novelAlta Chapter 702 - 702
Chapter 702 - 702
"That means my attack power is higher now!"[Uria, Lord of Searing Flames ATK 7000]
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire ATK 6400]
After Akasha stacked up seven Trap Cards over the course of two turns, the clash between Uria and Naglfar ended with Uria surpassing it by a razor-thin margin of 600 ATK.
"Akasha can actually control all three Sacred Beasts at the same time, just like Kagemaru did?!"
The stunned crowd stared into the duel arena isolated behind walls of flame, where Akasha commanded all three Sacred Beasts against Naglfar.
"She's nothing like Chairman Kagemaru!" Jaden proudly declared. "Akasha isn't forcing them into submission—she's fighting side by side with the wills of the Sacred Beasts! Proof of that is how, even with all three Sacred Beasts gathered, there's no disaster like the one Chairman Kagemaru caused when he absorbed the life force of Duel Monsters across the entire world!"
"Not forcing them… but fighting together with the Three Sacred Beasts…" Minazuki muttered excitedly. "That's so cool! To completely master beings comparable to the Egyptian Gods… isn't that basically on the level of Yugi?!"
"Am I dreaming?" Alexis rubbed her eyes. The fantastical sight before her blurred even Akasha's figure within the flames.
"Not Yugi, Senpai… No, the current Akasha is more like the Headmistress!"
"Like the Headmistress?"
"Of course—because she's just that reliable! Go, Akasha!"
Whether from the firelight or sheer excitement, Alexis's cheeks flushed red as she cheered with all her strength.
"Go! This is the annihilation brought forth by surging divine flames! The effect of Uria activates—destroy all Set Trap Cards on the opponent's field!"
A scorching wave of divine flames swept toward Naglfar's back row. Uria's unique ability allowed it to distinguish Traps from Spells without revealing them, directly incinerating all Trap Cards.
[Fire Formation – Kaiyo], [Fire Formation – Tenken], and [Fire Formation – Tensen] destroyed.
Aside from the face-up Continuous Trap, the other two Set cards on Naglfar's field were also Fire Formation Traps. All of them were wiped out by Uria's flames.
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire ATK 6400 → 6100]
And with Fire Formation – Kaiyo leaving the field, the 300 ATK boost to Beast-Warrior monsters disappeared as well.
"Now there's nothing standing in my way! And this is the roaring eruption of boiling divine flames—Super Blaze Wave Attack!!"
Having exhausted every card in her hand, Akasha decisively entered the Battle Phase. With 900 more ATK than Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire itself, she ordered Uria to gather blazing superheated flames within its massive jaws.
"Hotter than fire itself… more dangerous than natural disaster… this is the wrathful strike of the Sacred Beast—Uria!"
The spiraling Uria soared through the sky with a deafening roar, unleashing flames even hotter than the inferno composing Naglfar's body. The blast pierced through and bombarded the gigantic calamity-like form.
[Naglfar LP 7100 → 6200]
"But don't forget! The effect of Proof of the King allows me to destroy one of your Beast-Warrior monsters instead of this card being destroyed!"
While resisting the impact of the Super Blaze Wave, Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire swung its gigantic flaming claws amidst flying rubble and fire—then drew two cards from its Duel Disk.
"And the moment this effect activates, both players draw two cards from their Decks!"
[Zoodiac Broadbull] destroyed.
After revealing the cards he drew, Naglfar immediately followed up.
"Next, I activate the effect of the monster Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De from my hand!"
[If a card on your opponent's field is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can send 1 other card from your hand or field to the GY; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
"I send the Continuous Spell Card Fire Formation – Yoko from my hand to the Graveyard and Special Summon Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De in Defense Position!"
[Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][FIRE][Beast-Warrior/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
A tyrannical hero clad in flames manifested on Naglfar's field.
"So not only are there Fire Fist monsters, but also Ancient Warriors representing the Three Kingdoms," Bastion observed.
