NOVEL WEB Chapter 282: Chapter 282
"This is the final battle. Let's finish this, Illya!"
The countless stars in the sky aligned behind Illya, their radiant trails illuminating the battlefield. Channeling the power of the cosmos, the magical girl unleashed a dazzling light that violently shook the protective barrier of the Malefic World.
"The special effect of [Magical Girl – Illya Zwei Form] activates! When this card is successfully Special Summoned, destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on your opponent's field!"
As celestial energy clashed against the darkness of space, Hoshino's eyes widened in realization.
"Destroy all Spells and Traps? Sensei is trying to take down the Malefic World! But Paradox still has Field Barrier, so at best, this will only break the barrier itself…"
Hoshino-Sensei focused on the transparent shield protecting the Malefic World, watching it withstand the impact.
"Even if I can only destroy the barrier, that's more than enough…"
Paradox smirked, as if everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
"So this is your grand strategy? Trying to erase the Malefic World? How futile! Before you destroy anything, I activate my Quick-Play Spell—[Malefic Divide]!"
[Malefic Divide - Quick-Play Spell Effect: Select 1 "Malefic" monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon that monster, ignoring its Summoning conditions. Banish that monster during the End Phase of this turn.](Anime Effect)
"Let the dark stardust disrupt your constellation's path! I Special Summon—[Malefic Stardust Dragon]!"
From the terrifying cross-shaped rift that tore through space, Malefic Stardust Dragon emerged, black stardust particles scattering in its wake.
"Now, Malefic Stardust Dragon's effect activates! Offering itself as a tribute to protect the stars, its power nullifies and destroys effects that attempt to destroy cards on the field!"
[Malefic Stardust Dragon - Effect: During either player's turn, when a card or effect is activated that would destroy a card(s) on the field, you can Tribute this card to negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it.]
The black stardust swirled toward Illya, ready to engulf her before she could complete her spell. Her face tensed.
"This is bad… I wasn't expecting such a counter! At this rate, my attack will be stopped…"
"Don't hesitate, Illya-chan!" Hoshino suddenly shouted toward the sky. "I'll cover you—with that man!"
"That man?" Illya blinked in confusion.
BANG—!
The sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the battlefield.
"Leave this to me."
A man stood beside Hoshino, exhaling a trail of smoke from the cigarette between his lips. He aimed his gun at [Malefic Stardust Dragon] with deadly precision.
"Kiritsugu!!" Illya gasped in shock and joy.
Hoshino pointed at the face-down card she had set earlier. "This is the trap I was waiting for—the ultimate counter-trap, [Origin Bullet]!"
"Because of your perseverance, Illya, I was able to make it here! So, for the sake of your mother, for the future you believe in, let me lend you my strength!"
The curling smoke from Kiritsugu's gun carried the sharp scent of gunpowder—evidence that the bullet had already been fired.
Paradox's expression twisted in confusion. "What… what's happening?!"
Everything seemed to freeze. The drifting starlight slowed, the swirling black stardust halted, and even the air felt still.
Kiritsugu calmly put out his cigarette. "No need to rush…"
"—Let the bullet fly for a while."
ROOOOAAARRR!!
The agonized cry of Malefic Stardust Dragon erupted across the battlefield as the Origin Bullet pierced its body. The black particles around Illya dissipated instantly.
[Origin Bullet - Counter Trap Effect: When your opponent Special Summons a monster, you can activate this card. That monster's effects are negated, and it cannot declare an attack until the end of the third turn.]
"Thanks to Origin Bullet, Malefic Stardust Dragon's effect is completely negated!" Hoshino declared triumphantly.
"I knew you had a plan, Chiyuki-chan!" Hoshino-Sensei cheered.
Kiritsugu raised his voice toward Illya. "Go, Illya! Show them the will of the Emiya family—the will to protect the world!"
Illya's eyes burned with determination. "Kiritsugu… Master… I will win. Watch me—this is my full power!"
A shockwave of energy burst outward as the Field Barrier protecting the Malefic World shattered into pieces.
[Field Barrier - Destroyed]
Paradox, still fused with Malefic Truth Dragon, finally showed a flicker of panic. "Damn you! What is your goal?!"
"My goal?" Hoshino-Sensei smirked. "It's simple—to end this war!"
She activated the field spell she had just drawn. "With Field Barrier gone, I can now play my own field spell! I'll erase the Malefic World completely!
