"So you used Voice of Heaven's Obedience?" Banner chuckled and shook his head. "You once told a Fusion student that using the opponent's monster was still alchemy. That made me rather proud.
It's the essence of alchemy—transmutation. But this card in your hands… will it even help?"
Banner casually tossed the card to Hikaru Amagi, letting him keep it.
"He's right. Hikaru's Extra Deck wouldn't have Invoked monsters," Alexis Rhodes muttered, brow furrowed.
"No, this was brilliant," Chazz Princeton cut in, waving a hand. "Aleister's power is real, but even the strongest monster cards are limited. You can only have three copies in a Deck—that's a core Duel rule!"
"Exactly. If Hikaru can lock Aleister out, the Invoked won't be coming back. Good move," Zane said with a breath of relief.
"But even more important than that!" Atticus Rhodes leaned forward, fired up. "If Hikaru has Aleister, he can boost his own monsters too!"
Hikaru said nothing.
He didn't explain his plan.
To win, he had to execute it exactly—no distractions, no tells.
"The Field Spell's effect: I discard De-Fusion to add another De-Fusion from my Deck to my hand.
Then, I activate De-Fusion's effect in the Graveyard—shuffle Flame Swordsman from my Extra Deck back in, and draw one card!"
Hikaru drew—his hand didn't shake. "Next, I activate Thunder Dragon's effect in hand! I discard one to add two more from my Deck!"
"Then, I send one Thunder Dragon from hand to the Graveyard, triggering Flame Swordsman's Domain—Special Summon Flame Swordsman!"
Flame Swordsman – Level 5, FIRE, Warrior, ATK 1800
"WOOHOO! I won't let you down this time, my liege!" the fiery warrior cried out.
Everyone who could see him… fell silent for a moment.
"I activate the Spell Card—Thunder Fusion!" Hikaru revealed it. "It allows me to return banished, field, or Graveyard monsters to the Deck for a Thunder Fusion summon!"
"Fusion Summon—Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!" Hikaru clapped his hands together.
Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon – Level 8, LIGHT, Thunder, ATK 2800
"Nice! That keeps Invocation from grabbing Hikaru's monsters from the Graveyard!"
"2800… still not enough!"
"But don't forget Flame Swordsman's Domain!"
"Battle!" Hikaru took a deep breath—he was almost there. Now it just depended on Banner's next move.
"Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, attack Invoked Cocytus! Activate Domain's effect—lower Warrior ATK by 1000, raise others by 1000!"
Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon ATK: 2800 → 3800
Labyrinth Tank ATK: 2400 → 3400
Banner watched the lightning dragon charge the WATER Invoked—then… shook his head.
He didn't use Aleister's effect.
"Then—Labyrinth Tank, attack!" Hikaru commanded.
Banner discarded Aleister.
Invoked Mechaba ATK: 3000 → 4000
The little tank charged in—only to meet the full brunt of Mechaba's stone fist.
Hikaru LP: 1100 → 500
"Damn… Hikaru's Life Points are dropping, while Banner hasn't lost a single one!" Alexis whispered, trembling. "This is getting too close…"
If Hikaru loses… what happens to the rest of us?
Will Banner kill us?
Her mind spiraled. Panic gripped her chest.
"Urgh…" Hikaru gasped—his chest felt crushed, every breath like molten iron pouring into his lungs. He clenched his teeth, sweat dripping down his jaw.
"Main Phase 2…"
"No… it can't be… even Hikaru… even he's—!"
"Our strongest—Zane—he already lost…"
"Hayato, Syrus, stop panicking!" Jaden pushed himself to his feet, despite the bruises, the pain, his whole body beaten and broken. "If we don't believe in Hikaru—who will!?
Come on, Hikaru!"
"Yeah! Let's go, Hikaru-kun!" Crowler was the first to join in the cheers.
The rest of the students rallied behind Jaden's cry.
"Hikaru! You alright? Want a hand?" Bastion asked.
Hikaru shook his head. He could still stand.
"I… set one card. Turn end."
"Is this really your limit, Hikaru-kun?" Banner's face dimmed. "If that's all, then I guess there's no need for me to use this card."
The card he was talking about: Grand Beast. A Trap that lets you Special Summon banished Invoked monsters.
He'd prepared it as a backup—if he ran out of Fusion materials.
But if this was all Hikaru could manage, it wouldn't be needed.
"My turn. Draw—Spell Card: Monster Reborn. I discard Wind Spirit Garuda to return Aleister from the Graveyard to my hand!"
He looked at the card, then played it. "Normal Summon—Aleister. Defense Position."
Aleister reappeared.
The students watching seemed shaken—but Jaden's cheers didn't stop, and others followed his lead.
"I add Invocation to my hand. Then—"
"At that moment!" Hikaru coughed, flipping his set card. "Trap Card—Counter Trap—Paradox Fusion!
I banish one face-up Fusion monster I control to activate this. At the end of the next turn, the banished Fusion returns.
I banish Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!
Then—I negate and destroy your Spell or Trap!"
"Didn't think you'd pull out a Counter Trap… and you waited until I had only one Invocation, too. Clever," Banner said with a grin.
He looked at Hikaru's remaining monster—then at his Set card.
"That face-down… it's probably Flame Chain Dragon, isn't it?" Banner stroked his chin. "Otherwise, you'd have banished Flame Swordsman instead of Thunder Dragon."
!!
Hikaru froze.
"You're not wrong," Banner laughed. "Flame Chain Dragon grants 700 ATK. Combined with Aleister's 1000 boost, if I attacked carelessly—I'd walk into a trap.
