"First turn—"
"RAAARGHH!!"
Just as Hikaru was about to shout out his now well-practiced "The first turn's mine!" declaration, the Gem-Knight across from him let out a bestial roar and yoinked a card straight from the top of his deck—without hesitation or formality.
…
Wait, you can do that?!
Hikaru had to admit… he'd just learned something new. Again.
Watching his opponent's erratic movements and incoherent roars, he quickly realized that this wasn't really the knight's "intention." Still, if the Duel Disk wasn't registering it as a rules violation, then—by all accounts—it was fair play.
"RAAAHH!"Gem-Knight Prismura—no, a corrupted Gem-Knight Crystal—held up a Spell card for Hikaru to see, and the projection expanded in the air.
"Summoner's Art."
Hikaru recognized the card instantly. Add 1 Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from the Deck to the hand.
Sure enough, a white crystalline shape appeared overhead, black smoke hissing off its form. With a dramatic shatter, the true form was revealed—
Gem-Knight Crystal.
Wait, he just added himself to his hand?
"Rrraugh!"Then Crystal set two cards from his hand to the backrow, before slapping down another Spell: Card Destruction.
A classic.
Hikaru took one glance at his hand, sighed, then slid the cards into the graveyard slot. Moments later, five new cards popped out.
And now, the Metalfoes Alchemage—who was forced to spectate since his lab had been vaporized—finally got a glimpse at Hikaru's deck.
"Waitwaitwait—what is that?! Instant Fusion, Future Fusion, Fusion Substitute, De-Fusion, and—is that Metalfoes Fusion?!"
He clutched his head in despair.
"Crap, crap, we're so screwed! What kind of maniac builds a deck like this? A total rookie with nothing but Fusion Spells?!"
"Hey, you better watch your mouth!" Flame Swordsman growled. "Our master is a warrior on the path to ultimate fusion!"
"Fusion—pfft!—don't make me laugh!" Alchemage barked back. "I'm an alchemist, I know fusion better than you. You need materials and process—just Spells? That's not alchemy, that's delusion!"
"Tch. Then open your eyes, you dimension-bumpkin alchemist."Dark Flare Knight didn't talk much—but his tone cut deeper than any blade.
Hikaru was tempted to throw in a snarky line, but his attention stayed locked on the duel.
Crystal wasn't talking. If he tried to "improvise" a combo with brute force, Hikaru needed to catch every move.
Next, Prismura activated one of his set Spells.
Monster Reborn.
Reasonable.
As long as it's not a Quick-Play, Spells set during the same turn can still be used—and from the glowing graveyard, Crystal returned to the field, radiating corrupted energy.
Gem-Knight Crystal – Level 7, EARTH, Rock-Type, 2450 ATK.
A solid beatstick—stronger than the average ace monster by just 50 points. And at this point in the timeline, even Jaden would need Thunder Giant or Tempest to punch through that wall.
Especially with two face-downs behind him.
No wonder that egghead Akaba tried to use this monster against him. Tricky bastard.
"My turn. Draw."
Hikaru's draw was clean. He didn't even flinch.
"I activate the Spell—Future Fusion—"
"RAUGH!"
Before he could finish, Prismura slammed open a set card.
The King's Shroud, a Counter Trap.
"Damn it, that one!" Alchemage panicked. "If your opponent controls a Level 7+ Normal Monster, it negates and destroys any Spell or Trap!"
He spiraled back into hopeless rambling.
"We're done! That was your core setup card! You tossed Instant Fusion, and now your graveyard's useless! Oh man, why did I ever sneak out? I could've been safe at HQ with my lab buddies, not stuck here with zombies and no escape and a freaking Fusion lunatic—"
Snap.
Hikaru watched Future Fusion shatter, brushing it off with a sigh.
"Hey. Alchemage."
"Huh—?" The scientist flinched.
"How do I know your name?"
"…W-Wait, yeah. How do you—?"
"Relax. It's just one card being negated. That's not enough to shake me."
Beside him, Flame Swordsman and Dark Flare Knight traded knowing smiles.
This was why they followed him.
Not because of overwhelming power. But because in the face of pressure, danger, and uncertainty—
He never lost sight of his belief in Fusion.
"Fusion is the noblest of all Summonings," Hikaru said. "Don't let your narrow vision limit your imagination."
"A single Fusion card down? Big deal."
"Materials? There's always ways to get more. And even without them—there are other routes to victory."
"Now… I'll show you what Fusion really looks like. From the graveyard, I activate the effect of Metalfoes Fusion—return it to the Deck, then draw 1 card!"
The familiar shimmer of alchemical light danced in his hand as the card vanished into his deck, reshuffling it with ease.
Alchemage blinked.
Wait… that was his card?
No wonder the Duel Spirits followed him so fiercely. That confidence. That clarity.
But still—can he actually win like this?
"Next up—Spell card, Fusion Empowerment!" Hikaru slapped down another card, its artwork showing Flame Swordsman mid-swing.
"I reveal 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck. Then, if I have one of its materials in my Extra Deck or Graveyard—I Special Summon it!"
"But it can't attack this turn, and its effects are negated."
"I reveal—Dark Flare Knight!"
"Yo!"Flame Swordsman whooped, leaping straight from the sideline onto the field. His blade flashed with eagerness as he stood face-to-face with his corrupted counterpart.
He didn't care if he was just material again—he was happy to be useful.
"Using that method… Fusion without materials?" Alchemage pulled his hat off, eyes wide with awe.
"How's that for a warm-up?" Dark Flare Knight smirked. "Our master's creativity shatters limits."
And Hikaru—
He was just getting started.