Chapter 325: Don't make fun of it; it is the future Dragon Emperor (4k)

Tenjou Hikari goes first, drawing a card from his deck.

Tenjou Hikari lowers his head to glance at the card in his hand, his brain involuntarily beginning to churn.

Although Tenjou Hikari always shouts "Fusion! Fusion! Fusion!!" as if he has nothing but Fusion on his mind, those acquaintances, friends, and mentors who have had even the slightest contact with him know clearly that while he pursues Fusion because he truly loves it, Tenjou Hikari is a person who is extremely rational and adept at thinking.

This is actually quite normal.

Before coming to this world, when Tenjou Hikari played cards with others, every single card could have countless others waiting to follow it. The amount of content to consider was actually quite substantial, and one had to be well-prepared.

He looks up at the "Eye." Within the phantom of Pegasus, the golden eyeball embedded in the left eye is constantly emitting light, seemingly peering into Tenjou Hikari's inner heart.

Tenjou Hikari does not know how much this prying can reveal. Since President Pegasus said that even relying on his own alchemy would be unable to resist it, Tenjou Hikari defaults to the assumption that the opponent can see all his cards in hand.

Although in modern OCG, by the second turn of a duel, both sides basically know what the other has in hand and what is set, this does not mean it is the same as "playing with open cards."

The reason is simple: it is the classic question of "Do I Ash Blossom the Magicalized Fusion?"

Activating Magicalized Fusion allows one to search for Aleister the Invoker, while Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring can negate effects that add cards from the deck to the hand, send them to the Graveyard, or Special Summon.

The classic problem surrounding Magicalized Fusion, Aleister, and Ash Blossom is whether or not to discard the Ash Blossom.

If the opponent activates Magicalized Fusion and you discard Ash Blossom, and the opponent fails to search for Aleister and their other cards are dead, then you have effectively stopped the opponent with one card and can proceed directly to your own turn.

But if the opponent activates Magicalized Fusion just to bait the Ash Blossom, and they actually have an Aleister in hand, then they summon it and begin their plays. In this case, the Ash Blossom becomes a wasted card.

Similarly, the problem continues: if you don't discard Ash Blossom and the opponent gets Aleister, then Normal Summons Aleister and wants to add "Invocation" from the deck to their hand, you reach the point where you *must* discard the Ash Blossom.

Suppose the opponent didn't have Invocation in hand—that would be fine. But if the opponent didn't have Aleister in their starting hand but *did* have Invocation, the Ash Blossom becomes a hand trap that is ignored, and you have wasted a card for nothing. If you review the replay later and find that Ash Blossoming the Magicalized Fusion would have won the game, you fall into a state of regret.

Modern Yu-Gi-Oh! hand trap interaction is exactly this kind of "game theory." Therefore, what Tenjou Hikari is best at is using the asymmetry of card information to play this game.

Unless the gap between the decks is too large—for instance, playing a top-tier Tearlaments against a rogue Sky Striker—"information" is always extremely important.

But now...

The opponent can see all his cards in hand, and he doesn't know what the opponent has in theirs. This makes Tenjou Hikari feel quite uncomfortable.

More importantly, even if Tenjou Hikari closed his eyes and let Tierra operate, it would be hard for him to stop thinking. Hearing Tierra choose cards and make moves, he would inevitably make rapid associations and judge them based on his own understanding.

"It seems Tenjou Hikari is also having a headache? He hasn't even used a card yet," Meikyuu says, looking at the scene from outside the glass window, arms crossed and brow furrowed.

"After all, it's a mind-reading ability. This is Tenjou-kun's first time encountering it, so he must be having a hard time," Maeda Hayato says, worried for Tenjou Hikari.

"President, let me do it—if that doesn't work, let me at least scout the path for Tenjou Hikari," France requests again.

Pegasus shakes his head gently, signaling everyone to watch.

Tenjou Hikari scans the cards in his hand, hesitating for a moment, but finally decides to play and see the actual effect.

"Activate Continuous Spell, Brilliant Fusion!"

On Tenjou Hikari's field, a pure white, transparent gem slowly lights up, gently illuminating the scenery inside the room.

"As the effect resolution when this card is activated, I send monsters from my deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon 1 'Gem-Knight' Fusion Monster, whose ATK and DEF become 0. When this card leaves the field, that monster is destroyed."

Tenjou Hikari opens his deck and quickly selects two cards, sending them to the Graveyard: "I choose Gem-Knight Lazuli and A-Assault Core!"

"The Fusion conditions are a Gem-Knight monster and a LIGHT monster!"

The diamond flashes with color. In the sky, a green chlorite descends, and then, with a flicker of emerald light, a graceful Gem-Knight lands.

"Fusion Summon!"

"Gem-Knight Seraphinite!"

Lazuli flicks her cape, making a dashing entrance on Tenjou Hikari's field. Just as she prepares to say something, she sees Tenjou Hikari play his next card immediately, as if in a great hurry.

Gem-Knight Seraphinite, Level 5, EARTH, Fairy-type, ATK 2300.

