Chapter 216: Overthrow the Emperor

"Damn..."

"I cover one card, end my turn."

Lo Lo Kesi clenched his teeth, his refined face now twisted with fury.

The watching students had no idea what to say; some were genuinely frightened by Lo Lo Kesi 's description, truly worried about the image of this academy being "ruled" by Tiancheng Guang, while others kept insisting Tiancheng Guang wasn't that kind of person.

Tiancheng Guang scorned to respond to Lo Lo Kesi 's remarks—he cared only about fusion, only about this duel—but there would be no shortage of classmates who couldn't see his true intentions.

"This..." Asuka watched and listened to the surroundings, unable to hold back, lowering her voice to ask her companions, "Should we...?"

"Stop talking nonsense! My master cares only about fusion! He'd never do the things you're saying!" Compared to Asuka's doubts, Serena was blunt and direct; hearing others point and whisper about her master, she leapt up, nearly stepping on the table, ready to launch into a full brawl—luckily, Asuka knew her well enough to block her instantly, or who knew what chaos might have erupted.

"Ah Guang..." Judai was worried about Tiancheng Guang; he understood better than anyone the true weight of the phrase "words can kill."

"No," Wan Wan Zhangmu spoke softly, shaking his head, "this is correct. If you try to explain, justify, prove you have no ill intentions, never sought to dominate others—you fall into the trap of self-justification. Then Lo Lo Kesi 's teacher can attack Tiancheng's mind from any direction."

But Tiancheng bypassed this trivial issue and struck straight to the core—he cared only about fusion, only about whether the Combination Section fused or not; everything else meant nothing to him.

Even if classmates argued, it didn't matter. It would vanish like wind soon enough."

"Exactly." On the face of Tian Tian Shangyuan Dark Chui Xue, a serious expression lingered. "Ah Guang is rational, and pure. He won't make a mistake at a time like this. In fact, if he responds to Lo Lo Kesi 's teacher—or even tries to defend himself—he'll enter Lo Lo Kesi 's rhythm, become his slave, following his will."

San Ze Sanze Dadi nodded.

All three of them had realized it—Lo Lo Kesi didn't want an "Emperor" at all... but a slave!

He simply wanted a powerful enough student who'd believe his lies.

"My turn, draw!" Tiancheng Guang drew a card, glanced at it, then flipped it open. "Activate Normal Magic Card—Shadow Integration!"

"Oh oh oh! Shadow? Again? Are you going to unleash your dark power once more?"

"When your field contains a monster summoned Extra-Special, Shadow Integration can use a monster from your deck as fusion material!" Tiancheng Guang ignored Lo Lo Kesi entirely, stating the effect himself. "Send Shadow Hedgehog and Elemental Hero Blazeman from my deck to the graveyard—fusion!"

"O, Sacred Jewel of the Sky, resonating with your companions!"

"Now, absorb hatred, resentment, pain—take on a new form and appear before me!"

"Fusion Summon!"

"Level 7! Flame God Shadow—Shadow God Shenzijing!"

As Tiancheng Guang called out, countless red threads surged from all directions, converging into ornamental patterns like the gentle fluttering wings of a Seraphim. A massive stone knight slowly rose from beside Tiancheng Guang, his towering stature making him resemble an ancient giant from mythic times.

Shadow God Shenzijing, Level 7, Fire Attribute, Rock Type, ATK 2450.

"Whoa—what a form!"

"Is that Captain Bai Jing's new form? That monster is also a Shadow?"

"Is that Tiancheng's new alchemical achievement?"

"Activate the monster effect of Shadow Hedgehog in the graveyard: when this card is sent to the graveyard by an effect, you can add one Shadow monster from your deck to your hand. I add Shadow Falcon to my hand."

Tiancheng Guang revealed the new lower-level Shadow monster in the graveyard—this was also a new card created by Tierra after obtaining her second body component.

"Attack with Shenzijing!"

"Fallen from the Core!"

Captain Bai Jing raised his fist high, aiming at the dark demon bird.

"Reveal my face-down card: Trap Card—Defensive Tactics!" Lo Lo Kesi, showing no fear, flipped his face-down card. "Can only be activated when you have a Gladiator Beast monster face-up on your field! This turn, your monsters cannot be destroyed by battle, and battle damage becomes zero!"

Moreover, after activation, this card is not sent to the graveyard—it is sent directly to the bottom of your deck."

Lo Lo Kesi revealed the trap card, showed it briefly, then returned it to the bottom of his deck.

"Moreover, during the Battle Phase end step after Kaiser battles, you can Special Summon two 【Gladiator Beast】 monsters from your deck!"

"At this moment, Gladiator Beast Kaiser returns to the gladiator's locker room! Summon two slaves! I Special Summon—Gladiator Beast Tiger and Gladiator Beast Fish!"

Kaiser casually flapped his wings, stretched, and walked off. Immediately, two Gladiator Beasts rushed over to clean his path.

Gladiator Beast Tiger was a tiger wielding a long sword, equipped with mechanical wings—perfectly embodying the idiom "adding wings to a tiger"—its appearance was fearsome. On its card art, it was the direct overseer of the Gladiator Beasts, roughly equivalent to a "mid-level official," responsible for training the Gladiator Beast slaves.

