"—Azrael!"
Scattered white feathers marked the presence of the Angel of Death. King Hassan swung rcilessly, slicing through Kiyohi Alter's form and narrowly missing Ozymandias's neck.
Sigh... poor Ozymandias got his head chopped off again. Gramps, you're definitely doing this on purpose…
[Kiyohi Alter destroyed]
[Ozymandias destroyed]
"Since King Hassan destroyed two monsters with his effect, his attack power increases by 2000 points!"
[Heroic Spirit – Hassan-I-Sabbah ATK 3000 → 5000]
"To think I'd lose the sa way twice… It seems even the almighty , who rules over the earth, lacks the qualifications of a Saint Seiya."
Despite getting his head chopped off, he still had the presence of mind to comnt on Illya's chuuni speech from earlier. In a way, that was impressive.
"...Wait a minute, why are you still on the field with your head cut off?" Noticing sothing strange, Hoshino frowned.
White Hoshino picked up Ozymandias's card from her Duel Disk and solemnly placed it in the Graveyard.
"Of course. Even though both Ozymandias and the effect of the Rasseum were negated by Gramps, when Ozymandias is sent to the Graveyard, he can still activate his revival effect at the end of the turn. As long as Rasseum exists, I still have a chance to win!"
Truly, as the great and radiant Pharaoh akin to the sun, his resilience remained formidable—even before King Hassan.
"Still a chance to win? You're completely defenseless now—you can't stop Gramps's attack! Let's end this duel with one final strike!"
Hoshino signaled to King Hassan, issuing the final attack declaration.
But King Hassan simply drove his greatsword into the ground, standing motionless as he gazed forward.
Seeing that he didn't attack, Hoshino tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? What's wrong, Gramps? Did your back give out from being inactive for too long?"
"Mine contractor... A devotion unswerving, akin to the boon of steadfast belief. A troth from the very wellspring of her spirit... nay, not e'en mine own steel could sunder it."
In the empty space before White Hoshino, deep blue flas rose to form a barrier. The genuine resolve to protect, unwavering even in her Alter form, ensured that Kiyohi would let nothing harm her beloved Master.
"Kiyohi Alter's special effect—During the turn this card is destroyed, its controller takes no battle damage."
Hiding behind Kiyohi's fla, White Hoshino let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you, Kiyohi… I promise I won't fight back even if you sneak into my bed at night from now on."
Hearing White Hoshino's words, Kiyohi Alter's flas burned even more intensely with excitent.
Hoshino understood imdiately. "I see now. Gramps, you already saw through Kiyohi Alter's effect, so you held back from attacking. Since she nullifies battle damage, the duel can't end this turn."
King Hassan nodded silently, maintaining his grip on his sword as his towering figure remained completely still.
Having survived a near-fatal assault, White Hoshino clenched her fingers into a tight fist. "I can still fight. Even against Gramps, I won't lose! If I can revive Ozymandias and activate his Noble Phantasm… even King Hassan…"
By using Ozymandias's own effect to release Rasseum, she could unleash its Noble Phantasm—destroying the opponent's monster and dealing damage equal to its attack power, while doubling Ozymandias's own attack.
With that power, she might at least have a fighting chance against King Hassan.
"I set one card and end my turn!"
[Hoshino's: 0 Hand Card | 1 Set Card]
"At the end of the turn, since Ozymandias is in the Graveyard and Rasseum still exists, I Special Summon him back to my field!"
[Ozymandias ATK 3000]
"Do not avert your gaze! I shall grant you the honor of beholding my radiance, which even the sun cannot rival!"
Having reattached his head, the revived Ozymandias regained his usual arrogance.
"Admire ! Bask in my divine majesty! Hahaha…!"
"Vanity of vanities... all is but vanity. Verily, the vaunted sun itself, high-perched in the firmant, shall yet succumb to the edge of my steel!"
As Ozymandias laughed boisterously, still reveling in his resurrection, King Hassan—who had remained motionless—had already reinserted his greatsword into the ground, the invisible severance of his strike only evident in the aftermath.
"Hahaha… Ha?"
Ozymandias's smug expression instantly turned to disbelief as his head and body once again parted ways.
[Ozymandias destroyed]
White Hoshino, stunned by the situation, had no words to describe what had just happened. The monster she had desperately revived—Ozymandias—had lasted rely a second before being sent back to the Graveyard.
"What just happened? You didn't even move… and yet, Ozymandias was destroyed again…"
"Stop struggling. You have no hope left! King Hassan's final effect—"
[③: When your opponent Special Summons a monster, destroy it.]
A simple yet overwhelming ability, it had completely locked down White Hoshino's Alter deck, which relied entirely on Special Summons.
"No matter how many tis you revive Ozymandias, the only fate awaiting him is instant annihilation by Gramps! Just like your fate—nothing but inevitable defeat!"
"Inevitable defeat, huh… Heh… Haha!"
With her final hope cut down, White Hoshino stared at the white feathers drifting in the air, laughing bitterly in resignation.
"To think that I would one day be pushed into such a desperate corner by Gramps!"
Anubis whimpered and climbed onto White Hoshino's foot. "Woof! My Master, don't give up! The duel isn't over yet!"
"Sorry, Anubis… I dragged you into this, selfishly borrowing the power of the Pyramid of Light, all just to fulfill my own desires… I don't deserve your admiration."
Anubis shook its head desperately, barking repeatedly. "I am Anubis, King of Destruction! No matter what trials lie ahead, I will follow you unwaveringly, until my soul fades away!"
"If that's not the definition of a loyal dog, I don't know what is~"
Squatting down, White Hoshino ruffled Anubis's fluffy head and smiled. "But don't get the wrong idea—I never intended to give up, even when cornered!"
Straightening her posture, she prepared for her final turn. She placed everything on the line, entrusting her fate to the final card at her fingertips.
"Gramps, I ask that you witness my last stand! Even in the face of a Grand-class Servant standing at the pinnacle of Heroic Spirits, I will never surrender! —My turn, draw!"
(*****)
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