Chapter 52: Fusion Is the Noblest Summoning Method!

「……」

Tiancheng Guang sat half-reclined in a chair in the Duel Academy's lounge hall, slumped like a ragdoll.

Professor Cronos, just finished with the meeting, returned to the lounge with Marufuji Ryo and another student, and immediately spotted Tiancheng Guang.

Seeing the messy pile of card packs on the table, the three instantly understood what Tiancheng Guang had been up to.

"Oh my god, Tiancheng, you claimed you were sick and skipped the Kaiba Corp meeting just to open card packs here?" Cronos's expression turned regretful. "You got scammed, Tiancheng."

"Heh…" Caesar couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "Hikari, the professor's right. Just now, Kaiba Corp's representative warned us not to buy X-Dimension card packs lightly."

"Many X-Dimension vendors bring card packs leftover from their own draws—chances of pulling a rare card are nearly zero. Even if you do pull a powerful rare, like an X-Dimension exclusive, it might not even work in our world. You got scammed."

"Of course I know that," Tiancheng Guang snapped back, sighing. "I wasn't expecting to pull an Xyz monster. I just didn't think they'd all be commons and Rs. Am I really that unlucky?"

Tiancheng Guang's original goal wasn't to pull Xyz monsters at all.

After all, even if he pulled one, his Super Fusion would probably teach him what "fusion" really meant.

Of course, if he did pull one, maybe it would fuse into an Ancient God.

He just wanted to pull cards that didn't exist in his world, to use as fusion materials for Super Fusion.

In fact, he'd actually pulled two Ninja-series cards—perfect as Ninja fusion materials for Super Fusion. He'd gotten his money's worth, even exceeded expectations.

"Huh? You already know?" Caesar was surprised. "Right, our opponent uses a system called Xyz Summoning…"

Then Caesar frowned, looking deeply confused: "They say you just need monsters of the same level to Xyz Summon… Kaiba Corp explained it clearly, but I still don't quite get it."

That made sense.

For a duelist raised since childhood in the GX world, Caesar Ryo had spent over a decade—from age five to now—never seeing any card outside fusion. Even with Kaiba Corp's explanation, he'd struggle to grasp it immediately.

Tiancheng Guang wasn't surprised to be linked to the Xyz World, because in Yu-Gi-Oh! A5, the first invasion by the Fusion Army was precisely into the Xyz World.

Though his world wasn't A5, it had enough similarities that connecting to the Xyz World felt perfectly normal to him.

"The tournament spans five days, in order: first-year, second-year, third-year. Besides our school, there are Kaiba Corp duelists and two professional duelists, plus the Dimension Exchange Conference."

"Your duel is on Day 10. That's one week from now."

They'd spent half a day on the flight to Kaiba Corp, then another day on physical exams and Spirit ability tests.

Another day to arrive in this world, and the remaining time was for "tourism."

By the way, Kaiba Corp's tests confirmed Tiancheng Guang's Spirit adaptability reached "Five Stars." From now on, he was no longer a lowly Four-Star subordinate—he'd become a noble Mid-Level Spirit User.

Tiancheng Guang nodded.

Didn't expect it so soon.

As days passed, Tiancheng Guang saw people from other worlds, but none he recognized.

One week later, he still worried about Judai and the others, concerned the Dark Duel might crush Judai's spirit—but he could no longer dwell on it, because it was his turn to duel.

The duel arena was atop a tall building. According to staff, this stage was the very one where Motoyugi Game and Chairman Kaiba once battled—sounded like the Duel City stage.

Thump-thump-thump—

Lights flashed from all directions, blinding Tiancheng Guang slightly, as countless cameras connected to the Dimension Gate activated.

Meanwhile, in the Duel Academy, Judai, his face patched with bandages from fresh wounds, shouted excitedly: "Oh oh oh! It's starting, it's starting!"

Ten days had passed; another Seven-Star attack had struck the academy, and he'd been injured.

For a "world-class" match like this, the Duel Academy naturally suspended classes, letting every student watch—such opportunities were rare, and next year, their school might not even be invited.

On the other side, Tiancheng Guang saw his opponent step onto the stage. A quick glance—he didn't recognize him.

