"What a peculiar monster." Madame Verre murmured, eyeing the creature on Hikaru's field in surprise.
It actually used the wording "1 monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck."
Meaning Synchro, Fusion, or even Xyz could all serve as its Fusion Materials?
That would indeed push Fusion one step further.
"The effect of Edge Imp Chain in the Graveyard: when this card is sent from the hand or field to the Graveyard, I can add one 'Frightfur' card from my Deck to my hand."
"And right now!" Hikaru raised his right hand skyward. "Magnum the Reliever's effect activates!"
What could it be?
Every spirit watching the duel leaned in, curious.
"When another card or effect is activated: I can banish one 'Polymerization' or 'Fusion' Spell from my Graveyard, then target one card on the field and destroy it."
He was using the power of Fusion itself?
Hikaru's lips curled as he pointed at Madame Verre. "I banish Fusion Recovery from my Graveyard to destroy Witchcrafter Bystreet."
"Then let it be destroyed." Madame Verre didn't mind in the least.
The surrounding alleyway illusion faded, and everyone realized it had never been a field change, merely countless transparent crystals refracting the scene.
"Whenever another effect goes off, he can chain and destroy a card?"
"Terrific power. He can disrupt the opponent even on their turn, just like Madame Verre!"
Madame Verre gave a soft snort.
Her own ability was far stronger than that.
"Magnum the Reliever's other effect: once per turn, target one 'Polymerization' or 'Fusion' Spell in your Graveyard. Place it on the bottom of the Deck, then draw one card."
Hikaru lifted the Polymerization from his Graveyard. The spirits exchanged glances as he calmly slipped it back into his Deck and drew.
"But that alone can't defeat Madame Verre." Haine sighed from the sidelines. "Her DEF equals Magnum's ATK.
And she has an even deeper effect."
A deeper effect?
The surrounding spirits looked at one another, bewildered.
"Ha, I know." Hikaru chuckled. "While Madame Verre is on the field, during damage calculation when a Spellcaster battles, she can reveal any number of differently named Spell Cards in her hand. For each one, that monster gains 1000 ATK and DEF."
That strong?!
Couldn't her DEF climb past six or seven thousand?
Madame Verre's brows lifted slightly at the words.
So Hikaru had a way to handle her field.
He studied his hand. He'd filtered so many cards just to find an answer.
And now he'd drawn it.
"Normal Spell: Instant Fusion."
"Ugh." Madame Verre's face twisted in distaste.
She knew exactly which monster was coming the moment she saw that card.
The "evil god" among Spellcasters: Thousand-Eyes Restrict!
Sure enough, Hikaru paid 1000 LP and Thousand-Eyes Restrict appeared. He activated its effect, devouring Madame Verre. She casually flipped, leaving a white transparent crystal behind as she was absorbed.
Hikaru LP: 4000 → 3000
Madame Verre shook her head at the sight.
To hurt her, he'd willingly dropped 1000 LP, yet gained little.
"Using Instant Fusion not only strips away my protection but also adds a 'Fusion' Spell to the Graveyard. Clever," she admitted. "However, while Thousand-Eyes Restrict is on the field, no other monsters may attack, and monsters Special Summoned by Instant Fusion cannot attack."
Hikaru nodded, glancing at the two Set Cards in his back row. For him, the point was to break more locks and drain more of Madame Verre's resources.
"End turn."
At that moment, thanks to Instant Fusion's lingering effect, the freshly Special Summoned Thousand-Eyes Restrict was destroyed, and Madame Verre herself was sent to the Graveyard.
She didn't seem bothered. Looking at Hikaru's field, she smiled. "Interesting."
With a light wave of her hand, a card flew from her Deck and hovered before her.
"Apologies. I hadn't shown proper respect. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am one of the Three Sages, the Sage of Crystal, Rilliona!"
Her aura shifted. Though still a small girl, simply straightening her posture radiated authority, leaving the Witchcrafter artisans whispering: was this really their teacher?
