Neos's voice was calm yet cold, as if he were pouring ice water down Yuui's back.
Even so, Yuui didn't mind; he understood Neos's intention, though he refused to agree.
On the field, Alicia watched as her attack was once again effortlessly deflected by Neos. Her delicate hands clenched into fists, her pale knuckles revealing the storm raging inside her heart.
Albeit that didn't mean she would give up.
"Battle Phase ends. Entering Main Phase 2. I Set one card and end my turn!"
[Elemental HERO Flare Neos, ATK: 2900 → 3300, Equipped: Instant Neo Space]
"My turn. Draw!"
Drawing with composure, Neos glanced at the card, his eyes narrowing as he muttered softly, "So, you've come."
"Ah, guess it's my turn to shine, huh?"
"Fine! In that case, end this farce." With that, Neos placed the card onto the Duel Disk. "I Normal Summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole!!"
The moment Yuui heard that name, his eyes flew wide—trouble had arrived.
A moment later, an orange-brown mole burst from the ground, a silver drill mounted on its head. As it surfaced, the drill split apart into two sharp shoulder guards.
[Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, ATK: 900]
"Now, Battle Phase! Grand Mole, attack Flare Wingman!"
At Neos's command, the drill parts rejoined into a single massive bit, and Grand Mole lunged toward the shining Flare Wingman.
"Attacking with a weaker monster!?"
Sensing something off, Alicia immediately realized Neos's plan… and the terrifying ability of Grand Mole.
"Grand Mole's effect!" Neos declared coldly. "At the start of the Damage Step, if this card battles an opponent's monster—both return to their owners' hands!"
"What!!" Alicia was stunned. "Returning it to the hand directly!? There's an effect like that!?"
No battle damage, no destruction… just a clean return to the hand. It was an incredibly annoying effect. Against any powerful monster, the Duelist using Grand Mole could trade one for one with ease.
Just think about it|: using all your resources and your Normal Summon to bring out a powerful monster, only to have it bounced by a little yellow mole. Anyone would lose their cool.
Worse yet, your strong monster might not even make it back next turn, while that yellow pest could just reappear again. Just imagining it made one's blood pressure spike.
Alicia's was already through the roof; her face flushed red.
Next instant, she watched helplessly as that deceptively cute but infuriating mole thrust its drill toward Flare Wingman. A nebula-like light tunnel opened between them, and both were sent back by cosmic force—Flare Wingman returning to Alicia's Extra Deck as a Fusion Monster.
Just like that, Alicia's hard-earned ace monster, Flare Wingman… vanished from the field.
"Alright, it's over!" Neos raised his hand. "Flare Neos, Flare Blast!!"
Crimson flames gathered once more in Flare Neos's palms, yet Alicia refused to yield.
"Activate my face-down card! Trap Card—Forceful Checkpoint! When an opponent's monster declares an attack, reveal their entire hand. If there's a Monster Card among them, negate the attack. Then, discard one monster from their hand!"
[Elemental HERO Flare Neos, ATK: 3300 → 2900, Equipped: Instant Neo Space]
"A Trap like that exists?" Neos frowned.
Outside the field, Claire pumped her fist in delight as Alicia turned the situation around again.
"Perfect! With Forceful Checkpoint, not only is the attack negated, but she can also discard that annoying Grand Mole! Smart girl for keeping such a rare card!"
Forceful Checkpoint was indeed an incredibly niche Trap Card; however, its effect was surprisingly strong: reveal the opponent's hand, negate an attack, and even send a monster to the Graveyard—tremendous value.
Yet for some reason, almost no one used it. If Alicia hadn't randomly found it at the Academy's card shop, she wouldn't even have it now.
Alicia pointed toward Neos. "You have only one card in hand—Neo-Spacian Grand Mole. It's a Monster Card, so Flare Neos's attack is negated!"
At her words, the flames in Flare Neos's hands vanished.
"Then, according to Forceful Checkpoint's effect, you must discard that Grand Mole!!"
Neos looked at the card in his hand, then at Alicia. Discarding it into the Graveyard, he said evenly, "Well done. To withstand so many of my attacks… your resilience is truly remarkable.
"Nevertheless, little girl, I can make countless mistakes. You can only make one. The next turn will be your last. Let's see what you're still capable of!"
Alicia bit her lip. What could she still do? Honestly, she had already pushed herself to the absolute limit, both in strategy and luck.
"Alicia!!" Yuui suddenly called out.
