Chapter 222 - 222

"The power isn't just one—could it be that Marik's has more than just the Winged Dragon of Ra?" Hoshino's mind spun as she mulled over the idea. Up until now, she'd never fully grasped how this world defined its so-called "gods." If Yugi's Exodia the Forbidden One could be considered a god, then maybe anything flashy and powerful with "god" slapped onto its name got the same VIP status. "Since they're not one of my own kind, I can't define them for you," the Evil God chimed in, her voice laced with a playful chuckle. She seemed to thrive on Hoshino's confusion. "The idea of gods here has always been… vague, to say the least. If we're measuring godhood by history and tradition, then tell me, girl—doesn't that make me a god as well?" Hoshino glanced at the goth lolita perched on her bed, legs swinging like a smug child. She didn't look remotely like a god. Honestly, the Evil God was more like a power-hungry creation dreamed up by Pegasus to mess with the Egyptian Gods—no history, no mythology, just raw chaos in cute packaging. The Evil God smirked and tilted her head. "But if we're talking about raw, overwhelming power—well, I'd argue I'm far more deserving of the title than some glorified golden chicken." Hoshino raised an eyebrow. If she hadn't seen the Evil God's strength firsthand, she'd probably write her off as just another eccentric duel monster with delusions of grandeur. But she had seen it, and she wasn't dumb enough to dismiss the goth's bold words completely. "So, what's you want?" Hoshino asked, folding her arms. "You wouldn't be dropping all these without a price tag, right?" The Evil God grinned like a cat about to pounce. "Of course! Let's talk business—the price you'll pay to wield my power. If you want to take down someone wielding the strength of multiple gods, I'm the only ace you've got." "Here we go…" Hoshino scratched her head, letting out a long sigh. "Alright, hit me. You're after my soul, aren't you?" The goth's eyes lit up with delight, practically sparkling at the mention of it. "Not bad, you catch on quick!" Her tongue darted out to lick her lips in a disturbingly eager way. "Your soul is so deliciously tempting. I've already had a taste, and now I want more~" "Ah, so you want me to sign my soul away and end up as your puppet? Like Yako, right? You wanna turn me into your mindless little puppet?" Hoshino's words were sharp, her voice calm but edged with defiance. She wasn't about to let her guard down, not even for a second. No matter how cute the Evil God looked, Hoshino knew she was a wolf in lolita clothing. After all, it had taken the full might of Obelisk the Tormentor to force her true form to back off last time. If this little goth ever got back to full power, Hoshino doubted the rematch would go in her favor. The Evil God leaned in closer, her nails tracing light lines over Hoshino's hand. "Oh, don't be so dramatic, girl. It's not that kind of contract. It's simple—equivalent exchange." She smiled sweetly, though the glint in her eye was anything but innocent. "You borrow my power, you give me a tiny slice of your soul. That's all." Hoshino yanked her hand back like she'd been burned. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm good." "Huh?!" The goth lolita's mouth hung open, her eyes wide with disbelief. She looked like someone who had just been told Santa Claus wasn't real. Hoshino smirked and rubbed the spot where the Evil God's nails had grazed her. "You're missing two things here, 'God.'" The goth blinked. "Two things?" Hoshino raised one finger, flicking the girl's forehead with enough force to make her flinch. "First, I'm confident I can beat Marik without your help." The goth pouted, rubbing her forehead with exaggerated drama. "Confidence? That's cute, but don't underestimate what you're up against. You got lucky before—facing someone who holds power equal to mine isn't a game, girl." Raising a second finger, Hoshino's smile turned icy. "Second, you're forgetting your place. You're on my turf." Before the goth could respond, glowing chains shot out of nowhere, binding her arms and legs. She yelped in surprise, struggling futilely against the restraints. "Master, don't you think you're being a bit harsh?" Enkidu's soft, amused voice echoed through the room as he stepped forward, the Chains of Heaven taut in his hands. "Let's hope you don't end up as Gil." Hoshino crossed her arms, letting the Millennium Bracelet's energy pulse faintly around her. At this point, summoning Heroic Spirit didn't even require a duel disk anymore—just a flick of her will. "Sorry, but someone needs to teach this little 'God' some manners." The goth thrashed against the chains, growling under her breath. "Ugh, again these damn chains!" She clearly hadn't forgotten how the Chains had neutralized her during their rooftop battle. She gritted her teeth, knowing full well she couldn't break them in her current weakened state. Hoshino grinned as she