"Still, you must know that to enter the Magician Domain, strength alone is not enough." She wagged a finger. "Yes, you've wounded me, but that is far from sufficient.
Only by displaying your own unique 'style' can you earn my Great Sage certification."
"I will," Hikaru answered calmly.
"Very well. My turn. Normal Summon: Rilliona, the Magistus of Verre!"
At her gesture, a colossal, pristine crystal descended. A snow-white witch wearing a white pointed hat alighted gracefully upon the ground.
Rilliona, the Magistus of Verre Level 4, LIGHT, Spellcaster, ATK 800
"Whoa!"
"Ooooh!"
This was the true form of the Great Sage!
Some novice Witchcrafter artisans were seeing their teacher like this for the first time. Even Haine herself had never witnessed this guise.
Gone was the usual laziness and apathy, replaced by an aura of holiness.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
Was she switching to a full Magistus strategy?
He was mistaken.
Nothing of the sort happened.
"When I am successfully Normal or Special Summoned, I can choose one: add one 'Magistus' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand, or return one of my banished Level 4 or lower Spellcasters to the Graveyard."
"I choose to add a Magistus Spell from my Deck to my hand."
The small girl manipulated the crystalline projection, lifting her left hand lightly as a card shimmered into existence, not from the Deck, but from thin air.
"I add Verre Magic - Lacrima of Light to my hand!"
"Verre Magic?"
"Wait, that card isn't..." "It is also treated as a 'Magistus' or 'Witchcrafter' card by the rules."
The spirits gasped in amazement.
"I activate the Spell Card, Witchcrafter Holiday." Seeing that Hikaru still made no move, Madame Verre knew she couldn't use Lacrima of Light yet, so she played another card instead.
The card's artwork showed her dozing inside the glass atelier until her disciples barged in.
"This card lets me target one 'Witchcrafter' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it."
"I Special Summon Witchcrafter Madame Verre."
One large, one small. One past, one present. Two monsters, different yet the same, appeared together.
Witchcrafter Madame Verre Level 8, LIGHT, Spellcaster, DEF 2800
Madame Verre studied the field Hikaru had built and weighed her options.
Magnum the Reliever's effect could only be used in response to another card's activation, destroying one card on the field. If she used her own effect to negate Hikaru's monsters, it would simply be destroyed in return, making the negation pointless.
So she had to let her opponent activate an effect first, then chain Magnum. Only that sequence worked.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Verre Magic - Lacrima of Light."
She played the Spell she had picked up earlier. Countless transparent crystals began to sparkle across the duel hall. "I choose one of its two effects. The second can only be used when my opponent activates an effect, so I'll use the first.
When I control a 'Magistus' or 'Witchcrafter' monster, I can send one Spellcaster monster or Spell Card from my Deck to the GY.
I send Witchcrafter Patronus to the GY."
"Now then, my adorable pupils, behold advanced spellcraft."
The Witchcrafter apprentices exchanged glances, none sure what she meant.
Tierra watched with interest, wondering what "advanced technique" could warrant such drama.
"By the effect of Witchcrafter Patronus in my GY: once per turn, I can banish it and one 'Witchcrafter' Spell from my GY. This effect becomes that banished Spell's activated effect.
And I choose the second effect of Verre Magic - Lacrima of Light!"
"Wait, what?"
"That can't be right. Doesn't the second effect need an opponent's activation to chain to?"
The spirits erupted in heated debate. Madame Verre's move sounded like pure nonsense.
Tierra blinked and looked at Hikaru. He nodded. "It's legal. Same principle as Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude. You've seen it."
Understanding dawned on Tierra.
"Copying an effect duplicates the activation itself. No cost is paid. If it can be activated, it can be used." Crystalline runes floated from her fingers. "I banish Lacrima of Light and Patronus to Special Summon Witchcrafter Schmietta."
"Schmietta?" The apprentices traded puzzled looks.
