Fusion is the noblest form of summoning!

“Beautiful!” Manjoume blurted out.

“Wonderful—” Misawa Daichi couldn't help but applaud Tenjouin Hikari.

As a spectator, he had the opportunity to watch the semi-finals up close. He originally wanted to see those wonderful moments. Now, seeing Tenjouin Hikari beautifully force and trick Marufuji Ryo into activating all of the effects of Cyberdark End Dragon, and then successfully Special Summoning Cyber Dragon and Fusion Summoning Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, he naturally couldn't help but praise.

When Kaiser chose Judai as his graduation duel opponent, one reason was because he was worried about Judai's mental state. On the other hand, Judai, as a "instinct-based" duelist completely different from him, was more worthy of "fighting against."

Although Tenjouin Hikari's direction is different from Kaiser's, she is also a standard duelist who calculates and thinks about her opponent's duel.

But compared to Kaiser, Tenjouin Hikari is better at "gambling"—this can be best seen in the duel with Professor Daidouji.

A Fusion-based deck can only activate one Fusion card per turn. If Kaiser hadn't negated Tenjouin Hikari's Dragon Magician, and Tenjouin Hikari had drawn a Fusion Deployment, then activated Fusion Deployment, Kaiser wouldn't have to worry about being directly Fusion Summoned away by Cyber Dragon.

It was precisely because Kaiser was worried that Tenjouin Hikari would draw Fusion Deployment that he activated this effect, leading to this result.

Cyber Dragon—

The biggest enemy of Machine-Type monsters.

To be precise, "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon", the biggest enemy of Machine-Type monsters!

As long as there is a Cyber Dragon on the field, without needing Fusion, you can directly send the opponent's monsters to the graveyard to perform "Fusion."

“I see… I understand. Next time, I will activate its effect when you activate Fusion Deployment.” After Kaiser's mind turned a few times, he understood this.

Tenjouin Hikari drew a card and raised an eyebrow looking at the card she drew.

Good card.

“Activate the Spell Card, Polymerization, to Fusion Summon Edge Imp Chain in my hand, and Fluffal Penguin in my hand.”

“Fusion Summon, Frightfur Sheep!”

A penguin doll fell from the sky, and then a pair of scissors quickly modified it, turning it into a yellow lamb. Then, a large pile of chains wrapped around the monster's body, and sharp serrations popped out from the doll's body. A black killer toy that was enough to scare children appeared on the field.

Frightfur Sheep, Level 5, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type, ATK 2000.

“It's Frightfur Sheep—” a child watching the duel shouted excitedly.

“Another Fusion…” Kaiser frowned slightly.

If it was an ordinary Fusion, it would be fine, but now it's different—

“Because of the Fusion activation, start processing each card's effect! When Fluffal Penguin is sent to the graveyard as a Fusion Summon material for a Frightfur Fusion Monster, its effect can be activated.

With Frightfur Patchwork's effect, if there is a Fusion Monster on the field, and a monster card is sent from the hand/field to the graveyard due to an effect, I draw a card.

Edge Imp Chain's effect, add a Frightfur card from the deck to my hand.

Reverse processing of effects—I add Toy Vendor from the deck to my hand. Frightfur Patchwork's effect, draw a card. Penguin's effect, draw two cards, choose one card to discard.”

Tenjouin Hikari drew three cards and discarded Predaplant Sundew Kinsey to the graveyard.

“She even replenished her cards.” Misawa sighed from the side.

Tenjouin Hikari looked at the cards in her hand and pondered for a while.

If it's this situation…

“Battle, use Chimeratech Fortress Dragon to attack directly!”

Chimeratech Fortress Dragon opened its two mechanical mouths and aimed at Kaiser, erupting with lasers.

With a bang, the ship shook violently.

Marufuji Ryo, LP: 4000.

Smoke without injury.

“Trap Card, Guard Barrier, activated during the calculation of battle damage during the opponent's turn. The battle damage to myself that occurred that time becomes 0, and I draw 1 card from the deck.”

Kaiser drew a card from the deck.

“But, I still have a monster that can attack—Sheep attacks the opponent directly!”

This time, the attack could not be defended, but Kaiser just gently blocked it with his hand, not caring about the damage at all.

