[Legendary Dragons (controlled by Headmaster), LP: 4000 → 3600]
"You promised you'd only use the Legendary Dragons. A dignified headmaster shouldn't go back on his word!"
To ensure the success of his strategy to counter the Legendary Dragons with the First of the Dragons, Miles had even gone so far as to provoke the Headmaster into giving him a 'guarantee'.
"Yeah, yeah." The Headmaster said perfunctorily. "I would like to use other cards… but that depends on whether the Legendary Dragons allow me to."
So far, only two Legendary Dragon cards had appeared. The remaining one, featuring a red dragon, had yet to reveal its true effect.
If Timaeus fused with Dark Magician, and Critias fused with Trap Cards, then logically, the last one should be a Legendary Dragon that fuses with Spell Cards.
Of course, that was just a theory based on the pattern.
"I Set 2 cards and end my turn!"
As Miles ended his turn, the continuous effect of the Spell Card H - Heated Heart wore off, and the heroic flames burning across the mountainous dragon body of First of the Dragons faded out.
[First of the Dragons, ATK: 3200 → 2700]
Its Attack returning to base made First of the Dragons get overtaken by the Legendary Dragon [Amulet Dragon].
Yet, even if his Attack was surpassed, it didn't matter. First of the Dragons was immune to Effect Monsters—even Amulet Dragon couldn't destroy it in battle.
Even just stalling could win this Duel.
Understanding Miles' plan, the young Headmaster wore a slightly more awkward smile.
"Hey hey hey, don't tell me you guys are planning to stall your entire Deck out? This is still a Trial Duel, you know! Show a little backbone!"
"It is a trial, but there's no rule that says there's only one way to pass~"
"Heh, not bad. Hahaha, Timaeus, this Duelist you fancy sure has character."
Miles' logic was oddly to the Headmaster's taste. Though technically just a stand-in, he now seemed genuinely invested, even drawing cards with more energy than before.
Sure enough, under the will of the Trial of the Legendary Dragons, the final Legendary Dragon card was smoothly drawn.
"An Effect Monster that's unaffected and indestructible, huh. Alright, I've decided!"
The Headmaster once again flipped two cards in her slender white fingers.
"To deal with you two, this card is just right! Legendary Dragon Claw of Hermos, fused with the Spellcaster Blizzard Princess in my hand!"
Irene exclaimed, "It fuses with a Monster again? I thought the last Legendary Dragon would definitely fuse with a Spell Card!"
The third Legendary Dragon, Claw of Hermos, was finally revealed. The Headmaster flung the two cards onto the field.
The red dragon Hermos took flight, materializing mid-path, and merged with the Spellcaster card, transforming completely.
A true transformation.
Unlike Critias, who merged Trap Cards into his dragon body, or Timaeus, who had Dark Magician ride him, Hermos had fully altered his appearance upon fusing with a Monster Card.
"Claw of Hermos can fuse with Warrior or Spellcaster-Type monsters to awaken the sleeping potential of alternate forms—as Equip Cards!"
"Equip Cards?"
"Become the blade to break all deadlocks! Fusion Summon—Time Magic Hammer!"
[Time Magic Hammer] Level 2│LIGHT│Spellcaster│500 ATK / 400 DEF
["Claw of Hermos" + 1 Spellcaster-Type monster]
Irene said, "Is that still a dragon?"
Aisha muttered, "That's not even a sword, though..."
The Fusion Summon completed with Hermos transformed both the dragon and the material into what looked like a weapon.
"This is Hermos' trait. All monsters Fusion Summoned through Claw of Hermos share this effect—"
[Time Magic Hammer Effect: When this card is Special Summoned, target 1 monster on the field; equip this card to that target.]
A Fusion Monster that can be used as an Equip Card—not by fusing with Spell Cards, but by becoming a Spell itself. That was Hermos' defining feature.
Grabbing the newly fused Time Magic Hammer, the Headmaster hurled it into her back row.
"Targeting [Amulet Dragon] on the field, equip [Time Magic Hammer] to it as an Equip Card!"
The cards drew each other in. Dark Magician, mounted on Timaeus, now wielded a new weapon forged from Hermos.
"Heheheh, time to battle! You two fused together using the power of burning hearts. But I just fused two Legendary Dragons into a cross-era combo!"
Declaring her attack, the Dark Magician astride Timaeus swung the Time Magic Hammer at Miles' [First of the Dragons].
"A close-combat caster wielding a giant hammer, huh," Miles countered. "But First of the Dragons can't be destroyed by Effect Monsters!"
"I never said I was destroying it." The Headmaster smirked.
"When equipped as a Spell, [Time Magic Hammer]'s effect sends the battle target into the future by several turns!"
"Send a monster into the future?" Irene blinked. "Even if that effect activates, shouldn't First of the Dragons be unaffected by monster effects?"
"That doesn't apply anymore, Irene. In the Spell/Trap Zone, [Time Magic Hammer] counts as a Spell Card now. So, First of the Dragons' immunity doesn't work!"
No longer a Monster Card, [Time Magic Hammer] activated its effect, rapidly spinning a die on the field.
"Depending on the number rolled, the target is banished for that many turns, starting from the next Standby Phase!"
All eyes watched tensely as the die spun—and landed on a 6.
"[Time Magic Hammer] activates! I can't destroy your First of the Dragons, but I can send it six turns into the future!"
A wormhole cracked open in space, warped by time. Roaring defiantly, First of the Dragons was pulled in, vanishing without a trace.
"Six turns later?! Damn, that's even harsher than Card of Demise!"
Card of Demise's 5-turn return clause was already nearly impossible to trigger. A 6-turn time skip? First of the Dragons might as well be gone for good.
"I've already fused all three Legendary Dragons. If you clear the trial with just one card, it's no fun! Show the dragons more of your resolve!"
