"Spell Card: Fusion Substitute. I fuse the two monsters on my field. Return once more, Chimerafflesia."
Hikaru's signature flower crown finally truly descended upon the forest.
Hikaru pointed at the opponent's field. "I activate Predaplant Chimerafflesia's effect. I target one monster my opponent controls with a lower Level and banish it."
The enormous plant wrapped its roots around the Gem-Knight's head, lifted it, and sent it beyond the dueling field, where it slowly dissolved into particles of light.
"Battle Phase. Chimerafflesia attacks the opponent..."
"Wait." Dimitri raised his hand and gently waved. "Before that, I flip a Set card."
"Continuous Trap: Toll."
The Trap slowly revealed itself, emitting an eerie purple glow on Dimitri's field.
"As long as this card is on the field, neither player can declare an attack without sending a card to the Graveyard."
Hikaru frowned.
He looked at his hand.
Besides the searched Edge Imp, Hikaru had three other cards.
Chain's effect had already been used. Sending it to the Graveyard now would create sustainability problems next turn.
As for the other three cards...
"Then I won't attack. I Set one card. Turn end."
"Giving up damage for a more stable approach?" Chazz watched the field, expression slightly grave.
This was his first time seeing Hikaru's rhythm controlled by an opponent's tactics and cards during a duel.
"So this is all the 'ultimate Fusion duelist' amounts to?" Yubel taunted dismissively, then drew a card.
She glanced down, then played it. "Spell Card: Akashic Record. Draw two cards from the Deck. If any drawn cards were already used this duel, banish them."
Hikaru's eyebrow twitched.
This card... didn't seem to be Dimitri's.
Yubel drew two cards leisurely, revealed them as unused cards, then added them to her hand.
"You must pay a cost to attack, but with this card, I can skip the battle and go straight to combat... Heh heh heh. Equip Spell: Future Fusion!"
Hikaru's pupils contracted slightly.
Here it was. Dimitri's Future Fusion!
Countless clocks appeared in the sky, their hands spinning as their colors gradually darkened.
These darkened clocks became like mirrors. An occasional glance at their surfaces revealed strange scenery.
In the dark mirrors, Dimitri's figure was visible. He seemed to be in a "Duel Academy," living a wonderfully happy life.
"Do you see? In that world, he's living very happily. In that world, there's no pain, no torment, no cold stares from others. He can enjoy everything."
"He's dreaming?" Chazz immediately grasped the possibility.
"Looks like he's trapped in a pleasant dream. He can't wake up." Hikaru reached the same conclusion.
"If only I could become stronger. If only I'd made that choice back then. If only I'd tried harder. But the world doesn't have that many 'if onlys.' Some people can struggle their whole lives and never match a genius's single flash of brilliance." Yubel spoke with Dimitri's voice. "Dimitri, this human has always idolized you. Because you once let him feel Fusion during a duel, and because you defeated the Sacred Beasts before his very eyes, filling him with excitement."
"The Sacred Beasts?!" Jaden caught a detail. "Hikaru, you faced the Sacred Beasts alone?!"
Hikaru nodded without denying it.
"But it was precisely your selfishness, your arrogance, that sent this person down a path of no return."
"You paraded your Fusion, your dueling, rallied your friends, yet showed no concern for ordinary classmates. The darkness hidden in your heart is concealed far too well."
"Huh?" Chazz almost laughed. "Ha ha ha, what baseless speculation. Hikaru, this spirit is insane."
"Insane? You just haven't realized it." Yubel spoke calmly. "That day, the otherworldly god hovering over this island, you all saw it, right? That was Hikaru's spirit card.
He had the power to protect every classmate, yet he kept letting spirits run rampant, never took action, just waited in place!
Today's situation, isn't it the result of his inaction?"
She raised a finger, speaking while Dimitri's voice echoed. In the surrounding dark clocks, Dimitri's own inner thoughts began to resonate: "You possess alchemical talent and can modify glasses to see spirits' true forms. You have extraordinary dueling ability and could proactively attack spirit strongholds like Jaden. You have the prestige to unite your classmates, yet every day you simply wait for the school's arrangements.
Having ability but not using it. How can you call that Fusion?
It's nothing but 'Fusion that absolutely leaves nothing behind,' 'Fusion that completely devours,' 'Fusion of ultimate selfishness!'"
