"So that's it—the Underworld God!" Even Eve could now see the true purpose behind Hoshino's earlier confusing plays.
"Since Slifer was absorbed by the Dyson Sphere, if you want to use a god as Fusion material, Ereshkigal had to go in as well!"
"I already said it—I'm never voluntarily jumping into an enemy's mouth again, Master!"
Standing atop Slifer, Ereshkigal waved her spear and reiterated her point. It was clear that even the ruler of the Underworld found that black hole-like maw utterly repulsive.
"But it's not just Ereshkigal and Osiris—didn't Hoshino fuse in all the Xyz Materials as well?" Mokuba wondered, looking at the Chaos Dyson Sphere, which now seemed almost hollowed out.
"Of course! To recreate the peak of Underworld authority, I didn't leave a single drop! Everything it absorbed—I fused it all together!"
The crimson lightning of the Underworld intertwined with Slifer's magical power, forming a scarlet mantle that gently draped behind Ereshkigal. With their powers resonating, her spiritual core was elevated beyond its limits to its ultimate state.
"At every critical moment, you manage to push divine power to even greater heights… you're incredible, Hoshino."
Holding the Slifer card again, Atem narrowed his eyes with a satisfied smile. "Then let's use the fused power of Slifer and Ereshkigal to show the opposing king what true strength is!"
Slifer, the god of the underworld in ancient Egyptian mythology, was unlike Zorc—not a demon or a god of darkness. Instead, he symbolized the hope of eternal glory after death.
And that very hope now became the light that awakened this fusion.
Hoshino & Atem: "—Descend! Supreme god who rules the Underworld, Absolute Underworld God – Ereshkigal Slifer!"
[Absolute Underworld God – Ereshkigal Slifer ★★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 11)][DIVINE][Divine-Beast][Fusion/Effect][ATK 5000/DEF 5000]
["Heroic Spirit – Ereshkigal" + "Slifer the Sky Dragon" + 1 or more Effect Monsters]
[This card is also treated as a "Heroic Spirit" card.]
[This card is unaffected by Trap Cards and cannot be destroyed by effects.]
With her arms crossed and a crimson cloak bearing the mark of the Sky Dragon flowing behind her, Ereshkigal stood atop the divine dragon's head—an awe-inspiring sight.
["Even though it's another 'stand together equals fusion' style, the presence of a god is on a completely different level!"]
"Bring down the Underworld's lightning of divine judgment!" Atem declared as he activated the effect.
"When this card is Fusion Summoned, or when your opponent Summons or Special Summons a monster, reduce the ATK or DEF of all monsters your opponent controls. Any monster reduced below 0 by this effect is destroyed!"
Eve exclaimed, "It's like Slifer's Thunderforce effect—but it's an AOE bombardment!"
"And the amount reduced is 500 for each Fusion Material used!"
Counting the monsters sent to the Graveyard by Celestial Inverted Moon, Hoshino declared:
"Absolute Underworld God – Ereshkigal Slifer used a total of 7 Fusion Materials—so with 3500 points of Underworld lightning, wipe out the entire field!"
Guided by the golden spear raised high by Ereshkigal, the Sky Dragon's roaring thunder tore through heaven and earth.
At the same time, on Hela's field—even her strongest monster in Defense Position could not withstand a 3500-point reduction.
Hela retorted, "Even if their ATK and DEF drop below zero, as long as the Continuous Spell Proof of the King is on the field, Zombie monsters cannot be destroyed by effects!"
"Of course—but that only applies to Zombie monsters!" Hoshino smiled confidently. "Since Zombie World has been destroyed, monsters on the field are no longer forcibly turned into Zombies!"
The lightning radiating from the Duel Tower on the island spread across the world, engulfing and destroying Hela's Tokens and the Chaos Dyson Sphere, leaving only one monster itself barely standing at 0 DEF.
"It's not over yet—I can't lose here!"
Her black dress tattered by the Underworld lightning, Hela still refused to yield.