Ending her turn, the Headmaster left no cards Set.
She may have lost Mirror Force Dragon's defensive support, but had gained the offensive boost of Time Magic Hammer.
[Amulet Dragon] now stood at 3100 Attack, higher than even Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and it could send enemy monsters into the future.
"Our resolve, huh…"
Miles exchanged glances with Irene and gestured toward his previously Set card.
"Ren, do you trust me? A hero's light that creates miracles can even surpass the Legendary Dragons."
"A hero's light that creates miracles?"
Fixing her gaze on Miles' eyes—Aisha's eyes, yet carrying a different resolve—Irene followed his look and noticed the face-down card.
"Miles, this card is—!"
"You saw the Duel earlier today, right? If you trust me and believe in a hero's potential—flip that card and defeat the Legendary Dragons!"
"That Duel earlier…"
Miles was indeed referring to the Duel between Irene and Irena during the Academy Festival.
She used HEROes. Irena used Dark Magician.
It did mirror this Legendary Dragon trial in some ways.
"The light of HEROes can even surpass the Legendary Dragons… the light of HEROes…"
Muttering those words from someone precious to her, Irene's eyes cleared as if a veil had been lifted.
It had to be this way.
If Miles had directly told her the answer, Irene wouldn't have been able to summon a Fusion HERO that surpassed herself.
In this world, it's the Duelist's soul that forges cards—that calls to the spirits of the cards.
"Go, Ren. Show them the light of HEROes!"
"Right! I'm going! Activating the Set Trap Card!"
Just as Miles flipped Irene's [H - Heated Heart] last turn, Irene now activated his Set card.
The essence of a Tag Duel is using your partner's cards to break past solo limits.
"Trap Card Activate: Necro Fusion!"
[Banish Fusion Materials listed on a Fusion Monster from your Graveyard face-down, then Fusion Summon that monster from your Extra Deck. That monster cannot attack this turn.]
This same card had been used during Irene's Duel with Irena.
And now, following Miles' lead, Irene performed her own radiant Fusion.
"Using the effect of [Necro Fusion], banish [Elemental HERO Sparkman] and [Elemental HERO Flame Wingman] from the Graveyard to Fusion Summon—!"
Kevin gasped, "That Fusion combo is—!"
It was familiar. The same Fusion that won her the duel against Irena—Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer.
Both Phoenix Enforcer and Flame Wingman had been summoned using Avian and Burstinatrix.
If Phoenix Enforcer could achieve radiant fusion, then so could Flame Wingman.
This was Irene's belief in the light of HEROes.
"Let fire evolve into light, and let radiant wings shine upon the skies! Fusion Summon—[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman]!!"
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman] Level 8│LIGHT│Warrior│2500 ATK
Though it shared a silhouette with Phoenix Enforcer, this was a different kind of radiant evolution. Leaping forth with blazing wings, it outshone Amulet Dragon completely.
"I did it, Miles!"
Irene was ecstatic. She had finally caught up to Miles' path and summoned her own light-infused HERO.
"Yeah, well done, Ren! Now we have a chance to fight back!"
"[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman] gains 300 ATK for each Elemental HERO in my Graveyard!"
Same as Shining Phoenix Enforcer. By inheriting the soul of HEROes in the Graveyard, it powered up.
"I currently have Avian, Burstinatrix, and Bubbleman in my Graveyard, so Shining Flare Wingman gains 900 ATK!"
[Shining Flare Wingman, ATK: 2500 → 3400]
Now surpassing Amulet Dragon's 3100 ATK. And since Necro Fusion was activated at the end of the Headmaster's turn, by Irene's next turn, her monster could attack.
"My turn! Draw!"
As if in sync with her evolved HERO, even Irene's draw sparkled with radiant effects.
"A heads-up," the Headmaster said calmly, "Even if your monster's ATK is higher, with [Time Magic Hammer] equipped to [Amulet Dragon], it'll still be sent to the future."
"You said it's an Equip Spell now, right? Then I'll destroy it with this!"
Irene slammed down her drawn card.
"Spell Card Activate: R - Righteous Justice!"
[Destroy Spell/Trap cards on the field equal to the number of "Elemental HERO" cards you control.]
A giant "R" symbol lit up behind Shining Flare Wingman. Justice descended upon the field.
"With [Shining Flare Wingman] on the field, I destroy your Equip Spell [Time Magic Hammer]!"
1-for-1 destruction. With a righteous roar, Shining Flare Wingman shattered the Hermos-forged equipment, knocking it from Dark Magician's hands.
"Obstacle cleared! Now [Shining Flare Wingman] won't be sent to the future in battle!"
Pumping her fist, the red-haired girl declared battle with gusto.
"I failed last time, but this time, watch me close, Miles! Witness the evolved light of HERO fusion! Shine and soar, Shining Flare Wingman!"
"Yeah, I'm watching, Ren!"
Answering her call, Shining Flare Wingman unfolded its mechanical, radiant wings and flew across the blue skies of this ideal world, arcing toward Amulet Dragon.
"Surpass the Legendary Dragons, Shining Flare Wingman! Shining Shoot!!"
The shining arc pierced through the rune-clad dragon. The 300 ATK gap proved too much; the mighty Timaeus vanished with a roar.
[Legendary Dragons, LP: 3600 → 3300]
"I'm not done yet! [Shining Flare Wingman] also inherits Flame Wingman's effect!"
[When this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK.]
Irene threw a punch forward, unleashing another wave of HERO light.
"Effect damage—3100 points! Take it all! Shining Flare Wingman!!"
An explosion brighter than a direct Blue-Eyes attack erupted from Shining Flare Wingman, engulfing the Headmaster completely in light.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!"
[Legendary Dragons, LP: 3300 → 200]
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]