Unlike Fire Fists, however, Ancient Warriors were an archetype that actually existed in this world.
And among them, only the monsters were FIRE-Attribute Beast-Warriors—represented most prominently by this card based on Cao Cao: Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De.
"Since the number of Beast-Warrior monsters on the field and in the Graveyard has increased, the attack power of Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire rises by another 1000 points!"
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire ATK 6100 → 7100]
"Burn! Be destroyed! Now my attack power surpasses yours once again!"
By absorbing the power of Beast-Warrior monsters through Proof of the King, Naglfar's body expanded even further, its ATK narrowly overtaking Uria's.
Syrus cautiously noted, "Not only did it surpass Uria's ATK, but increasing the number of Beast-Warriors also gives it another destruction replacement."
"Quit acting so smug. You're not the only one who got new cards!"
Akasha, who had also drawn cards because of Proof of the King, glanced at the two brand-new Traps she had just drawn from the top of her Deck.
"If that's the case… this can work!"
Sliding one of the newly drawn Continuous Traps into her Duel Disk, Akasha declared:
"Because Makyura was sent to the Graveyard this turn, I can activate Trap Cards from my hand! — Continuous Trap activate: Final Attack Orders!"
[Continuous Trap Effect: All face-up monsters on the field are changed to Attack Position and their battle positions cannot be changed.]
"Naglfar, there's no room left for retreat anymore! Due to the effect of Final Attack Orders, your Defense Position Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De is forcibly switched to Attack Position!"
[Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De ATK 3000]
"It's your turn now, Hamon!"
Locking onto the newly switched Cao De, Akasha declared the attack of her second Sacred Beast.
Spreading its gigantic golden wings, Hamon responded to Akasha's command with overwhelming momentum—perhaps because it had been so long since a Sacred Beast personally attacked.
"—Lost Thunder!!"
Thunder descended from the flames like divine judgment. Red and white brilliance intertwined as the lightning strike instantly blasted Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De into ashes.
[Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De] destroyed.
[Naglfar LP 6200 → 5200]
"Additional effect, Hamon!"
[When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent.]
"—Hell's Punishment!!"
The roaring thunder spread outward, electric shockwaves engulfing Naglfar itself as Hamon's effect dealt even more damage.
[Naglfar LP 5200 → 4200]
"To think… to think I, the embodiment of natural disaster itself, would have its Life Points reduced by half!"
Feeling its Life Points being steadily eroded by Akasha, the voice rumbling from within Naglfar's gigantic body grew increasingly distorted.
"Human female… with every step you take now, you descend deeper into the abyss of calamity!"
"(╯°Д°)╯Fuck you! Quit acting all mysterious and godlike already—I'm here to beat your ass!"
Akasha continued the Battle Phase. With the last Beast-Warrior monster on Naglfar's field, Ancient Warriors – Ambitious Cao De, destroyed by Hamon's lightning, Naglfar itself had finally lost its last destruction replacement.
"This is our only chance—grab it, Raviel!"
"ROOOAAAR—!"
Roaring in response, Raviel wrapped the lightning scattered by Hamon around its massive arms, causing its attack power to skyrocket in a single burst.
Taking Hamon's card from her Duel Disk and sending it to the Graveyard, Akasha declared:
"The effect of Raviel—once per turn, when this card battles, you can Tribute 1 monster you control; this card gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK! I Tribute Hamon!"
The combined assault of thunder and phantom demonic power fused together, adding Hamon's 4000 ATK onto Raviel's massive right fist.
[Raviel, Lord of Phantasms ATK 4000 → 8000]
"An 8000 ATK—this is the same monster you mocked for being 'pathetically weak' earlier!"
As Akasha shouted her attack declaration, Raviel's thunder-wreathed fist collided head-on with the blazing claws of Naglfar.
It was like a golden sumo clash between colossal beasts—wherever the gigantic Raviel and the enormous Naglfar collided, flames ignited lightning, and lightning pierced through the flames.
