Chapter 63

"Okita-san is in a desperate situation!" With her attack power reduced to zero due to the Water God's effect, even with the haori's protection, the devastating Guardian Elemental Blast from the Gate Guardian would feel like a direct attack, causing damage that Hoshino couldn't withstand.

"Master, think of something! Don't you have a set card?" Okita pleaded, turning to Hoshino for help.

"But this card..." Hoshino hesitated, knowing it wouldn't help in the current situation.

"Yugi..." Hoshino looked at Yugi with a hopeful expression, believing that he could handle this even without a set card.

"Master, what are you talking about? Without a set card, there's no way... ahhh!" Okita was swallowed by the surging elemental blast before she could finish her sentence.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! —"

"..."

"— Huh??? It doesn't hurt at all?" Standing unharmed amidst the elemental blast, Okita inspected herself in surprise. "What's going on? It doesn't hurt at all. Did Okita-san level up?"

"How is this possible?!" The Labyrinth Brothers shouted, perplexed by Hoshino's life points remaining untouched.

"Hmph, it's all thanks to the bond between a duelist and their cards!" Yugi explained, smiling confidently.

"I sent [Kuriboh] from my hand to the Graveyard and activated its effect!"

[Kuriboh ★ Dark][Effect: During damage calculation in your opponent's turn, you can discard this card to make the battle damage from that battle 0.]

"It was you!" Okita looked down at the translucent Kuriboh by her feet. "You protected Okita-san? Thanks!"

"It's just delaying the inevitable. There's no way you can defeat the invincible [Gate Guardian]!" Frustrated by their failed attack, the Labyrinth Brothers placed their last card face-down. "Turn end!"

"My turn, draw!" Yugi, facing the overwhelming presence of the Gate Guardian, frowned. "With all three Gods' effects and 3750 attack points, this isn't something that can be defeated by an ordinary monster."

Adding the drawn card to his hand, Yugi declared loudly, "Since my turn has started, all monsters in the maze are transferred to Okita Souji's location, meaning the Dark Magician has also cleared the maze."

With his words, [Dark Magician] and [Castle Gate Dragon] were transported to the maze's exit.

"So what if there are more weaklings? No matter how many, they can't defeat the Gate Guardian!" The Labyrinth Brothers remained confident, having never lost after summoning the Gate Guardian.

"Invincible Gate Guardian? Isn't it too arrogant to say that now?" Yugi, wearing his familiar confident smile, placed a monster card on the table. "I tribute [Castle Gate Dragon] to summon [Dark Magician Girl]!"

[Dark Magician Girl ★★★★★★ (6 stars) Dark][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK:2000 DEF:1700]

The lively and adorable Dark Magician Girl appeared, adjusting her oversized magician hat.

"She's so cute!" Hoshino's eyes sparkled as she looked at the Dark Magician Girl. "Is this the legendary idol-level dueling monster, Dark Magician Girl? She's even cuter up close than in the cards, unbelievably cute!"

"Master, you're drooling," Okita pointed out, looking annoyed.

"Are you trying to beg for mercy from the Gate Guardian by summoning such a cute monster? Hahaha," the Labyrinth Brothers mocked.

"Hmph!" Dark Magician Girl pouted angrily at their taunts.

"Don't underestimate the Dark Magician Girl. She may still be in training, but her potential as a Dark Magician is top-notch," Yugi said, ignoring the Labyrinth Brothers' mockery.

"What potential? This is a duel monster game! Do you think saying that will defeat the invincible Gate Guardian?"

"I said, thinking the Gate Guardian is invincible now is too arrogant!" Yugi raised his voice and played a spell card. "Feel the potential of the Dark Magician Girl!"

"Activate the spell card, [Dark Burning Magic]!"

[Dark Burning Magic Spell Card Effect: If you control "Dark Magician Girl," destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls.]

"What?!" The Labyrinth Brothers' eyes widened in shock as they read the effect of [Dark Burning Magic]. They never expected the seemingly weak Dark Magician Girl to have such devastating power.

"Go, Dark Magician Girl, destroy the so-called invincible Gate Guardian!" Yugi commanded. "Dark Burning Magic!"

With Yugi's powerful declaration, the Dark Magician Girl released a terrifying burst of energy. The black magic sphere flew towards the enormous Gate Guardian, shattering it completely with dark magic.

"Your ace monster is really weak!" Yugi taunted with a smile.

"Now, [Dark Magician] and [Dark Magician Girl], attack directly!" At Yugi's command, the two magicians crossed their staffs, amplifying their combined dark magic.

[ATK + 2500 = 4500]

"This is the strength of the strongest duelist, Yugi Mutou," Hoshino murmured, watching Yugi and the magicians on the field.

"Can I really defeat such an opponent if we face off in the finals?" Although Yugi was a reliable teammate now, Hoshino couldn't help but wonder if she could win against him in the tournament.

"Activate the trap card, [Threatening Roar]!" The Labyrinth Brothers, sweating profusely, activated their face-down card in desperation.

[Threatening Roar Trap Card Effect: Your opponent cannot declare an attack this turn.]

"Choosing to survive, Labyrinth Brothers?" Yugi taunted mercilessly.

"Tch..." Unable to attack, Dark Magician Girl pouted.

"Master, she just 'tched'! Did you hear that?" Okita pointed at the pouting Dark Magician Girl. "And she's just a hologram! How does she have so many small actions? This is too unreasonable!"

