"Lord Hikaru, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Lord Hikaru, this is our continent's specialty brew. The girls from the neighboring continent all love it. Give it a try."
"Wow, Lord Hikaru, could you perform that one again? You know, Chimerafflesia versus Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. I can play Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
After the duel, there was no resentment or anger. The Predaplant species quickly warmed up to Hikaru. The spirits who had come along also manifested, chatting and sparring with these spirits.
As spirits of the Fusion system, these Predaplant spirits already deeply respected Hikaru, the renowned "Absolute Fusion Master." Now that Hikaru had shown them new possibilities in the duel, they naturally welcomed him.
And there was something even more important.
It was also the key reason these Predaplant spirits chatted so amiably with Hikaru: Hikaru had genuinely made a great name across multiple dimensions using their cards. Countless spirits had heard the legend of "Chimerafflesia versus Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."
They weren't good-tempered spirits. After all, they were spirits who frequently attacked and devoured dueling energy, having provoked quite a few enemies, making them rather difficult to get along with.
But Hikaru was different!
He was a human duelist who had truly done them a kindness.
That was precisely why the spirits here called Hikaru an "honored guest."
A true honored guest.
And now, what Hikaru demonstrated in the duel delighted these spirits. Setting aside Ambulomelioides, who was preparing to leave, many spirits present began considering evolving toward the Pendulum Monster direction.
Naturally, under these circumstances, exchanging information and cards between Hikaru and the Predaplant species became quite easy.
Besides Ambulomelioides who was willing to follow Hikaru, Predaplant Sarraceniant, the card Hikaru had long yearned for, finally appeared. Various other supporting Predaplant cards were also stuffed into Hikaru's hands as if they were free.
The Ophrys Scorpio and several Predaplant cards he originally had only one of were directly bumped up to three copies.
And the leader here, Triphyoverutum, was even more generous. Not only did it arrange to gift Hikaru a Dragostapelia, it also split off part of its own power, giving him a "Triphyoverutum."
Although the duel had ended too quickly for Triphyoverutum to take the field, Hikaru still gleefully accepted the card.
Its Fusion conditions were beautiful!
Three DARK monsters on the field!
A perfect Fusion result for Super Polymerization!
If the opponent had three DARK monsters on their field, he could Super Polymerize it directly into play. A considerable removal tool.
"Lord Hikaru, you truly don't mind sharing your secret?"
After Hikaru finished collecting cards, Triphyoverutum couldn't help asking out of curiosity.
Although Hikaru only had one pair of toad and mantis, as an alchemist, he hadn't hidden his understanding of Pendulum and synthesis. He helped the Predaplants theorize and work through how to evolve the power of Pendulum.
Beyond that, the core concept behind Predaplant Ambulomelioides was also generously shared by Hikaru.
As the peculiar lifeforms that spirits were, once they had an "original template," gradually evolving corresponding new brethren was no longer difficult. More crucially, they were plants, a massive species ruling a quarter of the planet.
Now, while their race was far from extinction, rapidly concentrating resources to birth a few brethren was effortless.
After all, their territory was truly vast.
Precisely because of this, they were curious. Wasn't Hikaru afraid that letting his knowledge and secrets spread would cause his own advantage to vanish?
Hearing this, Hikaru shook his head and laughed.
He never cared about the significance of Pendulum Summoning or Pendulum Fusion, because he knew clearly that sooner or later, everyone would understand Pendulum, Pendulum Fusion, even various other techniques.
What mattered was never the Summoning method, but one's own ability.
"I'm a duelist pursuing the ultimate Fusion... Although I wasn't at first, now I believe in Fusion. Fusing the self, fusing others, fusing the ideas of all beings... In other words, seeking common ground while preserving differences? Hahaha."
Hikaru laughed and shook his head, then continued. "Actually, more precisely, one person alone can't achieve Fusion. To overcome obstacle after obstacle, to gain status, achievements, fame, you always need others' help. This feeling of fusing with like-minded people, living in this world, I love it very much."
This was perhaps what Hikaru loved most about Fusion.
