Chapter 49

"Activate Quick-Play Spell Card, Lord Camelot!"

[Lord Camelot Quick-Play Spell Card Effect: ① When "Mash Kyrielight" is face-up on your field, you can activate this card, granting all your monsters protection from battle destruction once. ② At the start of your next turn, all monsters except Mash on your field gain attack points equal to Mash's original defense points until the end of that turn.]

The giant gates of Camelot rose from the ground, blocking Nobunaga's massive attack.

"Even though they won't be destroyed by battle, Mash in attack mode still takes damage!" Nobunaga laughed, hands on her hips, undeterred by the blocked attack. "No problem if it's blocked. Golden Giant Mecha Nobu, continue attacking Mash!"

The residual force of the golden laser hit Hoshino, making her dizzy.

Hoshino Chiyuki LP → 2600

"Haha, how do you like that, Master?" Nobunaga gloated, seeing Hoshino's reduced life points. "Dueling is too easy! I end my turn."

"Oda Nobunaga!" Hoshino suddenly shouted, startling Nobunaga, who had been basking in her triumph.

"Here's some advice!" Hoshino's cold gaze made Nobunaga shiver. "Whether you're a novice or an expert, remember this! Never underestimate a duel, and never underestimate the soul of a duelist who fights with all their might for victory."

"What the heck? You were just messing with my deck, and now you're giving me a lecture?" Nobunaga, feeling chastised and a bit wronged, timidly retorted.

With Nobunaga's turn ended, [Nobu Corps] and [Chariot Nobu] disappeared into the graveyard due to their special effects. However, [Nobu Corps] could be special summoned from the graveyard at the end of Hoshino's turn due to its second effect.

The current field situation is:

- Oda Nobunaga LP: 4000 with [Golden Giant Mecha Nobu ATK:2400] in attack position and a waiting-to-be-summoned [Nobu Corps ATK:1500]

- Hoshino Chiyuki LP:2400 with [Heroic Spirit - Mash Kyrielight ATK:1000 DEF: 2000] who cannot switch to defense position this turn, and [Heroic Spirit - Cu Chulainn ATK:1600→3600 DEF:1600] who cannot change to attack position due to continuing battle effects

"My turn, draw!" Hoshino drew a card and glanced at her hand. "Although Cu Chulainn's attack power has increased by 2000 points due to Lord Camelot's effect, he can't change to attack position because of the continuing battle effect."

"On my field, only Mash with an attack power of 1000 remains, which can't break through Nobunaga's Golden Giant Mecha Nobu with 2400 attack power. Plus, [Nobu Corps] will return to her field next turn. The situation looks grim." Thinking this, a smile appeared on Hoshino's lips. "I'll have to gamble!"

Determined, Hoshino played a card from her hand onto the table. "Activate the Spell Card, [Mage's Outfit: Chaldea Combat Suit]!"

As soon as the card was activated, a light from the holographic projector at Hoshino's feet transformed her clothes into the familiar Chaldea Combat Suit. The tight-fitting suit outlined her curves, making her look exceptionally attractive.

"Oh, amazing, Master!" Cu Chulainn called out frivolously as he turned to look at Hoshino in the combat suit.

This was Hoshino's first time using this card, and she hadn't expected the holographic device to change her clothes. Blushing, she examined herself. "Is this really just a projection?" She spun around, realizing that she didn't feel like she had changed clothes. If it were the Chaldea Combat Suit, she should feel different. So this suit, including the body curves, must be a projection.

"But now's not the time to worry about this," Hoshino steadied herself. "Activate [Chaldea Combat Suit]'s effect!"

[Mage's Outfit: Chaldea Combat Suit Spell Card Effect: Activate one of the following effects. ①: All monsters you control gain 500 attack points for one turn. ②: Select one monster on your opponent's field; during their next turn, the selected monster cannot declare an attack, activate effects, or change its battle position. ③: Select one [Heroic Spirit] on your field; return the selected [Heroic Spirit] to the deck, then special summon a monster from your deck with a lower level than the returned [Heroic Spirit].]

"I activate the combat suit's third effect, returning [Heroic Spirit - Cu Chulainn] to the deck." As Hoshino activated the effect, golden particles emanated from her suit, surrounding Cu Chulainn on the field.

"Bye, Master. It's great that I didn't have to die twice this time." Knowing he was leaving, Cu Chulainn waved goodbye to Hoshino.

"Then, from the deck, I special summon [Heroic Spirit - Kiyohime]!" Responding to Hoshino's summon, a blue flame ignited where Cu Chulainn had been.

[Heroic Spirit - Kiyohime★★★ (3-star) Flame][Dragon/Effect][ATK:800 DEF: 200]

"My lord, Kiyohime has heard your call~" Kiyohime said, touching her cheek and looking obsessively at Hoshino, paying no attention to the enemy.