As she spoke, she looked toward Jaden's direction. "Having ability but calmly waiting as things deteriorated to today's state, you bear responsibility too, don't you?
This body sought me out because of your inaction. He called upon me, wanting me to save him!"
Jaden would not doubt Hikaru.
Chazz absolutely believed in Hikaru.
But they couldn't rebut Yubel at this moment either.
Hikaru sighed softly. "Heh."
"Fine. Since you're so eager to debate, I'll see it through today." Purple light flickered in Hikaru's eyes. "Dueling has always been a clash of spirits. Since you're so willing, I'll use this duel to awaken the Dimitri you've imprisoned."
Yubel's twisted rhetoric was endless. Although Hikaru had no interest in discussing these issues mid-duel, if she kept talking while he showed no reaction, the duel would become impossible to continue.
Seeing Hikaru "take the bait," Yubel smirked coldly.
She wasn't afraid of Hikaru refuting her. What she feared was Hikaru being completely unresponsive, caring about nothing except the duel itself.
Now that Hikaru was willing to engage on this issue, she naturally had her opportunity.
"Tierra?" Hikaru called softly.
Blue flames erupted beside Hikaru. A green mechanical puppet slowly materialized within.
"What is it? Need me to argue with this dragon-demon for you?" Tierra was mildly surprised. "I'm terrible at arguments. Arguments with Sophia never went anywhere."
Obviously he couldn't count on her to out-trash-talk Yubel.
"It's fine. I just need you to be here."
"Hmph, summoning an otherworldly god to boost your presence?"
"Ha... I just wanted to let you experience the feeling."
?
Yubel was momentarily puzzled.
Then...
Hikaru's expression shifted abruptly. His presence surged. Purple shockwaves radiated outward from him like ocean waves.
Although it wasn't her true form, the sudden eruption still startled Yubel.
What incredible force!!
What was this human's background?!
"I've sensed your presence in the Fusion Division before. I've always asked my friends to guard the Fusion Division, hoping they would protect it and shield my members from outside harm. So I'm certain you entered the Fusion Division at some point and then left!"
Yubel's heart skipped a beat.
Indeed, those Earthbound Gods were on this guy's side.
"Just as you say, I have excellent partners, divine help from the Synchro Dimension, and many supportive spirits. If I wanted to, I could even help the academy through several days of crisis on my own.
But what does that have to do with humanity?!"
Chazz and Jaden exchanged a glance, then slowly came to their senses as if waking from a trance.
If they were to face "humanity's destined path toward extinction," then the most important thing was humanity itself!
If they only relied on others without trying themselves, wasn't humanity's extinction perfectly reasonable?
Hikaru continued. "If I and Jaden handle everything, then why should classmates study, why become duelists, why face threats to humanity at all?
If I alone did everything, handled every classmate's problem, every teacher's problem, then would they still be my friends?
Are they puppets or partners?"
Hikaru pointed at Yubel, purple gale howling, scattering broken branches and leaves. "If one person monopolizes work, career, studies, family, friendship, love, absolutely everything, is that protecting and caring, or just venting a desire for control?!
Ridiculous!"
Then he exchanged a glance with Tierra and nodded.
After dueling Professor Seraph, he had completely understood how to coexist with Tierra. "Mutual respect is the most basic requirement. Without respecting the other person, what right do you have to claim you support them?"
"Grr..." Yubel's right hand trembled, teeth grinding audibly. Whether from rage or frustration was unclear.
Nearby, Jaden's Heroes heard Hikaru's words and practically huddled together, cheering excitedly for him.
That was Hikaru for you!
Provoke him and he'd never hold back!
With the Fusion army gone this year, they'd thought Hikaru had mellowed. Turns out there was just nobody worth arguing with. His skills were still there!
"Unity, cooperation, mutual aid, mutual growth. That is what Fusion means. Trying to distort my understanding of Fusion? I'd advise you to save your breath. You'll never manage it in your lifetime." Hikaru concluded decisively.
"As for Dimitri... I'm sorry he couldn't overcome the challenge at the critical moment. But it's fine. Because I'm here." Hikaru looked at Dimitri, gazing through his eyes as if piercing through Yubel's soul, through the dream. "So I will guide him and wake him up."
Yubel's third eye on her forehead began flickering wildly, probing Hikaru's heart.
No openings. Absolutely none!
