Houki continues the duel and she now claims that it's not Meldrick she's dueling. As it stands now, Houki has 2100LP and one facedown with her two monsters being Sun Swordsman Vinto and Moon Swordsman Ventin, both together have 2500 and 2600atk points. Oberin has all his life points with Horrid Noble having 2000atk points with him having Level Blaster and Coffin Seller. However, all that could change. Oberin is determined to ensure things don't go Houki's way. Especially to prevent her from learning the truth of his identity.
"You've fought a good duel, Miss Shinonono, but your ridiculous claims are nothing but your own delusions!" Oberin claimed. "I will see to it that you are finished!" He said as he drew his next card and it ended up being a trap card, a powerful one at that.
"I do hope Houki knows what she's doing." Cecilia said.
"Hoping is about all we can do." Senshi said, but he agrees with Houki on that not really being Meldrick up there. In fact, he's starting to suspect it's the one claiming to be Michael. Meldrick doesn't like this and Oberin better finish this fast.
"Your time in this tournament is going to come to an end!" Oberin claimed. "Remember that Horrid Noble allows me to activate traps from my hand, and I have just the one. I activate the trap Phantasmal Desolation! I must give up a total of 2000LP for me to use this trap card." He said as his life points dropped by half.
"You got rid of half of your life points to use that trap?! What does it do?" Houki questioned.
"It has a steep price, but it's ability is simple. It completely nullifies the special abilities of all your monsters!" Oberin claimed. That means Houki's strong defense is now breaking. Both of her monsters were loosing their power as they were becoming dull and lifeless. When that happened, their powers dropped to 1700 and 1800.
"No! Without their special abilities, Houki can't stop any of his attacks!" Senshi said as that wasn't good for her.
"There's more. Now that I have another trap in my graveyard, Horrid Noble gains even more power!" Oberin claimed with his monsters attack points rising to 2500. "There's nothing that can save you now! Attack her Moon Swordsman for it is the weaker one!" His monster unleashed its power again as a cage formed around Ventin and completely crushed him. That caused Houki's life points to drop to 1300. "There's more! Since you just lost another monster, you end up loosing another 300LP thanks to Coffin Seller!" Houki's life points dropped even more to 1000.
"Houki!" Charlotte called.
"Don't panic. It's not over just yet." Hector said.
"Yeah, but it's not looking good for her at all!" Rin said. "If she doesn't find some way to beat this guy, it's game over!"
"And I would have to say that she has to do it in this turn or it's all over." Laura claimed.
"Come on, guys. Houki's a tough girl. There's no way she's going to lose." Hector said as he was keeping his faith in Houki.
'Come on, Oberin. Finish this before these fools realize the truth of the situation.' Meldrick thought as he needed this to end.
"Your lucky I can't make any more moves." Oberin said. "You thought you cornered me, but it looks like the tables have turned. Your only chance is to summon a high level monster, but if you normal summon it, you will take damage equal to its level thanks to Level Blaster. If you play it safe, all I have to do is destroy your monsters until you run out of life points thanks to Coffin Seller. My apologies, Miss Shinonono, but this duel is over!"
"It's not over as long as I can still duel." Houki said as she tried to be brave. 'Of course, that's easier said than done. Even if I got rid of his two traps, his Horrid Noble will only grow stronger. Can I really beat this guy?' Houki was starting to doubt herself. She talked tough, but it looks like she's starting to give into the pressure.
"This is bad. Houki's starting to doubt herself." Senshi claimed.
"Ichika, isn't there anything Houki can do?" Rin questioned, but even he didn't have an answer to that.
'Is it really over?' Houki questioned as she was hesitant to draw her next card. Everyone was thinking this might actually be it for Houki, but one person didn't.
"Come on! What are you waiting for?!" Hector called and got Houki's attention. "Houki, you said you trust your deck and you trust your instincts. So are you really going to start doubting yourself?"
"Hector..." Houki said.
"Houki, I've seen what you can do. Every time it seemed like it was over, you proved everyone wrong." Hector said. "You showed me that having your friends means you can do anything. Well, your friends are right here. What is there for you to be afraid of?"
"He's right, Houki." Senshi claimed. "No matter what, believe in yourself until the end."
"Hector... Ichika..." Houki said as she was reminded of the important things in her life. "They're right. I've got my friends and I have to believe." She said as she looked at all of them and saw they were all with her. 'Ichika, you've been my oldest friend for such a long time. I really do cherish all the times we had together, and you really have my back. Hector, even though we weren't friends for very long, I'll never forget all that you've done for me.' She thought as she's grateful to both of them.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Hurry up and finish this guy." Hector said.
"I don't need you to tell me that, but thanks again, Hector." Houki said as she felt glad having someone like Hector having her back, even if there were times he just annoyed her. "It's my turn!" She drew her next card and it ended up being Fortune Swordsman. 'Fortune Swordsman! The same card that Ichika gave me! This is one of my most treasured cards! It's a sign that I can't give up, and this guy might be able to help with that!' "Here we go! I summon Fortune Swordsman to the field!" She summoned out her precious monster as it came out with 1000atk points.
