Heroic Spirit Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!

Taking the Gawain card into her hand, Hoshino felt the weight of its raw, gorilla-like power before summoning another monster onto the Duel Disk.

"Since Bedivere was Special Summoned, I still have my Normal Summon available. Prepare yourself! I summon [Heroic Spirit – Spartacus] in Attack Position!"

[Heroic Spirit – Spartacus★★★ (Level 3)][FIRE][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1500/DEF 1500]

A muscular warrior materialized on her field, his imposing physique radiating sheer defiance. Spartacus glared at Orichalcos Gigas across the field, as if challenging it to a contest of raw strength.

"Time to attack! Bedivere, strike down Gigas!"

Wasting no time, Hoshino launched an assault, aiming to test the hidden effects of Dartz's monsters.

"Yes, Master!" Bedivere tightened his grip on his sword, stepping forward with a flawless stance. His refined swordplay cleaved through Orichalcos Gigas, which had 500 less ATK.

[Orichalcos Gigas destroyed]

"The special effect of [Orichalcos Kyutora] activates."

Before any Life Point damage could register, the grotesque, sea-urchin-like monster in Dartz's back row absorbed the impact entirely.

"As long as this card remains on the field, all battle damage from my monsters is reduced to 0."

[Dartz LP: 3500]

Dartz's Life Points remained untouched. Though his monster had been destroyed, Kyutora's effect had completely nullified the damage.

"That monster negates all battle damage?" Yugi observed warily. "No wonder Dartz placed it in the back row!"

Hoshino pressed forward. "Then let's shut that ugly eyeball up for good! Spartacus, attack Kyutora!"

Spartacus charged like an unstoppable force, aiming directly for Kyutora—

"Do you really think Gigas is gone for good? Don't underestimate the power of the Orichalcos!" Dartz smirked, raising his Duel Disk. The recently destroyed Gigas returned to the field once more.

"The special effect of [Orichalcos Gigas]—when destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, it Special Summons itself back to the field!"

"ROARRR!" The titan emerged once again, halting Spartacus mid-charge.

"And each time [Orichalcos Gigas] revives, its ATK increases by 500!"

[Orichalcos Gigas ATK 900 → 1400]

"Even so, Spartacus still has the higher attack power! Crush it, Spartacus!"

"Destroy the oppression!" Spartacus roared, trampling over the titan and shattering it into fragments once again.

[Orichalcos Gigas destroyed]

"And once again, Kyutora negates all battle damage!"

The shockwave from the attack was greedily absorbed by the eerie eye-like creature.

"And of course, [Orichalcos Gigas]'s effect activates once more. When destroyed, it Special Summons itself and gains another 500 ATK!"

[Orichalcos Gigas ATK 1400 → 1900]

"!!!"

Hoshino's attempt to gauge Gigas' effect had revealed the worst-case scenario.

Kaiba gritted his teeth. "That effect isn't once per turn?! A monster that revives infinitely and keeps getting stronger?!"

"This is beyond unfair, you monster!" Hoshino snapped. "Even Pegasus wouldn't dare create such a broken card!"

Kaiba sneered. "Of course not. Pegasus might design cartoon gimmicks, but he's not reckless enough to allow something this ridiculous."

An infinitely reviving offensive monster combined with an impenetrable defense that negated all battle damage—Dartz had built an unbreakable cycle of offense and defense.

"Sorry, I couldn't gain an advantage in the first attack..." Hoshino muttered, slightly frustrated. She quickly set three cards on her Duel Disk.

"I set three cards face-down and end my turn!"

Yugi reassured her. "Hoshino, just uncovering the Orichalcos' effects is a victory in itself. You did well!"

"Aww, thanks, Yugi. You're such a sweetheart~"

"..."

[Hoshino: 2 Hand Cards | 3 Set Cards]

"My turn! Draw!" Dartz declared, unfazed by the developments. Despite Hoshino's aggressive first turn, he had suffered no real losses. Instead, his Gigas had only grown stronger.

