Invincible?'
What an exaggeration.
Even Super Polymerization isn't truly invincible… if your opponent has something like "Ring of the Emperor," even it can be negated.
"I set one card and end my turn."
Hikaru's turn. He drew, glanced twice at the card, then closed his eyes in thought.
"Invincible? Hey,you, how strong is that monster? Isn't it just a Number? Can't be destroyed by battle except by another Number monster,what's so great about that?" Tierra asked Frightfur Leo.
Not knowing its effect left her a bit concerned for Hikaru, and she didn't bother posturing,she just grabbed a Spirit who seemed to know.
"Goddess, I can't explain in a sentence or two, but that thing simply can't die!"
'Can't die?'
Tierra's brow furrowed.
"My turn, draw."
Hikaru studied his hand. Dragulas's first effect,once per turn, detach a material to flip a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck face-down. A decent disruption.
Anyhow, that wasn't the real problem.
Its second effect,if face-up, and leaves the field by an opponent's effect, sent to GY or banished,Special Summon it back face-down.
Not much at first glance, however, combined with "Number monsters can only be destroyed in battle by other Number monsters," it was tricky.
Even Super Poly would just see it return.
Not that there weren't answers.
For example, Hikaru could use Gem-Knight Aquamarine to bounce it back to the Extra Deck,that said, it would cost resources, and the opponent could just resummon it.
"Normal Summon, Aleister the Invoker." Hikaru wasn't shaken by the thick scent of blood.
Compared to the overwhelming aura of Blood Demon D, Dragulas was basic.
"Aleister's effect,add Invocation from Deck to hand."
"Aleister may be strong, still, even the strongest can't surpass my Dragulas!"
"Is that so?" Hikaru retrieved Invocation and revealed it. "Spell Card,Invocation."
"This lets me Fusion Summon by sending monsters from hand to GY. For Invoked monsters, I can also banish monsters from field and either GY. I banish Aleister from field and Flame Swordsman from GY to Fusion Summon,Invoked Purgatrio!"
Three flames burned on Hikaru's field, demons grinning as they greeted him.
[Invoked Purgatrio] Level 7 | FIRE | Fiend | ATK 2300 → 2900
"Invocation's GY effect,return it to Deck to recover Aleister."
Hikaru casually reclaimed him.
"Aleister can boost a Fusion by 1000 ATK, and this one's FIRE,if destroyed, Flame Swordsman of Illusion can revive. Clever."
Burns muttered, trying to read Hikaru.
Hikaru continued: "Spell Card,Shaddoll Fusion."
If your opponent controls a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, you can Fusion from Deck.
"I fuse Shaddoll Dragon and Kaiki the Unity Star from Deck!"
He raised his hands. "Fallen angel and human, messenger of god and central controller,unite! Manifest, giant of the fallen! Appear! El Shaddoll Construct!"
A purple aura lit the sky, puppet-strings shining divine light. The Spirits felt Tierra's power within it.
[El Shaddoll Construct] Level 8 | LIGHT | Fairy | ATK 2800
"Good! Forget the Number,Construct destroys in battle without damage calculation!" Tierra cheered.
Hikaru kept going: "Construct and Shaddoll Dragon's effects,Dragon destroys your left set card, Construct sends a Shaddoll card from Deck to GY. I send Shaddoll Beast."
Tierra's strings shredded the Continuous Trap, Junk Sleep.
"Shaddoll Beast's effect,when sent to GY, draw a card." Hikaru drew, glanced at it, smirked.
"Battle,Construct attacks Dragulas!"
A classic angel vs. vampire. Hikaru's goal,burn its materials.
"Tch! No, you don't! Dragulas's effect,detach to flip an Extra Deck monster face-down! Cover the angel!"
Construct was forced face-down.
[Dragulas, Materials: 2 → 1]
"How's that? My Xyz from Fusions is no worse than yours!"
"Heh." Hikaru shook his head.
"What are you laughing at!?"
"The more eager you are to prove something, the more you show what you lack." Hikaru folded his arms. "Unity of humanity? Even Leo Akaba doesn't believe that."
Burns's jaw tightened,hit in the sore spot.
"And you… You just want to prove your worth after a failed ambush, to be noticed."
"HIKARU AMAKI!!"
"Fine, fine… if you want to compare yourself to me, I'll make your defeat clear. Purgatrio has piercing, but its ATK is lower than your DEF,so I'll pass."
Burns lowered his voice, "Face-up Dragulas leaves by opponent's effect, it comes back face-down. I'm not afraid of destruction."
Hikaru set a card and ended.
"My turn, draw!" Burns's eyes lit up. "You think with a FIRE Fusion and Illusion Swordsman in GY you can't be beaten? Wrong! Quick-Play,Book of Eclipse!"
"All face-up monsters go face-down!"
The blood moon, demons, and dragon were forced into cards.
"At the end phase, they flip back up and you draw for each,unfair, huh?" the bear muttered.