As for Fish... it was just a fish.

Gladiator Beast Tiger, Level 4, Earth Attribute, Beast Type, ATK 1800.

Gladiator Beast Fish, Level 3, Water Attribute, Fish Type, ATK 800.

"Gladiator Beast Fish's effect: when this card is Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect, you can destroy one face-up monster on the field. I target Shenzijing!" Notably, though Fish's description seems non-targeting, that's only because it's ancient—Fish itself is a targeting effect.

"Next, Gladiator Beast Tiger's effect: when successfully Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect, you can discard one Gladiator Beast card from your hand, then add one Gladiator Beast monster from your deck to your hand! I discard Gladiator Beast Alexander, and add Gladiator Beast Spear to my hand!"

Lo Lo Kesi executed a dazzling chain of moves, utterly overwhelming for students—but Tiancheng Guang remained unfazed, replying immediately: "Then, at the moment your Tiger activates its effect, I activate Quick-Play Magic—Fusion Release!"

"Return Shenzijing on the field to the Extra Deck, and Special Summon the fusion materials used for its Fusion Summon from the graveyard!"

Tiancheng Guang re-summoned the two monsters from the graveyard onto the field.

"Hah, you barely escaped. But it doesn't matter—next turn, they'll still turn to ash."

Tiancheng Guang glanced at him, revealing his hand: "Equip Spell—Assimilation of the False Soul. This card can only be equipped to a Shadow monster. Declare one attribute—the equipped monster becomes that attribute. Hmm, though it's useless, I declare Light!"

The black hedgehog, shrouded in thick darkness, suddenly erupted in blinding light, glowing intensely.

"Equip Spell?" Lo Lo Kesi raised an eyebrow.

Tiancheng Guang's Equip Spell...

"Assimilation of the False Soul can, during my Main Phase, send the fusion materials chosen by a Shadow Fusion Monster from hand or field to the graveyard, and perform a Fusion Summon—return to me again! Shenzijing!"

The crimson wings unfolded once more.

"Ha, so in the end, it's just this?" Lo Lo Kesi didn't care.

All he needed to do next turn was Special Summon Kaiser again.

"Incredible... this Gladiator Beast deck really has such potential?" San Ze Sanze Dadi, watching this far, was already sweating.

The Gladiator Beast deck used by Combination Section students—neither as complete nor as powerful as Lo Lo Kesi 's!

The chain of effects, constantly transforming, looked truly overwhelming!

Tiancheng Guang glanced at his hand, then covered one card: "Cover one card, end turn."

"Hehehe... my turn, draw!" Lo Lo Kesi drew a card, murmuring, "Now, even if you turn back, it's too late!"

"I Normal Summon—Gladiator Beast Spear. Return Gladiator Beast Spear and Gladiator Beast Fish on the field to the deck, and Special Summon—Gladiator Beast Kaiser!!"

The demon bird once again reigned supreme!

But—

This time, it was different!

"What emperor, what slave—duel is duel!" Tiancheng Guang sneered. "Monster effect of Shadow God Shenzijing: activated when your opponent Special Summons a monster! Negate that monster's Special Summon and destroy it!"

"What?!"

"Then, as a cost, I send one Shadow monster from my hand to the graveyard—I send Shadow Falcon to the graveyard. Of course—Shadow Falcon's effect will also become a face-down monster, guarding the field!"

Kaiser had not even fully appeared before the giant knight pierced him with crimson puppet threads; struggling uselessly, he fell from the sky and plunged directly into the Netherworld.

"... Damn..." Lo Lo Kesi muttered under his breath, but after glancing at the card he just drew, he let out a cold laugh. "Tiancheng Guang, your strength is indeed unparalleled—but to think you can rival a 【Teacher】? You're still naive!"

"I activate Spell Card—Slave Fusion!"

Slave Fusion?

Tiancheng Guang immediately frowned.

Was this a card from "Yu-Gi-Oh! A5"?

"This card can send two 【Slave】 monsters from your hand to the graveyard, and Special Summon one 【Gladiator Beast】 monster from the Extra Deck, ignoring summoning conditions!"

"Don't think defeating Gladiator Beast Kaiser means you've won!"

"I send two Slave Monkeys from my hand to the graveyard, and Special Summon—"

"Level 8, Gladiator Beast Heraclius!"

A towering king-like Gladiator Beast, wielding a massive shield and axe, appeared on his field amid flames.

Gladiator Beast Heraclius, Level 8, Fire Attribute, Beast Warrior Type, ATK 3000!

"Its ATK is the same as Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

"So powerful! What an imposing monster!"

Some students nearby could feel the oppressive aura of Heraclius—the overwhelming dominance, the utter contempt for lesser beings.

"Attack with Heraclius—target Shenzijing!"

Tiancheng Guang LP: 4000 → 3450.

"Shenzijing's effect: when this card is sent to the graveyard, you can add one Shadow Spell Card from the graveyard to your hand. I return Shadow Integration to my hand!"

"Irrelevant! Attack your face-down card with Fish!"

