Heroic Spirit Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!-Chapter 304 -

"Of course, since it's Clashing Souls, you can also pay Life Points to boost your monster's ATK! Let's see whose soul burns the brightest! That is... if you're sure your soul's strength surpasses mine!"

Amid Rafael's thunderous declaration was an undeniable confidence in his own soul. And rightly so—his 10,000 Life Points vastly outmatched the mere 2,100 shared by Hoshino and Kaiba.

They weren't even on the same playing field.

Seeing that Hoshino showed no intention of countering, Kaiba quickly spoke up.

"Hoshino! The effect of Clashing Souls means that while the loser won't take battle damage, all their monsters on the field will be destroyed! Even if only your Edmond is defeated, Siegfried will also be wiped out!"

"Damn it! This guy even brought AoE destruction!"

With Kaiba's warning, Hoshino immediately grasped what Rafael had meant earlier by "piercing through everything." Using a minor attack difference to trigger Clashing Souls would not only take down Edmond but also erase Siegfried in the process.

"... I can't afford to let my guard down for even a second!" Gritting her teeth, Hoshino chose to retaliate—not by clashing their Life Points, as she simply didn't have the resources for that.

"I was planning to hold this back, but if I don't go all out now, I'll lose the duel! Trap Card activate—[Heroic Battle – United Assault]! I'll transfer all of Siegfried's attack power to Edmond! If you want a clash of souls, let's make it a real one!"

[Siegfried ATK 6000 → 0]

Black flames erupted around Edmond, forming countless shadowy figures—phantoms of his vengeful will. Not just a prison of flesh, but a prison of the mind, transcending time and space.

[Edmond ATK 2400 → 8400]

Thanks to United Assault, Siegfried's attack power was fully transferred to Edmond. Initially, Hoshino had hesitated to use the Trap, fearing that Siegfried, left with zero attack power, would become an easy target for Rafael.

But now, the battlefield had changed. In this clash, only the victor had the right to remain standing!

"Rafael! Show me the strength of your soul!!"

"As expected of the Duel King, but I will not shrink from this challenge!"

Rafael's voice boomed with unwavering resolve. His presence alone radiated an unstoppable energy.

"Ohohoho! Take it all, Elma—the weight of my soul! Break through your limits!!"

[Rafael LP 9500 → 3500]

[Guardian Elma ATK 2600 → 8600]

Empowered by Rafael's soul, Elma lunged forward at incredible speed. The gleam of her Butterfly Dagger slashed through the space itself, keeping pace with Edmond's "time-stopping" movements.

"That's not enough! Your soul isn't burning hot enough yet! I activate the effect of Clashing Souls—I'll pay Life Points to boost my monster's attack!"

Hoshino roared, pouring everything into Edmond.

"Watch closely! A true clash of souls is a head-on collision with nothing held back!"

[Hoshino & Kaiba LP 2100 → 100]

"Are you insane?!" Kaiba practically shouted. At this moment, he felt Hoshino had completely abandoned reason, consumed by passion.

After all, no matter how much she sacrificed, their 2,100 Life Points could never hope to match Rafael's 10,000.

[Edmond ATK 8400 → 10400]

"Kuhahaha! Truly admirable, accomplice! I acknowledge you as one of indomitable will. At this moment, mercy is unnecessary. Let us press forward together—until we reach the shores of vengeance!!"

"What kind of duel is this?!" Even Valon, who had been silent and brooding throughout the match, couldn't help but be stunned by the all-out clash.

"Hoshino! What is the justice in your heart? False justice is nothing more than a mask for a corrupt society! Even if I stand in darkness, even if I fight for Doma, my resolve will never waver!"

Raising his Duel Disk high, Rafael unleashed a surge of energy that seemed to tear through the air itself.

"I continue the effect of Clashing Souls—I'll pay my remaining Life Points to surpass your attack!"