"Hoshino, the existence of a fourth Duelist chosen by the Legendary Dragons is unprecedented. Are you simply a coincidence... or an anomaly? What a fascinating specimen you would make. If the world weren't nearing its end, I might have studied you further~"

Hoshino shuddered slightly. "No thanks! I have no interest in being anyone's lab rat. And I'm sure as hell not letting you end the world!"

"If you can withstand the power of the Orichalcos, then by all means, try!" Dartz raised another card. "I summon [Orichalcos Malevolence] in Attack Position!"

[Orichalcos Malevolence ★★★★ (Level 4)][Effect][ATK 1500 → 2000/DEF 1000 → 1500]

A crimson-scaled dragon materialized, its body wreathed in molten flames.

"Time to battle! Malevolence, attack Spartacus!"

The blazing dragon gathered the Orichalcos' dark energy before unleashing a torrent of fire, reducing Spartacus to smoldering embers.

[Spartacus destroyed]

[Hoshino LP 4000 → 3500]

"Spartacus' effect activates! When destroyed in battle and sent to the Graveyard, it inflicts 500 damage to my opponent and restores 500 Life Points to me!"

"Wahahaha! Behold my rebellion, burning in defiance!" Spartacus bellowed from within the flames, his spirit erupting into an explosion that scorched Dartz.

[Hoshino LP 3500 → 4000]

[Dartz LP 3500 → 3000]

"Finally managed to damage you, Dartz!" Hoshino smirked, sounding as if she had already secured victory.

"Tch, such trivial effects." Dartz clicked his tongue, irritated that his perfect defense had been breached. "Orichalcos Gigas, destroy her remaining monster!"

Now strengthened by two revivals, the towering Gigas turned its full might toward Bedivere.

Bedivere stood his ground, unwavering even before the empowered titan. "This is the time to uphold our loyalty! In the name of the Knights of the Round Table, we shall carve through the battlefield!"

"Bedivere's special effect activates!"

[You can Tribute this card to activate this effect. Special Summon 1 "Heroic Spirit - Knight of the Round Table" monster from your hand or Graveyard. This effect can also be activated during your opponent's turn.]

"I Tribute Bedivere! Now, arise—Knight of the Sun! [Heroic Spirit—Knight of the Round Table Gawain]!!"

The card representing Bedivere was sent to the Graveyard, and in its place, Gawain's card emerged, retrieved through Bedivere's effect.

"Hahaha—hahaha!" A bright and rhythmic laugh echoed through the battlefield, accompanied by a flash of fiery sword light. A gallant blonde knight materialized on Hoshino's field.

[Heroic Spirit - Knight of the Round Table Gawain ★★★★★★★ (Level 7)][FIRE][Warrior/Effect][ATK 2000/DEF 2300]

"As long as I stand before my Master, none shall break through! The place I guard is the unbreachable gate of the sacred capital!"

With a powerful swing of his spinning sword, ignited in crimson flames, Gawain intercepted the massive Gigas charging toward Hoshino, slicing it cleanly in half. The blazing flames continued to scorch the severed remains.

[Orichalcos Gigas destroyed]

"Though I'd love to commend you for such a beautiful counterattack, the truth is, it's nothing more than a futile struggle, Hoshino~" Dartz sneered, spreading his arms wide in his usual carefree manner.

"Kyutora, absorb the damage! And Orichalcos Gigas, rise once more!"

[Orichalcos Gigas ATK 1900 → 2400]

Once again, Gigas crawled out of the depths, now even larger than before. Its endless revivals made it all the more imposing.

"However, a Gigas special summoned by this effect cannot attack this turn. So, I'll end my turn."

With his unbreakable spear and impenetrable shield, Dartz continued to toy with Hoshino and her allies, like a predator savoring the moment before striking the final blow.

[Dartz: 1 Hand Card | 2 Set Cards]

Kaiba, watching Dartz's arrogance, clenched his fists in irritation. "Dartz, don't underestimate the world's strongest duelists. The so-called power of Orichalcos—let me show you how—"

"My turn! Draw!"

