Gloria carefully began inspecting the cards in the Graveyard.
Amaki Hikaru had only Set one card, "El Shaddoll Fusion", so if there was anything that could help her, it had to be in the Graveyard.
Not only that, he had even left his "Monster Reborn" unused.
After some scanning, her eyes narrowed. She spotted it, the card Hikaru had used.
Her eyes lit up.
"I activate the Set card, Monster Reborn!"
With a sweep of her right hand, she commanded the activation like a general: "This card lets me revive one monster from the Graveyard!"
"Revive a monster? What do you plan to bring back?" The Amazoness Empress raised a brow. "My War Chief? Or perhaps your teammate's Construct?
"Heh, either way, it won't work."
She confidently planted her greatsword into the ground.
After all, her Magic Mirror was still on the field.
Even if they re-Fusion Summon the False Empress, her ATK would only match hers.
A war of attrition?
Heh. She intended to end the Duel on her turn, not give Hikaru another chance.
That warrior certainly lived up to his reputation. No wonder Bastion trusted him. No wonder the crowd had cheered.
But this was a Tag Duel.
She would end this before his turn came.
"Hmph. Neither!" Gloria declared as she retrieved a card from the Graveyard. "I Special Summon this in Defense Position:
Kaiki the Unity Star!"
Amid the stunned silence, an ancient warrior clad in armor, pierced by countless arrows, rose from the grave. Once he stood, everyone noticed, a giant mouth had replaced his stomach.
[Kaiki the Unity Star] Level 5│LIGHT│Warrior│2100 DEF
"? What card is that?"
"That isn't in the Tyler sisters' Deck, is it?"
"Must be Hikaru's card."
"When?!"
The Empress paused, then recalled: "It was used as Fusion Material for Shaddoll Fusion!"
"Exactly!" Gloria grinned.
"So it was Hikaru's card..."
"Didn't expect the captain to use Hikaru's cards."
"Why even bring that up now?!"
Hidden Hikaru fans among the Fusion Army seized the moment to cheer: "If it's Hikaru's card, then obviously;"
"Ha! When Kaiki the Unity Star is Special Summoned, you can pay 500 Life Points to Fusion Summon a Warrior Fusion Monster using materials from your field or hand!"
"It is a Fusion move!!"
"Monster Fusion!"
Everyone understood.
[Gloria & Hikaru, LP: 5200 → 4700]
"I send Spiritualist and Queen from the field to the Graveyard, Fusion Summon!
"Amazoness Empress!"
[Amazoness Empress] Level 8│EARTH│Warrior│2800 ATK
"Tch…" Seeing another copy of herself appear, the Empress growled.
"Normal Summon: Amazoness Swords Woman." Gloria kept up the momentum.
[Amazoness Swords Woman] Level 4│EARTH│Warrior│1500 ATK
"Battle! Amazoness Empress attacks Magical Scientist!" She wasted no time eliminating the threat.
"Amazoness Magic Mirror makes battle damage 0 once per turn." The Empress sneered.
"Then how about this?! Swords Woman attacks Amazoness Empress, you know what her effect does!"
Swords Woman's battle damage is inflicted to the opponent instead.
[Empress & Mathematician, LP: 5000 → 3700]
"End of battle! I activate the Graveyard effect of Amazoness Spiritualist, return Swords Woman to my hand, then Special Summon her in Defense Position."
[Amazoness Spiritualist] Level 2│EARTH│Warrior│1800 DEF
"I set two cards and end my turn!"
"Oh right, almost forgot, Fusion Recycling Plant activates during the End Phase. I retrieve Queen, one of this turn's Fusion Materials, to my hand."
Gloria looked over her field and nodded with satisfaction.
She'd completely forgotten that effect earlier. Back then, she assumed Hikaru wouldn't work with her.
Turns out, she was being narrow-minded.
"...Magician, activate your Set card."
"Oh? Hohoho, very well." At her prompting, the Mathematician complied.
He was just a guest here, after all. If the host wanted to use his card, so be it.
"Trap Card: Skill Successor. Until the end of the turn, 1 face-up monster gains 400 ATK."
"Looks like they want to settle things now." The spectators caught on.
Bastion added, "Skill Successor boosts a monster by 400 ATK this turn, but its real strength lies in the Graveyard. By banishing itself on another turn, it can boost a monster by 800, but you can't use both effects in the same turn."
Gloria eyed her opponent warily.
They wanted to end this turn?
Not so fast!
"My turn. Draw." The Empress drew a card, glanced at it, and smirked.
"Two face-downs, huh? Doesn't matter, this is all I need.
Normal Summon: Amazoness Sage."
[Amazoness Sage] Level 4│EARTH│Warrior│1400 ATK
Gloria narrowed her eyes.
Amazoness Sage destroys a Spell/Trap card after it attacks.
And with the Empress on the field, she didn't have to worry about destruction herself.
"Battle!" The Empress raised her hand. "I attack that uppity Spiritualist!"
