Chapter 758 - 758

"What do you mean, Kaiba Man?"

"..."

Kaiba Man remained silent, looking as though he had absolutely no intention of answering.

["That guy is trying to get away with pretending to be mute again!"]

"Hoshino, you really don't know about this? Well, I suppose that makes sense. From a human perspective, it's impossible to perceive the subtle changes in the World Line."

The dragon girl smiled smugly.

"And judging from the looks of things, he hasn't told you anything either. When you think about it that way, it seems I have the advantage after all!"

Eve muttered under her breath, "…At a time like this, you're still trying to compete over something like this?"

"But what really surprises me is that you truly haven't told her anything, Kaiba Man."

The dragon girl suddenly dropped her playful expression. Her azure eyes, now in her Ice King form, became solemn.

"Then what exactly was it that drove the you from before to fight through cycle after cycle, tirelessly, without caring about failure, endlessly repeating the cycle of battle? Like a moth throwing itself into a flame, willingly plunging into battle… allowing your body to burn until it was covered in wounds, tearing your soul apart until it was broken beyond repair. What, exactly, was the obsession that made you willing to go that far?"

"That sounds painful…"

Hoshino instinctively shuddered and pulled Kaiba Man's spare trench coat tighter around herself.

"Kaiba Man… could it be?"

"..."

Still, there was no answer.

Although this person had initially been believed to be a Duel Spirit, ever since meeting Hoshino, he had never mentioned anything about himself. His entire existence was shrouded in mystery.

Yet, during their brief time together, Hoshino had gradually formed a suspicion…

More precisely, a premonition.

Even if his personality had changed somewhat, even if he appeared in the form of a Duel Spirit, Kaiba Man might still be the very same Kaiba she knew.

That unbearably irritating attitude, as though everyone in the world owed him several million dollars.

When they first met in Duelist Kingdom, they immediately engaged in a fight to the death.

After returning to Domino City, he had dragged Hoshino into some inexplicable battle at school, a clash so intense that it burned out their Duel Disks.

Then, after being manipulated by another version of himself, he became the substitute vessel for the awakening of the Pyramid of Light.

And finally, during his last battle against Hoshino Alter, he had arbitrarily brought his own Dueling career to an end.

Even though he always called himself their "destined rival"…

When faced with a common enemy, he had also fought side by side with his companions without hesitation.

He had done so when opposing the Orichalcos.

He had done so again when fighting Zorc.

Even in their final duel, he had selfishly thrown his own life away, taking the fatal blow from the Cubic God in Hoshino Alter's place.

All of these memories seemed to converge before Hoshino's eyes, reflected in the figure standing before her.

"Kaiba Man… no. Seto Kaiba! You're Seto Kaiba, aren't you?!"

Hoshino laughed bitterly at herself.

"I'm such an idiot. You're obviously Kaiba no matter how I look at it, yet I was fooled by that ridiculous Blue-Eyes mask and actually believed there could be some Duel Spirit called 'Kaiba Man' or something!"

Eve urged her with an incredulous expression.

"Calm down, Hoshino! The real Seto Kaiba isn't right here?"

"I am calm! I've never been calmer than I am right now. That really is the real Kaiba. But Kaiba… you're also Seto Kaiba, aren't you?! Why? Why did I only realize it now? Cycle, huh? Doctor, you could've told me about it too!"

"Hoshino, you…"

The brow hidden beneath Kaiba's mask twitched slightly.

Kaiba was astonished that Hoshino, despite knowing nothing about the truth, had managed to figure out the general situation through nothing more than intuition and a few scattered clues.

"Heh heh. You finally decided to speak, huh? Then I suppose I can take that as confirmation that I was right."

"That's enough!"

The dragon girl interrupted.

"Whether you're Kaiba Man or Seto Kaiba, there's no difference! You're the one who has Dueled me countless times, only to end in defeat every single time. This time, the outcome won't be any different."

Raising her arm, surrounded by an icy aura, the dragon girl declared:

"After King's Proof is sent to the Graveyard, at the end of the Battle Phase, I can Special Summon one Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice from my Deck, Graveyard, or banished zone!"

It was a Special Summon effect that could only be activated during the End Step of the Battle Phase.

Although Hoshino had not formally declared that she was ending the battle, after using Qin Shi Huang to launch her attack, she had already exhausted all of her attacks and actions for the turn.