Everything he said was sincere. He genuinely believed in this!
Damn!!
This guy truly, wholeheartedly walked the "Fusion" path!
Was he insane?!
The "classmate" angle was a complete dead end!
She had thought her method was perfect. She had made Dimitri voluntarily summon her. She hadn't actively seduced a student into falling, nor forcefully possessed anyone. Based on the information she had gathered about Hikaru, this should have gotten to him.
But it turned out Hikaru had been prepared from the start for classmates making fatal mistakes.
Then she would try something else!
She refused to believe Hikaru was truly flawless, without a single crack in his heart!
If before, her reason for dueling Hikaru was simply to possess him and torment Jaden, now she had completely changed her approach.
Hikaru's dueling philosophy was the polar opposite of her philosophy of showing love through torment and suffering. She would thoroughly teach Hikaru a lesson, defeating him spiritually and physically!
If the classmate angle didn't work, she would try others!
The Light of Destruction, spirits, dreams, memories, Fusion, Darkness...
No matter what, she would win!
"Hmph... Since you protected Dimitri during the Sacred Beast duel back then, let me use the Sacred Beasts' power to duel the current you."
The Sacred Beasts?
Hikaru was slightly puzzled.
In the original story, Yubel had used Martin to unseal the Sacred Beasts. But in this world, since Hikaru defeated Leo Akaba, the "Sacred Beasts" had transferred to his replica cards, and the school's Seven Stars Gate had been heavily sealed by the administration and Hikaru. It should be impossible to obtain Sacred Beast cards.
Moreover, she had only just found her first host.
"Fusion conditions: three Level 10 monsters."
"From the Deck, I send the Level 10 Ultimate Obedient Fiend, the Level 10 Lord of the Heavenly Prison, and the Level 10 Exodia, the Legendary Defender to the Graveyard!"
"Ultimate machine forged from the Sacred Beasts' power, appear before me and submit!"
"Fusion Summon! Level 10: Phantasm Emperor Trilojig!"
Three enormous purple spheres appeared in the sky. Then they collided, erupting with terrifying radiance like a black sun.
Moments later, a massive monster, completely different from the three Sacred Beasts yet clearly possessing their life-draining phantasmal power, appeared on Dimitri's field.
Phantasm Emperor Trilojig. Level 10, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 4000.
"Phantasmal Emperor?" Jaden had never heard of such a card.
"4000 ATK... But a monster Fusion Summoned by Future Fusion can't attack the turn it's summoned... And while 4000 is high, Hikaru's Chimerafflesia can even contend with Master's Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."
Setting aside the attack restriction, 4000 ATK still couldn't beat Chimerafflesia.
Chimerafflesia's combat capabilities were comprehensive!
"When Bishbaalkin is Special Summoned, or while it's on the field and a card other than it is Special Summoned from my Graveyard to my field: I target one face-up monster my opponent controls and inflict damage equal to half that monster's ATK!"
"Huh?!"
Bypassing the attack restriction and dealing damage directly?
"Agonizing Torment!"
Bishbaalkin leapt high, seized the vines on the ground, and purple lightning surged through them, crackling and shocking Hikaru.
"Ugh..."
Hikaru felt piercing pain. Numbness swept his body instantly. But the next moment, blue flames burned across him, absorbing the suffering on his behalf.
Hikaru LP: 4000 → 2750.
"Thanks."
"Ha. Don't mention it."
No extra actions or words needed. The chemistry between Hikaru and Tierra spoke for itself.
Seeing this, Yubel's fury only intensified.
She raised her right hand, expression cold. "In that case, let me show you the mirror forged from this human's inner darkness and pain, reflected through the power of destruction and extinction."
"I activate the Trap Card: Virtual World!"
The countless mirror shards left by Future Fusion arranged themselves around the field like displayed exhibits after the card activated.
Hikaru frowned.
Virtual World could add a Field Spell to hand or directly activate it.
Could it be Nightmare Throne?
"From the Deck, I activate the Field Spell: Dream Mirror of Joy!"
Hikaru blinked.
Why Dream Mirror?
Then he remembered the card he had obtained from dueling Dimitri long ago...
Back then, dueling Dimitri had earned him "Adusted Gold."
His expression gradually darkened.
Yubel was using the Light of Destruction and Darkness's power to extract Dimitri's potential and create cards!
...
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