"My turn."
Hikaru drew a card and saw Ancient Gear Fusion.
The appearance of this card was within his expectations.
Ancient Gear Golem on the first turn and Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem on the second turn was his usual line when piloting Ancient Gears.
But now, that was definitely not possible.
He looked at the cards in his hand.
"Activate the effect of Metalfoes Fusion in the Graveyard."
"Oh?"
"Return Metalfoes Fusion to the Deck, shuffle, then draw one card."
So it was a Dark Contract card.
Hikaru glanced at the cards in his hand again.
"Hm…"
"Activate the Spell Card Ancient Gear Fusion!" He looked across the field and said, "This card lets me Fusion Summon an 'Ancient Gear' Fusion Monster using Ancient Gear Golem on my field and materials from my Deck.
I'll Fusion Summon the Level 10 Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem by fusing Ancient Gear Golem on my field with Ancient Gear Beast and Ancient Gear Beast from my Deck!"
Countless machine parts gathered from afar, and the ancient robot rapidly bolted on new equipment, finally transforming into a brand-new form.
[Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem] — Level 10 | EARTH | Machine | 4400 ATK / 3400 DEF
Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem — ATK: 4400 → 1000.
"Hiss… an Ancient Gear with over 4000 ATK suddenly dropped to just over 1000."
"That Skull Convoy is so powerful."
When the Skull Convoy first appeared, the audience had thought, "Its 2100 ATK isn't that high."
Now it seemed that 2100 was actually very high!
Any higher, and an ordinary monster simply wouldn't be able to destroy it!
However, Hikaru also had normal ways to destroy it in battle.
But compared to destroying it, Hikaru personally preferred to deal with it by other means.
Because when a Fossil Fusion Monster on the field is destroyed by battle or effect, Fossil Fusion in the Graveyard can return to the hand.
Although he didn't know if Jim still had Fossil Fusion in his GY, if possible, he would definitely prefer to deal with it rather than destroy it.
Since that's the case, let's wait and see.
"Normal Summon- Golden-Eyes Idol."
Golden-Eyes Idol entered slowly, arms crossed and holding a cup.
He had already been posing, just waiting for Hikaru to Summon him.
Ever since returning from the Magic Guidance Academy last time and being Summoned once, he'd been looking forward to whether he could appear again in the future. Sure enough, this time he appeared in Sir Hikaru's hand, and Sir Hikaru really used him.
It was worth holding that pose for so long.
[Golden-Eyes Idol] — Level 1 | DARK | Spellcaster | 0 ATK / 0 DEF
"Wow, it's Golden Evil God."
"Could it be he's going to Summon Thousand-Eyes Restrict?"
"That's so cool, that's Mr. Pegasus's ace!"
Hikaru was thinking that.
But before that, he still had to see what Jim had in his hand.
"Golden-Eyes Idol's effect, once per turn, look at the opponent's hand. Until the End Phase, this card's name is treated as 'Thousand-Eyes Idol.'"
Jim had already guessed what Hikaru wanted to do, but he didn't mind and revealed the two cards in his hand. At the same time, the giant holographic display showed them to the whole audience.
"Fossil Fusion and Burial from a Different Dimension?" Hikaru frowned slightly.
Sure enough, he did have Fossil Fusion.
However;
Even so, Hikaru didn't want Jim to get a Fossil Fusion back for free.
"Activate the Spell Card Polymerization!" Hikaru lightly showed the card in his hand. "I fuse the Level 1 'Thousand-Eyes Idol' on my field with Relinquished in my hand to Special Summon, Level 1 Fusion Monster, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
The idol slowly turned black; its body tore and warped, gradually twisting into a dark, many-eyed eidolon.
[Thousand-Eyes Restrict] — Level 1 | DARK | Spellcaster | 0 ATK / 0 DEF
"Oh oh oh!!! Perfect!" Ansiel cheered excitedly from the revival team. "It's the President's card!"
Although Hikaru really wanted to win with the Professor's cards, that Skull Convoy was indeed a bit unfriendly to Ancient Gears.
But it should be fine.
At least let the Professor's cards take part.
