"My turn."
Hikaru studied his hand, calculating possibilities.
First, there was likely a "Predapractice" among them. If Triphyoverutum was lucky, there might be other forms of resistance too.
Dragostapelia itself possessed the ability "while this card is in a Monster Zone, negate the activated effects of opponent's monsters with Predator Counters." Beyond that, Dragostapelia could place a Predator Counter on one face-up opponent monster at quick-effect speed.
So most likely, that amounted to two monster-effect negations.
As for his own hand...
"Spell Card: Instant Fusion." Hikaru looked at his hand and smiled, raising one card. "I pay 1000 LP to Fusion Summon one Level 5 or lower Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck.
I pay 1000 LP. Fusion Summon, Level 1: Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3000.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict. A monster both familiar and strange, one that hadn't appeared in ages. A versatile removal monster with a highly useful effect that could one-sidedly deal with an opponent's monster. Also a common result of Hikaru's Instant Fusion.
But after today, new possibilities might emerge.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict. Level 1, DARK Attribute, Spellcaster-Type. ATK 0.
"Thousand-Eyes Restrict, huh..."
This famous monster was naturally recognized by Triphyoverutum.
"Thousand-Eyes Restrict's effect: once per turn, I target one opponent monster and equip it to this card."
"That won't work! I activate Dragostapelia's effect. Once per turn, I target one face-up opponent monster, place a Predator Counter on it, and a Level 2 or higher monster with a Predator Counter becomes Level 1.
Furthermore, while Dragostapelia is on the field, the activated effects of opponent monsters with Predator Counters are negated!"
Thousand-Eyes Restrict's countless eyes locked onto Dragostapelia. But Dragostapelia roared, and a spore fell from somewhere onto Thousand-Eyes Restrict. Its gaze was instantly obstructed, completely unable to activate its effect.
"Negated!"
"Dragostapelia's powerful field control!"
"So cool! I want to evolve into Dragostapelia too." Many juvenile Predaplants chimed in.
"Is that so? Then... Spell Card: Predaplast. I reveal any number of 'Predap' cards from my hand and target that many face-up opponent monsters. I place a Predator Counter on each of them. Monsters Level 2 or higher with a Predator Counter become Level 1.
I reveal Predaplant Sundew Kingii from my hand, place a counter on Dragostapelia, then Normal Summon it."
Sundew Kingii, a champion among Predaplants, could not only fuse itself but also fuse the opponent's monsters.
Predaplant Dragostapelia, Predator Counter: 1. Level: 8 → 1.
"Triphyoverutum, you must know Sundew Kingii's effect best. I activate this effect. I fuse your Predaplant Dragostapelia with a monster on my field!"
"Don't even think about it! I activate the Trap Card: Predapractice!"
Triphyoverutum flipped its Set card. "I send Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra from my Deck to the Graveyard. I place a Predator Counter on every face-up monster on the field!"
Buzz buzz buzz.
Several Drosophyllum Hydras flew over, scattering seeds on the field's monsters. The already-exhausted Thousand-Eyes Restrict bent over further, looking ready to collapse.
Predaplant Sundew Kingii, Predator Counter: 1. Level 2 → 1.
In a Synchro or Xyz Deck, encountering this kind of continuous Level-changing would be infuriating. But for Hikaru's Fusion Deck, it didn't matter.
"Drosophyllum Hydra's effect: when this card is sent to the Graveyard, I add one Predaplant other than Drosophyllum Hydra from my Deck to my hand. I choose Predaplant Sarraceniant."
A green soldier ant tunneled up from the ground, cautiously glanced around, then leapt into Triphyoverutum's hand.
Sarraceniant, huh...
This was a card Hikaru hadn't yet collected, so seeing it piqued his interest.
He looked at his hand.
Then...
He drew two cards from it and spoke.
"Triphyoverutum, you asked me whether predation has reached its end. I don't think so.