The girl turned toward him. He met her eyes and said slowly, "The Spirits you have—they're not just me. Believe in yourself. Believe in your Deck. Believe in your Spirits! You're not fighting alone!"
"Yuui-san!"
"Chuu!"
"Miss Alicia, please trust in our strength!"
At that moment, Slower Swallow and Stratos appeared at her sides. Seeing the two Spirits she had neglected, Alicia felt a pang of guilt.
Truth be told, she hadn't known them long, so her lack of mastery over their powers was only natural.
Regardless, now wasn't the time for regret.
Right now, she had to believe… in her Deck, and in her Spirits.
Alicia drew a deep breath, gathering all her magical energy in her right hand. "My turn—Draw!!"
As she drew, the Stigmata on her forehead flashed, and a murky golden light streaked across her Deck.
"This is…!" Alicia shook a bit. "I activate the Spell Card, Card of Sanctity! Both players draw until they have six cards in hand!!"
A cascade of rainbow light filled the sky, scattering as particles of radiance upon Alicia and Neos.
Watching, Neos murmured, "To draw the greatest draw Spell at the very end... perhaps this duel's outcome is still undecided."
Both replenished their hands to six.
Though Card of Sanctity gave both players cards, it was Alicia's turn—meaning the advantage was hers.
Scanning her hand of six, Alicia recalled Yuui's tactical teachings. At last, inspiration struck.
"Slower Swallow, Stratos!" She looked to the Spirits at her sides. "Please, lend me your strength!"
"Chuu!!"
"Of course!!"
"Good!" Alicia's confidence flared anew. "I activate the Spell Card—Warrior Returning Alive! I target 1 Warrior monster in my Graveyard and add it to my hand! I choose Elemental HERO Stratos!!"
After recovering Stratos, she continued. "Next, I activate the Spell Card—Fusion Recovery! I target 1 Polymerization and 1 Fusion Material Monster in my Graveyard used for a Fusion Summon, and add them to my hand! I choose Polymerization and Elemental HERO Clayman!!"
With two more cards returned to her hand, Alicia began her true combo.
"Now, I activate Polymerization!!" She raised three cards high. "I fuse Elemental HERO Stratos and Slower Swallow in my hand!!"
"What!?" Claire gasped from outside the field. She had no idea what those two could even fuse into.
Typically, HERO Fusions had fixed materials. Even Grandmerge required specific HERO Normal Monsters. But Stratos and Slower Swallow? That combination had never been heard of.
Nonetheless, Yuui, Neos, and Alicia all knew. Given Stratos's nature as a Spirit, it was clear to both Yuui and Neos what she was attempting to summon.
Still, the question lingered: could Alicia truly create that monster from nothing?
After all… such a HERO didn't exist in this world.
Boom!!
A deep rumbling filled the air as a pitch-black vortex of Fusion energy descended. Alicia turned to Stratos beside her. "Stratos, I've told you your whole story. But whether you can reclaim your full strength… it depends on whether you believe in me.
"Will you… trust this still-inexperienced Duelist?"
Stratos smiled softly at her pure gaze. "Of course, Miss Alicia. I believe in you completely. And I'll show you my true power!"
"Thank you, Stratos." Alicia smiled, then turned to Slower Swallow. "Slower Swallow, whether Stratos can regain his strength depends on you. Please… help him!"
"Chuu!!"
The graceful swallow chirped brightly, agreeing without any shred of doubt.
Seeing both Spirits respond, Alicia drew in a long breath and raised her right hand, channeling her magic toward the swirling darkness. "Then let's begin the Fusion—Stratos and Slower Swallow!!"
"Chuu!!"
"Yes, Master!!"
With that, both Spirits merged with their counterparts and flew into the vortex. At once, a green windstorm began to rage, forming a roaring tornado that howled like a thousand dragons.
Watching, Claire exclaimed in shock, "She's creating her own Duel Monster!? That's impossible! Alicia just enrolled… how could she already know such advanced techniques!? Even if she did, she doesn't have the magical capacity for it!"
Abruptly, then she saw Alicia place her left hand on her chest, as if holding something invisible.
In the next flash, magic poured into her body, which she then channeled into the black vortex.
Finally, Alicia opened her eyes. The Stigmata on her forehead blazed fully as she shouted, "Fusion materials: one Elemental HERO monster plus one WIND monster!
"Break your chains, embrace the Spirit of the Wind, and become the Hero who commands the storm! Fusion Summon—Roar forth, Elemental HERO Great Tornado!!!"
...
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