Chapter 21

"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, it really is the Blue-Eyes White Dragon." Kaiba's face showed an expression of disbelief. "Pegasus, you're something else, using my deck in the tournament."

"Wait a minute, pause the screen and zoom in on that section." Kaiba noticed figures resembling Yugi and Mokuba in the corner of the screen. As the zoomed-in image became clearer, it confirmed his suspicion.

"It seems that girl dueling the fake 'me' is a companion of Yugi," Kaiba's intelligence was indeed extraordinary; with just a bit of information, he deduced a lot.

"What a shame. That girl has no chance of winning against Blue-Eyes White Dragon. It looks like her journey in Duelist Kingdom ends here." Kaiba's words were devoid of any emotion, as to him, Hoshino was just like any random passerby.

"Once that girl is defeated, it'll be Yugi's turn." Kaiba smirked at the irony. "Sacrificing herself to verify the fake Kaiba's identity is a futile effort. Even if this person uses my deck, they can't defeat Yugi Mutou, who possesses the Exodia."

"Alert: Yugi Mutou has lost the Exodia"

"What?! Yugi Mutou has lost..." Kaiba couldn't believe his ears, but he knew the supercomputer had no reason to lie.

"Can Yugi still defeat Blue-Eyes White Dragon without Exodia?"

**Familiar transition**

**Current situation:**

**Hoshino Chiyuki LP:** 400, no monsters, 2 set cards, 3 cards in hand

**Seto Kaiba LP:** 2400, Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field, no set cards, 1 card in hand

**[Blue-Eyes White Dragon★★★★★★★★ Light][Dragon]** [ ATK:3000DEF:2500]

"It's the real Blue-Eyes White Dragon. This really is my brother's deck. Could it be that my brother really is..." Mokuba, feeling despair, knelt on the ground.

"Submit to absolute power! Blue-Eyes White Dragon, direct attack on that girl." With the fake Kaiba's command, the massive energy of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack gathered in its mouth, "Burst Stream of Destruction!"

"This is the grudge of Seto Kaiba from hell!" The fake Kaiba laughed, waiting for Hoshino's life points to drop to zero.

However, they didn't. **Hoshino Chiyuki LP: 400**

"Negate Attack, you should be familiar with it." Hoshino activated her set trap card, feeling relieved that the trap card she added to her deck on a whim had saved her.

**[Negate Attack Counter Trap Card Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; negate the attack, then end the Battle Phase.]**

A massive vortex absorbed the destructive Burst Stream of Destruction, nullifying it.

"Tch, a stalling tactic." Kaiba's excitement turned to calm.

"Hoshino..." Anzu helped the kneeling Mokuba to his feet, looking worried.

"What are you afraid of? Are you scared of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" Hoshino shouted at the crying Mokuba. "I, as a duelist facing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, am not afraid. Why are you crying?"

"I summon Heroic Spirit – Arash in attack position!"

**[Heroic Spirit - Arash★★ Wind][Fairy/Effect][ ATK:300DEF:300]

"Hey, Master, long time no see." Arash's familiar and yet unfamiliar face appeared on the field. Ever since Hoshino reached bond level 10 with Arash two years ago, she had retired him (actually to avoid losing bond points).(TL: to much Stella)

It had been a long time since Hoshino heard Arash's steady and reliable voice, and she smiled inwardly.

"I activate Arash's special effect!"

"Eh?! After finally appearing again, I have to use my Noble Phantasm immediately without even a greeting?" Despite his complaints, Arash showed no hesitation.

"Well, as long as it's for Master, I'll do it as many times as needed." Arash smiled slightly, drawing his bow.

"After all, I am the great hero who ends wars!"

**[When your LP is 2000 or lower than your opponent's, you can activate this effect by banishing Arash from the field. Destroy all cards on the field.]**

"I also activate the set card, Holy Sacrifice!"

**[Holy Sacrifice Quick-Play Spell Card Effect: When a monster is banished from your field, you can activate this card. Gain 1000 LP for each banished monster and add one "Heroic Spirit" card from your deck to your hand.]**

**Hoshino Chiyuki LP: 400→1400**

As foretold, the ultimate shot of a full-power arrow.

Regardless of the conflict, it could instantly end, akin to its literal name, "Stella."

Many can shoot stars down, but only one can shatter stars.

"May you bear witness.Stella!!!"

The brilliance of the shooting star streaked across the sky, a colossal energy like a meteor falling from space, engulfing the entire field.

"What? Such massive light!" The duel platform was engulfed in a huge explosion and dazzling light, making it impossible for Yugi and his friends to see what was happening.

**...**

"Signal lost, signal lost." The screen before Pegasus went black. Pegasus, who had been elegantly sipping wine, seemed petrified.

"A world-shaking attack, with such a terrifying effect." Swallowing his wine with difficulty, Pegasus' gaze became sharper. "This duel has become increasingly interesting."

**...**

"Lost target lock, lost target lock." The supercomputer in front of Seto Kaiba similarly lost visual on the field.

"What kind of terrifying effect is that?" Kaiba grew nervous. As someone who developed the holographic duel monster projection technology, even he couldn't imagine such effects from holographic projections.

"Who exactly is Hoshino Chiyuki, and why is she close to Yugi Mutou?" Kaiba wasn't idiot; he couldn't treat Hoshino as a mere passerby after witnessing such a scene.

**...**

The dust gradually settled, and the field slowly became visible again.

"How about that, Mokuba?" From behind the smoke, Hoshino, appearing unscathed, gave Mokuba a thumbs up. "I've taken care of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon you were afraid of."

"That's not, that's not how it is." Though shaken by the effects, Mokuba still remembered his brother, tears in his eyes. "The one using Blue-Eyes White Dragon must be my brother..."

"You think the one using Blue-Eyes White Dragon must be your brother? Then look at my field!"

Standing tall on Hoshino's monster zone was a roaring Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

And the spell card Hoshino had just used: **Monster Reborn.**

"I'm using Blue-Eyes White Dragon now. Does that mean I'm Seto Kaiba?"

"Dummy Hoshino," Mokuba, no longer crying, laughed at Hoshino's logic.

Though her reasoning was shameless, bordering on sophistry, Hoshino wanted to encourage Mokuba, to tell him this truth:

No matter what card the opponent uses, you must believe your brother is still alive.