For you, pure Fusion may have no further path forward. But that doesn't mean other methods can't enhance Fusion."
"You mean..."
"That's right. I mean using other Summoning methods!"
Triphyoverutum was surprised. "I've heard that when you Fusion Summon, you even use Synchro and Xyz monsters as Fusion Material. You mean... you want us to try entirely new Summoning methods?"
"Exactly. I recall... Banksiogre is a Tuner monster, right?"
"But how could it be that simple?" Triphyoverutum shook its three heads helplessly.
Predaplants were Fusion-focused monsters, even spirits with the ability to search Fusion methods, with extremely high affinity for Fusion. Precisely because of this, they only existed in "Fusion form."
Without a Synchro form or Xyz form in their future, relying on self-cultivation and training would require effort beyond measure. For the Predaplant species, who needed to "devour" just to effectively increase duel energy, it was pure fantasy.
It wasn't that they hadn't tried. They had no way to try!
They lacked the conditions!
"Ha... Then use this!"
Hikaru suddenly revealed two cards from his hand, displaying them to everyone.
Predaplant Bufolicula, Predaplant Triantis!
"Eh?"
"Me?"
Among the spectating spirits, several that closely resembled the cards' artwork instinctively pointed at themselves.
They never imagined that as "ordinary spirits," they could appear on cards.
No.
Wait!
One clever mantis suddenly realized.
It wasn't ordinary. It simply hadn't found a suitable vessel yet!
"Using Scale 0 Bufolicula and Scale 8 Triantis, I set the Pendulum Scales!"
Hikaru slapped the left and right zones of his Duel Disk. Two enormous pillars of light rose beside him, with the toad and mantis figures gradually emerging.
"Wh-wh-what...?" Triphyoverutum's three heads couldn't even speak smoothly, mouths agape in panic.
What was it seeing?!
New... Predaplants?!
No.
New Predaplant cards?!
Even... unknown, entirely new cards unlike anything in their understanding.
"Pendulum Monsters. These are monsters that, when they leave the field, go face-up into the Extra Deck instead of the Graveyard." Hikaru spoke with a smile. "And as long as the Scales are right, once per turn, I can perform a Pendulum Summon."
"Pendulum... Summon?" Triphyoverutum and the countless surrounding spirits asked in unison.
"For example, my toad's Scale is 0 and the mantis's Scale is 8. So I can Pendulum Special Summon any number of monsters of any Level from 1 to 7, from my hand and from face-up Pendulum Monsters in my Extra Deck."
"Any number?!" Many Predaplant spirits who struggled to make it onto the field went wide-eyed at this.
"I see... using Pendulum Summon to Special Summon more monsters?" As the leader and strongest warrior of the northern continent's Predaplants, Triphyoverutum, though initially shocked, quickly grasped the advantage of this Summoning method. But that brought new questions. "But if you just want to Fusion, there's no need to Special Summon to the field. Take Sundew Kingii's effect. It can only be used once per turn, and copies of the same name can't activate it again.
No matter how many monsters you summon, it's useless..."
"That's not necessarily true."
?!
"Or rather, that's not my goal!" Hikaru's lips curled into a smile. "I'm a duelist pursuing the ultimate Fusion. So what I want to do has only ever been one thing!
That is... Fusion!"
Triphyoverutum's eyes stared unblinkingly at Hikaru.
Could it be...
"Bufolicula's Pendulum effect: once per turn during my Main Phase, I send Fusion Materials listed on a DARK Fusion Monster Card from my hand and field to the Graveyard, then Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!"
"Huh?!" A Predaplant spirit cried out. "It's a Fusion effect!"
Fusion Decks faced two inescapable problems.
First, Fusion Materials. Second, the Fusion itself.
Every Fusion Deck faced this issue and had to choose between Fusion Materials and Fusion cards.
That was precisely why Hikaru loved cards like Sundew Kingii and Aleister the Invoker. They weren't just Fusion Materials. They could even serve as Fusion cards.