Before Kaiba could finish, Yugi unceremoniously drew his next card.

Kaiba froze, his eye twitching as he glared at Yugi, his expression practically screaming, Are you messing with me?

"This turn is mine, Kaiba," Yugi declared firmly. "Using the strength Hoshino left us, I'll show him the consequences of underestimating us!"

After drawing his card, Yugi turned to Hoshino. "Since my opponent controls more monsters than I do, I can Special Summon [Heroic Spirit - Spartacus] from the Graveyard!"

"Well played, Yugi!" Hoshino responded enthusiastically, slamming the card onto her duel disk. "Then, in Attack Position, I Special Summon—[Heroic Spirit - Spartacus]!"

[Heroic Spirit - Spartacus ATK 1500]

"Next, I Tribute Spartacus on the field to Tribute Summon—[Dark Magician Girl]!"

A flash of tribute energy enveloped Spartacus, and in his place appeared a graceful and lively girl.

[Dark Magician Girl ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][DARK][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 2000/DEF 1700]

"Heh~" Dark Magician Girl twirled her delicate staff before adjusting her wide-brimmed magician's hat, hovering gracefully beside Gawain.

"What a beautiful woman," Gawain mused, his knightly soul visibly stirred. Standing even taller than before, he adjusted his stance in admiration.

Dartz sneered, unimpressed. "Two monsters with only 2000 ATK each? Pharaoh, the so-called combined strength of you and your companion is laughably weak in my eyes~"

"What's the plan, Yugi?" Hoshino asked, her concern evident. While the presence of Dark Magician Girl lifted her spirits, the reality of their dire situation remained unchanged.

"Heh, the plan is simple," Yugi smirked, inserting a key card into his duel disk. "We'll combine our strengths to break through Orichalcos' defenses!"

"—I activate the Spell Card [Cross Attack]!"

[Cross Attack - Spell Effect: Target 2 face-up Attack Position monsters you control with the same ATK; this turn, one of them can attack your opponent directly, while the other cannot attack.]

"Since Dark Magician Girl and Gawain both have 2000 ATK, they fulfill the activation conditions for Cross Attack! I designate Dark Magician Girl as the attacker—meaning she can attack directly this turn!"

Hoshino's eyes lit up. "A direct attack... of course! That's the way! Nicely done, Yugi!"

Dartz's Orichalcos Gigas would endlessly revive and grow stronger, while Orichalcos Kyutora absorbed all battle damage from monsters. The only way to break through was to bypass them entirely and strike directly at Dartz himself.

And with Gawain's 2000 ATK perfectly matching Dark Magician Girl's, Yugi had seized the moment, taking action before Kaiba's turn.

"Gawain, assist Dark Magician Girl!"

"Leave it to me, Master! Supporting such a charming lady is a knight's honor!"

Yugi swiftly played another card. "Next, I activate the Equip Spell—[United We Stand], equipping it to Dark Magician Girl! Since there are two monsters on my field, she gains 1600 ATK!"

[Dark Magician Girl ATK 2000 → 3600]

Gasps echoed from the onlookers.

"A direct attack with 3600 ATK?!"

"Go, Dark Magician Girl! Deliver hope and shatter despair!" Yugi commanded, thrusting his hand forward. Ignoring Dartz's monsters, he declared a direct attack.

With perfect agility, Dark Magician Girl leapt onto Gawain's outstretched sword, which he had positioned horizontally to assist her.

"Oh, dear lady, use my strength to strike them down! This is the knight-and-magician's ultimate Cross Attack!"

A surge of magic exploded around them as Dark Magician Girl, propelled by Gawain's strength, shot forward like a comet. Flames from Gawain's sword trailed behind her, painting a fiery arc across the battlefield.

"Take this—3600 damage, Dartz!"

With a single, decisive strike, Yugi and Hoshino had turned the tide.

The once-complacent Dartz, who had been leisurely toying with them, suddenly found himself on the brink of defeat—his arrogance shattered in an instant.

(*****)

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