Chapter 576

"It is my turn now—"

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

First, let me swap out some hand cards.

"I activate the Spell Card, Allure of Darkness, to draw two cards. Then, I must banish one DARK monster from my hand." He draws two cards from his deck, then 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 with a wild howl.

Berserk Demon, Level 6, DARK, Fiend-Type, ATK 2000.

"I activate the effect of Berserk Demon. When this card is summoned by its own effect, I can target a number of face-up monsters on the opponent's field up to the number of monsters destroyed. This card's ATK increases by 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 one monster on your field to increase my ATK. I choose your Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"

Berserk Demon raises its giant axe and roars, hacking 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 one 【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 General Star in Defense Position."

Berserk Demon, ATK: 2000 → 4500.

Demon General Star, Level 6, DARK, 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!"

"What high attack power—"

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

Effects and tactics depend on whether one understands the game, but high attack power is just high; it is visible to the naked eye.

"And then..." He looks at the card in his hand, "Quick-Play Spell Card, Offerings to the Doomed. I target one face-up monster on the field and destroy it. I skip my next Draw Phase."

Offerings to the Doomed, huh.

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

On the field, a strange memorial hall slowly lights up, flames begin to burn out of thin air, and before long, Chimerafflesia is incinerated in the 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, attack the opponent directly!" The Necromancer Duke raises his hand, and an aura of decay and corruption begins to permeate. As a "Duke," he begins to summon his subordinate demons to attack.

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

"Activate face-down cards—" Tenjou Hikari has no choice but to immediately flip 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 determined by the Fusion Monster card from his hand, deck, field, or Graveyard. He cannot attack the turn he activates this, 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, Necro Fusion.

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

Ancient Gear Megaton Golem, Level 8, EARTH, Machine-Type, DEF 1800.

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

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

"Ancient Gear Megaton Golem?" The old Duke ponders for a moment and says gloomily, "If I recall correctly, it's a card that can ignore summoning conditions to Special Summon Ancient Gear Golem after being destroyed by battle, right?"

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

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

Boom!

Ancient Gear Megaton Golem instantly dissipates.

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

"Oh my, if you had just fused me at the start of that guy's turn, you wouldn't have lost at all, right?" Tiera looks at Tenjou Hikari's situation and cannot help but make a snide remark.

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

As far as she knows, Midrash doesn't seem to be able to do that, 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 like it's a life-or-death moment; what would be the point of summoning Tiera? 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 with blank expressions.

What is this?

What is all this?

What kind of Fusion Monster could be so powerful?

"My turn, draw—" After finishing his chat with Tiera, Tenjou Hikari draws a card from his deck, glances down at it, and then frowns.

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 Necromancer Duke laughs, "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 Spell Card with 【Fusion】 in its name from your deck to your hand!"

"Eh?" The Spirit Princess speaks for the first time, very confused, and says, "What's the use of that?"

This is also what many spirits are thinking.

Anyway, the Spell Card added to the hand will also be destroyed, so what does it matter if it's added to the hand?

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

"No—" Tenjou Hikari's mouth curls up, "The effect of Deck Devastation Virus is that within 3 turns counted from the opponent's turn, all cards the opponent 【draws】 are checked, and within that, all cards of the declared type are destroyed—"

"But!"

"Predaplant Chimerafflesia's effect is to add the card directly to the hand, not 【draw】!"

"Ah?" "Oh!"

"Right, that's right!"

"The Rite 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 heartless, 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 be happy.

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

Awesome!

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

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

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

Tenjou Hikari's eyelid 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 gently scratches the back of his head.

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

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

"But... what can drawing a card do?"

That's right.

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

"Please, Lord Hikari, you may draw a card."

Tenjou Hikari is a bit speechless; he draws a card, glances down at it, and then his eyebrows raise 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."

"Is it 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 obtain Fusion materials. Thunder Dragon Fusion's effect: 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 Thunder Dragon's effect, discard itself to 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, appears on Tenjou Hikari's field, spinning around.

Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio, Level 3, DARK, 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 then opens his deck: "I choose... Predaplant Darlingtonia Professor Professor Yanjingshe!"

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

Predaplant Darlingtonia Professor Professor Yanjingshe, Level 3, DARK, Plant-Type, ATK 1000.

This card is one of the first two Predaplants Tenjou Hikari created, later fused with the first-created Drosera Chimera into the Fusion Dragon, but because of its high importance, Tenjou Hikari had remade it after that.

