"Metamorphosis. You can activate it by releasing a Monster on your field as a Sacrifice. Special Summon a Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck with the same level as that Monster!"
"I release the Blue Sheep on the field," Tenjo Hikari released Senior Ryo without hesitation, then revealed a purple Fusion Monster card from the Extra Deck, "Special Summon, Fusion Monster, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
Intense collisions erupted from the blue sheep's body, then a distortion followed, and the body began to shatter, gradually forming numerous eyes, looking twisted and disgusting.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict, LV 1, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 0, Defense Power 0.
"Mamma mia!"
"What is that?! Such a disgusting Monster—"
"It's Thousand-Eyes Restrict, a legendary Monster, Mr. Pegasus's card!"
"Wow, can you really use Tokens as materials to Fusion Summon such a level of Monster?"
Someone in the Fusion Department quickly recognized this Monster and felt needless anxiety for their previous worries.
This is a Legendary Level Monster!
"Is it really Thousand-Eyes Restrict?" Marufuji Ryo couldn't help but step forward, "I remember this Monster's effect is…"
"I activate the effect of Thousand-Eyes Restrict, once per turn, take one Monster from the opponent's field as my own Equip, and gain that Monster's ATK and Defense Power!"
The eyes of Thousand-Eyes Restrict emitted an eerie purple light, shining on the barbarian's body, and after a moment, the barbarian cried out, turning into a shadow, merging into the body of Thousand-Eyes Restrict!
Thousand-Eyes Restrict ATK 0→1500.
"This is bad!"
"Now, Judai is defenseless!"
Tenjo Hikari noticed that while everyone else was panicking, Judai was not flustered at all, in fact, he became even more excited.
A Set Card?
Unlike Tenjo Hikari, although in Tenjo Hikari's era, Heroes were synonymous with "Fusion," in the original work, Heroes were more of a Deck that combines Magic and Traps, cooperating with each other. The complete transformation into the new era Fusion Deck happens only after Neos appears.
So, at this time, there's nothing strange about what Judai set.
After all, he had even used Sakuretsu Armor before!
"I use Thousand-Eyes Restrict to attack directly!"
Tenjo Hikari didn't continue to operate, but directly used Thousand-Eyes Restrict to attack.
"I activate Trap Card, A Hero Emerges!"
Seeing Tenjo Hikari's attack, Judai opened the Set Card without hesitation: "When the opponent's Monster declares an attack, this can be activated. The opponent chooses one card from my hand, if it's a Monster, it is Special Summoned!"
"Oh! So that's it—does that mean in your hand now?"
"Ha ha, you guess!"
"Then, the middle one!"
Judai looked toward the middle, a smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth, happily revealing it: "The card in the middle is Elemental Hero Sparkman!"
Zzzt—
A fierce electric light flashed, and a warrior covered in electricity appeared on the field!
Elemental Hero Sparkman, LV 4, Light Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1600.
"I see… Then, attack rollback, I won't attack anymore!" Tenjo Hikari wasn't nervous seeing the opponent summon a Monster with higher ATK, instead, he directly set a card.
"Let's end it here."
He looked particularly calm.
"What a spectacular exchange."
"Even though the ATK is not higher than in previous duels, each step is very rational, and neither Judai nor Tenjo was surprised by the opponent's actions!" Mitsuzawa Daichi understood as he watched from below, he took a deep breath and said with feeling, "The two of them have long prepared for various scenarios, no matter the situation, they are ready! Thus, no matter how the opponent plays their hand, they can create an advantageous situation for themselves—"
He realized that just reacting with counter-cards might indeed be inadequate compared to the two on stage.
"My turn!"
After Judai drew a card, the Winged Kuriboh beside him pointed and gestured: "Judai, if you can't deal with Thousand-Eyes Restrict this turn, next turn, it will devour another Monster! You must find a way to deal with it this turn!"
"Ah, I understand—" Judai didn't hesitate, directly playing the card he drew, "I first activate the Spell Card, Pot of Greed!"
Oh my—
The eternal Forbidden Card!
Seeing Judai use this card, Tenjo Hikari expressed his genuine envy.
The past you bought so many cards, why didn't you buy a Pot of Greed!?
"Next—I open the set card, Polymerization!"
"As expected, to leverage the effect of A Hero Emerges, he set a Spell Card!"
"I fuse Sparkman on the field with Clayman from my hand!"
"Fusion Summon, Thunder Giant!"
Crackle, clay rose from the ground, endlessly merging into the lightning, and soon, a tall warrior covered in lightning appeared.
Elemental Hero Thunder Giant, LV 6, Light Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 2400.
"Thunder Giant's effect, discard a card from the hand, destroy a Monster on the field with original ATK lower than it, and of course, I'll destroy Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
Lightning struck down, the hero defeated the Evil God!
"Eh? Why not use Thunder Giant to attack?" Watching from the stands, Shou asked a silly question.
"Thousand-Eyes Restrict has an effect where the equipped Monster is used as a substitute, preventing it from being destroyed by battle." Maeda Hayato, familiar with this card's effect, explained to Shou.
"But you could attack with two Monsters to destroy Thousand-Eyes Restrict, right? That would inflict more damage."
"Perhaps… to Judai, leaving Tenjo-san with 'material' is more dangerous than inflicting damage?" Maeda Hayato continued, "Also, I remember that as long as Thousand-Eyes Restrict is on the field, other Monsters can't attack. In this way, this is the best choice."
"Ah— I see…"
Thunder Giant took out a sheep with a bolt of lightning, then, Judai didn't end: "I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Mirage of Nightmare! Then I set a card, ending the turn!"
Tenjo Hikari squinted, looking at the Continuous Spell on the field, and couldn't help but marvel.
Another Forbidden Card Level draw Magic, how enviable.
The former self wisely chose not to buy powerful filters, preferring to buy difficult to use materials, troublesome…
"My turn, draw."
"At this moment, the effect of Mirage of Nightmare activates, I draw until I have 4 hand cards, then, I open the set card, Quick-Play Spell Card, Emergency Provisions, sending one Magic or Trap Card on the field to the Graveyard, recovering Life Points by 1000 for each sent card!"
Judai LP: 4000→5000
"A brilliant draw! Replenished the hand discarded for Fusion, and restored Life Points, this is truly impressive for Judai!"
On the audience seat, Teacher Daitokuji was also holding a cat, stroking it, and pondering: "Ahh, both Judai and Hikari, I want to cheer for them both, it's so hard to decide… Should Judai win, or should Tenjo win?"
"Go, Tenjo!" "Show that Red Academy kid the power of our Fusion!"
"Don't be discouraged!"
Below the stage, many students were still cheering for Tenjo.
After all, just moments ago, his Fusion Monster was destroyed!
However, Tenjo Hikari didn't show any tension, instead, he smiled and glanced at the card he drew, then looked up at Judai: "Judai, with the use of Traps, Magic, and Monster effects, you indeed destroyed Thousand-Eyes Restrict, but now on your field, there's only one Monster with ATK of 2400."
Judai listened and swallowed a bit.
Yes, although an ATK of 2400 is considered quite high by others, he understood well that a single Thunder Giant isn't enough to hold ground!
"Then, activate Continuous Spell Card, Flame Swordsrealm!"
Finally arrives!
Flame Swordsrealm!
Seeing this card, the Winged Kuriboh solemnly expressed to Yuki Judai:
"The real duel is only just beginning, Judai!"
"Ah, I understand." Judai responded enthusiastically, "It's becoming more and more exciting!"