Chapter 7

Seeing the Ocean Dragon Lord cut down by Swallow Reversal, Mako Tsunami's expression grew increasingly twisted. His ace monster, his confident finishing move, had been single-handedly destroyed by a two-star monster.

[Sasaki Kojirou ATK: 3000 → 0]

With the end of the battle, the five-foot-long blade in Sasaki Kojirou's hand broke in two.

"It seems I underestimated you, Hoshino," Mako Tsunami said, looking at Hoshino with admiration. Such a cute girl, skilled at dueling, stirred a deep desire for conquest within Mako.

"Activate the spell card, Monster Reborn." Mako placed a card with a cross-like object depicted on it onto the table.

[Monster Reborn – Spell Card – Effect: Select one monster from either player's Graveyard and Special Summon it to your field.]

The previously calm sea surface roiled again, and the ferocious Ocean Dragon Lord roared back to life from the depths.

"Damn, using a limited card like Monster Reborn," Hoshino thought, feeling uneasy. Limited cards were so powerful that they were restricted to one per deck. For context, a deck could normally include up to three copies of a card.

[Ocean Dragon Lord★★★★★★WATER – Sea Serpent ATK: 2600 DEF: 2000]

"Damn it, she just barely managed to defeat the Ocean Dragon Lord, and now it's back thanks to that broken card," Jonouchi grumbled. The situation had reversed again due to Monster Reborn, nullifying Hoshino's comeback.

"It's okay, Jonouchi," Yugi reassured him, his worry easing somewhat. "Using Monster Reborn during the battle phase means Mako Tsunami has ended his battle phase. So, the Ocean Dragon Lord can't attack this turn."

"The key to this duel now is how Hoshino handles this disadvantage in her next turn. We must trust in her," Yugi added, as they all began to recognize Hoshino's strength and held a glimmer of hope for victory.

"My turn, draw!" Hoshino was inwardly panicking, her remaining cards inadequate to overcome the dire situation. She could only place her hope on this final draw.

"Hahahahaha," Hoshino laughed upon seeing her drawn card. Indeed, victory always belonged to the lucky.

"Mako Tsunami, I have completed my puzzle of victory!" Hoshino declared, pointing at Mako with her drawn card, her confidence locking him in place.

With a confident smile, Hoshino placed her new card on the table. "Summon a monster in face-down Defense Position and change Sasaki Kojirou to Defense Position."

Defensive summons could be in face-down position, keeping the monster hidden from the opponent—a common dueling tactic.

"I set one card and end my turn."

"Hoshino, are you crazy or just giving up?" Mako scoffed at the field—a face-down Defense Position monster, which indicated it wasn't high-star, and Sasaki Kojirou with zero attack points. "Is this your so-called puzzle of victory? Are you mocking me?"

"Oh? Whether I'm mocking you or not, why don't you find out?" Hoshino taunted Mako without fear.

"If you're just trying to provoke me into making a mistake, you've miscalculated." Despite Hoshino's provocation, Mako remained clear-headed. His national third-place strength wasn't something to be swayed by mere taunts.

"Sacrifice Ocean Dragon Lord to Special Summon Ocean Dragon God!" The fierce Ocean Dragon Lord transformed into a white light and disappeared. The sea surged with stormy waves.

"Descend, master of the boundless seas and the undying ocean, Ocean Dragon God!"

[Ocean Dragon God★★★★★★★★WATER – Sea Serpent ATK: 3000 → 3200 DEF: 2600 → 2800]

[Cannot be Normal Summoned. Must be Special Summoned by tributing Ocean Dragon Lord. When Ocean Dragon God battles, it can attack all of your opponent's monsters once each.] (TL: I searched if there a card like this but I don't find it I think it's an OG Card by the author)

"My ultimate and strongest ace, let's see you handle this, Hoshino!" Mako's roar blended with the storm as the massive Ocean Dragon God loomed. "Go, Ocean Dragon God! Attack the face-down monster card! Dragon God's Lightning!"

Blinding lightning shot from Ocean Dragon God's gaping maw, striking the face-down monster.

"Alright, I'll show you then," Hoshino stood firm amidst the storm. "Mash, block it!"

"Yes, Master!" The face-down monster revealed itself under the attack.

[Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight★★★★LIGHT – Warrior/Effect ATK: 1000 DEF: 2000]

[When this card is in face-up Defense Position, your opponent must attack this card. When attacked in Defense Position, it cannot be destroyed by battle or effects, and its position changes to Attack Position.]

"Transient Wall of Snowflakes!" The giant shield blocked Dragon God's Lightning, leaving Mash unscathed. Lowering the shield, Mash switched to Attack Position.

"You think you can win with strange cards like these? Activate Ocean Dragon God's special effect, attack all of your opponent's monsters!" Mako snarled, annoyed by the failed attack. "Can you block this, Hoshino?" Lightning gathered again, striking Sasaki Kojirou.

"When I say I'll block it, I'll block it, no matter how many times you attack." Hoshino waved her hand, activating her face-down card, "Activate Quick-Play Spell Card, Lord Camelot!"

[Lord Camelot – Quick-Play Spell Card – Effect: If you control a face-up "Mash Kyrielight", grant all your monsters an effect where they cannot be destroyed by battle once. At the start of your next turn, increase the ATK of all your monsters, except "Mash Kyrielight", by the original DEF of "Mash Kyrielight" until the end of the turn.]

"The place that cures all the wound and dissolves all the hatred, our home, sits here! Lord Camelot!!!" A massive Camelot castle gate rose, blocking the lightning again.

"Lord Camelot bestows upon my monsters an effect where they cannot be destroyed by battle once."

"How about that, Mako Tsunami?" Hoshino gave him a beautiful smile.

"Ugh." Mako felt a critical hit to his heart. Strong and beautiful, she was a perfect girl, he thought.

"End turn. I acknowledge your strength, Hoshino. I, Mako Tsunami, recognize you as a duelist with national-level strength," he praised generously. "But you still can't defeat my Ocean Dragon God. You'll lose next turn."

"National-level strength? I don't need it. My ultimate goal is to become the Duelist King." With unwavering resolve and a thirst for victory, Hoshino grew stronger. "I said my victory puzzle is complete, Mako Tsunami. You won't have another turn."

"Activate Lord Camelot's effect. At the start of my turn, all monsters except Mash Kyrielight gain ATK equal to Mash's DEF until the end of the turn."

[Sasaki Kojirou ATK: 0 → 2000]

"A mere 2000 ATK can't defeat Ocean Dragon God…" Mako began to say, but then realized the impending danger.

"Ah, you've realized it? This is Sasaki Kojirou with 2000 ATK," Hoshino smiled confidently. "You've lost, Mako Tsunami!"

"——I attack Ocean Dragon God with Sasaki Kojirou!"

"My new blade is so sharp," Kojirou murmured, admiring his newly restored sword. "Let me answer my master's expectations with this new blade."

"——Secret Sword, Swallow Reversal!"

"Activate Sasaki Kojirou's special effect! During battle, this card's ATK becomes three times its original ATK."

[Sasaki Kojirou ATK: 2000 → 6000]

"This can't be happening," Mako Tsunami shouted in despair as three elegant slashes cleaved his ace monster.

Mako Tsunami LP: 3400 → 600

"It's over, Mako Tsunami," Hoshino placed her cards down, looking at Mako with pity. "Mash, deliver the final blow."

"Fall to this blow," Mash said, raising her massive shield and smashing the surrendering Mako.

Mako Tsunami LP: 600 → 0

"Duel over. The winner is Chiaki Hoshino!"