"Spell Card, Fluffal Patchwork."

"According to this card's effect, I add one 'Fusion' and one 'Edge-Imp' monster from my deck to my hand. I add Fusion Substitute and Edge-Imp Chain to my hand."

Rapid summoning and rapid searching.

"It seems that even Tenjou Hikari is nervous in this situation," Gong notices Tenjou Hikari's rapid movements.

But he actually can't say anything to look down on Tenjou Hikari; he himself had broken into a cold sweat just by opening the door earlier.

Just being scanned by that eye made him feel cold all over. The pressure Tenjou Hikari has to bear is far greater than his own, so it is perfectly normal for him to be a little nervous.

After adding Edge-Imp to his hand, Tenjou Hikari does not rush to fuse. He looks at the cards in his hand, draws one, and places it on the field.

"Normal Summon, Dragonmaid Laundry!"

"Waga!"

A small, humanoid blue dragon spreads its arms, lets out a cry, and appears on Tenjou Hikari's field.

Dragonmaid Laundry, Level 2, WATER, Dragon-type, ATK 500.

"Oh? A cute dragon." Pegasus chuckles when he sees this little dragon. "This kind of card seems to be one that Game Boy obtained from another dimension. I didn't expect Tenjou Boy to have obtained it."

Tenjou Hikari takes a deep breath, looks at the little blue dragon on the field, and the corners of his mouth curl up.

"Knowing my thoughts is indeed a sweat-inducing matchup, but Fusion is not that simple.

Your eyes have been staring at me, prying into my tactics, right?

But what if even I don't know what I'm going to do!

Activate Dragonmaid Laundry's effect! When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I send the top 3 cards of my deck to the Graveyard!"

The little blue dragon pulls out a washboard, a pure smile on its face, and laughs as it begins to churn Tenjou Hikari's deck.

"Oh!" the Meikyuu brothers exclaim in unison. "So that's it, using this kind of tactic!"

"Oh—what an interesting strategy." Pegasus sees Tenjou Hikari's move and can't help but applaud softly. "Tenjou Boy's deck contains monsters like the 'Shaddoll' series, which can activate card effects when sent to the Graveyard.

And even if the 'Eye' can see through his hand and his tactics, it cannot see through Tenjou Boy's 'luck'."

That's right. Since all his tactics have been probed, he will fight with the "unknown"!

With his current "Spirit Power" and his affinity for Fusion, anything could happen—

Just as he thinks this, the little blue dragon has already tossed the cards. Three cards fly into the air, turning into giant cards to be displayed to everyone.

But the moment they are displayed, the smile on Tenjou Hikari's face freezes.

"...Truly entertaining," Ansel says, forcing himself to speak.

"What's going on?" Tierra asks, seeing the three cards in the sky.

Tenjou Hikari takes a deep breath.

[Future Fusion], [Fusion Birth], [Shaddoll Beast].

If you say it's useless, it did send Shaddoll Beast to the Graveyard.

But if you say it's useful...

It sent Future Fusion and Fusion Birth, Tenjou Hikari's greatest "possibilities," to the Graveyard!!

These three cards have even Tierra confused.

That's impossible—

How could Tenjou Hikari's mill result in this?!

She is completely baffled.

Tenjou Hikari shakes his head.

It seems he underestimated "Little Blue."

Or there is another possibility: the higher his adaptability, the easier it is for cards like Little Blue that are prone to "messing up" to actually mess up?

Tenjou Hikari can't worry about that anymore. He opens his mouth and says: "It doesn't matter. Activate the effect of Shaddoll Beast sent to the Graveyard: draw one card!"

"Then, Gem-Knight Seraphinite's effect: as long as this card is on the field, I can Normal Summon one monster in addition to my Normal Summon. Normal Summon, Edge-Imp Chain!"

"Spell Card—Fusion Substitute!"

"The Fusion conditions are 3 monsters with different names on the field or in hand."

"Three spears of the judgment world, turn into the hell of ice, freeze the world!"

"Fusion Summon!"

"Level 9, the dragon that destroys heaven and earth—Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Prison!"

Frost descends from the sky.

Inside the giant laboratory, a layer of ice and snow gradually covers the entire field. Countless ice crystals are born out of thin air, and the temperature begins to plummet crazily.

Behind Tenjou Hikari, a giant ice sculpture emerges. Several pairs of scarlet eyes suddenly light up, and then...

Snap—

"Roar!!" "Caw!!!" "Ha—"

The three-headed giant dragon, venting its purity, its destruction, its annihilation, appears between heaven and earth!

Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Prison, Level 9, WATER, Dragon-type, ATK 2700.

The giant dragon roars, appearing quite excited.

Where is the opponent!

Where is the enemy, where is the enemy!

"This guy seems to have been locked up for a long time," Tierra says from the side. "It looks like it allows people to use it as long as it gets a little fresh air."

That's pretty good.

Tenjou Hikari nods: "Edge-Imp Chain's effect: when this card is sent from the hand or field to the Graveyard, add one 'Frightfur' card from my deck to my hand. I add Fluffal Patchwork to my hand."

