This is a massive arena, surrounded by torches. Countless Duel Spirits gather around the ritual platform, watching this duel from another dimension.
So far, it seems to be a disappointing duel. The human's turn is simply mediocre, failing to ignite the passion in these warriors. They truly can't understand why Lord Black Luster Soldier brought them here to watch.
"My turn, draw card."
Tenjo Hikari drew a card from the hand and carefully glanced at it.
Alright, this draw is pretty good!
"I activate the Normal Spell Card, Instant Fusion."
"Instant Fusion?" The well-informed Black Luster Soldier recognized this card with a glance.
"Oh, oh, oh! Can we finally see Tenjo's Full Fusion Deck again!" Judai was excited beside him, despite not knowing what to expect.
"Full Fusion Deck?" The two opponents exchanged a look, puzzled.
Sounds impressive, what does it mean?
"Paying a thousand life points... hmm..." Tenjo Hikari felt a slight sting in his body.
Is this what a 'real' duel feels like? It's truly exhilarating!
Judai & Tenjo LP: 5900→4900
"This card allows you to Special Summon a Fusion Monster with LV 5 or lower from the Extra Deck, treating it as a Fusion Summon."
"Wow, it's similar to Ready Fusion's effect!"
Similar type?
Ultimate enhanced version!
"I Special Summon from the Extra Zone — Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
The evil god covered in eyes emerged from a cup of noodles.
"Ugh..." Judai's excitement paused for a moment.
A bit gross.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict, LV 1, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, Attack Power 0. Fusion Monster.
"It's actually Thousand-Eyes Restrict!" Gaia exclaimed.
As a Duel Monster Spirit, he certainly recognized this famous evil god!
Tenjo Hikari also greatly favored this card.
Although its appearance is a bit ugly, who cares!
The goal of card players is to become the world's number one, gender or appearance doesn't matter, as long as they are powerful enough!
Therefore, during these duels, when Super Polymerization fused out such a monster for him, he was thrilled because there are plenty of ways in his deck to bring out this card!
"Activate the effect of Thousand-Eyes Restrict, once per turn, targeting 1 opponent's monster. The targeted monster becomes this monster's Equip Card!"
Each eye on the body of the evil god emitted a strange purple light, shining onto the Female Demon, turning it into an illusion and absorbing it into its body.
"Ugh..." Inferno Wing felt goosebumps all over.
As the Fusion Material for Inferno Wing, seeing its evolved form being 'eaten' is certainly unsettling no matter how you look at it.
"Thousand-Eyes Restrict can use the opponent's monster as its power to increase its attack power." He couldn't help but remark, "But, if I remember correctly, the monster Special Summoned by Instant Fusion will be destroyed at the end of the turn!"
He flapped his wings as if trying to dispel the malice from his body: "No matter how strong a monster is, if it disappears, it's meaningless!"
"Of course, I know that." Tenjo Hikari promptly revealed another card from his hand, "I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Flame Swordsrealm!"
A massive ring of fire illuminated the prison.
"Once per turn, you can send 1 face-up monster from your hand or on your field to the Graveyard, and Special Summon 1 from the Extra Deck, treating it as a Fusion Summon!"
"I send Thousand-Eyes Restrict from the field to the Graveyard, Fusion Summon, Flame Swordsman!"
Flame Swordsman, LV 5, Fire Attribute, Warrior-Type, Attack Power 1800.
"Wow! It's me!" An excited spirit under the stands couldn't help but cheer upon seeing its own appearance.
Probably feels similar to "being on TV."
"After eating Thousand-Eyes Restrict, this is certainly a big gain for my brother!"
"Not bad, not bad, if he can win this round, I'll certainly do my part!"
Unaware that he had gained a warrior's acknowledgment just by playing a combo, Tenjo Hikari continued his actions.
"Activate the Equip Spell Card, Salamandra Fusion. This is an Equip Spell that can only be equipped to a Fire Attribute Warrior-Type monster. The equipped monster's attack power increases by 700 points."
Flame Swordsman, Attack Power 1800→2500
"Another fusion?" This time, everyone realized what kind of deck Tenjo Hikari's so-called "Full Fusion Deck" was.
"A deck comprised entirely of Fusion Cards, is it really usable?"
"Uh, but isn't this other-dimensional warrior using it right now?"
"That's true, but if he hadn't gone second in a tag duel, he wouldn't have had the chance to use Thousand-Eyes Restrict to swallow a monster and then perform a Sacrificial Fusion Summon, right?"
Whether in the human world or the spirit world, seeing such an extreme deck inevitably leads to some discussions.
"Hey, you guys, don't talk nonsense!" Even before Tenjo could speak, Judai was already shouting at them excitedly, "Tenjo is a duelist pursuing the ultimate fusion, striving for the most noble fusion. Don't disturb him!"
