Chapter 46

"Hey, is this Pokémon?!" Unable to hold back her complaint, Hoshino thought this system was too lazy. Clearly an FGO event, yet it copied another game's mode.

"Huh? Mini Nobu Nobunaga, what's wrong with you?" After her complaint, Hoshino suddenly noticed something was off. After slicing through the mini Chariot Nobu, Nobu Nobunaga stood there twitching, unable to move.

"Mini Nobu Nobunaga's body?!!"

"What? What's happening now?" Hoshino looked at the twitching Nobu Nobunaga with concern, but there was nothing she could do to help.

Suddenly, a bright light burst forth from the twitching Nobu Nobunaga.

"[Mini Nobu Nobunaga] has evolved into [Nobu Corps]!"

"[Nobu Corps] has learned a new skill, [Nobu's Radiance]."

"It can evolve too!" Relieved to see that Nobu Nobunaga—no, now it was Nobu Corps—was okay, Hoshino looked at the two new cards that had appeared in her hand, [Nobu Corps] and [Nobu's Radiance].

[Nobu Corps ★★★★ (4 stars) Wind] [Warrior/Effect][ATK:1900 DEF:100]

[① Once per turn, when this card attacks a Defense Position monster, you can activate this effect. Destroy that monster without applying damage calculation. During the End Phase of the turn this effect was activated, send this card to the Graveyard. ② During the End Phase of the turn this card was sent to the Graveyard, you can activate this effect. Special Summon this card in face-up Attack Position.]

[Nobu's Radiance Quick-Play Spell Card Effect: Target 1 monster with [Nobu] in its name you control. ① That monster gains 500 ATK.]

"I see, so the Nobu cards I collect include not only various Nobu monster cards but also spell and trap cards representing their skills." After reading the card effects, Hoshino couldn't help but smile. "Although it's copying Pokémon, this event is quite fun."

[Current mission: Collect Nobu cards to form a deck; Current progress: 4/40]

Pocketing the cards, Hoshino picked up Nobu Corps from the ground and continued on her journey to become a Nobu master.

"Though you've evolved, you don't look any different." Hoshino chatted with Nobu Corps in her arms as she explored.

"Nobu?" Nobu Corps looked at Hoshino with puzzled eyes, then raised a hand to poke its cartoonish face.

"Pfft, are you saying your skin got better after evolving?" Hoshino couldn't help but laugh. Despite being a card-based creature, it cared about its skin.

"Nobu!" Nobu Corps angrily jumped up and punched Hoshino on the head, then fell back into her arms.

"Ouch!" Surprised by Nobu Corps' attack, Hoshino, annoyed, poked Nobu Corps' face hard with her finger. "I'll see just how smooth your skin is after evolving."

"Oh?! This texture..." Though reluctant to admit it, the feel was much smoother than before, reminding Hoshino of Mai Valentine soft, smooth body from the previous night...

Thinking of this, Hoshino's face turned red, and she lowered her head.

"Nobu!" As Hoshino was lost in the pleasant memory, Nobu Corps loudly called out, alerting her to danger.

Hoshino quickly came back to her senses, thinking another mini Chariot Nobu had appeared.

But there was nothing. Nervously scanning the ground with her eyes, Hoshino found nothing.

"Nobu! Nobu!" An anxious Nobu Corps kept pointing to the sky with its short arms.

"The sky? No way..." Looking up in a hurry, Hoshino spotted a new creature—a Nobu with a UFO-like lower body.

[A wild [Nobu UFO] appeared.]

"Get ready for battle. Nobu Corps, I choose you!" Skillfully throwing Nobu Corps, Hoshino wore a face full of anticipation.

But...

[Nobu Corps used Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune, but it's ineffective.]

"Nobu!" Because [Nobu UFO] floated in the sky, Nobu Corps' short Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune couldn't reach it.

On the contrary, [Nobu UFO] rained down laser missiles, firing enthusiastically. "!" The ill-mannered [Nobu UFO], with its crude language, unleashed its full firepower.

"What should we do, Nobu Corps?!" Fleeing madly to avoid the bombardment, Hoshino asked the bombed-to-a-crisp Nobu Corps, "Use your invincible Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune to figure something out!"

"Nobu~~" Using the last of its strength, the charred Nobu Corps reached for Hoshino's card pocket.

Understanding Nobu Corps' intention, Hoshino pulled out the collected cards. "You mean I should use these cards? But how?"

With the bombardment closing in, Hoshino's fate would likely be no better than the scorched Nobu Corps if she didn't think of something.

"Screw it, here goes nothing!" Drawing a card, Hoshino threw it out. "I choose you, [mini Chariot Nobu]!"

"Nobu!" The card transformed mid-air into the heavy [mini Chariot Nobu], which landed stylishly and drifted elegantly on the ground.

"It actually worked? So I can use the collected cards." Hoshino was relieved. "Go, mini Chariot Nobu, shoot down that Nobu UFO."

"Nobu!" With a loud roar, the mini Chariot Nobu's cannon aimed at the sky.

[Mini Chariot Nobu used anti-aircraft cannon, it's super effective.]

After an intense exchange of fire, Nobu UFO let out a scream and crashed to the ground. "Nobu><" < p>

[Nobu UFO has fainted.]

Naturally, another card appeared in Hoshino's hand.

[Nobu UFO ★★★ (3 stars) Dark] [Machine/Effect][ATK:500 DEF:1400]

[① When this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, you can add 1 [Nobu] monster from your Graveyard to your hand. ② When this card is destroyed or banished, you can target 1 [Nobu] monster in your banished zone, return it to the deck and shuffle it.]

"So defeating them makes them allies. This system is convenient." Looking at the new card, Hoshino sighed. "But this card's art style feels like it's from another dimension compared to the others."

After the battle, the mini Chariot Nobu returned to card form in Hoshino's hand.

"Nobu~" The charred Nobu Corps clung to Hoshino's pants.

"You did well, Nobu Corps." Stroking its blackened body, Hoshino hugged it. "As a meat shield…"

...

In the darkness, a hidden face showed a wicked smile, "How interesting. But no matter how many of these small fry Nobus you collect, you won't defeat me, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven."

What challenges await Hoshino on her journey to become a Nobu master?

"I wanna be the very best

Like no one ever was

To catch them is my real test

To train them is my cause

I will travel across the land

Searching far and wide

Teach Pokemon to understand

The power that's inside

Pokemon!..."

"Go, Nobu Corps!" Hoshino drew a card and threw it. "Use the Quick-Play Spell Card, Nobu's Radiance!"

"Nobu!" The Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune in Nobu Corps' hand glowed brightly as it slashed at the silver mechanical Nobu.

[[Nobu Corps] used Nobu's Radiance. It's super effective!]

After the light faded, the body of the silver mechanical Nobu shattered, and its core card fell into Hoshino's hand.

[Silver Mechanical Nobu ★★★★] [Machine/Effect] [ATK:1500 DEF: 500]

[You can only use this card's ① effect once per turn. ①: When this card is summoned or Special Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 [Nobu] monster, except [Silver Mechanical Nobu], from your deck. ②: While this card is in the Monster Zone, you cannot Special Summon monsters from the deck except [Nobu] monsters.]

"Nice, that makes ten cards." Pocketing the new card, Hoshino picked up Nobu Corps, who was playing with its shiny little knife on the ground.

[Current mission progress: 10/40]

"But it feels like time is passing slowly. Is it because I'm in a separate dimension?" Hoshino looked up at the sun. It felt like a whole morning had passed, yet the sun was still just rising. "I don't feel hungry at all despite not eating anything yesterday."

"And since earlier, I've had this strange feeling of being watched..." Hoshino turned sharply to look at the bushes behind her but saw nothing unusual.

"Maybe I'm just imagining things. Let's keep working on the mission." After giving Nobu Corps a rub, Hoshino continued on her journey.

In the bushes...

"Phew, that was close. Almost got caught." Lying on the ground, clutching her chest in fear, Nobunaga watched Hoshino's figure fade into the distance and breathed a sigh of relief. "As expected of Master, she's very sharp."

