The Great Angel swung his longsword in battle against the gigantic Cannibal Flower; his technique was exceptionally skilled. Just as he was about to slay the bloom, the flower suddenly exploded with several times its strength, entirely swelling into a greater giant entity, like a disguised Monster preparing a trap, swallowing the Angel whole.
Jun, LP: 3000→1100.
Jun shielded against the storm brought by the Great Angel's death, feeling his life slipping away, his expression growing more steely.
"A trap tactic, enticing the unknowing to attack, is it? Indeed, it's a very clever idea," Jun, after initial shock, quickly regained composure, "The Great Angel's effect, when this card is destroyed, activate by targeting any number of Lightsworn Monsters in the Graveyard other than this card. Those Monsters return to the Deck, and you regain LP equal to that number X300 points.
Archer, Dragon, Summoner, me."
Jun, LP: 1100→2300.
Though the LP didn't recover much, it was better than the dangerous value before.
"Main Phase 2." Jun swung his cloak, "I must admit, I underestimated you, human Warrior, your Duel is indeed full of wisdom.
However, I'm not one to fail so easily either."
"Overlay the LV 4 Lightsworn Beast and LV 4 Lightsworn Assassin on the field!" As it spoke, the two Monsters on the field transformed into streams of light, swirling in the air.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"This Spirit, it, it it it!"
Tenjo Hikari was also quite surprised.
Not just Synchro.
This Jun even mastered Xyz?
"Xyz Summon, our goddess—Rank 4, Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn!"
A pure white owl flew skyward, feathers falling from the heavens, a pure white maiden gently leaning on a scepter, descends from the sky.
Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn, Rank 4, Light Attribute, Fairy-Type, Attack Power 2000, Xyz Material 2.
"Minerva's effect, detach 1 Xyz Material from this card. Send the top three cards from the Deck to the Graveyard."
The Twilightsworn Knight picked up the top three cards of the Deck and placed them into the Graveyard.
"If there are Lightsworn Cards among them, I can draw that number of cards. One Lightsworn Judgment, so I draw one card."
"Then... the effect of Lightsworn Judgment, when this card is sent to the Graveyard by a Lightsworn Monster's effect, activate. Add one Judgment Dragon from the Deck to hand." Jun took a Monster card from the Deck and slowly placed it in hand.
Though it was unclear what card this was, just looking at the Star Level of the Monster, classmates knew this was not a randomly chosen card.
"Set one card, end turn."
After announcing this, it waved its sleeve, pointing at Tenjo Hikari: "Indeed, Chain Material is a very powerful Fusion Assist Card, but powerful cards always come with risks; at the end of the turn, your Monster will be destroyed and sent to the Graveyard!"
On the field, the Chimerafflesia was drawn with numerous chains and pulled back into the Graveyard.
"No no no," Tenjo Hikari shook his head, "The only problem with powerful cards is that they are not powerful enough. Having risks only means they're not strong enough."
"End of Turn phase, D.D. Scout Plane's effect activates. Special Summon the attack position card excluded at the end phase."
From the sky, a strange prototype Machine slowly descended.
D.D. Scout Plane, LV 2, Dark Attribute, Machine-Type, Attack Power 800.
"Then, my turn, draw—at this moment, the effect of Chimerafflesia destroyed last turn activates."
!?
Jun jerked in shock.
"When this card is sent to the Graveyard, activate during the next standby phase. Add 1 Polymerization Spell Card from the Deck to hand."
"Any Fusion search!?"
"Incredible, is this the ultimate in Fusion?" a Lightsworn Spirit exclaimed upon seeing the move.
"Our Realm of Light pursues justice, protects the weak, pressing forward bravely, so even entering the Graveyard, even death, they fear not. Yet, didn't expect such Monsters, such Duelists in other dimensions."
Tenjo Hikari heard these voices.
Realm of Light was created by Michael, an Arch-Lightsworn, a world similar to the "Heroic Spirit World"; as long as Realm of Light exists, the fallen Lightsworn Warriors, no matter how tragic, can rely on its light to resurrect anew within the Realm of Light.
For justice, even amidst countless deaths, they would never fear—this is why Lightsworn is a deck built around the Graveyard.
"From the Deck," Tenjo Hikari gazed at the card in hand, eyes narrowed slightly, "add Instant Fusion to hand."
A Spell Card rotated out from the Deck, spinning like a dart before Tenjo Hikari, reaching out a hand to catch it.
"Choosing Instant Fusion? Why?" someone couldn't help but murmur.
"Why what?"
"With Instant Fusion, the fused Monster can't attack, right? That Minerva's Attack Power is only 2000, Senior Tenjo just needs to simply fuse a High-Level Monster to end the battle..."
"That's so..." someone echoed in agreement.
Serena listened to the classmates' discussions, couldn't help but put her hands behind her head.
If it were a year ago, she'd probably ask a similar question.
But now, she had learned quite a bit.
"Just like marching in battle." Tenjo Hikari looked at the additional card in hand, continued, "A General needs a clear understanding of both enemy and ally, and the environment, only then can one conduct a reasonable fight.
Similarly, for me, Fusion is such a thing.
To pursue a more ultimate Fusion requires understanding more matters, thus comprehending everything to reach a higher Fusion realm."
Tenjo Hikari hadn't forgotten Minerva's 'last words' effect, he wouldn't destroy this card.
"So, I will pay 1000 LP, activate Spell Card, Instant Fusion, Fusion Summon LV 1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict."
The long-absent Evil God moved its body, opening a multitude of eyes, floating before Tenjo Hikari.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict, LV 1, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, Attack Power 0.
"Tsk..." Jun saw this scene and snorted coldly, "Indeed, Minerva has the effect of being destroyed, sending three cards from the Deck to the Graveyard, then based on the number of Lightsworn Cards, applying card destruction effect on the opponent."
"However—this way, even if Thousand-Eyes Restrict's Attack Power rises to 2000, it's pointless because as long as Thousand-Eyes Restrict is on the field, you can only attack with one Monster."
It still had remaining LP, even if directly attacked wouldn't lose the Duel: "And at the End Phase, Thousand-Eyes Restrict Special Summoned by Instant Fusion will also be destroyed!"
Tenjo Hikari nodded: "That's indeed so, but it's not that simple either.
Anyway, first use Thousand-Eyes Restrict's effect to engulf Minerva."
A thousand eyes flashing upon the goddess, illuminating with bizarre purple light, then engulfing her.
"Then… Spell Card, Fusion Substitute, this card can fuse Monsters on the field."
"Huh?" Jun saw this card and couldn't contain curiosity anymore, "What can this fuse?"
Thousand-Eyes Restrict and D.D. Scout Plane, although differing in rarity, were both very distinctive cards, what could they fuse into.
"Yes, what could these cards fuse into?"
Classmates also looked at each other, puzzled.
"Fusion conditions are... two Dark Attribute Monsters on the field, excluding Tokens!"
"I shall fuse the LV 1 Dark Attribute Monster, Thousand-Eyes Restrict, and LV 2 Dark Attribute Monster D.D. Scout Plane!"
"Pursuing the wings of ultimate Fusion, now, spread them wide, embrace more [Fusion]!"
"Fusion Summon!"
Purple light wings behind Tenjo Hikari shone, illuminating brighter.
"Level 8!"
"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"