"Solomon?"
Normally, if someone introduced themselves to Kaiba that way, he'd immediately dismiss them as some kind of fraud.
But this was different—because it was connected to Hoshino. The Heroic Spirit Deck, along with every strange encounter surrounding her, proved there was a deep connection between that girl and figures of great renown in human history.
"Then, Solomon, could you explain the situation we're in right now?"
Dr. Romani adjusted his chin with a gloved hand, thinking carefully before explaining:
"If we had to classify it, this place could indeed be considered the higher dimension you mentioned earlier. There is no concept of space, no concept of time, and even the concept of life itself is blurred. Everything here tends toward 'nothingness.'"
Solomon's Noble Phantasm: Ars Nova — The Time of Parting Has Come, He Is the One Who Lets Go of the World.
In reenacting the legend of Solomon returning God's blessings to the heavens, he abandoned everything that defined him—his body, life, creations, achievements, glory, even his very existence as a Heroic Spirit. He erased himself from the Throne of Heroes, and in doing so, Dr. Romani reached the "Nothingness" no human had ever set foot in.
"Ordinary humans can't possibly come here. The energy from that dimensional cube isn't nearly enough to reach this place."
Kaiba's brow furrowed deeper. "If that's true, then why am I here?"
Romani grinned, placing his hands on his hips. "Because I guided you here, of course! Not to brag, but back in my days at Chaldea, I mastered the art of helping others with spiritron transfers to absolute perfection."
Kaiba shot him a sharp, suspicious look—not because he doubted Romani's transfer skills, but because he didn't understand why the doctor would bring him here.
"Seto Kaiba, you probably don't remember. But if we count carefully… this is the third cycle. Which means this is also the third time we've met."
"…The third cycle?"
Like a trigger word, a powerful déjà vu flooded Kaiba's mind.
From Duelist Kingdom onward, there had always been discrepancies between his memories and the actual events.
For example, though it was supposedly his first time stepping into Pegasus' castle, he had known exactly where to find the Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon hidden within—and with its power, he defeated Hoshino.
Or in Duelist Kingdom's finals—Kaiba remembered Yugi defeating Hoshino, and then facing Pegasus to claim the title of Duel King. But the outcome had been completely different.
What Kaiba never realized was that if he hadn't defeated Hoshino at Pegasus' castle, she wouldn't have thrown herself into grueling all-night training with Holmes, rewriting the outcome entirely.
Conflicting memories twisted together, making it impossible for Kaiba to distinguish truth from illusion.
Clutching his head, he demanded through gritted teeth, "Why would I… do something like this? Don't tell me all of this is your arrangement?"
"No, Kaiba. All three cycles were by your own will—your own chosen path."
"My… choice?"
Romani's lighthearted air vanished. His tone turned solemn.
"To change this world, to alter the fate of the girl named Chiyuki Hoshino… I entrusted my remaining strength to you. And this time, Seto Kaiba—you truly accomplished it."
With a sweep of his white glove, particles of starlight surged, and the empty void shifted into the familiar Duel Dome of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"We're back?!" Kaiba looked around in disbelief. "Then… what was the result of the duel?"
"Don't get too excited, Kaiba. You're still in the realm of Nothingness. What I'm showing you is only a projection of what's happening around Chiyuki right now."
He pointed toward the duel stage where Hoshino Alter was still fighting. "This duel is far longer and harsher than you realize. Reaching this point has cost more than you can imagine."
"And the very last move—the deciding blow—will depend on a miracle born from the accumulation of countless overlapping possibilities. Now, in the name of Solomon: 'Liberation at the End of Cycles, To Bind the World Together!'"
The warm glow of Romani's ring activated the hidden Noble Phantasm born within the void of Nothingness. It had no destructive force, no empowering buff.
As its name—and its user's gentle heart—suggested, the Liberation at the End was only a mystery that unshackled all bonds. No matter how small, no matter how faint, that power would be used to hold the world together.
"Bear witness, Seto Kaiba! To the path of light that spans countless cycles. Just as Chiyuki said—the strength built from each and every one of your battles is what truly represents humanity's advance into a new dimension!"
Kaiba clenched his fists tight. The memories of the cycles were still blurred, but in this moment, his trembling eyes clearly saw it: the threads connecting Hoshino, spun from every outcome of every cycle, converging into a single point.
"Go, Hoshino! Shatter this false evolution to pieces!"
"The Pyramid of Light… it's reacting?!"
The glowing pyramid at her chest pulled Hoshino Alter's attention away from the thundering beat of her own heart.
The soul sealed within the Pyramid of Light—locked away by the dimensional cube—was suddenly released by Solomon's Noble Phantasm, which crossed dimensions and lifted the restraints.
Hoshino's voice echoed: "Time to switch, my other self! You've fought this far—I owe you everything!"
"Aibo?! You mean… we can finally switch bodies again?" Feeling the connection between their souls, Hoshino Alter's excitement overflowed.
"But in this state… can you really turn things around, aibo? You've got no hand cards, and only 4 Life Points left…"
Hoshino laughed sharply. "You've been loafing for two years, don't you dare worry about me now. At this moment, I'll show you—I can defeat even a god of the higher dimensions!"
A pillar of light cascaded from the heavens, enveloping Hoshino Alter's body on the duel stage.
The soul exchange completed. Taking back control, Hoshino's fighting spirit blazed through the AR device on her left eye. A trembling wave of blue light spread outward like azure flames ignited in her crimson gaze.
"My turn! Draw!! —I perform a Dimensional Summon: Heroic Spirit – Arthur Pendragon!!"
[Heroic Spirit – Arthur Pendragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)] [LIGHT] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 2400/DEF 2000]
The holy sword of radiant starlight—
Forged to repel every evil that threatened to destroy the stars.
As Artoria drew her blade, its brilliance swept away the dimensional cube's dark miasma and the oppressive power of the Cubic God.
"Release all 13 Seals! —When there are 13 or more 'Heroic Spirit' monsters in the Graveyard or banished zone, Heroic Spirit – Arthur Pendragon activates her effect!!"