Marufuji Ryo, LP: 4000 → 2000.

Without successfully reducing the opponent's life points to 0, Tenjouin Hikari wasn't worried.

“Enter Main Phase 2.”

Tenjouin Hikari looked at the cards in her hand.

After so many cards, he can finally place some defensive set cards.

The set card he covered before was a card he would only consider using in case of emergency. Now, there is no need for that.

As for these in his hand…

Tenjouin Hikari pondered for a moment.

He can't save it here. Moreover, Fortress Dragon cannot be used as a Fusion Material, in case he has to replace it: “Activate the Spell Card, Metamorphosis, to send the Level 8 Chimeratech Fortress Dragon on the field to the graveyard, and Special Summon the Level 8, Chaos Sorcerer.”

Chaos Sorcerer, Level 8, DARK Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 3000.

“Set two cards, end my turn.”

“Hmph hmph hmph, hahahaha—you made me feel pain!” Kaiser looked up and laughed wildly. Unfamiliar people might think he was crazy, but those who knew him well knew that this was a normal reaction.

Since Kaiser let himself go and pursued victory, he has become like this. The fewer life points he has, the more excited and passionate he becomes.

“My turn, draw!”

Kaiser exerted force, and the card made a crackling sound in the air, as if there was electricity on the card. He glanced at the card he drew and smiled slightly.

“Activate the Spell Card, Pot of Avarice.” Kaiser inserted the Spell Card in his hand into the duel disk, “Select 5 monster cards in my graveyard, return them to the deck, and draw two cards.

Cyber Dragon, Cyber Dragon Nova, Cyber World Snake, Cyberdark Dragonbone, Cyberdark Edge, return five cards to the deck, and draw two cards.”

“Kaiser's hand has never been short of cards, he's really amazing…”

After Kaiser drew two cards, he saw a familiar Spell Card and the corners of his mouth rose: “Activate the Spell Card, Monster Reborn!”

Tenjouin Hikari frowned immediately.

“What I want to revive, of course, is this monster in the graveyard—Cyberdark End Dragon!”

“Roar—”

A crazy roar appeared from below the ship. A jet-black mechanical dragon wriggled its body and flew towards the sky from the direction of the earth.

Cyberdark End Dragon, Level 10, DARK Attribute, Machine-Type, ATK 2000.

“Cyberdark End Dragon's effect, activate when this card is Special Summoned successfully. Select 1 Machine-Type or Dragon-Type monster from your graveyard and equip it to it as an Equip Card.”

“Eh—” Misawa Daichi shook his head constantly, “There are no revival restrictions, as long as it's revived, it's the complete body, so strong, too strong…”

“Wait, at this moment, activate the Trap Card, Blazing Sword Dance!”

Tenjouin Hikari quickly opened the set card: “When the opponent Special Summons a monster, Special Summon 1 【Flame Swordsman】 or a Level 7 or lower Fusion Monster whose card name is written on it from the Extra Deck, after that, you can change 1 face-up monster on the opponent's field to face-down.”

Tenjouin Hikari pointed to Kaiser's Cyberdark End Dragon.

“I Special Summon from the Extra Deck, Fighting Flame Dragon!”

A fire dragon flew out of Frightfur Patchwork, carrying a large sword in its mouth, tumbling its body.

Fighting Flame Dragon, Level 5, FIRE Attribute, Dragon-Type, DEF 1600.

“Set your Cyberdark End Dragon!”

Thus, the newly appeared Cyberdark End Dragon instantly lowered its head and could only lie dormant.

And because it became face-down, Equip Cards could not be equipped, so it just stayed in the graveyard.

“Phew… that was close.” Countless viewers, whether in this dimension, the real world, or even the Fusion Army, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

If Cyberdark End Dragon was revived, it would be dangerous!

“Indeed, although you haven't used this card for a long time, this card poses a very high threat to my deck.” Kaiser said enthusiastically, “Back then, in the duel with the X Dimension, you used this card to set the opponent's Special Summoned monster, preventing the opponent from Xyz Summoning. At that time, people in our world realized this—the advantage of Fusion.

"Fusion and Xyz, Synchro, are different. Fusion Monsters can be represented in face-down Defense Position, but Xyz Monsters are not!