"There are no more monsters left for you to use as destruction substitutes! Now shatter obediently beneath the fist of the strongest Sacred Beast, Naglfar! — Thunderous Heaven-Crushing Fist!!"
The flaming claws cracked first, and then destruction spread throughout the entire body formed from flames. Raviel's thunderous punch shattered the earth itself, hammering Naglfar deep beneath the fiery duel arena and into the abyssal magma below.
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire] destroyed.
[Naglfar LP 4200 → 3300]
"Ya☆Da☆ZeZeZe—!" dragging out the final syllables, Minazuki exclaimed in admiration, "Even with Proof of the King on the field, she still smashed Naglfar itself apart! Is this the power of Akasha and the Three Sacred Beasts?!"
"Now the opponent has neither monsters nor cards in hand! And Akasha still has two Sacred Beasts plus Utopia on the field—this is an absolute winning position!" Bastion confidently concluded.
"She's incredible… to completely suppress even a monster like this… this really is Akasha!" Jaden's eyes sparkled.
"Give up, Naglfar, embodiment of calamity. You no longer have any chance of defeating me," Akasha declared sternly.
Even though the Duel Monster manifestation of Naglfar had been smashed to pieces by the Three Sacred Beasts, the actual Naglfar standing before Akasha with the magma Duel Disk showed no sign of its flames weakening.
"So the human who ignored my warning has finally taken the final step into the abyss of calamity…"
At the same time as Naglfar's cryptic words, the entire Duel Academy island violently shook. A deafening roar, even louder than when the World Tree first rooted itself, erupted across the island.
"I am the embodiment of calamity. And by your own actions, human female, true destruction has now descended upon this island!"
Far behind Naglfar, an enormous pillar of fire erupted skyward, accompanied by massive black smoke like the omen of the apocalypse itself.
"This can't be happening…"
The group stared in collective shock.
"You've got to be kidding… the academy island's volcano is erupting?!"
The active volcano that had once caused Hoshino endless sleepless anxiety over whether it would erupt during the night had finally awakened—triggered by the power of Naglfar, with Raviel's earth-shattering attack serving as the catalyst.
"Behold! This is the destruction you yourself have caused, human. The rampant leakage of Duel Energy has finally driven this land to the end of its lifespan!"
"That's so unfair!" Jaden shouted furiously as he watched the energy from the ground Raviel shattered travel directly toward the volcano. "You're actually interfering with the duel using something like this? Since you can't win fairly, you resort to this?!"
"You call it unfair?"
Pointing toward the blazing crimson Proof of the King in his back row, Naglfar roared:
"Watch carefully, human! The duel is not over yet! And… I am calamity itself—deathless and eternal!"
Responding to the distant volcanic eruption, cracks in the earth burst open once more. Naglfar, which should have been destroyed by Raviel, tore its gigantic claws upward and crawled back out from the magma-filled abyss below.
"Proof of the King—when Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire leaves the field, you can banish either two Beast-Warrior monsters from your Graveyard, or this face-up card on the field, and Special Summon Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire again from the Graveyard or banished zone!"
Crushing two Fire Fist cards from the Graveyard into pieces, the revived Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire perfectly embodied the terrifying image of an immortal natural disaster.
"And during the End Phase of the turn this effect activates, all monsters on your field will be destroyed!" Naglfar bellowed. "The one who has no chance of winning is you, human female! At the moment this turn ends, both you and this island will be destroyed together!"
"So at the End Phase… the entire island will be destroyed…"
Clenching the last card in her hand, Akasha glared fiercely at Naglfar climbing from the earth.
"If I can destroy you completely before the turn ends… no—even if I can't stop the destruction itself, I'll drag you into hell no matter how many times it takes!!"
Flipping over the card in her hand, Akasha expanded the magma-filled fissures in the earth even further, directly halting the horrifying figure of Naglfar as it climbed upward.
"Because of Makyura's effect, I can activate a Trap Card from my hand—Bottomless Trap Hole!"