"Not so fast!" Gloria smirked, flipping a Set card. "Quick-Play Spell: Rush Recklessly! I target Amazoness Empress, her ATK increases by 700 until the end of the turn!"
"Oh? So that's your move." The Empress immediately caught on. "Dramatic Rescue, huh?"
"You got it!" Gloria activated her other Set card. "Trap Card: Dramatic Rescue!"
When a card targets an Amazoness, this lets me return it to my hand and Special Summon another monster from my hand!
"Hmph. Can't destroy it? Use another method.
"I admit, this combo handles me cleanly and gives you a free summon. If it resolves, you flip the whole field.
"So as an Amazoness Duelist, your strategy is solid, BUT! I am the ruler of the Amazonesses!"
"The Empress slapped down a card from her hand: "Quick-Play Spell! Amazoness Secret Arts!"
"Send Fusion Materials for an Amazoness Fusion Monster from your hand or field to the Graveyard, Fusion Summon!"
She laughed wildly, "It's been a while since I felt this fired up!
"You two aren't bad, but my power goes even further!!
"Behold the new strength I forged in the Critical Nexus Dimension!
"I fuse myself and the Sage on my field!"
Her cloak billowed as the decorative beast bones on her armor twisted and grew. A towering golden throne formed behind her.
Her eyes gleamed with bloodlust as she grinned, "Fusion Materials: Amazoness Fusion Monster + 1 Amazoness monster!
"Fusion Summon, my ultimate form!
"Amazoness Augusta!"
[Amazoness Augusta] Level 10│EARTH│Warrior│3200 ATK
"Huh?!"
"The Empress can evolve further?!" Even Grace was stunned.
She had never seen this card.
Gloria frowned deeply at the opponent.
Since all targeting cards had lost their target, both her cards fizzled.
The Augusta casually flexed her arms, "When Fusion Summoned, I can Special Summon any Amazoness monster from the Deck.
"I'll take the same monster you used against me, come to me, Swords Woman!"
"Yes!"
The valiant swordswoman appeared at her side.
[Amazoness Swords Woman] Level 4│EARTH│Warrior│1500 ATK
"From the Graveyard, Skill Successor boosts me by 800!"
[Amazoness Augusta, ATK: 3200 → 4000]
Amazoness Augusta rolled her neck with her right hand.
"If I'm Fusion Summoned using Empress or Queen as material, I can attack twice during one Battle Phase."
"What?! A 4000-ATK double strike!?"
"Tch… everyone's aiming for an OTK now?!"
Augusta looked at her opponent, but noticed Gloria wasn't flinching at all.
'Oh?'
'Braver than before?'
Augusta actually admired her. If Gloria won, she might even consider bestowing her a piece of her own power.
Though now, that didn't seem likely.
She swung her massive blade, slashing down on Empress.
[Gloria & Hikaru, LP: 4700 → 3500]
Then, the second slash:
[Gloria & Hikaru, LP: 3500 → 2300]
After that, Augusta flew straight toward Gloria and kicked her into the target wall, sending debris flying.
That said…
Why wasn't she afraid?
"Looks like you increased your power, but not your technique," Gloria laughed, unfazed after the double hit.
Wiping her mouth, she remained wild-eyed and fired up. "Don't underestimate me, old hag."
"WHAT!?" Augusta was dumbfounded.
Gloria stepped back to her spot, crushing rubble beneath her feet, and pointed to Amaki Hikaru.
"Do you know who this guy next to me is?
He's the one the Fusion Army has never managed to defeat. The one who shouts slogans even when the world shuns Fusion. The one who claims to understand all things Fusion."
She opened her Graveyard and pulled out a card to show.
Augusta's eyes widened.
'Amazoness Secret Arts!!!?'
This was discarded earlier as a cost for the Fusion Recycling Plant!
Its second effect clearly states: when Fusion Summoning an Amazoness monster, you can use a monster from the Extra Deck as Fusion Material, fusion into a Fusion Monster!
"Hah! Hikaru knew you had a higher form, yet he didn't stop me," Gloria grinned.
"He accepted my strategy!
And if I'm right, your new form may be stronger, but it lost the ability to pierce all monsters, didn't it?
Otherwise, you'd have attacked Kaiki or Spiritualist to deal more damage!"
"Tch..."
Augusta had to admit it.
She had underestimated her opponent!
Yes, this evolved form had immense brute force. However, in exchange, her "technique" had weakened, she could no longer protect Amazoness monsters or inflict piercing damage!
"Amazoness Swords Woman attacks Kaiki the Unity Star."
[Gloria & Hikaru, LP: 2300 → 1700]
"Oh? Seems like you can't even protect your teammate now."
In hindsight, some things got stronger, others weaker.
So that's how it was.
Gloria remembered the Set card Hikaru destroyed earlier: Call of the Haunted.
That was meant to revive the Empress, wasn't it? With both piercing and double strike...
Augusta looked at her hand.
She had drawn the Amazoness Hot Spring.
With 3200 ATK, plus the Hot Spring and Magic Mirror, and 3700 LP remaining, she wouldn't go down easily.
