Floating Castle], its attack power increased by 500 points, reaching a terrifying 4000. Meanwhile, Artoria's attack power had dropped by 500 points, and even if Chiyuki drew another [Heroic Spirit] monster this turn, Artoria's attack power still wouldn't surpass [Dark Emperor]'s.

Additionally, [Dark Emperor]'s special effect meant the opponent could only choose it as the attack target, ensuring that no matter how Chiyuki struggled, death was her only fate.

"Heh, checkmate." After calculating everything, Scar Man couldn't help but laugh again.

"So scary, Artoria." Pretending to tremble, Chiyuki twisted her small frame, playfully whining to Artoria.

"With all due respect, master, I don't feel your fear at all." True to her stoic nature, Artoria ruthlessly cut off Chiyuki's attempt to act coy. "And there's nothing to fear. Whether it's five monsters or fifty, I'll deal with them all for you, master."

Confidently swinging her sword, Artoria elegantly twirled it, slicing through the dark mist surrounding her.

"Tch." Chiyuki pouted in dissatisfaction, watching Artoria dance with her sword. " King Arthur truly doesn't understand human emotions."

"Ah... not understanding emotions, huh." Artoria's movements halted suddenly, a hint of sadness appearing on her face. "Master is right. Everyone says King Arthur doesn't understand emotions."

"Sorry! I'm so sorry, Artoria!" Realizing she'd inadvertently touched a nerve, Chiyuki clasped her hands and winked apologetically. "I just wanted the cool Artoria to comfort me a bit. I'm terribly sorry for saying something so selfish!"

Artoria turned to look at Chiyuki, smiling gently. "Don't blame yourself, master. It's partly my fault. I need to move on from my past."

"What are you babbling about? It's your turn, hurry up!" Unable to see Artoria's actions, Scar Man only saw Chiyuki talking to herself like a fool. "Is she so desperate that she's lost her mind?"

"Chiyuki..." Mai Valentine watched Chiyuki's strange behavior with concern, gripping her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her skin. She couldn't believe the Dark Duelist had such a powerful card. She hadn't even seen it before being easily defeated, a blow to her self-esteem. "Is the gap between me and Chiyuki really that big?"

"My turn, draw." With a light touch of her finger, Chiyuki drew a card from the top of her deck.

"Hmph, summon my soul card, Spartacus!" Slamming Spartacus onto the table, Chiyuki suddenly realized something was wrong: "Wait, Spartacus isn't my soul card! Damn it, completely influenced by that idiot Jounouchi."

"Destroy the oppressor with my love!" The muscular Spartacus appeared beside Artoria.

[Heroic Spirit – Spartacus★★★Earth][Warrior/Effect][ATK:1500DEF:1500]

"Oppressor!"

"Master, this is quite troublesome for me." Artoria, looking troubled, took a step back to distance herself from Spartacus's shouting.

"Ah! Sorry, didn't think of that." Chiyuki rubbed her head and scolded Spartacus. "Spartacus, this isn't the oppressor. And it's battle time now, so behave."

"Oh, not the oppressor~" Pacified by Chiyuki's scolding, Spartacus lowered his head in dejection.

"What's the use of summoning a small fry like this?" Scar Man couldn't help but mock the three-star Spartacus, who wouldn't even be a mouthful for his Dark Emperor.

"A small fry?" Scar Man's taunt amused Chiyuki. "Don't you know, anyone kicked by Spartacus on this island ends up dead."

Chiyuki wasn't exaggerating. With her current 100% win rate and Spartacus's 100% appearance rate, it was indeed true.

"Hahaha, so you've beaten a few weak duelists on this island and think you're invincible? Do you know how many duelists have lost to me?" Scar Man held up two fingers arrogantly. "Twenty, exactly twenty, including that fool woman below. And you will be the twenty-first."

"Mai isn't a foolish woman! Take that back!" Chiyuki's sudden shout startled Scar Man.

"Hahaha, if she isn't foolish, what is she? Confidently betting all her stars only to lose them easily to me. Such a woman claims to have dreams. If that isn't foolish, what is?" Covering his mouth, Scar Man laughed nastily.

"Mai Valentine is a proud and honorable duelist!" Chiyuki's demeanor shifted, and the aura she exuded crashed towards the Dark Duelist Assassin like a tidal wave. "And you, you're just a coward who hides in the dark, using loopholes in the holographic system to gain an unfair advantage. You're nothing but third rate!"

"Activate Artoria's special effect!" At Chiyuki's command, the Invincible Air around Artoria's sword dissipated, revealing the golden sword's true form.

[② During your main phase, you can activate this by removing one card with [Avalon] in its name from your graveyard, then add [Excalibur] to your hand.]

"Remove [Avalon of Radiant Path] from the graveyard and activate the Equip Spell Card [Excalibur] from my hand!" Slamming the card on the table, the barrier dissipated, and the golden sword shone with a light that defied the darkness.

[Excalibur Equip Spell Card Effect: Can only be equipped to a monster with [Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon] in its name. ① Negate the equipped monster's effects. ② The equipped monster gains 500 attack points for each monster with [Heroic Spirit] in its name on the field or in the graveyard.]

With the Invincible Air are gone, Artoria's true attack power was revealed.

"With four Heroic Spirit monsters on the field and in the graveyard, Artoria's attack power increases by 2000 points!"

[Artoria Pendragon ATK → 4000]

"But due to [Falling Dark Floating Castle]'s effect, her attack power decreases by 500 points again!" Scar Man didn't falter, knowing Artoria still couldn't surpass [Dark Emperor].

"Go ahead, attack me with your so-called high attack power." Whether out of revenge or hoping for Chiyuki's mistake, Scar Man eagerly anticipated seeing her monster fall to [Dark Emperor] just as his had. "Then you'll understand the true terror of darkness."

"Pah, do you think I'm as dumb as you?" Chiyuki spat, looking at him with disdain. "Do you know what it means to cut through the darkness? Let me show you, third-rate."

"Chiyuki, it feels like your character has changed..." Mai Valentine couldn't help but comment, watching in disbelief as Chiyuki exuded a new persona.