Burns's death was a miserable sight.
Normally, Hikaru had no interest in excessive punishments, but in a Shadow Duel, Thousand-Eyes Restrict carried a truly terrifying presence.
As the first boss monster in the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, it indeed had something special about it.
After Burns's death, the Fusion Army soldiers did not beg for mercy like the ones Hikaru had encountered before, nor did they display the usual Fusion Army attitude of "losing a duel doesn't matter, I'll keep fighting." Instead, they shouted that the Fusion Army would surely send stronger soldiers in the future, that they would find Hikaru's weakness, and that he would pay in blood.
Hikaru wasn't interested. He thought about sending them to KaibaCorp, but Tierra had already acted, tearing them to pieces instantly.
Hikaru frowned slightly, but said nothing.
For stubborn Fusion Army fanatics, their deaths warranted no comment.
Tierra's puppet strings grasped Burns's corpse, pulling out a sphere-shaped soul and the Number card from his body. She toyed with the card, examining it briefly.
As with Crazy Box and Dragulas before, Hikaru had no interest in taking it.
On one hand, it meant resisting the corruption of Numbers; on the other, Hikaru had no use for them in his Deck. Better to leave them with Tierra,she might actually make use of them.
With that done, Tierra wasted no words. She summoned the higher-ranking Frightfur Spirits before her and questioned them directly.
She could tell the little bear was just a child and knew nothing of substance.
As their "savior" and "goddess," even without demonstrating apocalyptic power, Tierra had already earned their willingness to speak. Her claimed divinity only reinforced it.
Through this, Hikaru learned the true nature of the Frightfur.
The Frightfur race was unique, split into two groups: "angels" and "demons",the Fluffals and the Edge Imps. By studying, working together, and training, they would grow and evolve into Frightfurs, their combined forms.
This was a long, arduous process requiring great effort.
Especially with the fractured state of the Spirit World, these newly born Spirits were in far more danger compared to other factions. Fearing for the future, the higher-ranking Frightfurs, in an accident, signed a pact with the Fusion Army.
The deal: the Fusion Army would strengthen the Edge Imps and help them cultivate stronger, more numerous Spirits, in exchange for the Frightfurs' aid in battle.
At first, this was an ordinary contract,no different from Hikaru's cooperation with the Magicians of the Grand Spellbook Tower. But as the alliance continued, they inevitably learned more of the Fusion Army: that they were no "benefactors," but exploiters,using science, Spirits, and cards to enslave, destroy, or control Spirits, and killing humans for profit.
And yet…
Even after realizing this, the Frightfurs didn't break the pact. They merely watched in silence.
Until, in the end, they too were discarded.
"I see. Ordinary, nothing special." Tierra showed no interest after hearing their tale.
Betrayal, war, enslavement, cold indifference, swept into the flames of conflict,she'd seen it too often to care.
"How many remain?"
Frightfur Leo lowered his head. "Only I am left."
Tierra swept her gaze across the dimension, calculating carefully, and found that roughly fifty Spirits still survived.
"Then prepare yourselves for the vengeance of the bereaved, show your sincerity, and never repeat such deeds again."
Frightfur Leo bowed low before her, trembling, hesitant.
"Speak if you have something to say."
"Goddess… the Edge Imps must play the villains, and the Fluffals must harmonize with them. Only then can they unite. But our people are dwindling. If attacked again by another race or by the unknown force that shattered the Spirit World, we won't be able to survive…"
"Fools. Resorting to violence and distortion in the name of protection only reduces your numbers further, making you even more desperate for outside aid. That's a vicious cycle, not protection."
"And," Tierra lifted her hand. The plush bear floated upward, spinning in panic.
"It acknowledged me as its goddess with genuine faith. For that, I'll extend my protection to you as well. So,
Hear my oracle. I won't explain, and you won't object. Understand?"
Her eyes burned with eerie blue flames. A single glare made Frightfur Leo collapse, shivering and clutching his head in terror, stammering, "Understood! Understood!"
Inside, though, it despaired. Escaping human control, only to fall under the thumb of a monstrous being in Spirit's guise,this was no savior.
"As for angels saving and demons harming, combining in harmony,though I like the idea,it has no real meaning."
Tierra spoke confidently. Over her year of awakening, she had observed countless Spirit evolutions and was certain of one truth:
Evolution had nothing to do with behavior. Only two things mattered:
Energy. And faith.
In other words, whether Dark World fiends, Lightsworn angels, or Holy Knights, the path to evolution was always the same: do what they truly believed in, and grow stronger.
"As for evolution,you needn't worry. I already know what to do."
"R-really!?"
Frightfur Leo gasped. Lesser Spirits cheered, and the little bear even danced in celebration.
Could their goddess truly control evolution itself?
"Hey,Hikaru Amaki, get over here,"
"These Spirits need you to explain Fusion!"
The Great Spell: Summon Hikaru Amaki.
Hikaru couldn't help but laugh to himself.
...
Stones PLzzz
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