"Ultimate Fusion?"
"What a warrior with a clear pursuit!"
Tenjo Hikari rubbed his chin. He could boast about this in the Fusion Department among the extremely fanatic factions there, but to a bunch of spirits...
Whatever!
Deceiving others means deceiving yourself!
Anyway, it's quite fun!
"That's right, fusion is the most noble summoning method!"
"I'll use Flame Swordsman for a direct attack!"
Winged Man & Gaia LP8000→5500
"Nice! A powerful counterattack, Tenjo!"
"It's still early, don't be careless." Tenjo Hikari said somewhat speechlessly as he glanced at his hand cards, thought for a moment, and set two cards, "Set two cards, end the turn!"
"A brilliant turn, resolving a monster, combining a powerful monster, and even setting cards." Gaia, across from Tenjo Hikari, nodded slightly, giving his evaluation, "But this is far from enough!"
"My turn. Draw a card."
"I activate the Spell Card Black Luster Ritual, I use Key Mace and Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight in my hand as sacrifices for a Ritual Summon—"
"Black Luster Soldier!"
The noble warrior descended from the sky, crossing light and darkness, as if the whole world was cheering for him, chanting his name.
Tenjo Hikari and Judai looked towards the Black Luster Soldier on the judges' stand, and he showed no emotional fluctuations.
Black Luster Soldier, LV 8, Earth Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 3000. Ritual Monster.
Gaia said straight away: "In my Gaia Village, all warriors aim for the Chaos Ceremony as the ultimate goal!"
"Ritual Summoning is the most respected summoning method in the world! Outsider warriors like you simply wouldn't understand!"
That's true.
If a person has been persistently playing Ritual Summons, it is indeed quite respectable.
After all, Ritual Summoning requires having a Ritual Monster to activate, but... then again, in Tenjo's era, many Ritual Monsters didn't even need Ritual Spells to be summoned!
"Tenjo, face-down card?" Judai noticed the appearance of Black Luster Soldier and gulped, hurriedly calling out to Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari shook his head.
As an experienced card player, he wouldn't rush to activate cards; different opponents call for different strategies, especially since... this was "Black Luster Soldier" after all.
As expected, just as Tenjo Hikari feared, Gaia revealed another card from his hand: "By excluding my Dark Attribute and the Light Attribute Key Mace from the Graveyard—descend!"
"Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!"
A Black Luster Soldier far more radiant than the Ritual version descended from the sky, his whole being glimmering like the sun.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, LV 8, Light Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 3000!
"So powerful, two Blue-Eyes White Dragon level monsters at once!" Judai exclaimed in delight, "Wow, I feel my blood boiling!"
Tenjo Hikari also looked seriously.
Two Black Luster Soldiers—this indicated that the spirit power of Gaia before him was not low at all! It was quite possible he was on the verge of truly becoming a new "Black Luster Soldier!"
"Now! I activate the Trap Card, Salamandra with Chain, equipping it to Flame Swordsman, and increasing its ATK by 700 points. Also, I choose one monster on the field to set face-down!"
Flame Swordsman, ATK 2500→3200.
"What!" Gaia's face beneath his mask showed a surprised expression.
"Of course, I choose the Envoy of the Beginning!"
Leaving a big opener on the field would be asking for trouble! Attacking might even cost lives!
"Wow, brother, you set down Lord Envoy of the Beginning!"
"Don't say that, I've never felt this thrilled before—feels like I'm dreaming!"
In the audience, Flame Swordsman and his friends were already cheering.
"So strong, Tenjo, not only did he defend against the troublesome Envoy of the Beginning, but also created a monster with an attack power of 3200, now the opponent's offensive..."
"Naïve!" Gaia sneered, "I activate the Equip Spell, United We Stand. Equipping it to Black Luster Soldier.
For every face-up monster on my field, his ATK increases by 800 points!"
Black Luster Soldier, ATK 3000→3800.
"Oh no, now it surpasses Flame Swordsman!"
"Attack Flame Swordsman with Black Luster Soldier!"
Black Luster Soldier vanished from his spot instantly, teleporting abruptly in front of Flame Swordsman and slashing down.
"A monster equipped with Salamandra Fusion can use Salamandra Fusion to substitute for destruction!"
"But the damage still hits!"
Judai & Tenjo LP: 4900→4300.
Flame Swordsman ATK: 3200→2500.
"Phew..." Tenjo Hikari let out a sigh of relief.
Today, Judai set too many flags, he was getting a bit overwhelmed.
"Did you see? Ritual Monster defeated Fusion Monster!" Gaia's lips curled, "Set a card, end the turn!"
"Amazing, he managed to do this facing Lord Black Luster Soldier!"
"And he even protected his own monster!"
"The pinnacle of fusion huh..."
"Honestly, I almost want to follow this warrior."