In that case—I banish the first Water Spirit from my Graveyard. Special Summon—Water Spirit Aquaria! Defense Position!"
Water Spirit Aquaria – Level 4, WATER, Aqua, DEF 1200
His hand held multiple Spirit monsters—support for Invoked. Without Invocation, this was all he could play.
"Turn end."
"My turn—draw…"
"Hold on," Banner raised a hand. "Aquaria's effect activates. It forces one opposing monster to change its battle position. That monster can't switch positions this turn.
Flame Swordsman: ATK → DEF. DEF: 1600"
Hikaru stared at his hand. He was breathing hard, surrounded by his friends' cheers… staring at the card he'd just drawn.
"Didn't draw the finisher?" Tiella asked from his side.
"I've got one more chance!" Hikaru growled. His eyes flicked to De-Fusion in hand.
"Then why not draw it now?" Tiella tilted her head. "Afraid? Want me to lend you more power? If you die—I'll have to wait for someone new. Could take a while."
"Plenty of people here."
"Not like you. You have… something special." She smiled, lifting her staff. "My resurrection ritual needs material. Needs your power. Or maybe that guy's. But he's... not as easy to persuade. So—what do you say?"
Hikaru inhaled deeply.
Beg a god for strength…?
"Hang in there, Hikaru!!" Jaden cried out.
"Let's go!" Zane clenched his fist.
"No!" Hikaru shouted, standing tall. "This turn—we settle this!"
"Oh?" Banner raised an eyebrow. His interest was sparked again.
"I activate Fusion Recycling Plant! I discard the last De-Fusion from my hand to add the final one from my Deck!"
This is the last one...!
"I activate De-Fusion's effect! I banish it to shuffle Black Flame Knight from the Graveyard into the Extra Deck—and draw a card!"
Hikaru yanked the card from his Deck. It slashed the air as if it tore open space—leaving behind a glowing violet scar.
"Whoa…" Tiella actually felt a thrill in her spirit form.
This… is the new era's power?
For the first time—she was genuinely intrigued.
Hikaru glanced at the card, took a breath, then looked up to the planet where Crowler watched.
"Huh?"
"Professor Banner… let me show you my answer!" Hikaru revealed the card. "Quick-Play Spell—Scrap Fusion!"
"YES!!" Zane nearly jumped. "Scrap Fusion! That lets you Fusion using cards from your opponent's Graveyard!"
"You're using… mine?" Banner's eyes narrowed, tapping his book.
"But," Chazz muttered, concerned, "he'd have to know what's in Banner's Extra Deck…"
Does he…?
"I choose Aleister the Invoker and Invoked Cocytus from your Graveyard!"
Banner's eyes flew wide.
"No way!"
"Alchemy is destruction and recreation, purification and refinement! Professor Banner—your Extra Deck must contain Invoked Elysium!"
Hikaru's heart pounded—if it wasn't there… he was finished.
But Banner… laughed. "You're using my materials and my creations now?
Fine, fine! This card was bought with help from Professor Crowler, right?
And now you use it to finish the test I left you?
You are… truly my best student!"
He flipped a card from his Extra Deck.
"Go—Elysium!"
Invoked Elysium – Level 8, LIGHT, Fairy, ATK 2000
A summoner emerged on Hikaru's field—wrapped in steel and mystic plating, transforming into a mechanical colossus: the Invoked of Light.
"Elysium?"
"Hikaru actually knew…"
"Fusion knowledge? Hikaru's got it ALL!" Jaden slammed the glass. "FINISH HIM!!"
"Elysium's effect—when it's Special Summoned: Target one of your opponent's monsters—destroy it!"
BOOM—Invoked Mechaba exploded instantly.
"Tch. That's not enough," Banner said, arms crossed. "That alone won't win the Duel."
"Then—I activate my face-down: Grand Beast!"
"From this card's effect—I Special Summon Invoked Cocytus in Defense Position!"
Cocytus – DEF 2900
"Even if Elysium banishes Labyrinth Tank to gain 2000 ATK—4400 won't be enough to strike through!"
"So this is… your final play?"
Hikaru closed his eyes. "I activate Thunder Fusion in the Graveyard! I banish it to add one Thunder monster from my Deck. I choose Gem-Knight Amber!"
"Hm?"
"Then—Normal Summon: Aleister the Invoker!"
"What!?"
"Wait—!"
"No way!"
"Sorry, Professor… but I've been lying to you the whole time."
"…Heh," Banner blinked, stunned—then started laughing. "Good."
So that's it.
He'd been outplayed.
"Hikaru... I was wrong.
You've long surpassed the limits I set.
You are no longer a student beneath me."
"Aleister's effect—add Invocation!"
"Then—Invocation! I fuse Thunder Dragon and Gem-Knight Amber from hand!
Fusion requirement: Gem-Knight + Thunder!
Shine before me—Gem-Knight Prismaura!"
Gem-Knight Prismaura – EARTH, Thunder, ATK 2450
"Prismaura's effect—discard Gem-Knight Tourmaline, destroy one face-up card—this is it, Professor!"
"Destroy Water Spirit! Battle!
Aleister attacks Aleister!
Domain's effect—Flame Swordsman loses 1000, the others gain 1000!
Prismaura attacks Cocytus!
And finally—Elysium—direct attack!"
Blinding light burst forth, brilliant as the sun—piercing the great dark of space.
The stars trembled.
They fell.
Hikaru Amagi—Victory.