Plus, with Swords Woman on the field, the enemy wouldn't dare attack freely!
Somehow, a Duel she just wanted to "test out" had become a desperate match.
She couldn't afford to lose now!
"I set one card and end my turn!"
"It's your move, Amaki Hikaru!" Gloria called out. "Don't disappoint us!"
Hikaru smiled faintly and shook his head.
"Draw."
He checked his hand.
Not the card he wanted.
"Fusion Recycling Plant's effect: discard one card to add Polymerization from the Deck to the hand."
He discarded Fusion Substitute to retrieve Polymerization.
"Fusion Substitute's effect: return El Shaddoll Construct from the Graveyard to the Extra Deck, then draw one card."
He drew.
Yes. This would do.
"Normal Summon: Predaplant Chlamydosundew!"
Unlike Shaddoll Squamata, this was a plant-bodied lizard entirely covered in foliage.
[Predaplant Chlamydosundew] Level 2│DARK│Plant│600 ATK
"Chlamydosundew's effect: during the Main Phase, I can Fusion Summon using monsters from my hand or field. I fuse Chlamydosundew with Shaddoll Squamata from my hand!"
Hikaru revealed the Squamata.
"It's time to devour everything, Fusion Summon!
Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
The ground shook and surged as green vines erupted. A massive pink bloom roared to life from the earth.
[Predaplant Chimerafflesia] Level 8│DARK│Plant│2500 ATK
"Spell Card: Shaddoll Fusion.
Since my opponent controls a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can use monsters from the Deck as Fusion Material."
Hikaru opened his Deck and revealed two cards: "Shaddoll Falco and Cyber Dragon. Return to me again, El Shaddoll Construct!"
[El Shaddoll Construct] Level 8│LIGHT│Fairy│2800 ATK
"..."
Augusta stared at the monster.
This was bad.
Her evolved form focused purely on offense and had no protection now.
Anyhow, she scanned the field.
Not too bad. They wouldn't dare attack Swords Woman.
If she could survive this turn, the Mathematician could use Magical Scientist again, and they'd win!
"Strange... Why isn't Hikaru using Chimerafflesia's effect to banish the lower-Level Amazoness Swords Woman?" Bastion frowned.
That card was too much of a threat.
"Amazoness Augusta prevents other Amazoness monsters from being targeted by effects while she's on the field," Hikaru said mid-action, shaking his head slightly.
Ah! Bastion realized.
"Change all monsters to Attack Position."
[Amazoness Spiritualist, ATK: 800 / Kaiki the Unity Star, ATK: 1000]
"Battle! Chimerafflesia attacks Amazoness Augusta!"
"What?!"
"When Chimerafflesia attacks, it reduces the opposing monster's ATK by 1000, and gains 1000 ATK itself!" Bastion shouted.
Even a 4500-ATK monster would go down!
"Then I activate the Continuous Trap: Amazoness Hot Spring!" Augusta flipped her card.
[Predaplant Chimerafflesia, ATK: 2500 → 3500]
[Amazoness Augusta, ATK: 3200 → 2200]
Thanks to Amazoness Hot Spring, she lost no Life Points.
Yet, her grand appearance and throne were destroyed, sending her back to her starting stance.
"Next, Construct attacks Amazoness Swords Woman, no battle, direct destruction!"
Countless puppet strings extended from the halo, ensnaring Swords Woman. With a final scream, she vanished.
"No Amazoness monsters on your field now, so Hot Spring won't prevent LP damage!"
"No matter, I still have Magic Mirror!" Augusta wasn't done. She still wanted to fight!
"Amazoness Empress attacks directly."
"Pointless. Magic Mirror nullifies battle damage!"
That left them safe.
"Spiritualist and Kaiki have a total of only 1800 ATK. We still have 3700 LP. That leaves 1900! No matter how he attacks, it won't matter!" Augusta raised her sword in triumph. "We win!"
Hikaru arched an eyebrow and quietly raised a card from his hand.
"Don't forget... I recovered this: El Shaddoll Fusion."
Augusta's eyes widened.
Quick-Play Fusion.
"Quick-Play Spell Card: El Shaddoll Fusion!
"I fuse Construct and Chimerafflesia!"
"A smile curled at Hikaru's lips.
That second Winda he drew earlier, this was the moment.
"Fusion Summon, as always!
"Hear the divine command!
"El Shaddoll Winda!"
Puppets, flora, and darkness all melded together. In their place emerged the same expressionless Spellcaster from before.
[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5│DARK│Spellcaster│2200 ATK
Augusta's eyes widened.
Every recovered card had been used!
This Fusion Duelist!
And Gloria burst into laughter: "That's our Amaki Hikaru! As expected of the Absolute Fusionist, Amaki Hikaru! Hahaha, this is amazing!"
"Then, let's continue the battle. Kaiki, Spiritualist, and Winda attack directly!"
[Amazoness Augusta & Mathematician, LP: 3700 → 2700 → 1900 → 0]
...
Bonus @200
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