"The convergence of blue and crimson shall guide the radiant path to victory! —Fusion Summon, Dragonmaid Sheou!"
[Dragonmaid Sheou Level 10│LIGHT│Dragon│3500 ATK / 2000 DEF]
[Materials: 1 "Dragonmaid" monster + 1 Level 5 or higher Dragon monster]
Born from the fusion of azure and scarlet, the glorious Dragonmaid Sheou radiated divine majesty, exuding a sacred aura completely distinct from Nudyarl and Tinkhec.
"So this is the miracle Fusion Summons can lead to!" The little princess's golden eyes sparkled as she asked excitedly, "By fusing monsters, you summoned a brand-new creature that isn't even in the Deck… Miles, how did you do that?!"
"How did I…?"
Miles fell into thought. Such an idealistic method of summoning… how could he even explain it to the little princess?
Truthfully, Miles had never handled a Dragonmaid Deck before. But just like when he once fused into Arcana Knight Joker, when the Duel's momentum reached its peak, the image of a future born through Fusion would manifest in his mind, revealing the form of the card.
Just now, the instant he drew Polymerization, the image of Dragonmaid Sheou bathed in divine light appeared vividly in his thoughts.
"If you ask me how… It's that the bond between cards connects into a Fusion form that leads us down the road to victory!"
"A Fusion form that connects to victory… that sounds amazing!"
Within the Soul Room, the golden brilliance in the little princess's eyes flared even brighter in awe.
She didn't even fully understand what he meant, but hearing it sound so powerful was more than enough to capture a child's admiration.
Miles had easily seized the little girl's heart.
"Hmph, what Fusion form leading to victory? Don't try to fool anyone." Luca scoffed. "With only 3500 Attack, my Gustav Max is still stronger!"
If Attack wasn't enough, then breaking through with effects was the natural tactic any competent Duelist would choose.
And for that, the seemingly cardless Luca still held a hand trap that could negate effects—Effect Veiler.
'Come on, no matter how you struggle, you won't escape this deadlock, Miles!' Luca thought to herself.
"Luca, you're scheming something, aren't you?" Miles suddenly spoke up. "You don't happen to be holding a hand trap, do you?"
"Wha—n-no, of course not!"
For that split moment, Luca panicked. It was as though Miles had read her mind completely.
"Hasn't anyone told you your expressions are way too easy to read? Wear every emotion on your face in a Duel, and you'll give away all your tells."
"Enough with the crap already! Are you gonna play or not?!"
"Of course I am!"
Clutching the card between his fingers, Miles—in the little princess's body—struck a gallant pose, turning the flow of battle.
"Not only am I going to play—I'm going to break through head-on. After lingering in darkness for so long, this final turn—while guiding Sheou—calls for me to rein in that less-than-perfect darkness."
"A head-on clash with Gustav Max's 6000 Attack? Are you kidding me?!"
"You'll see whether I'm kidding soon enough! Gather, Dragonmaids—effect of Dragonmaid Tinkhec in my hand, activate!"
Instead of using a field effect, Miles activated from his hand—rendering Luca's held hand trap useless.
[Discard this card; target 1 "Dragonmaid" monster you control; it gains 2000 ATK until the end of this turn. This effect can be activated during either player's turn.]
"Burn, crimson flame! Refine this ultimate fusion into an even greater blaze—the form of Sheou's blazing assault!"
[Dragonmaid Sheou, ATK: 3500 → 5500]
Sheou's radiant wings ignited with Tinkhec's fiery mana, the inferno lighting the dark barrier.
"Now it's a trinity!"
What Miles meant was that Sheou now embodied the powers of three Dragonmaids together.
Her Attack rose to 5500, crimson flames roaring on her wings, still 500 points shy of Gustav Max.
"And finally—it's up to you, Lan!"
Miles threw down his last card. On the field, the Lan-maid clenched her fists and poured out her strength.
"Let's soar to the heavens—Goshujin-sama!"
