"It's that human's turn."
The Empress turned to look at Amaki Hikaru.
"Ohhh! It's Hikaru's turn!"
"Amaki Hikaru's turn has arrived!"
The Empress noticed that regardless of whether they were ordinary students or opponents, everyone seemed excited once they realized it was Hikaru's turn.
Does this human really hold such high esteem among warriors of his kind?
Hikaru had already looked over his hand several times and naturally knew what to do now.
"When the opponent controls a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, the true power of this card is unleashed—
"I activate the Spell Card, Shaddoll Fusion!"
"Ah! He opened with Shaddoll Fusion!"
"Nice one!"
"Hohoho... Shaddoll Fusion is it." The Mathematician, who had been watching quietly, gently stroked his beard and said to the Empress, "That kid Amaki Hikaru is a Duelist specialized in Fusion—he only uses Fusion. In the human world, he's quite famous."
'Only use Fusion?'
The Empress raised her eyebrows, half in doubt.
"Shaddoll Fusion allows you to send Fusion Materials from your Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon an El Shaddoll."
"Oh? Fusion from the Deck, huh? That certainly is powerful." The Empress nodded.
Hikaru opened his Deck and pulled out two cards, revealing them: "I send Shaddoll Squamata and the LIGHT-Attribute Kaiki the Unity Star from my Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a LIGHT-Attribute El Shaddoll!"
Hikaru raised his hands and brought them together, "Fallen angel and ancient giant, divine emissary and central controller—gather all into one!
"Unite all life!
"The fallen giant!"
He swung his arms downward.
"Level 8!"
"El Shaddoll Construct!"
From beneath Hikaru, countless purple lines flared up around him. These lines gathered above his head and twisted wildly, ultimately forming a massive purple halo.
The ring rose into the sky, emitting a radiant yet eerie glow across the land.
And under this light, a towering giant slowly revealed its form!
[El Shaddoll Construct] Level 8│LIGHT│Fairy│2800 ATK
"Oh?! A LIGHT-Attribute El Shaddoll?" Gloria's eyes lit up as she saw the card. "Interesting!"
"I activate the effects of Shaddoll Squamata and El Shaddoll Construct. When Squamata is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can send 1 Shaddoll card from the Deck to the Graveyard; and when Construct is successfully Special Summoned, I can also send a Shaddoll card from the Deck to the Graveyard."
Hikaru opened his Deck and chose two cards: "Shaddoll Core and El Shaddoll Fusion."
The Empress watched Hikaru's play with a hint of confusion.
As for the students around them, they were even more clueless.
"Hah, when Shaddoll Core is sent to the Graveyard, it can recover a Shaddoll Spell or Trap from the Graveyard!" Bastion Misawa explained.
Ah, that explains it!
Everyone suddenly understood.
"I add El Shaddoll Fusion from the Graveyard to my hand," Hikaru added the Quick-Play Spell to his hand, restoring his hand to six cards.
"Interesting. With just one Fusion Spell, he summoned a high-Level monster and even replenished a card in hand... but its Attack is also 2800!"
"Construct doesn't conduct battle when it fights Special Summoned monsters—it just destroys them!" Celina cheered, waving her arms in joy for her teacher's ace summon.
The Empress froze.
'…That powerful?'
"Eh?" someone nearby muttered in confusion, "Construct destroys Special Summoned monsters without battling... but the Empress can't be destroyed by battle or effects. So what happens if they clash?"
That really was a good question.
An unstoppable spear against an unbreakable shield—what happens?
"A normal Battle Phase occurs. Since their ATK are equal, Construct would be destroyed by the Empress." Bastion answered plainly.
A simple rules interaction.
"So... it was a wasted summon?" someone said blankly.
He looked at his friend, only to see the same puzzled expression.
They just couldn't figure it out.
But that only meant they hadn't thought it through.
This was a Tag Duel, not a solo match. Hikaru had to consider the long-term and his next opponent: the Mathematician.
"Too bad, Hikaru, you don't have an EARTH-Attribute El Shaddoll." Tierra had gained a better grasp of dueling through experience and quickly spotted Hikaru's predicament.
Hikaru nodded slightly at her words.
If he had "Grysta," the Empress could've been dealt with easily. He could've used Shaddoll Schism to Fusion Summon an EARTH monster and remove her. But now, Tierra saw that Hikaru chose El Shaddoll Fusion, a more endurance-oriented card, and understood his intent.
It wasn't the right time.
"Then, should you change your strategy?" Tierra raised a finger.
"Exactly." Hikaru nodded.
Tierra had really leveled up.
Rushing things wouldn't work against an Amazoness deck.
Just look at Gloria beside them. Even with her ace neutralized, her Life Points and card count remained untouched.
Time to shift strategy—and play the long game.
"Normal Summon, Kaitoptera."
"Screeech~~"
A winged dinosaur flapped in, landing beside Hikaru.