"Zoma Spirit cannot be destroyed by effects—and if you destroy it by battle, you'll lose the duel due to its reflected damage effect!"
"You really won't give up until the very end, huh!" Hoshino said as she placed a Quick-Play Spell onto her Duel Disk. The light of "Phantasm Summon" shimmered beneath Illya's feet.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Phantasm Summon! I banish Illya on my field as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon a Magical Girl Fusion Monster!"
Drawing out the Class Card strapped to her thigh, Illya's elementary-school outfit was enveloped in light as she transformed.
"Class Card—Saber! Install—Nero Claudius!"
"Fusion Summon! Magical Girl – Nero Claudius Bride Illya!"
[Magical Girl – Nero Claudius Bride Illya ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][LIGHT][Fairy/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2300/DEF 1000]
["Magical Girl – Illya" + "Heroic Spirit – Nero Claudius Bride"]
Dressed in a pure white bridal gown, the small and adorable Illya descended amidst rose petals, wielding a silver flame taller than herself.
"And when Magical Girl – Illya is banished as Fusion Material, I can Special Summon her once per turn!"
Retrieving Illya's card, Hoshino now placed her onto the Duel Disk in Attack Position.
[Magical Girl – Illya ATK 1000]
Ruby: "Hoshino-san, have you finally crossed the line with an elementary schooler? Dressing Illya in a wedding gown—Ruby is so moved I might call the police~"
Blushing furiously, Illya squeezed Ruby in her hand. "That's not it at all! You know that's Miss Nero's Spirit Origin!"
Eve, observing the scene, compared the bridal Illya on Hoshino's field with Hela across from her.
"A white dress versus a black one—pure and adorable versus cunning and vicious, a young maiden versus an expired old woman… the difference is obvious! Hoshino, this move of yours isn't just attacking the field—it's attacking the heart!"
"And what of it? Even if you summon stronger monsters, if you can't get past Zoma Spirit, victory will still be mine!"
At this stage of the duel, verbal taunts meant nothing. What kept them going was their unwavering determination to win.
"I activate the effect of Magical Girl – Nero Claudius Bride Illya—"
Tracing her fingers through the drifting white rose petals, Hoshino activated the effect as a gentle, healing breeze from the bridal aura brushed through her hair.
[You can only activate this effect by targeting 1 monster you control. You gain Life Points equal to that monster's ATK or DEF.]
"I target [Absolute Underworld God – Ereshkigal Osiris] on my field and recover 5000 Life Points equal to its DEF!"
Linking her own power with Ereshkigal's, Illya's gentle magical energy spread through the Bride Spirit Origin.
"—Stars to the heavens, flowers to the earth, love to humanity! Let this healing light shine upon Ereshkigal and my beloved Master!"
"W-What do you mean, 'beloved'… Illya, don't just say things like that!" A faint blush flashed across Ereshkigal's face as she instinctively used the cloak granted by the Sky Dragon to hide the smile tugging at her lips.
[Hoshino & Atem LP: 500 → 5500]
"Zoma Spirit's recoil effect? That barely even tickles~ Let's battle, Illya!"
Entering the Battle Phase, Hoshino commanded the 1000 ATK Magical Girl Illya to release pink starlight magic, firing it at Zoma Spirit, whose DEF had been reduced to 0.
[Zoma Spirit destroyed]
According to the Trap Monster Zoma Reaper's effect, when it is destroyed by battle, it inflicts damage equal to the ATK of the monster that destroyed it.
[Hoshino & Atem LP: 5500 → 4500]
"How's that? Even after taking the recoil, I still have Life Points on the level of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
["Aibo, I didn't expect you to still drag Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon into this…"]
"It's over, King of Death!" Continuing the Battle Phase, Atem raised his arm and declared, pointing to the Absolute Underworld God soaring above the Duel Tower. "Let its attack power descend with this superconductive thunder—annihilate everything!"
