Chapter 135: Beyond Expectations!

"Huh…" Max stared at his hand cards, raising an eyebrow.

"I admit, bypassing the Fusion Prohibition Zone to directly Special Summon a Fusion Monster is impressive—but how many times can you pull that off? Besides… even without the Fusion Prohibition Zone, do you really think you can beat me?"

"Not only that, I'll leave this on the field—a Continuous Magic Card: Ancient Ruins Code A." He inserted a Continuous Magic Card into the slot, and suddenly, a massive door appeared behind him, its interior revealing a path lined with strange, incomprehensible inscriptions.

"Ha! End Phase!"

Aid read the cards twice.

Max?

The name sounded impressive, but in the professional circuit, he'd never encountered this man before.

Or rather, this man's win streak was far too low.

Then again, that was normal—professional dueling circuits were rife with targeted strategies; one misstep and you'd be swarmed by professional duelists.

Aid himself frequently swapped decks to conceal his true one, so few could effectively target him, allowing him to maintain an undefeated streak within the professional duelist circle.

Even he knew the "cruelty" of the professional duelist circle.

Because every professional duelist's duel wasn't about "victory" or "belief"—they answered only to their sponsors, only to money; their goal was either to guarantee they never lost, or to obliterate the opponent's company representative.

The latter was clearly far easier, so targeting a specific person through the Karaman deck became the most "unwritten rule" among professional duelists.

According to Ma Professor Chi Ma Ling Wang, Tenjo Hikari was a duelist specializing in Fusion, pursuing its absolute extreme—so it was perfectly normal for a professional duelist to flood their deck with cards designed to counter Fusion when facing him.

Yet…

He looked at the Black Flame Knight.

Even with Fusion restricted, he'd still summoned a Fusion Monster.

Impressive.

Aid had to admit it inwardly.

Even as a student, even as an ordinary pupil, this pursuit and mastery of Fusion was far purer than that of the so-called "Fusion Army graduate" across from him.

…

Huh!

No!

Why was he stuck thinking about this?

He shook his head.

Zhai Wang, why don't you cast a divination for me about today's encounter? What's there to divinate about a duel?

"The Fusion Prohibition Zone I get—but what's this 'Ruins' thing?" Wan Wan Zhangmu turned to Sanze Sanze Dadi.

"Eh… even if you ask me…" Sanze Sanze Dadi looked awkward, "I heard professional duelists often use obscure decks that are hard to target—perhaps…"

There was nothing to be done.

Reptile decks were simply too rare; no one had ever seen them used. Even at school, no similar cards were taught—and even the learned Sanze Sanze Dadi had limited energy; he couldn't possibly hunt down such an obscure deck.

Not to mention him—Tenjo Hikari could swear that back in his day, even the card fanatics wouldn't immediately recall the effects of the Alien series.

Just remembering the Cosmic City card was considered impressive.

Of course, that was also the advantage of obscure decks versus mainstream ones—the information advantage.

Tenjo Hikari shrugged, drew his card, and said, staring at his hand: "That's a support Magic Card exclusive to the Alien series."

"Eh, so 'Alien' is a series?"

"What? I thought it was just a single Reptile card…"

Tenjo Hikari knew they'd react this way. He shrugged, placed the card on the Duel Disk, and explained: "The effect of Ancient Ruins Code A is: each time a face-up monster with 'Alien' in its name is destroyed, place one 'A' counter on this card. Once per turn, you can remove two 'A' counters from the field to Special Summon one 'Alien' monster from the graveyard."

"Wow… does Tenjo-kun even know this?" Xiang gasped.

The Taylor sisters glanced at the Fusion Army soldier, who clenched his fists helplessly: "Though I hate to admit it, Tenjo Hikari has always been like this—he says he pursues the ultimate Fusion, so he must understand every card to reach the end of Fusion."

"How fascinating, sister."

"Hah, looks like this academy won't be boring after all."

"Activate Magic Card: Fusion Conscription." Tenjo Hikari had already placed the card, "Show one Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck to your opponent, then add one Fusion Material monster from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand. After this card's activation, until the End Phase, you cannot Normal or Special Summon the monster added to your hand by this effect, or any monsters with the same name; their effects cannot be activated."

"Show Gladiator Beast Caesar, add Gladiator Beast Spear to your hand."

"Gladiator Beast?" Max chuckled as he noticed the card Tenjo Hikari added to his hand, "Forget that the Gladiator Beasts were originally discovered by the Fusion Army—just the fact you can't Normal Summon means Spear is useless!"

"Besides, my field has the Fusion Prohibition Zone!"

Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.

Clearly, this man understood Fusion very poorly.

"Battle: Black Flame Knight, attack Alien Warrior!"

The Black Flame Knight swung its greatsword, cleaving into the alien creature.

Max LP: 4000 → 3600.

"When Alien Warrior is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, place two 'A' counters on the monster that destroyed it! Also, place one counter on Ancient Ruins!"

Drip—

A bright rune suddenly glowed on Ancient Ruins, and the Black Flame Knight seemed to be wrapped in something—two black orbs appeared on its body.

"My Lord—" he tried burning the substance off his body, "This feels… strange…"

"Two 'A' counters?" Sanze noticed the issue, "Ah, I see—so now, each turn, your opponent can use Ancient Ruins to revive an Alien from the Graveyard—and gain an extra counter!"

"Heh heh, exactly! That's the power of the Alien Warriors who invaded this world—immortal warriors, aliens!" Max laughed loudly.

Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.

"Activate Magic Card: Sudden Mutation." Tenjo Hikari didn't waste words.

"Tribute one monster on the field to Special Summon one Fusion Monster of the same Level from your Extra Deck. Black Flame, rest for now."

"Apologies, My Lord." Black Flame violently shed the strange slime from his body and vanished from the field—replaced instantly by a blazing Red Sun Bird.

"Special Summon: Red Sun Bird."

Red Sun Bird, Level 6, Fire Attribute, Bird Beast Type, ATK 2300.

"Impressive." "Beautiful!"

"Not only did it avoid the counter effect, but you also Special Summoned another Fusion Monster?" The Taylor sisters exchanged glances, both startled.

"Tch…" Max grunted.

"Again… a Fusion Monster that doesn't need Fusion…"

He felt tense—this situation was nothing like he'd imagined!

Chapter Two, definitely adding extra today

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(End of Chapter)