Chapter 6

Hoshino's LP:4400

On the Field:

- [Heroic Spirit - Leonidas I][ATK: 1400 DEF: 1900]

- One face-down card

Mako Tsunami's LP: 3500

On the Field:

- [Great White][ATK: 1600 DEF: 800]

- One face-down card

"Hoshino, do you like muscular men?" Mako Tsunami seemed to have found the reason for his rejection.

"No!" Hoshino angrily denied Mako's guess. She suddenly realized that both of the Heroic Spirits she had summoned were the muscular type. It was no surprise that others would think this way since Heroic Spirit monster cards were likely being seen for the first time by everyone.

"Damn it, I have so many attractive Heroic Spirits!"

"Though Leonidas' attack power doesn't match Great White Shark's, his defense is considerable. He should hold out this turn," Hoshino calculated. "Please let me draw a powerful monster next. My King of Heroes(Gilgamesh), my Minamoto no Yorimitsu(Raikō), where are you?"

"My turn, draw." Mako laughed maniacally after looking at his card. "Sorry, Hoshino, but let me show you national-level strength." He deliberately said national-level strength instead of third in the nation, likely because Mako felt the third place was too humiliating for his reputation.

Mako placed his newly drawn card in the spell card area on the table. "Activate the field spell card, Umi (Sea)."

[Umi - Field Spell Card - Effect: Increase the ATK and DEF of all WATER monsters by 200 points.]

"Due to the effect of Umi, the Great White's attack power increases."

[Great White][ATK: 1600 → 1800, DEF: 800 → 1000]

"Even with an attack power of 1800, you still can't break through the sturdy shield of Leonidas," Hoshino thought, feeling slightly tense but determined to not show weakness.

"Is that so?" A sharp glint appeared in Mako's eyes. "Summon the monster card, Abyss Soldier, in attack mode."

[Abyss Soldier][WATER][Effect][ATK: 1300 → 1500 DEF: 1000 → 1200]

"Activate Abyss Soldier's special effect. Increase the ATK of all WATER monsters, except itself, by 300 points." Mako gripped his cards excitedly. "So, Great White's attack power rises again!"

[Great White][ATK: 1800 → 2100]

"Attack Leonidas I with Great White, Bite Attack!"

"Muscles, unyielding!" Despite the 200-point difference, the rules are the rules. Leonidas was brutally torn apart by Great White.

"Attack Hoshino directly with Abyss Soldier." Mako pointed at Hoshino with a flourish.

Hoshino LP: 4400 → 2900

"Ugh." Hoshino gasped for breath after the direct attack. Despite it being a holographic attack, the realism was overwhelming. No wonder Yugi's grandpa was startled the first time; this was not for the elderly.

"End turn." Mako crossed his arms confidently, sure of his victory.

"Indeed, as expected of the nation's third best, what a great combo," Jonouchi said, now less enthusiastic.

After a moment, Hoshino reached for her deck. "My turn, draw."

"Alright, alright," Hoshino muttered, looking at her card with resignation. "Muscular men it is. I love them the most, okay?"

"I summon the monster card, Eric Blood Axe, in attack mode."

[Heroic Spirit – Eric Blood Axe★★★Earth - Warrior/Effect ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000]

"Activate the spell card, Berserk EX."

[Berserk EX][Spell Card - Effect: Select one monster on your field; increase its ATK by 800 points until the end of the turn. Destroy it at the end of the turn.]

[Eric Blood Axe ATK: 1000 → 1800]

"Attack Abyss Soldier with Eric Blood Axe."

"Roar!" The frenzied Blood Axe shattered Abyss Soldier with one blow.

"It's not over yet!" Hoshino smiled confidently, her momentum surging again. "Activate Eric Blood Axe special effect."

[When Eric Blood Axe destroys an opponent's monster by battle, it can attack once more.]

"Due to Abyss Soldier's absence, Great White's attack power returns to 1800," Hoshino said, laughing maniacally. "Take this, the blood-soaked coronation!"

Blood Axe Erik raised his axe again, striking the trembling Great White.

"Activate the trap card, Spirit of the Ocean's Protection! When a WATER monster is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, end the opponent's battle phase." A massive wall of water rose, blocking the axe's attack.

"Tsk..Damn, it was blocked," Hoshino clicked her tongue in frustration. "End turn."

Due to Berserk EX's secondary effect, Eric Blood Axe was destroyed at the end of the turn. The raging Eric Blood Axe clutched his head in agony before shattering.

"It's over. Hoshino has no monsters on the field. She'll face another direct attack this turn," Yugi analyzed hopelessly.

"Was it too much to face the nation's third-best, Hoshino?" Jonouchi lamented, feeling the dramatic shift in momentum.

"My turn, draw." Mako chuckled. "You've done well to last this long, Hoshino, but it's over."

"Sacrifice Great White to summon Ocean Dragon Lord!"

Great White Shark transformed into a streak of blue light, followed by a massive whirlpool on the sea-like field.

[Ocean Dragon Lord★★★★★★][WATER][Sea Serpent][ATK: 2400 → 2600 DEF: 2000]

"Activate the spell card, Blessing of the Sea Spirit, increasing the ATK of all WATER monsters on the field by 300 points for this turn."

[Ocean Dragon Lord ATK: 2600 → 2900]

"It's over!" Jonouchi cried out in despair, seeing Hoshino's remaining 2900 LP.

"Perish in the wrath of the ocean dragon!" Mako Tsunami's finishing blow was aimed at Hoshino. "You'll be my wife after this."

"I refuse!" Hoshino shouted, unwavering. She activated her face-down trap card, "Ryuudou Temple's Gate!"

The card Hoshino had set from the first turn became her hope to turn the tables.

[Ryuudou Temple's Gate - Trap Card - Effect: When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack, special summon [Heroic Spirit - Sasaki Kojirou] from your hand or deck.]

"I special summon Sasaki Kojirou in attack mode!"

[Heroic Spirit - Sasaki Kojirou★★][DARK][Warrior/Effect][ATK: 1000 DEF: 500]

"You're only delaying your defeat," Mako Tsunami frowned, irritated by Hoshino's rejection.

Ocean Dragon Lord's attack naturally redirected to the newly appeared monster on the field.

"Assassin Sasaki Kojirou, reporting. Master, what monsters shall we slay today?" The holographic Sasaki Kojirou seemed to have a consciousness, conversing with Hoshino.

"Today, we slay a sea dragon," Hoshino smiled at Kojirou. "Activate Sasaki Kojirou's special effect!"

[This card cannot be normal summoned; it can only be special summoned by the effect of Ryuudou Temple's Gate. During the battle, this card's ATK becomes 3 times its original ATK during damage calculation only. After the battle, its ATK becomes 0.]

[Heroic Spirit - Sasaki Kojirou ATK: 1000 → 3000]

"Secret Sword, Swallow Reversal! ( Tsubame Gaeshi)" Three elegant slashes cut Ocean Dragon Lord into four pieces.

Mako Tsunami LP: 3500 → 3400

Ocean Dragon Lord, destroyed!