"Activate [Heroic Spirit - Kiyohime]'s special effect. ① When this card is summoned, special summoned, or flip summoned, toss a coin. Heads: Decrease the attack of your opponent's monsters by this card's attack points; Tails: Your opponent cannot battle until the end of their next turn." Hoshino took out a golden coin used for Duel Monsters, a gift from Jounouchi, and prayed for good luck. "Here goes, heads would solve the problem of Golden Giant Mecha Shin!"

But without Jounouchi's lucky charm, Hoshino, an unlucky person, likely wouldn't get the desired result.

Coin toss result: Tails. Opponent cannot battle until the end of their next turn.

"Sorry, Master, Kiyohime failed. Boo hoo~" Kiyohime pretended to cry, raising her fan to encircle Nobunaga's field in blue flames.

"How sneaky, Master! How can an effect benefit you no matter the result?" Nobunaga angrily cursed, surrounded by the blue flames.

"Ahem, this is the harshness of dueling, have you seen it?" Hoshino awkwardly coughed and set another monster card on the table. "Summon a monster in face-down defense position, end turn."

"My turn, draw!" Nobunaga, furious, drew a card from her deck, then laughed. "Haha, Master, this is the end for you! Watch the trump card of my Nobu army!"

"First, activate the effect of [Nobu Corps] in the graveyard, special summon it to the field!"

"Nobu!" With a bang, Nobu Corps returned to the field.

"Then, summon the monster card [Silver Mecha Nobu] from my hand and activate its effect!"

[Silver Mecha Nobu★★★★ (4-star) Light][Machine/Effect][ATK:1500 DEF: 500]

[When this card is summoned or special summoned, you can activate this effect. Special summon one [Nobu] monster from your deck other than [Silver Mecha Nobu].]

A smaller version of the Giant Mecha Nobu appeared on the field, slowly raising an antenna from its head.

"I special summon [Golden Mecha Nobu] from my deck!" Nobunaga placed the Golden Mecha Nobu card on the table and shuffled her deck. "How about that, Master? Your tampering with my deck was all in vain!"

"Nobu!" Golden Mecha Nobu appeared on the field, also raising an antenna to send a signal.

[Golden Mecha Nobu★★★★★★ (6-star) Light][Machine/Effect][ATK: 2000 DEF: 1000]

[When this card is summoned or special summoned, you can special summon one [Nobu] Machine-type monster from your hand to your field.]

"Special summon my last card, Giant Nobu!" Nobunaga placed her final card on the table, undoubtedly the [Silver Giant Mecha Nobu] she had from the start.

"NOBU!" The heavy voice of Silver Giant Mecha Nobu filled the last empty monster card spot on Nobunaga's field.

[Silver Giant Mecha Nobu★★★★ (4-star) Earth][Machine/Effect][ATK:1500 DEF : 1000]

"How's that, Master? This is the invincible combo of my [Nobu] Mecha family!" Nobunaga proudly boasted, seeing her fully-loaded field.

"You're really impressive, Nobu!" Even Hoshino couldn't help but praise Nobunaga after seeing her fill the field in one turn. She hadn't expected the seemingly unimpressive Nobu deck to hide such tremendous power.

"Hehe, it's not over yet, Master!" Nobunaga, brimming with confidence, roared with full force. At this moment, chasing victory with all her might, Nobunaga was undoubtedly a qualified duelist.

"All of you, listen to my command, COMBINE!!!"

"Combine?!" Hoshino listened to Nobunaga's words in disbelief.

"These things can combine?" Hoshino pointed at the strange-looking Nobus on the field. She couldn't believe these odd creatures could combine. In Hoshino's mind, combining robots should be square and made from vehicles.

"Of course they can combine!" Nobunaga, with her arms crossed, pulled her hat down slightly, covering her eyes. "Combining is all about spirit!"

"Reformation, innovation, technology! The culmination of all development, the end of all dreams is!" Nobunaga suddenly raised her hands, forming a 'T' shape with her body. Her powerful aura made the red cloak behind her flutter wildly.

"It's a giant robot!" Nobunaga laughed loudly, as if she had reached the pinnacle of life.

"Combine my [Golden Giant Mecha Nobu], [Silver Giant Mecha Nobu], [Golden Mecha Nobu], [Silver Mecha Nobu], and [Nobu Corps] for a special summon!" Pointing to the sky, Nobunaga shouted, "Our journey is the stars and the sea!"

"Nobu! X5" As if infected by Nobunaga's spirit, the five Nobus leaped into the air and gathered together.

