Chapter 353

"It is my turn now—"

The Duke draws a card from his deck, looks at the cards in his hand, and ponders for a moment.

First, let me change my hand.

"I activate the Spell Card, Allure of Darkness, to draw two cards. Then, I banish 1 Dark-attribute monster from my hand." He draws two cards from his deck, glances at the other cards in his hand, nods slightly, and reveals one, "I banish the Disaster Demon from my hand."

"Next, I Normal Summon, Demon Cavalry!"

Neigh—

A skeletal knight riding a ghost horse appears on the Duke's field.

"And then—I activate the effect of Berserk Demon in my hand, targeting the Demon Cavalry on my field. I Special Summon this card, and then destroy the Demon Cavalry!"

"ROAR!!!"

A disheveled demon wielding a giant axe appears, howling.

Berserk Demon, Level 6, Dark-attribute, Fiend-type, ATK 2000.

"I activate the effect of Berserk Demon. When this card is summoned by its own effect, I can target up to the number of monsters destroyed, choosing face-up monsters on the opponent's field. This card gains ATK equal to the total original ATK of the targeted monsters until the end of my next turn."

"I destroyed one of my own monsters, so I can target 1 monster on your field to increase my ATK. I choose your Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"

Berserk Demon raises its giant axe and roars, shredding and devouring the surrounding plant roots.

"At the same time, the effect of Demon Cavalry: when this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can target 1 [Fiend] monster in my Graveyard, other than Demon Cavalry, and Special Summon it. The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack this turn."

"I Special Summon Demon's Star in Defense Position."

Berserk Demon, ATK: 2000 → 4500.

Demon's Star, Level 8, Dark-attribute, Fiend-type, DEF 1200.

Still in Defense Position; he really is cautious.

"4500 ATK! It's already on par with the legendary Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"

"Such high attack power—"

The Demon Duke's subjects cannot help but cheer for him.

Effects and tactics depend on whether one understands the game, but if the ATK value is high enough, it is high—that is something visible to the naked eye.

"And then..." He looks at the cards in his hand, "Quick-Play Spell Card, Offerings to the Doomed. Target 1 face-up monster on the field. Destroy that face-up monster. Skip your next Draw Phase."

Offerings to the Doomed, huh.

Tenjou Hikari has quite an impression of this card; it's a classic in Duel Links.

On the field, a strange mortuary hall slowly lights up, flames begin to burn out of thin air, and in a short while, Chimerafflesia is incinerated in the burning fire.

"Oh no—" the Young Lady whispers.

She certainly does not want Tenjou Hikari to lose.

But in this situation, Tenjou Hikari seems to be forced to exhaust all his means of resistance!

If Tenjou Hikari does not use his face-down cards, then the 4500 ATK Berserk Demon can attack directly and win the game!

Realizing this, not only her, but the other watching spirits also gasp in surprise.

"Berserk Demon attacks the opponent directly!" The Duke of Spirits raises his hand, and an aura of rot and decay begins to permeate. As a "Duke," he begins to call upon the demons under his command to attack.

Berserk Demon begins to charge up, its massive battle axe about to fall.

"I activate my face-down cards—" Tenjou Hikari has no choice and immediately flips his face-down cards.

First is the Trap Card, Chain Material.

After activation, when Tenjou Hikari performs a Fusion Summon this turn, he can select and banish the materials listed on the Fusion Monster card from his hand, deck, field, or Graveyard as Fusion Materials. The turn this is activated, he cannot attack, and the monster Fusion Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase.

Then, starting a new chain, after the Trap Card's effect resolves, he activates the Trap Card, Soul Fusion.

"I banish Ancient Gear Commander and Ancient Gear Hound from my deck to Special Summon Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound in Defense Position!"

Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound, Level 8, Earth-attribute, Machine-type, DEF 1800.

"Ancient Gear..." Camula looks at this card, her expression turning sour. Losing to an "ugly" duelist made her unable to sleep for a while; every time she wanted to sleep, she would be woken up by Cronos's face, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

But she also knows that the one called Cronos is Tenjou Hikari's teacher, so it is normal to use such cards.

"Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound?" The old Duke examines it for a while and says gloomily, "If I remember correctly, it's a card that can Special Summon Ancient Gear Golem ignoring its summoning conditions after being destroyed by battle, right?"

"I won't attack—after all, the monster fused by Chain Material must still be destroyed during the End Phase."

"I'll just set two cards and end my turn."

Pop!

Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound immediately dissipates.

Now, there is nothing left on Tenjou Hikari's field, and only Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio remains in his hand.

"Oh my, if you had just fused me at the beginning of that guy's turn, you wouldn't have lost at all, would you?" Tierra watches Tenjou Hikari's situation and cannot help but make a sarcastic remark.

The Young Lady cannot help but prick up her ears in curiosity.

As far as she knows, Winda doesn't seem to be able to do such a thing, right?

"Don't be silly, you should know very well that there is only one Lilith and one Satan in this deck, plus the Fusion Parasite; there's no such powerful effect for you to activate." Tenjou Hikari retorts, "Besides, there's no Fusion Recovery right now. What, do you want to take a trip to the Graveyard?"

Of course, more importantly, it's not a life-or-death moment; what would be the point of summoning Tierra? To kill the opponent?

No need, no need.

On the other side, the Young Lady, Camula, and countless blood demons and demons listen to Tenjou Hikari's words, looking blank.

What is this?

What is all this?

What kind of Fusion Monster could be so powerful?

"My turn, draw—" After finishing his chat with Tierra, Tenjou Hikari draws a card from his deck, looks down at it, and then his brow furrows.

Tsk...

"What is it?" "Judging by his expression, it's a Spell Card."

"How is it, Lord Hikari, what card is it?"

Tenjou Hikari shrugs and reveals the card for all the spirits to see.

Spell Card, Fusion Birth.

"It seems Fusion cannot be born after all." The Duke of Spirits laughs with a ho-ho-ho.

Tenjou Hikari doesn't mind and sends the Spell Card in his hand to the Graveyard.

"Indeed, Spell destruction is truly a headache, Lord Duke, but my Fusion will never stop here!" Tenjou Hikari narrows his eyes, clenches his right fist, and at the same time, countless vines begin to surge from the earth.

"Fusion Monster, Predaplant Chimerafflesia's effect! When this card is sent to the Graveyard, activate during your next Standby Phase. Add 1 [Fusion] Spell Card from your deck to your hand!"

"Eh?" The Spirit Princess speaks for the first time, very confused, saying at this moment, "What's the use of that?"

This is also what many spirits are thinking.

Even if the Spell Card is added to the hand, it will be destroyed anyway, so what's the point of adding it?

Only the Young Lady cannot help but slowly widen her eyes.

"No—" Tenjou Hikari's mouth curls upward, "The effect of Deck Devastation Virus is that within 3 turns counting from the opponent's turn, all cards the opponent [draws] are checked, and within those, all cards of the declared type are destroyed—"

"But!"

"The effect of Predaplant Chimerafflesia is to add the card directly to the hand, not [draw]!"

"Ah?" "Oh!"

"Right, that's right!"

"The Ritual of Dueling is truly profound..."

Many people watch Tenjou Hikari start to select a Spell from his deck, only then realizing he has bypassed the virus's influence.

Tenjou Hikari's mouth curls up: "I choose the Equip Spell Card, Future Fusion!"

Tenjou Hikari is not polite either; since the opponent is unkind, he will perform a cheat-like Fusion.

"Activate Spell Card, Future Fusion..." Tenjou Hikari inserts the Spell Card into the Spell/Trap slot and cannot help but feel happy.

With the invincible Future Fusion, one Fusion is enough...

Awesome!

As a high-level spirit, the Vampire Young Lady naturally knows this card too.

As long as Future Fusion is activated, everything will be fine...

"Don't even think about it!" Unexpectedly, the Duke of Spirits activates the Trap Card he swapped in at this moment, "Trap Card, Magic Jammer!"

Tenjou Hikari's brow twitches wildly.

That's too underhanded, Lord Duke.