One card automatically turns into a stream of light and flies into Tenjou Hikari's hand.

"Then, set one card, end turn."

"So that's how it is~~" Pegasus realizes, seeing Tenjou Hikari's move. "Besides dueling with 'unknown possibilities,' Tenjou Hikari has also prepared for the opponent to completely see through all his actions."

"Since you want to read my inner thoughts, then I'll just be open and let the opponent know what cards I have in hand."

"After all, no matter what, Tenjou Boy will always only do one thing, and that is—"

"Fusion."

That really is the case!

Several people nod.

Fluffal Patchwork's effect is to search for Edge-Imp and Fusion Spells. Tenjou Hikari isn't worried about whether the opponent knows if he will fuse or not; he is letting the opponent figure out how to respond.

All Tenjou Hikari has to do is perform different Fusions based on the different situations in the next turn!

Throw the problem back to the opponent and let them think about how to deal with it!

Moreover, 2700 ATK is not so easy to overcome!

"My turn. Draw." To everyone's surprise, this [Eye] actually has a voice!

Thousand-Eyes looks at its hand, a smile on its face, and draws a card: "Pay 1000 Life Points, activate Normal Spell, Instant Fusion."

Instant Fusion!?

Tenjou Hikari's expression changes.

"Ah, this..." the onlookers are also shocked.

Meet change with constancy?

Then just directly—lock everything down.

"Fusion Summon, Level 1, Thousand-Eyes Restrict."

A golden eye emerges in the air, and then, the golden eye begins to multiply. Countless eyes turn into limbs and flesh, and finally, a monster Tenjou Hikari is accustomed to and uses often appears on the opponent's field.

Thousand-Eyes, LP: 4000→3000.

Thousand-Eyes Restrict, Level 1, DARK, Spellcaster-type, ATK 0.

"It's actually Thousand-Eyes Restrict?" Ansel exclaims in a low voice.

A powerful Fusion Monster that can almost instantly deal with any monster!

"No, no, no, it should be 'as expected' it's Thousand-Eyes Restrict, right?" France shakes his head directly. "Since it's an existence imitating President Pegasus, then it's only natural that it would use this card!"

That's right.

Tenjou Hikari was just a little surprised because he hadn't seen this monster appear on the opposite field for a long time.

He thought the opponent would start with "Toon" to test his strength.

He didn't expect it to be Restrict directly.

"Activate Thousand-Eyes Restrict's effect: once per turn, target 1 monster on the opponent's field. Equip that monster to this card." Thousand-Eyes points at Trishula.

Trishula roars, refusing to back down, opening its mouth to spray ice and fight Thousand-Eyes for three hundred rounds.

Tenjou Hikari is a bit helpless: "Flip face-down card, Quick-Play Spell, De-Fusion!"

"De-Fusion?"

"There's no other way. Even if the ATK is higher, if it gets swallowed, no matter how high the ATK is, it will only become a wedding dress for the opponent."

Trishula roars three times and then disappears from the field.

"Return Trishula to the Extra Deck. Then, Special Summon all of Trishula's Fusion Materials from the Graveyard."

Gem-Knight, Edge-Imp, Dragonmaid, all appear on Tenjou Hikari's field again.

Seraphinite, DEF 1400; Chain, DEF 1800; Laundry, DEF 1600.

"Then, activate Dragonmaid Laundry's effect again!" Tenjou Hikari picks up the top three cards of his deck and glances at them. "...I send Fusion Armament, Shaddoll Fusion, and Metalfoes Fusion to the Graveyard."

This time, Tenjou Hikari feels it's not bad.

Metalfoes Fusion can be recycled, Fusion Armament might not be useful, and Shaddoll Fusion has a chance to be recycled from the Graveyard.

At least it didn't rot.

"Hehehe..." Suddenly, Thousand-Eyes begins to laugh.

"All your thoughts have been seen through by me."

!?

"Human, you are too eager to bypass my ability, too worried about your thoughts being seen through, so you won't use De-Fusion to return my Restrict to the deck. You will definitely let that ridiculous monster activate its effect."

"Don't you dare make fun of Little Blue, it is a monster that possesses the 'future'!"

"Hehe—is that so? Then, let me show you the 'future' on my side."

!?

"Spell Card—Fusion!"

"Fusion!?"

"What!"

"It's actually Fusion!?"

A group of onlookers exclaim in unison, looking at Pegasus. Pegasus also can't help but open his mouth wide, watching this scene.

"The Fusion conditions are [Relinquished] and 1 Effect Monster."

"I fuse the Relinquished in my hand with the Thousand-Eyes Restrict on the field!"

Snap...

Poof—

The phantom of the Golden Evil God flies to Tenjou Hikari's side, watching this scene in shock.

What, what?!

Thousand-Eyes Restrict begins to glow gradually, a layer of gold nesting on its body. The power of ancient Egypt becomes increasingly obvious...

"Fusion Summon!"

"Level 1, Millennium-Eyes Restrict!"