stepped closer. "You thought you could get a deal with me? Let's just say I'm about to give you a crash course in duel monster etiquette." Her voice was almost sweet, but her intentions were anything but. "W-wait, no—please, let's talk about this!" the goth stammered, her tough demeanor crumbling in an instant. "Talk? Of course, we talk," Hoshino replied with a devilish glint in her eye. "But first, let's see how you're body...." (Due to an overly harmonious scene, please imagine it yourself.) The goth lolita lay sprawled on the bed, her hair a mess and tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. Her breathing was ragged, and she trembled as if she'd just survived a battle. "To think… you'd tickle me… Such humiliation…" she muttered weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. Hoshino tossed the feather she plucked on Wavers fan aside, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "Well, that was surprisingly effective. I should've done this sooner." "You're a monster!" the goth squeaked, sitting up and clutching her sides protectively. She eyed Hoshino with a mix of fear and grudging respect. "Y-you are a demon in human skin…" "Oh, don't be so dramatic. As long as you behave, we'll get along just fine," Hoshino replied, her smile as sharp as a knife. The unspoken threat in her tone made the goth shrink back a little. [Announcement: All eight finalists, please gather in the main hall. The final duel of Battle City is about to begin.] "So, it's starting already?" Hearing the announcement blaring outside her room, Hoshino scrambled, feeling a pang of panic. Man, time flies when you're disciplining a cheeky Evil God. "Saved… I'm saved!" The goth lolita Evil God collapsed dramatically on the bed, wiping away imaginary sweat from her brow. "Finally, freedom from your madness." Meanwhile, Hoshino had her hands on her system interface, sighing loudly. "All because of you, Evil God-san. You distracted me, and I almost forgot the most important thing—my deck!" "Hold up—how is this my fault?" The Evil God glared, but Hoshino ignored her completely, already swiping through the system. "Alright, alright," Hoshino muttered, her finger hovering over her last summon ticket. "Let's just do this. Time for some backup." She hit confirm, and as the summoning animation kicked in, the room exploded with golden light. Out from the light stepped the golden man himself: Kintoki, decked out in all his flashy, golden glory. "Yo, Boss!" he grinned, throwing up his trademark peace sign. "We hittin' the stage, or what? Let's ride!" Hoshino laughed, reaching up for a high-five. "You're damn right we are. Let's show 'em how it's done!" "Hell yeah!" Kintoki smacked her hand with a grin so bright it could've rivaled the summoning light. "This feels right, y'know? Me, you—tearin' it up together again. Damn, this is the kinda reunion I live for!" (***) Main Hall – "Chiyuki, you're here!" Mai called out as Hoshino walked in, Akasha trotting along beside her with her cheeks stuffed full of snacks. "Did you get some rest?" Hoshino ruffled Akasha's hair gently before replying. "I did. Feeling completely refreshed. It's like all the exhaustion just melted away." "Good. You'll need that energy for what's coming," Mai said, though her tone was light. Akasha, still chewing, gave Hoshino a thumbs-up. "Is everyone here?" Kaiba asked, stepping forward impatiently. He barely waited for the staff to approach him before pressing for answers. "Uh, Kaiba-sama," one staff member said cautiously. "The eighth contestant boarded the airship just before takeoff, but they haven't arrived in the hall yet—" "Doesn't matter," Kaiba cut him off, waving a hand impatiently. "The final prey's already trapped. We're not wasting time waiting." Hoshino couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "He's always so calm and patient, isn't he?" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. Yugi, standing nearby, gave her a small smile. "You ready for this?" "Yeah," Hoshino replied, straightening her posture. Her confidence shone through her words as she added, "I was born ready." Kaiba took center stage, his booming voice commanding the room's attention. "We'll now draw lots to determine the match order! This lottery machine will decide the pairings fairly." The staff dramatically unveiled the lottery machine, and the room collectively froze in silence. "What… the hell is that?" Hoshino asked, her face twisting in disbelief. Standing before them was a machine shaped like a three-headed chibi Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The middle head held a transparent container filled with small, numbered yellow balls. The two side heads drooped downward, as though they were ready to spit out the results. Jonouchi squinted at the lottery machine. "Uh, is it just me, or does that look kinda ridiculous?" Kaiba, unbothered, folded his arms. "It's the lottery machine