[Rafael LP 3500 → 1500]

[Guardian Elma ATK 8600 → 10600]

"You've lost, Hoshino!!" Rafael declared as Elma's dagger slashed through all of Edmond Dantès' phantoms.

[Edmond Dantes DESTROYED]

"Though the Spell prevents battle damage, all your monsters will be destroyed due to your defeat in this clash! Explode—this final battlefield!"

A fiery explosion engulfed Siegfried.

[Siegfried DESTROYED]

"Hoshino, the one who truly lost... is you!"

As Rafael's triumphant voice echoed, the flames on Hoshino's Duel Disk reignited, spreading across the battlefield toward Rafael.

"I activate the effect of the Trap Card [Pure Destruction], which was sent to the Graveyard last turn for Edmond Dantès' summoning!"

[Pure Destruction Trap Effect: If a face-up "Heroic Spirit" card you control would be destroyed: You can banish this card from your GY; destroy all monsters on the field instead.]

"With Pure Destruction, the effect that would have destroyed Siegfried is altered to wipe out all monsters on the field! That means your monsters are going down too!"

The flames surged toward Rafael, consuming his field in a fiery blaze.

Struggling against the impact, Rafael glared at Hoshino. "So you planned this mutual destruction from the start, sacrificing everything to weaken my Life Points!"

"Mutual destruction? Even someone like you, Rafael, can be naive!"

Amidst the inferno, Hoshino revealed her set card.

"Did you forget the Trap Card I showed last turn? Trap Card activate—[Hero's Return]! When Siegfried is destroyed, I can revive Edmond Dantes from the Graveyard!"

From the explosion, a figure cloaked in black flames emerged. The vengeful fire of the Avenger burned brightly once more.

"Kuhahahaha! A true avenger always repays his grudges! Even if I've reached the shores of vengeance, the fire that yearns for hell shall never be extinguished—Rise!!"

"The only monsters completely wiped out are yours, Rafael. And with your Life Points dropping from ten thousand to a mere 1,500, can you withstand the Count's attack now?"

[Penumbral Soldier Lady DESTROYED]

"It's not a total wipeout yet. I activate the effect of the Equip Spell Card [Power of the Guardians]! When the equipped monster is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can remove one Spell Counter as a substitute!"

A radiant shield formed around Guardian Elma, absorbing the fiery explosion.

[Spell Counter: x0] [Guardian Elma ATK 2,100 → 1,600]

Since the attack boost from Clashing Souls only applied during that battle, the terrifying 10,000 ATK did not persist beyond the Battle Phase.

"Even so, Hoshino, you used a strategy to take down Penumbral Soldier Lady, and that's commendable in itself. But with only 100 Life Points left, how much longer can you hold on?"

Hoshino waved nonchalantly. "Right back at you. Sure, my Life Points are barely hanging by a thread, but yours aren't much better. One or two attacks, and it's over for you. Plus, the field is still in my favor."

Clever as ever, Hoshino wasn't above setting herself up with a flag. Yet, in terms of sheer attack power and resilience, Edmond was undeniably overwhelming compared to Guardian Elma.

Rafael closed his eyes, attuned to the emotions of the monsters in his Graveyard. "I won't let my companions remain in the cold grave. I'll liberate her soul right now!"

"—I activate the Spell Card [Soul Release]!"

[Soul Release Effect: Target up to 5 cards in any GY(s); banish them.]

"I'll release my Penumbral Soldier Lady from the Graveyard along with four of your Spell and Trap cards, Kaiba—including Tyrant Wing!"

The spirit of Penumbral Soldier Lady, freed from the Graveyard, gently rested on Rafael's shoulder, as if cheering him on.

Seeing Rafael banish yet another monster from his Graveyard, Kaiba frowned. "This odd insistence of yours is just holding back your dueling pace. Spirits of Duel Monsters? Ridiculous—they don't exist!"

"This persistence isn't meaningless. Now, let me show you the power of our bond! I activate the Equip Spell Card [Celestial Sword - Eatos]!"

