'I didn't expect that card,' Hikaru thought, "... Though on second thought, it makes sense."
"Once per turn, discard 1 card to add 2 'Arcana Force' monsters with different names from your Deck to your hand. This turn, you cannot Special Summon monsters, except 'Arcana Force' monsters."
Hikaru's brow twitched.
'Damn.'
That effect was strong.
A double search, no less.
"I discard one card to add Arcana Force V - The Hierophant and Arcana Force XIX - The Sun from my Deck to hand."
"I activate the Field Spell: Light Barrier!"
A dazzling radiance lit up the dimension from the sky.
"As long as this card is on the field, effects that trigger upon Normal Summon, Flip Summon, or Special Summon of your 'Arcana Force' monsters don't require coin toss. You choose the result instead."
"Huh?" Sarina was surprised by this card.
Though it's a dedicated Field Spell for Arcana Force, she hadn't expected her brother to rely on it.
He shouldn't need a card like that, should he?
"Normal Summon, Arcana Force VI - The Lovers!"
"According to Light Barrier's effect, I choose Upright Position!"
The Lovers appeared directly face-up without spinning.
In the Upright Position, The Lovers can count as two Tributes when summoning an Arcana Force monster.
[Arcana Force VI - The Lovers] Level 4│LIGHT│Fairy│1600 ATK
"Light Force increases ATK and DEF of Fairy-Type monsters on my field by 300."
[The Lovers, ATK: 1600 → 1900]
"If I control a card with a coin-toss effect, I can Special Summon this card directly!"
"Hahaha....Amaki Hikaru! This is a card born of your own power: Major Arcana XIX, The Sun!"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow slightly.
This version of Sartorius under Light Force control was almost identical to the original.
[Arcana Force XIX - The Sun] Level 7│LIGHT│Fairy│2900 → 3200 ATK
The Sun began spinning, then immediately stopped in the Upright Position.
"Upright Position! Its effect activates: I Set a Spell Card from my Deck that involves a coin toss!" Sartorius grinned, pulling out a card. "I Set the Spell Card Cup of Ace, then activate it!"
Cup of Ace flipped and started to spin. Hikaru noticed Sartorius seemed a bit nervous.
"Of course, Upright Position!"
Ding
Cup of Ace landed Upright.
"I draw 2 cards!" Sartorius laughed. "And now, it's time to deal with that annoying Winda."
Because of Winda's effect, each player can only Special Summon once per turn. He had to summon The Sun just to destroy Winda, then return to Main Phase for more plays.
"Attack El Shaddoll Winda with The Sun!"
"At this moment, I activate the effect of Aleister the Invoker in my hand!"
"What!?"
"I target 1 Fusion Monster on the field. It gains 1000 ATK and DEF until the end of this turn! I boost Winda's ATK!"
[Winda, ATK: 2200 → 3200]
"They're equal in strength."
"Since you said that card was born of my power, then I'll use my power to crush it! Go, Winda!"
Winda, riding her dragon, clashed with The Sun. Moments later, both monsters were destroyed.
"Tch, cheap tricks." Sartorius scoffed. "You deliberately didn't Summon Aleister to avoid fetching Invocation, just to lure me in? If not for Light Barrier's 300-point boost, I might have walked into your trap and lost the duel from the start.
This, too, must be fate, Amaki Hikaru!
The Lovers, attack Aquamarine."
With only 0 DEF, Aquamarine was easily destroyed.
"Light Barrier's effect: When an Arcana Force monster destroys a monster in battle, I regain LP equal to its original ATK!"
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 4000 → 5400]
"Aquamarine's effect! When sent from field to Graveyard, target 1 monster your opponent controls; return it to the hand!"
"Back you go, Lovers!"
"Tch..." Sartorius snorted as the card returned to his hand.
"Battle Phase ends. Main Phase 2. I activate the Spell: Arcana Spread.
