"Cocytus, huh? That was fast… You actually managed to summon yourself."
Two of the highest-ranking Spellcasters observed the duel while commenting on the situation.
"While not the strongest Invoked, Cocytus's defensive ability is formidable. Paired with certain cards, it can become an impenetrable shield."
Aleister twirled his staff and asked, "Banner, how do you think your disciple will overcome this obstacle?"
"It's been a year,how would I know, meow~" The Quintet Magician stroked his chin and muttered, "Regardless, Crowley, don't underestimate my disciple. It's been a year."
Aleister raised an eyebrow.
He had always admired Hikaru Amaki. Though they'd never dueled in person, he had watched Banner's duel with Hikaru in its entirety and knew of Hikaru's commitment to Fusion, his deep understanding of it, and his keen ability to read an opponent's strategies. He respected Hikaru enough to gift him the "Invoked Magellanica."
However, in his view, a year ago, Hikaru was still being overwhelmed by Banner using Aleister's power. Even now, being able to stand toe-to-toe with a Water Invoked seemed…
"My turn,activate Field Spell: Magical Meltdown!"
What?!
Aleister reeled back in shock, his magic nearly faltering.
In the Grand Spellbook Tower, Hikaru quickly operated his cards. "Magical Meltdown's effect,add 1 Aleister the Invoker from my Deck to my hand!"
Gasps filled the Tower.
"It's Master Crowley?!"
"I'd heard this human, Hikaru, was a warrior in pursuit of ultimate Fusion… but I didn't think he was this strong!"
"He even has Aleister's card?!"
Unlike spirits, humans couldn't simply manifest cards in duels,they had to physically acquire them or gain them from spirits.
Aleister was not only a top-tier Spellcaster spirit but one of the rarest, part of the legendary "Three Sages" alongside Endymion and Rilliona.
That this human had Aleister's card,and likely Invocation,was astounding.
"Grr…" Cocytus growled lowly at Hikaru's move, clearly feeling pressured.
As an Invoked, it knew the summoner's power all too well.
However, rather than immediately Normal Summoning Aleister, Hikaru looked at his hand and activated another card. "Continuous Spell: Brilliant Fusion."
Sliding it into his Duel Disk, he said, "Brilliant Fusion's effect,send monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight Fusion Monster with its ATK and DEF reduced to 0. When this card leaves the field, that monster is destroyed."
He leisurely flipped through his Deck.
Magical Meltdown also had a continuous effect: while on the field, any of his Fusion Summon activations couldn't be negated, and upon a successful Fusion Summon, the opponent couldn't activate Spells, Traps, or monster effects in response.
This safeguard meant that unless countered by removal like Mystical Space Typhoon, his plays would go through.
"I send Gem-Knight Crystal and Gem-Knight Sapphire from my Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon,Fusion Materials: Gem-Knight Sapphire + 1 Gem-Knight monster… Come forth,Gem-Knight Aquamarine!"
The blue-armored knight flourished its shield-blade, tossing back its cape and striking a gallant pose.
[Gem-Knight Aquamarine] Level 6│EARTH│Aqua│2600 → 0 DEF
"Oh, that material," a mage adjusted their glasses, intrigued.
"Normal Summon,Aleister the Invoker!"
Cocytus growled softly.
"Aleister's effect,add 1 Invocation from my Deck to my hand."
A card popped from Hikaru's Deck into his hand.
"Then,activate Invocation!"
"Banish Aleister from my field and Sapphire from my Graveyard to Fusion Summon!"
"Whoa!" "Is this… an Invoked mirror match?!"
"Level 8,Invoked Magellanica!"
A magic circle formed beside Hikaru, and a colossal golem of stone slowly rose before him.
[Invoked Magellanica] Level 8│EARTH│Rock│3000 ATK
"Grr…" Cocytus wasn't pleased.
Magellanica had no effect,it was a vanilla Fusion Monster.
But,
With 3000 ATK, it was essentially a Fusion Blue-Eyes White Dragon. No matter how strong Cocytus's effect immunity was, sheer ATK could still smash through.
Its 2900 DEF couldn't withstand 3000 ATK.
"Invocation's Graveyard effect,return it to the Deck to add my banished Aleister back to my hand."
Even if Cocytus boosted itself with Aleister, it would still fall.
"Battle,Magellanica attacks Cocytus!"
The Water Invoked roared, even so, it was no use,Magellanica's fist struck true, forcing it back into the Duelist's zone.
"Impressive!"
"As expected of the EARTH Invoked,3000 ATK rivaling Blue-Eyes!"
