Chapter 522: The Power of the Fusion Pendulum (4K for Monthly Tickets!)

"Just stick with fusion, is that it?"

"Hah, so what if it's fusion? The monsters you fuse still have no effect."

Several soldiers from the Fusion Army exchanged glances, thinking Tenjo Hikari was talking nonsense.

But Tenjo Hikari's past actions forced them to consider the possibility.

"If you rely solely on monsters, you probably can't defeat this Synchro Commander, right?" Yu Wu mused.

Serena tilted her head. She could think of one card Tenjo Hikari might use to instantly clear this situation—the same card she'd seen her Master use before: the Quick-Play Spell, Super Fusion.

Just using Super Fusion would clear this board instantly.

But her Master's expression suggested he didn't want to use Super Fusion.

Or perhaps he looked down on using Super Fusion?

She stared at the screen, clutching her hands together, nervously rubbing them.

At the Fusion Army base, while other soldiers worried, Yu Li smiled at the scene.

Unlike the others, he wasn't concerned about whether Ma Chima Chima Lingwang would lose—he was far more curious how Tenjo Hikari would use fusion to overcome the Great Spirit Mechanism Army—Synchro Commander.

Fusing a single ordinary monster was impossible. If he used a Spell Card for fusion, he had many options—besides Super Fusion, he could use 【Binding Vines】 to negate all effects on the opponent's field, but using 【Binding Vines】 seemed to contradict "fusion."

At the very least, he could choose cards like 【Book of the Moon】 to cover the Synchro Commander and win.

But the cards in Tenjo Hikari's hand—only 【Flame Sword Dance】 and 【Chain-Linked Flame Dragon】—would each require a full turn to cover the Synchro Commander. If he passed another turn, even if he covered it, the Professor could flip the monster back later, changing nothing.

After all, Tenjo Hikari's entire strategy and playstyle had always been fusion alone.

So how could he solve this?

He was intensely curious.

"Still trying to talk about 'fusion' in front of me? Trying to say yours is even more fused? Stubborn brat," Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's face darkened. "How audacious… Fine. Let me see how you defeat the Synchro Commander using only 'fusion.'"

He didn't believe Tenjo Hikari could defeat the Synchro Commander—especially not using only fusion.

If he could use other cards—like banishing Spells or negation Spells—it would be easy to bypass the Synchro Commander.

But if Tenjo Hikari insisted on "fusion," then no matter what, he could never win!

As long as the Synchro Commander was on the field, even Tenjo Hikari's Wangpai, 【Infernal Machine Tierra】, would lose its effect. How could he win with fusion alone?

Ma Chima Chima Lingwang ran through dozens of possibilities but found no answer. Finally, he shook his head, muttering that Tenjo Hikari was deliberately disrupting his mindset, then covered two cards and ended his turn.

"My turn, draw." Tenjo Hikari drew a card calmly and glanced at it.

"Tenjo Hikari, show him already," Tierra urged beside him.

Tenjo Hikari nodded.

Truthfully, Tenjo Hikari still had many ways to deal with this monster. Leaving aside Super Fusion as the final option, even without it, several cards could clear this board—for example, activate 【Temple of the Kings】, then directly use cards from the Flame Sword Soldier line.

Though many might never have seen 【Temple of the Kings】 used for its second effect, that card was indeed fusion—directly Special Summoning a Fusion Monster.

But Tenjo Hikari now had another option.

"You want to know how fusion solves this? I'll just show you—this card." Tenjo Hikari didn't play games with Ma Chima Chima Lingwang. After drawing, he immediately pulled out a card and showed it to his opponent.

Predatory Plant Drosera Lizard, Level 2, Dark Attribute, Plant Type, ATK 600, DEF 200.

Predatory Plant?

Ma Chima Chima Lingwang frowned.

"How can a Level 2 monster defeat the Synchro Commander?"

"Hah! Tenjo Hikari's gone mad!"

Drosera Lizard?

Yu Li's eyes lit up the moment he saw the card, then he understood.

So that's how it's done—using this method to complete "fusion."

With this card, he could instantly eliminate the Synchro Commander—and even have a chance to win outright!

Tenjo Hikari…

Yu Li couldn't help bursting into wild laughter.

This was far more interesting than the Professor!

"What can a Level 2 monster possibly do?"

"A Level 2 monster can't do anything—but you don't think I showed you this card just to show you, do you?"

!!!

"You may reveal any number of 【Predatory】 cards from your hand, targeting any face-up monster on your opponent's field." Tenjo Hikari flipped over the card beside Drosera Lizard. "Quick-Play Spell, Predatory Growth!"

Yu Li clapped happily: "So it's a Spell that generates Fusion materials!"

"Predatory Growth places a Predatory Counter on those monsters. Any monster with a Predatory Counter and Level 2 or higher becomes Level 1."

Flowers bloomed atop the potato tribe.

Delicate blossoms rose across the body of the Mechanical Commander.

Great Spirit Mechanism Army—Synchro Commander, Level 12 → 1.

"..."

Silence.

A deathly silence.

"Though the Synchro Commander's negation range is vast, its effect still has a manipulable direction."

Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's temples bulged with veins. He glared at the machine behind him, ready to explode, and growled: "Damn it—still doesn't matter! Even like this, it's still a non-Synchro monster! It's still negated!"

"Hah… you're mistaken. I'm just telling you this card can fuse away your monster." Tenjo Hikari shrugged. If he didn't want to use Super Fusion, Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's words meant nothing. "Before I remove your Synchro Commander, I'll activate this Normal Spell, 【Shadow Fusion】—send 【Shadow Falcon】 from my deck and 【Phantom Flame Swordsman】 from my deck to the graveyard, and Fusion Summon—"

"Come, Captain! Swing your fist for your rage!"

"Yes, Master!" At Tenjo Hikari's call, a towering crimson giant rose, towering to the heavens.

Shadowfiend Divine Crystal, Level 7, Yan Attribute, Rock Type, ATK 2450.

Though the goal was to remove the Synchro Commander, he couldn't waste the extra effect of 【Shadow Fusion】.

He'd already regretted using 【Shadow Fusion】 for hand fusion before.

"Now, look at this card—the one I declared will end your board." Tenjo Hikari placed the card he'd already shown Ma Chima Chima Lingwang onto the Duel Disk. "Watch closely—your Synchro Commander is just like your ambition!"

As he spoke, he manipulated: "No matter what you do, no matter what you plan, no matter what your 'fusion' is—you will still be defeated by me. Because my 'fusion' is purer, more direct!"

Just like this—

True, Synchro Monsters don't count toward the Fusion requirements of 【Chimeratech Fortress Dragon】. But Synchro Monsters can still be used as Fusion materials and fused on the field!

Normal Summon the Level 2 Predatory Plant, Drosera Lizard—then activate its effect. Your Synchro Commander negates all monster effects—but it cannot negate the activation of monster effects! So Drosera Lizard can still activate its effect!

Purple light behind Tenjo Hikari surged wildly, gradually illuminating the entire Elder Hall.

"During your Main Phase: Select Fusion Materials from your hand, field, and opponent's field monsters with Predatory Counters, send them to the graveyard, and Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck!"

"But you can't fuse like this—it's still a non-Synchro monster! It's still negated!"

"Then chain the Trap Card in my graveyard: 【Shadow Saint of the Chosen】! I can banish this card and one 【Shadow】 monster from my graveyard, then activate one effect. I banish this card and 【Shadow Beast】 from my graveyard, and choose: change one monster on the field to face-down defense position! I change Predatory Plant Drosera Lizard to face-down!"

Ma Chima Chima Lingwang froze, then snapped back: "Lost information—"

A vortex of fusion twisted wildly in the air.

The monster that could have sealed all monsters—the uncontrollable "Synchro" monster—was violently dragged into the sky, while Drosera Lizard leapt willingly into the vortex.

Yet the two monsters spun wildly in midair, refusing to fuse.

Tenjo Hikari watched, his brow slightly furrowed.

Why?

"Heh—your body lacks the power of the Pendulum swing!" Ma Chima Chima Lingwang, seeing this, felt like he'd crawled out of an ice cave and found a bottle of mineral water in the desert. "You—you can't fuse Synchro Monsters!"

Is that even possible?

Tenjo Hikari had only intended to fuse one 【Fierce Hungering Fusion Dragon】, but now he had another option. He opened his Extra Deck, found a card only half-complete, and spoke: "Serena… I'm sorry, but it's time for you to choose."

"Choose?" Ma Chima Chima Lingwang, hearing Tenjo Hikari's words, froze—then watched in horror as the monster in the sky began mysteriously merging. He went berserk, roaring: "Impossible! How could this be?!"

How could this be? Tenjo Hikari had no Pendulum power—he needed his daughter's power to control Pendulums! How could a man who'd never touched Pendulums possess this power?

Unless—

He realized a possibility.

In Yu Xing's base, Serena heard Tenjo Hikari's words. Though not clever, she knew what to do. In less than a second, she prioritized: one was the father who didn't see her as a daughter, but as a tool; the other was the Master who taught her step by step, treated her like a younger sister, and protected her from all worries—

Was there even a choice?!

Without hesitation, she closed her eyes and prayed for Tenjo Hikari.

Seeing Serena pray for Tenjo Hikari, Hui Liu Li didn't hesitate either—she loudly voiced her support. And Yu Wu and Lin, whom Tenjo Hikari had saved before, wouldn't hesitate at all!

Tenjo Hikari faintly heard the sound of a pendulum swinging.

Compared to Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's data, gained through deceit, lies, and kidnapping, their support for Tenjo Hikari was genuine. Beyond that, what Ma Chima Chima Lingwang possessed was merely the body and soul data of Hui Liu Li and Serena—while Tenjo Hikari, beyond that, gained the support of Lin and Yu Wu—

Because Tenjo Hikari taught her. Because his student saved her. Because Tenjo Hikari stood before them, shielding them from the police…

"Hahahaha, how fascinating!" Yu Li grinned, leaning in. "I'll support you too!"

Tap. Tap.

Tenjo Hikari heard that sound!