Xyz Monsters can only be represented in face-up Attack Position!"

He then grinned, "You can't just take the effect of Armored Prison Dragon, so—you must activate the card that can stop me!"

Tenjo Hikari frowned, unable to refute.

He couldn't afford to have Armored Prison Dragon equip a bunch more cards.

"As expected of Kaiser, he instantly grasped Tenjo's psychology," Misawa nodded incessantly.

"They're both aware of each other's dangerous points, so they're both trying to stop each other as much as possible—but with that, Tenjo can't Set Kaiser's card either."

"Normal Summon, Cyber Dragon Core!" Kaiser revealed the card he returned to his hand last turn.

Cyber Dragon Core, Level 2, LIGHT Attribute, Machine Type, ATK 400.

"The effect of Cyber Dragon Core, I think you're clear on, no need for me to repeat it. According to its effect, from the Deck, I add Cyber Emergency to my hand.

Then… Cyber Emergency, from the Deck, add one Cyber Dragon or a Machine-Type LIGHT monster that cannot be Normal Summoned to my hand!

Cyber World Serpent!"

Kaiser reenacted the details just like last turn.

Then, Cyber World Serpent and Cyber Dragon appeared on Kaiser's field once again.

"Using two Level 5 monsters to construct the Overlay Network!" The difference was that this time, Kaiser didn't activate Cyber World Serpent's effect to recycle Cyber Dragon Core, but instead directly performed an Xyz Summon!

"Come forth!"

He laughed skyward, "Cyber Dragon Nova!"

The black, winged Cyber Dragon appeared in this world once more.

Above the dark clouds, this dim Cyber Dragon, as if a god, released its power.

Cyber Dragon Nova, Rank 5, LIGHT Attribute, Machine Type, ATK 2100.

"Cyber Dragon Nova's effect, detach one Overlay Unit, Special Summon one [Cyber Dragon] from the Graveyard."

"Then, Spell Card, Polymerization!" Kaiser finally revealed what belonged to him… Fusion!

"I fuse Cyber Dragon Core and Cyber Dragon on the field, which are treated as Cyber Dragons, and the Cyber Dragon in my hand!"

"Hoo-hoo-hoo, appear, my old friend, Cyber End Dragon!"

The silver-white, gigantic, mechanical three-headed dragon flew out from the light, flying beside the airship.

Cyber End Dragon, Level 10, LIGHT Attribute, Machine Type, ATK 4000.

"With that, plus the Set Cyberdark End Dragon, all of Kaiser's ace monsters have appeared on the field!"

"Hiss—how amazing…"

"So cool, all the ace monsters appearing together!"

"Is this the pinnacle of Cyber Dragons!"

Kaiser wore a smile on his face, very satisfied with his performance.

He looked at Tenjo Hikari and said with a sigh, "Hikari, you and Judai are the most promising juniors I've ever seen, but you and Judai are different. You're steadfast, you're wise, you seem to have an understanding of everything and can accept everything.

And just like you want to pursue the ultimate Fusion, I also want to achieve victory after victory with Cyber Dragons.

Whether it's Fusion, or… Xyz."

"Tenjo, only using Fusion, are you really prepared to face the future?"

"Heh, Kaiser, are you worried about me? Don't worry, I've been prepared for a long time," Tenjo Hikari replied casually.

"Then let me see! Have you really prepared yourself!" Kaiser took out a card from his hand, "Cyber Repair Plant, Special Summon one [Cyber Dragon] from your hand or Graveyard.

I Special Summon Cyber Dragon Core from the Graveyard!"

"Enter the Battle Phase!"

"The attack power of the two attacking monsters on your field is at most 3000, and the defense power of the defense monster is at most 1600. Whether I attack your Attack Position monster or attack your Duel Flame Dragon, you're going to lose—"

"No, there's a way! Activate Trap Card, Rebellious Archfiend!"

"What?"

A card he had never seen before flipped up.

A red nova twinkled in the distant sky, illuminating the field like a warning light.

"Send one [Archfiend] monster from your hand or face-up on your field to the Graveyard to activate. Send the Fusion Materials listed on an DARK Fusion Monster from your hand or field to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon that 1 Fusion Monster.

