A black-purple dragon slowly appeared behind Amaki Hikaru. Its grotesque body resembled something out of a horror film, covered in strange, orb-like crystalline nodes. Despite its eerie form, its sleek contours gave it an unnatural beauty.
As the massive dragon descended, its slender wings unfurled. Beneath its bony structure, purple light formed luminous feathers, illuminating Hikaru.
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon] Level 8 | DARK | Dragon | 2800 ATK
Serena stared, struck by an uncanny sense of familiarity.
"Starving Venom... Fusion Dragon?"
"Fusion??"
"A monster with 'Fusion' in its name..."
"So it's finally come to this. After everything in his Deck started revolving around Fusion... now even the monster names include it..." a senior student quipped.
"It looks fierce," Jain remarked.
"Would Lightsworns attack a spirit just for looking scary?"
"No. In fact, we even have Fiend-type allies in the Lightsworn ranks," Jain replied. "To us, anyone who believes in justice and fights for the weak can be our ally."
"Then why destroy this dimension indiscriminately?"
Jain clenched her fist. "Because... there's no time. My friends in the Dark World say 'Infinite Darkness' is about to awaken. If we keep delaying, everything will be lost.
Compared to losing one or two dimensions, the future of all life across the multiverse matters more!"
"Infinite Darkness..." Hikaru assumed it referred to Jaden. He sighed. "I see, General Jain. You're not afraid of a powerful enemy. You're afraid you won't make it in time."
Jain flinched like her thoughts had been read, then lowered her head.
"But are things truly that desperate?" Hikaru looked up at the myriad Lightsworn warriors. "I've heard tales... of the Realm of Justice."
'!!!'
The Lightsworn spirits were truly surprised now.
There were countless spirit realms. The Realm of Justice was vast but not particularly well-known.
"Heh... I'm a Duelist pursuing ultimate Fusion. Anything Fusion-related, I study. I heard your world has a Fusion Monster called 'Enlightenment Dragon.' I learned about you because of that."
"Enlightenment Dragon... not even Archangel Michael has seen that legend. You know it?"
"I do," Hikaru nodded. "And because I know, I understand this isn't truly a desperate situation.
You Lightsworn have an even more volatile power—the Twilight power. When you resolve to eradicate an evil force, you don your dark robes and go to war.
Even immortal Lightsworn warriors fall during such campaigns, because the price of using Twilight is sacrificing that endless revival. Right?"
He gestured to the army of angels and dragons.
"Only a few of you are Twilightsworn. Even you, General Jain, haven't used any Twilight cards this Duel.
Deep down, you know. This dimension is too complex, too uncertain. It hasn't yet reached the point of no return."
"And perhaps... the 'Infinite Darkness' you speak of isn't evil at all." Hikaru shook his head. "Perhaps it could be a companion of justice."
Jain fell silent.
Those words rocked her beliefs.
"Fine then. Let battle speak. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon—direct attack!"
"Oh! If that lands, General Jain loses."
"Not so fast. She's our most promising warrior!"
As the attack approached, Jain revealed her Set card: "Trap Card—Negate Attack!"
A basic trap, simple in effect.
"Negate the attack and end the Battle Phase."
Hikaru shrugged and crossed his arms. "Then I end my turn."
He noticed the Light of Ruin within Jain flashing. Slowly, it drifted away and merged into his body.
It seemed the Light Force had left a mark on him after his Duel with Sartorius' shadow. He wasn't a vessel, yet he could still absorb light from others.
"You make sense... but we still can't trust humans," Jain said, drawing. "If you prove you're not merely beings to protect, we may retract our words.
And if you're right, and the awakening darkness can forsake its ambition, then perhaps this urgency is unnecessary. If the enemy is just the Dark World... then so be it.
Regardless! What matters now… is whether you can defeat me!"
"Don't underestimate me! Even without Twilight, we Lightsworn are strong! My turn."