of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Obviously." "Obviously?" Hoshino deadpanned. "This thing screams fanboy. I mean, come on—why does it even need three heads? Shouldn't this be called the Ultimate Blue-Eyes Lottery Machine?" Kaiba ignored her snark, continuing like nothing happened. "Numbers 1 through 8 represent each contestant. The machine will spit out two numbers at a time, and those contestants will duel. The next draw will happen after each match." Yugi nodded thoughtfully. "So we won't know who we're up against until our number is drawn. That makes sense." Mokuba ran over, handing out numbered cards to everyone. "Here, Hoshino—this is your number." Hoshino glanced at her card. "Number four, huh? Doesn't feel particularly lucky, but I'll take it." Kaiba raised his hand, signaling for the machine to begin. The staff turned the lever and the three chibi Blue-Eyes heads lit up with flashing lights. After a few seconds, the machine emitted a comically exaggerated blorp sound, spitting out two yellow balls. "Ugh…" Hoshino cringed as the machine let out a guttural blorp sound, spitting out two yellow balls. "Did it just sound like it threw up? Who designed this thing?" The staff ignored her commentary, reading the numbers aloud. "The first match of the Battle City elimination round will be between contestant number 4…" Hoshino checked her number again. "That's me." The room immediately grew tense. Everyone watched as the staff continued. "…and contestant number 7!" "Who's got number 7?" Jonouchi asked, glancing down at his card. "Not me." Yugi shook his head. "Not me either." "It's me." The deep, steady voice came from Odion, who had been leaning silently against the wall. His calm demeanor was unsettling, his presence commanding attention as he stepped forward. Kaiba barely glanced at him before muttering, "A Rare Hunter. How disappointing." "The elimination round will take place in the special arena—Sky Duel Field—at the top of the airship!" a staff member announced dramatically, pointing toward the ceiling. "The Sky Duel Field?" Hoshino tilted her head slightly. Kaiba smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "It's the ultimate stage, built for the ultimate showdown. Nothing less would suffice." "Contestants, please take the designated elevator to the Sky Duel Field," the staff member instructed. "Spectators may take the stairs to the viewing area." "Alright, let's head up there!" Jonouchi shouted, already jogging toward the staircase. Inside the elevator, Hoshino stood quietly beside Odion. The confined space made the silence between them feel heavier than it should. "Thank you," Odion said suddenly, breaking the tension with his low, steady voice. Hoshino blinked, caught off guard. "Thank me? For what?" Odion didn't answer right away, and the silence returned, even thicker than before. Hoshino tried to puzzle it out. Was he thanking her for sparing him during their earlier encounter? Or maybe for returning the Millennium Rod to Marik? Whatever his reason, it remained a mystery. Then, in the back of her mind, the Evil God's soft voice interrupted her thoughts. "Girl, that man… he carries a god." Hoshino's brow furrowed. "Wait, Odion has a god card? But isn't the Winged Dragon of Ra with Marik?" (****) Hey, this is just a draft of my fanfic. It's not finished yet, but I'd like to get your opinions on what to add or if I need to work on the plot. It's basically a mashup of anime worlds with a slice-of-life feel. Nothing too serious, I just had this idea bouncing around in my head for the past two weeks and wanted to write it down. PS. I don't know what I will title about this (***) My name's Aoki Rin. I'm a 16-year-old guy, and my family just moved back to Japan from the US because of my dad's job. Today's my first day at high school, and, well… let's just say it's already shaping up to be one hell of a day. "Mom!" I yelled, practically at the top of my lungs. "Help!" It only took her a few seconds to storm into my room, her apron still on and a spatula in hand, like she was ready to fight someone. "What's wrong? Why are you shouting? And why the hell aren't you dressed yet? It's your first day! You're gonna be late!" Mom stood in the doorway, eyes sharp, her hair tied up in that messy bun she always wore while cooking. She looked like your typical Japanese mom—except, honestly? She was kinda a level above. Good genes, I guess. "I don't know where my uniform is," I said, already bracing myself for the inevitable scolding. Her eyes narrowed like I'd just told her I lost a winning lottery ticket. "Are you blind? It's hanging right there," she said, pointing. "That's not my uniform." She blinked. "What do you mean it's not your uniform? We bought it last week, remember?" She frowned now, gripping her spatula tighter, like she was debating whether to throw it at me. "Yeah, I remember," I said, shaking my head. "But that is not the one we bought." "What are you even talking about?" She tilted her head, her