After that, I can recover the ATK of the monsters sent to the Graveyard by this card's activation!"

"Archfiend Fusion?"

Some Duelists who used Poison Decks were immediately dumbfounded.

Not just them.

The other few "Chosen of the Archfiends" in the world also stood up in shock the moment they saw this card, some even instinctively clutching their wrists.

The card art of that card, could it be the leader of the Archfiends?

"I send Archfiend Jera from my hand to the Graveyard, and fuse the two Fusion Monsters on the field!"

The two Fusion Monsters turned into a black mass, merging into the vortex with a bang, bang, bang, and then, endless purple wings of light appeared behind Tenjo Hikari, illuminating the sky.

"Fusion Summon!"

"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"

Awoo!

"Oh, oh, oh!" Yuri's eyes sparkled with golden light, "Oh, oh, oh, it's a Fusion Dragon, how energetic, so there's someone else besides me who has this card."

"Jera's ATK is 2800, so I recover 2800 LP. With the effect of Illusory Paradise, I draw one card."

Tenjo Hikari LP: 1300 → 4100.

"Then, the Fusion Dragon's effect, if this card is Fusion Summoned, choose 1 Special Summoned monster on your opponent's field, and increase this card's ATK by that amount! I choose Cyber End Dragon!"

Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, ATK: 2800 → 6800.

"Hiss—it's surpassed Cyber End Dragon!"

"Alright, with that, even if Kaiser banishes Cyber Dragon Core to increase Cyber Dragon Nova's ATK by 2100, he still won't be able to win!"

Kaiser glanced at his hand and then looked back at Tenjo Hikari's field, pointing at Duel Flame Dragon: "Then, I attack Duel Flame Dragon with Cyber End Dragon!"

"Eternal Evolution Light Flame!"

The three-headed mechanical dragon simultaneously spat out scorching rays of light, hitting the Flame Dragon, and then the rays hit Tenjo Hikari, causing his body to be pushed back directly.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 4100 → 1500.

"Barely managed to pull through?" Several friends watching the match up close swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"But, next turn, the Fusion Dragon's ATK will return to 2800, even if he attacks Cyber End Dragon with the Fusion Dragon's effect, and then destroys all of Kaiser's monsters, Cyber Dragon Nova's effect can still Special Summon a Cyber Dragon Fusion Monster…" Misawa's expression was solemn.

In this situation, he couldn't imagine how Tenjo Hikari could get around it.

Kaiser looked at the card in his hand.

Cybernetic Zone…

"Set one card, end my turn."

"It's basically the last turn…"

"Can Tenjo win? His ace monsters have almost all been used."

Tenjo Hikari silently drew a card, looking at the card's name, and remained silent for a moment.

Just when everyone thought Tenjo Hikari was about to give up, Tenjo Hikari suddenly turned his head and looked at Illusory Paradise.

"Speaking of which, I haven't told you all the effects of [Illusory Paradise] yet."

"Huh?"

"You asked me… if I was prepared?"

"If it's just words, just an answer, perhaps it can't really be called affirmation."

Tenjo Hikari silently placed a card on the field: "Continuous Spell Card, Flame Swords Domain, send one monster from your hand to the Graveyard, Special Summon Flame Swordsman."

Flame Swordsman silently appeared on the field, not joking as usual.

Flame Swordsman, Level 5, FIRE Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 1800.

"Kaiser, after you graduated, when you successfully performed an Xyz Summon in the professional arena, at that time, a small commotion once occurred in the Fusion Club," Tenjo Hikari described in an extremely calm tone while reminiscing, "At that time, I told the club members that it was good to believe in Fusion, no matter what, no matter what monster, no matter what summoning method, as long as you pursue Fusion, it's fine with me.

Honestly, when I said that at the time, it was completely just to appease them, because I had no evidence to prove it to them…"

Many students from the Fusion Club awkwardly scratched the back of their heads.

"Pursuing strength isn't wrong," Tenjo Hikari said, "Even the Dragon Magician that Pegasus gave me has very powerful effects in itself.

The real key point isn't here, but in belief."