Because he wasn't a human of this world, after arriving here, beyond self-preservation, he also needed some support. Although the source of his belief in Fusion was fabricated, the results weren't. With the companionship and support of teachers, friends, and Tierra, he gradually came to recognize Fusion, accept Fusion, even willingly reach out. Not just because of the regret of being unable to return to his former world, but also as an opportunity to fall in love with an entirely new world.
The relationship within was extremely complex, not something that could be explained to Triphyoverutum in a sentence or two.
Cards could be exclusive, could be hidden, like Super Polymerization. But concepts and ideals didn't need to be hidden.
A few young Predaplant spirits listened in confusion without understanding. Triphyoverutum, however, nodded its three heads in dazed amazement.
In any case, truly the Absolute Fusion Master. His pursuit of Fusion had spread from dueling into every aspect, even into life itself!
Hikaru spent a thoroughly pleasant day on the Predaplant planet, then returned to Duel Academy not long after, resuming his daily life and studies.
Meanwhile, that strange Darlingtonia Cobra also quietly left the dimension after Hikaru's departure, returning to a certain enormous base.
Fusion cards hung on all four walls here, and many mechanical devices ran at high speed.
If Hikaru had seen it, he would have noticed that the equipment here bore the distinct style of Leo Akaba, with quite a few of Leo Akaba's "ace cards" faintly visible.
In the deepest part of this dimension, a purple-haired youth in purple robes adorned with several medals leaned lazily against a chair. His right hand was curled into a fist propping up his cheek, his left tapping the armrest, humming an unknown tune cheerfully. He seemed to be in a good mood.
Before him was a setup resembling a council table, seated with others in matching purple uniforms who looked like generals, and some scientists in white coats.
This was the Fusion Army.
More precisely...
The Second-Generation Fusion Army.
A new generation of Fusion Army formed by the remnants integrated by Yuri, the favored disciple of the former supreme commander, combined with the ambitious ones who had fled the Fusion Dimension!
Under Yuri's leadership, the new Fusion Army had shed its former arrogance and hubris, gaining instead a colder, more sinister edge. Hidden in a base, in no rush to act, silently amassing power.
These scientists used the vast technology and knowledge extracted from the "Leo Akaba memory unit" to strengthen this dimension's security and isolation, creating many dueling devices.
At the same time, they had also discovered the most important piece of information in Leo Akaba's memories.
Using "Real Solid Vision technology" to compress infinite mass into a single card, thereby creating a "God Card" with infinite mass!
Infinite mass essentially equaled all things in the universe, equaled creation, equaled destruction, equaled everything!
"Once that God Card is created, its holder could likely become a god directly!" a scientist said fanatically, earning support from many.
However, Yuri wasn't interested in any of this.
Although he listened to their words, his mind had drifted off somewhere.
He didn't care about who would possess the God Card. What he actually cared about was a different point.
Compress infinite mass into a single card, creating a God Card with infinite mass?
How fascinating. Then, what if you sealed all humans, all living things, into a single card? What would happen?
That would surely be incredibly interesting.
At that moment, the Cobra darted to his side, whispering something to him in a low voice. His eyes lit up with interest. He chuckled and clapped his hands. "Everyone~ folks~ quiet down for a moment. The Cobra brought me something very interesting. Let's watch it together first~"
The generals and researchers, chatting happily, were suddenly interrupted by Yuri and felt some displeasure, but no one objected or refused.
The reason was simple. Yuri, this "Second-Generation Supreme Commander," hadn't been elected.
While Hikaru and the others were busy dealing with Darkness, Yuri had, over these past months, successfully eliminated everyone in the Fusion Army who refused his "discipline." Under his new management, the Fusion Army was far more efficient than before.
As the footage played, the people in the conference room gradually understood.
So it was Hikaru's duel!
They'd wondered what it was. Fine, let's watch.
Watching Hikaru duel the Predaplant cards, several generals cautiously glanced at Yuri. Seeing that the smile on Yuri's face hadn't changed at all, they continued watching attentively. And when they saw Hikaru actually use "Pendulum Summoning," even "Pendulum Fusion," and speak of using other Summoning methods to support Fusion, the entire Fusion Army was dumbfounded.
