"But, my side still has the higher ATK!"
Although a Monster was summoned through Fusion Summon, Dark Paladin's 2900 ATK is definitely higher than Chimerafflesia's.
"No problem. Enter the Battle Phase, Chimerafflesia attacks Dark Paladin—activate its effect."
"This card activates its effect at the Battle Step. Until the end of the turn, its ATK increases by 1000, and the opponent's Monster loses 1000 ATK!"
Dark Paladin, ATK: 2900→1900.
Chimerafflesia, ATK: 2500→3500.
"Wow, now its ATK surpasses Dark Paladin!"
"Nice, you not only used a Monster for Fusion but also dealt with the opponent's sealed Fusion Monster with Spell Cards!"
The Fusion Department members cheered.
Chimerafflesia wrapped Dark Paladin with vines, and moments later, the powerful mage was torn apart by the great force, turning into sludge and merging into the underground.
Lord Dragon King, LP: 4000→2400.
"End of the turn."
"Not bad," murmured Lord Dragon King softly.
"But this level is still not enough!"
"Human Fusion Master, you can indeed bypass Spell Cards for Fusion, but to what extent do you truly understand Fusion? Can you accept a more [different] kind of Fusion?"
Kagurazaka couldn't help but ask upon hearing Lord Dragon King's words, "What do you mean?"
The Beast King beside it shook its head.
Sometimes, even they couldn't understand what Lord Dragon King was thinking.
"My turn, draw!" Lord Dragon King tapped the subterranean chamber, causing a card to fly out from the Deck and into his hand.
"At this moment, Gunman's Monster Effect activates. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, it activates during the next Standby Phase. This card is Special Summoned. If this effect is used, it is removed from play when it leaves the field.
Gunman activates when Special Summoned via [Hero]'s effect. Both players draw one card each."
"Is it a method to replenish Fusion resources? Hehehe."
Both drew cards simultaneously.
"Then... if the opponent has a Monster on the field, this card can be Special Summoned from the Hand."
"Is it Cyber Dragon?" a student from the Fusion Department asked upon hearing the familiar start.
"No—Special Summon, Oracle of the Sun."
Sunlight seemed to pierce through the cave floor and enter the underground, as a man holding a Shaman's Staff slowly emerged onto his field.
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
What the heck?
His heart was startled.
Previously when Lord Dragon King mentioned having traveled through different Dimensions and seen Duels in the Synchro Dimension, Tenjo Hikari just thought it was well-traveled. He never imagined it could actually produce a card like this?
No—
After the initial surprise, Tenjo Hikari immediately noticed although this card was indeed Oracle of the Sun, its body was also flowing with swamp sludge.
Is this simulated too?
Oracle of the Sun, LV 5, Light Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 1000.
"Next... Normal Summon, Baby Mudragon."
"Wow! Here I come!" a nosy Baby Mudragon flew over, sitting down, curiously observing Tenjo Hikari.
Baby Mudragon, LV 1, Dark Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 0.
"Is it coming?" Tenjo Hikari suddenly said while looking at the Monster.
"Oh, do you seem to know?"
"That's right, I know. I know everything related to Fusion," Tenjo Hikari responded decisively.
Even if it was the Chaos ruler from before, though Tenjo Hikari hadn't seen it, he could immediately understand what type of Fusion Monster it was.
"Chairman, what are you guys talking about?" Kagurazaka was puzzled.
Tierra recalled the Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste's card seen before and suddenly had a thought.
Could it?
"Use the on-field LV 1 Baby Mudragon, and the on-field LV 5 Oracle of the Sun for Tuning."
"Tuning!?"
"Huh??"
The members of the Fusion Department all exclaimed.
Even Baby Mudragon pointed to itself in confusion.
But as it remained puzzled, the Baby Mudragon had already been lifted by the Muddy Mudragon and sent to the spectators' seats. A bright blue star appeared at the spot where the Baby Mudragon had been, and the figure of the Oracle of the Sun slowly turned illusory, transforming into a blue ring and enveloping the bright blue star.
