Chapter 345: Gems and Jewels (4k, 15 bonus)

Johan moved his body slightly.

Wearing the armor made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

However, he quickly accepted the status quo.

Previously, he had always wanted to have a formal duel with Tenjou Hikari, but he never had the chance. He had also accidentally lost to others at the GX Tournament and couldn't use his Crystal Beasts to duel Tenjou Hikari’s "Gem-Knights" on stage.

And now, this scene seemed very suitable.

"My turn, draw card."

He noticed that on the screen next to him, the number of people supporting Tenjou Hikari was significantly higher than his.

Even though he was the "protagonist," it seemed that everyone generally supported Tenjou Hikari more.

Of course, he understood.

Just like when playing games as a child, everyone always had to divide someone to play the villain, but if a certain child was particularly popular, then even if they played the villain, everyone would instinctively help them say a few words.

In this Duel Academy, Tenjou Hikari was much more famous and popular than him, an international student. Almost no one doubted Tenjou Hikari anymore; he was the genuine Academy Ace.

But Johan could understand.

It was a simple matter. If Tenjou Hikari went to their branch school, he dared to say that his popularity would definitely be higher than Tenjou Hikari’s—even if Tenjou Hikari’s fame in the world was much higher than his own.

Supporting "one’s own people" was a matter of course.

Therefore, the first thing he had to do was to let everyone "get into the state."

"I’m coming, Lancelot!"

"Come on—Artorius!"

Johan drew a card from his deck.

He glanced at the card in his hand and said, "As a knight, betraying one’s lord is something that can never be accepted!"

Tenjou Hikari chuckled.

"But you are also a noble knight, so I allow you to prove your martial prowess and purity in this sacred duel—ah, in short, just use my family... the knights, and let me see your power, Knight!"

"Spell card, Crystal Bond!"

A huge yellow gem flickered on the field. Whether it was an illusion or not, many students saw strange armor; a tiger covered in armor roared onto the stage and then turned into a yellow gem.

"I add Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus from my deck to my hand, and at the same time, I use Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger from my deck as a Continuous Spell card and place it in my Spell & Trap Zone."

"Crystal Beasts!"

"I saw them at the GX Tournament before. They say there’s only one set in the whole world, cards personally archeologically produced by Mr. Pegasus!"

Johan laughed: "That’s right, these are the only ones in the world, my family, my knights!"

"Johan, what are you playing?" Sapphire Pegasus flew to his side and asked Johan in confusion.

For some reason, it had a lot of armor and equipment on its body, making it feel a bit uncomfortable.

Johan explained it to it slightly, and then it became a bit interested.

A role-playing duel!?

Then, it was Johan’s Round Table Knight!

"Defeat the villain!" Pegasus shouted, "Let me go!"

"Oh! You’re really motivated! Sapphire!" Johan responded enthusiastically, and then summoned the monster in his hand to the field, "Normal Summon, Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus!"

*Neigh—*

Sapphire, covered in armor, appeared brilliantly.

The pride of Crystal Beasts!

Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus!

Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus, Level 4, Wind Attribute, Beast-type, ATK 1800.

"When Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus is summoned/Special Summoned/Flipped, I can place 1 Crystal Beast from my deck as a Continuous Spell card face-up on my field. I place Crystal Beast Amethyst Cat!"

"Yeah!" The purple cat jumped onto the field, shouted, and then turned into a purple gem, remaining on the field.

"Spell card, Rare Value." Johan showed a spell card to Tenjou Hikari, "I can only activate this if I have two or more Crystal Beast Continuous Spell cards on my field. The opponent chooses one to send to the Graveyard, and I draw two cards."

Johan curled his lips, looking at Tenjou Hikari: "Come on, Knight, what are you going to choose!"

"Of course, I choose Topaz Tiger." Tenjou Hikari pointed to the monster on the opponent’s field, "A true knight should protect women and children. Compared to a fierce tiger, it’s better to keep the cat."

"That doesn't sound like something a traitor would say! And—underestimating the [Cat] will make you suffer. That’s not something a knight would do!" Johan felt the crazy roar of Amethyst Cat and couldn't help but lower his head and laugh.