Tenjo Hikari clenched his fist. Blue flames rose in his right eye—Tierra's power. His own fusion power remained as steady as ever—

"O mighty wings that seek fusion!

Now, devour all—swing the Pendulum to my side!

Fusion Summon!

Level 7, Pendulum Fusion, Fierce Hungering Fusion Dragon!"

"You bastard!!!!!!" Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang roared with a shattered voice, losing his composure for the first time.

Unlike the monster of Fierce Hunger Poison Fusion Dragon that appeared behind Tiancheng Guang, though it still retained much of the Fusion Dragon's appearance, the purple light wings on its back had now been replaced by pendulum metal.

A card that had previously shown only its upper half suddenly revealed its lower half, materializing abruptly in Tiancheng Guang's hand, spontaneously 【Fusing】 into existence!

Fierce Hunger Gu Dragon, Level 7, Dark Attribute, Dragon Type, ATK 2500.

Tiancheng Guang whispered a cheer.

He could feel the power of the 【Pendulum】.

Tiancheng Guang blinked his eyes.

That meant he now had the chance to try DDD, try Armorization, try consuming plants, try all kinds of Pendulum Fusions.

Wow.

Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang, face cold, placed the Pendulum Commander into the Extra Deck.

When a Pendulum Monster is sent to the Graveyard, it does not go to the Graveyard but instead goes directly to the Extra Deck.

But he didn't have enough Pendulums to Special Summon any of the 12-Star Monsters.

Tiancheng Guang paid no attention to Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's curses; he used the effect of Dreamland to draw another card from his Deck, then said bluntly: "Become the controller of Adam and Eve, ruling all dimensions?"

Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang, if this is your 【Fusion】, I will prove with action, with a Duel, that—

My 【Fusion】 is more 【Fused】 than your 【Fusion】!"

"Moreover…" Tiancheng Guang stretched his arms in place, clenching and unclenching his fists several times, saying, "Your Fusion isn't pure—it's filled with your personal desires.

If the ultimate outcome of the world is the fusion of all things into a single point, then the opposite pole of Fusion should be the merciless merging of all things—not becoming a new ruler!"

Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's intentions had been exposed, but at this moment he only wanted to eliminate Tiancheng Guang—the man daring to compete with him for the "direction of the swing." Even if his motives were laid bare, he wouldn't crack.

"Hmph… So no matter what you do, no matter what you use, I will cleanse it, take it away!

For true 【Fusion】!"

Tiancheng Guang pointed at the Groundbound God: "Effect of Fierce Hunger Gu Dragon: Once per turn, target 1 monster on your opponent's field; until the end of this turn, gain that monster's name and effects.

Afterward, the targeted monster's effects are negated, its ATK and DEF decrease by 500, and your opponent takes 500 damage!"

"Absorb its abilities directly!?"

A group of Fusion Army members shrieked in alarm.

This goes even further than the Fusion Dragon!

"Oh? So it's permanently negated?" Representative You Li, seeing this new dragon born of his own power, couldn't help but smile innocently. "It goes even further than my Fusion Dragon."

His Fusion Dragon was far stronger than Tiancheng Guang's, yet even his Fusion Dragon couldn't permanently negate the opponent's effects.

Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang LP: 4000 → 3500.

"Groundbound God—"

"Exactly—including the power of your Groundbound God!" Tiancheng Guang widened his eyes. "Break free, Groundbound God!"

The chains binding the spider began to shatter; the massive spider Groundbound God flashed into existence behind Tiancheng Guang, then slowly dissipated.

Tiancheng Guang glanced down at Fierce Hunger Gu Dragon's current effect.

【Only one Groundbound God monster can be face-up on the field.】

It seemed the effect of the Groundbound God controlled by Crimson Lotus Nova had been weakened to the OCG version—he'd been considering using Uru's effect to directly steal Uru, but this solved it anyway.

"Only one Groundbound God monster can be face-up on the field. If two monsters are Special Summoned simultaneously, if controlled by the same player, that player chooses which to keep; if controlled by different players, the current turn player chooses.

During my turn, your monster on the field will be automatically destroyed."

"Is this even possible!?" Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang stared in shock at the card.

"This can't be happening!?" The crimson flame phantom of Crimson Lotus Nova also gasped in disbelief: "When I absorbed their power, I never imagined this would happen!"

Do cards have this kind of subtle difference?

A normal Groundbound God only says: "If this card is face-up on the field, monsters with 'Groundbound God' in their name cannot be Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned!" But these Groundbound Gods under its control say: "Only one Groundbound God monster can be on the field." Though it seemed like a minor difference, it had turned into this!

"Battle! Direct attack against the Duelist!"

"Never!" Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang snarled through gritted teeth. "Activate Continuous Trap Card, Crimson Barrier!"

Huh?

Tiancheng Guang saw countless flames rising from all directions; initially circling the field, the next second they transformed into countless transparent barriers, surrounding Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang on all sides.

Then, a crimson sphere enveloped Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang, blocking all attacks.

"As long as this card remains in the Spell/Trap Zone, your opponent's monsters cannot declare an attack."

Tiancheng Guang raised an eyebrow slightly, then face-down a card and ended his turn.

(End of Chapter)