Chapter 217

"—O' Humans, Let Us Restrain the Gods."

The Chains of Heaven, true to their name—chains capable of binding even the gods—tightly restrained Obelisk the Tormentor, immobilizing its massive frame. Not even its infinite power could free its body from the unyielding bind.

"Gil, being careless could lead to your downfall, you know!" Enkidu's calm yet serious voice cut through the chaos as he tightened his hold on the Chains of Heaven extending from his wide sleeves. His gaze shifted toward Gilgamesh, where a giant fist hovered just an inch away from his face.

Gilgamesh replied with unshakable confidence, "My friend! I didn't act because I believed you would come. After all, nothing brings more peace of mind than entrusting my back to you."

Enkidu, ever blunt, scoffed, "Don't flatter yourself, Gil. I'm only here because I responded to Master's summons. You're already shining plenty on your own."

"Why… How did Hoshino, with only one card in hand, manage to summon a monster that can affect Obelisk…?" Yugi's incredulous gaze fixed on Enkidu, who held the divine beast at bay. The Chains of Heaven, glimmering with divine authority, seemed to sap even Obelisk's infinite power.

It should be noted that to influence a God Card, a monster must be at least Level 10. With Hoshino's dwindling resources, summoning such a powerful force seemed impossible in Yugi's eyes.

"You're right, Yugi." Hoshino raised her Duel Disk, showing the card placement area. "I can't directly summon a Level 10 monster like Enkidu under these circumstances… but using it as an Equip Card is another matter!"

Sure enough, on Hoshino's Duel Disk, only Gilgamesh occupied the monster zone. Enkidu, who now restrained Obelisk, was in the magic and trap zone, treated as an Equip Card.

"Quick-Play Spell Card—[Enuma Dingir]!" A radiant green magic lit up on Hoshino's fingertip—her final card.

[Enuma Dingir Quick-Play Effect: When you control fewer monsters than your opponent, activate one of the following effects:

● Equip [Heroic Spirit - Enkidu] from your hand, deck, or graveyard to a [Gilgamesh] on your field. The equipped [Heroic Spirit - Enkidu] cannot be Special Summoned this turn.]

"Fight by my side, my friend!"

"The spirit of the stars that have been awakened—I will move forward with humanity!" Enkidu's voice, serene and steady, echoed as his form transformed. Surrounded by shimmering starlight, his essence coalesced into the divine weapon of binding—The Chains of Heaven.

"Activate the effect of [Enkidu]!" Hoshino commanded.

[Enkidu Effect: This card can be treated as an Equip Card to a [Gilgamesh] monster, or be summoned in face-up attack position if the Equip status is released. When this card becomes an Equip Card, the equipped monster's ATK and DEF increase by 400 and gain the following effect:

● Once per turn, select 1 monster on the opponent's field. Until the end of the turn, the selected monster cannot attack or activate effects. This effect can be used on the opponent's turn as well.]

The unbreakable chains wound around Obelisk's colossal body, nullifying its overwhelming might. The once-unstoppable god was rendered powerless.

"Due to Enkidu's effect, the Tormentor's abilities cannot activate! Your so-called infinity attack power is nothing more than an illusion!" Hoshino declared, her voice sharp and commanding.

[Obelisk the Tormentor ATK 4000]

Meanwhile, Kaiba's sacrificed White Dragons, as if granted a second chance at life, returned to the field, roaring defiantly.

[Gilgamesh ATK 7800 → 10700]

"Continue the attack! Go, Goldie (Gil), Enkidu! Pierce the Tormentor with the Chains of Heaven!" Hoshino's voice rang with finality.

One, two, ten—countless chains erupted from the sky, spiraling together until they formed a single radiant spear aimed at Obelisk's core. The divine light pierced the heavens, eclipsing even the stars.

"Let's do this, Gil!"

"Hahahahaha, be erased from existence!" Gilgamesh roared, his laughter filled with regal authority.

"—Enuma Elish!!" x2

The divine weapon, forged from countless Chains of Heaven, descended with terrifying precision, shattering the godly might of Obelisk.

[Obelisk the Tormentor] destroyed.

"The battle damage from Obelisk's destruction point ends the duel!" The aftermath was absolute. The battlefield lay in ruins—shattered monsters, countless Noble Phantasms, and a massive crater of divine destruction. Even as a virtual image, the intensity of the clash felt profoundly real.

