Rumble, rumble——
Tenjo Hikari slowly ascended to the stage; being so far from the ground, the wind swept across his face like a knife, making his body shiver with cold in no time.
However, he felt not even a trace of fear, but rather unparalleled excitement.
Finally, he ascended to the pinnacle stage in this world.
Just like the protagonists he had seen in anime reaching the finals, he too had arrived at the "Final Arena."
The spaceship began to rotate slowly, countless drones rising from all directions, focusing on the two of them.
Buzz——
"Come now, Duelists aspiring to scale higher peaks, step onto your stage, fight, dance, and then—win!"
The hologram of Kaiba Seto called out, lifting his head.
Then, as his voice faded, the spaceship began to rotate slowly, flying, rushing out of the Dueling Arena.
"When the spaceship leaves directly above the Dueling Arena, the first Duelist to call for the first turn will get it!"
Meanwhile, the screen slowly began to reverse, the numbers starting to decrease.
10...9...
3, 2...
1!
"First turn, it's mine!"
Having trained for a year and a half, Tenjo Hikari shouted this out in the critical moment and swiftly drew a card——
Absolute Fusion Master, Tenjo Hikari, LP: 4000.
Hell Caesar, Marufuji Ryo, LP: 4000.
"Interesting, Hikari, didn't expect you to be even faster than me."
"Every ability of a Duelist must be honed to the highest level to reach a distant future, to achieve the ultimate in Fusion—"
"Hahaha, alright, bring it on, Hikari!"
"Let's duel!"
The spaceship passed through a patch of dark clouds, light shining down on them, drawing the attention of countless eyes.
Within the Critical Point, the audience, Serena, the Spirits looking up at the scene, Judai watching the live broadcast, audiences in the Human World, teachers in the academy, and the Fusion Army hidden in other dimensions, everyone was watching this duel.
"Go, Hikari! Go, Caesar!" "Brother, go!!"
"Ryo or Hikari, mama mia, how should I choose, who should I support?"
"Tch, Caesar Ryo and Tenjo Hikari…"
Each had their own thoughts, but likewise, each had their own needs.
Some desired to see a more spectacular, exhilarating duel, while others, due to factions and grudges, eagerly awaited this showdown between "brothers."
"Speaking of which, we were both Professor Cronos' students."
"Ah, he was the best professor." Marufuji Ryo nodded slightly.
His success in entering the professional arena, in becoming a Professional Duelist, was greatly aided by Professor Cronos; when he was discovered by the company, Cronos accompanied him throughout, handling matters to prevent him from being taken advantage of.
After that, it was also Professor Cronos who tirelessly helped Tenjo Hikari sign contracts, tirelessly assisting with inquiries and calculations.
For both of them, Cronos was the most important professor in their academic journey.
Therefore, they were happily willing to refer to themselves as Cronos' disciples and would not go out of their way to deny it.
"Graduating without a duel with you, Hikari, is a regret." Initially, when Marufuji Ryo sensed something was off with Judai, he chose him as the opponent for his graduation duel, which resulted in him never dueling Tenjo Hikari at the academy.
But now, they could finally face off.
"Ha, well then, let's consider this a rare second chance, Caesar!"
The moment their words fell, under the eyes of the audience, the spaceship had already carried them in front of the [Sun].
The close-up audience members like Jim, Mitsuzawa, and others watched the scene, swallowing lightly.
Because... the duel was about to start!
"It's my turn!" Tenjo Hikari deftly pulled out a card, holding it beside his eyes, "Activating Normal Spell Card, Frightfur Patchwork! This card can only be activated once per turn. You can add one [Edge Imp] and one [Polymerization] to your Hand Card.
I add the Edge Imp Chain from the Deck and Polymerization to my Hand Card!"
The Deck, shwoop shwoop, automatically ejected two cards, sending them sailing through the fierce wind into Tenjo Hikari's hand.
"Frightfur!" In the Fusion Army's base, inside a training camp full of children, a blue-haired child caught sight of this card, suddenly taken aback, pulled out a lollipop, and popped it into his mouth.
"Then, I activate the Field Spell Card, Dreamland!"
Tenjo Hikari raised a card, inserting it with a swift motion into the field area.
Purple light illuminated the spaceship, then faint white light points emerged beside it, with a giant Floating Island appearing alongside the Dueling Arena, gradually flying in tandem with the spaceship.
"Oh? It's not Fusion Recycling Plant?" Seeing the Field Spell appear, he assumed that Tenjo Hikari would use Fusion Recycling Plant, only to find it was a card he'd never seen before.
"Activating Spell Card, Polymerization!"
Tenjo Hikari, grabbing the Polymerization in his hand, along with Edge Imp and another Monster in his hand, spoke: "I fuse Predaplant Byblisp from my Hand Card with Edge Imp Chain, Fusion Summon!"
On the spine of the White Dragon, earth seemed to overturn, vines began to twist, and a massive pink blossom slowly rose.
Predaplant Chimerafflesia, LV 7, Dark Attribute, Plant-Type, Attack Power 2500.
"Is it here, the Chimerafflesia?" Seeing this Monster, Caesar too felt his blood gradually boil.
A powerful Monster capable of searching for the [Polymerization] Spell Card, and it also seemed to be the Fusion Monster Tenjo Hikari favored most in the Critical Point.
In Aroma Garden, the shimmer of light projected before the Aromage Perfumers and many Beast-type Spirits from the forest watched this semifinal match; upon seeing this card emerge, Marjoram lightly sipped a tea, while Rosemary leaped up cheering.
"It's not over yet, Caesar!" Tenjo Hikari suddenly spread his hands, saying, "Activating the effects of the Monsters and the field!
The Monster Effect of Byblisp, this card's name's effect can only be activated once per turn. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, activate. Add a Predaplant Monster other than [Predaplant Byblisp] from the Deck to your Hand Card; I choose Predaplant Chlamydosundew."
This card was made by Tenjo Hikari at the Great Cosmic Workshop, using the last of the materials and gathered Duel Energy, previously never used.
"Then, the effect of Edge Imp Chain, once per turn, when this card is sent from Hand Card·Field to the Graveyard, activate. Add one [Frightfur] from the Deck to your Hand Card!"
"I choose, Frightfur Patchwork!"
"Oh!!" Jim exclaimed involuntarily, "In this way, in a single exchange, he fusioned a Fusion Monster for free, and still has Frightfur Patchwork and Predaplant Monsters in hand, allowing him to add Polymerization and Edge Imp to his Hand Card for another Fusion next turn!"
"Wow, isn't Fusion supposed to consume a lot of Hand Cards? How is it just increasing!?" The audience was also in awe.
"He actually fused other Monsters with Edge Imp?"
"Master, that's so cool!"
"It's not over——Dreamland's effect!"
"This card grants a specific effect based on the type of Monster on the field; when a [Fusion] Monster is present, once per turn, when a Monster in your Hand Card·Field is sent to the Graveyard by an effect, you can activate. Draw one card from the Deck."
He again swiftly drew a card.
This way, not a single card was lost from his Hand Card!
"I see, that's the effect of that field card..."
"A field card that assists in Fusion and drawing cards? How interesting."
Some spectators also began to grasp roughly what kind of field card it was.
"Ha...is this your 'welcome' ceremony, Hikari?"
"Heh, this is only the beginning, Caesar!"