"So, what was the final result of the duel?" Hoshino Alter asked curiously.
["Just look at how dejected he is. There's no way he won."]
Indeed, Hoshino Alter knew very well how strong the Nine Realms Kings were. Even the academy's king, Zane, had struggled—there was no way an ordinary student could win.
But the reason Hoshino Alter asked was because, although Minazuki sometimes seemed even more scatterbrained than Jaden, at critical moments his explosive potential was not to be underestimated—whether it was his first duel against Misawa, or his comeback against Chazz.
So… what if?
Minazuki awkwardly shook his head.
"Figures he lost." The result didn't surprise anyone present.
"I didn't lose. To be precise… the duel never even started."
"Never started?" Syrus shot him a suspicious look. "If that much time passed without a duel, then Minazuki, you really did do that kind of thing with the elf lady, didn't you?!"
"Unforgivable! And you even tried to lie to us!"
The flames of jealousy were reignited. The boys—so pure that only the raging fires of the FFF Brigade burned in their hearts—were ready to cross even the limits of the Elf Kingdom just to punish him.
"Wait. Let him explain first." Spreading his arms to block the others from pouncing, Misawa said sternly, "After he finishes explaining, we can burn him."
Minazuki sighed. "Think about it—when I was dragged away…"
Syrus recalled, "Dragged away? I remember you getting all excited, tossing off your Red Dorm jacket and muttering something like, 'There are limits to dueling. I'm done with duels.'"
"What I threw away wasn't just my jacket." With empty hands, Minazuki presented proof of why he couldn't duel. "I thought I was going to do that kind of thing with the elf lady, so I threw away my Duel Disk and deck too."
Everyone: "== Now that you mention it… he really doesn't have a Duel Disk."
"Oh ho ho, how interesting, human boys~" Covering her mouth as she laughed softly, Queen Mardel's exquisite eyes curved into beautiful crescents.
"I adore human boys the most. Of course, I don't dislike cute girls either."
"!!!"
The charm of a mature woman, combined with those provocative words—how could these pure-hearted boys and girls, rich in theory but nearly zero in practical experience, not be flustered?
"Queen Mardel, if you love humans so much, why invade the academy? Why attack the human world?" On the other side, Hoshino Alter, completely unmoved by mature allure, cut straight to the point.
"You misunderstand, dear Duel Headmistress." Though it was her first time meeting Hoshino Alter, Mardel clearly knew who she was. "Or perhaps… Princess of Atlantis would be more appropriate?"
Hoshino was shocked. "This elf knows a lot?"
Queen Mardel continued, "You're wrong to say I love humans. I only love pure and kind boys and girls. As for humans with ugly hearts—I despise them."
With a slender finger, she pointed lightly at the palace wall. The entire interior shifted as though a Duel Disk had projected a Field Spell.
"And unfortunately, humans with ugly, greedy hearts make up the overwhelming majority."
War. Famine. Death. Plague.
The scenes that unfolded before them were like a condensed thousand-year chronicle of humanity's darkest history—embodying the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
"This Kingdom was born from pure, immaculate energy. Its purpose and mission are to purify the negative energy generated across nations and worlds."
As the projection of humanity's dark history ended, the palace walls turned transparent and sank into the lake beneath the rainbow bridge.
The once-clear, immaculate waters grew darker the deeper one looked.
Rot. Corpses. Indescribable filth came into view.
"The Lake of Spirits is a sacred place meant to purify the negative energy of every world. But over the past century, the exponential rise of war and greed within human society has surpassed the lake's capacity. It has begun to corrode this holy sanctuary, which has existed for ten thousand years since the birth of the World Tree."
"Urgh…" The grotesque manifestations of humanity's darkest emotions struck the academy students deeply.
As if invisible black hands were clutching their stomachs, they couldn't help but gag.
"Seeing this, I believe you understand my reason for invading the human world."
Having witnessed this sight countless times, Queen Mardel showed no emotional fluctuation as she stated calmly:
"If humanity continues its limitless expansion, the Lake of Purification will inevitably collapse. And when it does, the destruction of the World Tree will arrive even before Ragnarok."
Hoshino Alter demanded, "So, to prevent the lake from being destroyed, you intend to destroy humanity first…?"
"Do you think humans are the only race across countless worlds? Don't be so selfish. To preserve the continuation of the majority of races, sacrificing a single race—humanity—is a necessary sacrifice. Is that not correct?"
["Of course that's not correct!"]
"Of course it's not! The theory of sacrificing one person to save ten is fundamentally flawed from the very start!"
"Oh? How interesting." Queen Mardel narrowed her eyes at Hoshino Alter with a smile. "Because the Kingdom must absorb and purify negative energy from every world, as queen I can observe and record all 'history' that has occurred. Including everything that happened to you, Hoshino Chiyuki."
["So that's why she even knows our Atlantis identity."]
"What a complex and arduous life you've had, Hoshino Chiyuki. A member of Atlantis royalty—beings closer to planetary deities—yet you overturned the King of Atlantis and saved the human world multiple times… And in the very end, what did you receive?"
"What did I receive?" Hoshino Alter frowned slightly.
"After saving the world, did you gain reverence? Honor? Wealth? The humans you saved… did they grant you a reward befitting your achievements?"
"Senpai, what is she talking about?" Alexis had been unable to fully follow the exchange between Hoshino Alter and Queen Mardel. After all, only a handful of people in the world truly knew about Hoshino's battles.