Clutching her arms tightly, her body tearing apart as she endured the assault, Hela gritted her teeth and chose to release herself in the face of the combined attack of the Sky Dragon and Ereshkigal.
"My resolve will not vanish beneath this thunder! I activate the effect of Hela, Generaider Boss of Doom—I release myself to Special Summon a Zombie monster from my Graveyard!"
Shiraboshi warned cautiously, "Anyone willing to tribute themselves like that is dangerous. Be careful, aibo."
"—Special Summon Number 23: Lancelot, Dark Knight of the Underworld!"
[Number 23: Lancelot, Dark Knight of the Underworld DEF 1500]
"At the moment your Special Summon succeeds, the effect of the Underworld god's Thunderforce activates!" Atem responded instantly. "Reduce Lancelot's DEF by 3500!"
"But even if its DEF drops below zero, due to Proof of the King, Lancelot will not be destroyed!"
"But then it's just a monster with 0 DEF—what's the point?" Eve said.
"Keep attacking, Yugi!" If they pulled back now, Ereshkigal wouldn't be able to continue attacking this turn. Even if Hela's intent wasn't clear, Hoshino refused to be bluffed.
Continuing the attack declaration, Ereshkigal aimed her spear at Lancelot, gathering magical power.
"The battlefield shows no mercy—don't blame me, Sir Lancelot!"
"At the moment you continue your attack, I activate my set Trap Card—Xyz Revenge Shuffle!"
The targeted Lancelot was instantly devoured by the reappearing Dyson Sphere.
"When an Xyz Monster on the field becomes an attack target, I can Special Summon an Xyz Monster from my Graveyard to take its place!"
[Number C9: Chaos Dyson Sphere ATK 3600]
"And with 3600 ATK, the Chaos Xyz can forcibly endure a strike from the Underworld god's Thunderforce!"
After enduring the massive ATK reduction from the Sky Dragon's lightning, the Dyson Sphere was left with only 100 ATK. Its massive mechanical body twisted and warped, yet it still barely clung to existence.
[Dyson Sphere ATK: 3600 → 100]
"Can she really push herself this far…?" Mokuba shuddered, almost unable to look at the battlefield.
Her torn body, sacrificed soul, and sheer resolve to endure the Underworld god's lightning made him feel an inexplicable fear.
"Don't look away, Mokuba!" Kaiba said sternly. "No matter which side, both have reasons they absolutely cannot lose. Our role is to witness the conclusion—and believe that Yugi and Hoshino will win!"
"Devour it!" Queen Hel screamed hoarsely. "Even with only 100 ATK, any monster that battles Number C9: Chaos Dyson Sphere—even an absolute Underworld god—will be completely consumed!"
"To launch such a desperate counterattack in this situation… you really are impressive," Hoshino admitted.
"But precisely because you are a king—a King of the Nine Realms—that's why I prepared this final safeguard to defeat you!"
Eve suddenly realized something and cried out, "A safeguard against the Nine Realms King… it's a Zombie monster!"
"I activate the Spell Card Phantasm Contact! With Magical Sanctuary on the field, it can be used as a Quick-Play Spell!"
[Return Fusion Materials listed on a "Magical Girl" Fusion Monster from your field, Graveyard, or banished zone to the Deck, then Fusion Summon that monster from the Extra Deck.]
"This turn, one of the monsters sent to the Graveyard by Celestial Inverted Moon was Heroic Spirit – Jack the Ripper. Now I return her and Magical Girl – Illya on the field to the Deck—Contact Summon!"
A thick, London-like death fog spread across the field—different from the Underworld's miasma, closer to the intrinsic Reality Marble manifested by Jack.
"From here on, this is the fog of hell! Let slaughter descend…—Magical Girl – Jack Illya!"
[Magical Girl – Jack Illya ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Zombie/Fusion/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 1000]
["Magical Girl – Illya" + "Heroic Spirit – Jack the Ripper"]