The space around them shimmered, the ominous void of the Malefic World dissolving like shattered glass.
"Field Spell Activate—[Oath Under the Snow]!"
As the dark world vanished, Hoshino and the others found themselves back at Duel Academy.
They returned to a world still engulfed in battle. The sky was filled with duel monsters, professional duelists locked in combat. Everyone had been waiting for this moment—the final duel that would determine the future.
"Hoshino! Are you okay?!"
Jonouchi's voice was the first to break the silence.
The students, who had been ordered to stay inside, rushed out despite the danger.
"Hoshino-sensei is back?!"
"What happened? Did she win?!"
Hoshino-Sensei groaned. "You idiots! Didn't I tell you to stay inside?!"
Akasha crossed her arms. "Hoshino-sensei, you're risking your life in a duel. How could we just sit still?!"
"That's right! You're being too selfish, Sensei!"
"We wanted to help too—even if it's just cheering you on!"
Hoshino sighed. "These fools never let me have any peace…"
Hoshino smirked. "But aren't these the fools you love the most?"
Hoshino-Sensei clenched her fist. "Exactly! And for these fools I love so much, I'll end this war!"
"Illya, activate your effect!"
[②: This card gains ATK/DEF equal to the total Levels of the Fusion Materials used for its Summon x 300.]
"Illya Zwei Form was Fusion Summoned using Illya (Level 6) and MHX (Level 9), for a total of 15 Levels! That means her ATK increases by 4500!"
[Magical Girl – Illya Zwei Form: ATK 1000 → 5500]
Illya's rainbow-like wings unfurled, illuminating the battlefield.
"Illya's effect—"
[③: During the turn this card is Special Summoned, it can attack all opposing monsters once each during the Battle Phase.]
"All targets locked in! Attack target—every dueling monster wreaking havoc in this world!"
"This is my all-or-nothing move—Quintett Feuer Multi-Instrumental Saturation Bombardment!"
The rainbow light, infused with the power of the stars, struck and destroyed all the dueling monsters causing havoc, instantly extinguishing the flames of war that engulfed the world.
The flag that symbolized the indomitable spirit of duelists worldwide—the Duel Academy—finally proclaimed ultimate victory at that moment.
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!" Paradox howled in agony, enveloped by the radiance of the stars. Beneath him, the Malefic Truth Dragon's body began to dissolve.
[Paradox LP: 250 → 0]
[Duel Over. Winner—Hoshino Chiyuki!]
"It... is over!!"
As the radiant rainbow light from Illya's hands faded, the battlefield fell silent. The rampaging Duel Monsters that had darkened the sky just moments ago were completely eradicated.
Whoosh—!
Exhausted beyond her limits, Illya's small frame went limp, plummeting from the sky. Just before she could hit the ground, Musashi sprang into action, gracefully leaping up and catching her with ease.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch~" Illya winced as she lay in Musashi's embrace, her expression twisted in discomfort.
The cost of entering Zwei Form had pushed her body past its limits. Every part of her—nervous system, blood vessels, lymphatic pathways, even her muscles—had been forcibly transformed into pseudo-magical circuits. The aftermath of the overload coursed through her like molten fire, leaving her wracked with pain.
Hoshino knelt beside them and gently patted Illya's head. "You did great, Illya-chan! Truly worthy of being the magical girl who saved the world~"
Illya, despite her pain, giggled foolishly at the affectionate praise. "Ehehe~ Not only did Master see my reliable side, but Kiritsugu did too! Totally worth it!"
Thud—!
Unlike Illya, who had been caught with care, Paradox crashed onto the ground with a heavy impact, flat on his back. The fading light of Malefic Truth Dragon dissipated above him as he lay there, staring at the sky still illuminated by the lingering rainbow glow.
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "If you had the power to wipe out all the monsters in an instant, then why spare me?" His voice was low, hoarse. "Even without destroying Malefic World, you could've erased Malefic Truth Dragon... and me along with it."
Hoshino-sensei's expression hardened. "I decided a long time ago: duels are not tools for killing or waging war. I'll never use duels to take someone's life again. Even for someone like you, a madman trying to reshape the world, that's no reason to erase you through a duel."
Paradox was silent for a moment.
Then, suddenly—
"Hahaha!"
Lying on the ground, he burst into laughter, his voice sharp with derision. "Naive. Even in this time, you're still naive, Hoshino! That's why you lose to me in the future! You lack the resolve to truly save it!"