Therefore, even without Hoshino making the declaration, the Battle Phase would automatically end.

"And the Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice Special Summoned by King's Proof will have the original three 'King's Counters' placed upon itself, allowing them to be used as substitutes for destruction by battle or card effects!"

King's Counter ×3

The three luminous jewels representing the Dragon Core slowly floated out from the Graveyard of the girl's icy Duel Disk, merging into the enormous body of the icebound Wyrm.

"Furthermore, the ATK and DEF of a Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice monster possessing 'King's Counters' increase according to the number of counters it has! With three counters, Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice gains three times its original ATK!"

[Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice ATK 2100 → 8400]

The Dragon's roar shook glaciers for thousands of miles.

Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice towered over the sky in the form of the king of the Wyrm race, looking down upon the earth below.

The dragon girl shrugged and added:

"Well, although there's no point in having such a high ATK anymore. The end of this turn will mark the moment of your ultimate defeat!"

As a side effect of replenishing her hand with a large number of cards through the Spell Card Flower of Hope, all of the cards on Hoshino's field would be sent to the Graveyard during the End Phase.

And after the Quick-Play Spell Card Inferno Tempest had swept across the field, all monsters had been banished.

Hoshino's Deck was already empty.

In other words, she wouldn't even have another turn.

"It makes no difference whether you're Kaiba Man or Seto Kaiba. Just like the countless battles of the past… I've won again!"

"There is a difference!"

Hoshino retorted.

"Every single defeat only makes him challenge his opponent again, refusing to give up no matter how many times he loses. It's annoying as hell, but that is the battle spirit that belongs exclusively to Kaiba!"

["If I didn't understand what you meant, Aibo, I'd think you were mocking Kaiba."]

"Kaiba!"

Hoshino stared intently at Kaiba, whose expression remained hidden beneath his mask.

"I don't know what agreement you made with the Doctor, and I can't possibly understand the pain brought about by countless cycles. The only thing I can do is stand here and fight alongside you. Just like I once stood alongside 'Seto Kaiba' against the powerful enemies we faced together."

"Hoshino…"

"You used to proclaim so confidently that you would surpass me and Yugi. You wouldn't be satisfied with hiding behind a mask and hesitating here, would you?"

"..."

"Even if you've lost countless times, you still have to show them!"

Hoshino's voice grew firmer.

"Let them witness it — the proud soul of the Duelist known as 'Seto Kaiba'!"

The arm wearing the Duel Disk trembled almost imperceptibly.

Hoshino's words collided with a distant memory in Kaiba's mind — the warning once given by King Solomon.

(Dr. Roman: "Let me confirm this one more time. From this day onward, although Seto Kaiba himself will continue to exist, the Duelist known as Seto Kaiba will disappear from history forever. Are you certain you're okay with that?"

"Enough talking. Before I have the chance to regret it, King Solomon, do what you must.")

How long ago had that conversation been?

Kaiba, who had traversed the paths of history countless times, had long since lost all sense of the passage of time.

He had even completely cast aside the very concept of "identity."

Even if he failed, he could simply reincarnate again.

That was all that mattered to Kaiba — the survival of the World Line.

Even after losing countless times in his battles against one of the strongest of the Kings, Kaiba had never experienced the slightest emotional wavering.

It didn't matter.

He could simply reincarnate once more.

With the power of Kaiba — the Guardian of the Counter Force — if he continued challenging her without end, then one day, he would inevitably win.

The only unexpected development was that Kaiba was apparently not the only one who retained his memories.

As one of the strongest beings at the very pinnacle of the world's hierarchy, the Ice King also retained her memories from before each reincarnated challenge.

Thus, after countless clashes in battle, she had developed an extraordinary attachment to Kaiba.

But emotions were nothing more than unnecessary baggage.

As long as he continued fighting and reincarnating, even the Ice King would eventually be defeated by him.

This had once been Kaiba's unwavering conviction.

It was also the source of his confidence.

"Even if you've lost countless times, you still have to show them! Let them witness the proud soul of the Duelist known as 'Seto Kaiba'!"

That familiar voice seemed, in that instant, to carry him back to a distant past.

After crossing through history and returning so many times, how long had it actually been?

Ten years?

A hundred years?

Even the photograph hanging from the pendant on his chest had already been blurred by the passage of time.

