Chapter 32: Return

"Alchemist, do you have any healing potions?" After realizing this shattered dimension likely held nothing else, Tenjo Hikari walked over to Professor Cronos, returned the cards he had previously "borrowed" to his deck, then helped him lean against a large rock, frowning.

How long has it been? Why hasn't he woken up yet?

Though he's always been absurd, when danger struck, Professor Cronos didn't flee—he immediately tossed the means of survival to Tenjo, ensuring his safe retreat. No matter his teaching ability, his "teacher's virtue" was undeniably exceptional; he couldn't bear to see the professor remain unconscious.

"Don't worry, I examined your colleague's body—he'll likely wake in no more than two hours. He's just got extremely low spirit affinity…" The alchemist shrugged.

Is that so?

Tenjo Hikari nodded, finally relaxing.

In the late story arc, Cronos was undoubtedly the best professor—but even in the early days, beneath his comical, ugly exterior, his protection of students was already evident. For instance, though he was nearly forced into dark duels, when facing death, he didn't harbor resentment; instead, he taught his student that even the darkest power could be overcome, to fear nothing, and to meet death with calmness.

He was a teacher willing to die for his students. So even if he was absurd, Tenjo Hikari, who knew the future, held no ill will toward him.

He originally brought the professor along purely because of his high status, his forced-exit device, and most importantly, because his deck contained the highest-quality fusion material Tenjo Hikari currently possessed: "Ancient Mechanical Giant."

In his mind, the two of them in a tag duel might not be invincible, but they'd certainly dominate.

Who knew Bai Jing, controlled by dark forces, wouldn't even duel—she just attacked outright?

While waiting, Tenjo Hikari asked about Wan Rong the alchemist.

How did he get here?

He learned that Wan Rong had clashed ideologically with his master, so he resolved to leave the Alchemy Academy, working and experimenting alone to prove his own theories.

"So what's the problem?"

"The Philosopher's Stone," the alchemist said.

"The Philosopher's Stone?" Tenjo Hikari stared at the alchemist in surprise. What's strange about that?

"My master said the ultimate pursuit of alchemy is the Philosopher's Stone—eternal life, the universal remedy, all mere byproducts," the alchemist tapped his staff against his back, shaking his head. "I argued fiercely with him because I thought he was spouting nonsense—the ultimate pursuit of alchemy should be gold!"

"The Philosopher's Stone? It's just a tool to turn ordinary metal into gold!"

Holy shit, a fundamentalist alchemist.

Tenjo Hikari glanced sideways at the various devices, squinting slightly, cautiously asking: "So… you're making gold here, all by yourself?"

"Sigh, all the materials I brought with me are gone, and I achieved nothing," the alchemist rubbed the back of his head, sighing. "But I did get some byproducts—I don't need them. Master, take them all?"

He rummaged through a box beside him and pulled out a pile of items, handing them all to Tenjo Hikari. Tenjo took them, glanced briefly, and recognized them immediately—all were low-tier Normal Monsters without any "Spirit"!

He raised an eyebrow.

Not bad.

The fusion material for Chain Material Warrior · Wan Rong is precisely 【Chain Material】 Monsters and Normal Monsters, so having a large supply of Normal Monster materials was perfectly normal.

Though most were useless, it wasn't a problem—they could be used for Super Fusion.

Saved some money.

"Hope you can turn me a Swamp Demon King," Tenjo Hikari tucked the items away. After a while, once Professor Cronos awoke, he simply told him he'd already finished.

Professor Cronos barely remembered what happened—he only recalled being knocked unconscious by a rock. After hearing Tenjo Hikari had dueled the Spirit with his own cards and earned its recognition, he didn't press the matter; instead, he secretly rejoiced.

Oh my god, no need to face the Spirit directly—perfect.

After a short rest—mostly because the vain Professor Cronos needed to tidy his appearance—the two passed through the portal and returned to the real world.

Compared to last time, Tenjo Hikari felt far less discomfort this time; he was merely tired, nowhere near the exhaustion of having run a full kilometer. It seemed there were differences between the two alternate dimensions—the Chaos Warrior's realm had been overwhelmingly strong.

"Oh my god…" Professor Cronos stepped onto the familiar school floor, pulled out a handkerchief, wiped his forehead, and finally exhaled deeply. At the same time, the principal, who had been waiting, approached warmly to greet them.

"How was it, Professor Cronos? No accidents?"

"Huh? Oh, uh… no?" Cronos clasped his hands in front of him, rubbing them eagerly as he spoke to Principal Principal Jiaodao. "Felt perfectly ordinary—like eating and drinking."

Sleeping through the whole thing was too embarrassing. He'd already made peace with Tenjo: if Tenjo performed well in this exam, he'd give him extra points—in exchange, Tenjo must never mention his nap. So Tenjo kept nodding beside him.

"Good, good. So, Tenjo, did you earn the Spirit's recognition?"

Tenjo Hikari nodded.

"Hahaha! Looks like next year, that guy up north will have to send only freshmen for the Friendship Match—no second-years allowed!" Principal Principal Jiaodao laughed. "Well done, Professor Cronos…"

Watching the three laugh and chat, Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's face darkened, as if it could drip with ink.

"No accidents?" "Perfectly ordinary?" "Like eating and drinking?"

What does that mean?

Cronos, are you implying my methods are useless—that you're laughing at me?!

His clenched fists tightened behind his back. What was that ridiculous grin of Cronos's supposed to mean?!

The "Gem Knight Bai Jing" was recovered by him from that strange ruin dimension, with assistance from Sea Horse Corp staff. Alongside it, several other Gem Knights carried strange "Darkness."

Though he hadn't used his full power, Sea Horse Corp's people weren't fools. Bai Jing's Darkness far surpassed all other Gem Knight cards. How could two ordinary people survive so quickly and unharmed?

Even if Tenjo Hikari had visited another dimension, how strong could his Spirit be?

Just a Flame Swordsman? How many seconds could it hold out?

Could it be…?

At that moment, Cronos turned and smiled at him—but the smile froze grotesquely on his face, resembling a Pot of Greed, bizarre and abstract.

He's mocking me!

Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang felt like he'd explode.

Did he foresee this?!

Did he plan even this step?!

Could he possess the Spirit of the Ancient Mechanical Giant? That could indeed counter Bai Jing—

Damn old bastard!

No, calm down. Don't get angry.

At least now I know one of Cronos's "trump cards."

He took a deep breath, exchanged pleasantries with them, claimed he had work in his department, turned, ordered several teachers to get to work, and strode away.

He feared he'd lose control and attack Cronos directly!

No, he couldn't expose himself. He couldn't let his grand plan be thwarted!

"Oh my god… what's wrong with him?" Seeing Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang storm off, Cronos was baffled. He lowered his voice and whispered to Tenjo Hikari: "Did I offend him somehow?"

"Professor Chi Ma probably just isn't good at socializing," Tenjo Hikari could guess Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's thoughts—he assumed the "salted egg" plan had failed, and Chi Ma was just pissed. He didn't care.

He'd figured it out.

Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang wasn't fit to lead "Fusion."

Deliberately stoking internal conflict, treating students like trash, militarizing them, and secretly trapping them in alternate dimensions—

How could anyone achieve good Fusion alongside such a person?

He was the one who deserved it!

He decided that in the future, he'd dismantle the Fusion Army and form his own "New Fusion Department."

As for now…

The midterm exam was approaching.

He was already planning.

The Duel Academy's exam had two parts.

One, a written test; the other, naturally, "practical combat."

His goal? The scholarship. So now, he needed to devote himself entirely to studying.

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(End of Chapter)