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Chapter 60 - You Want Me to Take Down Zane Truesdale!?

"Did you hear? Hikaru's gone insane—he's starting a new Fusion Club!"

"A new Fusion Club? What?"

"Yeah, rumor is he left the original Fusion Club!"

"No way—Hikaru Amagi did!?"

Today, Duel Academy was buzzing with rumors louder than a swarm of Kuribohs. While the academy wasn't exactly massive, it was an isolated island, and students ran into each other daily. News traveled fast—especially juicy gossip. A few spicy words were all it took for the whole campus to know about some haunted mansion by the lake, or a mysterious coliseum in the forest.

So of course, news like this would spread like wildfire.

Hikaru Amagi—the first-year representative, the recent face of an international-level interdimensional exchange match, the lunatic so devoted to Fusion Summoning that even other Fusion purists called him extreme—had left the Fusion Club and was forming his own?

He already picked a name. Filed the paperwork. He even submitted a request for an official clubroom.

"Are we even staying in the Fusion Club, then?"

"Wait, does Hikaru have exclusive decks or cards?"

For a lot of first-years, especially those in Slifer Red or Ra Yellow, the Fusion Club didn't really feel like home. Many had only joined because of the club's access to Ancient Gear decks—after all, rare cards were hard to get unless you had connections. That's what made the Fusion Club grow so fast—it even earned its own purple-clad uniforms.

But if Hikaru's new club had the same deck-sharing privileges?

Well… they wouldn't exactly hesitate to jump ship.

Especially since staying meant putting up with constant bullying from Obelisk Blue upperclassmen.

"I heard even Dr. Crowler approved of it. Said Hikaru's group could use Ancient Gear decks too. I mean, they are his personal cards, right? Hikaru's his student, after all. Of course he'd support him."

"Damn, true!"

Meanwhile, in the faculty offices, Leo Akaba sat with his arms crossed and an increasingly irritated look on his face.

"What's that racket outside?"

"Er… sir…"

"Speak up."

Anyone who knew Professor Akaba knew that tone. That clenched-brow, edge-of-snap tone. He wasn't just annoyed—he was about to explode.

The head of Ra Yellow's third-years flinched under the pressure.

"It's, uh… it's Hikaru. He left the Fusion Club. He said... it wasn't 'pure' enough. That the club's deviated from its ideals. Too many distractions, too much internal bullying. He's splitting off and forming a new club—"

The student was sweating bullets. Akaba wasn't just strict—he was merciless. Anyone who stepped out of line got crushed. Someone like Hikaru forming a breakaway faction? That had to be a death sentence.

And as someone who should've noticed Hikaru's plans earlier, the student was fully prepared to take the fall.

But—

"Hmph. Is that so? Sounds like a good thing."

"…Eh?"

All three upperclassmen stared at him like he'd grown a second head.

"I said nothing," Akaba turned away, expression unreadable. But deep down… he felt lighter.

Just a little.

Could it be… that damn Crowler finally backed down?

He chuckled internally. He was in a bad mood already, but now things were looking up.

And it wasn't Hikaru or the students making him irritable.

It was…

Serena.

His supposed "daughter." Or rather, the vessel he intended to use to bring his true daughter back.

She was a second-year in the Academy's junior division. After discovering her, he pulled her into his personal lab under the pretense of "potential development"—but really, she was being groomed for a singular purpose.

The previous lab tasked with parasite research and spirit manipulation had suffered a catastrophic failure—ironically, in a mission meant to disrupt Crowler and prevent them from interfering with Akaba's plans.

Since then, contact had been lost entirely.

Akaba didn't care what Celina had experienced. He just needed to find her—intact.

Originally, hearing Hikaru's name again had made his blood boil. He was this close to striking back directly.

But now?

Hearing that Hikaru was isolating himself… starting a new faction?

That was perfect.

He didn't care about the Fusion Club. Or the Dimensional Science Club. Or whatever dumb name Hikaru wanted.

What he needed was obedient soldiers—tools who'd fight and die for his grand design.

But Hikaru? Hikaru was the opposite. And anyone loyal to him—to his idealistic, purist, "Fusion-above-all" mindset—was poisoned blood.

If they wanted to leave? Let them.

He welcomed it.

So that's why I said it was good news…

He smiled faintly.

Crowler must've panicked. Sent Hikaru away for safety. He still plays favorites with his students… unlike me.

Still… I win again, Crowler.

"Let the students join whatever club they want," Akaba said at last.

The three seniors stared, slack-jawed, like he was an imposter.

But then Akaba's expression darkened again.

Even if this turn of events was favorable, he couldn't just let Hikaru grow unchecked.

But what better training ground could there be for my soldiers?

"…That said," Akaba muttered, "whether his club is the true Fusion Club… shouldn't be for him to decide."

"Huh?"

"What are you saying, Professor?"

"You three—go destroy them."

"…Me?" The seniors exchanged looks of pure horror.

Even the Blue dorm's team leader stepped forward in panic.

"Professor, that's impossible! They recruited Zane Truesdale!"

Take out Zane Truesdale?

Are you insane?!

That wasn't just some unproven legend—he was the crowned king of the third years. Duel Academy's undisputed strongest duelist. He earned that title. Every single one of them had lost to him before.

Even putting Zane aside, they'd still have to deal with Hikaru Amagi, Jaden Yuki, and Bastion Misawa—literally the top three duelists of the first-year class.

Akaba's eyes grew cold as ice.

"Did I stutter?"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"I don't care if you go yourselves or recruit the entire year. Get it done."

"Yes, Professor!!"

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For this week I will do more release depending on the power stones !

100 Power Stones = 1 chapter (in addition to the daily update) 

So give stones if you want mooooar ! 

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