If Light Barrier is on the field, I can skip the coin toss and choose the effect. I choose the Reverse Position effect to Special Summon The Sun from the Graveyard."
The Sun reappeared on Sartorius's field.
"Of course, Upright Position!" Sartorius opened his Deck again. "I Set Pentacle of Ace, then activate it."
It spun briefly, then landed Upright, allowing Sartorius to draw again.
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 5400 → 5900]
Hikaru's brows furrowed slightly.
Was it just his imagination, or did Sartorius seem nervous?
"Looks like fate played a little trick on you," Sartorius chuckled. "I drew a very crucial card."
"I activate the Continuous Spell: Field Barrier!" A circular wall enclosed the tower. "While this card is on the field, neither player can destroy nor activate Field Spell Cards."
Hikaru's frown deepened.
Why that card?
"I Set one card and end my turn!"
"Oh no! Hikaru's field is empty, and my brother still has a high-level monster with over 3000 ATK..." Sarina grew anxious.
She hadn't seen Sartorius's earlier duels, but just looking at this board state, she felt Hikaru was in trouble.
"Don't worry, my master's the strongest," Celina encouraged.
"My turn! Draw!" Hikaru drew his next card.
Due to Field Barrier, he couldn't play Fusion Recycling Plant or destroy Light Barrier.
But that card, Light Force, lets Sartorius search two Arcana Force cards per turn. If left alone, a prolonged duel would be dire.
...
Then, prioritize destroying Light Force!
"I activate the Continuous Spell: Flame Swordsrealm!"
"Then I activate the Graveyard effect of Destiny HERO - Malicious, banishing it to Special Summon another Malicious from my Deck!"
"I Special Summon Malicious, then immediately send it to the Graveyard via Flame Swordsrealm's effect to Fusion Summon from the Extra Deck: Flame Swordsman!"
"Hahaha! My liege, leave it to me!"
[Flame Swordsman] Level 5│FIRE│Warrior│1600 DEF
Hikaru gave a slight nod, then drew a card with his left hand: "I activate the Spell: Destiny Fusion!"
"This lets me send monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a Destiny HERO. The summoned monster is destroyed at the end of the next turn. After activation, I can't Special Summon non-DARK HERO monsters this turn."
"Aster, I'm borrowing your strength!"
"Fusion Materials: 2 Destiny HERO monsters!"
"I send Destiny HERO - Denier and Destiny HERO - Celestial from my Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon!"
"Noble HERO, heed destiny's call and appear before me!"
"Fusion Summon!
Level 8, Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
Aster's signature HERO leapt onto the field, roaring and swinging its fist forward.
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia] Level 8│DARK│Warrior│2800 ATK
"Dystopia's effect! When this card is Special Summoned, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK of a Level 4 or lower HERO in your Graveyard! I choose Celestial!"
"Righteous Justice!"
Unable to contain his fury, Dystopia charged at Sartorius and punched him.
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 5900 → 4300]
"Battle! Dystopia attacks The Sun! I activate Flame Swordsrealm's effect: reduce Flame Swordsman's ATK by 1000 and increase all my other monsters' ATK by 1000. Fall again, The Sun!"
[Dystopia, ATK: 2800 → 3800]
"Foolish. I activate the Trap: Waboku!" Sartorius sneered. "This turn, my monsters can't be destroyed by battle and I take no battle damage!"
"How do you like that, Amaki Hikaru? Your attack is useless now!"
"Heh. The fool is you! Dystopia's effect: If this card's ATK differs from its original ATK, I target 1 card on the field and destroy it!
I target you, Light Force!"
The phantom behind Sartorius glared coldly at Hikaru, but couldn't retaliate.
"Amazing..." Sarina exclaimed.
Different archetypes, different types of Fusion monsters, yet they could be chained together to form such synergy. Fusion monsters from distinct systems, cooperating seamlessly...
Is this... the pinnacle of Fusion?!