[Trap Card Effect: When your opponent Summons a monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK: Destroy that monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK, and if you do, banish it.]
"The moment you re-Summon Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire, I use Bottomless Trap Hole to banish it directly!"
Just as Akasha said—no matter how many times it appeared, she would drag Naglfar down into hell. The dimensional abyss connected to Bottomless Trap Hole swallowed Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire back underground before it could fully emerge.
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire] banished.
"Throwing out your last Trap Card for one final desperate struggle, human female? But it is useless! I banish the final two Beast-Warrior monsters in my Graveyard and Summon Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire once again!"
The unstoppable immortal calamity returned yet again. The collapsing earth itself seemed to mock the girl's struggle and humanity's fragility.
"Damn it… are we really at the limit?" Minazuki gritted his teeth. "That thing's completely different from humans! No matter how many times it's destroyed, it just won't die! How are we supposed to win against that?!"
It was already difficult enough just to destroy it, let alone truly defeat Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire under the absurd condition requiring Beast-Warrior monsters.
"No, there's still hope!" Jaden declared firmly. "After Akasha destroyed it so many times, Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire's power has weakened a lot!"
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire ATK 3100]
Because every Beast-Warrior monster in the Graveyard had been banished as the revival cost, Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire's attack power had returned to its original value.
"I know you're optimistic, Jaden," Minazuki replied gloomily, "but even at 3100 ATK, it's still stronger than Utopia. And besides, Akasha has no cards left in her hand…"
"But Akasha still hasn't given up!" Alexis said seriously, her eyes fixed on Akasha's fingertips.
"Please… this is my last hope."
Reaching into her Duel Disk's Graveyard slot, Akasha pulled out a large number of cards in one motion.
"I activate the effect of the Trap Card in my Graveyard—Zoodiac Combo!"
[Trap Card Effect: You can banish this card from your Graveyard, then target 5 "Zoodiac" cards in your Graveyard with different names; shuffle all 5 into the Deck, then draw 1 card.]
"Didn't I already see Hoshino-nee demonstrate this before? Now it's my turn!"
The shining Zoodiac gems radiated gentle light before the calamity of destruction, symbols of the guardian beasts.
"I return Sheep, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, and Tiger—five Zoodiac monsters total—back into the Deck! And then I place all my faith in this single draw!"
One after another, the five Zoodiac gems merged into Akasha's Deck. With every card assimilated, the light radiating from the Deck grew stronger and stronger until it reached its peak.
"The strongest duelists make everything inevitable! Let all light illuminate the path toward hope!! — Draw!!!"
It was the same fateful draw Akasha had once witnessed Hoshino perform with the Millennium Bracelet in a distant memory.
But the card now gripped between Akasha's fingers carried layered brilliance, future, and hope—a "Shining" draw that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, Hoshino's original "Destiny Draw."
"Thanks to Makyura, I activate a Trap Card from my hand—Wonder Xyz!"
[Trap Card Effect: Immediately after this effect resolves, Xyz Summon 1 Xyz Monster using monsters you control as Materials.]
"Using monsters on the field for an Xyz Summon?!" Bastion's eyes widened. "Then the only monsters on Akasha's field with matching Levels are—"
"I overlay Raviel and Uria as Xyz Materials!"
Using the Trap Card Wonder Xyz to construct an Overlay Network during the Battle Phase itself, Akasha combined the two Level 10 Sacred Beasts—and the Xyz light erupting from her field surpassed anything seen before.
"HUMAN!!!"
The power radiating from the blonde girl illuminated by the Draw, utterly fearless before destruction, caused Naglfar—the embodiment of calamity itself—to experience an emotion it had never known before.
Fear?
No. Fear itself should have been the source of Naglfar's power.
And yet the power this girl wielded to sever "fear"… was precisely what made the Blaze Realm King War feel fear.
"Thinking back carefully… this human never feared me from the very beginning. Not even when standing before a monster that embodied calamity itself."
