Alas.
At some moment, Yamaguchi suddenly felt a bit envious, perhaps even admiring Tenjo Hikari.
Having lived in the Integration Department for three years and followed Akaba Leo for two, now being the "Blue Academy representative" and "acting minister" of the Integration Department, his loyalty to Akaba Leo's orders had seeped into his bones.
Because, as long as he listened to Akaba Leo, he could obtain powerful decks, gain formidable strength, rely on his Blue Academy status to easily pass exams at the Academy, and achieve excellent grades. There would be no worries about progressing to higher education or planning for post-graduate life, as the professors had everything arranged clearly for them.
He always believed that "Polymerization is the noblest summoning method," because only that way could he peacefully avoid thinking about things in the Other Dimension, only that way could he feel at ease and justified without adding learning pressure to himself.
However, today, Tenjo Hikari expressed a completely different perspective.
No!
He must not lose!
If he loses, then what has he been doing for the past three years!?
"My turn, I recall that Dark Balter the Terrible has the effect of paying 1000 Life Points to negate Normal Spell Cards, right?"
Tenjo Hikari raised his eyebrows and nodded.
"In that case, I'll just not use Normal Spells!"
"I normal summon, Gladiator Beast Laquari!"
He slammed down a monster card, which was a ferocious beast that seemed to be jumping through rings of fire.
Gladiator Beast Laquari, LV 4, Fire Attribute, Beast Warrior-Type, ATK 1800.
"Then, Quick-Play Spell Card, Indomitable Gladiator Beast! It can raise the ATK of a Gladiator Beast monster on the field by 500 points until the end of the turn!"
"So the ATK of Gladiator Beast Laquari will become 2300!"
"Battle! Use Gladiator Beast Laquari to attack."
The King of All Animals charged at the Archfiend with blazing flames, Tenjo Hikari reached out to block the fire, but at the same time, the Archfiend vanished from the field.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→3700.
"Gladiator Beasts have the ability to return to the deck after the battle and then Special Summon another member." Mitsuzawa Daichi, who had appeared on the scene at some point, commented with his arms crossed, "Hikari used Gladiator Beast Gyzarus before, it's a very powerful Fusion Monster that can destroy two monsters on the field upon arrival... Moreover, like Manjome's Fusion Monster, it doesn't require Fusion, just gathering Fusion Materials to appear.
Not only that, as Fusion Material, Gladiator Beast Bestiari has the effect of destroying the opponent's Spell Trap Cards..."
His expression was grim.
At first glance, Tenjo Hikari only took 300 damage, but in reality, the scales of victory seemed to have tilted...
Right?
"In this moment, I activate the Set Card!"
Suddenly, Tenjo Hikari opened a Set Card fiercely, "Trap Card, Shaddoll Core!"
"This card can become a Monster Card and be summoned to the field!"
A large, black, spherical object emitting dark aura suddenly appeared on Tenjo Hikari's field.
If anyone is familiar with Tenjo Hikari's deck, they might be able to see, this is... um, Crystal's head.
Shaddoll Core, LV 9, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 1450/DEF 1950.
"Special summoning a monster at this point?"
Yamaguchi seemed confused.
The surrounding students had no idea what Tenjo Hikari was up to.
Only Judai saw the green-haired spirit suddenly appear beside Tenjo Hikari again, watching with interest.
"Then, at the end of the Battle Phase, I activate Laquari's effect to send this card back to the deck and Special Summon a monster with 'Gladiator Beast' in its name other than 'Laquari' from the deck to my field."
"Then, I'll open another Set Card!"
Tenjo Hikari suddenly snapped his fingers: "Behold this moment, everyone!"
Huh?
Judai and others exchanged glances.
Hikari's tone?
"Quick-Play Fusion Spell Card, El Shaddoll Fusion!"
"I use the Shaddoll Core on the field as a monster, and this card from my hand... a Tuner Monster, Shaddoll Falco, as Fusion Material!"