"Activate only when the opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card. Negate that activation and destroy it. The opponent draws one card."

Tenjou Hikari scratches the back of his head lightly.

The clock symbolizing the future fusion on the field slowly cracks under the shining gold coins.

"Eh—but in this way, Lord Hikari can draw a card again, right?"

"But... what's the use of drawing a card?"

That's right.

It's not "add to hand" but "draw a card"!

"Please, Lord Hikari, you can draw a card now."

Tenjou Hikari is speechless; he draws a card, looks down at it, and then his brow raises slightly. Immediately after, he shows the card to the opponent.

Without a doubt, it is still a Spell Card.

He sends that Spell Card to the Graveyard.

"Activate the effect of Thunder Dragon Fusion sent to the Graveyard last turn."

"Another effect of a Fusion card in the Graveyard?" The Duke examines Tenjou Hikari with interest, "However, since it wasn't used last turn, that card's effect shouldn't be Fusion, right?"

Tenjou Hikari nods: "Although it is not Fusion, it is a Fusion-related effect... it is an effect to acquire Fusion materials. The effect of Thunder Dragon Fusion: banish this card that was not sent to the Graveyard this turn. Add 1 Thunder-type monster from your deck to your hand."

"I add Thunder Dragon to my hand."

Tenjou Hikari takes Thunder Dragon from his deck into his hand: "Then, activate the effect of Thunder Dragon, discard itself, and add two other Thunder Dragons from the deck to my hand."

Tenjou Hikari discards Thunder Dragon and then takes two Thunder Dragons.

Hmm... he ponders.

Having no Spells is indeed quite troublesome for Tenjou Hikari.

"Normal Summon, Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio."

A scorpion with a flower growing on its tail, or perhaps a flower that looks like a scorpion, spins and appears on Tenjou Hikari's field.

Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio, Level 3, Dark-attribute, Plant-type, ATK 1200.

"Ophrys Scorpio's effect: when it is Normal or Special Summoned, send 1 monster from your hand to the Graveyard to activate. Special Summon 1 Predaplant monster from your deck, other than Ophrys Scorpio."

Tenjou Hikari takes the Thunder Dragon from his hand, sends it to the Graveyard, and opens his deck: "I choose... Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!"

The eerie snake-grass spirals onto the field, wraps around Tenjou Hikari's neck, and coldly stares at the enemy.

Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra, Level 3, Dark-attribute, Plant-type, ATK 1000.

This card is one of the first two Predaplants Tenjou Hikari created; later, it was fused with the initially created Drosera Serpent to become the Fusion Dragon. However, because of its high importance, Tenjou Hikari recreated it afterward.

Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time Tenjou Hikari has successfully activated its effect.

"Darlingtonia Cobra's effect can only be activated if it is Special Summoned by the effect of a [Predaplant] monster. Add 1 Spell Card with [Fusion] in its name from your deck to your hand."

This card's search range is the same as Predaplant Chimerafflesia; as long as it has Fusion, it can be added to the hand, and it is even more convenient than Chimerafflesia. It is enough to directly get "Super Polymerization."

However, it's hard to say what the opponent's face-down cards are. This Duke is truly a bit "underhanded." No wonder the card description of the Duke of Spirits says, "Gentlemanly on the outside, evil on the inside; not only humans, but even lower-level demons fear him."

"I add Substitution Fusion from my deck to my hand."

"Another tactic to bypass drawing and add a Fusion Spell Card directly to the hand!"

"So amazing, even like this, he can still Fusion?"

Many watching spirits are already surprised; even the Vampire Young Lady, who has dueled Tenjou Hikari before, cannot help but nod repeatedly.

It is precisely Hikari's persistence in Fusion, his obsession with Fusion, that made her willing to give him her own body card.

"Activate, Spell Card, Substitution Fusion!" Tenjou Hikari reveals the Spell Card again, "With this card, I can send Fusion materials on the field to the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!"

"Truly... remarkable." The Duke of Spirits nods continuously. He never expected that even in such a situation, Tenjou Hikari could still frequently perform Fusion. This persistence is something this old-school demon is quite satisfied with.