His hairstyle was ordinary.

"Hello, I'm Tiancheng Guang, first-year of the Duel Academy."

"Tian… Tiancheng?" The opponent paused, then shook his head. "Didn't expect to hear a familiar name in another world. I'm Kuniyama Haruto, first-year of Shin-en Duel Academy. Nice to meet you."

After exchanging greetings, Tiancheng Guang fitted his Duel Disk, while Kuniyama simply reached into his pocket and put on a monocle.

D-Viewer.

"Duel!" ×2

Tiancheng Guang LP: 4000

Kuniyama Haruto LP: 4000

"My turn, draw!" The first-player order was decided by a coin toss between Professor Cronos and an X-Dimension man named Shin-en. Tiancheng Guang, the second-year, went second; Caesar Ryo went first.

Worst coin toss ever.

"I normal summon Rescue Rabbit! Then I activate its effect: banish it from the field to special summon two identical Level 4 or lower monsters from my deck! Monsters summoned this way are destroyed at the End Phase."

"I banish Rescue Rabbit, special summoning two Inverted Devils: Bloodstone!"

Whoa—

Tiancheng Guang's eyes lit up.

Such a classic opening—he almost missed it.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Camula was right: though his world had advanced faster than the original timeline due to interdimensional exploration, it was still too "old-school." Unprepared, linking to a true "future world" was extremely dangerous.

Perhaps this "buffer dimension" wasn't just because Kaiba lost interest—it might also have been a hidden shield to protect their own world.

Otherwise, who knows? The Xyz might invade them instead.

After all, to Kaiba, Xyz or Fusion might mean nothing—but to ordinary people, the gap was enormous.

On the other side, students were still puzzled: what use was this effect?

Sure, he summoned two Level 4 monsters with 1950 ATK—but if they're destroyed at End Phase, aren't they useless?

"Hehehe, don't blink now!"

"Summoning condition: two Level 4 Inverted Devil monsters. I overlay these two Bloodstones for an Xyz Summon!"

"Overlay?!"

"Xyz?!"

Kuniyama stacked the two cards on the field, laid them horizontally on his Duel Disk, then pulled a card directly from his Extra Deck and placed it on the field.

"Xyz Summon! Inverted Dragon King Bahamut!"

A frost dragon rose from darkness, its body instantly sheathed in black armor, letting out a terrifying, twisted scream. Thick black mist poured from its form—like a scene from hell itself!

Inverted Dragon King Bahamut, Rank 4, Dark Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 2350.

"This—" Many students watching the live stream fell silent.

"One card summoned a monster with 2350 ATK…" someone gasped.

"X… Xyz…" Sanzawa Daichi nearly fell off his chair in shock.

"So, so cool! No fusion needed—just direct special summon?!" Judai jumped to his feet, thrilled. "Dueling really is amazing!"

Since the Seven-Star incident, he hadn't felt this excited in a long time.

"Ha! How's that? This is the power of modern dueling!" Kuniyama face-down a card, confident. "Compared to your archaic style, this is progress!"

"For years, our world has always won. Before coming, Shin-en-san told me: even new duelists from our side are superior!" He declared, "I will win!"

"Progress, huh…"

Tiancheng Guang drew a card.

He had to admit: Xyz monsters' endgame could run rampant on the ban list.

But that was because the monsters were strong.

"Then, my turn."

"First, let me introduce myself. I'm Tiancheng Guang, first-year of the Duel Academy's Sun God Huang, and a member of the Fusion Department."

"And—"

His eyes narrowed, his hand flicked, and he pulled a magic card at lightning speed!

"Oh oh oh oh! Here it comes, here it comes!!" Judai, watching the broadcast, raised his hands in cheers.

"Here it comes!" Many first-years from the Fusion Department leapt up excitedly, making Chi Ma Professor Chi Ma Ling Wang's face darken.

"Ha…" Professor Cronos smiled like the Pot of Greed. Marufuji Ryo couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

Almost simultaneously—

Whether in this dimension,

Or among friends watching the livestream,

Everyone shouted the same slogan with Tiancheng Guang!

"Fusion is the noblest summoning method!"

Requesting recommendations, requesting monthly tickets~

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(End of Chapter)