Tenjo Hikari slowly said, "I'm sensing, sensing a voice, it's calling out to me, calling out to me to go to a whole new world."

As if in response to his words, a red light, even brighter than the "Morning Star" represented by the previous Archfiend, flashed across the sky.

Tenjo Hikari opened his eyes, the red light shone on him, lengthening his silhouette.

Countless spirits watched this scene, they seemed to realize something.

“Now, I can prove it to them—I was prepared long ago!

Activate the monster tuner in the graveyard, the monster effect of the Growing Bulb, send the top card of the deck to the graveyard, and special summon this card!”

“Huh?”

Kaiser was shocked.

Growing Bulb, Level 1, Earth Attribute, Plant Type, Attack Power 100.

“Wow, it's Little Bulb, it's Little Bulb, Marjoram sister, look, it's Little Bulb!”

“Yes, I see it... But, summoning it at this time...”

Tenjo Hikari slowly raised three fingers: “Field Magic Card, the effect of the Dreamland.

If there is a Fusion Monster on the field, I draw a card each time a monster from my hand or field is sent to the graveyard due to an effect.

If there is an Xyz Monster on the field, destroy the monster with the highest level on the field at the end of each of my turns.

If there is a Synchro Monster on the field, it is activated by me when a monster's summon or special summon is successful. Those monsters' levels increase by 1 star.”

“…” Kaiser's eyes widened more and more, gradually becoming unbelievable.

Not only him, but those friends beside him, the elves who were watching, all the ordinary viewers, the members of the Fusion Army, all of them widened their eyes at this moment.

They seemed to know what would happen next—

“Behold, Kaiser!”

He raised his hand, and a red light seemed to light up on his body: “Use the Level 5 Flame Swordsman and the Level 1 Growing Bulb for Synchro Summoning!

Become a new answer to fusion, ancient Fusion Explorer!

Synchro Summon! Level 6, Muddy Mud Dragon King!”

The two monsters transformed into stars, and under the green halo, they finally changed shape, turning into an ancient giant dragon emitting fluorescence.

Tenjo Hikari could feel that the moment the Muddy Mud Dragon King officially appeared in this dimension, countless cold gazes focused on him, but he didn't care, and calmly greeted the cold wind in the sky.

Muddy Mud Dragon King, Level 6, Dark Attribute, Dragon Type, Attack Power 500.

“Wa, wait?”

“Wha, what's going on?”

“Synchro Summon!?! Synchro Summon!”

“That guy, that Tenjo Hikari used Synchro Summoning!?!?”

Dimensions, worlds, all humans seemed to explode.

At this time, why Tenjo Hikari could perform summoning methods other than fusion like Kaiser became less important.

Kaiser looked at the front in shock, even doubting his eyes.

Tenjo Hikari… actually used a summoning method other than fusion.

“I have already said that fusion is inclusive, fusion is a collection of all things!

No matter what it is, no matter what monster it is, fusion can accept it—

The road ahead is ever-changing, and I am just pursuing the ultimate!”

“Activate the Magic Card, Fusion Identification. Select 1 monster on the field to activate. Show the opponent 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck. This turn, if the targeted monster is used as a fusion material, it can be used as the same name card as the monster shown.”

Tenjo Hikari opened the Extra Deck and took out a Flame Swordsman: “I choose Fusion Dragon—”

“Omni-Fusion!”

Upon hearing this, Fusion Dragon opened its huge light wings, absorbing the power of the Flame Swordsman. Then, its name changed once again.

“Then—”

“Please witness!”

“Muddy Mud Dragon King's monster effect, this Synchro Summoned monster can be fused with monsters on the field. In addition, when Muddy Mud Dragon King is used as a fusion material, it can replace 1 fusion material described in the Fusion Monster card name. At that time, the other fusion materials must be genuine—the current Fusion Dragon can be regarded as [Flame Swordsman]. It is a genuine product!”

“Synchro Monster… but the effect is… Fusion?!”

“My God, department head, department head, he really proved it!?”

“Tuning is fusion, Synchro Monsters are also fusion…”

“That Tenjo Hikari, he actually, actually—”

Some people were excited, some were excited, and some were incoherent, but what cannot be denied is that everyone clearly realized it.

