"This feeling… is it the black mud?"
Feeling the familiar yet repulsive sensation beneath their feet, Artoria and Emiya's expressions grew increasingly serious. Among those present, only the two of them had truly encountered the black mud before.
"It's just a holographic projection, yet it manages to replicate the texture so realistically," Artoria observed.
"And now, I activate the effect of my Field Spell—once per turn, by discarding a card from my hand, I can banish monsters from my deck whose total levels are equal to or greater than the level of an 'Alter' monster in my hand, then Special Summon that 'Alter' monster, ignoring its summoning conditions."
Placing a card into the Graveyard area, Hoshino drew out a monster from her hand and placed it onto the table. At the sa ti, the black mud on the field began to twist and morph into a familiar shape.
"I banish [Heroic Spirit – Emiya] (Level 6) and [Heroic Spirit – Cú Chulainn] (Level 4) from my deck for a total of 10 levels! Now, I Special Summon—[Heroic Spirit – Emiya Alter] from my hand!"
[Heroic Spirit – Emiya Alter★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 2400/DEF 2600]
"And now, Emiya Alter's effect activates! When he is Special Summoned, he destroys all monsters on the opponent's field that are in Defense Position!"
Condensing from the black mud, Emiya Alter raised his twin guns—manifestations of Kanshou and Bakuya—and fired. Sparks flew as bullets pierced through Formal Dress Sherlock Hols, which had been in Defense Position.
[Formal Dress Sherlock Hols destroyed.]
Curious, Okita turned to Emiya. "As an interview question from Okita-san, how does it feel to see your own Alter form in person, Emiya-san?"
In truth, Okita had always struggled with how to face her own counterpart, Okita Alter. If she could get so insight from "Emiya the Mom Friend," that would be ideal.
Emiya stroked his chin, his sharp eyes narrowing in thought.
"Those dual guns… they're ridiculously cool. Should I start projecting that form from now on?"
Okita clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Hmph. n really are such simple creatures!"
Having successfully cleared Hols' field, Hoshino smirked. "You should've known that even with 1900 DEF, it wouldn't be enough to stop . Don't go easy on now, Hols~"
"Miss Hoshino, you know that going easy isn't my style—especially not at a ti like this. That monster was ant to be destroyed." Hols adjusted his gloves slightly. "And because of that, Formal Dress Sherlock Hols's effect activates!"
[③: If this card is sent from the field to the GY: You can add 1 card with "Heroic Spirit - Sherlock Hols" in its na from your Deck or GY to your hand. Then, you can add 1 Equip Spell that ntions "Heroic Spirit" in its text from your Deck to your hand.]
A sly one-for-three trade. By sacrificing one monster, Hols had gained three cards in return. He had once ntioned that his combat strength as a Duel Monsters card was hardly worth considering, but his strategy focused on resource advantage and card retrieval. He was proving to be a tricky opponent.
"Necessary sacrifices are sotis made to secure more resources. If you're really the Miss Hoshino, you should rember—I taught you that, didn't I?"
"Of course I rember. In fact, I've kept it close to heart, Hols." Hoshino playfully tapped her Graveyard area. "Proof of that is…"
"The card I just sent to the Graveyard for my Field Spell's effect—Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette—allows to add a 'Heroic Spirit' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
When it ca to sending cards to the Graveyard for value, Marie was unmatched. Okita and Nobunaga might have effects related to the Graveyard too, but they lacked the ability to generate extra resources as efficiently.
"I add [Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette Alter] from my Deck to my hand! Then, I banish Marie Antoinette from my Graveyard to Special Summon her Alter form!"
Once more, the black mud stirred—blooming into the form of a darkly elegant Marie Alter.
[Heroic Spirit – Marie Antoinette Alter★★★★★★ (Level 6)][DARK][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 1800/DEF 2000]
"And when this card is Special Summoned, I can send 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
Through the continuous summons fueled by the black mud, Hoshino had already brought forth two Alter monsters and completely wiped out Hols' field—all in her very first turn.
