Heroic Spirit Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!

"—Fusion Summon! [Elemental HERO Flame Wingman]!"

[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][WIND][Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2100/DEF 1200]

[Materials: "Elemental HERO Avian" + "Elemental HERO Burstinatrix"]

Just as Hoshino had anticipated, the heroes answered her expectations and transformed into an even stronger form through Fusion Summon.

"This is amazing! I had no idea heroes could take on forms like this!"

The group of kids watching gasped in unison, their eyes sparkling. The sleek design of Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, standing proudly atop the skyscraper with overwhelming superhero flair, instantly won them over.

Across the field, Jaden was left stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Huh? What did you just do…? How do you even know that?"

Adjusting the metal visor on her face, Hoshino smirked confidently.

"If you really want to know... let's just chalk it up to a duelist's intuition!"

If Pegasus had truly drawn inspiration from "Magical Girls" when designing the Elemental HERO cards, then the limitless potential of Fusion had to be one of the core mechanics.

"Are you ready to face defeat, Jaden-kun?"

Perhaps because this was her first time using HERO cards, the ultra-modern aesthetic and vibrant playstyle thrilled Hoshino in a way that felt entirely different from using Heroic Spirits.

"The effect of Elemental HERO Flame Wingman—when this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, it inflicts damage to your Life Points equal to that monster's ATK!"

Since Elemental HERO Clayman had 2000 DEF but only 800 ATK, the resulting effect damage would wipe out Jaden's remaining Life Points the moment he was destroyed.

"If I beat you now without falling unconscious, that should be enough to debunk all this talk about a 'curse,' right?"

Hoshino's goal in this duel was to help Jaden—one of her fans—overcome his fear of the rumored curse. She raised her hand, preparing to deliver the final blow.

"Hold it, girl… something's off. That brat… there is something strange about him, and it's tied to this curse."

Just as Hoshino was about to strike, the voice of the mischievous yet oddly dependable Evil God cut in.

Startled, she paused. "Evil God-san, are you saying… the curse is real?"

While she wasn't as strictly rational as Kaiba, the notion that a child could curse those who defeated him in a duel still felt far too outlandish to take seriously.

"This is way too supernatural for me to take seriously!"

Hoshino Alter chimed in:

[Partner, maybe because I'm a spirit myself, I can sense two soul energies coming from that kid. And the emotions tied to the other soul… they're overwhelming—almost impossible to describe.]

With warnings from both her partner and the Evil God, Hoshino swallowed hard.

"So if I win this duel… I might actually get cursed and fall into a coma?"

She had really stepped on a landmine this time. At first, she thought the "curse" was just a spooky playground rumor and figured she could solve Jaden's problem easily—maybe even score some Saint Quartz in the process.

Now, it seemed she was the one in danger of being cursed.

"Don't worry, girl," the Evil God said with rare conviction and a confident grin. "Even though I don't know exactly what it is, I can tell that whatever's tied to this kid is definitely another Card Spirit. And as long as I'm here, no matter how strong it is, I won't let it harm a single hair on your head."

—Why is this floating orb so good at being cool?

Hoshino felt her face heat up without meaning to.

"If this so-called 'curse' is actually a Card Spirit, then it might reveal itself if its host is pushed into a corner. Since I've already decided to help Jaden, I might as well follow through."

With that resolve, despite being one attack away from victory, Hoshino slowly lowered her hand.

"Jaden-kun, I won't attack this turn. Our duel turned out to be way more interesting than I expected—so let's enjoy it a little longer~"

Her acting was far from perfect, but it should be enough to fool a kid. Whether it would deceive the spirit inside Jaden… that was another matter entirely.

"—So, I end my turn."

Because Hoshino had interrupted her attack declaration mid-sentence, Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, who had already gathered energy for the finishing blow, reluctantly pulled back and returned to his post atop the skyscraper.

[Hoshino's: 0 Hand Cards | 1 Set Card]

"Weird Onee-san, you look strange, but you're surprisingly strong!"

"The 'weird' part was unnecessary!"

The moment Hoshino had fused Elemental HERO Avian and Elemental HERO Burstinatrix into Flame Wingman, Jaden realized the vast gap in their skill levels.

But instead of feeling discouraged, he was thrilled.

The reason?

Because Hoshino had shown him a whole new path for HERO cards—a sign that his skills, and the power of his HEROes, still had room to grow.

The Evil God smiled, clearly amused.

"Oh? Even in this situation, he's still smiling? This brat might grow into an incredible Duelist someday."

"But don't think you've won yet, Weird Onee-san! I've still got a secret weapon! Since you gave me a chance, no take-backs! —My turn, draw!"

As Jaden drew his next card, a brilliant grin lit up his face—a clear sign he had just top-decked for the third turn in a row.

"You heard my call… Yubel! I activate the Spell Card [Silent Doom] from my hand!"

[Silent Doom – Spell Card Effect: Target 1 Normal Monster in your GY; Special Summon it in Defense Position, but it cannot attack.]

"I Special Summon Elemental HERO Avian from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"

Even though Hoshino had used Avian as Fusion Material, it still went to Jaden's Graveyard.

[Elemental HERO Avian DEF 1000]

"Yes! Now I've got everything I need! I tribute Avian and Clayman to Tribute Summon—[Yubel]!"

Placing the freshly drawn monster card on his Duel Disk with reverence, Jaden—for the first time in this duel—summoned a monster that wasn't an Elemental HERO.

[Yubel ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Fiend/Effect][ATK 0/DEF 0]

A sandstorm swept past, and a demon-like monster materialized on Jaden's field, spreading its black wings wide.

Hoshino was astonished. "A Level 10 monster that can be Tribute Summoned… Isn't that almost on par with a god?"