"Activate the effect of Golden-Eyes Idol! If this card is banished or sent to the GY by a card effect: target 1 Effect Monster your opponent controls; equip that target to a 'Relinquished'/'Eyes Restrict' monster you control that cannot be Normal Summoned/Set, as if equipped by that monster's effect. The equipped monster's ATK/DEF then become that monster's values."
Hikaru pointed across the field. "I'll devour your Skull Convoy, equip it to Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
Thousand-Eyes Restrict fixed its many pupils on the fossil semi. Purple light pulsed from each iris; the dinosaur-skull cab glazed over, then shuddered and drifted to Hikaru's side as an Equip. It wouldn't avoid battle forever, but at least Convoy's on-field aura was gone—and he could always consume something else next turn.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict — ATK: 0 → 2100.
"Battle, direct attack with Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
"Oh, wait, Trap Card: Waboku!" Jim tipped his hat. "This turn, you take no battle damage, and your monsters can't be destroyed by battle."
Roar
A leonine spirit rippled over the field, blunting the strike and snuffing out the rest of the combat for the turn.
"I see, one of the few cards even Ancient Gears can't push through," Hikaru nodded.
He'd half-expected Burst Armor. In the original story Jim really used it, and if he had Set it here he probably wouldn't dare spring it, because if he did, Thousand-Eyes Restrict would be destroyed and Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem could have sealed the game. It would've made a stylish finish.
And if Jim didn't use it and chose to tank the hit, Hikaru had even considered sneaking in a win with Aleister he was holding.
Too bad, no such tricks today.
Hikaru thought for a moment, checked the board state, then ended his turn.
"My turn! Draw."
Jim slid a card free, scanned it. "Spell Card: Pot of Greed." He played it at once and drew two.
The first was Monster Reborn. His eyes brightened.
The second
'There it is!!'
He looked at the outrageous card and his pupils tightened.
"Alright, Hikaru, looks like it's time to end this."
"Oh? Did you just draw that 'super strong card' you mentioned?"
"That's right." Jim smiled. "With this, maybe we can show something even better, Fusion is understanding each other and becoming friends through a Duel."
Hikaru hadn't expected Jim to say that.
In the original tale, Jim would do anything for his friends. When he saw Jaden fall into darkness as the Supreme King, he even risked his life trying to wake him with the Eye of Orichalcos. He failed in the end, entrusting the Eye to Axel Brodie before he died, hoping it could save Jaden, even if it meant Jim himself was lost.
So hearing this now felt natural.
He just hadn't talked much with Jim here, hadn't known him long, but because Hikaru had helped Jaden, Jim trusted him this much already.
"Spell Card: Burial from a Different Dimension! Return up to 3 banished monsters to the GY, from either player. I return all three of my banished Fossils to the GY."
"Then, Fossil Fusion!" A colossal stone slab rose on Jim's field; across from it, gears clanked in Hikaru's GY. "I recall your Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem can revive Ancient Gear Golem if it's destroyed, right? Then I'll use Ancient Gear Golem as Fusion Material!"
"Haha, doesn't sound much like a 'Fusion of friendship'!"
"Friendship is friendship, but the Duel still needs a winner." Jim's voice hardened.
"Fossil Fusion effect: I banish Flint Cragger from my GY and Ancient Gear Golem (Level 7 or higher) from your GY, Fusion Summon!"
"Giant of the ancient earth;"
"Fossil Dragon Skullgios, appear!"
A genuine saurian fossil reared from the slab, tail-spine snaking behind it as it roared.
[Fossil Dragon Skullgios] — Level 8 | EARTH | Rock | 3500 ATK / 0 DEF.
"3500 ATK?"
"It even tops Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but… neither Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem nor Thousand-Eyes Restrict can deal with it, right?" The gallery murmured.
"Indeed," said Bastion in the special box.
"Thousand-Eyes Restrict locks all other monsters on the field from attacking or changing battle position."
"Yeah, if you can't answer Thousand-Eyes, you can't attack at all," Chazz agreed, frowning.
"Then, Monster Reborn."
"Eh?"
"Monster Reborn?"