expression shifting from irritation to confusion. "Just look at it." I pointed at the uniform hanging on the rack. It was a black suit with sleek silver linings on the edges, way too fancy-looking for a normal high school. And then there was the logo embroidered on the blazer: Tokyo International Academy. The whole thing screamed money, like something straight out of a drama about elite private schools. Now, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I knew that wasn't the school I'd enrolled in. "…And what's the problem? It doesn't fit you?" "No! That's not my school!" I snapped, running a hand through my hair. We've only been in Japan a month since moving back, so yeah, I'm still figuring out the area. But one thing I do know? My school is just a regular high school. No fancy "Academy" in the name, no expensive-looking uniforms. It's supposed to be simple—like the ones you'd see in Japanese movie. "That is your school," Mom said, waving me off like I was wasting her time. "Now quit whining and get ready. Your dad's gonna give you a ride." "Mom, I'm serious." I looked her dead in the eye. There was no way she actually believed this. She stared back, and then—out of nowhere—walked up to me, grabbed my shoulders, and said, in the most serious tone imaginable: "…Are you on drugs?" Her nails dug into my shoulders, sharp enough to hurt. "No, I'm not!" I shouted, shrugging her hands off. She started laughing. "Relax! I'm joking! Jeez, calm down. You're probably just nervous or something, and now you're saying weird stuff. Go put the uniform on already—you don't wanna screw up on your first day." And just like that, she patted my shoulder and walked out of the room. "Hah…" I let out a long sigh, staring at the door after she left. What a bizarre way to start the day. Figuring it wasn't worth fighting about, I decided to just wear the uniform. Better to play along than risk Mom hitting me with that damn spatula. … I stood in front of the mirror, turning side to side. Okay, I'll admit—it wasn't bad. The material was high-quality, smooth against my skin, and it fit perfectly. Whoever designed this thing knew what they were doing. I checked myself out in the mirror. Not to sound narcissist or anything, but I didn't look half-bad. Above average, at least. My hazel eyes, which I got from Dad, always stood out, especially against the sharp black of the uniform. "Hmm. Not bad," I muttered. For some reason, wearing this made me feel… I don't know, classy. Rich, even. "Rin! Get down here and eat! You're gonna be late!" Mom's voice echoed up the stairs. "Coming!" I shouted back, grabbing my bag. Sёarch* The NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And then, bam! My foot slammed right into the doorframe. Pain shot up my leg, and I almost dropped my bag. "Fuck!" I hissed, clutching my foot. "What the hell was that!?" Mom yelled from downstairs. "Nothing!" I shouted back, gritting my teeth through the pain. This day was cursed, I swear. .... By the time I got to the table, Dad was already sitting there, sipping coffee and watching the morning news. Mom was busy refilling his cup while munching on some egg rolls. "So," Dad said, glancing at me over the rim of his mug. "Your mom says you're acting nervous and saying weird stuff about school." I ignored his comment and asked, "Dad, what's the name of my school?" He raised an eyebrow at me but didn't look away from the TV. "Tokyo International Academy," he said casually. Motherf—! I stared at him, waiting for some sign that he was messing with me. But no. His face stayed completely neutral, and his lips didn't even twitch. That's how I knew he wasn't lying—Dad's a terrible liar. "See? I told you it's your school," Mom chimed in, popping another egg roll into her mouth like she hadn't just turned my whole life upside down. "I—" I started, but before I could say anything else, the TV cut me off. [Breaking News: A 27-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a high school boy on the train.] I stared at the screen, my jaw dropping. What the hell was this morning? First my school, now this? "Hah, the woman these days," Mom said, clicking her tongue. "If they frustrated, they should just hire an escort or something." "Yeah," Dad agreed, as if this was a normal thing to talk about over breakfast. I choked on my rice. "Mom, don't take the news so seriously! And Dad, why are you agreeing with her!?" I tried to steer the conversation back to the school situation. "Anyway, just listen to what I'm saying about the sch—" Bam! Mom slammed her hands on the table, making me jump. "Rin! What the hell are you saying!?" she barked, leaning over until her face was inches from mine. "All women are beasts, Rin!" I blinked at her, unsure if she was joking or not. She looked dead serious. "…Mom. Are you on drugs?" (*****) If you'd like to read 25 chapters ahead, please consider joining my Patreon: patreon.com/ANeet. Your support means a lot. Thank you!