Anyone witnessing this could immediately tell that both sides had truly given their all, staking everything on this duel.

"It's not over yet, Hoshino!" Yugi's voice boomed across the battlefield like a thunderclap, sending a shiver down her spine.

A hellish warning bell echoed in her mind. She froze as Yugi revealed his counter.

"I discard [Kuriboh] from my hand to nullify the battle damage this time!"

"Yugi, you're being a bit too mean!" Hoshino exclaimed, frustration evident in her tone. For a moment, she looked like she might cry. "I can't believe you'd pull something like that now!"

Yugi, caught off guard by her sudden complaint, stammered, "I… I didn't mean to be mean…"

"It's just that when I duel you, Hoshino, I want to savor every moment to the fullest," Yugi admitted, his sincere smile softening the tension.

Jonouchi, whose emotions had been yanked around like a yo-yo, muttered, "Wait… If Hoshino's attack is stopped here, won't Gilgamesh lose his Equip support and become vulnerable?"

Akasha chimed in, correcting him, "No, Jonouchi-nii! With Enkidu's effect, even if Yugi summons another monster, it'll just get bound again."

"Ah… I guess that makes sense." Jonouchi scratched his head, embarrassed at being out-analyzed by the young girl.

"And it doesn't seem like Hoshino-nee is ready to give up yet!" Akasha added with excitement.

Boom! The relentless sound of clashing weapons reverberated across the field as Gilgamesh unleashed a relentless barrage from the Gate of Babylon.

"Gilgamesh, throw out everything except Enkidu!" Hoshino commanded. The rain of Noble Phantasms poured down like a golden tempest, the wails of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon echoing in its wake.

"Stop your pointless outbursts! With the effect of [Return from the Different Dimension], any monsters summoned will be banished at the end of the turn!" Kaiba, clearly annoyed, snapped at Hoshino.

"Outburst?" Hoshino raised an eyebrow, her voice resolute. "I would never waste my energy on something so meaningless!"

Raising her arm to the sky, she pointed at the golden storm, her voice ringing loud and clear, "This is the resolve I've sown across the land!"

Golden treasures were densely embedded in the ground, so much so that there wasn't a single space left to stand.

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] Destroyed x3

[Gilgamesh ATK 1400]

If there were a prize for the most battered monster in this duel, it would surely go to Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Known as the world's rarest and most powerful monster card, it should embody qualities like strength, perfection, and invincibility. Yet, in Hoshino's eyes, it had gradually transformed into "a sacrifice, fodder—not even good enough as a wall."

Kaiba's expression turned sour. "Your so-called 'resolve' is to send all these Blue-Eyes, which should be banished at the end of the turn, straight to the graveyard?"

"Well, that's why, Kaiba, you'll never defeat Yugi," Hoshino taunted, her sudden remark striking Kaiba right where it hurt, causing him to pause in surprise.

("Miss Hoshino, the Millennium Puzzle, which embodies the ultimate mystery of this world, possesses an indescribable power. In critical moments during a duel, Yugi Muto can draw any card he desires—even if that card doesn't exist in his deck."

"Then why am I even playing? I should just surrender!"

"Miss Hoshino, your only choice is to find the single path to victory among countless failures.")

With her voice steady, Hoshino continued, "Finding the one path to victory hidden among countless failures. Now, let me show you the purpose behind my actions."

The metallic clink of three Equipment Spell cards being sent to the graveyard echoed across the battlefield.

"When the Equipment Spell [Key of the King's Law] is sent to the graveyard, its true effect activates!"

[Key of the King's Law Equip Spell Effect: Once per turn, if this card is sent to the graveyard, choose one of the following effects to activate:

● Equip this card and one other Equipment Spell from the graveyard to one [Gilgamesh] on your field.

● Draw one card.]

"Thanks to [Key of the King's Law]'s effect, I retrieve this card and [Fou of the Sun] from the graveyard, re-equipping them to Gilgamesh! And the true attack power increase of [Key of the King's Law] is…"

[Equipped monster's ATK/DEF increase by 500 for each Equipment Spell on the field and in the graveyard.]

[Gilgamesh ATK 6900]

The Gate of Babylon opened once more, its dazzling treasures shrouding the sky in golden light.