"Finally, my Field Spell – All the Evils of This World grants all 'Alter' monsters on my field an ATK boost of 300 tis the number of banished 'Heroic Spirit' monsters. Since I've banished three so far, my monsters gain 900 ATK."
[Emiya Alter: 2400 → 3300 ATK]
[Marie Alter: 1800 → 2700 ATK]
Mash marveled. "Senpai's offense is incredible! To set up such a strong board on the very first turn… can Hols-san really withstand this?"
With Hoshino's two monsters ready to strike, and Hols having no monsters left on the field, the situation looked grim.
"However, such a powerful effect also cos with a drawback," Hols observed. "As long as this Field Spell is active, you cannot Special Summon non-'Alter' Heroic Spirit monsters, Right?"
Hoshino smirked. "That's right. aning, for this duel, I'm putting my faith solely in Alter monsters. But even so—can you withstand this?"
"Hols, just like you, I don't go easy on my opponents. If you can't defend against this next attack, your Deck will belong to !"
Hoshino commanded Emiya Alter to attack directly. With a crisp loading sound, the magic-enhanced bullets fired straight at Hols, who had no defenses left!
"If you take this hit, then there's a high chance you'll lose this duel outright."
Hols narrowed one eye, adopting a deliberately mysterious stance.
"However, since I already told you that the first monster was ant to be destroyed, of course I have a way to deal with this—Quick-Play Spell: [Heroic – Quest for the Truth]!"
Even when activating a set card, he couldn't resist indulging in a bit of dramatic flair. That was simply Hols' nature.
[Heroic – Quest for the Truth Quick-Play Spell Effect: (1) Special Summon 1 monster with "Sherlock Hols" in its na from your hand.]
"With this effect, I Special Summon [Heroic Spirit – Sherlock Hols] in Defense Position from my hand! This will block your attack, Miss Hoshino!"
[Heroic Spirit – Sherlock Hols★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 1200/DEF 1800]
This ti, it was the familiar "Detective" version of Hols who appeared on the field. However, after taking one of Emiya Alter's bullets, he vanished without much fanfare—clearly, he was just there to take the hit.
[Sherlock Hols destroyed.]
"Hols-san… died again," Okita muttered.
"Indeed, that makes it two tis now," Artoria agreed.
Hols sighed, raising an eyebrow. "You two, please refrain from spreading such misleading information—it could cause unnecessary trouble for investigators."
"Alright then—Marie, continue the attack!"
The bullet being blocked didn't an Hoshino's Battle Phase was over. The black rose blooming at Marie's fair fingertips was breathtakingly beautiful—yet just as capable of dragging one into the abyss.
"I activate my Set Trap Card—[Heroic Visit]!"
This ti, Hols activated his Set card quickly, without any of his usual excessive comntary.
[Heroic Visit Trap Card Effect: Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack. Your opponent randomly chooses 1 card from your hand. If it is a monster, Special Summon it to your field. Otherwise, send it to the GY.]
"Make your choice, Miss Hoshino. If you manage to pick a non-monster card from my hand, you'll be able to deal a massive blow to my Life Points."
Hoshino responded, "Conversely, if I pick a monster, you'll get a new wall to block my attack, right? This kind of gambling doesn't seem like your usual style, Hols."
Hols had four cards left in his hand. One of them had definitely been added via Formal Dress Sherlock Hols's effect—an Equip Spell. The remaining three could very well be monsters.
"Then, I'll choose the leftmost card!"
Hols smirked, flipping the chosen card over with confidence.
"Miss Hoshino, a true gamble is one where there are no clues—only luck. But in a ga where I can predict your thinking and adjust my hand accordingly… well, that's what I call psychological warfare."
The revealed card's artwork stood out starkly from the rest of Hols's deck.
"—This is the card you chose. Too bad—it's a monster: [Heroic Spirit – Jas Moriarty]!"
Jas Moriarty—Hols's greatest nesis, his sworn enemy. And yet, here he was, appearing in Hols's deck, aiding him in blocking a fatal attack. Fate had a strange sense of humor.