She pointed to her Graveyard. "If there are 4 or more Lightsworn monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon this card!
Descend, pure justice that punishes all evil!
Unfurl your wings and bring divine judgment!
Special Summon—Level 8: Judgment Dragon!"
A radiant white dragon descended, its holy light dispelling all shadow.
[Judgment Dragon] Level 8 | LIGHT | Dragon | 3000 ATK
As the light bathed the field, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon snarled. The two dragons glared at each other, sparks flying.
"Just like Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Same Attribute too!"
"Only our top Lightsworn warriors can wield Judgment Dragon. Though Michael is our leader, Judgment and Punishment Dragons are our true symbols of power."
"Its ATK is 200 points higher than Fusion Dragon."
"Not just that. It's Judgment Dragon!" a spirit cried.
Jain continued: "Judgment Dragon's effect: Pay 1000 LP to destroy all other cards on the field!"
[Jain, LP: 2300 → 1300]
The dragon raised its head, unleashing radiant light that obliterated all.
Hikaru watched, nodding.
'Judgment Dragon…'
'So cool.'
He truly loved that card.
Regardless, as formats evolved, it became harder to play. Only thanks to the Enlightenment Dragon did it become relevant again.
Seeing one of his favorite cards activate its effect in real life was a joy.
"However... Destruction isn't yours alone."
"W-what?" Jain blinked.
"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's effect: If this card is destroyed, destroy all Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls!"
"Ahh—"
"The same type of effect!"
The fusion dragon's phantom reappeared above Judgment Dragon, purple energy engulfing the latter and pulling it to the Graveyard.
"..."
Watching her ace vanish, Jain fell silent. "Then I summon myself!"
She swirled her cloak and raised her red-black Duel Disk.
"Jain, Lightsworn Paladin."
[Jain, Lightsworn Paladin] Level 4 | DARK | Warrior | 1800 ATK
"Hikaru still has plenty of LP."
"He can survive the attack."
Hikaru nodded calmly.
"Battle. I attack directly."
"When a monster declares an attack, I Special Summon this card in Defense Position.
Vampire Fraulein!"
Bats flew from the shadows, forming a sickly-looking blonde maiden.
[Vampire Fraulein] Level 5 | DARK | Zombie | 2000 DEF
'Still more…'
Jain frowned.
"End turn."
"My turn. Draw." Hikaru glanced at his hand, arching a brow. Not what he'd expected.
"From the Graveyard, Fusion Substitute's effect: Banish it, return one Fusion Monster to the Deck, then draw a card. I return Fusion Dragon."
He drew.
Perfect.
"I activate the Spell Card: Ghost Fusion. Fusion Summon a Zombie monster by banishing their materials in my deck or Graveyard!"
"I banish Vampire Fraulein and Vampire Vamp—Fusion Summon!
Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon!"
The gates of the underworld creaked open, and the dark dragon emerged.
It hadn't appeared during the Light Force Duel, which was unfortunate. Though now, in front of all these spirits and spectators, it entered as the Duel's finale.
[Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon] Level 8 | DARK | Dragon | 3000 ATK
Yet another DARK Fusion Monster.
Hikaru was like a magician unveiling a series of villainous-looking Fusions.
Seeing this one, Jain finally understood.
She had been wrong. From the start, her side had the wrong strategy.
Protection?
No. That was never needed.
This man possessed power far beyond their expectations. He couldn't be pushed out.
"Dragonecro's effect: Monsters it battles aren't destroyed by battle, their ATK becomes 0, and I Special Summon a Token with ATK equal to the original."
Jain slowly lowered her hand.
The real problem was that she hadn't fought at full power.
"Dragonecro, attack!"
The dragon gathered power and slammed Jain. Her LP dropped to 100.
However, this wasn't a comeback. A dark clone appeared—a spirit wielding a black blade, identical to her.
Its sword shattered Jain's armor. Her LP hit 0.
She had been too impatient... and too dismissive of humanity.
She lost.