Amethyst Cat was the one with the worst temper among his family. It almost didn't allow anyone to hurt him or other Crystal Beasts, and it was one of the very few spirits that would still curse. In short, Tenjou Hikari saying that, it must be very unhappy.

Even knowing this was "acting."

"Set three cards—" Johan set a full three cards quite kindly, and then said with a smile, "Lancelot, if you still have the pride of a [Knight], then use your power to break through the duel!"

Tenjou Hikari put his hand on the deck and felt a slight resistance.

He glanced at the projection screen next to him. Because of this round’s speed and efficiency, as well as the "rare" cards, Johan’s supporters were gradually catching up.

Under Johan’s "acting," the students gradually realized that this wasn't a score, but support for "Artorius" and "Lancelot." Then, as the villain Lancelot’s supporters, they would naturally become fewer and turn into Artorius’s supporters.

But that wasn't what Tenjou Hikari cared about.

He found that when he drew a card, he actually felt some resistance.

Sure enough...

He observed Professor Paladin with his peripheral vision.

Sure enough, this so-called "role-playing duel" was not purely role-playing. In this duel, there was extra "energy support."

Was it the projected supporters?

"My turn, draw card—"

Tenjou Hikari drew a card quickly and then said, "Artorius, I have never betrayed, nor have I ever attacked you."

"But since you cannot tolerate and let me go, then use a knight’s duel to let you understand my loyalty to the Round Table." He glanced at his hand, "Equip Spell card, Future Fusion!"

"Use this card to awaken the future and show my determination!"

"Then—Set card!" Johan opened a trap card decisively, "Counter Trap, Crystal Miracle!"

He clenched his fist slowly and said: "Can only be activated when a monster effect, Spell, or Trap card is activated. Choose 1 [Crystal Beast] on your field and destroy it, negate that activation and destroy it!

I destroy Amethyst Cat and send it to the Graveyard, negating and destroying your Future Fusion!"

*Ugh.*

Tenjou Hikari watched a clock spin in the sky for a moment. Pegasus kicked, using its front knee to knock the clock away, and then it slowly dissipated.

*Damn...*

"Justice will surely defeat evil. For a traitor, there is no [Future]!" Johan shouted two slogans handsomely and posed a few times. His support rate began to grow steadily.

Tenjou Hikari felt a slight pressure.

So that’s how it is.

Is that so?

Role-playing duels are really quite interesting.

He felt his "spirit power" being slightly tempered.

This Professor Paladin’s research direction also had some quite unique and powerful aspects...

"Is that so—but don't forget, I am the [Strongest] Knight. Since you want to use crystals, then let me show you my [Gem]!

Continuous Spell card, Brilliant Fusion!"

Tenjou Hikari lit up a spell card casually: "The effect of Brilliant Fusion is to send monsters from your deck to the Graveyard as fusion materials, and Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight fusion monster with its ATK and DEF becoming 0."

Tenjou Hikari took out his deck, searched through it, and took out two cards: "I fuse Gem-Knight Sapphire from my deck and Gem-Knight... from my deck!

The fusion condition is Gem-Knight Sapphire and a Gem-Knight monster!"

"Gem-Knight...?" Many people in the stands asked questions.

They had never heard Tenjou Hikari use this card before?

And this name, why did it sound so strange?

"Shouldn't it be Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Lazuli? Who is this...?"

"That’s right, this isn't Hikari-san’s previous summoning habit."

"That’s only natural!" Tenjou Hikari seemed to hear the questions from the audience, "Because I am the strongest knight Lancelot, the knight who controls the magic sword—"

A group of students were somewhat confused, but soon, they understood Tenjou Hikari’s implication.

At this moment, he was basing his tactics on being a "villain."

"Fusion Summon, Gem-Knight Sapphire!"

A sturdy knight swung his hand blade and jumped onto the field.

This time it was a real "knight."

Gem-Knight Sapphire, Level 6, Earth Attribute, Aqua-type, ATK 0.

"Gem-Knight?" Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus looked at the monster that appeared on the opposite side and couldn't help but sigh, becoming excited, "So that’s it, is this the duelist Johan mentioned who also uses [Gems]?

It is indeed a quite interesting monster."

"But, the ATK is only 0."

Amethyst Cat’s spirit poked its head out from the Graveyard, clawing at the edge of the Graveyard, looking at the field: "If the ATK is 0, there’s no need to worry at all."