Tenjo Hikari had indeed “faced the future” long ago.

“The swordsman who manipulates flames, the flame dragon who manipulates giant swords!”

“Gather the power of fusion and transform into a new form, guarding by my side!”

“My partner, my friend, my symbol!”

“Inferno Swordsman!”

Fusion Dragon transformed into purple flames, igniting the giant sword. The Flame Swordsman slowly inserted the great sword in front of him, and the armor on his body expanded wildly, eventually turning into an absolute swordsman.

Inferno Swordsman, Level 8, Fire Attribute, Warrior Type, Attack Power 2800.

Some people who were still huddled in the dormitory at the critical point, never dared to leave the room for half a step, but still watched the live broadcast on their mobile phones, couldn't help but put on their clothes, left the dormitory, and looked at the sky.

Some people who felt that their decades of hard work had been wasted due to “Xyz” and “Synchro” felt that their lives had regained vitality.

The members of the Fusion Department erupted in cheers that could shatter the ceiling, while the soldiers of the Fusion Army were as silent as death.

Some people even cried directly when they saw this scene.

People fear the unknown.

People worry about the unknown.

But, if there is an answer to everything…

No, maybe there is no answer.

What exists is only effort and direction!

Just like Tenjo Hikari, absolutely, firmly, straight!

“Inferno…” Kaiser looked at this monster, and the smile that had disappeared from his face slowly bloomed without his knowledge.

From Flame Swordsman to Inferno Swordsman.

Tenjo Hikari all the way, he has witnessed almost the entire process.

This feeling, as a senior, is really wonderful…

But, he still has to struggle a bit: “Although Inferno Swordsman can double its attack power, 5600 attack power cannot reduce my life points to zero!”

He pointed to Tenjo Hikari: “Inferno Swordsman will self-destruct at the end of the turn when its effect is activated. At that time, victory will belong to me!”

“…The effect of the Fighting Flame Dragon in the graveyard, once per turn, this card can be equipped to a Flame Swordsman or a monster with that card name listed! Increase its attack power by 700 points!”

Like Armored Hell Dragon, the effect of equipping a monster.

The difference is that this effect can be activated once every turn.

At this moment, feeling the power of “Fusion”, Kaiser suddenly thought that if he fought side by side with Tenjo Hikari in the future, this card could be used as the “ammunition” for Armored Hell Dragon, equipping the Flame Swordsman again and again.

Inferno Swordsman, ATK: 2800 → 3500.

“In that case, Inferno's attack power in battle will become 7000???”

“So handsome!”

Kaiser closed his eyes.

Even if he increased Nova's attack power by 2100 points, he would not be able to withstand this attack power… But.

“Activate Quick-Play Magic Card, Cyber ​​Technological Zone!” Ryo Marufuji suddenly opened his eyes, waved his arms, and shouted, “Select 1 face-up Machine-Type Fusion Monster on your field, and banish it from the game until the end of the turn, and its attack power becomes 2 times!”

Cyber ​​End Dragon, ATK: 4000 → 8000.

The figure of Cyber ​​End Dragon became bigger and bigger, gradually becoming larger than the spaceship, but at the same time, its figure slowly became illusory, eventually becoming like a mirage.

“Even at the end, I will go to a more glorious future with Cyber ​​Dragon!”

“Ha… Kaiser…” Tenjo Hikari smiled, “Then, I will use Inferno Swordsman to attack your Cyber ​​Dragon Nova!”

“Xyz and Synchro, but in the end, it is still a contest of [Fusion]… Interesting, then come, Cyber ​​Dragon Nova, banish Cyber ​​Dragon Core on the field, don't be afraid, meet it!!”

Boom!

Flames enveloped the entire spaceship. In the sky, it was like a brand new sun, streaking across the sky, illuminating the hearts of countless hesitant and fearful people.

“Extreme · Fighting Spirit Flame Slash Sword!”

The figure of Inferno flashed past, appearing behind Kaiser, and then, he slowly put away his sword, and his figure disappeared into flames.

The next moment, Nova shattered.

Fire reddened the faces of all living beings.

A pillar of fire, like the Tower of Babel, pierced through the sky and the earth.

Kaiser, LP: 2000 → 0.