Chapter 94

"It seems toon monsters that cannot be destroyed are indeed quite troublesome," Hoshino muttered, feeling a tinge of frustration as her Golden Giant Mecha Nobu's laser was blocked. "If these toon monsters keep increasing, it will only be more disadvantageous for me. I have to find a way to target that Field Spell, [Toon Kingdom]!"

"Hoshino-girl, let me guess what you're thinking right now," Pegasus said, smiling again with one eye squinted at Hoshino. "Of course, I'm not using the power of my Millennium Eye; this is just a duelist's battle of wits."

"I guess you're thinking of destroying my [Toon Kingdom], right~?"

"!!!"

"Was she that easy to read?" Jonouchi exclaimed, seeing Hoshino's expression of being seen through. "Does Pegasus not need the Millennium Eye to read people's minds?"

"Jonouchi…" Yugi, somewhat exasperated, glanced at him. "That's not hard to guess. Destroying the Field Spell is the most straightforward way to deal with Toon monsters."

"So, I activate the Continuous Spell Card, [Field Barrier]~" Pegasus, playing a card with a confident smile, seemed much more at ease. "This is the safest insurance for my [Toon Kingdom]."

[Field Barrier Continuous Spell Card Effect: Field Spells on the field cannot be destroyed. Neither player can activate a new Field Spell Card. You can only control 1 "Field Barrier"..]

"A Spell Card specifically protecting Field Spells, and it also restricts Hoshino's Field Spell!" Yugi gasped, seeing the new card Pegasus played. "It seems Pegasus is well aware of the weakness of his Toon monsters. This way, Hoshino will have a hard time destroying [Toon Kingdom]."

"End turn. It's your turn now, Hoshino-girl~" Pegasus said, having set his last card, making his play seem like an all-in.

"Using up all your cards in two turns, Pegasus?" Analyzing the situation, Hoshino noted that Pegasus had an empty hand. "Does this mean you have absolute confidence in your Toon monsters?"

"Of course, Hoshino-girl~" Pegasus nodded in agreement, his hands on his hips. "With your current strength, you can't destroy my invincible Toons."

"Is that so? Don't be so sure. My turn, draw!" Unperturbed by Pegasus' taunts, Hoshino quickly drew a new card from her deck.

"Annoyingly, he has a point. I don't have a way to destroy the Toon monsters," Hoshino admitted begrudgingly after surveying her two cards and the single set card on her field.

"Since it's my turn, the [Command Seal] gains another charge."

[Command Seal] x2

"At the very least, if I can reduce Pegasus' Life Points significantly, it should limit his ability to use Toon monsters." However, Hoshino's hand lacked any high-level monsters with substantial attack power. Pegasus, on the other hand, had the lowest attack power monster on his field, which was the traitor Cú Chulainn that he had taken from Hoshino's side.

"In that case, let's replenish my hand! I activate the Spell Card [Pot of Greed] and draw two cards." Prioritizing card advantage, Hoshino drew two more cards, increasing her hand to three.

"Hmm? This card might be useful… to stir the pot… or rather, create an opportunity!" She threw down a newly drawn card as if an idea had struck her. "I activate the Spell Card [Chaldea Combat Suit] from my hand!"

[Chaldea Combat Suit Spell Card Effect: Activate one of the following effects. ①: All monsters you control gain 500 ATK until the end of this turn. ②: Target one monster your opponent controls; during your opponent's next turn, it cannot declare an attack, activate effects, or change battle positions. ③: Target one [Heroic Spirit] monster you control; return it to the Deck, then Special Summon one monster with a lower Level from your Deck.]

As soon as the card hit the table, the new projection device, which had been quiet, started acting up again. Unlike the Command Seals that affected the duelists themselves, this card's special effects were different. Under the full operation of the holographic projection device, gentle golden particles surrounded Hoshino's entire body.

The next second, Hoshino's usual clothing was replaced with a tight orange battle suit. Though just a virtual image, the slightly provocative Chaldea Combat Suit still clung tightly to her body, outlining a surprisingly alluring figure.

"Oh wow~ this outfit… is really… nice!" Even without the ample assets of Mai, the sexy curves outlined by the tight suit on Hoshino's otherwise slim frame had the boys in the audience thrilled.

"Snap, snap, snap!" Mai Valentine quickly snapped her fingers in front of Jonouchi, Yugi, and Honda's faces. "Seriously, Jonouchi and Honda, I get, but even you, Yugi? Can't you learn from Ryou and look at things with a more innocent eye?"

Unsurprisingly, among the group, only Bakura seemed unbothered, looking thoughtfully at the duel stage.

"It's just a holographic projection; let them enjoy it…" Hoshino, having used this card before, was mentally prepared and knew this was not the time to worry about such things.

"I activate the ③ effect of the Spell Card [Chaldea Combat Uniform], swapping my [Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight] with a lower-level Heroic Spirit from my Deck!" Following Hoshino's command, the gentle light surrounding the battle suit began enveloping Mash on the field.

"Ah, are we leaving already? I haven't had my fill of this splendid scene," Mash said, somewhat reluctantly, taking a final glance around the castle.

"It's okay, Mash~ Next time, I'll take you to a more splendid and real fairy tale castle to play!" Hoshino promised, seeing Mash's beaming smile before she vanished into the light.

"The monster I summoned from the Deck is…," Hoshino took a deep breath, placing the newly searched monster face-up on the table.

"[Heroic Spirit – Hassan of Serenity]!"

[Heroic Spirit – Hassan of Serenity ★★★ (3 Stars) Dark] [Psychic/Effect][ATK 200 DEF 200]

"Everything, everything follows Master's orders. I will offer everything for you, this heart, this body…" Serenity spoke calmly, saying slightly embarrassing words as she appeared on the field. "So, can you pet me after the battle, Master~?"