Frightfur Leo understood,but now Dragulas's terror showed.
"I flip Dragulas,when flipped, send a card to GY! I choose Purgatrio."
"Illusion Swordsman only triggers on destruction," Hikaru noted.
"I know that!" Burns snapped.
Tierra grinned. "He's rattled."
Burns slammed a card down. "Spell,Frightfur Patchwork." He added Polymerization and Edge Imp Chain, discarded Chain for Toy Vendor,drew Fluffal Owl.
[Fluffal Owl] Level 2 | EARTH | Fairy | ATK 1000
"Chain adds Frightfur Reborn, Owl adds Polymerization. Edge Imp Sabres's GY effect,return a card to top of Deck to Special Summon it. I return Polymerization. Special Summon Sabres!
"Polymerization,fuse Sabres and Owl for Frightfur Tiger!"
Hikaru noted his lack of Fluffals,likely protected.
"Tiger's effect,destroy cards up to its materials. I destroy your two monsters! Now I can attack directly,"
"Trap open! Continuous Trap,Shaddoll Schism! Its effect,banish Fusion Materials from GY to Fusion Summon a Shaddoll, and if the opponent has a monster with the same Attribute, send it to GY. I banish Beast and Construct,"
"Hear it! The voice of god, the command! Fusion Summon,El Shaddoll Winda!"
[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5 | DARK | Spellcaster | ATK 2200
"Since it's DARK, I send your DARK,Tiger,to the GY."
The tiger's chains shattered, and it sank away.
"Not choosing Dragulas?" "It's in ATK mode."
Even with 2400 ATK, it was vulnerable,especially with Aleister boosting.
"Tch,Spell, Frightfur Reborn! Revive Tiger!"
[Frightfur Tiger, ATK 1900 → 2200]
"Dragulas's effect,cover Winda!"
[Dragulas, Materials: 1 → 0]
"Battle,Tiger attacks your set monster,"
Slash! Winda flipped up only to be cut down.
"Winda's effect,return a Shaddoll card from GY. Then Dragulas attacks directly!"
It dove at Hikaru's throat,but Tierra swatted it to the ground, stopping the bite. Still, Hikaru took the hit.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 1600]
Dragulas eyed his blood greedily. Hikaru brushed off his clothes. "Barely a scratch."
"Hmph,turn end."
Hikaru drew,Fusion Recycling Plant. Not for resources now, but…
"Field Spell,Fusion Recycling Plant. I discard a card to add Polymerization from Deck or GY." He tossed a card, retrieving Fusion.
"Normal Summon,Golden Idol!"
[Golden Idol] Level 1 | DARK | Spellcaster | ATK 0
"Lord Hikaru, you require my knowledge?" "Indeed." "An honor!"
Burns felt uneasy.
"Idol's effect,reveal opponent's hand; until end phase, treat this card's name as Thousand-Eyes Idol."
Hikaru scanned,full of Edge Imps and Fusions. As expected, Fluffals were protected.
"From GY,Glow-Up Bulb's effect,send top card to GY to Special Summon." It sent Metalfoes Fusion.
[Glow-Up Bulb] Level 1 | EARTH | Plant | ATK 100
"Don't worry, it'll end soon."
"Schism's effect,banish Winda and Dragon to Fusion Summon another Winda!"
But,he didn't send an opponent's monster.
"Then,Tuner Level 1 Bulb with Level 5 Winda,Synchro Summon!"
"Synchro!?"
"Ancient fusion dragon, with Bulb's aid,Synchro Summon! Level 6,Muddy Mudragon!"
[Muddy Mudragon] Level 6 | DARK | Dragon | ATK 500
"Foolish. Xyz or Synchro,it doesn't matter. The real problem is your hypocrisy. I,believe Fusion is the noblest Summoning. Muddy Mudragon's effect,if Synchro Summoned, during your Main Phase, use it and proper materials to Fusion Summon. And Idol's name is Thousand-Eyes Idol."
"Fusion! Become the end of all,Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
[Thousand-Eyes Restrict] Level 1 | DARK | Spellcaster | ATK 0
"Idol's effect,when banished or sent to GY by effect, equip an opponent's monster to a Naqi monster. Tiger." Tiger's chains shattered, melting into the Restrict.
[ATK: 0 → 1900]
"Restrict's effect,equip an opponent's monster and gain its ATK!" Dragulas struggled hard, yet in the end was absorbed.
[ATK: 1900 → 4300]
"I told you,you just want to justify your evil. You bared your monster's secrets, tried to prove yourself better, but when wrong, you raged. Now,accept the loser's end. Restrict,attack!"
In Burns's vision, darkness fell, mirrors reflecting countless versions of himself,criticizing every move, joined by the curses of Spirits and humans he'd harmed.
"Stay away,stay away!!"
His body erupted with eye-shaped wounds, spraying blood as he collapsed.
[Burns, LP: 4000 → 0]