"At this moment, I reveal my face-down card—Contact with the Divine Avatar! This card allows me to perform a Fusion Summon using a Shadow Fusion Monster!"

"No way—" Even amid fierce offense and defense, Lo Lo Kesi still had a move. "Heraclius's monster effect! Discard one card from your hand to negate and destroy a Spell or Trap Card! Shatter it—damn Fusion Spell—"

"Heh..." Tiancheng Guang chuckled. "Then, negate it."

Fish's ATK was 800; Falcon's DEF was 1400.

Therefore, he takes 600 damage.

Lo Lo Kesi LP: 2900 → 2300.

But now, his goal was achieved.

"End Battle Phase. Fish's monster effect: when this card returns to the deck, you can Special Summon one Gladiator Beast monster from your deck! I Special Summon Gladiator Beast Heavy in Defense Position!"

Gladiator Beast Heavy, Level 4, Earth Attribute, Rock Type, DEF 2100.

"When this card is Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect, its DEF becomes 2400!"

"Ha—end turn."

"So... so strong." A student couldn't help swallowing hard.

It was truly powerful!

Even if they weren't duelists, even if they merely watched, they could see that Professor Roxs's duel was a furious storm—not only devastatingly destructive, but capable of endlessly returning. If Tenjo Hikari hadn't used the effect of the Divine Child Crystal to restrict Kaiser's summoning, Roxs could have continuously summoned one Gladiator Beast after another, unleashing an unparalleled terrifying combo.

He could repeat it countless times, but if Tenjo Hikari made even one mistake, he would lose!

With such a powerful deck and flawless execution, it's no wonder Roxs provoked Tenjo Hikari.

Facing this crisis, what about A Guang—did he come up with a countermeasure?

They anxiously stared at Tenjo Hikari, searching his expression and demeanor for any sign of tension.

But…

None.

Not at all.

Tenjo Hikari calmly drew a card.

"I said it before—I will prove this duel is worthy of Professor Cronos."

"Hah! Then you should finally understand just how vast the gap is between you, a student, and a 【Teacher】!"

"A gap? That doesn't matter." A series of moves flashed through Tenjo Hikari's mind. "I said I treated last turn as my 【first】 turn."

"So although you lost Life Points in the 【first turn】, until Fish Duel's attack, your Life Points remain at 【4000】."

"What?" Luokesilengzhule 。

"So…" Tenjo Hikari swiftly drew a card. "At this moment, with the cards in my hand, I will deal you over 4000 points of damage!"

"What!?"

"Wait, is that even possible?"

"A Guang has already used so many cards from his hand!"

"Is there still a fusion that can resolve this situation?"

"Yes! Of course there is!" Serena's eyes lit up—she had thought of a combo!

"First, Spell Card: Shadow Fusion! Send the Wind-Attribute Elemental Hero Wingman from my deck and the Shadow Falcon on the field to the graveyard, and Fusion Summon the Wind-Attribute God, Shadow God Vindigo!"

Vindigo appeared and spun around.

Vindigo, Level 6, Wind Attribute, Psychic Type, DEF 2800.

"What's this move for?"

What's the point of a monster with DEF 2800?

"Next—Second Spell Card: Dark God Summon!"

"Dark God… ah!"

The 【Fire】 sent to the graveyard last turn, and the 【Wind】 sent this turn.

Exactly—Blazing Lady and Wingman!

"Exclude these two monsters from the graveyard! Fusion Summon a monster that requires 【Dark Fusion】!"

"Come forth!"

"Level 6, Evil Hero Inferno Wingma!"

Evil Hero…

That's also—【Hero】!

Evil Hero Inferno Wingma, Level 6, Fire Attribute, Demon Type, ATK 2100.

"And finally, the last card. Since you've been watching me closely, you must know exactly what my final card is."

"Could it be…?"

"Activate Equip Spell: Phantom of the Necropolis!"

Roxs widened his eyes.

This was—the very Fusion Spell that Tenjo Hikari used when joining the 【Fusion Army】!

"A Fusion Equip Spell that can only be equipped to a Demon or Undead monster of Level 5 or higher. When the equipped monster attacks the opponent, its ATK is reduced by its original ATK value!"

"Meanwhile—Inferno Wingma possesses an effect stronger than Flame Wingman!"

"When Inferno Wingma destroys an opponent's monster in battle, inflict damage equal to the higher of the destroyed monster's original ATK or DEF!"

Heraclius's ATK was 3000!

That's—1200 + 3000, plus the 600 damage Fish Duel took from recoil—

Total: 4800!

Exceeding 4000 points!

"Battle! Inferno Wingma!!!"

"Eradicate those boring so-called leaders, emperors!"

The gorgeous female demon bared a vicious grin, then lunged at Heraclius with claws, piercing its throat!

Winner: Tenjo Hikari!

Chapter Three, over 4000 characters—no chapter breaks for smoothness, haha. Thank you all for your support! Please vote for monthly tickets, please!

By the way, a big fan drew a fanart of A Guang—it's incredibly cool! Thanks to the master artist "Bing Ai"! Thank you so much!

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(End of Chapter)