"Marjoram."
"Shut up, all of you!"
Just as the crowd prepared to speak again, a stone flew over at high speed and struck someone square in the head, knocking them down instantly with a cry of pain.
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. It was a small girl whose body hadn't fully grown yet. She pumped her fists, looking extremely angry: "So noisy and annoying! Duelists should focus on Dueling! Can't you stop with this crap already?"
"You're.."
"Eh, could it be..."
"That's right! I'm the daughter of Leo Akaba, Celina!" she shouted.
On the other side, the person who got hit with the stone staggered to their feet, still dazed.
"You guys only act this way because my master's is too nice! Let me tell you, I'm Leo Akaba's daughter! If you keep being annoying, I'll call the Fusion Army's assassins to kill you all!"
…Total nonsense.
In the Fusion Army hierarchy, Celina ranked even below the Ancient Gear Hunting Hound Gang.
But coming from her mouth, it still sounded pretty intimidating.
"Celina, you can't say stuff like that, you'll get investigated," Bastion whispered.
"These people are too irritating, Bastion-san! Duelists should focus on the Duel!" She shook her fists, "If they keep it up, I'm going to settle it with them myself!"
And with that, they finally shut up.
Truly shut up.
Because everyone could tell, she really would throw hands.
Celina had figured it out.
Her identity doomed her to live under constant discrimination and hostility. So, there was no need to be polite anymore!
Before, she'd held back out of fear of her status. But now, listening to the nonstop chatter, she'd finally had enough.
Plus, her master was way too nice. As long as people weren't crossing the line, he never got mad. But she couldn't stand it!
If that's how it was, she'd do it herself!
Otherwise, what was the point of being his student?
Didn't Master always help Professor Crowler out, too?
"What an interesting little girl. Still growing, but already burning with the spirit of a true warrior. Is she your student? Not bad," Marjoram smiled. "Now then, my turn, draw!"
She glanced at the card she drew: "Human warrior, in honor of your ideals, I will reveal my true self."
Her voice was ethereal and sacred, making it impossible to think of her as just an ordinary Spirit.
"I Normal Summon Level 1 Tuner monster, Glow-Up Bulb!"
On her field appeared a small bulb with eyes.
Whoa
It was a Glow-Up Bulb.
"A Tuner monster?" Bastion's eyes widened.
"A Tuner!? She didn't use that when she dueled me!" The Math Doctor climbed to his feet.
"I tune my Level 5 self with the Level 1 Tuner monster, Glow-Up Bulb."
Marjoram spread her arms wide as the Glow-Up Bulb turned into a white nova, orbiting around her.
With each spin of the bulb, her body became whiter and clearer under its influence. At the same time, twin wings of flowers and plants began to unfold behind her.
This was her true form!
She was a Spirit who had mastered Synchro Summoning!
"Synchro Summon, my true self."
She spread her wings with a gentle smile.
"An... angel!?"
"I knew Miss Marjoram wasn't just any monster!"
That soft smile even left Celina stunned.
[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram] Level 6│LIGHT│Plant│2200 ATK
"Upon successful Synchro Summon, I can add one card from my Deck to my hand from among 'Blessed Winds,' 'Humid Winds,' and 'Dried Winds.' I add Dried Winds."
A Trap Card flew from her Deck into her hand.
"Next, I activate Aroma Garden's effect, restoring 500 Life Points."
[Aromage Marjoram, LP: 3800 → 4300]
"We worked so hard to reduce her Life Points, and she's back over 4000 again!" Bastion grimaced.
"And that's not all, her Attack will increase too, right?" The Math Doctor coughed, discussing the Duel seriously.
[Marjoram, ATK: 2200 → 2700]
"But even with the Attack boost, Master's Chimerafflesia still has more Attack during battle!" Celina clenched her fists. In combat, Chimerafflesia could match monsters in the 4500 range; there was no need to fear 2700.
"Heh, you're right, little girl. But no matter how high its Attack, a monster's useless if it's destroyed by an effect!" Marjoram lifted her hand, holding a perfumer's twig. "After evolving, I gained a stronger effect: Once per turn, when I recover Life Points, I can destroy one card on your field!
"I activate my own effect, destroy Chimerafflesia!"
The twig in her hand glowed, then unleashed a powerful light that pierced straight through the monster. In an instant,
The giant flower fell asleep under the sweet aroma and was buried completely beneath the earth.
"Whoa, what an incredible monster," Bastion exclaimed, "Meaning even during the opponent's turn, as long as she gains Life Points, she can destroy a card! That's insanely strong!"
Exactly, this was Marjoram's confidence source.
Her effect was incredibly powerful. Combined with all kinds of Life Point recovery Spells and Traps, and with her sisters' support, she embodied sustain and disruption. As a Synchro Monster with no specific Summoning conditions beyond "Tuner" and "Non-Tuner," she was easy to bring out.
Even in this chaotic Critical Nexus Dimension, she could protect her forest, her companions, her Plant-Types, and even the resident Beast Spirits from invaders.
Even the Light Monarch never dared approach her forest.
Now, with "Dried Winds" in hand, a Continuous Trap that recovers Life Points and can destroy monsters, plus another recovery card, she could handle most situations.
Even if she couldn't keep up, with continuous Life Point recovery, she could drag it out endlessly.
Very stable.
"Now then, be careful, human warrior, I'm attacking."
She gently raised her hand, drawing in the air, and a pink flower flew out, landing on Hikaru.
Tierra casually swatted it away.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 1300]
"Hmm... I set two cards and end my turn."
Hikaru rubbed his neck.
"Whew, looks like Amaki Hikaru lost."
"That's it, my turn, draw, at this moment, I activate my monster's effect!"
"Eh?"
"What?"
"Predaplant Chimerafflesia's monster effect! When this card is sent to the Graveyard, during the next Standby Phase, its effect activates!"
"I add one Spell Card with 'Fusion' or 'Polymerization' in its name from my Deck to my hand!"
"What!?"
"W-What the heck!?"
"He can add any 'Fusion' Spell to his hand?" Someone gaped.
"You boring fools... While you're busy obsessing over appearances, I've already advanced into the future of Fusion!"
...
Bonus @200
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