"My turn."
Hikaru drew a card, glanced at his hand, then shot a look at his opponent.
"Do you know what it means when low-probability events occur at high frequency?"
"Huh? Some human math nonsense?"
"Activate the effect of Metalfoes Fusion in the Graveyard. Shuffle it into the Deck, then draw one card."
Hikaru looked down at the card.
Curse of Dragon.
"..."
Across the field, Kuraz the Light Monarch clenched a fist into the air in frustration.
One discard.
Five cards in hand.
'It wasn't a monster, and this effect!?'
Kuraz cursed mentally.
'Thestalos, you useless pile of molten scrap. When this is over, you're out of the Deck, and when I return to my realm, I'm personally chewing you out.'
Hikaru looked over his hand.
"Activate the Spell Card, Instant Fusion." He revealed the card. "Pay 1000 Life Points. Special Summon one Level 5 or lower Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck."
[Amaki Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3000]
"I Fusion Summon, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
A single eye opened on Hikaru's field, followed by dozens more, clustering into the form of a grotesque, terrible god.
[Thousand-Eyes Restrict] Level 1│DARK│Spellcaster│ATK
"Hmph... A god that devours monsters. Its Attack may be low, but its effect is terrifying... not that it matters!" Kuraz flipped a face-down card.
"Activate Continuous Trap, The Monarchs Erupt!"
Flames ignited around Thestalos. The roaring fire spread through the arena, engulfing everything. Even the watching spirits flinched instinctively, sweating in fear.
"This Trap can only be activated if I control a Tribute Summoned monster and have no cards in my Extra Deck. As long as it stays on the field, all face-up monsters' effects, except those of Tribute Summoned monsters, are negated!"
"Master!" Gaia's voice trembled. "That's the card... the one that defeated me!"
"Wow, nasty effect," Flame Swordsman muttered.
"Mhm... nullifying all monster effects on the field really is strong, Hikaru," Tierra rubbed her chin, nodding. "With that, you don't even need Fusion or Synchro monsters to win. Might even be stronger."
She glanced at Hikaru's hand.
But really... it wasn't that big a deal.
"Yeah, monster effects being negated creates a huge gap... but one thing doesn't change." Hikaru slid a card into his Duel Disk. "Attack."
"Activate Continuous Spell, Flame Swordsrealm!"
Flames ignited around Hikaru's field. But unlike Kuraz's oppressive inferno, this fire manifested as a massive flame dragon that circled the arena, shielding the weaker spirits from harm.
"Ha! Brother, you know this is when we shine!" Flame Swordsman cheered.
"Flame Swordsrealm's effect: Once per turn, send one monster from your hand or field to the Graveyard. Then Fusion Summon one 'Flame Swordsman'!"
"I send Thousand-Eyes Restrict to the Graveyard! Fusion Summon, Flame Swordsman!"
Riding the flame dragon, Flame Swordsman landed squarely opposite the lava-wielding monarch, radiating courage.
[Flame Swordsman] Level 5│FIRE│Warrior│1800 ATK
"Hah! That weakling Fusion? What's the point?" Kuraz sneered.
"Then let's go even further, Equip Spell! Salamandra with Chain!" Hikaru activated another card. "Equip to a FIRE Warrior-type monster. That monster gains 700 ATK!"
[Flame Swordsman, ATK: 1800 → 2500]
"What!? It surpasses Thestalos!?"
"Battle! Flame Swordsman, stop that lava flow!"
"Leave it to me!" Flame Swordsman leaped into the air, charging at the molten monarch. Thestalos swung back, but the agile swordsman dodged and drove his blade straight into the monarch's throat.
BOOM.
Thestalos collapsed.
[Kuraz, LP: 4000 → 3900]
"Wha..!? It actually hurt His Majesty!?"
"Whoa! The attack worked! They beat that terrifying Thestalos!"
"Hmph. What are you all so excited about? You idiots paid 1000 LP to deal 100 damage. Big deal!"
The spirits argued. The ones siding with Hikaru were smaller and used to being bullied, so their voices gradually faded.
Hikaru said nothing.
There was no need.
When he won, their confidence would return naturally.
"Turn end."
Contrary to what the watching spirits believed, Hikaru knew the Monarch deck inside and out. Very well.
Not because he particularly liked Monarchs, Floowandereeze, or True Draco... but because back in his old world, he'd played doubles with someone using Monarchs more times than he cared to admit.
The memories were... vivid.
He eyed The Monarchs Erupt.
"That card... during your End Phase, if you don't control a Tribute Summoned monster, it destroys itself, right?"
Kuraz blinked.
"You... actually knew that!?"
A smirk tugged at Hikaru's lips. "Fighting friends, rivals, and enemies... whether you like them or not, understanding your opponent, that's the essence of Fusion. Whether it's Tribute Summoning or Fusion Summoning... the method is just a means. But someone like you, no matter how good your means are, it's meaningless without the heart behind it."
"BASTARD!" Kuraz roared. "You think beating Thestalos means you can beat me!? You're naive! Don't underestimate my Monarch Deck.
Draw!"
He glanced at the card, then slammed it down.
"Spell Card, Pot of Greed! Draw two cards."
Golden stars sparkled above him. Kuraz grinned.
"If there are two or more Spell/Trap Cards on your opponent's field... I can Special Summon this!"
He slapped down another card.
"Escher the Frost Vassal!"
A white-robed mage with a crimson cloak appeared.
[Escher the Frost Vassal] Level 4│WATER│Aqua│800 ATK
"I Tribute Escher, Tribute Summon! Mobius the Frost Monarch!"
Following the searing lava came bone-chilling frost. Icicles formed, freezing the molten rock into chunks of ice. Everything was engulfed in massive frozen pillars.
One of the most practical Monarchs, Mobius!
[Mobius the Frost Monarch] Level 6│WATER│Aqua│2400 ATK
"When Mobius is Tribute Summoned: destroy up to two Spell/Trap Cards on the field!" Kuraz pointed. "Destroy Salamandra with Chain and Flame Swordsrealm!"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
The flames were swallowed by ice, extinguished completely. The arena, once sweltering, turned frigid, forcing even the spirits to huddle together for warmth.
"This effect sounds way better than Thestalos's," Tierra mused.
"Just in case... I'll activate this..."
"Continuous Spell, March of the Monarchs! As long as this remains, my Tribute Summoned monsters can't be targeted by effects and can't be destroyed by effects!"
"The downside? I can't Special Summon from the Extra Deck... but I don't have one anyway."
A Monarch staple.
"Battle! Mobius, freeze that insolent swordsman into an ice sculpture!"
Mobius clasped his hands, summoned a blizzard, and froze Flame Swordsman solid. In the next moment...
CRACK!
Shards of ice exploded as Flame Swordsman shattered, sending spears of ice slamming into Hikaru.
[Amaki Hikaru, LP: 3000 → 2400]
Kuraz sneered. "Hmph. You should be grateful that I can't attack the turn I Tribute Summon. Otherwise, you'd be dead by my hand right now."
Defeating a Fusion monster and seeing Hikaru's LP drop boosted Kuraz's confidence sky-high. He glowed brighter, laughing madly.
His minions laughed too.
"Master!" Gaia shouted, ready to throw down.
"Calm down, Gaia. This is just the beginning." Hikaru shook his head. "You haven't met our new friends yet."
As he spoke, several spectral figures shimmered into view beside him, waving hello.
New friends.
Gaia blinked. Then turned to look.
'That many!?'
"My turn, draw!"
Hikaru checked the card.
"Heh... right on time. Continuous Spell, Scatter Fusion!"
...
Bonus @400 PS
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