"Do you want to Fusion Summon Chimerafflesia?" Triphyoverutum looked at the monsters on Hikaru's field.
A DARK monster and a Predaplant monster could Fusion Summon Chimerafflesia.
But...
It glanced at its Set card.
It had Set a Trap: Bottomless Trap Hole.
This was a card favored by the plant and insect women of this planet's western continent. But having dealt with those spirits for years, it had prepared this card too.
Hikaru wasn't in a hurry.
He first looked around, confirmed that monster existed nearby, then smiled. "Since you want answers, Triphyoverutum, I'll show you my answer."
"Again?"
"Besides Bufolicula, Triantis also has a Pendulum effect. While it's in the Pendulum Zone, when I Fusion Summon a DARK Fusion Monster, the monsters in my Pendulum Zone can also be used as Fusion Materials as if they were monsters on the field."
Ah?!
Triphyoverutum jolted.
Meaning it could serve not only as a Fusion card and a Fusion Material, but could even perform a "Pendulum Summon"?
It looked at the previously unnoticed Pendulum Zone on its flower-shaped Duel Disk.
"Lord Hikaru, could it be... you've already conceived a Fusion application, when this strange Zone has barely existed for any time at all?!"
"Ha, of course. I, Hikaru Amagi, no matter when or where, will always Fuse!"
"I activate the toad's effect, fusing it with the mantis!"
Hikaru raised his hand and pulled an unfinished card from his Extra Deck.
This was a card he hadn't successfully crafted.
For a support-type card like this, Hikaru could normally have tried many methods to create it. But since Pendulum didn't exist in this world, it had remained impossible to bring into being.
But now, he had successfully "set the Scales" and successfully found that "spirit" on this planet...
So it should work now!
"Fusion conditions: two Predaplant monsters."
"I use the two monsters in my Pendulum Zones as Fusion Materials for the Fusion Summon!" Hikaru picked up both cards and slotted them face-up atop his Extra Deck.
"Fusion Summon, Level 5!"
Below, a spirit lying in the dirt watching the duel, its eyes full of longing, began faintly glowing.
As a Predaplant spirit, it had always yearned to help its kind. Yet although it could manage some lower-tier monster cards, it couldn't evolve into a card spirit. It could barely control a few cards and couldn't duel at all.
In this state, it had heard of the famous Absolute Fusion Master Hikaru, knowing he was a super Fusion warrior who could turn decay into wonder, who had once held his own against Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon with Chimerafflesia. He was a "celebrity" among their kind.
So it desperately yearned to learn something in this duel.
"Predaplant Ambulomelioides!"
Huh?!
Its name!
It felt dazed, then sensed all the power it had stored erupt at once. Its entire being became purple light, flying into Hikaru's hand.
Hikaru looked down, startled, at the card in his hand.
Ambulomelioides chirped at Hikaru excitedly. Hikaru smiled, knowing his purpose here was half-accomplished, then spoke. "Then, I'm counting on you."
He summoned the Fusion Monster in his hand to the field!
Predaplant Ambulomelioides. Level 5, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. DEF 2500.
The famous "Grass Dragon Star"!
"Ambulo... Ambulomelioides! You, you became a Duel Monster spirit?!" Triphyoverutum was shocked and delighted.
As the leader of its kind, it naturally welcomed the birth of new Duel spirits. And for a diligent, hardworking junior like Ambulomelioides, it, as an elder spirit, naturally felt fondness.
"Yes. And I feel... so strong." Ambulomelioides brimmed with newfound confidence from somewhere.
But what it said was actually true.
"Ambulomelioides's effect, and the toad's effect, activate."
"The toad... has another effect?" Triphyoverutum asked, dazed. "How many effects is that now? It can be used for Fusion and still has an effect?"