"Now, according to Heroic Visit's effect, I Special Summon [Heroic Spirit – Jas Moriarty] in Attack Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Jas Moriarty ★★★★★ (Level 5)]
[DARK] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 1800/DEF 1200]
A stylishly dressed elderly gentleman materialized on Hols's field. Adjusting his glasses, he smirked.
"Heroic, huh? Do I look like a hero to you?"
Hols chuckled. "As a hologram, I suggest you keep quiet and obediently fulfill your role as a pawn."
Moriarty scoffed. "Hmph. If it weren't for the ga's rules, I'd switch sides imdiately!"
Ignoring Moriarty's complaints, Hols swiftly activated another effect.
"When Jas Moriarty is Special Summoned, I can add one 'Heroic' Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I choose [Heroic Cri of the Century]!"
Hoshino raised an eyebrow. "Searching for a Trap Card now? Isn't it a little late for that?"
Marie's attack was already in motion. With all of Hols's Set cards used up, even if he added a Trap Card to his hand now, he wouldn't be able to use it imdiately to stop Moriarty from being destroyed.
"No, the timing is just right!" Hols declared, drawing the Trap Card from his Deck while signaling to Moriarty.
"Even as a detective, I must admit—when it cos to cri and setting traps, there's no one more skilled than him."
Moriarty smirked. "Why, thank you for the heartfelt complint!"
With an agility that defied his age, Moriarty leaped into the air, his form blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness.
"I activate Jas Moriarty's effect! As long as he is on the field, once per turn, during either player's turn, I can activate a 'Heroic' Trap Card from my hand!"
Hols dramatically slamd the Trap Card onto the table, triggering a surge of energy that enveloped the battlefield, sealing off Marie's movents.
"The Trap Card I choose to activate is—[Heroic Cri of the Century]!"
Moriarty burst into theatrical laughter. "Superb! The world is brimming with destruction! Here and now, I shall prove my ultimate theorem—'The Final Cri'!!"
[Heroic Cri of the Century Trap Card Effect: Return 1 "Heroic Spirit - Jas Moriarty" you control to your hand, then target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; negate its effects, also it cannot attack. If you do, destroy that target during the End Phase.]
Returning Moriarty's card to his hand, Hols gestured toward Marie, now surrounded by a web of explosive energy.
"Thanks to Heroic Cri of the Century's effect, Marie Alter's attack and abilities are sealed—and she'll be destroyed at the end of the turn."
Hoshino smiled, unfazed. "How unexpected. Two sworn enemies, yet they tead up for a counterplay."
Even after losing Marie to Hols's tactics, Hoshino didn't seem the least bit shaken. If anything, she looked even more intrigued by the ga—by the seamless cooperation between master detective and master criminal.
Hols studied her carefully. "It seems that not even this counterplay can shake you, Miss Hoshino. Compared to our battles back in Duelist Kingdom, your skills have improved trendously."
"Of course. If I had stagnated, I wouldn't even have the chance to stand here now."
Ending her Battle Phase, Hoshino took a card from her hand and placed it face-down.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
[Hoshino's Hand: 2 Cards]
"At the end of your turn, due to Heroic Cri of the Century's effect, Marie Alter is destroyed."
A faint smirk played on Hoshino's lips. "I was waiting for this mont. Even though her effects were negated while on the field, once she's sent to the Graveyard, her effect will still activate!"
[③: If this card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 "Alter" monster from your GY, except "Heroic Spirit - Marie Antoinette Alter," ignoring its Summoning conditions.]
"And the monster I'll be summoning—"
The black mud on the battlefield churned once more, twisting and coalescing into another figure—this ti, an alternate version of a familiar Heroic Spirit.
"—Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon Alter!"
Unlike the drastic transformation between Emiya and Emiya Alter, Artoria Alter retained most of her original appearance. The key differences were her jet-black armor, paler skin, and the ominously darkened Holy Sword in her hands—Excalibur Morgan.
—And, of course, the inexplicably missing ahoge.
(*****)
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