"Xyz Summon, huh... how interesting, Gloria," Grace murmured.
On the second floor of the Polymerization Club, Grace leaned against the window, holding a tablet, replaying the footage of Cyber Dragon Nova being summoned over and over.
"Hmph, I'm not interested in Xyz Summons," Gloria huffed, staring out the window at the Fusion Club. She clenched her right fist. "Dueling... I want to duel so badly!"
"Geez..." Grace sighed, massaging her temple. "If you want to duel Amaki Hikaru, why not just go over there already?"
"Heh..." Gloria placed her hands on the window frame, leaning her head back against the glass. "That won't work. Without you, Grace, I'd be useless on my own."
She tapped the wall lightly. "We need to become stronger, more fused!"
Grace's playful expression faded. She nodded seriously.
After their last tag duel, they both realized how much stronger Hikaru's fusion was compared to theirs.
If they wanted to challenge him again, they had to grow stronger.
Neither of them even mentioned the new Society of Light that had appeared in the academy, offering power to "see fate."
Because even if they could win that way, it wouldn't matter without stronger fusion. It'd be boring.
"Draw... draw..."
"Huh? What's that guy doing?"
Gloria noticed someone on the ground floor repeatedly practicing drawing cards.
"Syrus... Truesdale?" Gloria tilted her head. "Isn't he the representative of the Polymerization Club? Never dueled him."
"Huh, doesn't he usually play with the regular students? Didn't expect him to secretly practice drawing cards out back." Grace leaned over the window, watching.
"Yeah... strange," Gloria frowned. "Despite being the club's representative, Syrus has never dueled the Fusion Club. He never shows his true dueling skills.
And... isn't he often hanging around Jaden Yuki?"
"Yeah, he calls Jaden 'big bro.' They're pretty close."
"Jaden, huh... Hikaru's friend. Last time, Chazz dueled us, so we didn't get to see that guy's fusion firsthand." Gloria narrowed her eyes, watching Syrus.
They stared a while longer.
"His presence... completely different from usual."
"None of that crazed energy the mainstream Fusion Army soldiers have."
"This guy... is weird."
Piece by piece, they realized, Syrus Truesdale was strange.
But they couldn't quite put their finger on why.
Down in the courtyard, Syrus practiced drawing cards.
'Why!'
'Why!'
Card after card, frustration surged.
Why did his brother abandon Fusion? Why did he use Xyz Summoning now?!
Why... why did the brother, who was always gentle to everyone, say "Disappear, loser" after winning his last duel?
Syrus had always idolized his brother. When Zane helped found the new Polymerization Club, Syrus wanted to join... but fear held him back. He tried multiple times but never joined Hikaru's Fusion Club.
It was only after Hikaru and Zane talked it over that, on Hikaru's suggestion, Syrus joined the Polymerization Club instead.
Because Fusion transcends factions. Fusion is Fusion. Even in the Polymerization Club, many students were still on good terms with Hikaru.
And truthfully, Syrus had been happy there.
Yeah, he'd lost to Aster in front of the freshmen once and embarrassed himself, but whatever, no outsiders saw it. Plus, even Zane lost to Aster afterward, so who cares?
But now;
'Why!'
Why did his brother abandon Fusion after losing to Aster? Why did he choose Xyz? Why... why even abandon respect for his opponents?!
Syrus drew a card.
"Spell Card, Power Bond!" He didn't even need to look. He already knew what it would be. Flipping it revealed, yep, Power Bond.
Syrus was, frankly, incredibly talented.
Even if he slept through an entire semester, cramming would get him through exams.
After joining the Polymerization Club, he'd taken Hikaru's advice, never fully adopting the club's "style." Instead, he quietly trained on his own, like studying.
With this card, Zane gave him, he would accomplish Machine-type Fusion! He'd bring his brother back!
"Xyz Summon... amusing..."
At the Obelisk Blue Dorm, though by now, the building had turned entirely white.
Sartorius sat, legs crossed, chuckling softly as he replayed the broadcast.
In mere days, Sartorius had, through dueling, become the de facto "boss" of Obelisk Blue. He crushed nearly every student and, leveraging his dual identity as "Aster's manager" and "the man who could turn students into pro duelists," ruled the dorm.
Not that it mattered much to him.
"Master Sartorius."
"Master Sartorius."
On either side stood Silver Meteor and Princess Rose, leaders of the Society of Light at the academy.
Silver Meteor, a world champion FPS gamer with a Dreadnought deck. Princess Rose is a literal princess from some country who wields a frog deck.
Silver Meteor had once ranked directly beneath Chazz Princeton. Rose was a duelist even Alexis Rhodes had to respect.
Both were instantly brainwashed into "White" uniforms after losing to Sartorius.
"Master Sartorius, if you command, we'll challenge Zane Truesdale immediately!" Silver Meteor spun his fingers rapidly, eager to show loyalty.
He had originally dueled with Sartorius to reach the pro leagues. But now, completely indoctrinated, his loyalty was absolute.
"No... Xyz, Fusion, Synchro, t doesn't matter," Sartorius smiled. Purple light gleamed in his eyes. "What's more important than an Xyz duelist... is the Wheel of Destiny within the academy.
Just as fate, not me, guided you all... Open the door."
Confused, several students reached for the door.
Knock knock knock
Two Society members opened it. In walked a duelist wearing a black bowler hat, carrying a briefcase, and wearing a blatantly fake grin.
"You called for me, Master Sartorius."
A pro duelist.
A duelist notorious for destroying "bonds." Many who lost to him quit dueling altogether.
Sartorius nodded.
Yes... Sending him to chase the sun was perfect.
"Long time no see. Glad to see you healthy," Sartorius greeted. Then casually flicked a card toward him.
The man caught it, glanced at the text, and for once, his fake smile grew sincere.
"Well, well..." X doffed his hat in salute. "So... who's the target? Jaden Yuki from Slifer Red? Something about your deal with Napoleon?"
"No. Someone else has plans for Jaden."
Sartorius idly shuffled his tarot deck, then drew a card.
Death.
He looked at X. "I want you to challenge... the Sun."
"T-The Sun?!" X's grin cracked as he glanced nervously at the sky.
'You want me to duel THAT?!'
"Not that Sun. I mean the Fusion Club's president, Amagi Hikaru."
"Ah. Understood." X relaxed, pocketing the card, adjusting his jacket. "The Absolute Fusionist, huh? Makes sense you'd call me.
Rest assured. I'll crush his so-called 'Fusion' with my deck designed to destroy decks themselves!"