"Is that… right?"
Not just the crowd, even the VIP seats went quiet.
What could he possibly revive?
Ancient Gear monsters? Their ATK was middling, and setting aside whether they could be Special Summoned, they still couldn't swing through Thousand-Eyes' lockdown.
"You're not trying to bring back Ancient Gear Golem, are you?" Hikaru thought of one line and couldn't help asking.
"Haha...exactly. I'm reviving your Ancient Gear Golem!"
Unlike Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, which can only be Fusion Summoned, Ancient Gear Golem can be revived by cards like Monster Reborn.
"Oh! Right, Ancient Gear Golem shuts down Spell/Trap activations when it attacks…" Bastion's eyes sharpened.
"But it only has 1000 ATK now," Chazz shook his head. "Even if Thousand-Eyes isn't huge, it's got 2100."
He hesitated. "Unless… he's got something we're not seeing?"
"Hikaru, what's he doing?" Even Tierra leaned in, puzzled.
Hikaru rubbed his chin, thinking, then a notion sparked. "Could it be… that?"
"Now, all preparations are complete, Hikaru!" Jim's face was lit with excitement. He held a card up and squinted at it with one eye. "For you, Dueling is Fusion. For me, Dueling is more than just Fusion, so I'm sorry. You might be the strongest Fusionist, but I want to become a stronger Duelist.
I want to embrace a more beautiful land with a stronger card, I Tribute the two monsters on my field!"
Hikaru drew a sharp breath.
"Huh?"
"What's he doing?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Suddenly, the sky's sunlight seemed to fall away, replaced by a spray of stars, beautiful and uncanny in this spirit world.
"Awoooo!!!"
Karen the crocodile couldn't help howling when Jim finally brought it out, claws lifted in sheer excitement behind him.
"Tribute Summon, The Tyrant Neptune!"
At Jim's shout, starlight poured down. A humanoid crocodile warrior descended, clad in silver-white armor and gripping a wicked, twin-handed scythe. Golden eyes burned in the dark like a demon's.
[The Tyrant Neptune] — Level 10 | WATER | Reptile | 0 ATK / 0 DEF
"The Tyrant Neptune?"
"Never heard of it."
"And it has 0 ATK…"
Many in the audience had never seen the card before.
"Neptune?"
Jaden blinked at the big screen. "The Tyrant Neptune, kinda sounds like Elemental HERO Terra Firma."
Could this monster turn the tide?
Hikaru felt a bead of sweat. 'So this was the "super strong card."'
And it really was Jim's.
"The Tyrant Neptune's ATK and DEF become the combined original values of the Tributed monsters!"
The Tyrant Neptune — ATK: 0 → 4500.
"Whoa! That's on par with Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
"But it still can't attack, right? What's the point of having more ATK than Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem?"
"Awoo!" Karen had already scrambled up Jim's back, throwing her claws in the air and howling toward the stage.
"Easy, Karen, just about to say it." Jim chuckled.
Karen loved this card, not only did Jim's Fossil deck brim with his favorites, this was one both Jim and Karen adored.
After all, The Tyrant Neptune is a crocodile, too.
"Tyrant Neptune's effect: When this card is Tribute Summoned successfully, target 1 Effect Monster that was Tributed in the GY; this card's name becomes that monster's, and it gains that monster's effects!"
Jim pointed at Hikaru's Graveyard. "This effect can even target your GY."
Hikaru frowned and gave a short nod. That's how it worked here.
"So, I'll gain the effect of Ancient Gear Golem!"
The Tyrant Neptune became Ancient Gear Golem.
"Oh!"
"Ohhh!"
Understanding dawned on the designated-seating Duelists.
Which meant;
The Tyrant Neptune now stood as a 4500-ATK juggernaut with Ancient Gear Golem's name and effects.
"More importantly," Chazz shot to his feet. "If it's treated as Ancient Gear Golem, and it's unaffected by other card effects, then it can attack!"
Jim hadn't finished. He flipped his GY open. "And just in case: Time Stream in the Graveyard! During my Main Phase, except the turn it was sent, I banish it and a 'Fossil' Fusion from my GY, then target a 'Fossil' Fusion in my GY and Special Summon it."