After all, it is precisely because of his dignity and his reserve that he longs to prove himself through dueling.

"However... the Ritual of Dueling is cruel, Hikari!"

"Face-down card, activate!"

"Counter Trap Card, Magic Drain!"

As expected!

Tenjou Hikari curses inwardly—

It really is a Counter Trap, and a Counter Trap targeting Spell Cards at that!

A ghost appears beside Tenjou Hikari, reaching out its demonic claws toward Substitution Fusion.

"Activate when the opponent activates a Spell Card. The opponent can discard 1 Spell Card from their hand to negate this card's effect. If they do not discard, that card's activation is negated and destroyed!"

The Duke of Spirits turns around with his hands behind his back, like a lonely master.

"Although you have cards in your hand, that card is [Thunder Dragon], so... you cannot resist this effect!"

The magic vortex rising in the darkness begins to be drained by the ghost. Hearing a crackling sound, the existence of Fusion disappears once again!

"It's over—" The Young Lady bites her lip.

"It seems Purple Cutie is doomed to lose." Camula taps her forehead lightly with her finger, "Although the Duke cannot draw a card next turn, he still has two monsters with over 2000 ATK on his field, and even a 4500 ATK monster."

"As long as he attacks, Purple Cutie will lose."

She shakes her head continuously: "It seems Fusion has its limits after all."

Other spirits also discuss in low voices, and almost everyone reaches a conclusion similar to hers.

"Fusion has limits? Naive!" Amidst the countless voices, Tenjou Hikari accurately catches what Camula said and says aloud, "If I stopped pursuing Fusion just because of something like this, then I, Tenjou Hikari, would have already fallen on the path of life! How could I call myself a chaser of ultimate Fusion?!"

!?

The Young Lady and the Spirit Princess are both shocked to hear his words.

But—

But even so, what can be done?

There is no way to [Fusion] anymore!

"Activate the effect of Substitution Fusion in the Graveyard!" Tenjou Hikari is completely unaffected, while Tierra stands by with a smile, hands on her hips, looking so confident as if she were the one dueling, "Return one Fusion Monster from the Graveyard to the Extra Deck, then banish it, and finally draw one card!"

"An effect in the Graveyard?" The Duke of Spirits, with his back turned, is slightly stunned.

This effect...

He was prepared to be negated!

"That's right. I had long guessed that your face-down card would target my subsequent Fusion; I just didn't know if you were going to destroy the Fusion Monster or the Fusion Spell Card."

"But now, it doesn't matter!"

"Because your field and hand are also clear now!"

"But—even if you activated Substitution Fusion and drew a card, so what!?"

"Hehehe..." Tenjou Hikari chuckles and then operates, "Return Predaplant Chimerafflesia to the Extra Deck, draw one card!"

He quickly draws the card and holds it up for everyone to see: "Spell Card, Instant Fusion. Because it is a Spell Card, it is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard!"

Even if he drew a usable Fusion Spell Card, it would be blown up by the effect of Deck Devastation Virus, so it's useless!

All the spirits mutter in their hearts.

"Hahaha, wrong, the key is not drawing a card, nor is it the Spell Card—" Tenjou Hikari narrows his eyes and says, "The key is—my Fusion Monster returned to the Extra Deck!"

"Returned? So what, in the end, there is no Fusion."

"Who said I have no Fusion?"

!???

"Activate the effect of [Aroma Mix] in the Graveyard!"

What?

The Duke of Spirits is shocked, turns around, and stares at Tenjou Hikari's Graveyard with his withered eye sockets.

Aroma Mix?

A card slowly rises from the Graveyard.

What is this card?

He is stunned.

It seems to be the card that was drawn by [Magic Jammer] and then destroyed by Deck Devastation Virus!

"Aroma Mix is a Fusion Spell Card that can only be used for Fusion in the Graveyard." Fragrant petals slowly fall from the sky, dotting the surroundings, making this ancient, decaying camp gradually full of vitality.

"Activate by banishing this card from the Graveyard. Banish Fusion materials from your hand/field to Fusion Summon 1 Plant-type Fusion Monster."