"I admit last turn I was careless, a poor examiner, and hastily sent Edel to the GY. I should have chosen better."
"But now I'm going all out. I activate the Spell, Witchcrafter Confusion Confession!"
The card's artwork showed her original form casually dumping work onto her students, then running off alone.
You could tell that Edel had serious complaints about her, while Haine was completely unprepared for suddenly becoming the "acting leader."
"You're a duelist who pursues ultimate Fusion, so how about this?" Her lips curled upward. "The Fusion condition is one Witchcrafter monster and one Spellcaster monster. Want to chain?"
Hikaru thought for a moment, then nodded. "Activate Magnum the Reliever's effect. Destroy Madame Verre on your field."
"Then I chain your activation with my own effect. Discard Witchcrafter Draping to negate the effects of all monsters on your field!"
Hikaru nodded, no objection.
Just like that, Magnum the Reliever banished Instant Fusion from the GY, about to destroy Madame Verre, only to find itself sealed like an exhibit in a glass bottle.
At the same time, Rilliona on the field and Witchcrafter Schmietta fused together.
A rather serious-looking spirit appeared on the field, though her left hand was quietly trembling.
"Ah!" Haine on the sidelines couldn't help but gasp.
"Fusion Summon! Witchcrafter Vice-Madame. Ehehe~"
She struck a cute pose.
Witchcrafter Vice-Madame Level 8, DARK, Spellcaster, ATK 2700
"Now then, the path is wide open." Madame Verre chuckled softly. "Activate the effect of Schmietta in the GY. Banish her to send Witchcrafter Pittore from the Deck to the GY."
"And at this moment, the Vice... Grand Haine's effect activates~"
"Don't deliberately emphasize 'Grand'!" Haine was quite displeased.
"When the effect of a Spellcaster monster or Spell Card, other than a Fusion Monster's, is activated, I can choose one of her effects to activate. And amazingly, she has a full three effects!
I first activate the third effect: return one Witchcrafter Spell or Trap from the GY to my hand."
She leisurely picked up Witchcrafter Creation. "Then, activate the effect of Pittore in the GY. Banish her, and I draw one card. After that, I send one Witchcrafter card from my hand to the GY.
If I have no Witchcrafter cards in my hand, my entire hand is banished."
She had a Witchcrafter card in hand, of course.
"Oh, and don't forget, at this moment I can also activate Vice-Madame's effect to destroy one card on your field. I'll destroy that Magnum the Reliever."
She drew a card and glanced down at it. "Discard Witchcrafter Demonstration."
"Then, lastly, activate the Spell Card Witchcrafter Creation. Add Witchcrafter Edel from my Deck to my hand..."
"And naturally, I can activate Vice-Madame's effect once again. Special Summon one Level 6 or lower Witchcrafter monster from my Deck. Come on out, let me see how your magical training's been going, Aruru~"
Witchcrafter Edel Level 5, LIGHT, Spellcaster, ATK 2000
A dazzling chain of spells flashed before their eyes. The spirits watching this scene could only feel utterly amazed.
A single monster, activating three effects, encompassing recovery, destruction, and support. Not only did it clear Hikaru's field, but her effects could also activate during the opponent's turn for the same kind of support!
At this rate, all she had to do was attack directly and she'd win!
"Well then, I suppose I'll perform some magic of my own."
?
Madame Verre didn't understand what he meant.
"During your Main Phase, I activate this card's effect from my hand. Edge Imp Scythe!"
What?
Everyone exchanged bewildered looks, not understanding Hikaru's move. Why suddenly reveal a monster at a time like this?
"During the opponent's Main Phase, reveal this card in your hand to activate. From your hand and field, send the Fusion Materials listed on a 'Frightfur' Fusion Monster, including this card, to the GY, and Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster!"
"What?"
"A direct hand Fusion!!"
"And on the opponent's turn?!"
Slash! A giant scythe spiraled down from the sky. Behind Hikaru, an enormous squid-like form suddenly materialized.