"Actually, the mantis has an effect too, but there's no need to activate it now. Bufolicula's effect: when this card is sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material, or added face-up to the Extra Deck, I add one face-up DARK Pendulum Monster other than Bufolicula from my Extra Deck to my hand.
I add Triantis to my hand."
"Then, Ambulomelioides's effect: when this card is Fusion Summoned, I add one Predaplant monster or one Predap Spell/Trap from my Deck, Graveyard, or face-up Pendulum Monsters in my Extra Deck to my hand."
"Whoa?!?"
"Hsss..."
"Incredible!!!"
The spirits present were mostly well-versed in Predaplant Deck tactics. Even the non-Predaplant monsters along for the show mostly had rich combat experience with Predaplants. So upon hearing this effect, they all understood its power!
A free search!
Any Predaplant card could be added to hand!
And not only that.
"Cost-free Fusion!" Triphyoverutum's eyes went wide.
Not only had he Fusion Summoned a monster, he could even return the Fusion cost to his hand, then search another card. He had essentially Fusion Summoned a monster with virtually no cost!
"From my Deck, I add Predaprime Fusion to my hand." Hikaru's left Duel Disk automatically flashed with purple light. A card leapt from his Deck into his hand.
"Oh, and after the chain resolves, I set Triantis in the Pendulum Scale." Hikaru casually placed the mantis up again.
Predaprime Fusion, huh?
This card allowed quick Fusion during the Battle Phase.
But fortunately...
Triphyoverutum glanced at its Set Trap.
Although Hikaru's field was full of Fusion Materials, as far as it knew, Hikaru's Deck didn't contain Dragostapelia, let alone its own self, Predaplant Triphyoverutum.
If it had a copy of itself, it could use Predaprime Fusion to directly use Dragostapelia on its field as Fusion Material with his field monsters to fuse into itself. That would still be fairly hard to beat.
But for now, it couldn't handle the situation, so it had to use Predaprime Fusion to Fuse first...
Pendulum Summoning. To think Hikaru had grasped this entirely new Summoning method the moment he picked it up.
But even more astonishing, despite easily mastering a new Summoning method, possibly becoming a "leader of the new era," he hadn't fixated on Pendulum Summoning's power. Instead, he directly used Pendulum Summoning as his Fusion method, fusing the Pendulum cards directly...
Truly the Absolute Fusion Master!
He really could bring them answers!
But it hadn't lost yet!
Once it defeated Hikaru, it could rightfully ask him to stay and help them build the northern continent. With luck, guiding a few Ambulomelioides spirits, it could then simply Instant Fusion an Ambulomelioides, far superior to some Necro Gardna.
"It's not over yet."
Unexpectedly, Hikaru's words startled the three-headed Triphyoverutum.
Not over yet? What wasn't over?
"Ambulomelioides's monster effect."
There's more?!
This was already strong enough.
"I can target one opponent monster with a Predator Counter, or one of my own monsters. I Tribute that monster and Special Summon one Predaplant from my Deck."
Hikaru spoke with a light laugh.
Removal and search?!
Triphyoverutum's three jaws nearly dropped simultaneously.
"Of course, the one I'm Tributing is naturally your Dragostapelia!"
"Forgive me, Lord Dragostapelia!" Ambulomelioides leapt into the dirt, swam toward Dragostapelia like a submarine, then dragged it underground.
"I Special Summon, Level 3: Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio."
Ophrys Scorpio!
Triphyoverutum froze for a moment, then slowly recovered, building to shock.
As the leader of the Predaplant species, it naturally knew Ophrys Scorpio's effect well!
A scorpion-shaped plant emerged from where Dragostapelia had been, revealing its form.
Ophrys Scorpio. Level 3, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 1200.
"Ophrys Scorpio's effect: when this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I send one monster from my hand to the Graveyard. I Special Summon one Predaplant other than Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio from my Deck!"
"I discard Edge Imp Chain from my hand. Special Summon, Level 3: Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!"
Ah!!
Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra. Level 3, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 1000.