Yet the familiar face before him remained crystal clear.

"I admit it, Hoshino."

Kaiba finally let go of his burden and smiled.

"No matter how much power I possess, in the end, I still can't surpass you. So… let's end it here."

That was enough.

Although he did not know whether the countless overlapping paths of history he had traversed would ultimately lead to the future King Solomon had hoped for…

"This is where my journey ends."

Kaiba finally made his decision.

He would stake everything on this final cycle, this final challenge.

Running away after losing would be far too cheap. Only the collision of two Duelists' souls could awaken a miracle.

Kaiba reached up with both hands, grasped the Blue-Eyes White Dragon mask, and gently removed it.

Beneath the mask, the long-lost, resolute gaze of Seto Kaiba was revealed once more.

"This is the final battle, Ice King! From this point on, it's Seto Kaiba's way of Dueling!"

Seeing Seto Kaiba's face beneath the mask, Hoshino Alter couldn't help but sigh.

["Those two really do look exactly alike, after all."]

"Of course they do. They're both Kaiba, after all."

Having ended her turn and lowered her Duel Disk, Hoshino was forced to send every card on her field to the Graveyard due to the side effect of the Spell Card Flower of Hope.

As Qin Shi Huang gradually faded away in a radiant glow, he revealed a meaningful smile.

"Indeed, you have shown Me quite a wonderful sight. I shall quietly watch from the heavens and see where the future forged by your resolve will lead."

After Qin Shi Huang, the Great Wall, and the single Set Card in the back row were all sent to the Graveyard, Hoshino once again found herself with an entirely empty field, just as she had been at the beginning of the turn.

"Why?"

It was now the dragon girl's turn to be completely unable to understand.

The situation before her was absurd.

Hoshino and Kaiba had completely empty fields. All their monsters had been banished, and they had only 100 Life Points remaining.

What kind of trump card — and what kind of resolve — could allow these two to stand so firmly before her?

Hoshino said:

"Is it really that difficult to understand, Ice King? Human Duelists believe in their Decks, and they fight all the way to the very end."

["But Aibo, your Deck is completely empty too, you know~"] Hoshino Alter whispered.

"Stop bluffing and putting on a brave face! My turn! Draw!"

The dragon girl drew her card for the turn.

Combined with the card added to her hand by the Continuous Spell Disciples of the True Dracophoenix during the previous turn, she now had a total of two cards in hand.

"Equip Spell Card activated — D.D.R. – Different Dimension Reincarnation!"

[Discard 1 card, then target 1 of your banished monsters; Special Summon it in Attack Position, and equip it with this card. When this card leaves the field, destroy that monster.]

A distorted dimensional space opened up.

After the dragon girl discarded her other card, the dark aura surrounding the Xyz Monster King Beast returned to the field.

"I Special Summon True King of All Calamities from the banished zone!"

[True King of All Calamities ATK 3000]

However, without any Xyz Materials, True King of All Calamities was unable to activate its powerful sealing effect.

The dragon girl had only Special Summoned it at the very end as a 3000-ATK attacker, as well as to serve as the cost for triggering Nidhogg's own effect that seals Special Summons.

"You two are finished! Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice, attack directly! Disappear beneath this endless blizzard of frozen seals!"

Having absorbed the power of King's Proof containing the force of the "King's Counter," the enormous Dragon spread its icy wings.

A blizzard erupted like countless blades tearing through the air, striking directly toward Hoshino and Kaiba's completely empty fields.

"This is our final chance. Please!"

As the Battle Phase began, Hoshino flung the monster card she had searched out during the previous turn with Prince of Lanling in Battle onto her Duel Disk.

"Effect of Heroic Spirit – Formal Dress: Mash Kyrielight activated! When I control no monsters, if my opponent declares an attack, I can draw 1 card from my Deck! If that card is a 'Heroic Spirit' monster that can be Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon that monster!"

"That won't work! That card can't stop the attack, Hoshino!"

Eve was utterly frantic.

"Your Deck doesn't have any monsters left! No, your Deck doesn't have any cards left at all! How are you going to draw a card and then summon a shield to stop the attack?!"

"I'm not the one drawing the card!"

Hoshino shouted:

"Now's the moment, Seto Kaiba! Show them the fighting spirit of a Duelist!"

The draw effect had been transferred.

Even though Hoshino's Deck contained no cards, she had still activated Mash's effect.

