After returning to reality, Tenjo Hikari contacted Acting Principal Cronos to advise him not to let the new students explore the Skyscraper Dimension for the time being and to share what he'd experienced there recently.
Listening to Hikari's report, Acting Principal Cronos finally understood why Tenjo Hikari had spent several days in the Skyscraper Dimension.
So much had transpired there.
"The Spirit World isn't at peace either..." Cronos mused thoughtfully.
Although Tenjo Hikari helped the heroes drive away the Martial God of the Dark World and even acquired the card sealing the Martial God and the Wicked Rune, it didn't mean the heroes could rest easy.
According to the heroes, they planned to use the Skyscraper as a stronghold for a prolonged battle against the Dark World's warriors.
During this period, they would likely dispatch more and stronger main heroes, making the Skyscraper Dimension increasingly dangerous, hence advising humans not to let young warriors intern there anymore.
"Ah, mamma mia... really..." Acting Principal Cronos felt a headache coming on after hearing Tenjo Hikari's report, "I was thinking of sending Judai there to relax..."
"Judai? What's wrong?" Hikari inquired.
"After Judai lost to Ed, he's been absent-minded ever since." Cronos rubbed his temples as he conveyed the events of the previous day to Tenjo Hikari.
While Hikari and Serena were adventuring in the Skyscraper, Ed had arrived at the academy and got his wish to duel Judai.
Despite Judai's Elemental Heroes being quite powerful, he lost to Ed's Destiny Heroes.
Afterwards, Judai became dazed and out of it, no longer skipping classes or dueling enthusiastically, merely staring blankly at the sea every day.
Cronos had initially thought of sending him to the Skyscraper to clear his mind, especially since his beloved Elemental Heroes were there, but unexpectedly, a war among Spirits had erupted there.
Cronos simply thought Judai became confused after losing to Destiny Heroes.
But as Tenjo Hikari listened to this description.
He pondered—
He thought Ed was so normal; even Yubel had started stirring things up, so Saiou shouldn't have been much of a problem, yet this guy still wanted to make trouble?
Didn't this just sound like in the original where Saiou used Ed to steal Judai's destiny?
So he did it after all!
Now, they had to face another antagonist, Saiou.
However—
Does this mean Judai will soon acquire "Neos"?
In the original, both Caesar and Judai got trounced by Ed, one suffering continual defeats in the professional dueling arena, losing their public appeal, and the other unable to even see cards or Duel Monsters.
The former was tricked into underground dueling, receiving shock treatments in duels, eventually realizing what they truly wanted and giving up on their Cyber Dragon; the latter, lost in confusion, was struck by things from the cosmos, reaching an unknown space and gaining new power—the Elemental Hero Neos.
Frankly, the super deck combination of Neos, Elemental Heroes, and Neo-Spacians is even messier than Tenjo Hikari's "Fusion Deck" now, since Hikari can draw a card and make a play due to having a deck full of fusion cards, even containing Extra Fusion, whereas a decklike Judai's with bad luck could barely move—yet Judai could still make it work.
After obtaining Neos, Judai's ability to draw the right card at the right time skyrocketed. Unless one were to fuse Mariner, then De-Fusion and Tribute Summon Neos, Hikari found most moves quite impressive.
When it comes to duels among the Hero Envoys, Tenjo Hikari didn't have too many thoughts.
"Alright, in that case, should I check on Judai later?" Tenjo Hikari thought for a moment and chose to say this.
This world, after all, wasn't entirely the same as the original; for instance, Yubel wasn't sent into space but the Other Dimension. Who knows if Neo-Spacians could find Judai now.
"Ah, wait, Tenjo-san."
Just as he was turning to leave, Tenjo Hikari heard Acting Professor Cronos's voice and turned back to look at him.
Acting Principal Cronos pulled open a drawer, took out an exquisite box, placed it on the table, raised his hands, and smiled at Tenjo Hikari, saying, "Tenjo-san, take this card with you."
Huh?
Tenjo Hikari stepped forward, picked up the box, and opened it to reveal a perfectly protected card.
Antique Gear Chaos Fusion?!
He quickly scanned the card's effect.
Indeed—it was this card.
In the original, it was Dennis's "Ultimate Fusion."
"This was a card gifted to me from the Ancient Gear Factory after we reached a new cooperation agreement." Cronos was smiling, "But, you should want this card more than I do."
"But, Professor, this is your card!" Although Tenjo Hikari really wanted it, hearing that it was a unique card, he immediately shook his head, declining the offer.
Antique Gear Chaos Fusion allows one to send a [Polymerization] from the hand to the graveyard, then choose an Extra [Ancient Gear] Fusion Monster. Special Summon all monsters sent to the graveyard from the Extra Deck for that Fusion Monster, ignoring conditions, negating their effects. Then, perform a Fusion Summon using a Fusion Spell Card for that Fusion Monster.
As a fusion card, it wasn't of much use to Cronos, considering his Extra Deck only had a couple of cards.
But for Tenjo Hikari, having this card meant he could always turn a Gem-Knight into a Gu Jujie and instantly fuse to the Ultimate Giant.
"Hehehe, just take it," Cronos lightly shook his head, "You've previously asked me to gather Hex-Sealed Fusion monsters, and I haven't helped you find them. Soon, the Principal plans to take students on a cross-dimensional internship, and you might have to go elsewhere, without a chance to visit the Ancient Gear Factory. So I'll entrust this card to you for now."
After saying this, Professor Cronos patted his chest and said proudly, "Now, as your teacher, I'm a celebrity in the Ancient Gear Factory, having lots of opportunities to obtain more Ancient Gear cards in the future. But as for you, to pursue Alchemy and Fusion Cultivation, you might be traveling to many different dimensions, right?
So no need to worry; just keep the card well."
"Professor..."
"Principal!" Cronos corrected Tenjo Hikari's statement.
"Principal!" Tenjo Hikari solemnly saluted Acting Principal Cronos, "Acting Principal Cronos, I will definitely help you become the true principal!"
"Uh, that's not necessary..." Acting Principal Cronos sheepishly scratched the air, then laughed.
For him, having students perform outstandingly and respect him, satisfying his vanity and granting him face among students and teachers was enough.
With Caesar before and Tenjo now, currently, he had immense respect among both students and staff!
"Teacher." Tenjo Hikari solemnly stored the card, and then turned around, having thought of another point, "In that case, why don't I go as the advance party to explore the dimension the Principal decides on?
After all, the issues between the Dark World and the Skyscraper might recur there."
"Ah... Principal Samejima wants to keep things mysterious to raise student anticipation..."
Anticipate my foot!
Tenjo Hikari was having none of it.
He acknowledged the Principal's concern for students' futures.
But he had no clue the world faced a series of "World Destruction Level" crises.
"But... you do make a good point."
Luckily, Cronos knew when to be flexible.
"However, I can't allow you to use the Academy's Dimension Gate, or it would be discovered," he added.
Hah.
Having a skill indeed was beneficial.
Researching the Dimension Gate for so long, the most useful episode had now arrived!