Golden and Silver Mecha Nobu: "Nobunobu! (We form the legs!)"

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

Golden Giant Nobu: "NOBU!! (I form the body!)"

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

"Raging combination! Five Nobu Connection!" Nobunaga clenched her fist, excited like a child seeing a giant transformer for the first time.

"Come forth, special summon on my field!" Slamming the new card onto the table, Nobunaga's eyes locked onto victory. "The strongest, invincible, super robot! Mazinger Nobu!"

"NO! BU!" The gigantic humanoid robot appeared before Hoshino. Looking closely, the cockpit in the robot's head showed Nobu Corps using its small hands to control the robot.

[Mazinger Nobu★★★★★★★★★★★★ (12-star) Light][Machine/Fusion/Effect][ATK:4000 DEF:3500]

[Materials: [Nobu Corps] + [Golden Giant Mecha Nobu] + [Silver Giant Mecha Nobu] + [Golden Mecha Nobu] + [Silver Mecha Nobu]]

[Must be special summoned by banishing the above cards from your field. ① This card's summon cannot be negated by other card effects. When successfully summoned, destroy all spell and trap cards on the field. ② When successfully summoned, special summon as many [Mazinger Nobu Tokens] (2000/2000) as possible to your field. The summoned tokens cannot attack the turn they are summoned.]

Mazinger Nobu landed heavily on the ground. Although there were no face-down cards in the spell and trap zones on both sides, they still didn't escape the fate of destruction.

"Activate Mazinger Nobu's special effect." Nobunaga, overjoyed after summoning the gigantic robot, couldn't contain her happiness. "Hahaha, come forth, Mazinger Nobu!"

[Mazinger Nobu Token★★★★★ (5-star) Light][Machine/Token] [ATK:2000 DEF: 2000]X4

The four smaller Mazinger Nobu Tokens, looking identical to Mazinger Nobu, filled Nobunaga's remaining four monster zones.

"Master, you sure are lucky, using flames to stop my attacks this turn." Nobunaga, satisfied with her field, taunted happily. "It's your turn, Master. In this earth-shattering situation, let's see what you can do."

"Hmph, I admit it, Nobu, you did a great job." Lowering her head, Hoshino laughed softly, not sparing any praise. "Your strategy from the beginning, using tactics to keep your key cards. Even in your first duel, you showed no fear or hesitation. And finally, your unexpected chain of moves, filling the field in one turn..."

"If, as you said, this duel was calculated from the start, I wouldn't be surprised now." Hoshino drew a card, not even looking at it, knowing it was her last draw for this duel.

"But no matter how perfect your calculations, you missed one crucial point!" Raising her head, Hoshino's eyes weren't filled with the despair Nobunaga expected but with a fighting spirit and hope for victory.

"The one thing you missed is the card still in your hand..." Flipping the monster summoned last turn, Hoshino looked at Nobunaga's hand. "The card still in your hand, Okita Souji!"

"Activate [Heroic Spirit - Mata Hari]'s flip effect!" The scantily-clad Mata Hari appeared from the flipped monster card.

"Well done, Master." Mata Hari gave Hoshino a charming smile before disappearing from the field. "Now it's my turn as a spy."

[Heroic Spirit - Mata Hari★★ (2-star) Dark][Fiend/Effect][ATK:500 DEF:500]

[Flip: Tribute this card; declare one card name. If the declared card is in your opponent's hand, add it to your hand.]

"Could it be..." Nobunaga's eyes widened in shock, pupils trembling.

"Nobunaga, you have it in your hand, don't you? Okita Souji!" Hoshino pointed to Nobunaga's hand, revealing the truth.

(That's right, Master. From the start, I had [Golden Giant Mecha Nobu], [Silver Giant Mecha Nobu], and [Okita Souji]. I didn't shuffle because I placed them on top of my deck!)

"Have you been plotting against me since then?" Nobunaga gritted her teeth, watching as Mata Hari's phantom took the [Heroic Spirit - Okita Souji] card from her hand.

"All's fair in war, Nobunaga. You should understand that!" Taking the card from Mata Hari, Hoshino immediately placed it on the battlefield. "Using [Heroic Spirit - Mash Kyrielight] and [Heroic Spirit - Kiyohime] as sacrifices, I summon [Heroic Spirit - Okita Souji]!"

"Hmph, stealing the final spotlight, huh." Kiyohime disappeared in a flash of white light, smirking.

"Do your best, Okita. Win this duel for Senpai!" Mash silently prayed as Okita's figure became clear in the white light.

"Of course, Mash!" The white light faded, and Okita emerged, pointing her prized sword, Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune, at the massive Mazinger Nobu.

"The strongest and invincible Okita is here to claim victory for Master!"

[******]

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