"Eh, Senior Fubuki..." Manjome looked at Fubuki in a daze.
What the heck is this?
Could it be that Fubuki was just surfing on the beach?
Students from the Fusion Department greeted him one after another. Normally, with Tenjouin Fubuki's personality, he would have immediately started playing the piano while responding to fans and cute juniors. But this time, he looked serious, striding into the activity room, then saying, "Something's wrong, everyone—"
Everyone exchanged glances.
He didn't waste words, directly rushing to the front desk and motioning for Kagurazaka, who was dressed as a bartender, to step aside. He opened the computer and lowered the large screen provided by Fengguang Company, quickly switching channels.
What's going on?
The classmates exchanged puzzled looks at Fubuki's actions.
But soon, they understood.
Because Fubuki stopped changing channels and was intently watching the screen.
Is it a replay?
Ed looked at the screen.
Is it this morning's professional duel?
Judging by the time, it's likely from a professional duel in the United States.
The dueling opponents, the other side is someone unfamiliar, this side is... Marufuji Ryo?
However, Marufuji Ryo looks somewhat different now.
He's wearing a jet-black coat, and the smile on his face is completely different from his usual gentle one.
"Ah! It's Caesar, it's his duel!?"
Ever since Marufuji Ryo lost to Ed, not many classmates continued watching his duels. Mainly, they didn't want to see him lose again.
However, Judai still followed closely, knowing that Marufuji Ryo's professional journey wasn't smooth, but it wasn't all downhill either.
But—
If that's the case, why is Fubuki replaying this?
"Hehehe, you have no cards in hand, only one LV 1 monster on the field. If you want to use Graveyard Fusion, my 'Non-Fusion Area' on the field can stop you from fusing!"
"I've already won!"
"Won? Ha—" Caesar drew a card, glanced at the text on the card, and laughed wildly, "I activate the Spell Card, Machine Duplication! This card can duplicate any Machine-Type monster on the field with ATK 500 or less!
I will duplicate the LV 1 Cyber Dragon Herz, considered as Cyber Dragon, and Special Summon two Cyber Dragons from the Deck!"
Hum—
Two Cyber Dragons shimmered into appearance on his field.
"Haha, even so, what's the point! On my field, there is a Cosmo Queen with Attack Power 2900!"
"Hehehe, hahaha—watch, this is the last card you'll see!"
"Construct the Xyz Network with two Monster Cards on the field!"
As he laughed, he stretched out his hand forward, and at the same time, his pitch-black coat began to change color from top to bottom, eventually turning pure white.
Kaito, who had just sat down to watch the duel, instantly widened his eyes.
Lumenize!
When did Caesar acquire Tenjo Kaito's technology?!
And—
"Xyz Summon, behold the power that transcends the ordinary Cyber Dragon—a New Star!
Cyber Dragon Nova!"
"Wow—"
"Ah!???"
Not only the spectators in the replay but also the Fusion Department students instinctively started exclaiming.
"Ex-Xyz Summon!?" Mitsuzawa's eyes lit up, seemingly realizing something, "Xyz... yes... there's no reason we can't use it."
"Xyz Summon!?" Judai excitedly jumped up, "That's amazing! Caesar! As expected of Caesar! He actually achieved an Xyz Summon! Wow!!"
"Indeed, Caesar, even achieving Xyz Summon..." Manjome looked on in shock at this scene.
As for Caesar later using Cyber Dragon Nova to increase his attack and defeat his opponent, they didn't pay much attention to that.
After all, it's Xyz!
Caesar seems to be the first in their world to successfully perform an Xyz Summon, if that's the case, isn't it a sure win!?
Of course—
Different voices were also present.
"How could Caesar use Xyz?"
"No, it can't be—our world clearly excels at Fusion!"
"Yes... Fusion is the most noble form of Summoning."
"I mean, can't we just stick to Fusion?"
"Marufuji Ryo is digging into the roots of our world!!"
"Quiet!" Seeing many classmates in the activity room fall into confusion, and others on the verge of arguing, even some beginning to vilify Marufuji Ryo, Tenjo Hikari coughed once, "Everyone in the Fusion Department!
Have you all forgotten—
At the very beginning, when I dueled with Haruto from the X Dimension, I made it very clear!
The method of summoning doesn't matter! What's important is the chosen path in your heart!
I believe Fusion Summon is the most noble, but it's not about belittling others' methods, nor is it about limiting others; that is not what a truly inclusive 'Fusion' is about!
Xyz Summon can also serve as Fusion Material. Since Caesar was able to perform an Xyz Summon in our world, we should be excited for him—that's the right attitude!"
"Moreover, since both the X Dimension and S Dimension can perform Fusion Summons, there's no reason our world can't do Xyz or Synchro!"
"Ahem, right, otherwise we'd be at a disadvantage, wouldn't we?!" Mitsuzawa, rarely, was the first to echo Tenjo Hikari's call.
As Tenjo Hikari shouted, most of the classmates with weaker convictions, who were uncomfortable seeing Caesar perform an Xyz Summon, gradually regained their composure.
That's right.
Ultimately, Tenjo Hikari's pursuit of Fusion was never just for Fusion Monsters. After all, he had witnessed Xyz and Synchro, even using Tuner Monsters as Fusion Material. Moreover, they weren't as extreme as the neighboring department, insisting on Fusion. Tenjo Hikari himself was quite magnanimous.
Tenjo Hikari's pursuit of Fusion was more pure, focused only on the "process."
Seeing the discussions resume among everyone, but with more excitement led by Judai about the appearance of Xyz Summon in their world, Tenjo Hikari was no longer as worried. Soon after, seeing Caesar claim victory through an attack, Tenjo Hikari voluntarily started applauding.
He didn't know how Caesar connected with Tenjo Kaito, or maybe it was Caesar's link with others in Heartland, but either way, Tenjo Hikari was genuinely happy for Caesar.
He could envision that with the identity of being "the first Xyz user in this dimension," countless companies would offer olive branches to Caesar. But compared to fighting life-and-death duels in underground arenas and losing one's mind, even being host to a NO. was better than Hikari remembered from the original storyline.
Because in this world, card deaths can be saved; physical deaths truly cannot.
Now, there's no need to figure out how to save Marufuji Ryo's heart with Alchemy.
Immediately, the entire Fusion Department started clapping enthusiastically, leaving the gloomy Integration Department even more stifled.