"Synchro Summon—"
"LV 6, Muddy Mudragon."
The Muddy Mudragon split in half, becoming a monster identical to it, and stopped on the field.
Muddy Mudragon, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 500.
"Syn—Synchro?"
"What's happening, how did it Synchro?"
"Wow wow wow wow—" Instantly, the cavern erupted into chaos.
The students of the Fusion Department were fine, although shocked, they weren't too flustered.
The spirits in the room, upon seeing this scene, were completely thrown into chaos.
They were a tribe that pursued fusion, yet today they learned that their leader was Synchro!?
Moreover, for a spirit to master Synchro is not an easy task; it's not something you can achieve just because you have a Synchro Card. Before that, you must master a "Resonance" ability that ordinary spirits find hard to comprehend.
And practicing the resonance ability naturally reduces the time spent honing the fusion ability!
"Effect of Baby Mudragon in the graveyard, when this card is sent to the graveyard as Synchro Material, declare one type or attribute to activate targeting 1 Synchro Monster on your field. That monster becomes the declared type or attribute until the end of the turn.
Spellcaster-Type."
The Muddy Mudragon copy on the field, under Muddy Mudragon's declaration, donned a Mage Hat and grasped a Magic Staff, looking like a formidable old mage.
"You don't seem surprised at all?"
"There's nothing to be surprised about." Tenjo Hikari shook his head, "As long as the ultimate goal is the same, then it doesn't matter!
To me, whether it's Fusion, Xyz, or Synchro, it makes no difference!"
The Muddy Mudragon heard his words and did not immediately affirm them, instead observing the people behind Tenjo Hikari.
It was watching Kagurazaka and the others.
Now, these people looked shocked, seemingly very surprised. However, despite their astonishment, upon hearing Tenjo Hikari's response, they showed not a bit of disapproval; rather, they had a look of sudden realization.
Which signifies…
That Tenjo Hikari's theories have been known to the organization he leads for a long time, so they've never doubted this possibility.
This made the Muddy Mudragon sigh with emotion.
It was the third leader of this cavern.
But its path to becoming the third leader was not smooth sailing.
It had traveled and learned in a peculiar dimension, seen many strange monsters and spirits there. At that time, it wanted to combine the summoning methods of that dimension with its tribe, but did not gain approval from its mentor.
It trained hard, endured trials, and ultimately, before the Spirit Dimension collapsed, barely managed to gain the position of leader through strength.
Only unfortunately—it wasn't recognized as a leader based on ideology but rather on sheer power.
Even after becoming leader, it didn't get approval, so in educating successors, it tried its best to avoid limitations, hoping one day to achieve recognition.
It had lacked a like-minded partner for a long time.
It had detached from its tribe for a long time, lonely for a very long time in this Critical Point Dimension.
"Interesting… Let me see if you merely talk, or if you truly have your own merits."
"Activate the Spell Card, Miracle Synchro Fusion!"
The Muddy Mudragon raised a card high: "Look, this is the result of my countless years of training!"
"Whoa?!" The spirits in the cavern gasped.
"Synchro Fusion?" The members of the Fusion Department were surprised.
"This card can banish designated Fusion Materials on the field and in the graveyard to Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck using Synchro Monsters as materials!"
"I banish the Spellcaster-Type me on the field and the Oracle of the Sun in the graveyard."
"Huh?"
"Fusion Spell using Synchro Monster for Fusion Summon!"
"Wow, truly worth the trip! Without the minister, we really couldn't see such a sight!"
Two phantom images rose from the ground, spinning wildly, finally forming a figure everyone had seen before.
The mage wielding a giant green Magic Staff slowly descended to the ground.
"Fusion Summon, LV 10, Supreme Arcanite Magician."
Supreme Arcanite Magician, LV 10, Light Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 1400.
"When this card is Fusion Summoned successfully, activate to place two Spell Counters on it. For each Spell Counter it has, ATK increases by 1000 points!"
Supreme Arcanite Magician, Spell Counters: 0→2
Supreme Arcanite Magician, ATK: 1400→3400.