"The summoning of that monster brings you one step closer to your demise! Since it's level three, you lose 300LP!" Oberin claimed as Level Blaster activated again with Houki's life points dropping to 700. "That only leaves you with 700LP. One attack is all I'll need to finish this!"
"Not if I finish this now thanks to Fortune Swordsman's ability!" Houki said. "Fortune Swordsman's ability depends on whatever card I draw! If I draw a monster, he can attack directly with double the power! If it's a spell, half of your monster's attack points are taken out and added to my swordsman! However, a trap will mean he's destroyed! I have at least two-thirds of a chance!"
"That's still a risky play, especially when you're down so much." Oberin said.
"Maybe, but as I said before, I believe in my deck. I know it won't let me down." Houki said as she readied herself to draw that card. It all comes down to what she draws next. "Here goes. I draw!" She drew the card and all expected it to be what she needed, but it ended up being a trap.
"No! She drew a trap!" Charlotte said.
"It would seem you didn't believe enough." Oberin taunted.
"Maybe, but I beg to differ on that." Houki said with Oberin confused by that. "I play my face-down, the spell known as Reversal of Fortune! If I activate Fortune Swordsman's ability, I can use this spell card to negate the effect and restart it!"
"What?!" Oberin said as he couldn't believe she could do that.
"I just have to tribute one of my monsters, so goodbye Vinto!" Houki said as she got rid of one of her monsters. "I do believe in my deck, but it pays to have a little insurance. Now, I draw!" She said as she drew her second card. "Yes! It's my trusted Coronix!" She said and showed it was a monster. "That means my swordsman can attack you directly with twice the power!" Fortune Swordsman went and did that as it wielded its sword and went on the attack. It moved past Oberin's monster and slashed against him. Oberin screamed as his life points dropped all the way to zero. When that happened, Senshi noticed his gauntlet cracking. Either way, the duel was over with him dropping down to one knee.
"The winner of the second duel is Houki Shinonono!" Tate announced. Houki might have won, but it didn't feel much like a victory since she believed she dueled a poser. She walked over to him and tried to get answers.
"Well, I won." Houki said. "Still, I don't feel much like a winner because I don't know who you really are."
"You're right, Houki." Senshi said as he stepped out on the field. "Look at his gauntlet." He pointed it out and saw it was damaged. "It broke so easily. That has to be a fake."
"Come on. Fess up already. You're not really Meldrick, are you?" Houki said. Oberin might be one of Meldrick's servants, but he did have some honor unlike the rest of them.
"You won, Miss Shinonono. To honor your victory, you do deserve the truth." Oberin said. "My true name is Oberin. I am the trusted lieutenant to Master Meldrick."
"You are?! Then, who is the real Meldrick?" Houki questioned.
"I believe I know." Senshi said as he looked towards the only person it could be. "Reveal your true identity already!" It would seem it's all over as all has been revealed. Meldrick showed a sign of his identity as he held out his real Mystic Gauntlet.
"Look! Michael has the same glove as that other guy!" Rin pointed out.
"That's right, you fools!" Meldrick said as he dropped the act. "I am the true Meldrick. So, Great Hero... At last we meet face-to-face."
"So you're the real Meldrick!" Senshi called.
'That must mean he's the one who really has Izanami!' Conner acknowledge.
"Michael was actually Meldrick this whole time?" Charlotte questioned.
"Sure looks like that." Hector said.
"Master... Forgive me. I have failed you." Oberin said, but it seemed he was ready to accept his fate.
"I'll deal with your failure another time." Meldrick said. "I was hoping to keep up this act until you least expected my attack, but it would seem that didn't work quite as well. No matter. In the end, the power you possess, Great Hero, will be mine!"
"I don't know what power you desire, but you will never get it!" Senshi claimed. "I'll see to that!"
"What's this power he's talking about?" Houki questioned.
"Master Meldrick and I are from a tribe that have awaited for the time that the Great Hero would return; entrusted to watch over and protect the Mystic Gauntlet, one of the eight artifacts." Oberin claimed. "Master Meldrick is the offspring to the last leader. However, Master Meldrick came to resent what we did. We weren't allowed to associate with the outside world, but Master Meldrick had such an adventurous spirit at such a young age. He couldn't keep himself contained waiting for something that might never come. His father pressured him greatly to follow through with his responsibilities. Unable to take it anymore, Master Meldrick rebelled against his father, and wishes to rid the world of the Great Hero."
"That will never happen!" Senshi claimed.
"We'll see about that. Very soon, our powers will collide. You haven't even see what Izanami: Deity of Destruction can do." Meldrick claimed. "When our two mighty beings collide, there are sure to be fireworks. The power of both deities as, well as the power you hold, could reshape the world! When they do, I shall be the one to reign supreme, and your reign will soon come to an end!" Now that Senshi has seen the face of his real enemy, he will do what he must to stop him. The real Meldrick is still in the game, and his true power hasn't been revealed yet. Meldrick might stand alone now, but his true power shall soon be shown and they will see why Meldrick is someone to be feared.