"Of course…" Despite being part of the "under the bed trio," which always gave Hoshino a vague sense of crisis, Hoshino remained composed.

"But for now, let's get ready for an OTK!"

(****)

Scene Summary:

Pegasus: LP 2900, Field Spell [Toon Kingdom], Continuous Spell [Field Barrier], Equip Spell [Comic Hand], [Toon Summoned Skull ATK 2500], [Toon Cú Chulainn ATK 2000], 1 Set Card, No cards in hand.

Hoshino Chiyuki: LP 4000, [Gold Giant Mecha Nobu ATK 2400], [Nobu Corps ATK 1900], [Chariot Nobu ATK 1500], [Heroic Spirit - Hassan of Serenity ATK/DEF: 200], 1 Set Card, 2 Cards in hand.

(****)

"Yugi, what does 'OTK' mean?" Jounouchi asked, puzzled by the term Hoshino used.

"OTK, short for One Turn Kill, refers to defeating your opponent in a single turn," Yugi explained, clearly concerned by Hoshino's declaration.

"In one turn? Dealing massive damage to win?" Jounouchi repeated, astonished. "Can Hoshino beat Pegasus in one turn?"

"Did she say OTK? Is it a bluff, or can she...?" Yugi couldn't finish the thought, knowing the odds were against Hoshino with her current setup.

"Pegasus, let me show you the ultimate combo I've been perfecting with my cards!" Hoshino announced confidently.

"Nobu?! (Am I your 'waifu'?!)" Nobu exclaimed, but Hoshino swiftly corrected, "Not you! It's your turn, Serenity!"

"Yes! I'll give my all for my master, even if it means my body!" Serenity responded, determination in her eyes.

"No need to go that far," Hoshino said, pulling a card from her hand. "I haven't Normal Summoned yet, so I summon [Silver Giant Mecha Nobu] in Attack Position!"

[Silver Giant Mecha Nobu★★★★ (4 stars) Earth [Machine/Effect][ATK 1500 DEF 500]

"NOBU! (Why is my attack so much lower than the gold one?!)" the new mech roared.

"Hoshino's filling her field..." Anzu observed, noting Hoshino's summoning of low-attack monsters. "But they can't match Pegasus' Toons in attack power."

"Exactly, Hoshino-girl," Pegasus taunted. "These fake Toon monsters can't delay your inevitable defeat."

"You sure are feeling confident, Pegasus," Hoshino smirked. "If you weren't so evil, we might get along, sharing a love for manga. But..."

"Look at the field, Pegasus!"

"What?!?" Pegasus was taken aback. The cheerful colors of Toon Kingdom were shrouded in a strange purple mist, dissolving the castle walls.

"It's... poison!" Pegasus, with his experience in ancient Egyptian tombs, quickly deduced.

"What have you done to my beautiful castle, Hoshino-girl?"

"It wasn't me; it was Serenity. Don't let her quiet demeanor fool you; she's dangerous when serious!"

"Even in bed (whispering)."

The source of the mist and the densest area, was Serenity's location. Her silhouette was barely visible through the thick haze.

"I set my last card and end my turn!" Hoshino declared, surprisingly not attacking but ending her turn.

"Is Hoshino not attacking? What about the OTK?" Jounouchi was confused by the sudden end of Hoshino's turn.

"Even if she attacked with Gold Giant Mecha Nobu, Toon Cú Chulainn can negate the battle damage once per turn," Yugi reasoned. "She must have another plan."

Pegasus was wary, noting the increasing poison mist. "What's your plan, Hoshino-girl?"

"It's my turn, draw!" Pegasus drew a card, pleased to have one in hand. "And I activate..."

"Pegasus!" Hoshino interrupted, her voice commanding. "There's no 'and then' for you!"

"!!!"

"At the start of your turn, in the Standby Phase, I activate [Heroic Spirit - Hassan of Serenity]'s special effect!" The field filled with the thick poison mist, obscuring all monsters.

[②: During your opponent's Standby Phase, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the number of monsters on the field x 200. This effect can only be used once while this card is face-up.]

As Hoshino made her declaration, the mist seemed to ignite, causing a massive explosion.

"Do it, Serenity!"

Serenity, dancing gracefully in the mist, softly chanted, "Hot, burning, as if melting away. Let your body and soul be consumed! [Delusional Poison Body (Zabaniya)]!!"

"So that's why she filled the field! There are 7 monsters, so that's 1400 damage to Pegasus!" Jounouchi realized.

"That's right, Jounouchi! But Pegasus still has 2900 LP. Even with 1400 damage, it's not enough for the OTK Hoshino mentioned!" Yugi observed.

"Exactly, Yugi! When I say OTK, I mean it!" Hoshino shouted, revealing her set card. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell [Big Explosion NOBU]!"

[Big Explosion NOBU! Quick-Play Spell Card Effect: Can be activated when you control a [Nobu] monster. Destroy all monsters you control, and inflict damage to your opponent equal to the number of destroyed [Nobu] monsters x 400.]

"I have 4 [Nobu] monsters, so I deal 1600 damage to Pegasus!" Hoshino announced, pointing dramatically. "Nobu, this is it! Finish the battle!"

"NOBU!" x4

With a determined cry, the four Nobu monsters charged forward, the resulting explosion combining with the poison mist to engulf the entire field.

"Pegasus, this is my final strategy, the ultimate finisher of my deck. Its name is..."

"Nobu·Mitsu·Poison·Explosive·One-Turn Kill!!"

(*****)

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