"Another Fusion..."
Seeing Hikaru play yet another Fusion card, even Kuraz the Light Monarch was momentarily speechless.
The dazzling light that usually radiated from his body seemed to dim considerably.
As a Monarch Spirit, Kuraz was a rather unique existence among the Monarchs.
In the Spell and Trap cards of the Monarch archetype, nearly every Monarch is depicted, except the Light Monarch, Dark Monarch, and Magic Monarch.
The standard Elemental Monarchs are vassals of the Underworld Monarch, while Kuraz and the others are special Monarchs.
Of course, that's merely the lore of the Monarch cards. As a Spirit, Kuraz had only one defining feature within the Monarch Realm: rarity.
As one of the exceedingly rare Light Monarchs, he was the most protected and special within his kind since birth. Likewise, his power grew far faster than others in his race.
That was the "blessing" he was born with.
Upon arriving in this dimension, he gained a new power from the heavens itself, a light that grew stronger through endless destruction and combat. It was this that made him so dismissive of other Spirits.
But even he had to admit one thing:
Without vassals, he couldn't Tribute Summon.
Still…
All Fusion again?
This is absurd.
"This card can only be activated once per turn," Hikaru explained. "If my opponent controls a monster, I can send Fusion Materials from my Deck to the Graveyard and Fusion Summon a non-Rock 'Gem-Knight' monster.
I send Gem-Knight Crystal and Thunder Dragonmatrix to the Graveyard."
Gaia noticed a giant Spirit covered in crimson puppet strings waving alongside a tiny black dragon.
"Fusion Summon! Level 7, Gem-Knight Prismaura!"
Prismaura, the initial Fusion form of Captain Crystal and Hikaru's most frequently used Gem-Knight, emerged onto the field clad in white crystals sharp like icicles.
[Gem-Knight Prismaura] Level 7│EARTH│Thunder│2450 ATK
"Wait, 2450??" Kuraz exclaimed.
'Exactly 50 points higher?'
"Hahaha, 2450." Even Gaia burst out laughing.
"Battle! Prismaura, crush that icy blue Monarch!"
Prismaura lunged with its spear at Mobius the Ice Monarch. Despite Mobius sealing Prismaura's effect, Prismaura still had 50 more Attack points.
In Yu-Gi-Oh!, 1 point higher means you win.
BOOM
After a brutal clash, Mobius was pierced through the chest, and the frost covering the field gradually faded.
[Light Monarch, LP: 3900 → 3850]
"Mobius destroyed!"
Hikaru clenched his fist lightly. "Set one card. End my turn!"
But despite the turn ending, Kuraz stood silently, unmoving.
Hikaru raised a brow. "It's your turn."
Besides Kuraz, his vassals tried to call their lord's attention.
Even though the monster was destroyed, the LP difference was obvious, 2400 vs. 3850, they still had faith in their monarch.
"How dare you..."
"My lord."
"How dare you..."
"Lord Kuraz!?"
"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Kuraz roared. His body erupted in a terrifying radiance, golden light mixed with black mist forming a colossal curtain behind him.
"How dare you insult me with piddly numbers like 100 or 50! How dare you touch me with such filthy monsters!"
"Whoa." Hikaru rummaged through his jacket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses.
That light was seriously blinding.
"I've changed my mind!" Kuraz's crimson eyes locked on Hikaru, or rather, on Gaia. "I originally planned to use you to attract more weak spirits before annihilating them all in one sweep, but no longer!
"I'm going to kill you right here!
"Anyone who defies me must die!
"I will turn you all into nourishment for my light, to strengthen myself!"
"What did you say?!" Gaia shrieked.
'Wait... was that last time's river escape not his clever move but Kuraz letting him go?!
"My turn, draw!" Kuraz declared, then pointed at his Graveyard. "Activate the effect of Eidos the Underworld Squire! I banish this card from my Graveyard to Special Summon a monster with 800 ATK and 1000 DEF, excluding Eidos! For this turn, I can't Special Summon from the Extra Deck."
"I Special Summon Escher the Frost Vassal!"
"Then Tribute it to Tribute Summon, Zaborg, the Thunder Monarch!"
Since Kuraz couldn't summon himself this turn due to the restriction, he chose Mobius instead.
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky as a green-haired, thunder-wielding beast emerged from the light.
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch] Level 5│LIGHT│Thunder│2400 ATK
The only Level 5 Monarch.
"When this card is Tribute Summoned, destroy one monster on the field! I destroy your Gem-Knight Prismaura!"
Mobius charged electricity between its hands, firing it at Prismaura. Unable to reflect the lightning with its mirrors, Prismaura was obliterated.
"Hehehe, now your LP-2400 is about to drop to zero in one blow!"
He pointed at Hikaru. "Attack directly, Mobius!"
"Flip set card, Shaddoll Core." Hikaru calmly revealed his face-down. "It becomes a monster that can serve as Fusion Material for any Attribute. It also turns into an Effect Monster in Defense Position."
[Shaddoll Core] Level 9│DARK│Spellcaster│Defense: 1950
"Tch..."
Kuraz clicked his tongue but still destroyed the monster.
Gaia glanced between this monster and Captain Crystal, scratching his head...
Wasn't that... his own head?
"Hmph. I thought I could end your suffering easily here, but if you still cling to that meaningless belief, then witness the Monarch's strongest card!"
"End Battle Phase. Activate Field Spell, Domain of the True Monarchs!"
Black mist rose behind him, and the arena grew darker. A massive monarch far more oppressive than Kuraz seemed to sit in the void behind him.
Then, the figure dissolved into nothingness, replaced by pulsating, black-tinged light.
"As long as this card is on the field, if I control no monsters in the Extra Deck and only Tribute Summoned monsters are on my field, my opponent cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck!"
Kuraz burst into manic laughter. "No matter how many Fusion spells you have, no matter how adept you are at Fusion, no matter your strength, in the realm of true Monarchs, it's all futile!"
"How pathetic."
"!?"
He froze, staring at Hikaru.
"What... what did you just say? Pathetic? Me? A born king?!"
"I thought the light's power had corrupted you. But no, it seems you always desired it."
"Oh? You recognize the symbol of strength too?"
"Strength? The true Monarchs may be strong, but you are a fake Monarch."
"Insolence." Kuraz's vassals drew their swords, ready to lunge.
"Hah." Kuraz raised his hand, halting them. "It matters not. He's as good as dead anyway. Let him say whatever."
"End turn!"
Hikaru shook his head.
When the phantom of that Monarch in The Monarchs Erupt was replaced by the silhouette of the Light of Destruction, Hikaru realized, Kuraz was no longer just a Monarch Spirit.
Every dimension, every spirit faction had an instinct to protect their young.
But not Kuraz. Not only did he slaughter lower-rank soldiers at will, he didn't even care for the leaders of his own kind.
Perhaps, if there was a belief or some reason behind it, that'd be one thing. But this guy simply offered spirits as sacrifices to the Light of Destruction.
No wonder the Light of Destruction was stronger than Hikaru remembered. There must be more spirits like Kuraz across dimensions.
"My lord."
"What is it?"
Gaia's voice reached him.
"Let me fight."
"Back then, when I couldn't fight alone, I was defeated by this thing, forced to watch my comrades consumed by that light and turned into pure energy. Since then, I've doubted myself.
Is belief more important, or strength?
It was your words, your pursuit of absolute Fusion, that kept me going.
So... when I cannot achieve Fusion alone, please, my lord, help me defeat this monster!"
Hikaru chuckled softly.
"Gaia, you are already part of the path of Fusion. You don't need to ask me."
"My turn, draw!" Hikaru drew, and his pupils shrank.
'This card…'
Looking at Kuraz, he smiled. "Indeed. With The Domain of the True Monarch and March of the Monarchs, an average Fusion Duelist would be easily crushed. Even Gaia lost to you.
But.
Unfortunately for you, this Duel ends here."
"Hah! Nonsense! My ultimate seal, the Monarch's domain, how can you possibly bypass it to defeat me?!"
"Simple. Activate Field Spell, Gateway to Chaos!"
"Wha."
Yes.
Just like before, this world only allows one Field Spell. The new one overwrites the previous.
The black mist vanished. Twisted light was forced aside by purer, brighter, blade-sharp beams of white.