After calming her breathing, a cunning look flashed in Nobunaga's eyes. "You won't have it easy for long, Master. Just wait and see. Haha..."

SONG continues~

"Gotta catch 'em all--

It's you and me

I know it's my destiny

Poke..."

"Enough, enough, stop singing! Keep it up, and we'll get a copyright letter." Staring at the new Nobu that had just appeared, Hoshino scolded the Nobu Corps, which had been humming the Pokémon theme.

[A wild [Golden Mini Nobu] appeared!]

Smirking at the tiny golden Nobu, Hoshino couldn't hold back her laugh. "Haha, it looks so weak."

"Nobu, XD!" Nobu Corps in her arms also burst into laughter, thinking it was very small, but this golden mini Nobu was only half its size.

"Nobu Corps, I choose you! Take it down easily, as usual!" Hoshino expertly tossed Nobu Corps, waiting for the new card to be in her hands.

[Hoshino Chiyuki sent out [Nobu Corps] to battle!]

As usual, Nobu Corps drew its mini Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune and charged.

But before Hoshino realized it, the [Golden Mini Nobu] had pulled out a UFO-like object from behind.

"Crap, if it gets on that UFO, Nobu Corps won't be able to reach it." Realizing the situation, Hoshino quickly pulled out a card to summon [Mini Chariot Nobu].

"Nobu!" To Hoshino's surprise, the Golden Mini Nobu didn't get on the UFO but hugged it and charged forward.

"Watch out, Nobu Corps!" Hoshino suddenly recalled her Waver getting taken down by critical hits in events. "It's a self-destruct!"

"Nobu!" But it was too late. A loud explosion engulfed Nobu Corps.

After the dust settled, the charred Nobu Corps landed at Hoshino's feet, defeated once again.

"Nobu Corps!!" Hugging the barely conscious Nobu Corps, Hoshino cried out in sorrow.

"Nobu..." With its last bit of strength, Nobu Corps gently touched Hoshino's face before its hand fell and it closed its eyes.

"Well, at least I got the cards." Pulling herself together, Hoshino looked at the two new cards in her hand and pocketed them.

[Golden Mini Nobu ★★★ Fire] [Warrior/Effect][ATK:300 DEF:300]

[You can only use this card's ① effect once per turn. ①: When this card is summoned or Special Summoned, you can target 1 [Nobu] monster in your graveyard, except [Golden Mini Nobu]; negate its effects and Special Summon it in Attack Position. ②: You can target 1 [Nobu] monster you control; this card's Level becomes the same as that monster's. You cannot Special Summon monsters except [Nobu] monsters during the turn you activate this effect.]

"What a strange ② effect." Hoshino frowned at the description. "This is my first time seeing a level-changing effect. What's up with this Nobu deck?"

[Big Explosion NOBU! Quick-Play Spell Card Effect: You can activate this if you control only [Nobu] monsters. ①: Destroy all [Nobu] monsters you control, and inflict 400 damage to your opponent for each monster destroyed.]

"That's quite a powerful direct damage spell card. If you fill the field with Nobu monsters, you can deal 2000 damage at once." Remembering the devastating explosion, Hoshino sighed.

In the bushes...

"Damn, as expected of Master!" Nobunaga bit a leaf in frustration. "Even [Golden Mini Nobu]'s self-destruct was ineffective."

"But next time won't be so easy. Just wait, Master." Nobunaga's eyes turned cold again.

[Current mission progress: 12/40]

"Your recovery is really fast, Nobu Corps." Hoshino rubbed the now fully energetic Nobu Corps, completely healed from its charred state. The same thing happened after being blasted by [Nobu UFO]; it looked serious but quickly recovered.

"Nobu!" Nobu Corps clapped its small hands, agreeing with Hoshino.

"Is it because of the skill effect?" Hoshino pulled out Nobu Corps' card and looked at its ② effect: During the End Phase of the turn this card was sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon this card in face-up Attack Position.

"If that's true, you're basically immortal." Surprised, Hoshino looked at the cute Nobu in her arms, unable to believe it had such great power.

"Indeed, the comic relief characters are the strongest..."

[******]

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