Akasha's jaw dropped in awe. "The attack power is back up again! Things are looking really tough for those two now."

Kaiba, now understanding Hoshino's intent, let out a begrudging smirk as he glanced at the familiar golden radiance gathering in the sky. "So, that's why you sent those Equipment Spells to the graveyard… clever."

His brow furrowed slightly as his gaze flicked to his remaining set cards from the previous turn. Of the three face-down cards, one had already been used—Return from the Different Dimension. The remaining two would determine the outcome of this duel.

Sliding Key of the King's Law into a spell slot, Hoshino activated her Duel Disk. "Now, I can activate the special effect of [Key of the King's Law]!"

Yugi's eyes narrowed, his expression sharpening. "A special effect?"

"Once per turn, I can discard one card to activate it…"

"Wait, Hoshino—where'd you get a card to discard?" Yugi raised his hand, stopping her as he asked. "I recall Enuma Dingir was your last card."

"Didn't anyone notice?" Hoshino smirked, pointing to the monster she had chosen as a tribute during Gilgamesh's ritual summoning.

A playful voice echoed from the graveyard. "It's me, Marie, ~"

"Even if Marie was Special Summoned and her effect negated by Evenings by the Euphrates, her effect still activates upon entering the graveyard!"

"Master, accept this final spark of France's soul!" Marie's voice carried a mischievous warmth, her presence still offering support even in death.

"I send [Oda Nobunaga] from my hand to the graveyard, activating the special effect of [Key of the King's Law]!" With a confident motion, Hoshino discarded the card, the sound of the metallic key resonating as it activated.

[Once per turn, you can discard one card to activate this effect. View the top five cards of your or your opponent's deck and rearrange them in any order. If viewing your own deck, you may add one of the revealed cards to your hand.]

Hovering in mid-air, Gilgamesh smirked. "Then I shall lend you my wisdom, mongrel!"

"Yugi, reveal the top five cards of your deck!" Hoshino commanded. Using his Sha Naqba Imuru: The Omniscient Omnipotent Star, Gilgamesh revealed the top five cards of Yugi's deck. Once these cards became a fixed result, not even the mystical power of the Millennium Puzzle could alter them.

Rearranging these five fated cards was Hoshino's only chance to seek victory, mirroring the effect of Mature Gentleman. But this time, five cards floated before her, shimmering in golden light.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Hoshino's eyes widened, a bead of sweat trailing down her temple despite her intense focus. The revealed order of Yugi's top five cards was…

[Card of Sanctity], [Soul Exchange], [Dark Magician Girl], [Dark Burning Magic], [Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning]

Without intervention, she could already envision the triumphant scene: Yugi summoning Dark Magician Girl, unleashing a devastating Dark Burning Magic, and turning the entire duel on its head with his signature flair.

"But fate is different now!" Without hesitation, Hoshino moved Card of Sanctity to the bottom of the stack, placing the least threatening Black Luster Soldier at the top. After all, no matter how strong the Black Luster Soldier was, it would be immediately restrained by the Chains of Heaven, rendering it powerless.

Having simulated all possible outcomes in her mind, Hoshino was confident her choice was flawless.

"End turn. Your move, Yugi!" she declared.

Hoshino's hand: 0

"Heh, that took quite a bit of time, Hoshino," Yugi chuckled, drawing the rearranged card. His brow twitched slightly upon seeing Black Luster Soldier, as though he understood Hoshino's plan.

"It seems you've prepared carefully… but it's unfortunate, Hoshino." Without playing a single new card, Yugi activated one of Kaiba's remaining set cards.

"No new cards are necessary—let's end this duel with Spell card Activate—[Pot of Avarice]!"

[Pot of Avarice Spell Card Effect: Target 5 monsters in your GY; shuffle all 5 into the Deck, then draw 2 cards.]

"According to its effect, I shuffle [Slifer the Sky Dragon], [Dark Magician], and three [Blue-Eyes White Dragons] back into my deck, then redraw!"

"A shuffle?!" Hoshino's expression faltered in disbelief. Kaiba, of all people, had anticipated her countermeasure and set up a counterattack from the very start. "To think Kaiba would set such a Normal Spell card face-down… you planned this?!"

(*****)

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