"Battle! Cyclone Hero, attack!"
"Uwaaahhh—!"
"We won! That was one hell of a Duel!"
A howling wind swept across the arena, and the holograms gradually faded. Daichi Misawa had not even come close to pushing Jaden Yuki to the edge—he lost in just three turns, overwhelmed by the powerful new cards Jaden had obtained in the other dimension.
So that Winged Kuriboh evolved into Cyclone Hero over there, huh?
Mhm, Cyclone Hero was indeed a seriously powerful Fusion Monster...
Hikaru Amagi watched Daichi step down from the Duel platform, dejected.
Pff—
He couldn't help but chuckle.
Will he win, huh? Absolutely not! Fleeting confidence, just like that—yesterday this guy was bragging to his face, and today he got curb-stomped by Jaden!
"Yo, Skyguy!" Hikaru waved teasingly. "Why didn't you ask me yesterday, huh? Jaden figured out in the other dimension that just having 'Polymerization' isn't enough, so he added other Fusion cards to his Deck. If you'd known, maybe you wouldn't have wasted your time sealing Fusion!"
Misawa had used a Counter Trap to seal "Polymerization," preventing Jaden from using it for the entire Duel—but Jaden had long moved on, packing cards like Fusion Gate into his list.
"I'm counting on you, Hikaru. Win this one for Ra Yellow," Misawa said with a bitter smile, but his tone was sincere.
Hikaru grinned and shrugged. "Hey, it's not that easy—I don't even know who my opponent is yet."
"Yeah... it's a second-year, after all."
Hikaru dusted off his uniform, fastened his Duel Disk, and stepped up to the stage. From the audience, Jaden and his crew waved enthusiastically.
"Go get 'em, Hikaru!"
"You can do it, Amagi-kun!"
Ugh, what is with that nickname...
"Professor Crowler, I'm ready!"
Crowler, who was serving as today's official judge, frowned.
In the original timeline, Crowler had been incredibly disheartened when Misawa lost to Jaden—he'd recommended Misawa personally. And when Chancellor Sheppard questioned why Ra and Slifer students produced stronger Duelists than Obelisk Blue, Crowler's pride had been shattered.
Now, seeing Hikaru walk onto the stage in a violet Fusion Department uniform? It only deepened the wound.
Why did even the Fusion Club get students like this?
"Then, as recommended by Professor Reiji Akaba, Obelisk Blue second-year student Yanagi will now enter the stage."
Hikaru turned his gaze toward a gaunt, hollow-eyed student, who looked more like a rehab patient than a Duelist, swaying unsteadily as he stepped into the spotlight.
Seriously? This guy's body looks like it'll give out before his Life Points do…
This world's Duels have real physical consequences—getting hit hurts!
"Professor... are you sure this is okay?" Hikaru asked, raising an eyebrow. "He looks seriously messed up."
"Hmph! Save the fake concern, Amagi!" Yanagi snarled. "I'm like this because of you. Don't play innocent. I'm here to settle the score!"
"..."
Hikaru blinked. He hesitated for a second, then finally asked, "...Who?"
"Don't you dare!" Yanagi exploded. "Half a month ago, Fusion Club—after you humiliated me—"
Recognition sparked in Hikaru's eyes.
Ah, so it's this guy...
He dueled almost daily, especially since his Fusion-based victories over senior Obelisk students made him wildly popular with Slifer and Ra students. He simply couldn't remember every opponent—but now it clicked.
Right. This guy.
That... might make things difficult.
A grudge match. Which meant the opponent likely came loaded with anti-Fusion tech.
Still, in just half a month, he looked like he'd been cursed.
Hikaru's eyes drifted toward the audience, where a group of students in violet uniforms surrounded a caped man with a chilling presence—Reiji Akaba, head of the Fusion Department.
So the baldy's here...
Hikaru narrowed his eyes.
So it really is a setup.
What are you planning, Akaba...?
"Hey! Eyes up front!" Yanagi barked.
"Yeah yeah..."
"DUEL!!" ×2Hikaru Amagi LP: 4000Yanagi LP: 4000
"I'll be polite and let the senpai go first."