"What... is this?" Kuraz backed away, trembling. "Why... do I feel dread...?"
Amidst the infinite light, he seemed to glimpse a terrifying warrior clad in golden armor, who shot a single glance his way.
Good job, Gaia.
A voice seemed to echo in everyone's hearts.
Hikaru glanced at the Field Spell in hand.
This was Gaia's power.
No idea how many times it could be used. Next time, it might turn into a different Fusion card.
A card this meaningful should stay with Gaia.
"Upon activation, add 1 'Black Luster Soldier' Ritual Monster or 1 'Gaia the Fierce Knight' monster from Deck to hand.
I add Gaia the Fierce Knight."
"Gaia? What, you're going to Tribute Summon that? It's just 2300 ATK!"
"No!"
"I am Amaki Hikaru! The absolute Fusion Duelist! No matter what card I play or what monster I use, there is only one goal;
Fusion!"
"Tch... Even if you can still fuse after destroying my domain, it doesn't matter! Monarch's Stormforth is still in play! You can't beat me with Fusion Monsters!"
"How many times must I say this?" Hikaru shook his head. "If monsters can't use effects, then Fusion will support them!
Watch. This is the power of Gaia and me, the power of Fusion!
Activate Spell, Spiral Fusion!"
'Fusion again, AGAIN!'
Kuraz's face twisted. "How many times do I have to tell you?! Weaklings, no matter how many you summon."
"Spiral Fusion is a Dragon-exclusive Fusion Spell."
"I fuse Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragon from my hand."
"Now, Spiral Fusion's true power activates!"
A colossal lance fell from the sky, spinning into a massive vortex like a sea whirlpool.
"Come, my partner on the path of true Fusion!
"Crossing time, crossing hardship, become the ultimate Fusion Monster!
"Fusion Summon, Level 7, Gaia the Dragon Champion!"
Gaia emerged, grabbing the lance from the ground and pairing it with another, wielding two in both hands. Beneath him, a golden skeletal dragon carried him skyward.
[Gaia the Dragon Champion] Level 7│WIND│Dragon│2600 ATK
"A Dragon now? Hmph, but still just 2600 ATK... Next turn, I'll summon myself."
"There is no next turn, Kuraz." Hikaru snapped his fingers. "Unfortunately, when Spiral Fusion summons Gaia the Dragon Champion, it gains 2600 ATK."
[Gaia the Dragon Champion, ATK: 2600 → 5200]
Gaia's spears grew massive, surging with endless spiral gales!
"AH..."
"By the way, you hate tiny 50-point gaps, right? So let's do it again. Pay 800 LP to activate Spell, Revive Fusion. I revive Gem-Knight Prismaura."
[Hikaru, LP: 2400 → 1600]
One new, one old.
Or perhaps, one old, one new.
Doesn't matter.
"Prismaura, attack Mobius! Avenge yourself, Captain!"
'Hah.'
Prismaura grinned and lunged, piercing the Monarch who had electrocuted him. Then he turned toward Gaia, giving a nod.
"And finally..."
"Gaia!!!"
"Understood, my lord!!"
The dragon soared into the skies, dragging Gaia with it. Before the dumbfounded eyes of every Spirit, Gaia rose higher and higher until his figure blocked out the sun itself.
Then, Gaia crossed his spear handles, fusing them into a double-ended spiral lance. Spinning wildly, he dived from the heavens straight at Kuraz.
"W-wait..hold on...I am the Light Monarch! I am a born king."
But it was too late. Gaia, now a spinning drill, plunged straight down from the sky, stabbing Kuraz directly.
SZZZZZZZZZZZ
A massive hole was bored straight through Kuraz's chest!
[Light Monarch, LP: 3850 → 0]
All his vassals and knights either collapsed in terror or knelt trembling.
"Born king?" Gaia sneered. "I was born a Tribute Monster. But now, I am part of Fusion."
"GAAAHHHHH!!!"
Kuraz tried to scream, but no matter how hard he struggled, it was useless. He turned into a card, fluttering to the ground.
"W-we... we won?!"
"We won! Long live the lord!!"
"Long live humanity!!"
"Long live Fusion!!"