"I activate a monster effect. Darlingtonia Cobra's effect: when this card is Special Summoned by a Predaplant monster's effect, I add one Spell Card with 'Fusion' in its name from my Deck to my hand. I add the Spell Card Polymerization. Furthermore, Edge Imp Chain's effect: when this card is sent from the hand or field to the Graveyard, I add one Frightfur card from my Deck to my hand. I add Frightfur Patchwork."
"Oh!!!"
"It has another effect too!"
"This is too strong, practically invincible!"
Countless Predaplant spirits cried out in excitement.
At this moment, even without Pendulum, with just this Ambulomelioides's new card, these spirits dared to say their Predaplants had grown at least three or four times stronger!
At least!
The reason was simple. Darlingtonia Cobra's effect could search any Fusion!
Even the legendary "Super Polymerization," or "Future Fusion" which was nearly impossible to obtain on the market, it could instantly search to hand!
The card's only problem was how to reliably Special Summon it using a fellow Predaplant's effect.
Previously, the Predaplant species could only hope to draw Ophrys Scorpio, or use Fusion to send Sarraceniant or Drosophyllum Hydra to the Graveyard, search Ophrys Scorpio, and wait a turn before Special Summoning the Cobra.
But now, everything had changed!
Triphyoverutum's wings stopped beating. It slowly descended from the sky, its mind full of the various possibilities Ambulomelioides offered.
If it had Ambulomelioides, last turn it could have directly Instant Fusioned Ambulomelioides, used its effect to search Predaplanet or Predaprime Fusion, then used Ambulomelioides to Tribute Sundew Kingii and Special Summon Ophrys Scorpio and the Cobra.
Although it would lose a card from hand, it would gain a Material on the field and two Fusion cards in hand!
Set its Predapractice and Predaprime Fusion, Fusion Summon Dragostapelia using the Fusion searched by the Cobra. Then its field would have Dragostapelia and Ophrys Scorpio, plus an extra Set Predaprime Fusion. Not only could it use Dragostapelia's effect to negate Hikaru's monster effects, but when Hikaru placed Pendulum cards, it could use Predaprime Fusion to summon itself directly.
In that instant, it could not only devour one of Hikaru's field monsters, but even use Predapractice's Graveyard effect to destroy one of Hikaru's cards!
A full three layers of disruption!
One Ambulomelioides!
Three layers!
Normally, even with sufficiently high spirit power, even when performing the sacred dueling rite with spirits of the same tier, it couldn't reliably draw Ophrys Scorpio. But now, this Ambulomelioides card could handle nearly all "uncertainty"!
This...
This truly was the future of their Predaplants!
Truly.
The legend was true.
Hikaru really had brought an entirely new future of Fusion!
"Spell Card: Frightfur Patchwork." Hikaru activated the card he had just searched. "I add Edge Imp Chain and Fusion Substitute from my Deck to my hand."
"Spell Card: Fusion Substitute. This card can Fusion Summon using Fusion Materials on the field. I fuse Thousand-Eyes Restrict and Darlingtonia Cobra.
Fusion conditions: two DARK monsters on the field.
Fusion Summon, Level 8: Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
Purple lightning crashed down. A plant dragon twisted its body, emerging from the darkness, unleashing power it hadn't released in a long while.
"Fusion Dragon's effect: when this card is Special Summoned, it gains ATK equal to one opponent's Special Summoned monster's ATK until the end of the turn..."
"I activate the Trap Card: Bottomless Trap Hole!"
Ugh.
So it had Bottomless Trap Hole.
Hikaru looked at the Fusion Dragon that had fallen into a trap mere seconds after appearing, feeling slightly awkward.
He faintly thought he heard Fusion Dragon's displeased voice.
And this time, since Ambulomelioides had sent the opponent's field monster straight to the Graveyard, it didn't even get the chance to self-destruct against a monster.
