Hikaru should have realized it earlier.
As a scholar from the Magical Scientist Fusion Research Institute, it was only natural that the Mathematician would use a Magical Scientist deck.
After all, Hikaru had cleared the Magical Scientist's riddles and received numerous Fusion Monsters from him, including several copies of Dark Flare Knight. If the Magical Scientist hadn't given something for "self-defense" when his friends and employees left, that would've been the real surprise.
Once everyone realized how terrifying the Mathematician's tactics were, no one treated him as comic relief or deadweight anymore. They understood that this Duel was serious business, no matter how you looked at it.
This wasn't some kindly old grandpa!
This was a terrifying old monster!
"Ha! Not bad at all!" The Empress couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Very nice indeed, Bastion Misawa! The teammates and opponents you've picked for me are all quite impressive!!"
At last, the Empress was satisfied.
Now this was the heat and passion of battle!
The Mathematician chuckled twice, then slid two cards into his Spell/Trap Zone.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
As he spoke, he added, "At the end of the Battle Phase in which Mirage Knight battles, it returns to the Deck."
Mirage Knight's body gradually became translucent and faded, vanishing like a bubble.
"Then, Fusion Recycling Plant activates. On either player's turn, I can return one Fusion Material used this turn to the hand." Hikaru opened his Graveyard and pulled out a card. "Of course, I choose Shaddoll Squamata."
The Empress glanced at Hikaru's hand.
When had he built it up so much again?
She frowned.
A prolonged duel seemed to work against them!
"Alright! It's finally my turn again!" Gloria was brimming with energy and ready to go.
In the past two turns, Hikaru had dealt damage, recovered resources, and even shut down the opponent's aggression. Every angle covered, that excited her. She couldn't wait to show off a bit and compete with him.
She still had Fusion Materials on her field. At worst, she could just Fusion Summon another version of the Empress and attack that dangerous Magical Scientist. That would do a fair bit of damage.
Even better if she could draw a card that dealt with the Empress directly!
"My turn, Draw!"
She drew a card and, after a glance, her eyes lit up.
'Perfect!'
The card she'd drawn could solve the entire board!
"At this moment, I activate a Trap Card."
To her surprise, the Mathematician promptly flipped a Set card.
"Trap Card, Mind Crush!"
'Whoa…'
Hikaru raised a brow.
This geezer was sly.
"Mind Crush destroys a card from the opponent's hand if you name it and guess correctly," Bastion explained.
Not that he had to. Most students there were already familiar with the card.
It was a well-known one.
The problem was…
It almost never actually worked.
Guessing your opponent's hand? Too hard.
Even so, today was different.
Gloria had a card in hand that everyone knew she had!
"Spell Card , Polymerization."
Gloria grimaced as she revealed the card and sent it to the Graveyard.
"Huh? Isn't that... kinda pointless?" one student muttered.
"Why?"
"Well, there's already a Fusion Recycling Plant on the field, right? She could just discard a card and get Fusion back from the Graveyard."
"Oh... right."
Gloria frowned.
The problem was simple: her hand.
She had one card that could deal with the opposing Empress: the Trap Card "Dramatic Rescue."
It was a unique Trap Card.
When a card targets an Amazoness monster on the field, you could activate it. The targeted Amazoness returns to the hand, and you Special Summon another monster from your hand.
Yes, a card that worked on any Amazoness monster on the field!
By using her Quick-Play Spell to target the enemy Amazoness Empress, then chaining this Trap, she could bounce the Empress and Special Summon a monster from her hand. A clean removal plus a free summon.
That said, there were two conditions:
First, she needed a card that could target the Empress.
Second, she needed a monster in hand to Special Summon!
Her hand was: Rush Recklessly, Amazoness Swords Woman, Dramatic Rescue.
Discard any of those to retrieve Fusion, and the combo would fall apart.
She was stuck.
However...
She looked toward her set cards.
The Monster Reborn she'd Set last turn hadn't been used by Hikaru. It had been returned to her hand.
She could Special Summon the Amazoness War Chief from her Graveyard.
Since she was running an Amazoness Deck too, she could use its effect to either search for an Amazoness Spell/Trap or Set a Fusion card.
However, the issue was...
She looked into her Deck.
…She was out of Polymerizations.
She hadn't included three copies. She had reworked her Deck to include Spiritualists and other support cards, freeing up space that otherwise would've gone to Fusion spells.
Same problem with reviving Hikaru's dinosaur… it wouldn't help.
'...What now?'
She bit her lip, hesitating.
"Gloria."
Just as she was lost in thought, a voice called out.
She looked up to see Amaki Hikaru.
He was talking to her?
She'd thought he was planning to solo both opponents because of their factions.
"This is a Tag Duel," Hikaru sighed and lifted his chin slightly toward her. "As a true Duelist who pursues Fusion, I despise the Fusion Army.
But you're not one of those who actually invaded or committed unforgivable crimes."
Gloria stared back at him, brows furrowed. The surrounding Fusion Army members also grew quiet.
The Empress watched the scene with interest.
Invasion? Hostility?
Humans were full of intriguing drama.
Then, in full view of everyone, Hikaru raised his right fist.
"Therefore, you're not someone I absolutely reject or refuse to work with. Because Fusion embraces everything!"
Gloria's eyes widened.
Grace gasped softly, covering her lips.
"Everyone here, whether human or Spirit, if you still have doubts, let me say it again:
Fusion is the noblest Summoning method in the world!"
"Whoa..."
"The guts on this guy..."
"Does Hikaru really not care what anyone thinks?"
Thanks to the actions of the Fusion Army, Fusion users had been under intense scrutiny.
Even if the tide would eventually turn, for him to say that in front of everyone...
It could only mean one thing: Amaki Hikaru just didn't care.
"This isn't an excuse, justification, or slogan. It's my belief!
"So"
He turned to face his opponents, eyes shining.
"No matter what happens, I won't change.
"And you don't need to doubt me."
Gloria clenched her right fist. Her glove crackled under the strain of her grip.
He figured it out?
Didn't matter anymore!
"Interesting... Interesting, Amaki Hikaru, as expected, fighting alongside someone like you gets the blood pumping!"
Screw factions. Screw Fusion Army politics. Screw war.
The Tyler sisters didn't give a damn about any of that!
"Alright then, Hikaru… let me fight using your strength!"