Hikaru followed the plush bear to the dimensional gate.
Though called a dimensional gate, it resembled more of a separation barrier.
Logically, the Frightfur Factory and Frightfur Sanctuary should be connected, but in the past, guards had been stationed here, making it difficult for Spirits from the other side to pass through.
Going the other way, however, posed no such restriction.
Passing through the gate, Hikaru felt as though he were pushing through a strange layer of bubbles.
He had no worry about the plush bear deceiving him.
If it lied, he would simply take down both the Frightfur and the Fusion Army.
Albeit more importantly, Tierra was unusually eager to strike this time,if she had personally stitched the toy, there was no way her creation would cause trouble for her, a god.
Once through, Hikaru felt the world darken noticeably. Crackling sounds rang out, and following them, he saw soldiers in blue uniforms firing submachine guns or similar weapons in all directions.
Huge monsters made from plush animals were being riddled with holes, cotton bursting out with every hit.
A wolf-shaped toy's scissor-like belly whirled violently, charging like a cyclone toward a human.
Yet the masked human showed no fear. Just before the wolf's claws could strike, several gear-built, antiquated mechanical hounds leapt in, blocking the attack.
The soldiers sneered, continuing their gunfire and blasting the wolf Spirit back.
"It's Frightfur Wolf!" the plush bear whispered.
"Little Bear, didn't I tell you to run? Why are you back!?" a Spirit locked in combat with the Fusion Army roared upon spotting the plush bear, not even comprehending how it was still alive.
Overhead, axes, scissors, and scythes,countless sharp metallic demons,flew past, led by a massive lion in another attack.
But with a cold snort, a blood moon rose in the already dim sky.
Impossible…
How could celestial changes occur within a single Spirit Dimension?
Flap,flap,
The sound of wings came. In the air, a bipedal dragon-like being in blood-red and black hovered, wings slowly beating.
On its chestplate's silver-white edge glowed an unusual red number.
The strange dragon circled above, then, at the moment the lion's attack was about to succeed, it dove sharply. With a single wing strike, it toppled the lion, along with the metallic weapon-demons.
'Number?!'
Hikaru recognized it.
Number 24: Dragulas the Vampiric Dragon.
If he remembered correctly, that was the one.
"Give it up, Frightfur Leo!" a medal-wearing soldier sneered confidently. "You can't beat me,not the power of the Number I wield!
"We worked so well together before. Didn't you agree to help us win children's trust?"
"You bastard! This isn't what we agreed on!" Frightfur Leo roared, ignoring its wounds. "We agreed to choose stronger warriors to help us evolve…"
"Hahaha! Isn't the result perfect? Without us, you couldn't have evolved into your new form after the war. You're the highest-tier Frightfur now, thanks entirely to us!"
It seemed high-ranking Frightfur Spirits weren't as oblivious as the bear had claimed.
As they argued and prepared to fight again, a strange ripping sound echoed.
From every direction, countless strings poured in,grabbing Spirits, wrapping around humans. Those ensnared immediately struggled, while the giant dragon overhead flared blood-red and tried to flee.
Yet, more purple strings surged after it, surrounding it like a tide. In a flash of crimson light, it vanished, returning to the human's card.
The man turned toward the gate, finally noticing the new arrivals.
"Who's there!?"
"...What's going on?"
At the same time, every other soldier and Spirit was bound by the purple puppet strings, unable to move.
Frightfur Wolf turned to the plush bear in shock. "Little Bear, what did you bring back!?"
The soldier barked toward Tierra, "Who are you!?"
Tierra floated upward, hands spreading gracefully. "I am your god."
Ignoring the Fusion Army, she addressed the Frightfur Spirits, "A god who can shelter you, guide your path, open your future, and forge a new cycle."
She decided this entirely on her own, without caring for their reaction or acceptance.
"Hikaru Amaki…" On the other side, the leader finally spotted Hikaru.
He instinctively stepped back, the scrape of his shoes unnervingly loud in the tense silence.
Frightfur Leo looked at him.
Could this unknown Spirit really have such a presence?
It dropped all pretense, kneeling to Tierra. Immediately, the force binding it dissipated. Overjoyed, it declared, "Goddess, as long as you protect our last children, I'll gladly give my life!"
The blue-uniformed commander inhaled deeply.
His name was Burns Jay.
One of his medals marked him as a survivor of the X-Dimension invasion, now a colonel on the verge of promotion to general.
Recently, he'd been tasked with reestablishing ties with factions once allied to the Fusion Army. On the way, he'd even drawn the curiosity of the terrifying Yuri due to his possession of a Number card.
Yuri's interest was justified.
Wielding a Number without losing oneself was a rare talent,even Yuri wanted to duel him.
Still…
Even someone like him instinctively feared Hikaru Amaki.
In the Fusion Army, Hikaru's name was synonymous with countless crimes. No assault on the Chronos faction had succeeded without terrible losses.
If even he felt fear, what of the ordinary soldiers?
Bang!
A gunshot.
Hikaru raised his hand, purple puppet strings catching the bullet midair. He seized it and crushed it to dust.
At the same time, Tierra clenched her hand toward the soldier.
Snap!
Splurt!
Drip…
A writhing ball of purple strings contracted violently, fluids of blood, flesh, bone, and fat oozing out before seeping into the earth. Then, like melting ice cream, the remains turned into light, flowing along the strings into the injured Spirits, healing their wounds.
"Long live the Goddess!" the plush bear cried in awe at the godlike display.
Tierra simply nodded, silent, keeping up her mystique.
Perhaps from witnessing his comrade's death or simply calming down, Burns spoke, his gaze locked on Hikaru.
"Hikaru Amaki."
Hikaru met his eyes.
Burns leapt down from the platform. The Number's protection and his high Spirit compatibility made him harder for Tierra to fully control.
He slowly packed his cards away, returned Dragulas to his Extra Deck, and fixed his gaze on Hikaru.
"I always knew we'd meet again, but I didn't expect it mid-mission. All the better,it's time to overcome the Fusion Army's nightmare and lead us to a higher future.
"You and all of Chronos's faction will fall one day. And today, I'll defeat you, just like I've turned battles before!
"For true justice, I'll defeat you here!"
"Overcome the nightmare? True justice? Ridiculous." Hikaru's left hand rose, his Duel Disk opening. "You're the nightmare for our students, teachers, and countless Spirits.
"Even now, you bring chaos, preying on newborn Spirit races,what justice is that?
"I'll wipe you all out."
"Duel!"
The scent of blood thickened as a blood moon rose again, puppet strings linking every Fusion Army soldier together.
No terms were needed.
They both knew:
Lose, and die.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000]
[Burns, LP: 4000]