Chapter 202: Tiancheng Guang

The new semester, the new school life—but before that, first comes the enrollment of new students.

Normally, new students joining clubs should happen after the semester starts. Last year, when Tiancheng Guang had just crossed over, he wrote an application, participated in a Combined Department duel, and finally joined the Combined Department.

But after everything that happened last year, the current head of the Combined Department—the second-year student from the Blue Academy—resolved never again to be overshadowed by Tiancheng Guang.

So, even before the semester began, he immediately organized the Combined Department members to launch a new "offensive."

That is, to recruit new members before the new students arrive.

Last year's events were still vivid in his mind: back then, the Combined Department was large and well-established, with countless third-year seniors, outstanding students like Shinrin Yō, and three college representatives each with their own talents—yet they were still crushed by Tiancheng Guang.

Now,

last year's upperclassmen have all graduated and joined the Fusion Army, dedicating themselves to dimensional causes. He, as the second-year representative, is now the head of the Combined Department—the pressure is unimaginable.

Although the Fusion Department also lost third-year members, the problem is the sheer gap in numbers!

Last year's third-year students were the core and largest group in the Combined Department, the students who had followed Professor Chi Ma the longest, while the Fusion Department had only a handful of third-years.

The only silver lining is that Caesar Ryo has also graduated from the Fusion Department.

Otherwise, he truly couldn't imagine how they could ever defeat the Fusion Department.

The situation on both sides is clear: last year, the Combined Department still held advantages over the Fusion Department in certain areas—student numbers, facilities, cards, and even the Dimension Gate.

Now, their student numbers have sharply declined, while Tiancheng Guang's side boasts several duelists who won the Dimension Friendship Cup—especially Tiancheng Guang, Yūsei Tokugawa, and Wan Wan Zhangmu Jun. Their performances in the Friendship Cup were undeniable: Tiancheng Guang once again declared to the entire world, "Fusion is the noblest form of summoning," while Yūsei Tokugawa, before two worlds, bluntly said, "Winning? What an interesting duel."

In comparison, Wan Wan Zhangmu Jun, with his bad temper and constant grumbling, seems the most "normal" of them all.

Remember, the new students entering the Duel Academy aren't those bookworms oblivious to the outside world—they're all "duelists." They've all watched the Friendship Cup.

Therefore, in terms of reputation and combat strength…

He has no confidence competing against Tiancheng Guang's Fusion Department. And now he's heard Tiancheng Guang and Wan Wan Zhangmu Jun have secured funding and are about to expand the Fusion Department—possibly even matching the Combined Department's activity space.

If they don't seize this chance now, what will they do later?

Besides, he isn't acting blindly.

Throughout the summer, while Tiancheng Guang and others were dueling in the other dimension, he used that time to carefully study and analyze the situation on both sides.

So he prepared a three-tiered plan to attract more students.

First, the primary tier.

Promote fusion as supreme—but deliberately omit Tiancheng Guang's name—and tell every student that joining their club grants them a special card deck.

Although Tiancheng Guang's side has Professor Cronos supporting them and can temporarily lend the "Ancient Machinery" deck to regular club members,

they have one advantage!

Previously, they received the "Gladiator Beast" deck from the professor. Now, all Fusion Department members no longer use the Ancient Machinery deck—they use the Gladiator Beast deck. One reason is that Tiancheng Guang's side can't provide Gladiator Beast cards; the other is…

Mech-type monsters simply can't beat Tiancheng Guang.

Beyond that, they've also started offering other small gifts.

For example, strange lion, wolf, and tiger plushies—supposedly based on monster cards from a certain deck, possibly appearing in their club's future giveaways.

He and other Combined Department members built a large welcome booth at the school gate. They didn't actively recruit—instead, whenever a new student showed curiosity, they quickly explained their benefits and waited for the student to decide.

As he joyfully, yet carefully concealed his delight, successfully "tricking" a new student into joining the Combined Department, he spotted a group approaching nearby.

It was Tiancheng Guang, Wan Wan Zhangmu Jun, Tenjō Tenshi, and Sanzawa… what was his name again?

Several ordinary Fusion Department students had also come along to watch the spectacle.

His heart skipped a beat.

He quickly cleared his throat and waved. "Aren't you Director Tiancheng? Long time no see. I'm the new head of the Combined Department, Shinmizu Subaru."

Tiancheng Guang raised an eyebrow.

The second-year student from last year's Blue Academy.

Honestly, a bit disappointing.

He got along well with the second-year student from the Yellow Academy. If that person had become head, he might have had a chance to fully dismantle the Combined Department.

Of course, that was just wishful thinking—after all, the bald man would surely pick someone from the Blue Academy.

Tiancheng Guang glanced around and noticed new students spotting him—they erupted in gasps.

"The Absolute Fusionist!"

"Tiancheng Guang?!"

"Wow, Senior Tiancheng—it's really you!!"

The new students instantly forgot their conversation with the Combined Department, swarming around Tiancheng Guang in a tight circle, even shoving Sanzawa Daichi aside.

"Hey…" Sanzawa was speechless, sweat dripping from his forehead, nearly stumbling.

He lacked presence, but not this much, right?

On the other side, Tiancheng Guang and Wan Wan Zhangmu Jun hurriedly tried to push through the crowd.

Shinmizu Subaru watched, envious.

But he understood clearly.

Tiancheng Guang's popularity had reason: not only did he gain massive fame in the Dimension Friendship Cup, but the title "Absolute Fusionist" had spread across countless online platforms. Add to that the fact he possessed the legendary "Dark Magician"—its appearance instantly ignited student frenzy. It was perfectly normal.

The enthusiastic welcome lasted several minutes, until Tenjō Tenshi, with ample experience, calmed the crowd and laughed as he advised Tiancheng Guang on how to handle such scenes in the future.

"Senior Tiancheng, can we see the Dark Magician card if we join the Fusion Department?!"

"Senior Tiancheng, can we use fusion like you if we join the Fusion Department?!"

"Senior Tiancheng, I want to become a Fusionist too—"

Before even asking about the Fusion Department's details, the new students were already excitedly preparing applications—far easier than the Combined Department's exhausting efforts to recruit even one.

Even the new student the Combined Department had painstakingly recruited after Shinmizu Subaru's endless persuasion now stared at his application form, glanced at Tiancheng Guang, and his hesitation betrayed his thoughts.

Should he choose Tiancheng Guang's Fusion Department instead of this new card deck?

"Damn it—Tiancheng Guang!!"

Tiancheng Guang chuckled twice, slightly embarrassed.

How to put it?

He'd only come to check the situation. Seeing the Combined Department was just recruiting normally, he hadn't planned to do anything—yet it turned into this.

This was the "appeal" brought by reputation and performance.

Any incoming student curious about fusion had inevitably heard of "The Absolute Fusionist," Tiancheng Guang!

Watching Tiancheng Guang effortlessly draw away countless new students with nothing but his face, Shinmizu Subaru cursed inwardly.

Damn Tiancheng Guang—his appearance always brings disaster to the Combined Department!

But—

He still had a second-tier plan!

Chapter One

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(End of Chapter)