Chapter 49. Fusion Follow-Up Explanation! Are the Three Big Shots All Useless?
Alexis Rhodes and Atticus Rhodes each nursed their own thoughts.
They quietly waited to see how the Red-Eyes would develop next.
ZEXAL World.
Quite a few Duelists were already getting antsy.
Yuma Tsukumo and Astral weren't focused on the in-archetype cards at all.
What they cared about were the Xyz Monsters slotted into this Red-Eyes build.
"They don't seem to be Number cards!"
"Astral, can you tell what those Xyz are?"
Yuma Tsukumo grit his teeth as he stared at the Xyz cards in the list.
One after another — not exactly a dazzling spread.
Yet they had a very particular pull on them.
A pull he just couldn't put into words.
"Yuma, I'm not sure either."
"They don't look like Xyz power our world possesses."
"Let's keep watching and see."
Astral spread his hands helplessly.
If he knew, he would have said so already.
As for the others — Tori Meadows, Reginald "Shark" Kastle — they understood even less.
Yuma Tsukumo could only let out a heavy sigh and wait for the Xyz breakdown to come.
.....
VRAINS World.
Likewise, plenty of Duelists who didn't care about Red-Eyes' core build were chattering about the Link Monsters the Red-Eyes Deck was running.
One thing was certain.
There were no in-archetype Red-Eyes Link Monsters at all.
So here's the question.
Whose cards were these Links Red-Eyes had slotted?
"Hahaha! I know that Link-1! Looks like it's 'Left Leader's'!"
"Huh? It really is! It's Striker Dragon, right! By the way, why is a Red-Eyes deck running that?"
"If you don't get it, don't overthink it — who knows?"
"It clearly has Red-Eyes Fusion as a main axis, yet somehow it doesn't even look like a Fusion deck!"
"No kidding? There aren't many Red-Eyes Fusion monsters in the list at all! It's obviously Link and Xyz-centric!"
"....."
Thanks to their sharp eyes, the Duelists around them quickly spotted the Link-1, Striker Dragon, in Red-Eyes' Extra Deck.
The so-called "Left Leader" knit his brows.
Who did he think he was?
And who was this Red-Eyes pilot?
This guy.
He actually dared to run his Striker Dragon.
Heh-heh-heh.
He was going to see for himself.
Just how this "Red-Dad yyds" planned to use Striker Dragon.
.....
ARC-V World.
Xyz Dimension.
Yuto slowly opened his deep eyes.
His gaze locked hard onto "The Phantom Knights" inside the Red-Eyes list.
After confirming it without a doubt.
Yuto's expression grew even more solemn.
This higher world.
It actually had "The Phantom Knights," too?
No — worse.
It had Phantom Knights cards even stronger than his.
That Link?
Which Phantom Knights-related Link was that?
"Yuto, looks like we underestimated them."
"My RR — this Red-Eyes is running it too."
"I don't know whether to laugh or cry."
"Does he really understand how Raidraptor operates?"
Yuto said nothing more.
He simply watched the Red-Eyes list in silence.
Because the Fusion segment had already begun.
.....
Main World, the short video continued playing.
Red-Dad yyds: "Hahaha! That's about it for the Main Deck."
Red-Dad yyds: "We'll make the roles of these cards crystal clear in real Duels later."
Red-Dad yyds: "Next up are a few Fusion cards."
"To be honest, Red-Eyes doesn't use its Fusions that much."
"But we still need to mention them — these three each have their pros and cons."
"Might as well take a look, right?"
"First up! Meteor Black Comet Dragon!"
[Card Name: Meteor Black Comet Dragon (Level 8)]
[Attribute: DARK]
[Type: Dragon]
[ATK/DEF: 3500/2000]
"This card sees decent use."
"Because the moment it hits the field, it can burn, then send a 'Red-Eyes' with base ATK to the Graveyard."
"And its last will can also revive a Normal Monster."
"How to put it… it's used more often — at least better than the next one."
"That would be Red-Eyes Slash Dragon!"
[Card Name: Red-Eyes Slash Dragon (Level 7)]
[Attribute: DARK]
[Type: Dragon]
[ATK/DEF: 2800/2400]
"Why do I say that?"
"First, its attack is on the low side, and second, it needs an Equip to gain targeting protection."
"Third, it has to attack to pull a monster from the Graveyard as an Equip."
"In short, it drags the pace."
"If you make it going first, tell me, what's the point?"
That series of questions from the video creator left more than a few veterans totally stunned.
Wait, what?
A 2800-ATK monster.
It has no use the moment it comes out?
Is that for real?
Is the worldview collapsing again?
Red-Dad yyds: "At least Meteor Black Comet Dragon can burn on summon and help deal with the opponent."
Red-Dad yyds: "Slash Dragon — forget it, it's just not enough in the current metagame."
Red-Dad yyds: "There's one more."
"Its name is Archfiend Black Skull Dragon!"
[Card Name: Archfiend Black Skull Dragon (Level 9)]
[Attribute: DARK]
[Type: Dragon]
[ATK/DEF: 3200/2500]
"How to put it…"
"Its three 'locks' in the Battle Step are barely worth a look."
"But having to wait until after it attacks to burn is just too slow."
"So I don't recommend it."
"All in all, the three are only so-so to play."
"If you want a strong deck, I don't recommend running all three Fusion Monsters."
"I recommend only Meteor Black Comet Dragon."
"As for the other two, unless you're after nostalgia, then sure — run a full three of each, I've got nothing to say."
"...."
With the Fusion roundup finished.
The old guard across the early-series worlds fell into instant silence.
Three Fusion Monsters, and they're all not that useful?
Wait a second.
How is this completely different from how it felt at the start?
Duel Monsters World.
After listening to the Fusion-monster breakdown, Joey Wheeler turned to stone on the spot.
Weren't Fusions supposed to make the deck busted?
So how come in this Red-Eyes build they feel like they barely matter?
The absurd part is.
These three Fusion Monsters got talked down like they were worthless.
And Meteor Black Comet Dragon is only "so-so to play," with just a little use?
"Yugi? Him! He's not just spouting nonsense, right?"
"These three Fusions — aren't they all ridiculously strong cards?"
"But he says they're only 'so-so'?"
"Huh? Am I just not keeping up with the Duel world anymore?"
"3500 ATK, 2800 ATK, 3200 ATK — those aren't good enough anymore?"
Joey fired off one soul-searching question after another.
Yugi Muto gave a wry smile beside him.
When he first saw them, he also thought these three Fusion Monsters would be the main force.
But after listening, it felt like their actual usage rate wasn't particularly high.
He felt the same helplessness.
"Joey, trust the short video Mr. You found."
"If Fusions aren't used much."
"Then it's gotta be Xyz, right?"
"Let's keep watching and we'll understand."
After calming Joey down.
Yugi Muto and the Pharaoh inside him went right back into their discussion.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts