"Graveyard effects... w-what?!" X stammered.
"Hmph. The process of Fusion is about breaking down, rebuilding, refining, and sublimating," Hikaru said casually. "In other words, it's the process of Alchemy."
Shaking his head, Hikaru continued, "Sorry, you picked the wrong opponent. For me, the Graveyard has never been a monster's 'cemetery.' It's a place where they recycle, recover, and ascend."
"Wha... what?!"
"El Shaddoll Wendigo's effect activates. When it's sent to the Graveyard, I add a 'Shaddoll' Spell or Trap to my hand.
And Elder Entity N'tss's effect, when it's sent to the Graveyard, I destroy one card on the field."
Two spectral figures rose behind Hikaru as X shivered.
"I destroy your face-down Trap, and add 'El Shaddoll Fusion' from my Graveyard to my hand."
KRRSH!
A Sakuretsu Armor exploded.
"Well, that checks out." Hikaru grinned.
X was completely defenseless now. He could only watch.
"Whoa! Hikaru's insane!"
"Yeah, he's got everything he needs now!"
"Not just that!" Hikaru flipped a set card. "Activate, Shaddoll Schism! I banish monsters from my Graveyard to Fusion Summon a 'Shaddoll'!"
"I banish El Shaddoll Wendigo and Burstinatrix! Fusion Summon, El Shaddoll Grysta!"
The colossal monster crashed down.
"Still, you have to mill more cards!"
"Heh, I already said. That's fine!"
[El Shaddoll Grysta] Level 7│FIRE│Rock│2450 ATK
Hikaru milled 7 cards from the top of his Deck. "Fusion is a process of sublimation!"
"Now, it's time for recovery." Hikaru flipped another face-down. "Trap Card, Fragment Fusion! I banish the listed Fusion Materials from my Graveyard to Fusion Summon!
I banish Gem-Knight Crystal and Gem-Knight Sapphire to summon, Gem-Knight Aquamarine!"
[Gem-Knight Aquamarine] Level 6│EARTH│Aqua│1400 ATK
Six more cards slid into his Graveyard.
Even with a 60-card deck, Hikaru was rapidly approaching deck-out.
...But X had an answer. His Set monster was Morphing Jar.
If Hikaru attacked, its effect would trigger, both players discard their hands and draw five cards. That would win him the duel.
Plus, Gravity Bind was still live. Hikaru couldn't attack.
"Your Prismaura went to the Graveyard earlier, right? You can't destroy Gravity Bind anymore!" X reassured himself. He'd seen it.
"Heh... Fusion is a process of circulation, X." Hikaru raised a card in his Graveyard.
"W-what?!"
"I activate Fusion Substitute's effect! I banish it from the Graveyard, return one Fusion Monster from my Graveyard to the Extra Deck, and draw a card! I return, Gem-Knight Prismaura!"
"Aaargh!!"
"No matter the time, the place, or the field, I will always believe in FUSION!" Hikaru declared, raising his Duel Disk high. "No one can stop me!"
"Continue Fusion! Activate Spell, Gem-Knight Fusion! This lets me Fusion Summon a 'Gem-Knight' using monsters from my field or hand!
I fuse Aquamarine and Tourmaline from my hand!"
"Fusion Summon, my first and most beloved Gem-Knight... Gem-Knight Prismaura!"
Brilliant lights crashed down as the white-crystal-armored warrior materialized.
[Gem-Knight Prismaura] Level 7│EARTH│Thunder│2450 ATK
Hikaru milled 7 more cards.
Honestly, it felt kind of good.
It had been a long time since Hikaru fought a duel this rich.
He glanced at his Graveyard.
"Since Aquamarine was sent from the field to the Graveyard, its effect activates! Return your face-down monster to the hand!"
'Crap.'
X stared, horrified. Morphing Jar bounced back to hand.
On the field stood Prismaura, Grysta, and Thunder Dragon Titan, each a representation of Hikaru's mastery over Fusion.
"Well then... I think everyone knows where this is going now." Hikaru raised his left hand.
"Understood!!" a student yelled.
"Gem-Knight Fusion in the Graveyard!!" Dimitri cheered.
The entire Fusion Club roared in chorus:
"Banish a 'Gem-Knight' from the Graveyard to recover Gem-Knight Fusion!"
"Prismaura's effect, discard a 'Gem-Knight' card to destroy a face-up card!"
"Destroy Gravity Bind!"
Prismaura aimed at Gravity Bind. The lance flared, shattering the trap into light.
Hikaru chuckled.
'Man, this duel is cathartic.'
When else could you play an ultra-upgraded Jewels-Tears Shaddoll deck with 30+ cards dumped for free?
He glanced at his hand.
'Instant Fusion... and De-Fusion.'
With this board, a quick Fusion into Trishula followed by De-Fusion could OTK an 8000 LP opponent easily.
'...Nah.'
No need for Trishula. X helped set up this crazy field. Might as well show mercy.
Even without flipping Falco, and with half his Graveyard unused, Hikaru could take on a field of Sacred Beasts at this point.
Running his hand through his hair, Hikaru grinned.
"Battle."
Grysta couldn't attack since it was summoned via Shaddoll Schism. But it didn't matter.
Hikaru's field was so overpowered that everyone realized he was attacking now purely to end it fast.
Otherwise? His board could've been even more absurd.
He hadn't even used 'El Shaddoll Fusion' yet.
If he had? He could've fused Grysta and Falco into the companion Spirit that always fought by his side.
Aster clapped first, soon followed by the entire club.
Yes.
This was Amagi Hikaru.
A duelist unlike anyone else.
'Fusion... indeed.'
Elsewhere, Sartorius watched. On his tarot card of Death, a glimmer of gold light flickered.
The duel replayed in his mind like a vision.
"...Incredible.
"This... is the Sun."