She hadn't expected Jaden to summon such a monster on the final turn. A creature of extraordinary level and power appearing in the hands of an ordinary child—

Considering the so-called "curse" from before, there was a high likelihood that this monster was involved.

"That's the one, girl… The spirit within this kid's deck—and the true culprit behind the unconscious duelists."

The words of the Evil God further confirmed Hoshino's suspicions.

Hoshino clicked her tongue in frustration. "That monster looks pretty bad… And despite being Level 10, it has 0 ATK and 0 DEF? That just screams 'trouble' in every possible way."

[No, maybe this monster isn't as bad as it seems~]

Imitating the Evil God's method of manifestation, Hoshino Alter also appeared as a semi-transparent figure behind Hoshino. At this point, she really was starting to resemble a Card Spirit.

"Earlier, when this monster hadn't been summoned yet, I could only sense faint traces of complex emotions within its soul. But now, that intense emotion is completely wrapped around Jaden."

Hoshino furrowed her brows. "You mean…?"

Hoshino Alter smiled gently and attempted to communicate with the monster before her. [Actually, you really love Jaden. Am I right, Yubel?]

Even though Hoshino Alter was in soul form and hadn't switched bodies with Hoshino, if the Evil God could hear her voice, then theoretically, another Duel Spirit like Yubel should be able to as well.

"Of course. My mission is to protect Jaden. I will never allow anyone to harm him."

Yubel's voice—somewhat feminine—responded calmly, not denying Hoshino Alter's claim.

Hoshino Alter nodded in satisfaction. [I thought so. Such a powerful yet gentle emotion surrounding Judai could only stem from the desire to protect someone dear.]

Still confused, Hoshino quietly asked Hoshino Alter, "If Jaden is so important to her, then why did she curse his friends and drive them away?"

"That kind of fake friendship can't compare to the bond between me and Jaden!" Yubel interjected before Hoshino Alter could answer.

"When Jaden summons me in a duel but doesn't win, he's bound to feel disappointed. And I refuse to let Jaden be disappointed in me! Those who defeated Jaden in a duel hurt him and threatened our bond—what happened to them was nothing more than deserved punishment!"

The Evil God let out a sigh. Just from Yubel's brief explanation, she had already reached a conclusion.

"This Duel Spirit… It seems her emotions have become so intense that they've twisted. How should I put it? It's like what you called a 'yandere' before, girl."

"A yandere wouldn't go this far, though!"

Hoshino frowned, showing no restraint in reprimanding Yubel.

"Nobody was trying to hurt Jaden. The only one who truly hurt him—completely unaware of it—was you, Yubel."

Jaden had been ostracized by his peers, labeled as a cursed monster. The boy who loved dueling more than anything had been forced into loneliness, unable to enjoy the very thing that brought him joy. This warped form of protection was the greatest harm inflicted upon him.

"Weird Onee-san, what are you mumbling about?" Jaden asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Despite being protected by a Duel Spirit, he couldn't see them—perhaps because he was too young and hadn't awakened his abilities yet.

"Even if you beg for mercy, it's useless! In this situation, my Yubel is incredibly strong!"

With pride, Jaden smiled at the monster standing on his field. It wasn't just that Yubel cared deeply for Jaden; he, too, held a genuine and powerful bond with her.

"Attack Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, Yubel! And activate your effect—"

[This card cannot be destroyed by battle. Your opponent takes all Battle Damage from battles involving this face-up Attack Position card.] (Anime Effect)

Flapping her black wings, Yubel responded to Jaden's attack declaration and lunged at the Flame Wingman perched atop the skyscraper.

"Wow, this monster's effect is kinda busted~" Akasha, watching from the sidelines, took the chance to explain to the surrounding kids. "By redirecting the battle damage to the opponent, the Mysterious Cloaked Duelist's remaining Life Points will be wiped out in one hit!"

Unleashing her sharp claws without hesitation, Yubel charged forward.

"I won't let anyone destroy the bond between Jaden and me. I am Jaden's protector, and I will always, always protect him! I don't know who you are, but just accept your defeat in this duel!"

Given Yubel's current mindset, even if Jaden won this duel, she likely wouldn't let Hoshino off the hook.

"—It's over!"

Just as Yubel's demonic claws were about to reach Flame Wingman, she was intercepted by a figure standing atop the skyscraper—a black-haired girl clad in a red leather jacket.

"Such troublesome emotions… When they become this twisted, honestly, it's enough to make someone sick."

Shiki's words were as sharp as the blade in her delicate hand.

Jaden's eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh? But I was attacking Flame Wingman…"

"Activate the set Trap Card, [Overlooking the Scenery]!"

[Overlooking the Scenery – Trap Card Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack, you can Tribute 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster you control to activate this card. Select 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster from your Graveyard, Special Summon it, and redirect the attack to that monster instead.]

"I Tribute Queen Medb on my field to Special Summon Ryougi Shiki from my Graveyard! She will replace Flame Wingman in battle against Yubel!"

Leaping down from the skyscraper, Shiki gazed at Yubel with her Mystic Eyes.

"That form of yours… A demon? Doesn't matter. Whether it's gods or demons, there's rarely any difference between them."

'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception'—There are only beings that are difficult to kill; there are none that escape death itself. The end of life is a universal truth.

A flash of a dagger among the towering buildings—within a single instant of their clash, the edge of Shiki's blade had already traced the 'death line' she sought.

"—If this monster battles an opponent's monster with lower ATK, it is sent to the Graveyard before damage calculation!"

Silently watching as Yubel's body dissipated into the sky, Hoshino narrowed her eyes and muttered softly, "Yubel, I hope this battle helps you suppress that excessively warped emotion of yours, even just a little."

[Ascensions I mission complete. Required defeated monsters: 2/2]

[Ascensions Up: I → II]

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