Chapter 190: Fusion

The Bone Dragon roared into existence on the Skull Knight's field, snarling fiercely, as if deeply satisfied by this liberation.

Netherworld Dragon Long Wang, Level 8, Dark Attribute, Dragon Type, ATK 3000.

So it's this monster.

Watching this death dragon appear on the field, Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow, recalling certain details and mechanics from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.

In the original work, no such mechanic existed; although the Dragon Markers possessed powerful Synchro Dragons, they were never explicitly categorized at the time.

Only later, in the manga version of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, were these mechanics fully fleshed out.

"Duel Dragons."

The Level 7 and Level 8 Dragon-type monsters—including Stardust, Crimson Lotus, Black Rose, and others—were collectively termed "Duel Dragons."

In the original anime, the dragons used by the main cast of "5D's" were all changed into Duel Dragons in the manga, and their attributes were no longer colorful as in the anime, but uniformly replaced with either Light or Dark attributes.

The primary and most fundamental reason for this change was this: in the original anime Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, the Red Dragon—capable of time travel, reshaping the world, and wielding infinite energy—became a villain in the manga, so the dragons with differing attributes in the anime reverted to the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! dichotomy.

That is, the eternal war between Light and Darkness; the Red Dragon in the manga became the Dark Faction's "Ultimate Phantom God."

But another question arose.

With Dragon Markers present, and also the "Ultimate Phantom God," what would this world look like?

Could it be that the grand framework of this world is a battle between the righteous Red Dragon and the evil Red Dragon?

Then what about Zone?

The original's final boss, the Savior, the last human on Earth?

"Battle! Long Wang attacks Lei Lei Yuanlong!"

"Soul Bite!"

The Skull Knight pointed at Lei Lei Yuanlong, commanding the Death Dragon to attack.

This snapped Tenjo Hikari back to reality, refocusing his attention on the duel.

Netherworld Dragon Long Wang!

Among this bizarre multitude of Duel Dragons, the Netherworld Dragon was the most unique—because… it was a Fusion Monster!

Whether in anime or manga, the Red Dragon wielded "Synchro" power, yet as a Duel Dragon, Long Wang's original form was a Fusion Monster—truly astonishing.

The Netherworld Dragon lunged at Lei Lei Yuanlong and bit down directly on its body; the shockwave from this bite swept over Tenjo Hikari.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000 → 3600.

"The monster defeated by Long Wang shall have its soul imprisoned, cast into darkness, leaving only a useless shell on the field." As he spoke, a spectral shadow of Lei Lei Yuanlong slowly materialized on his field.

It was a darker, more sinister version of Lei Lei Yuanlong, spewing searing lightning, appearing vicious and brutal.

Lei Lei Yuanlong - Lei Long Dark Soul, Level 8, Dark Attribute, Thunder Type, ATK 2600.

Lei Lei Yuanlong ATK 2600 → 0.

It sounded flashy, but in practice, Long Wang does not destroy the monster; after the battle damage step, it reduces the attacked monster's ATK to zero and Special Summons a token with the same ATK as the attacked monster.

Yet—

Because this is reality, this effect truly can imprison the soul of a Duel Monster.

Fortunately, Lei Lei Yuanlong had been napping in the workshop; otherwise, this situation might have sent it into panic—or even made it cry.

"Battle! Use Lei Lei Yuanlong - Lei Long Dark Soul to attack your Lei Lei Yuanlong!"

The dark Lei Lei Yuanlong flapped its wings, spewing thunder; intense lightning struck the true Lei Lei Yuanlong, and after the explosion, a wave of deathly aura spread, engulfing Tenjo Hikari.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 3600 → 1000.

"Are you alright, Tenjo Hikari?"

Tierra, seeing Tenjo Hikari pierced by lightning and kneeling, asked him.

"I'm fine…" Tenjo Hikari waved his hand.

His body trembled slightly, appearing unsteady.

"What's wrong, human? Is this all you've got?" The Skull Knight chuckled, watching Tenjo Hikari's movements. "Or have you completely lost the strength to stand? Afraid of death's power? Afraid of death's aura?"

"If so, you should be grateful—you still have time to recover. In a Ride Duel, the moment your D-Wheel stops moving, you lose."

"Afraid? No, I'm just excited." Tenjo Hikari rose again, his face lit with intense excitement, staring fixedly at the Netherworld Dragon.

Youhe, Netherworld Dragon—these are both superb "Fusion" cards!

Especially the manga version of Youhe—his card, Ghost Fusion, requires his LP to be lower than his opponent's to activate using monsters from his deck, while the opponent's card requires no such condition—meaning the opponent's card is a complete superior version of his own. He saw it, and he was thrilled.

Since dueling the vampire empire's heiress and obtaining two vampire cards with no Fusion Monsters available, he'd been forced to store them in his dormitory to prevent his Super Fusion power from immediately fusing them.

Unfortunately, Duel Dragons obey only their true masters, and the opponent is no "Duel Spirit."

Yet this excitement made Tenjo Hikari's body tremble.

The Skull Knight studied Tenjo Hikari's expression, carefully analyzing it, then fell into thought.

Interesting…

Rex, it seems the "Fusion Duelist" you admire truly is intriguing.

"I'll set one card face-down, end my turn!"

"Then, my turn!"

Tenjo Hikari swiftly drew a card.

"A necro-dragon that fuses using souls? Then let me show you my graveyard."

"Activate the effect of Lei Long Fusion in my graveyard: during a turn this card was not sent to the graveyard, banish this card from my graveyard, and add one Thunder-type monster from my deck to my hand."

"I add Lei Long from my deck to my hand."

Fusion from the graveyard?

The Skull Knight stared with hollow eye sockets at Tenjo Hikari's graveyard.

"Next, discard Swap Fusion from my hand to activate Fusion Regeneration's effect: add one Fusion card from my deck to my hand!"

"At this time, activate Swap Fusion's effect: banish it, return one Fusion Monster from my graveyard to my deck, and draw one card!"

Watching this, the Skull Knight cackled, his bones clicking: "So this is how it works? The Fusion materials for Lei Lei Yuanlong—and Lei Lei Yuanlong itself—have returned from death, reborn as living beings?"

"This is—Lei Long's Regeneration!" Tenjo Hikari lied.

"But even so, Lei Lei Yuanlong's ATK is only 2600—it cannot defeat the Netherworld Dragon!" the Skull Knight roared. "Against my soul, your regeneration is useless!"

"We'll see about that…" Tenjo Hikari smiled, looking at the card in his hand. "Fusion has only just begun."

Chapter Two, eat something, update later, update later





(End of Chapter)