"You always do that—whatever. My turn! Draw!"
Hikaru glanced at his hand.
Hard to tell what Yanagi's strategy was. But... huh, he actually drew an Ancient Gear monster?
"Looks like your opponent's not too popular with my brethren," came a grumble in his mind—Flame Swordsman, sounding downright annoyed.
"Mm," Hikaru nodded faintly, not elaborating. Instead, he raised his Duel Disk.
"I Set a monster and one card. End my turn."
"Heh... what happened to your all-Fusion deck? Can't use it now? Or maybe just trying to fake me out?" Yanagi sneered. "Doesn't matter. I've seen right through you!"
"My turn! Draw!"
"I activate Quick-Play Spell—Mystical Space Typhoon!"
A gust of wind shredded Hikaru's set Spell/Trap, flipping it up—
"Flameblade Dance!" Yanagi cackled. "Planning to combo it with a Special Summon, huh? Nice try! But I'm not the same loser from last time!"
"And now—Continuous Spell, Prohibition!"
"Prohibition?!" gasps echoed from the crowd.
"No way! Who actually uses that?!"
"I declare—Flame Swordsman!"
Gasps rippled.
"That's totally targeted!"
"Amagi's go-to Fusion Monster is Flame Swordsman!"
Even the Duel Spirits protested.
"Hey! What the hell's up with this guy!?" Flame Swordsman snarled in his head. "I was ready to go all out!"
"And it's not over yet!" Yanagi sneered, slamming another card onto his Duel Disk like he wanted to break it. "You always babble about how Fusion is supreme? I'll show you a better Fusion!"
"I activate—Brilliant Fusion!"
Hikaru's brows lifted.
Brilliant Fusion? Wait, he's running Gem-Knights? From the Duel Terminal world?
"Surprised? Too bad for you! Brilliant Fusion lets me add Gem-Knight Amber from my Deck to my hand. Then, by banishing Fusion Materials from my field and hand—Fusion Summon!"
"I fuse two Amber—Come forth! Gem-Knight Citrine!"
Two sparkling gems crashed together in a dazzling display—then burst into the figure of a blazing knight.
Gem-Knight Citrine – Level 6 / EARTH / Pyro / 2200 ATK
"He can attack twice and deals piercing damage!"
"Strong..."
"This is bad. If Amagi's Set monster has more than 1000 ATK, he's toast..."
"I Normal Summon—Ancient Gear Knight!"
Ancient Gear Knight – Level 4 / EARTH / Machine / ATK 1800
"Now it all depends on Hikaru's Set monster..."
Yanagi's voice was venomous. "Because of you, I was expelled from the Fusion Club—mocked by everyone! If it weren't for you—"
"Yeah yeah, can we just Duel already?" Hikaru cut in. "Fact is, you were in the wrong. Now stop playing victim and just play."
"You—!" Yanagi trembled with fury, but forced his hand forward.
"Battle! Citrine attacks your Set monster!"
"Amagi!"
"Hikaru!"
As the crowd shouted, Hikaru smirked and pressed a button.
"I activate my Trap!"
"What?! What Trap—!?"
"Flameblade Dance's graveyard effect. During my opponent's Battle Phase, I can banish it and Tribute a face-down monster to Special Summon a 'Flame Swordsman' monster or a monster that lists it in the text—from my Deck or Extra Deck!"
"You knew this effect?!"
"You told me yourself, senpai."
"But Prohibition seals Flame Swordsman—!"
"I Tribute Ancient Gear Knight. From my Extra Deck—"
A wave of black fire erupted around Hikaru, casting his form in demonic silhouette.
"I warned you already—you're not worthy of Fusion!"
"Come—Dark Flare Knight!"
A crimson-plated warrior emerged from the shadows, sword gleaming like a bloodstained sun. He landed beside Hikaru, shooting him a grin.
Dark Flare Knight – Level 6 / DARK / Warrior / 2200 ATK
Fusion Materials: Dark Magician + Flame Swordsman
(Note: Dark Flare Knight name corrected for English consistency, replacing prior references to "Dark Flame Swordsman" as appropriate.)