Predaplanet, or rather the Predaplant Dimension, is a gigantic Planet. On this Planet, aside from Predaplants, there are also other forms of life and Spirits that accidentally fell into this Dimension.
This is the ecology of the Predaplant Dimension.
By preying on other lifeforms, they obtain energy and strengthen themselves—of course, they don't actually eat them for real. Most of the time, they only devour the opponent's Duel Energy; eating them for real would instead require extra time to purge a huge amount of impurities.
Just like real carnivorous plants, the beauty on the surface of this Planet is nothing more than a disguise.
After some Predaplants passed on the word, Tenjo Hikari quickly saw the leader here—or to be precise, the leader of this territory.
Predaplant Triphyoverutum.
This enormous plant dragon with three heads is the absolute King ruling over the Northern Continent, sharing hunting grounds together with the Predaplant Spirits of the other continents.
It's worth mentioning that Tenjo Hikari saw a huge number of Predaplant Spirits here; among them were even existences like "Pineapple Carnivorous Valley Spirit Wandering Whale" and "Verte Anaconda"—Spirits that, strictly speaking, should exist, but theoretically shouldn't be around in this era. There were even tons of plants whose names Tenjo Hikari couldn't even come up with.
Predaplanet is tremendously vast. According to the Predaplant Spirits, there are many Ordinary Spirits here that have no Dueling Power, yet still cooperate with the main groups when hunting and are part of the Planet as a whole.
So that's how it is—
In this world, existences like Anaconda and Wandering Whale are taken by default as the "Spirit residents" from other Dimensions—that is, they look like Spirits, but in fact don't have Cards.
Which makes sense.
In those large-scale Dimensions, not every Spirit has the qualification to participate in the Duel Ceremony. For example, in "Critical Point," there are many Ordinary Spirits who live simply as regular residents; some go their entire lives without even seeing a few Duels.
In contrast, Spirits on Predaplanet, who cooperate with one another to carry out "devouring" actions, understand the Duel Ceremony far better than those Spirits.
"Hikari, I've heard your name."
Triphyoverutum lowered one of its heads, carefully sizing up Tenjo Hikari.
"You're the most famous Human Fusion Master, and you once used our Chimerafflesia to stand against Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon..."
Among the many Spectating Spirits, several enormous Chimerafflesia puffed out their chests, looking downright excited.
"Hahaha, when my lord used me to defeat Lord Black Luster Soldier back then, I had the same reaction." For once, Flame Swordsman took the initiative to appear and speak.
But what Tenjo Hikari hadn't expected was: just where did the story of Chimerafflesia versus Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon get spread around, and why did Spirits in this Dimension all know about it.
"It's said you're a Duelist who pursues Extreme Fusion, so your appearance in our Dimension should also mean you're pursuing something, right?"
Tenjo Hikari smiled and nodded. "That's right."
Triphyoverutum hummed low for a moment.
As the Spirit Leader of the Northern Continent, it was more than willing to Duel with a renowned Fusion Master like Tenjo Hikari, who was also a famous Predaplant Card user.
However, it also had some doubts.
Or rather, a sort of confusion.
"Hikari, can you answer a few questions for me?"
"What?" Tenjo Hikari felt a bit strange about its attitude.
"What is it that makes you persist in Polymerization?"
Tenjo Hikari hadn't expected Triphyoverutum to ask such a question; he froze for a moment, then thought it over: "At first, it was probably because I had no choice. But later, I found it more and more interesting, so I just kept experimenting like that."
An answer right down the middle.
And normal enough.
No one is born loving something, or born destined to do something in a certain way.
Duelists put more trust in their own judgment than in some vague 'ordained by heaven.'
"Then what if your Polymerization is missing something?"
"Missing… what does that mean? Specifically?" Tenjo Hikari didn't quite get it.
"...Hah, well, yeah. All right, I understand. In that case, let's begin the Duel Ceremony." Suiye Vine Three-Pointed Prison Flower God called out.
A stunning red flower rose from the vast empty basin; the petals spun, and five leaves transformed into five Monster Zones, then embedded themselves into Triphyoverutum's left claw.
Tenjo Hikari flicked his left hand lightly, and the Duel Disk activated with a respond, flashing with violet light.
"Hikari, you're a Fusion Duelist famous throughout the Dimensions. May I have the first turn?" Triphyoverutum asked directly.
Although Tenjo Hikari's fame kept growing, and he had originally been someone who could still fight for the first turn, he was gradually becoming the kind of Duelist even Spirit Leaders of the Great Dimension would straightforwardly ask for the first turn from. Still, Tenjo Hikari thought it over and didn't refuse, simply nodding: "All right."
Rumble, rumble.
The soil churned as countless plant Spirits rolled into the huge basin from all sides—some sprawled directly against the walls, some rooted themselves close to the Duelists, and others simply sat off to the side like that.
Among these many bizarre Predaplants, there were even flying dragon-type Spirits that could watch from the air, taking in the perfect vantage point of a normal Duel.
The entire Dueling Arena was packed densely—Spirits flying in the sky, darting across the ground, swimming through the earth—everything imaginable.
Spirits who could travel nearby, who could arrive immediately, and who had the qualification of "Warrior" had almost all come. And perhaps precisely because so many Spirits had gathered, some Spirits from other Dimensions had even mixed in—Spirits that had either dodged Predaplant attacks or defeated Predaplants were here watching the Duel as well.