The Water Dragon roared, unwilling to stop there. It flipped a Set card.
The artwork showed an Atlantean warrior under a waterfall, eyes glowing red as it rose from the depths.
[Trap Card: Torrential Rebirth]
Activate when a WATER monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard; Special Summon all monsters destroyed and sent from your field to the Graveyard at that time, then inflict 500 damage to your opponent for each.
A torrent burst from its maw, laced with spite and fury. Hikaru shielded himself with a hand, more annoyed than hurt.
[Hikaru Amaki, LP: 4000 → 3500]
"Set 1 card and end my turn," Hikaru said evenly, choosing not to press the attack.
"Banner, your disciple doesn't seem that much stronger."
"Is that so? Crowley, I feel Hikaru is far stronger than I imagined."
As they spoke, it was Cocytus's turn again.
It drew, and Hikaru spoke. "Cocytus, I can feel your anger."
'?' It looked at him.
"From your attacks, I sense your frustration. What is it that causes this?" Hikaru glanced toward the mages eager to learn Invocation. Those under his gaze instinctively lowered their heads.
"You're forcibly summoned here, made to interact and experiment with mages. Yet you don't truly hate it,otherwise, you wouldn't use Invocation or Fusion tactics."
Cocytus's growl softened. It lowered its head, studying him.
"What truly irritates you is that no one understands you, right?"
The mages exchanged confused looks, but Cocytus's eyes lit up, its wings shivering.
For the first time in a long while, it felt slightly relieved.
"Then let me reintroduce myself,I am Hikaru Amaki, a human Duelist, an Absolute Fusionist!
I understand!
Fusion means understanding yourself, your friends, your enemies, and each other,only then can everything truly be FUSED! Cocytus, what frustrates you is that these mages only care about Invocation, never about you, the powerful Invoked, isn't that right?!"
The watching students froze as if struck.
"No matter how strong Invocation is, it exists to summon Invoked monsters. If you don't try to understand the end result of the Fusion and only care about the Spell itself, you've missed the point.
I aim to understand every Fusion!
Cocytus, I hope you'll give me that chance."
Cocytus spread its wings, its gaze a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
But…
It didn't matter.
It drew a card, looked at it, and slowly grinned.
A massive Spellbook materialized before it. The flowing water slowed, and then flames erupted in the chamber.
"What?" Battler gripped the rail. "Security?!"
"Why fire?!"
"Because I activate this card,"
'!!!'
Faces paled as the once-water dragon transformed,water became flame, and intelligible words spilled from its mouth.
"The Water Invoked can talk?!"
"Why have I never succeeded before?!"
The arena was in chaos.
"Fools," the dragon,now devoid of water, wreathed in hellish flame,spoke.
It… had changed forms?!
"Every time you summon me, all you think about is calculating Invocation. You never think to speak with me… why should I respond?
I am a Duel Spirit… can't I converse with you?
Do you take me for a beast?"
Many mages lowered their heads in shame.
Battler shrugged.
Bad news: these students were going to get failing marks. Good news: they weren't his.
"Human, you are the first warrior to understand me,and the first to focus on me rather than the Spell. I am happy to speak with you.
Albeit… to earn my recognition, you must defeat me!"
"That's fine,that's why I'm here!"
"Good! Then let's continue,Quick-Play Spell: The Book of the Law! Tribute 1 Invoked you control; Special Summon 1 Invoked monster with a different original Attribute from your Extra Deck, treating it as a Fusion Summon."
"I transform from Water to Fire Invoked,Fusion Summon: Invoked Purgatrio!"
Demons lined up before it, saluting and cheering.
[Invoked Purgatrio] Level 7│FIRE│Fiend│2300 ATK
"A Fusion Spell with no materials needed?"
"Like Metamorphosis,but Quick-Play!"
"Incredible,there's more than Invocation!"
"I said,stop only focusing on the magic! Well, fine,this one is strong."
Purgatrio's effect: gains 200 ATK for each card the opponent controls.
With 5 cards on Hikaru's field, its ATK rose to 3300.
"It's stronger than Magellanica!"
"Amazing,each Invoked is unique."
Aleister took note of the mage who said that,perhaps they were worth moving to a better class.
"Well, Crowley, what do you think of my disciple?"
"Exceptional. Far better than my unworthy students."
Privately, Aleister sighed.
Damn Banner's luck, finding such a successor at death's door.
"Purgatrio can attack all monsters once each and deal piercing damage," Hikaru mused.