"But right now, you've lost to us, Paradox!" Hoshino shot back, eyes blazing with defiance. "I don't care if you defeat my future self! At least at this moment, we've seized the future with our own power!"
Paradox smirked, struggling to prop himself up on his elbows. "That's just wishful thinking on your part." His breath was labored, but his arrogance remained intact. "I lost, but only in this era! With the ability to travel through time, we have countless ways to achieve our goal!"
Jonouchi, his patience long gone, stormed forward with clenched fists. "What did you just say?! Even now, you're still refusing to give up?!"
VROOM—!
A deafening engine roar tore through the battlefield.
"Jonouchi! Move!" Hoshino-Sensei shouted, eyes widening as a sleek, futuristic motorcycle sped toward them at blistering speed.
A sharp turn, the screech of tires, and a skilled rider skidded to a stop.
"Lord Paradox!"
Byakuya barely brushed past Jonouchi as he expertly maneuvered the bike, stopping in front of Paradox in a perfect arc.
"The energy for the Duel Runner has partially recovered!" he reported, his voice sharp with urgency. "We may not be able to leap centuries anymore, but with the stored energy, we can still travel a few years!"
Paradox's smirk widened. "Well done, Byakuya." He pulled himself onto the bike, adjusting the black-and-white mask on his face.
Hoshino-sensei narrowed her eyes. "So this is how they travel through time... The future really does have some cool stuff."
Hoshino clenched her fists. "He's going to escape! Musashi, we can't let him get away!"
"Understood, Master!" Without hesitation, Musashi launched forward, blade drawn.
But Byakuya was ready.
"I'll handle this, Lord Paradox!" he declared, raising his Duel Disk. A bright summoning glow ignited.
A deafening roar shook the battlefield.
From the light emerged a Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, its massive, corrupted form spreading its wings wide to block Musashi's advance.
Paradox wasted no time.
"If I travel ten years into the past, no one will be able to stop me!" He revved the Duel Runner's engine, the space around him beginning to distort. "I'll erase Maximillion Pegasus before he can ever create Duel Monsters! History will be rewritten!"
Jonouchi grit his teeth. "Running away just because you lost!" he spat.
As the time-space portal fully opened, Hoshino's mind raced.
(If he's going back ten years… should I try to hitch a ride?)
But just saying that to Paradox felt humiliating. And it wasn't like he'd agree anyway.
Byakuya, standing guard before the portal, lowered his Duel Disk. He already knew Hoshino and the others had no way of stopping Paradox now.
"Lord Paradox," he said solemnly, "I wish you great success. I can only accompany you this far."
The Duel Runner sped forward, vanishing into the shimmering portal.
Paradox was gone.
"Damn it..." Hoshino-Sensei clenched her fists, her voice trembling with frustration. "He still got away... If he really erases Pegasus, then what happens to our time?"
Hoshino herself felt the weight settle in her chest. Everything they fought for… was it meaningless in the end?
"...Was it all for nothing?"
A soft, familiar voice whispered in her ear.
"It wasn't meaningless, girl."
Hoshino froze. Her breath hitched.
"...Evil God-san?"
Before her eyes, the Evil God materialized into a human-like form, standing confidently before them, her presence undeniable.
"Who said your battle was meaningless?" She smirked. "At the very least, the portal is still open, isn't it?"
Hoshino-Sensei's gaze flickered to the tiny figure. "Chiyuki-chan, who is this super cute little girl? Why did she suddenly appear? Is she your Duel Monster?"
Hoshino, realizing this timeline's version of herself had never encountered the Evil Gods, let out a small sigh.
"Ahem, it's... complicated. Let's just say she's something similar to the God Cards."
"The strongest Evil God beyond the God Cards, thank you very much!" The tiny body deity puffed up her cheeks indignantly. "Properly acknowledge my status! Bow before me!"
Hoshino sweatdropped. "...Anyway. Why didn't you show up all this time, Evil God-san?"
The Evil God flicked her tiny black locks. "Because as long as I was in the same era as that man, I couldn't materialize or awaken." She grinned mischievously, licking her lips. "But now that he's gone through the portal..."
Hoshino's eyes sharpened. "So what do you mean when you say the portal is open?"
The Evil God's smirk widened. Her crimson eyes gleamed with wicked delight.
"Simple. We hitch a ride, intercept him midway, beat the shit out of him, and steal that cool stuff(Duel Runner) for ourselves."
A heavy silence followed.
Then—
"…Wait. What?!"
(*****)
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