Hikaru cleared his throat twice. "I activate Fusion Substitute's Graveyard effect. I recover Thousand-Eyes Restrict, banish Fusion Substitute, and draw one card."
"Spell Card: Polymerization. I fuse Ambulomelioides and Sundew Kingii on my field."
"Fusion Summon, Level 7: Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
Predaplant Chimerafflesia. Level 7, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 2500.
"Chimerafflesia..." Triphyoverutum looked at the monster, thinking that if Hikaru had Dragostapelia, he could have summoned Dragostapelia here instead, with higher ATK and stronger disruption.
"Battle. Ophrys Scorpio, direct attack."
Triphyoverutum, LP: 3000 → 1800.
"Chimerafflesia, direct attack."
"At this moment, I Special Summon Sarraceniant. When an opponent monster declares a direct attack, it can Special Summon itself directly."
Predaplant Sarraceniant. Level 1, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. DEF 600.
"Do you want to stop the attack?"
"Battle continues. Chimerafflesia attacks Sarraceniant."
The flower scooped up the ant from the ground and flung it aside.
"Sarraceniant's effect: after damage calculation when this card battles an opponent monster, that opponent monster is destroyed!"
BOOM.
Hikaru's beloved Chimerafflesia, capable of searching any Fusion Spell, vanished in an instant.
"Sarraceniant's effect: when this card on the field is sent to the Graveyard by an effect or destroyed by battle, I add one Predap card other than Sarraceniant from my Deck to my hand.
I add Predapruning to my hand."
The earth churned. Several mechanical devices appeared on the ground, preparing for the plants' revival.
Now, Hikaru had only one monster on his field, with no way to use Predaprime Fusion...
No, wait!
There's still a way!
Even though he had only one monster!
But...
There's still a way!
"Quick-Play Spell: Predaprime Fusion!"
Hikaru abruptly revealed the brand-new Fusion.
"This can be activated only while I control a Predaplant monster. From my field and my opponent's field, I send Fusion Materials listed on a DARK Fusion Monster Card, including two or more DARK monsters on my own field, to the Graveyard, then Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck.
You have no monsters on your field, and I have only one. In theory, I can't activate this card, because it requires fusing at least two of my own monsters.
But...
While Triantis is in the Pendulum Zone, when I Fusion Summon a DARK Fusion Monster, the cards in my Pendulum Zone can also be used as Fusion Materials as if they were monsters on the field.
Predaprime Fusion!"
"Fusion requirements: one DARK monster and one Pendulum monster!"
A Pendulum monster!
Truly using a Pendulum monster for Fusion!
"Just saying it aloud probably won't help everyone understand. Conveniently, I have a card here obtained a few months ago. A card I could never use. A card that embodies the limitless future of Fusion."
Hikaru took a deep breath, then pressed his palms together.
Now, formally, Pendulum Fusion was underway!
"O great wings that pursue Fusion!
Now, devour all, and swing the pendulum to my side!
Pendulum Fusion!
Level 7, Pendulum Fusion Monster: Starving Venemy Dragon!"
"Ooooooh!!!"
"I feel... I feel sunlight again!"
"Such a beautiful purple!"
Purple on top, green below. Both a Pendulum Monster and a Fusion Monster!
Starving Venemy Dragon. Level 7, DARK Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 2500.
The half-bodied dragon roared out, venting the resentment it had just felt.
"Battle continues. Starving Venemy Dragon, direct attack!"
With this, there was no defense left!
A one-turn kill!
Triphyoverutum never imagined it would be instantly defeated by Hikaru before it could even fuse its own self.
But the answer Hikaru showed it was genuinely a delightful surprise!
Pendulum Summoning, new Fusion, even attempting Synchro or Xyz, all of these were now viable options!
Although being one-turn-killed in front of so many juniors was a bit embarrassing, thinking about the troubling future of its kind, finally having a solvable path, it breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted.
Predaplant Triphyoverutum, LP: 1800 → 0.
...
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