"She's so cute, even her pouting is adorable, Dark Magician Girl~" Hoshino was completely enamored.

"Master, you're hopeless..."

"I set a card face-down and end my turn." Because of the effect of [Threatening Roar], Yugi couldn't declare an attack and chose to end his turn.

"My turn, draw!" The Labyrinth Brothers, who had been confident in their victory, now faced an empty field. "Damn you, Yugi Mutou!"

Grinding his teeth and glaring at the calm Yugi, Para's anger surged. The feeling of 'dislike but can't defeat' frustrated the Labyrinth Brothers the most.

However, upon seeing the card he drew, Para's expression shifted dramatically, as if he had hit the brakes on a mountain road.

"Hahaha, Yugi Mutou, luck is truly on our side!" Para suddenly burst into laughter, clutching the newly drawn card like a lifeline.

"I activate the spell card [Dark Element] from my hand!" Para slapped the card on the table, his expression growing increasingly twisted. "This is our ultimate and strongest trump card!"

"Dark Element?!" Yugi's previously calm expression turned serious as he saw the card Para played.

A sinister aura began to spread across the field, so intense that even Hoshino shivered involuntarily.

"This is bad, really bad, Master!" Okita, equally terrified, instinctively moved closer to the sturdy Asterios.

"Activate Dark Element's effect!!!"

[Dark Element Spell Card Effect: If [Gate Guardian] is in the Graveyard, pay half your Life Points to Special Summon 1 "Dark Guardian" from your Deck. You cannot summon or Special Summon other monsters the turn you activate this card.]

[Labyrinth Brothers LP 1900 → 950]

"Descend from the depths of hell, Gate Guardian!" Para spread his arms wide, calling out in a frenzy. "With the dark power from hell, crush all life on the field!"

"Special Summon [Dark Guardian]!"

[Dark Guardian ★★★★★★★★★★★★ (12 stars) Dark][Warrior/Effect][ATK:3800 DEF:3800]

[This card cannot be Normal Summoned. Must be Special Summoned by the effect of "Dark Element". This card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. Once per turn, the attack of a monster that battles this card becomes 0.]

"Hahaha, this is the true ultimate and invincible Guardian!" Para slammed the Dark Guardian card on the table, yelling, "Unleash hell's attack, Dark Guardian!"

As Para's piercing shout echoed, a sinister aura enveloped the massive axe in Dark Guardian's hand.

"Underworld! Hell! Double Slash!" The giant axe, filled with ominous energy, struck the ground, sending a purplish-red shockwave straight toward Okita.

"Why is it always Okita-san?" Once again targeted by a major attack, Okita, having given up resistance, closed her eyes in resignation. "Fine, fine, Okita-san is already very tired..."

"Don't give up, Okita-san!" Yugi's stern voice snapped Okita out of her near despair. "We haven't lost yet! Activate the face-down trap card!"

"[Mirror Force]!"

A giant holy barrier enveloped Okita. The purplish-red shockwave, which had been rushing toward Okita, struck the holy barrier and was instantly reflected back.

"Mirror Force's effect destroys all your attack position monsters!"

"It's useless; [Dark Guardian] cannot be destroyed by such card effects!" The purplish-red shockwave hit the giant body of the Dark Guardian but caused no damage.

"This is really tough..." Yugi said with a slight smile, seeing the Dark Guardian unscathed. He then looked at Hoshino, silently praying, "Hoshino, although it's difficult, the next turn will likely decide the duel. Show me your hidden potential!"

"My turn, draw."

"Yugi!" Hoshino called out to Yugi after adding the drawn card to her hand, "You are really strong..."

"Hmm?" Puzzled, Yugi didn't understand what Hoshino wanted to convey at such a time.

"Since the beginning, I've been wondering. As a duelist as powerful as you, can I really surpass you?" Hoshino closed her eyes, speaking calmly. "This is probably the question we've all been avoiding, including Jounouchi and me."

"Maybe Mai was right. We're just a bunch of kids playing friendship games," Hoshino laughed, shaking her head. "Since we entered this tournament, we've been winning on this island, but deep down, Jounouchi and I never believed we could surpass you."

"Hoshino, that's not..." Yugi wanted to deny it but couldn't refute Hoshino's honest words.

"Hoshino..." Jounouchi, realizing the truth of Hoshino's words, felt disheartened.

"In this duel, even if I survive this turn and pass it to you, Yugi, with your strength, you can defeat the Labyrinth Brothers." Hoshino's tone shifted from calm to passionate. "But! I won't give this chance to you!"

"I need a reason, a reason to believe I'm not weaker than you." Hoshino's voice grew more intense as she reached for her face-down card. "So I'll use this duel, this turn, to prove it! Even if I'm standing opposite you on the dueling stage, I can still seize victory!"

"Little girl, are you underestimating us Labyrinth Brothers?" Hearing Hoshino's words, the Labyrinth Brothers felt she wasn't taking them seriously, shouting angrily, "Our ultimate and invincible Dark Guardian is still standing! You're dreaming if you think you can win this turn!"

"Ultimate and invincible Dark Guardian? Isn't it arrogant to say that now?" Hoshino echoed Yugi's earlier words before he defeated the Gate Guardian. "Activate my last face-down card, the Ritual Spell [Summoning of the Guardian Hero]!"