# Chapter 63: Am I a Hero?
"At this moment, Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn's Pendulum Effect activates!"
"When your 'Odd-Eyes' monster declares an attack, target one 'Performapal' monster you control, other than the attacking monster; that attacking monster's ATK increases by the original ATK of the targeted monster until the end of the Battle Phase."
"Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon's ATK increases by 1900, the ATK of Performapal Splashmammoth!"
Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon ATK: 2500 → 4400
Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon raised its head and spewed a black and red dragon's breath, which roared toward the lswarm warrior.
"I activate the Trap Card, Damage Diet!" Yūga Hōzumi flipped over his face-down card.
"All damage I take this turn is halved."
After Evilswarm Exciton Knight was shattered by the ferocious, dual-colored dragon's breath, the aftershock of the attack exploded in front of Yūga Hōzumi. Even with the Trap Card's protection, he struggled to take the hit.
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 4000 → 1800
Just then, the remaining contestants in the championship and the Leo Duel School's duelist army slowly gathered.
"Why is Yuya fighting this guy? In a way, aren't we companions?" Gongenzaka, who had just arrived, wondered.
"No, darling, his current state..."
Mieru Hochun, the freckled girl, looked at the red-eyed Yuya with a worried expression.
"This guy seems unable to distinguish friend from foe right now. Yūga Hōzumi is trying to stop him," Shingo Sawatari said from the side.
Fortunately, Reiji Akaba had no intention of live-broadcasting this duel. On the big screen in the Duel Arena, footage of Yuya Sakaki's heroic battle from earlier was playing on a loop.
The crowd's cheers occasionally erupted, seemingly celebrating the appearance of a hero in their dimension—everyone except for the group from Yusho Duel School.
"This isn't the usual Brother Yuya," some of the kids from Yusho Duel School said, looking at Yuya's rampaging appearance on the big screen.
"What exactly happened? Why did this child turn out like this?" The head of Yusho Duel School, Yuzu Hiiragi's father, also watched the rampaging Yuya on the screen with a worried expression.
On the battlefield in the Ancient Area, the smoke and dust from Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon's attack slowly dissipated. Emerging from the smokescreen, Yūga Hōzumi wiped the dust from his clothes and looked at Yuya. "I have to say, like this, you almost look like a warrior."
"Performapal Splashmammoth attacks Steelswarm Roach." The rampaging Yuya had no reaction to Yūga Hōzumi's words and commanded his monster to continue its attack.
In an instant, the two monsters with identical ATK were destroyed.
"Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, direct attack!" After all monsters on Yūga Hōzumi's field were destroyed, Yuya continued to command his monster to attack.
"At this moment, I activate the Trap Card, Xyz Reborn!"
"Target one Xyz Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that monster, and attach this card to it as Xyz Material."
"Return! Evilswarm Exciton Knight!"
"I activate Evilswarm Exciton Knight's effect!"
"During my Main Phase or my opponent's Battle Phase, if the total number of cards in my opponent's hand and on their field is greater than the total number of cards in my hand and on my field: I can detach one Xyz Material from this card to destroy all other cards on the field! After this effect resolves, my opponent takes no further damage until the end of the turn."
Raging flames surged across the field once more. Through the fire, Yūga Hōzumi stared directly at the rampaging Yuya. "Whatever is inside you, this madness ends now."
"I end my turn," Yuya said after the flames extinguished.
"My turn! I draw!" Yūga Hōzumi drew his card.
"I summon Dododo Witch in Attack Position!"
"I activate Dododo Witch's effect! When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon another 'Dododo' monster from my hand!"
"Appear! Dododo Driver!"
"I overlay my two Level 4 Warrior-type monsters!"
"Clad in light, appear now! Brilliant king, piercing through the darkness! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Heroic Champion - Excalibur!"
"I activate the effect of Heroic Champion - Excalibur!"
"Once per turn, by detaching two Xyz Materials from this card, its ATK becomes double its original ATK until my opponent's next End Phase!"
Heroic Champion - Excalibur ATK: 2000 → 4000
"Battle! Heroic Champion - Excalibur, direct attack!"
At Yūga Hōzumi's command, the steel-armored swordsman raised his fully charged greatsword and swung it down at Yuya's empty field.
Yuya LP: 4000 → 0
After taking Excalibur's strike, Yuya fell heavily to the ground. He blinked, the crimson slowly fading from his eyes, and then he passed out.
"Yuya!"
"Darling!"
Mieru Hochun and Gongenzaka quickly rushed to Yuya's side to check on him.
"Don't worry, I controlled my strength," Yūga Hōzumi said, deactivating his Duel Disk. "He's just exhausted. That state he was in before drained too much of his stamina."
"Take him back. Reiji Akaba should have something important to say," Yūga Hōzumi said.
"Regardless, thank you for your support this time," Gongenzaka said solemnly, hoisting the unconscious Yuya onto his back.
"It was nothing," Yūga Hōzumi chuckled. "After all, when faced with the Fusion Dimension's invading army, we're natural allies, aren't we?"
As he spoke, Yūga Hōzumi dialed Yuto's comms.
"How are things on your end? No problems, right?" Yūga Hōzumi asked after the call connected.
"The guy who abducted Ruri, the one who looks a lot like me, he was here," Yuto said from the hotel. "But for some reason, he suddenly disappeared."
"Good that you're alright," Yūga Hōzumi said. "Bring our captive to the Duel Field. We've been out for a while; it's time to head back."
After hanging up, Yūga Hōzumi let out a sigh of relief. It was a good thing he had left Yuto with Serena; otherwise, he might have really been dragged off to eat dirt.
Soon, after tidying up the battlefield, everyone headed toward the Duel Arena in the center of Maiami City.
Meanwhile, inside the Duel Arena.
"According to the latest news, our warriors have repelled the invaders!" the Announcer Uncle passionately declared. "Everyone! Get ready to cheer for our heroes!"
Amidst the audience's enthusiastic cheers, the remaining participants of the Maiami Championship and the Leo Duel School duelists entered the hall one after another.
The camera panned across their faces one by one. When it landed on Yuya Sakaki, carried on Gongenzaka's back, the cheers reached a fever pitch.
"Hero! Hero! Hero!" The crowd's rhythmic and unified shouts slowly brought Yuya back to consciousness.
"Are they calling for me?" Yuya Sakaki, who hadn't fully grasped the situation, murmured.
...
I was very busy with work today and got home very late.
Also, I'm taking a day off in advance here. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow.
(end of chapter)