He swept a finger. "I banish Time Stream and Fossil Warrior Skull Bone, come back, Fossil Dragon Skullgios!"
"Awoo!!"
"Battle!"
Jim's eyes flashed. He thrust a hand at Thousand-Eyes Restrict.
"The Tyrant Neptune, attack! Thousand-Eyes keeps other monsters from attacking, but Neptune copied your monster's effect, so it's unaffected and can attack!"
"Oh no!"
"Quick Effect, Aleister the Invoker!" Hikaru fired back. "I discard him to target my Fusion Monster, Thousand-Eyes Restrict, it gains 1000 ATK/DEF until the end of the turn!"
Thousand-Eyes Restrict — ATK: 2100 → 3100.
It still wasn't enough.
Neptune swung its scythe. Chains snapped; eyes scattered like glass.
Amagi Hikaru — LP: 3000 → 1600.
"Ha...just as I expected," Jim grinned. "Good thing I brought Fossil Dragon back. If I hadn't, you could've gotten that Aleister again next turn and battle-destroyed Neptune with Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem. But now? That's off the table, Skullgios, attack Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"
"What?!"
"UAGG clearly has higher ATK!"
"Naïve!" Jim shouted. "Skullgios, before damage calculation, when it battles: switch that monster's ATK and DEF until the end of the Damage Step!"
"Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem's DEF is 3400," Bastion Misawa supplied.
"So it's lower than Skullgios?" the students gasped.
Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem — ATK: 4400 → 3400.
Skullgios lunged and bit into the colossus's waist, ripping it clean in two. The hit stung worse than it looked; Skullgios doubles any battle damage it inflicts when it's Fusion Summoned.
Amagi Hikaru — LP: 1600 → 1400.
"Main Phase 2, The Tyrant Neptune's effect!" Jim raised a hand. "Inflict 1000 damage to the opponent!"
Neptune's eyes bled scarlet light and lanced into Hikaru. A familiar dizziness flickered at the edge of his vision.
'The power of Darkness!?'
He pressed a hand to his side. It throbbed, but only faintly. The card felt sealed, and the sealing felt like Darkness.
He hadn't sorted out the cause and effect yet.
"Turn end." Jim exhaled.
Hikaru rubbed his temples, then straightened.
"Only 400 Life Points left."
"If he can't deal with The Tyrant Neptune right now, he loses next turn!"
"The Fusionist… lost to someone else using Fusion?"
"Didn't you hear? Hikaru's the strongest Fusionist, but he only uses Fusion. His ace isn't even a Fusion monster!"
Whispers turned into arguments. In the designated seats, Hikaru's friends couldn't help worrying. Those watching the broadcast, Jaden and the others, blurted in surprise.
Was Jim really this strong?
"Hm… my turn." Hikaru drew a card.
He weighed it, then sighed. "I wanted this Duel to help everyone understand Professor Crowler better."
Back at Duel Academy, the professor had tears in his eyes, whispering Hikaru's name. A few teachers looked on with open envy.
"Is that so?" Jim answered. "Sorry, but I think he wouldn't mind."
"Precisely because he wouldn't mind, I wanted to show everyone what Ancient Gears really are, so people can see they're not an 'evil deck,'" Hikaru said, ruffling his hair.
"But he also wouldn't want me to lose over something like that. I can't disappoint him, or make him think he caused me to lose.
Therefore… Jim, I'm going to use what you said to counter you."
'What I said?' Jim blinked, thrown for a moment.
"Activate the Spell Card, Fusion Armament! Reveal 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck; Special Summon 1 monster whose name is listed on it from my GY. That monster can't attack until the end of your next turn, and its effects are negated."
Across the stadium, great figures flickered into being, Flame Swordsman, Dark Flare Knight, familiar silhouettes that made Hikaru's supporters exhale at once. Those two had always meant safety and confidence when Hikaru took the stage.
"I reveal Invoked Magellanica, and Special Summon Aleister the Invoker from my GY!"