Tenjou Hikari chuckled: "At this moment, activate the effect of...!"

"Can only be activated when this card is sent from the hand/deck to the Graveyard. Choose 1 card from your hand and send it to the Graveyard, and Special Summon this card!"

Tenjou Hikari held up a card in his hand: "I send Gem-Knight Fusion to the Graveyard."

"Special Summon, Gem-Knight...!"

*Hum—*

A purple halo rose above Tenjou Hikari’s head, a purple angel halo, slowly rotating and emerging.

Immediately after, a large number of puppet strings flew out from all directions and then combined into a form everyone was familiar with.

No—

Although it was a "familiar" monster, it was much smaller than that time!

A slender little monster slowly appeared on Tenjou Hikari’s field.

Gem-Knight..., Level 4, Light Attribute, Fairy-type, DEF 1600.

"Oh!!!"

"Isn't this... isn't this...?"

"So it was...—"

Many people suddenly realized.

Almost all students knew that besides the spirit called "Winda," the spirit Tenjou Hikari trusted most was Flame Swordsman and Gem-Knight Bai Jing, and Bai Jing possessed the form of "El Shaddoll Construct."

Previously, they were still wondering if other Shaddoll monsters had other forms. Today, they finally discovered that the... had a Gem-Knight form.

Tenjou Hikari looked at the... feeling indescribably excited.

This card was a brand-new card produced during this period.

It seemed that because the body of "Lapis" had been unsealed, the power of Gem-Knight and Shaddoll began to grow normally, not only successfully giving birth to "Gem-Knight Seraphinite" but also appearing as a card Tenjou Hikari had never seen before.

Gem-Knight...!

Powerful, strong, mighty! After this card appeared, Tenjou Hikari instantly knew that his Gem-Knight build needed to be changed.

"The effect of..., can only be activated when this card is summoned/Special Summoned. Add 1 Gem-Knight card other than [Gem-Knight...] from your deck to your hand. During the Main Phase of this turn, the effect damage the opponent receives becomes halved!"

"Such a strong effect!" In the stands, Judai exclaimed suddenly.

Others hadn't reacted yet, but Manjoume, who had teamed up with Tenjou Hikari, instantly remembered that card: "Ah, so strong!?"

"Aha!" On stage, the Tyler sisters’ eyes lit up, and Gloria couldn't help but clap her hands, "It’s that, [Scatter]!"

"The effect of...—add [Gem-Knight Scatter] from the deck to the hand!" Tenjou Hikari added Gem-Knight Scatter from the deck to his hand with a smile.

"Immediately after, use it!" Tenjou Hikari held up the card in his hand, and countless purple lightning bolts descended from the sky, illuminating his figure as terrifying, dark, and profound.

But precisely because of this light, because of this influence, the number of Tenjou Hikari’s supporters began to skyrocket.

To play a villain, one must have the awareness of playing a villain!

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

Under the lightning, Tenjou Hikari, wearing armor, seemed like a hunter knight who had destroyed who knows how many planets to hunt down monsters. His figure seemed incomparably tall, making many students in the "Paladin" camp unable to help but lower their heads.

"Gem-Knight Scatter is a Gem-Knight exclusive fusion spell card. You can use monsters in your hand/field as fusion materials to perform a Gem-Knight Fusion Summon—but when [Gem-Knight Fusion] exists in your Graveyard, you can also use up to two Gem-Knight monsters other than Rock-type from your deck/Extra Deck as fusion materials!"

Johan, Sapphire Pegasus, and Amethyst Cat stared at Tenjou Hikari in a daze: "Fusion from the Extra Deck?"

Tenjou Hikari curled his lips and said, "I use Sapphire on the field, and Ruby and Topaz from the Extra Deck as fusion materials, Fusion Summon!!"

*Boom!*

A huge gem sword fell from the sky, and then a pure white knight slowly swung his cloak, pressing both hands on the hilt, erupting with terrifying purple lightning.

"Level 9!"

"Gem-Knight Master Diamond!"

Gem-Knight Master Diamond, Level 9, Rock-type, ATK 2900.

As the villain knight, he was the first to summon the "King of Knights"!