Hoshino suddenly grew wary. "It's the card that defeated Yugi!"

"Huh? This Equip Card defeated Yugi?" Kaiba sounded incredulous.

"No, to be precise, it was the monster wielding the sword..."

Rafael continued confidently. "That's right! When [Celestial Sword - Eatos] is on the field, and I have no monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon the strongest Guardian from my hand—[Guardian Eatos]!"

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The Guardian warrior, adorned with angelic wings, materialized on Rafael's field, drawing the sword from the ground.

[Guardian Eatos★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][WIND][Fairy/Effect][ATK 2500/DEF 2000]

"To activate her effect, I'll destroy Celestial Sword - Eatos. Guardian Eatos can then banish cards from your Graveyard, starting from the top, until she banishes a non-monster card."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed as he realized Rafael's intent. "So, having no monsters in the Graveyard was the condition for Special Summoning her. And to maximize her effect, you used Soul Release to clear out everything except my monsters?"

"Exactly! Now, let's count the souls in your Graveyard! Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Paladin of White Dragon—Vorse Raider! Eatos' effect will then add the combined attack points of the banished monsters to her own!"

[Guardian Eatos ATK 2500 → 9300]

Shining brilliantly, Eatos, now infused with the spirits of Kaiba's fallen monsters, radiated overwhelming might.

"Now, the tide has completely turned, Kaiba, Hoshino! I end my turn."

Confident after summoning his ace monster, Rafael lowered his Duel Disk with satisfaction.

"A monster with nearly 10,000 attack points... Kaiba, can you handle that?"

Hoshino wasn't so sure. Even Kaiba's Ultimate Dragon equipped with Megamorph would only reach 9,000 ATK. Given Kaiba's usual strategy of brute force, Eatos was like an unbreakable wall in his path.

Kaiba, however, remained calm. "Relax. I'm not the same as I was before! The power of cards is important, but I've come to realize that victory isn't determined by brute strength alone!"

Through his numerous duels with Hoshino and Yugi, Kaiba had evolved. The once power-obsessed duelist had been subtly but surely transformed by their influence.

"My turn! Draw! And now, let's go—Legendary Dragon, [The Fang of Critias]!"

"Summoning the Legendary Dragon now? Kaiba, what are you planning...?"

"Watch closely, Hoshino. My new monster, The Fang of Critias, can awaken the hidden potential of cards and turn the tide with legendary power! I'll fuse [The Fang of Critias] with [Heroic Spirit – Demon of Vengeance Edmond Dantes] on my field!"

Hoshino's eyes widened. "Fuse... with Edmond? Is that even possible?!"

"Of course it is! You're the one who showed me this potential with your own cards! By fusing Heroic Spirits, dragons, and even gods, you've demonstrated the path to ultimate power! Now it's my turn—to fuse a Heroic Spirit with a Legendary Dragon!"

Kaiba raised the card high, and the energy from his Duel Disk resonated with Hoshino's, creating an electrifying surge.

"Huh?! Edmond, even you agree this can work?"

The Count grinned wickedly. "Kuhahaha! What an audacious idea. Infuse my power of vengeance into a dragon? It'll create the mightiest dark dragon imaginable. The resulting spectacle will rival the depths of hell itself!"

A dark aura enveloped Kaiba's fingers as the fusion of the legendary dragon and the avenger reached its climax.

"Behold—the dragon of vengeance, shrouded in the flames of hell—[Black Dragon, Avenger Dragon]!!"

A pitch-black dragon, cloaked in searing black flames, roared onto the battlefield, towering over all.

[Black Dragon, Avenger Dragon★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][DARK][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 2700/DEF 2500]

[Heroic Spirit – Demon of Vengeance Edmond Dantes + The Fang of Critias]

Summoning the ultimate form of the Legendary Dragon, Kaiba smirked arrogantly at Rafael. "You're finished, Rafael!"

(*****)

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