From the very beginning, Hoshino had intended to place the card that would turn the Duel around on Kaiba's draw.

"DRAW!"

Kaiba swung his arm forward.

Having chosen to fight this final Duel as Kaiba, his roar as he drew a card had never sounded so powerful.

The dragon girl sneered.

"It's useless! Because of the effect of Inferno Tempest, there aren't any monsters left in your Deck either, Kaiba! Everything you're doing is nothing but futile resistance!"

"Who said it was futile?!"

Radiance flashed within the Graveyard.

Synchronizing with the card Kaiba had drawn, Hoshino declared:

"I activate the effect of the Trap Card I Set earlier — Battle of the Heroic Spirits!"

This was the trump card Hoshino had Set during the previous turn.

At the End Phase, the Trap had been sent to the Graveyard along with everything else by the effect of Flower of Hope.

[Battle of the Heroic Spirits Trap Card Effect:

①: Add 1 Trap Card with "Battle of the Heroic Spirits" in its name from your Deck to your hand.

②: If this card is sent to the Graveyard, you can activate this effect. Until the End Phase of your next turn, once only, you can activate a Trap Card directly from your hand.]

"Because of the effect of Battle of the Heroic Spirits, we have one chance to activate a Trap Card from the hand!"

Kaiba slammed the card he had drawn this turn onto his Duel Disk.

Behind him, a dragon's roar exploded through the radiance, its cry clashing against the storm unleashed by Nidhogg.

"— Bear witness to this battle, King Solomon!"

Kaiba roared:

"Trap Card activated — Return from the Different Dimension!"

[Pay half your LP; Special Summon as many of your banished monsters as possible. During the End Phase, banish all monsters that were Special Summoned by this effect.]

[Hoshino & Kaiba LP: 100 → 50]

With all of their monsters having been banished by Inferno Tempest, Return from the Different Dimension was practically an effect that allowed them to summon any number of monsters they wanted.

Yet even if Kaiba were presented with every monster from an entire Deck and told to choose, there were only a few cards he would ever pick.

"Wings of light blooming through endless reincarnation! My strongest soul, advance with me! Let us dye the future in radiance! Hitotsu!"

"Blue-Eyes—!"

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon ATK 3000]

"White—!!"

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon ATK 3000] ×2

"Dragon—!!!"

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon ATK 3000] ×3

Three Blue-Eyes White Dragons returned from the dimensional void, beating their wings as they flew back onto the field.

Their roars proclaimed the indomitable soul of Seto Kaiba.

"It's not over yet!"

"Perfect! Invincible! The strongest!"

"The strongest, most ultimate dragon in all of history! Transcend the boundaries of time and space, and descend!!!"

[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon ATK 4500]

The White Dragons danced through the sky.

Following the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, their fusion form, Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, tore through the dimensional barrier and descended onto the field.

For an instant, the entire frozen wasteland seemed to be engulfed by the radiance of the White Dragons.

The dragon girl refused to back down and immediately declared her counterattack.

"Kaiba! No matter how many Blue-Eyes White Dragons you summon, it's useless! The effect of Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice activates—!"

[②: When your opponent Special Summons a monster(s), you can Tribute 1 'King' monster or Wyrm monster you control; negate that Special Summon, and destroy those monsters.]

"I Tribute True King of All Calamities on my field! Because the monsters in the banished zone were Special Summoned simultaneously by the effect of Return from the Different Dimension, all of the monsters Special Summoned this time will have their Summons negated and be destroyed!"

The enormous dragon opened its jaws and drew in the freezing breath of absolute frost.

Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice fought four dragons by itself, attempting to annihilate every monster summoned from the shattered dimensional barrier.

Yet no matter how violently the freezing frost raged, neither Kaiba nor any of the White Dragons on his field showed the slightest sign of wavering as they stood within the storm.

"Impossible! Those Special Summoned monsters should have been destroyed!"

"Monster of the gods, there is no such thing as death—!"

The glacier shattered.

A massive fist erupted from the frozen mountain range and slammed directly into Nidhogg, Generaider Boss of Ice, interrupting the freezing storm.

"The summon of a god cannot be negated!"

"My final Special Summon — descend!"

"Obelisk the Tormentor!"

[Obelisk the Tormentor ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DIVINE][Divine-Beast/Effect][ATK 4000/DEF 4000]