Two days later, the interdimensional duel exchange between Duel Academy and Shin'en Academy came to an end.
What no one expected—Duel Academy had won every single match.
That's right. Although the duelists representing Shin'en were total unknowns—no one Hikaru Amagi recognized from either ZEXAL or ARC-V—and although their hairstyles were shockingly average, they were still top students in their respective years, armed with modernized Extra Deck monsters. Yet, not a single one won.
And even putting aside Zane and Hikaru, even the second-year from Duel Academy defeated his opponent.
…Though to be fair, that second-year shamelessly copied Hikaru's strategy, stuffing his deck full of cards like Book of Moon to make Shin'en's second-year eat dirt.
"I can't believe I lost again…" Haruto Kokugawa sighed after yet another friendly duel with Hikaru. "I guess the gap in our skill really is that wide, huh?"
He scratched his head in frustration.
Ever since that day, Hikaru had been challenging him to daily duels, and Haruto never refused. Sure, he lost more often than not, but it wasn't anything unusual—he lost all the time at school. And in his world, dueling was far more entertainment than high-stakes warfare. Even if they'd developed ridiculous technology from it, it wasn't really applied anywhere outside of dueling.
Plus, dueling Hikaru wasn't like dueling with a Duel Spirit. There was no fatigue, no strange burning pain. And it was way better than being bored in this city of Tsudono. So if Hikaru wanted to duel? Haruto was always game.
And in just three days, he genuinely felt smarter. Sharper. When he returned to his world, he was certain he'd perform way better in future matches.
They'd just finished another match in Tsudono's battle plaza when suddenly—Flame Swordsman and Black Flame Knight burst out of nowhere, materializing at Hikaru's sides, nearly scaring Haruto into a heart attack.
"Master, something's wrong!"
"Master, the air's off!"
"WH-WHAT THE HELL?!"
"Haruto, get over he—!"
Before Hikaru could finish, a writhing black mass shot from the shadows. Instinct taking over, Hikaru leapt into the air, bright-white armor materializing over his body mid-air. He brought his foot down, hard, on the creeping mass.
"Whoa…" Haruto stared, mouth open. He felt like he'd stepped into a movie.
"What was that?! That was SO COOL!"
But Hikaru wasn't listening.
He yanked Haruto toward him and gave his body a quick scan. His eyes widened. Without hesitation, he ripped the card hanging from his neck and sliced it across Haruto's hand like a razor.
"OW—!" Haruto yelped at the sharp sting. But then he looked down—and nearly vomited.
Crawling on the ground… was a grotesque, putrid, nauseating insect.
"Captain!"
"At your command!" Gem-Knight Prism Aura appeared behind them, shielding both Hikaru and Haruto with radiant light. Flame Swordsman and Black Flame Knight unsheathed their swords, cutting down the rest of the writhing bugs.
A whole swarm of the disgusting parasites had emerged from the shadows, and the swordsmen quickly started hacking and burning them down. Still, both Duel Spirits looked queasy.
Then the ground trembled.
With a sickening squelch, something massive stepped out from the darkness—a towering beast covered in black fur, clad in cracked, violet armor, its blood-red eyes glowing in the gloom. Countless worms squirmed over its body. Every inch was crawling with those parasitic insects. Its whole body steamed with a vile black miasma.
Haruto blinked. "What the hell is that?!"
"I… am… the proud beast-warrior… sent… to collect… your lives…"
The bear spoke.
"Is that… Gladiator Beast Andal?" Flame Swordsman narrowed his eyes.
How had he ended up like this?
He'd seen Andal before—back in the Warriors' Sanctum. Sure, he was a Beast-Warrior and not one of them, but even the mighty Black Luster Soldier had welcomed Andal as a fellow fighter. This might not have been the exact same spirit, but it hurt to see him like this.
"Looks like he's been mind-controlled," Hikaru muttered, eyes narrowing at the squirming worms. "Damn it… That baldy's finally lost it."
Hikaru didn't know that Declan Akaba was Principal Kagemaru's "left hand." But he did recognize those parasites.
He'd seen them before—in Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V.
Fusion Parasite Bugs.
They corrupted minds, controlled thoughts, turned the infected into obedient slaves.
Hikaru's hatred for Akaba had its roots in these things. In the original timeline, the bald bastard had used these bugs to brainwash his own daughter. All in the name of "control."
Who does that?! You'd have to be completely unhinged.
Hikaru hadn't heard of Serena in this world—he figured maybe Declan didn't have a daughter here, so there'd be no reason to revive the tech.
Apparently, he was wrong.
Because these Fusion Parasites were now being used on Duel Spirits.
And not only that… there was a black haze seeping from Andal's body.
Just like the one Gem-Knight Prism Aura had suffered from before.
That wasn't just mind control. That was Shadow Influence.
"You're up, human. Duel me," growled Andal, now just a vessel for something else.
"…Alright then." Hikaru's left hand flared, and his Duel Disk expanded with a shimmer.
"Gladiator Beasts, huh? I've always liked that deck."
A Fusion archetype that doesn't even use Fusion Spells.
He'd been hoping for a chance to test the next level of fusion.
"Flame, Black Flame—watch the perimeter. Don't let a single bug escape."
"Yes, sir!" "Understood!"
"DUEL!" ×2
"I'll go first," said the corrupted Andal, drawing his card.
"I summon Gladiator Beast Hoplomus in Defense Position."
A hulking, rhinoceros-like warrior covered in heavy armor appeared.
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus – Level 4 – EARTH – Rock – DEF 2100
"I set two cards. End turn."
"Pretty boring opener…" Haruto muttered, disappointed. He'd almost gone to pet the Duel Spirits out of reflex but stopped himself as the duel began.
He'd fought Hikaru several times now. He knew how strong he was. This kind of opening? Didn't feel all that threatening.
"My turn—" Hikaru glanced over his hand.
"I activate Instant Fusion, paying 1000 Life Points to Special Summon Thousand-Eyes Restrict from my Extra Deck!"
Hikaru LP: 4000 → 3000
The sinister, one-eyed monster returned with its grotesque hum.
"I activate my Set card—Gladiator Beast Charge. It can destroy up to as many face-up cards as I have Gladiator Beast types on my field. I have one. So your Thousand-Eyes? It's gone."
The rhino's eyes flared red. With a bellow, it charged, ramming into Thousand-Eyes Restrict and obliterating it.
"Damn!" Haruto finally caught up to reality.
Right. This wasn't one of his casual duels.
"You just lost a Fusion monster and 1000 LP. Be careful, Hikaru. That thing… it's giving me a really bad vibe."
Hikaru knew better than anyone.
But he simply nodded and continued his play.
"I discard Thunder Dragon to activate its effect—add up to two more Thunder Dragons from my Deck to my hand. Then I discard the second copy to fetch the third."
After gaining the Gem-Knight cards, Hikaru had added Thunder Dragons to his list. And after that duel with Vampire Countess, he'd received a new card he'd been itching to use.
"What's the point of that?" Haruto asked, puzzled. "Why not just add both in one shot?"
"Because I'm not done. I activate my Fusion Spell—Thunder Dragon Fusion!"
Hikaru pointed dramatically.
"By returning Thunder-Type monsters from my field, Graveyard, or banished zone to the Deck, I can Fusion Summon a Thunder Fusion Monster!"
Haruto's jaw dropped. Fusion that recycles from multiple zones?!
"Witness my upgraded power—Fusion Summon! Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!"
Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon – Level 7 – LIGHT – Thunder – ATK 2800
The dragon roared onto the field in a storm of lightning.
This power… looked very real.