("Listen up! I'm Kashar Hawkins! Right here, right now, in this very place, in the name of the 'Hope' family—I'll blast you, this ugly monster destroying the academy, into absolute oblivion!")
"If hope is the light leading toward the future, then the power dragging you into hell is the infinite darkness overlaid by the Sacred Beasts! Xyz Summon—Number XX: Utopic Dark Infinity!"
[Number XX: Utopic Dark Infinity ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (Rank 10)][DARK][Warrior/Xyz/Effect][ATK 4000/DEF 4000]
[2 or more Level 10 monsters]
Overlaid with the power of the Sacred Beasts, Utopic Dark Infinity descended upon the crumbling land as the final embodiment of hope.
"To think you turned the Sacred Beasts into a Rank 10 Xyz Monster… that's incredible, Akasha!" Jaden praised.
"After reviving over and over, your power's already greatly weakened!" Akasha clenched her fist tightly.
Now stripped of Beast-Warrior support, Naglfar's ATK was clearly no match for Utopic Dark Infinity's 4000 ATK.
"This is the final slash! Utopic Dark Infinity—extend the future into infinity and cut through these drifting fragments of space itself! — Infinite Sword Slash!!"
Descending from the crimson burning sky, Utopic Dark Infinity unleashed a full-powered sword strike, cleaving through the repeatedly resurrected giant flaming body of Naglfar from head to toe in a single slash.
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire] destroyed.
[Naglfar LP 3300 → 2400]
"ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR—!!"
With a furious howl that made the earth tremble even more violently, Naglfar tore apart the Proof of the King in its back row at the instant it was cut down.
"'I am calamity, eternal and undying!' Human, even your final attack cannot stop me! I banish the Continuous Spell Card Proof of the King from play and revive once more the disaster that will destroy this land!"
"How many times are you going to repeat 'eternal and undying'? I'm already sick of hearing it!" Akasha shot back with a wave of her hand. "Take a good look at your field right now! Is there even a monster left that can revive you?"
Just as Akasha said, the field was completely empty. Even though Naglfar should still have had one final chance to revive, it did not awaken like before.
"Utopic Dark Infinity's effect—"
Pulling Uria from beneath Utopic Dark Infinity as Xyz Material, Akasha activated its effect.
[When either player's monster is destroyed by battle: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target that destroyed monster; Special Summon it to your field in Defense Position.]
"I used Utopic Dark Infinity's effect to Special Summon Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire to my field before you could!"
No one had expected that, through the power of Utopic Dark Infinity, Akasha would forcibly summon Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire's own ultimate body onto her side of the field.
"So you call yourself an immortal calamity? Then I'll use the very power you're so proud of to bury you!"
But although it was supposed to be Special Summoned in Defense Position, the Trap Card Akasha had activated earlier this turn twisted the situation at the final moment.
"As long as the Continuous Trap Card Final Attack Orders remains on the field, Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire, even if Special Summoned in Defense Position, is forcibly changed to Attack Position!"
[Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire ATK 3100]
Jaden's body trembled uncontrollably with excitement as he recalled what he had said to Akasha earlier.
"So this is it, Akasha…! Using endless Trap Card chains to break through a hopeless inferno of calamity that should've been impossible to escape!"
"It's over! This is the final direct attack! Using Naglfar, Generaider Boss of Fire, a Beast-Warrior of the same type—no, the very same monster as you—I'll completely drive you out of this world!"
With Akasha's final attack declaration, the forcibly charging Naglfar collided head-on with its true calamity self. A "homogeneous annihilation" beyond all conventional power erupted, severing the fiery calamity at its very source.
"So it's true… just as that old fool King Har said… Humans possess a power beyond our imagination…! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!"
[Naglfar LP 2400 → 0]
[Duel End — Winner: Akasha]
"o(*≧▽≦)ツ Ahh, I really wish Hoshino-nee could've seen how cool I was just now!"