"—Spell Card activate: Gift of the Martyr!"
[Send 1 monster you control to the Graveyard; target 1 monster you control; it gains ATK equal to the original ATK of the sent monster until the End Phase.]
"I send Laundry Dragonmaid to the Graveyard, and Dragonmaid Sheou inherits her full strength!"
[Laundry Dragonmaid, ATK: 500]
Alongside her blazing wings, azure waves from Nudyarl now cascaded over Sheou's claws.
"Fourfold unity—Sheou's Ultimate Form!"
"Roaaar!!"
[Dragonmaid Sheou, ATK: 5500 → 6000]
With a thunderous cry, Sheou now matched Gustav Max's Attack at 6000.
Nova shouted, "You really did it, Miles! You matched the Empire's strongest monster with Fusion Summon!"
"And remember whose ground we stand on. It's time to declare the final battle—Battle!!"
Miles thrust his hand forward, launching the attack phase promptly.
The ultimate Sheou—wings aflame, claws flowing with water, body of divine light—confronted Gustav Max head-on with all her power!
"Attack target: Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max! Unleash it, Dragonmaid Sheou—Judgment of the Fourfold Radiance!!"
"If it's mutual destruction you want, then I'll answer—Maximum Firepower Barrage!!"
Radiance clashed with cannon thunder—the two final full-power blows colliding violently within the Shadow Game's barrier.
"Waaaaaahhhhhh!!"
Even outside the barrier, the shockwave threatened to hurl Aisha away. She clung desperately to a tree trunk in the royal garden to keep her footing.
[Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max destroyed]
[Dragonmaid Sheou destroyed]
Equal Attack ended in mutual destruction. Both fields were now empty.
"So this Fusion form to victory—was this the result you sought, Miles?!"
"Tell me, Luca Slint—do you even know whose land you stand upon?"
"—!!"
Luca's body trembled violently.
For a moment, she was thrown back to six months ago, recalling her very first Duel against Miles, who had asked the very same words in the exact same tone.
"This time, the answer is clear—upon the land of Livorden, a nation where Fusion awakens miracles!"
Nova said, "A nation where miracles awaken… Miles, don't tell me you still can—!!"
"I can still win! This is the final piece of victory's puzzle!"
Of the three face-downs Miles had set last turn, only one remained. It was his trump card.
"Trap Card, activate—Miracle's Wake!"
[Target 1 monster in your Graveyard that was destroyed by battle this turn; Special Summon that target.]
Light of miracles pierced the Shadow Game's darkness, returning Sheou to the field.
"Shine to the end—Special Summon! Dragonmaid Sheou!"
[Dragonmaid Sheou, ATK: 3500]
Bathed in radiance, the supreme form of the Dragonmaid revived, wings spread wide once more.
More graceful, more beautiful than any monster, she became the light of hope that pierced into the shadows of Nova's heart.
"This… this is my monster!"
Even as only a soul, a tear traced down Nova's cheek.
That even her soul could react proved it touched her very essence.
The little princess who had once despised Duels now wept at the miracles born from them, loving the game more than anyone.
Perhaps Nova still didn't understand the burdens and resolve a Duelist must carry—but more important than strength or resolve was this yearning, this admiration, pushing her to step forward.
For years, she had stood still in doubt—but now, she felt as though the soul named Miles had gently pushed her ahead.
That soul, gentle and reliable, smiled as it spoke:
"The final strike is yours, Nova!"
"Yes, Miles! On Livorden's soil, together we'll awaken the light of victory's miracle!"
With Sheou back, the direct attack commenced. Her holy body gathered radiant mana, roaring forth to strike Luca directly.
Miles & Nova shouted in unison:
"Direct attack—Miracle's Radiant Victory!!"
"Uwaaaaaahhh!!"
[Luca Slint, LP: 1800 → 0]
The Shadow Game's barrier shattered, and the light of miracle carved the horn of Livorden's counterattack against the Empire.
...
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