Having gained a free Pot of Greed, Ed wasn't particularly happy and continued the duel.
"Activate the Spell Card, Polymerization."
He slowly placed a Spell Card into the Duel Disk: "Fusion of the two Destiny Heroes on the field.
The Fusion Conditions are two Destiny Heroes."
"COME.ON! Destiny Hero - Dystopia!"
With Ed's operation, the two Monsters on the field slowly merged into a hero full of a technological vibe. He wore gold shoulder pads and a gold mask, with a large "D" imprinted at the top of the mask.
Then, he rubbed his hands in the air, two dark energy spheres emerged from his hands, resembling two Dark Holes.
Destiny Hero - Dystopia, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, Attack Power 2800.
"Dystopia's Monster Effect activates. When this card is successfully Fusion Summoned, inflict damage to the opponent equal to the ATK of a LV 4 or lower Destiny Hero in my Graveyard! I choose Diamond Dude!"
"Hand of Oppression!"
Dystopia lunged toward Tenjo Hikari, pressing down with his right hand, the black energy landed on Hikari's shoulder. Initially, nothing unusual happened, but the next second, there was a boom, and Tenjo instinctively clutched his shoulder, inhaling sharply.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→2600.
"Dealt damage before Hikari could act!"
"As expected of a professional player."
"It's not over yet, activate the Graveyard effect of the second Malicious, banish it to Special Summon the third Malicious from the Deck!"
Wow...
Compared to losing life points, seeing Ed summon the third Malicious was what truly amused Tenjo Hikari.
This is the "third" Malicious that no OCG has ever seen.
"Spell Card, Riryoku!"
"Target two face-up Monsters on the field. Until the end of the turn, halve the ATK of one target and increase the ATK of the other target by that amount!
I halve the ATK of Dystopia, and increase Malicious's ATK!"
Dystopia, ATK, 2800→1400.
Malicious, ATK: 800→2200.
"Huh, there doesn't seem to be any change in the attack power, what's the point?"
Some students questioned.
"Maybe Ed Phoenix wants to inflict higher damage—"
No!
Serena suddenly recalled.
Dystopia's effect is!
"At this moment, Dystopia's Monster Effect activates!" Ed raised his right hand, "Once per turn, when this card's ATK differs from its original ATK, it can target 1 card on the field and activate. Destroy that card, and this card's ATK becomes its original value. This effect can be activated during the opponent's turn!"
"What!?"
"Oh no, if Flame Swordsman gets destroyed now, then there won't be any Monsters left on Tenjo's field!"
"Ed Phoenix, he means to finish the fight this turn!"
The spectators marveled at Ed's strength.
With just a few cards, without using much of his Hand Cards, he already summoned a powerful High-Level Monster, repeated Monster appearances, increasing attack power while also destroying Monsters.
If Ed's chain completes, Tenjo Hikari will lose this turn!
"Dystopia's effect, ATK restored, destroy 1 Monster on the opponent's field!"
"Supreme Justice!"
Dystopia, ATK: 1400→2800.
Dystopia charged at Flame Swordsman, who swung his Greatsword with all his might to fend off the attack. But no matter how hard he tried, he was absorbed by the power and exploded into shards with a boom.
"Thus, battle—!?" Just as Ed decided to launch a direct attack and end this disappointing duel, he suddenly noticed that the burning ring of fire on the field had not dissipated.
Not only hadn't it dissipated, but the flames continued to burn fiercely!
The fire turned from red to black, then spread to the surroundings of the field.
"What's happening?"
"Huh, does Flame Swordsman have an effect?"
"No, I remember it being a blank slate..."
Students were stunned, looking around, with none able to provide an answer.
And after the flames engulfed the entire Dueling Arena, they slowly turned from black to blue...
"Activate Monster Effect!"
"Monster Effect?!" Ed was stunned, "Could it be that there's a version of Flame Swordsman with a Monster Effect from another Dimension?"
"No—what I want to activate is not Flame Swordsman's effect, but...
Activate the Monster Effect of Mirage Swordsman in the Graveyard!"
Who is that?!
Ed was greatly astonished.
The Graveyard?
It was the Monster Card sent to the Graveyard by Flame Swordsrealm!
Boom!
Before he could think further, the black flames on the field completely transformed into blue flames. In the sky, two Longswords appeared, spinning around the field, followed by a black silhouette slowly emerging near the two Greatswords.
Under everyone's gaze, the pitch-black silhouette's armor slowly cracked, revealing inside the dazzling, bright gold.
"Ha!"
The Swordsman grabbed the two Greatswords, performing a wheel dance, slashing forward, dispelling the two Destiny Heroes' intent to directly attack.
Then, it quietly stood guard beside Tenjo Hikari.
"This card, when present in the Hand Card or Graveyard, when a face-up Fire Attribute Fusion Monster on your field is destroyed by battle or effect, it can be Special Summoned!"
"This is the brand new form of the knight who overcame countless hardships and cleared the way for me!
Mirage Swordsman!"
Mirage Swordsman, LV 8, Fire Attribute, Warrior-Type, Attack Power 2800!
Having gone through countless experiences, paving the way for Tenjo Hikari and tirelessly persevering, Black Flame, finally, after Tierra pierced its inner thoughts, abandoned its persistent idea of only being a "Fusion Monster" and evolved.
"Mirage Swordsman... could it be... Mirage Knight?" Ed, being knowledgeable, also knew that when Dark Flare Knight is destroyed by battle, Mirage Knight can be Special Summoned.
"Is that card the evolution of Dark Flare Knight!"
"From Fusion Monster to High-Level Monster?"
"But it's still related to Fusion Cards."
"Tenjo Hikari, he managed to even achieve this."
Some were surprised, some admired, some puzzled, and some found it unbelievable.
Though they had all heard stories of cards resonating with duelists and evolving, witnessing it firsthand evoked a sense of dreamlike wonder.
Mirage Swordsman's ATK is 2800, the restored ATK of Dystopia is also 2800, making a direct attack obviously inappropriate.
After all, even if the attack powers collided equally, with Malicious, the duel could not be ended, meaning that keeping Dystopia was evidently more meaningful for Ed.
But more than the events of this turn, Ed's heart, like stagnant water, in that instant, rippled.
Progressing together with cards, even evolving!
Such legendary stories appearing right before him, for someone passionate about Duel Monsters, was equally impactful.
But precisely because of this, when he regained a trace of vitality, when he started revisiting his thoughts...
It also brought more pain.
Compared to Tenjo Hikari, who grew alongside his Monsters, steadfast in fusion, he was merely wielding heroes for revenge on his father.