Chapter 548: The Duel of Unknown Possibilities

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 process.

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

This is actually quite normal.

Before coming to this world, whenever Tenjou Hikari played cards, 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's card, 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 peeking can reveal, but 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 the cards in his hand.

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

The reason is simple: it is the classic "to Ash or not to Ash the Magical Meltdown" problem.

Activating Magical Meltdown 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.

And the classic problem surrounding Magical Meltdown, Aleister, and Ash Blossom is whether or not one should actually discard Ash Blossom.

If the opponent activates Magical Meltdown and you discard Ash Blossom, and the opponent fails to search for Aleister and cannot make any other moves with their hand, then you have effectively stopped the opponent with one card and can proceed directly to your own turn.

But if the opponent activates Magical Meltdown just to bait the Ash, and they actually have an Aleister in hand, then they summon it and begin their combo; in that case, Ash Blossom becomes a wasted card.

Likewise, the problem continues: if you don't discard Ash Blossom and the opponent gets Aleister the Invoker, then Normal Summons Aleister and wants to add "Invocation" from the deck to their hand, you reach the problem again—at this point, you must discard Ash Blossom.

Suppose the opponent doesn't have Invocation in their hand; that would be fine. But if the opponent didn't have Aleister in their starting hand but did have Invocation, Ash Blossom becomes a hand trap that gets ignored, and you have even wasted a card for nothing. If you review the replay later and find that the opponent's hand could have been beaten by Ashing the Magical Meltdown, you will fall into a state of regret.

Hand trap interaction in modern Yu-Gi-Oh is exactly this kind of "game theory," which is why Tenjou Hikari's greatest strength is using information asymmetry to play the game.

Unless the gap in card power is too large—for instance, Tearlaments playing against an uninformed Sky Striker—"information" will always be extremely important.

But now...

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

More importantly, even if Tenjou Hikari closes his eyes and lets Tiera operate, he finds it hard to stop thinking; hearing Tiera choose cards and perform actions, he inevitably makes rapid associations and judges based on his own understanding.

"Looks like Tenjou Hikari is having a headache too, huh? He hasn't even used a card yet." Meikyuu watches the scene inside from outside the glass window, crossing his arms and frowning.

"After all, it's the ability to read minds. It's Tenjou-kun's first time encountering it, so he must be having a hard time, right?" Maeda Hayato is somewhat worried for Tenjou Hikari.

"President, let me go—if nothing else, let me at least scout the path for Tenjou Hikari." France volunteers again.

Pegasus shakes his head gently, signaling everyone to watch.

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

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Brilliant Fusion!"

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

"As the effect resolution when this card is activated, I use monsters from my deck as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon 1 'Gem-Knight' Fusion Monster, changing its ATK and DEF to 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 sparkles with color. In the sky, a chlorite descends, and then, a brilliant green light begins to flicker as a graceful Gem-Knight falls from the sky.

"Fusion Summon!"

"Gem-Knight Seraphinite!"

Lazuli flicks her cape, making a dashing entrance onto Tenjou Hikari's field. Just as she is about to say something, she sees Tenjou Hikari play the next card directly, as if he is in a great hurry.

Gem-Knight Seraphinite, Level 5, EARTH, Fairy, 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 and Edge Imp Chain to my hand."

Rapid summoning and rapid searching.

"It seems that even Tenjou Hikari gets nervous in a situation like this." Miya also notices Tenjou Hikari's rapid movements.

But he actually cannot say anything to look down on Tenjou Hikari; just by opening the door earlier, he had been nervous enough to break out in a cold sweat.

Just being scanned by that eye made him feel cold all over, so the pressure Tenjou Hikari has to bear is far greater than his; 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 her arms, lets out a cry, and appears on Tenjou Hikari's field.

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

"Oh? A cute dragon." Pegasus chuckles when he sees this little dragon. "This kind of card seems to be one that Yugi-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 match that makes one sweat, but Fusion is not that simple.

Your eyes have been staring at me, constantly peeking at my tactics, right?

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

I 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!"

Little Blue pulls out a washboard, a pure smile on her face, and happily begins to spin Tenjou Hikari's deck.

"Oh!" The Paradox Brothers exclaim in unison, "So that's it, using this kind of tactic!"

"Oh—what an interesting strategy." Pegasus cannot help but clap gently when he sees Tenjou Hikari's move. "In Tenjou-boy's deck, there are monsters like the 'Shaddoll' series that 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 scouted, he will fight using the "unknown"!

With his current "Spirit Power" and his affinity for Fusion, anything is possible—

Just as he is thinking this, Little Blue has already tossed the cards. Three cards fly into the air, turning into giant cards and displaying themselves for everyone to see.

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?" Tiera 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, well, 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 confused Tiera.

Impossible—

How could Tenjou Hikari's Graveyard send result in this?!

She cannot figure it out no matter how hard she thinks.

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 cannot worry about that anymore. He opens his mouth and says: "It doesn't matter. I 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 my hand."

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

"Fusion Summon!"

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

Frost descends from the sky.

Inside the giant laboratory, a layer of ice and snow gradually covers the entire field. Countless shards of ice are born from thin air, and the temperature begins to drop 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 appears between heaven and earth, venting its purity, its destruction, and its annihilation!

Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, Level 9, WATER, Dragon, 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." Tiera says from the side, "It looks like as long as it gets to come out for a breath of air, it allows people to use it."

That's pretty good then.

Tenjou Hikari nods: "Edge Imp Chain's effect: when this card is sent from the hand or field to the Graveyard, I add one 'Fluffal' 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, I set one card and end my turn."

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

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

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

fusion."

That is indeed 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 needs to do is perform different Fusions next turn based on the different situations!

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

Besides, 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, smiles, and draws a card: "I pay 1000 Life Points to activate the Normal Spell Card, Instant Fusion."

Instant Fusion!?

Tenjou Hikari's expression changes.

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

Meeting changes with constancy?

Then just go straight for it—lock everything down.

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

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

Thousand-Eyes, LP: 4000→3000.

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

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

A powerful Fusion Monster that can almost instantly resolve any monster!

"No, no, no, it should be called '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 right away.

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

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

Tenjou Hikari is somewhat helpless: "Flip the set card, Quick-Play Spell Card, De-Fusion!"

"De-Fusion?"

"It's a helpless situation. 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, and Dragonmaid all appear on Tenjou Hikari's field once again.

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

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

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

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

It's not a total mess, at least.

"Hehehe..." Suddenly, Thousand-Eyes laughs.

"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 mock Little Blue, it's 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!?"

The crowd of onlookers exclaims in unison, looking at Pegasus. Pegasus cannot 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, a layer of gold nesting onto its body. The power of ancient Egypt becomes increasingly apparent...

"Fusion Summon!"

"Level 1, Millennium-Eyes Restrict!"

(End of chapter)