Heroic Spirit Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!

Burning flames made Jonouchi's back unconsciously soaked with sweat. "As expected, it's the Winged Dragon of Ra! Could it be that he's planning to use such despicable means to deal with Hoshino?!"

Honda followed suit, his tone heavy with concern. "We can't let him get away with this! Hoshino is nothing like you, Jonouchi! She's much weaker and definitely can't endure that kind of attack!"

"What are you two planning to do?" The previously silent referee suddenly interjected, stopping them in their tracks. "If you interfere with the duel now, Hoshino Chiyuki will automatically be declared the loser!"

"Huh?! How can this be allowed?! Kaiba, aren't you going to do something about your employee?!" Blocked by the referee, Jonouchi turned his frustration toward Kaiba.

Kaiba stood with his arms crossed, frowning deeply but remaining silent. However, the tapping of his fingers against his arm betrayed his inner conflict.

"Believe in Hoshino!" Yugi's resolute gaze stayed fixed on the field. "This duel is just as important to her! Hoshino must find the strength to overcome this adversity!"

On the battlefield, Marik raised his arm dramatically. "Feel the flames of the gods! The effect of the Egyptian God Phoenix activates—by paying 1000 Life Points, I enter Immortal Phoenix mode, ignoring all resistances and breaking the rules to destroy all monsters on your field!"

[Marik LP 1900 → 900]

Accompanied by the piercing cry of the phoenix, Ra surged toward Hoshino's field, engulfing it in blazing flames that consumed all of her monsters.

The Evil God quickly spoke. "Girl, this is the rule-breaking effect I warned you about. Under these circumstances, not even Obelisk relying on the resistance of Mound of the Bound Creator, nor Nero's effect, can withstand it!"

The monsters Obelisk and Leonidas, consumed by Ra's flames, let out agonized roars.

Hoshino gritted her teeth, visibly straining against the onslaught. "I know… I can feel it. These flames, reaching directly into the soul, can't be resisted by external forces alone!"

Anzu almost screamed in panic. "If Hoshino has three monsters on her field, won't she suffer three times the pain Jonouchi endured?!"

Jonouchi, spurred on by Anzu's words, was once again unable to sit still. "This is unacceptable! Let me stop the duel now!"

"No, Oniichan!" Shizuka's voice rang out as she grabbed Jonouchi's arm. "Calm down! Look at the field!"

A miracle occurred—just moments after the flames enveloped Hoshino, the fire surrounding her body suddenly dissipated. The oppressive heat subsided, and Hoshino's pained expression softened noticeably.

In the flames, Nero, enduring the torment, forced a smile. "Having inherited everyone's strength and fought so gloriously until now, I am deeply satisfied! But for master's victory, I must entrust my power to you!"

Amid the inferno, Nero's radiant hand emitted a brilliant light that enveloped Hoshino's body. "This is my final act of willfulness—even the flames of the gods must obey me. This is the Imperial Privilege EX!"

With her last strength, Nero transferred her power, disappearing into Ra's flames alongside Obelisk and Leonidas I.

[Nero Claudius Destroyed]

[Obelisk the Tormentor Destroyed]

[Leonidas I Destroyed]

The protective light shielding Hoshino gently protected her soul from the damage by the Shadow Game.

"As expected of an EX rank!" Hoshino clenched her fist, feeling her strength return. "I'll gladly accept your gift, Nero. I promise—I'll win this for sure!"

Seeing Hoshino still standing, Marik's expression twisted in disbelief. "Impossible! That attack was completely nullified!"

Hoshino smirked confidently. "Marik, if you think you can beat me like this, I can only say one thing—your plan has failed!"

"Failed? While it's surprising you survived, take a good look at your empty field, Hoshino!" Marik gestured arrogantly toward her now-monsterless side of the battlefield.

"Next, I'll use the final form of the Winged Dragon of Ra to end this duel!"

Hoshino raised her Duel Disk, her gaze serious. "The final form of the Winged Dragon? So this is its ultimate effect."

"Listen closely, Winged Dragon of Ra! I offer my final incantation, along with my body!"

Reciting the longest incantation yet, Marik's murmurs coincided with Ra's transformation back from its Phoenix form. A green beam of light emanated from the dragon's head, shining down on Marik.

"Ra merges with me, reducing my Life Points to 1 and gaining ATK equal to my Life Points lost!"

Bathed in the green light, Marik began to ascend, his lower body merging completely with Ra's golden head.

[Marik LP 900 → 1]

[Winged Dragon of Ra ATK 3300 → 4199]

With his Life Points reduced to 1, Marik was nearly engulfed by shadow, leaving only a single visible eye. Yet Ra's divine power recreated his figure perfectly in the dragon's head.

"Additionally, when activating this effect, if there are other monsters on the field, all monsters aside from the Winged Dragon are released. Ra's ATK and DEF then increase by the total ATK and DEF of the released monsters!"

As Marik spoke, the Phantom Skyblaster on his field was absorbed into Ra's body.

[Winged Dragon of Ra ATK 4199 → 5299]

Kaiba frowned. "He's paying an enormous price to gain attack power surpassing even the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon—"

Mokuba, however, was confused. "But Marik could have attacked directly to win. Why take such a dangerous route just to boost attack power?"

Hoshino narrowed her eyes. "If Marik isn't an idiot, it means Ra's effect has an even greater purpose."

Now fully merged with Ra, Marik laughed maniacally. "Magnificent! To become one with a god's power! Witness the destructive flames I unleash with my own hands, Hoshino!"

"Attack, Winged Dragon of Ra—Blaze Cannon!"

Golden flames surged toward Hoshino's empty field.

But Hoshino remained calm. "Marik, the last person who merged with their monster ended up crying after I defeated them. I'm looking forward to your conclusion too!"

Flipping over a Set card, a vibrant green figure appeared, shielding Hoshino. "Activating Quick-Play Spell [Firefly's Flame of Integrity]! Now it's time to show the true power of my ace!"

[Firefly's Flame of Integrity - Quick-Play Spell Effect: For the turn this card is activated, non-[Heroic Spirit] monsters cannot be Special Summoned. Choose one of the following effects to activate:

• Special Summon a [Heroic Spirit - Okita Souji] in Defense Position from your Deck.]

A seemingly delicate green figure appeared before Hoshino, standing resolutely despite the overwhelming flames.

Yet, the resolve didn't last long—

"Waaah! Nooo! QAQ!" Okita wailed loudly even before the attack landed.

Though her stance was meant to exude bravery, Okita's complaints echoed across the battlefield. "Why is it always me?! Can't someone else take over for once?"

From behind her, Hoshino called out cheerfully, "Okita-san, didn't you say yesterday, 'The ace always saves the day when it matters'? Well, here's your time to shine!"

Gripping her sword tightly, Okita sighed and muttered under her breath, "How is this saving the day? I'm just a glorified shield! Shouldn't this be George's job?"

The divine flames surged forward, consuming Okita's figure entirely.

"Hot! Hot! HOT! Medium-rare Okita-san is officially ruined!"

[Okita Souji destroyed]

Marik, perched atop the Winged Dragon of Ra, sneered. "Hmph. Defeated so easily by divine flames. For all that boasting, you've only managed to summon cannon fodder."

Hoshino smirked, flipping a set card. "Cannon fodder? You underestimate a true ace! Activating Trap Card—[The Cute Girl Seated Behind Me]!"

Okita's destruction triggered a ripple of light from the Graveyard, shattering her card and unleashing its latent power.

[The Cute Girl Seated Behind Me - Trap Card Effect: If a [Heroic Spirit] monster you control is destroyed by battle or your opponent's card effect, you can activate this card. Banish Fusion Materials for a [Heroic Spirit] Fusion Monster that includes the destroyed monster from your hand, field, Deck, or Graveyard. Fusion Summon that monster from your Extra Deck. Then, take 400 damage per banished material.]

"Thanks to Okita's destruction, I'll banish her and other Fusion Materials to summon a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!" Hoshino declared, placing the new Fusion card onto her Duel Disk with confidence.

"Watch closely, Marik! This Fusion Monster will change the tide of the duel!"

"A Fusion Monster using Okita? Could it be—?" Yugi's eyes widened with familiarity. "Is it Okita Alter—"

"Yo, thought it'd be Okitan? Nah, it's me, Kintoki!"

A thunderous roar echoed as a motorcycle engine ignited, and Sakata Kintoki, in his Rider form, charged onto the field, lightning trailing behind him.

[Heroic Spirit – Sakata Kintoki (Rider) ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)]

[WIND] [Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF1500]

[Fusion Materials: [Sakata Kintoki] + 1 WIND-attribute [Heroic Spirit] monster]

[This card can attack directly.]

[Glory Counter: 5 → 6]

"I'll take 800 damage from my Trap Card's drawback," Hoshino continued, wincing slightly as her Life Points dropped.

[Hoshino LP: 1500 → 700]

Thanks to Nero's Imperial Privilege, the Shadow Game's damaging effects seemed nullified. Still, Hoshino wasn't keen on testing her limits further.

Marik crossed his arms and scoffed. "Another weakling? It won't save you. I set one card and end my turn."

[Marik: 1 hand card (Slifer the Sky Dragon), 1 set card.]

Hoshino drew her next card. "My turn! Draw!"

[Command Spell: 2]

Her gaze sharpened, crimson light radiating from the Command Spell etched on her hand.

"Battle! Let's finish this, Kintoki!"

"Right on, boss!" Kintoki revved his motorcycle, charging full throttle into the fray.

Marik frowned at Hoshino's bold declaration. "Attacking a god head-on with that weak monster? Foolishness!"

Kintoki, however, bypassed the Winged Dragon of Ra with lightning speed, appearing directly above Marik.

"——Night Wolf Deadly Nine – Golden Dash!"

Realizing the true nature of the attack, Marik's eyes widened. "Impossible! Counterattack, Winged Dragon! Burn that insect to ashes!"

The Winged Dragon of Ra unleashed a golden blaze, but Kintoki, engulfed in flames, emerged unscathed.

"This card can attack directly," Hoshino explained, her smirk widening. "And your LP is just 1."

With a triumphant yell, Kintoki struck Marik directly. "GOLDEN DRIVE!!!"

The battlefield erupted in flames and lightning as Kintoki's attack connected with Marik, sending him tumbling from atop the Winged Dragon of Ra.

Marik's twisted expression reached new heights of distortion as he rolled across the ground.

"I told you, Marik," Hoshino said, her voice steady and confident. "The last guy who fused with their monster ended up just like you."

Marik staggered to his feet, his face a mix of pain and fury. "I… separated from the Winged Dragon of Ra!"

But something was amiss. Despite the attack, Marik stood tall, his Life Points no longer at 1.

Hoshino's smile faltered. "Separated from the Winged Dragon? Then why—"

Marik revealed his Set card.

"Quick-Play Spell—[De-Fusion]! And the Winged Dragon of Ra's effect activates! Upon separation from its controller, all of its ATK converts into my Life Points!"

[Winged Dragon of Ra: ATK 0]

[Marik LP: 5300 → 2800]

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