Ah—

"If... your Life Points are higher than the opponent's, you can also banish Plant-type monsters from your Graveyard to perform a Fusion!"

Ah?!

His eyeballs fall out of his sockets in shock.

"Ah..." The Vampire Young Lady whispers in surprise, "Fusion again?"

"That's right. At this very moment, in my Graveyard, there are the Fusion materials I used when I performed Fusion last turn... Predaplant Drosera Serpent and Predaplant Spinodionaea."

"I banish these two cards... descend once again!"

Tenjou Hikari puts his hands together.

"Loyal plants that have faced countless strong enemies and helped me overcome countless strong enemies, now, appear once again and show [Fusion] to my new friends!"

Rumble.

The plants that once appeared in this world and had already planted seeds begin to surge in the opposite direction.

Green branches fill the entire camp, the withered ancient trees gradually become full of vitality, and a bright, huge flower stands in the cold wind!

Predaplant Chimerafflesia, Level 7, Dark-attribute, Plant-type, ATK: 2500.

At this moment, it has a feeling of a "2500 Soul Card," and the whole monster looks exceptionally high-spirited.

"So, so amazing—"

"Too, too, too outrageous??"

"Just, even, even like this, he can still Fusion?"

"Honestly, I think Lord Duke's blockade was already very perfect, right?"

"My god, how many cards has that Hikari had destroyed? And he can still Fusion?!"

A group of spirits chatter and discuss, and the whole camp becomes noisy and chaotic.

The Young Lady stares at Tenjou Hikari, feeling that the heart of "battle" that had disappeared due to laziness is slowly reigniting.

Fusion... is it actually this interesting?

Opposite, the Duke of Spirits exclaims in his mind.

Oh no!

Predaplant Chimerafflesia can search for [Fusion] Spell Cards. Even in the best case, if Chimerafflesia and Berserk Demon collide, next turn, Lord Hikari can at least add a [Fusion] Spell Card to his hand, while he can at most destroy one Predaplant.

The possibility of a successful Fusion is quite high.

Even if Tenjou Hikari draws a Spell next turn, Thunder Dragon and Predaplant cannot Fusion, then the possibility of victory is also very slim—

"Chimerafflesia's effect, once per turn, can target 1 monster on the opponent's field with a lower level than it. Banish that monster!!"

Tenjou Hikari hesitates between the two demons and looks at Demon's Star.

"Banish Demon's Star."

Lost!?

The Demon Duke's jaw drops, even dislocating.

Even [Hope] is gone!

The soil under Demon's Star surges, and it stands unsteadily, caught by vines, and sinks directly into the soil, and then can only helplessly watch the situation.

"Next, battle—Predaplant Chimerafflesia attacks Berserk Demon!"

"Activate Chimerafflesia's effect, ATK increases by 1000, and Berserk Demon's ATK decreases by 1000!"

Chimerafflesia, ATK: 2500 → 3500.

Berserk Demon, ATK: 4500 → 3500.

The attack power is the same.

Chimerafflesia lets out a roar, curling toward this demon that stole its power; the demon also lets out a roar, raising its battle axe, not discouraged in the slightest.

The two sides collide, and the next second, with a boom, both monsters dissipate on the field.

In this way...

The Undead Duke has no defensive means at all!

Although Tenjou Hikari can wait for the next turn to get Fusion and then bring out a Fusion Dragon to finish it, Tenjou Hikari does not have the habit of letting the opponent wait a turn to torture the opponent's soul...

"Really, really amazing..."

"Even though Lord Duke tried his best to blockade, in the end, he can still Fusion, and can still use Fusion to decide the victory..."

"No wonder he could defeat the Young Lady, this... so strong!"

"Battle continues, Ophrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Cobra attack directly. I win, Lord Duke—"

The Duke carefully puts his eyes back into their sockets, fixes his dislocated jaw, and sighs: "I'm old... young man, you are truly remarkable. I acknowledge this pursuit of Fusion!"

Duke of Spirits, LP: 1500 → 300 → 0.