Especially the Pendulum Fusion point.
"Pendulum Summoning, when was that born?"
"Back then, only the Professor could use it, by himself."
"Damn it, this was supposed to be exclusive to our Fusion Army. Yet that Hikaru guy just shared it so casually!"
"So strong. Truly worthy of the name Amagi... ah—"
Someone instinctively started praising Hikaru, then snapped back to reality, startled, and hurriedly stopped. But unexpectedly...
CLAP CLAP CLAP.
Yuri stood up directly, his eyes full of excitement, clapping rapidly.
"So interesting! Too interesting! Using other Summoning methods for Fusion!" His eyes seemed to sparkle like stars. "Pendulum Summoning? I want to learn this too. So fascinating."
And not only that.
He secretly made a resolution.
He would master Synchro and Xyz as well!
At this thought, he suddenly remembered something.
Oh right.
That matter was about ready too!
"Heh heh heh, hahaha—" He had a good idea and burst into wild laughter. The lights cast his shadow upon him like a man-devouring demon, instilling fear from the bottom of everyone's hearts, leaving everyone around too afraid to make a sound.
At this moment.
The Pendulum Dimension.
After several days, Yuya's reputation as the "Pendulum Creator" gradually spread.
He was rather pleased.
Ever since his father disappeared, he hadn't been this happy in a long time.
After all, having a summoning method exclusively his own, although a bit selfish, was genuinely delightful.
He quickly gained considerable popularity through Pendulum Summoning, earning the admiration of several juniors, entertaining many people with this brand-new dueling summoning method.
Even facing the crisis of "You Show Duel School" possibly being shut down, as long as he had Pendulum Summoning, it was no big deal.
That was what he always thought...
Until...
He met that man!
Pendulum Summoning, it turned out, wasn't his alone!
That man, Declan Akaba, had actually set Pendulum Scales in a duel and used Pendulum Summoning!
Although his Pendulum Monster cards seemed not yet fully designed, with some flaws, and he lost the duel, this matter still took root in Yuya's heart.
So Pendulum Summoning wasn't a summoning method exclusive to him.
So...
"Ah, no, no, I can't think about this anymore!"
He scratched his head in frustration.
His father's disappearance, the terrible duels, the "sharing" of Pendulum Summoning, all gave him a headache and irritation.
And... at that very moment.
Someone came to visit.
"So this is the Duel School established by the former Entertainment Dueling king, Yusho Sakaki? It looks very interesting. Thank you for letting me visit."
Yuya noticed that his childhood friend's father, Boyle, had led someone in.
He had a vague impression of that person.
"Are you here to see Pendulum Summoning...? Sorry, Pendulum Summoning actually isn't exclusive to me..."
The visitor paused slightly.
He sized up Yuya, then suddenly broke into a smile. "Heh, I see, so that's how it is. Ah, in that case, why don't we duel?"
"Du... duel? Right now...? I..."
"Yuya..." Yuya's childhood friend, Zuzu Boyle, called his name with worry.
The visitor shook his head. "I hear this place is a famous Entertainment Dueling school. In a world that has special dueling training institutions beyond Duel Academy, I'd very much like to understand what makes this place unique.
Besides, Entertainment Dueling should be dueling meant to make everyone happy, right? Since you're so sad, little brother, why not try a duel? Maybe it'll lift your spirits."
What he said made a lot of sense.
And he spoke gently and persuasively, with a convincing air.
"Ah, I remember!" Among the children nearby, a chubby little boy suddenly pointed at the visitor, saying he had seen him at one of Yuya's previous duels. He must be a fan of Yuya's.
A fan?
Yuya forced up a slight smile.
He couldn't let his own fan down!
"Alright, let's duel."
Hearing there was a duel, the others at You Show School arrived one after another. Sora Perse, sucking on a lollipop, sauntered listlessly to the dueling field, wondering which duel school's kid Yuya would be playing today, only to see a man who froze him stiff.
No...
A legend!
No wayyyyyyyy—
"DUEL!" x2.
Yuya Sakaki, LP: 4000.
Yugi Muto, LP: 4000!