"You know that?"
"Of course,I'm an Absolute Fusionist. I'll spend my life learning every Fusion,there's no Fusion I don't know."
Once he would have boasted outright,though the further he walked this path, the more 'humble' he became.
Still arrogant to others, yet understandable to duelists.
Now, both had Aleister,meaning Purgatrio could reach 4300 ATK. Two piercing attacks on Aquamarine with 0 DEF would wipe out even 4000 LP.
"Battle,Purgatrio attacks Magellanica."
"I discard Aleister to boost Magellanica's ATK and DEF by 1000."
"Then I discard my Aleister to boost Purgatrio by 1000!"
High ATK was high ATK!
But,
"I activate a Trap,"
"Human, don't forget,I still have a Set card!"
"Heh… Haven't I mentioned? In pursuit of ultimate Fusion, my Deck is a little different from others'."
'?'
Hikaru smiled, Tierra drawing his Set card. "It's Fusion."
'Fusion?'
Every card Hikaru had played so far related to Fusion,and thanks to Magical Meltdown, it couldn't be negated.
Cocytus blinked.
"No way…"
"Exactly. In pursuit of ultimate Fusion, to see higher Fusions,every card in my Deck is about Fusion!
Activate Trap: Gem-Knight Fusion! Send the Fusion Materials from my hand or field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight Fusion Monster!"
"Even the Traps are Fusion?"
"So this is how he trains in Fusion?"
"Impressive,even at my most magic-obsessed, I never had over 20 Spells in my Deck…"
Ignoring them, Hikaru sent his cards to the Graveyard.
"Fusion Materials: Gem-Knight + Aqua monster,Gem-Knight Aquamarine + Gem-Knight Lazuli,Fusion Summon: Level 7, Aqua,Gem-Knight Amethyst!"
The captain of crystal raised spear and shield, guarding the field.
[Gem-Knight Amethyst] Level 7│EARTH│Aqua│1950 ATK
"Then, Aquamarine's effect,when sent from field to GY by a card effect, target 1 card your opponent controls; return it to the hand. I choose Purgatrio."
Hikaru spread his hands. "Purgatrio is more aggressive than Cocytus,but unlike you, it lacks destruction and targeting immunity. So,it returns to the Extra Deck."
The flames faded, the demonic form melting back into a dragon.
Though its attack was foiled, Cocytus seemed pleased,perhaps at hearing it was stronger than the Fire form.
"Indeed,you're right. Purgatrio's flaw is too great," it said, nodding sagely.
Hikaru shook his head, while Tierra was more blunt.
"So basically, this Invoked just didn't like its boss getting all the praise."
Either way…
The Water Invoked had no other plays. Having been baited into discarding Aleister, it couldn't even summon Magellanica now. It could only watch as Hikaru's next turn landed two direct hits.
[Invoked Cocytus, LP: 4000 → 1000 → 0]
"Splendid, splendid, meow!" The Quintet Magician waved his staff, startling nearby mages.
Even without magic, a strike from someone of his caliber was like taking a magic blast.
"See, Hikaru's amazing, isn't he?!"
The other mages understood Banner's pride. To see his human disciple not only defeat a powerful Invoked with ease but also voice its frustrations and point out the shortcomings of the lower mages,that talent far exceeded ordinary warriors.
And to so purely use Fusion, trust in it, and seek mutual understanding with opponents,this was enviable even to high-level mages.
Why didn't they have disciples like this?
"Though Cocytus's duel wasn't as fierce as yours," Aleister said afterward, "the Invoked's power is unquestionable. To win in just two turns,your disciple's grasp of Fusion has grown far deeper than a year ago. He's used his time well.
Beyond reading an opponent's frustrations in a duel, he hasn't lost his skill in psychological and information warfare,baiting the discard of Aleister to deprive Cocytus of sustainability.
Truly a genius among geniuses,the most 'Fused' of Fusion Duelists.
It seems he has indeed learned your alchemy."
Aleister lowered his head, hand to his mouth in thought. "At this rate, it won't be long before he surpasses even me. Banner, you really are lucky."
"Lucky, meow?! This is my sharp eye and careful guidance at work!" Banner meowed to the sky. "Crowley, you're just jealous!"
Aleister ignored the antics, long accustomed to Banner's clowning.
He simply calculated and plotted in silence.
Truth be told, even he was tempted to see Hikaru's duels up close.
He was looking forward to Hikaru's arrival.
...
Your Power Stones will help me translate and upload more chapters ✌️
Bonus Chaptrer @200 PS