"Interesting." The Light of Destruction wasn't angry at Amaki Hikaru's challenge, in fact, it was intrigued.
"Very well. Let us duel."
"However."
"Before the duel begins, we must set the terms."
Hikaru furrowed his brows lightly and said, "Speak."
A curtain of light appeared above the Light of Destruction's head, transforming into one image after another: Spirits, humans, machines, even the collision of planets, each image portraying nothing but ruin and war.
"The rules of the duel will remain the standard ones you know."
"That said, if you win, I will return your friends' souls."
"If you lose, you shall take this human's place and become my new emissary, to destroy all parallel dimensions."
"How about it? A favorable deal for you."
The Light of Destruction made its offer.
"Master?!" Celina was shocked by the stakes.
How had a card game escalated into world-ending consequences?
"Tch. Amaki Hikaru is my Chosen of Order. He won't become your pawn," Tierra said coldly.
"Fine!" Hikaru agreed immediately.
"Then..." The Light of Destruction's voice faded. Its image detached from Sartorius's body and hovered behind him.
At once, the original Sartorius seemed to come "back to life," face twisted in a grin as he shuffled his Deck and let out a maniacal laugh.
It seemed the Light of Destruction couldn't duel directly, it required someone to wield its power.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes.
"Duel!" x2
[Hikaru, LP: 4000]
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 4000]
"My turn, draw!"
Without hesitation, Hikaru swiftly drew his card.
"I activate the Continuous Spell: Brilliant Fusion!" He raised his hand, a circular gem appearing within it. He tossed it into the sky.
"When this card is activated, I use monsters from my Deck as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon 1 Gem-Knight Fusion Monster, whose Attack and Defense become 0!"
"I send Gem-Knight Tourmaline and Gem-Knight Sapphire from the Deck to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon!
Come forth, Special Summon in Defense Position, Gem-Knight Aquamarine!"
Aquamarine swung her cloak, the sword-shield on her right hand gleaming with clear silver light, protecting Hikaru's field.
[Gem-Knight Aquamarine] Level 6 | EARTH | Aqua | 0 DEF
"I activate the Equip Spell: Future Fusion!"
Hikaru immediately slapped another Spell onto the field: "This lets me send Fusion Materials from my Deck to the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon. The summoned monster can't attack this turn."
"I send Shaddoll Hedgehog and Destiny HERO - Malicious from the Deck to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon!
Messenger of the Gods!
El Shaddoll Winda!"
Hikaru swiftly Special Summoned a new Fusion Monster to his field.
[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5 | DARK | Spellcaster | 2200 ATK
Winda's phantom slowly manifested beside Hikaru, silently standing by his side.
The Light of Destruction's projection glanced at Tierra and immediately understood.
Just as it had inhabited Sartorius and taken his body, this unknown entity had also taken a Spirit's "vessel" in the human world, in other words, a "card."
"Not done yet. Shaddoll Hedgehog's effect activates, when sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can add one Shaddoll monster from my Deck to my hand!"
Hikaru opened his Deck and chose a card: "I choose Shaddoll Dragon!"
"Amazing, two Fusion Summons right off the bat," Sarina exclaimed. Celina puffed her chest, visibly proud.
"Turn end."
Hikaru's strategy was crystal clear.
On Turn 1: lockdown!
From Aster and Sartorius's earlier duel, he had noticed that Sartorius's Deck used many "modern" cards. Though stronger than most decks in this world, it also had exploitable weaknesses.
Hikaru would use a lockdown strategy to shut them down!
"Fusion power... so this is your gift."
"But... have you noticed? Your power is also a piece of Destruction."
Hikaru frowned, confused by the Light's words.
Its glowing image spread its arms behind Sartorius:
"The universe began from Light, but that Light birthed Darkness. Their eternal clash gave rise to this chaotic universe."
As it spoke, the tower's surroundings shifted. Hikaru, Sarina, and Celina suddenly found themselves suspended in space.
In the universe, collisions occur constantly. Smaller galaxies merge into larger ones. From such cosmic events, Destruction is born.
So it is with worlds, humans, and Spirits.
In primitive times, humans were influenced by the waves of light, which triggered conflicts, battles, and chaos. Despite that, that influence was minimal.
"The human drive for destruction comes from within. Whether god or mortal, desires are never born from nothing, nor do they vanish without cause.
The urge to destroy lies within every heart.
Greed, gluttony, arrogance, rage, envy, control, all desires that lead humans and Spirits to destroy others to gain power, thus birthing pain and suffering.
If that's the case, then why not embrace it all and destroy everything? That way, suffering will cease to exist for you humans."
"No! You're wrong," Tierra cut in before Hikaru could respond. "Destruction is merely an action. What it brings isn't only death, but rebirth!
Smaller galaxies are pulled into larger ones, forming new systems. That gives the originally stagnating galaxies the momentum to move forward.
Life isn't just about death. It's about rebirth, cycles, and legacy, that's the meaning of existence!
Fusion isn't about destroying two monsters. It's about creating something new!"
Hikaru glanced at Tierra in surprise.
Then, with calm understanding.
Of course.
She had her own ideals.
The Light of Destruction gave no comment.
"In that case, let me show you through action.
With Destruction."
As the voice faded, Sartorius erupted in crazed laughter: "My turn, draw!"
"I activate the Continuous Spell: Light Force!"
A Spell Card shimmered before Sartorius, shocking Hikaru.
The Light of Destruction's true card?!
...
Bonus @600
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