"Tuner Monster!!!" In the duel, Yamaguchi jumped back in shock.
"Tuner Monster!?" Many of the onlooking students couldn't help but exclaim.
"No way, Tuner Monsters were just sent to Duel Academy Island!" A group of men in black became slightly nervous and began checking urgently.
"Using Tuner Monsters as Fusion Material..." Some students from the Fusion Department started to recall words Hikari had said before.
It turns out he was serious all along!
"The card depicts that green spirit!" Manjome focused his attention.
Is this Tenjo's true Ace Monster?
"Oh oh oh! Is it finally appearing!? Hikari's partner!?"
"Listen closely!" Tenjo Hikari slowly took a monster card from the Extra Deck, held it in his hand but wasn't in a hurry to use it, "Voice of God, Divine Words, comprehend and interpret, this divine command!
Fusion Summon!
Descend!
El Shaddoll Winda!"
The world transformed, as Tenjo Hikari gently placed the Monster Card in the monster zone of the Duel Disk, the entire sky darkened, clouds spread continuously above the store, a monster with a green single ponytail, entirely composed of mechanical joints, yet without a single Puppet Strings, slowly descended with a Magic Staff in hand, piloting a mechanical Flying Dragon. Purple Puppet Strings extended from somewhere, tightly binding this dragon as a mount.
El Shaddoll Winda, LV 5, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 2200.
Huh?
Manjome and Judai simultaneously let out a light gasp and then exchanged glances upon hearing each other's curiosity.
Tenjo Hikari indeed summoned that monster, but oddly, the spirit remained floating beside Tenjo Hikari and did not ascend!
"Mm-mm-mm, the lines, the components, Tenjo Hikari, is this model of Winda beautiful?"
"Uh, um..." Tenjo Hikari was at a loss for how to respond to her question because she currently used Winda's appearance, which was also "Little Winda's" body.
Tierra certainly wouldn't personally step in to punch.
Let's not even mention whether she's willing, Tenjo Hikari didn't want her to truly go because with her current strength, she could seriously injure or kill an opponent in a duel, this was not some Darkness Duel where such actions were necessary.
Moreover, although Tierra was indeed residing within the Midrash card, she never regarded this card as her "home," it's the best proof that she could freely appear next to Tenjo Hikari anytime, freely and without interruption when other spirits couldn't even manifest their forms or intervene.
Lastly, as a God, she also had dignity.
To have her come down to punch in such trivial matters? It would be beneath the dignity of a God! Absolutely not!
"At this moment, I activate the effects of Shaddoll Core and Shaddoll Falco in the Graveyard. When Shaddoll Core is sent to the Graveyard, I can add a Shaddoll Spell or Trap Card from the Graveyard to my hand. I'll retrieve El Shaddoll Fusion. Also, the effect of Shaddoll Falco. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it from the Graveyard to the field in Face-down Defense Position."
Tenjo Hikari retrieved the card from the Graveyard and showed it to everyone, before setting it back to the field.
"Uh... eh, this..." Yamaguchi was stunned for quite a long time, only returning to his senses when the men in black urged him to continue his turn.
Tenjo Hikari... he already started using "Tuner Monsters" as Fusion Material?!
He's not joking.
He's truly... truly embracing all types of summoning, believing that "Polymerization is the noblest summoning method"! He is, serious!
He shook his head vigorously, but in his mind, he was caught in the moment when Tenjo Hikari shouted to use Tuner Monsters as materials.
This...
He felt that his worldview had been shaken.
"No, whatever—" He shook his head, "In short, Laquari returns to the deck, and Special Summons Bestiari, then I open the Set Card, Obstacle Race!
It allows me to Special Summon from the deck... huh?"
Tenjo Hikari smiled and shook his head, and Tierra beside him mirrored his motion and raised a finger, saying: "Sorry.
With Midrash on the field, both sides can only Special Summon once per turn!
"What!!?"
Yamaguchi was stunned!