[Kaitoptera] Level 4│WIND│Dinosaur│1400 ATK
"During the Main Phase, I can activate its effect to add 1 Polymerization from my Deck to my hand."
"Hah! So everyone uses this to get Fusion, huh?" Gloria laughed.
Hikaru didn't respond. He simply activated the spell: "I activate the Spell Card, Polymerization. I fuse Kaitoptera on the field with Curse of Dragon in my hand."
"Fusion Materials: Kaitoptera and a Dinosaur or Dragon monster!"
"Appear now—Level 6, Horned Saurus!"
The sturdy pterosaur glowed with blue energy. Its scales turned black, and its body grew more muscular.
[Horned Saurus] Level 6│DARK│Dinosaur│2000 ATK
"What's that card?"
"Huh? Hikaru hasn't used that before."
"Dummy, that's from 'Duel! Duel with Legendary Duelist 2: Weevil Underwood Strikes!' Hikaru used it then! It was Rex Raptor's ace! Don't you recognize it?" a soldier from the Polymerization Club overheard and couldn't help but speak up.
As soon as he spoke, the surrounding Fusion Army soldiers all turned to him, astonished.
Realizing what he just blurted out, he coughed to cover the awkwardness.
"Hehehe... Seems like everyone really likes Hikaru." Grace just chuckled.
The soldier quickly explained: "Horned Saurus can attack directly the turn it's Fusion Summoned."
"I see, if you can't deal with monsters, then go for the players? A wise move."
"But it won't be that easy—Horned Saurus's effect activates!" Hikaru pointed to the sky. "When this card is Fusion Summoned, I can place a Field Spell from my Deck or Graveyard face-up onto the Field!"
"Huh?"
"Wha…"
'That wide a range?!'
'Any Field Spell?!'
"Field Spell, Fusion Recycling Plant."
Ding-ding-ding!
Ruins and scrap heaps rose from the ground, and countless drone-like machines began flying across the field.
Fusion Recycling Plant!
"Ah, the Recycling Plant." Gloria nodded.
Now that this card was on the field, she could somewhat guess what Hikaru had planned.
"Fusion Recycling Plant's effect: Once per turn, I discard 1 card to add 1 Polymerization from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I discard a card and add Fusion Substitute from my Deck to my hand."
"And now, Battle! Horned Saurus attacks directly—"
The winged dinosaur soared overhead, bypassed the Empress, and struck her throne with a mighty flap.
[Empress & Mathematician, LP: 8000 → 6000]
"Just playing tricks..." the Empress frowned coldly.
Still, in a situation where the front line couldn't be broken, going around to strike the core was a clear tactic.
She couldn't help but re-evaluate Amaki Hikaru.
A Duelist who only used Fusion?
If that were all, he could be called strong—but how could that be "Fusion" itself?
"I Set one card and end my turn. At this point, Fusion Recycling Plant's effect activates." Hikaru tapped his Duel Disk lightly, and a drone flew out to patrol the heaps of fusion junk.
"During your or my End Phase, Fusion Recycling Plant can return 1 Fusion Material monster used this turn from the Graveyard to the hand."
Hikaru opened his Graveyard and picked one card: "I choose Shaddoll Squamata."
A tiny drone struggled to carry a tall lizard over to Hikaru, then turned it into a card, which floated into his hand.
"Heh—then I activate my Continuous Trap!"
The Empress flipped a Set card: "Amazoness Magic Mirror!"
She crossed her arms and gave a wild smile, "This card can only be activated at the End Phase of a turn in which I took battle damage. While it remains in the Spell/Trap Zone, once per turn, I take no battle damage!"
A Trap like Amazoness Hot Spring.
"Damn, with that card out, even direct attacks won't work!"
"So annoying!"
"No wonder she's a ten-star special Duelist. Amazing."
Some students were shocked.
But others thought differently.
"It's fine, Hikaru dealt damage this turn. He'll have other options next round!"
"Yeah, Hikaru always has a way!"
"Trust in Fusion! As long as Hikaru is here—"
"Hey, you Fusion fanboys! You wanna get punched?!" Gloria finally snapped and shouted back at the Fusion Army students.
But even she had to admit, Hikaru played that turn brilliantly.
He stabilized the field, dealt damage, and set up a sustainable engine—and he hadn't even used her face-down card!
She clenched her fist.
The other Set card she had... was Monster Reborn! Hikaru hadn't used it!
What did it mean? Was he an enemy and just refusing to cooperate?
She looked over at him, only to see Hikaru calmly watching the opposite field, eyes locked on the Mathematician.
"Tch…"
She snapped back to focus.
Back to the Duel!
Still, deep inside, she continued to wonder.
No way. The Hikaru she knew was someone who fused with everyone.
This wasn't like him!
So then... why?
...
Stones, Stones and Stones.
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