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

"Darlingtonia Professor Professor Yanjingshe's effect can only be activated if Special Summoned by the effect of a 【Predaplant】 monster. Add one 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 in its name, 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 card is; this Duke is really a bit "underhanded." No wonder the Necromancer Count's card says "Gentlemanly on the outside, evil on the inside; not just humans, even lower-level demons fear him."

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

"It's another tactic of bypassing drawing cards and adding Fusion Spell Cards directly to the hand!"

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

Many watching spirits are already surprised, and 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 willingly give him her own card.

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

"Truly... remarkable." The Necromancer Duke nods repeatedly; he never expected that even in such a situation, Tenjou Hikari could still frequently perform Fusion. This persistence really satisfies an old-school demon like him.

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

"But... the Rite of Dueling is cruel, Hikari!"

"Activate face-down card!"

"Counter Trap Card, Magic Drain!"

As expected!

Tenjou Hikari curses inwardly—

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

A ghost appears beside Tenjou Hikari and reaches out its demonic claws toward Substitution Fusion.

"Activate only 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, negate that card's activation and destroy it!"

The Necromancer Duke 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; only the sound of cracking is heard, and the existence of Fusion disappears once again!

"It's over—" The Young Lady grinds her teeth.

"It seems Purple Cutie is bound to lose." Camula taps her forehead with her finger, "Although Lord Duke cannot draw cards 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 loses."

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

Other spirits also begin to whisper, and almost everyone reaches a conclusion not much different from hers.

"Fusion is limited? Naive!" Amidst the countless voices, Tenjou Hikari accurately catches what Camula said and says loudly, "If I stopped pursuing Fusion just because of something like this, I, Tenjou Hikari, would have fallen on the road of life long ago! How could I call myself a chaser of ultimate Fusion?!"

!?

The Young Lady and the Spirit Princess both show shocked expressions upon hearing his words.

But—

But even if it's come to this, 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 Tiera stands by with her hands on her hips, full of smiles and confidence, 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 Necromancer Duke, with his back turned, is slightly stunned.

This effect...

He was prepared to be negated!

"That's right. I guessed long ago 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 a card, then holds it up directly 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 are muttering 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 Necromancer Duke 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 card is this?

He is stunned for a moment.

It seems to be the card drawn by 【Magic Drain】 and then destroyed by Deck Devastation Virus!

"Aroma Mix is a Fusion Spell Card that can 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.

"Banish this card from the Graveyard to activate. Banish monsters from your hand/field as Fusion materials 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 Fusion Summon!"

Ah?!

His eyeballs fall out of their sockets in shock.

"Ah..." The Vampire Young Lady sighs 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 Chimera and Predaplant Spinodion."

"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 reveal 【Fusion】 to my new friends!"

Rumble.

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

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, Plant-Type, ATK 2500.

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

"So, so amazing—"

"Too, too, too outrageous, right??"

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

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

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

A group of spirits chatter and discuss, and the entire camp becomes noisy and bustling.

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 Necromancer Duke 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 one 【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 and Thunder Dragon and Predaplant cannot Fusion, the possibility of victory is also very slim—

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

Tenjou Hikari wanders between the two demons and looks at Demon General Star.

"Banish Demon General Star."

Lost!?

The Demon Duke's jaw drops, even dislocating.

Even 【Hope】 is gone!

The soil beneath Demon General Star surges; it stands unsteadily, is grabbed by vines, sinks directly into the soil, and then can only helplessly watch the situation.

"Next, let's battle—Predaplant, Chimerafflesia attacks Berserk Demon!"

"Activate Chimerafflesia's effect, increase ATK by 1000, and decrease Berserk Demon's ATK by 1000!"

Chimerafflesia, ATK: 2500 → 3500.

Berserk Demon, ATK: 4500 → 3500.

The attack power is the same.

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

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

In this way...

The Necromancer Duke has no means of protection left!

Although Tenjou Hikari could wait until next turn to get Fusion and then bring out a Fusion Dragon to finish it, Tenjou Hikari doesn't have the habit of letting the opponent wait a turn to torture their soul...

"Truly, truly amazing..."

"Even though Lord Duke tried his best to lock him down, in the end, he could still Fusion, and still use Fusion to decide the victory..."

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

"Battle continues, Ophrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Professor Professor Yanjingshe 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, truly remarkable; I acknowledge this pursuit of Fusion!"

Necromancer Duke, LP: 1500 → 300 → 0.

(End of Chapter)