Aleister the Invoker — Level 4 | DARK | Spellcaster | 1000 ATK.
"Then Normal Summon- Predaplant Chlamydosundew."
Predaplant Chlamydosundew — Level 2 | DARK | Plant | 600 ATK.
"What are those two going to do?"
"Don't look at me…"
"They're both DARK," Bastion noted from the VIP seats.
"What?" Chazz frowned.
"Chlamydosundew's effect- during my Main Phase, I can Fusion Summon a DARK Fusion Monster using this card on the field and monsters from my hand or field," Hikaru called. "Materials: 2 DARK monsters…"
He raised his arm.
"O wings that seek fusion, spread and take everything into your embrace!
Fusion Summon! My wings— Level 8… Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
The eerie-beautiful dragon glided in behind Hikaru, violet light rippling over its wings.
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon — Level 8 | DARK | Dragon | 2800 ATK / 2000 DEF.
The dragon's roar rang louder and brighter than ever.
"Starving Venom… Fusion Dragon?" Jim murmured, stunned.
"A dragon with 'Fusion' in its name!"
"A Fusion Monster… called Fusion!"
"So cool."
Fierce as it looked, under Hikaru's control it shone almost sacred.
"On Fusion Summon: Starving Venom targets 1 Special Summoned monster you control and gains ATK equal to that monster's ATK until the end of this turn," Hikaru declared, pointing.
"I choose Fossil Dragon Skullgios!"
Starving Venom — ATK: 2800 → 6300.
"Its ATK even surpasses The Tyrant Neptune!"
"And if it's always copying a Fusion's ATK, it'll always be higher, right!?"
People in the know rattled off another of the dragon's texts, if this Fusion Summoned card is destroyed: destroy all Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls, but…
"…that won't help, will it?" someone fretted. "Tyrant Neptune was Tribute Summoned. Even at 6300, an attack into Neptune is only 1800 damage. Next turn, Fossil Dragon swings over it, 3500 vs 2000, and Hikaru loses!"
"Right."
A murmur of realization swept the stands.
"Those are just some of Venom's manifestations," Hikaru said softly. "Starving Venom's second monster effect, activate!"
"Huh!? It has more!?"
"Once per turn: target 1 Level 5 or higher monster you control; until the end of this turn, this card's name becomes that monster's original name, and it gains its effects!"
"What!" Jim's eyes widened. "Isn't that the same kind of effect as The Tyrant Neptune!?"
"Exactly. That is the power of the Fusion Dragon," Hikaru smiled at Skullgios. "Jim, you said this Duel is more than a Duel; it's a fusion of friendship.
That's right. Friendship's fusion is also fusion!
Just like you fused with monsters from our GYs, and copied the effects of my Fusion monsters!
Starving Venom, copy Fossil Dragon Skullgios's effects!"
"Myriad Fusion!"
Venom's wings spread; a mesh of purple lines enveloped Skullgios, then reeled the power in.
'Oh no,' Jim's face drained.
"Battle! Starving Venom, attack The Tyrant Neptune!"
"Eh...Hikaru, why!?" Tierra blurted first.
Wouldn't it be better to hit Fossil Dragon? Doesn't that swap ATK/DEF? Its DEF is 0!
Others in the seats echoed the doubt.
Only two people fully understood: Jim, whose effect was being mirrored, and Hikaru, who pressed forward.
"I'm attacking The Tyrant Neptune to answer Jim, to answer your words about fusing our friendship and strength.
Skullgios's effect: if this Fusion Summoned card battles an opponent's monster, any battle damage it inflicts to the opponent is doubled!
"Your Fossil Dragon was revived by a Spell, but my dragon was Fusion Summoned," Hikaru said, fist clenched.
"So Starving Venom attacking The Tyrant Neptune will deal double damage!"
Jim adjusted his hat and nodded slowly. "Impressive. You even knew that line."
"Attack, Starving Venom, Fusion Annihilation Stream!"
The dragon flared its vast violet wings with an exultant roar. A storm of purple lances tore through The Tyrant Neptune.
Jim, LP: 2400 → 0.
...
Stones plzzz
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