"I send the Trap Card Life Absorbing Machine to the Graveyard, and from the ruins of the collapsed Cursed Golden Land… I call back the undying undead!"

After sending her Continuous Trap on the field to the Graveyard, the monster buried from the Deck by Cursed Eldland—Eldlich the Golden Lord—returned to Queen Hela's hand.

"And with the effect of Eldlich the Golden Lord, after adding this card to my hand, I can Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from my hand with its ATK/DEF increased by 1000!"

Placing the retrieved monster directly onto her Duel Disk, the mysterious lich awakened from the shattered golden ruins stepped onto the battlefield.

"I Special Summon Eldlich the Golden Lord itself—become my strength, Golden Lord!"

[Eldlich the Golden Lord ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 10)][LIGHT][Zombie/Effect][ATK 2500 → 3500 / DEF 2800 → 3800]

Clad in golden armor from head to toe and adorned with extravagant jewelry, the dazzling—almost blinding—golden appearance made Hoshino think of a certain king who loved standing atop streetlamps.

Eve said nervously, "Its ATK jumped straight to 3500… that's higher than any monster on Hoshino's field, isn't it?!"

"Not only that—Magician of Chaos can only use its effect once per turn. Now, let me see how you plan to stop this! Field Spell—Zombie World!"

Opening the hidden Field Zone once more, after the collapse of the Golden Land, Queen Hela replaced the surroundings with a new domain—the land where the dead and undead coexist.

[Zombie World Field Spell Effect: All monsters on the field and in the GYs become Zombie monsters. Neither player can Tribute Summon monsters, except Zombie monsters.]

"Step into a world where only death exists. What awaits you now is the same fate as this lifeless land! By the effect of Zombie World, all monsters on the field and in the Graveyard become Zombie-Type!"

[Magician of Chaos: Spellcaster → Zombie]

[Okita: Warrior → Zombie]

"Huh? I became a Zombie-Type?" Okita pinched her cheek in surprise. "Oh, it's cold… just like a zombie!"

"Okita… you're way too relaxed about this," Hoshino sighed.

"Well, you see…" Okita tugged at her face again. "Heroic Spirits are already dead to begin with, so becoming Zombie-Type doesn't really feel like something to worry about. I'm more curious whether 'undead' means dead or not dead…"

["I think that question matters even less. But if Hela turns all monsters into Zombies… isn't that shooting herself in the foot?"]

Originally, Hoshino had planned to use a hidden Zombie-type Heroic Spirit as a countermeasure. But now that everything was Zombie-Type, the restriction might not matter anymore.

"Awaken in the land of death! Spell Card—Eldlixir of Black Awakening!"

[Eldlixir of Black Awakening: Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from your hand or Deck in Defense Position, but if you control no "Eldlich" monsters, you can only Special Summon "Eldlich" monsters with this effect. For the rest of this turn after this card resolves, you cannot Special Summon, except Zombie monsters.]

"And Quick-Play Spell—Eldlixir of White Destiny!"

[Eldlixir of White Destiny: Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from your hand or GY, but if you control no "Eldlich" monsters, you can only Special Summon "Eldlich" monsters with this effect.]

In one swift motion, Queen Hela activated both spells, Special Summoning Zombie monsters from her hand and Deck.

"Double Summon!—Despair from the Dark!"

[Despair from the Dark ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Zombie/Effect][ATK 2800/DEF 3000]

A formless undead presence—two masses of pitch-black horror—manifested faintly within the land of death.

"Now witness the difference in power—the strongest knight of the underworld! I overlay the two Despair from the Dark as Xyz Materials and perform an Xyz Summon!"

Stacking the two Level 8 monsters, a surge of Xyz energy pierced through the decaying land, forming the figure of a knight.

"—Xyz Summon! Number 23: Lancelot, Dark Knight of the Underworld!"

Hoshino: "(°Д°)!"

["(||ﾟДﾟ)?"]

Okita: "(っﾟДﾟ)っ What are you doing, Sir Lancelot?!"

[Number 23: Lancelot, Dark Knight of the Underworld ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (Rank 8)][DARK][Zombie/Xyz/Effect][ATK 2000/DEF 1500]

[Materials: 2 Level 8 monsters]

The underworld knight, clad in pure white armor and wielding a long sword, had a completely different appearance—yet somehow gave off a familiar "Round Table knight with a daughter complex" vibe.

"Using two 2800 ATK monsters as materials, yet its ATK is actually lower?" Okita observed, then immediately slipped into mockery mode.

"Sir Lancelot, you're not that great, huh? Is this the limit of a 4-star SR card?"

["No, no, this isn't our Lancelot."]

"But it's true the ATK is lower," Eve nodded. "It can't even break my DEF anymore."

"You ignorant, useless shrine maiden!" Hela snapped. "Lancelot's effect—while it has Xyz Material, it can attack directly, ignoring your monsters!"

Entering the Battle Phase, Hela declared Lancelot's attack. The white blade slashed straight toward Hoshino, bypassing Okita.

"Hmph. You think a sneak attack like that can harm my Master? Too naïve, Sir Lancelot."

Okita narrowed her eyes, arms crossed, as the sword's aura brushed past her hair. A confident smile formed on her lips.

Seeing her calm composure, Eve was stunned. "Could it be… Okita Sakura has some hidden effect? As expected of Hoshino's ace monster!"

Okita: "Time to move, starfish head!"

Atem: "—I activate my set Trap Card, Magic Cylinder!"