"This sort of thing has happened countless times in human history," Queen Mardel continued. "The saint who saved her nation—burned as a heretic. The hero who slew the dragon—betrayed by humanity in the end…"
"Are such humans truly worth saving, Hoshino Chiyuki?"
"Heh… Queen Mardel, you misunderstood from the very beginning." Hoshino Alter smiled from the bottom of her heart.
If it were anyone else, they would probably have been unable to refute the examples Queen Mardel had given.
But the Master of Chaldea was different. When it came to the tragic heroes of history who were left with regrets, no one was more familiar with them, understood them better, or empathized with them more than their Master.
"The ones I saved, the saints who guided others, and the great feats accomplished by heroes—none of them took that step in order to gain something. They acted to uphold the justice that has existed in humanity's heart since the very beginning!"
Save the world for admiration or wealth? Hoshino would never risk her life for something so shallow.
"Hahahaha, well said, Hoshino!" Kaiba Man praised. "Only that can truly be called a partner of justice!"
["The other me… when it comes to speeches, you might even be better than I am."]
"The justice that has existed in humanity's heart from the very beginning, hm?" Queen Mardel nodded slightly and smiled. "As expected, you have not disappointed me, Hoshino Chiyuki—and the proud duelists of Duel Academy."
Looking toward Minazuki and the others, Queen Mardel said, "From the moment I took a hostage, I had already decided this. If you were willing to step into an unfamiliar kingdom to save your companion, then I would give humanity one more chance."
"One more chance for humanity?"
"Duel!" Branches and roots wrapped around Queen Mardel's slender arm, forming an emerald-green Duel Disk. "As one of the Kings of the Light Realm, I issue you a King's Duel. Imbue your decks with the resolve in your hearts. If you can suppress the King, I will abandon my invasion of the human world!"
Hoshino Alter pondered silently. "Imbue our decks with the resolve in our hearts… Or just like Eve said, is it necessary to fight using the same race to truly suppress the power of the Nine Realms King?"
["But I don't have any Plant-type cards at all. And among the Heroic Spirits… who would even be a Plant-type?"]
"Perhaps this is fate." Activating her Duel Disk, Hoshino Alter smiled confidently. "A battle to suppress her using Plant-types? Leave this one to me, aibo!"
["Hey—did you secretly pull cards again? I don't remember ever drawing any Plant-type Heroic Spirits."]
Standing directly across from Queen Mardel, Hoshino Alter inserted her deck into the Duel Disk, ready for battle.
"Syrus, lend me your Duel Disk!" Before the duel could begin, Minazuki took it from Syrus. "Since I was the one taken hostage, there's no way I can just stand by and watch Headmistress fight alone."
"But Minazuki, when you were taken away, didn't you throw away your deck too?" Misawa asked, puzzled.
"I happened to bring a spare deck today." Pulling it from his pocket, he loaded it into the Duel Disk with flair. "Imbue your deck with the resolve in your heart. A true duelist's deck is destined from the moment it's chosen!"
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Hoshino Alter, facing Queen Mardel, Minazuki requested, "Is that okay, Headmistress? Queen Mardel? Let me join this fight."
"This feels completely different from before, boy~" Queen Mardel said with interest. "I can sense a resolve within you that refuses to bow to a King. What changed?"
"Because I was moved by what Headmistress just said! As a true duelist, the fire of justice in my heart has been ignited!"
Hoshino Alter praised him, "Minazuki, as expected of the Duel Queen of our academy. In terms of presence, you don't lose at all to the Elf Queen across from us!"
"How interesting. Then come at me together. But do not think that numbers alone can bridge the gap between you and a King."
Duel—!
[Queen Mardel LP 8000]
VS
[Hoshino Alter & Minazuki LP 8000]
"I'll go first!" Hoshino Alter drew her card and began the first turn.
"From my hand, the effect of Heroic Spirit – Cu Chulainn Alter!"
[This card cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned from the hand by sending 1 "Cu Chulainn" monster from your hand to the Graveyard.]
"I discard Heroic Spirit – Cu Chulainn from my hand and Special Summon the Alter form to my field in Attack Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Cu Chulainn ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)][DARK][Warrior/Effect][ATK 2800/DEF 2000]
A pitch-black aura formed into the sharp armor of a berserk king. The frequently appearing "Doggo" finally made his entrance in his darkened form.
"Then I set two cards and end my turn!"
[Hoshino Alter: 2 Hand Cards | 2 Set Cards]
"My turn, then. Draw." Queen Mardel drew and gently placed a monster onto her Duel Disk. "Allow me to show you the beautiful form of a King of the Light Realm. I Normal Summon in Defense Position—"
[Rikka Petal ★ (Level 1)][WATER][Plant/Effect][ATK 0/DEF 0]
"Next, the effect of Rikka Petal. During my Main Phase, I can add 1 'Rikka' monster from my Deck to my hand, except 'Rikka Petal,' or send it to the Graveyard."
After adding the searched card, Queen Mardel declared, "I activate the special effect of Mudan the Rikka Fairy that I just added to my hand. By Tributing the Plant monster on my field—Rikka Petal—I Special Summon this card from my hand in Defense Position!"
[Mudan the Rikka Fairy ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][WATER][Plant/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 2400]
Dressed in elegant Eastern attire and holding a crystal flower parasol, the fresh and graceful peony spirit was Special Summoned onto the field.
"So this is her monster… It's truly adorable," Hoshino Alter thought to herself.