That was no ordinary squid.
It was an Earthbound Immortal!
Hikaru hadn't been idle during this time. Since the Frightfur Dimension had been modified by Tierra to allow "reincarnation," Hikaru naturally intended to leverage that advantage.
While it wasn't a direct reincarnation, it could at least pass for an outsider.
"The Fusion condition is one Edge Imp monster and one Fluffal."
Hikaru flipped over his second card. "I fuse Fluffal Penguin and Edge Imp Scythe! Fusion Summon!"
"Frightfur Kraken!"
A massive, absurdly oversized squid toy appeared behind Hikaru. Then, with several squelching sounds, scythes pierced through its body, transforming into tentacles that slammed onto the ground.
Frightfur Kraken Level 8, WATER, Fiend, ATK 2200
"Fluffal Penguin's effect: draw two cards, discard one." Hikaru cycled through his hand once more.
...
Madame Verre looked at this monster, then back at Hikaru.
Is that toy even legal?
But aside from her incredulity, she still had to focus on the duel.
ATK 2200, DEF 3000, was it?
She hesitated for a moment, then decided she still had to attack. "Battle! Vice-Madame, attack."
Even if it was in Defense Position, she had to attack. She couldn't just leave this bizarre monster sitting there, could she?
It was clearly not a normal monster!
"Before that, activate Trap Card: Magical Hats."
"Activate during the opponent's Battle Phase. Select two Spell or Trap Cards from the Deck, treat them as Normal Monsters, and mix them together with one monster on my field, setting all three face-down in Defense Position. Cards Special Summoned by this effect from the Deck cannot exist outside the Battle Phase and are destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase."
Hikaru pulled Metalfoes Fusion, which had been sent to the GY last turn, and Fusion Substitute from his Deck, setting them on the field. At the same time, the Frightfur monster burrowed into one of the cards.
Madame Verre saw this and vaguely had a suspicion, but couldn't quite figure out what was happening.
"Then! Quick-Play Spell: Rapid Trigger! Destroy Fusion Materials on my field that are listed on a Fusion Monster, and Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck. The monster Special Summoned by this effect can only attack monsters Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and is unaffected by effects activated by other monsters Special Summoned from the Extra Deck."
"More Fusion? But on your field... ah!" Madame Verre suddenly realized.
At that moment, she understood what Hikaru had meant by "performing magic."
"Interesting."
"Huh? What can he Fusion Summon from that?"
"Yeah, what is this?"
Despite having already witnessed many of Hikaru's Fusions, the spirits still didn't understand what he was trying to do.
"Heh. Because the monsters Special Summoned by Magical Hats are treated as Normal Monsters, and their names are their original card names." Tierra suddenly took interest, explaining to the nearby spirits. "In other words, what Hikaru has on his field are monster cards named 'Metalfoes Fusion' and 'Fusion Substitute.'"
"That's right!"
"I fuse Metalfoes Fusion and Fusion Substitute!"
"Fusion Summon! Fullmetalfoes Alkahest!"
Fullmetalfoes Alkahest Level 1, FIRE, Psychic, DEF 0
"WHOA!!!!" The Witchcrafters collectively shrieked.
Originally, seeing their master use "copy a Spell to completely bypass its conditions" had already shocked them, but now Hikaru had performed a "Fusion using Fusion" ultra-cool Fusion!
Haine felt her hands trembling.
Because she was watching this scene at extremely close range, face to face, the impact and shock she received was undoubtedly stronger. She almost instantly realized that she could also fuse a Witchcrafter Spell Card with any random Spellcaster monster!
This was too cool!
"WHOA!!!"
"As expected of the absolute Fusion wielder!"
"As expected of the pinnacle of Fusion, Hikaru. That was way too cool!"
"I never expected that when I came to order a custom gift today, I'd get to see a duel like this. Totally worth it no matter what!"
Hikaru didn't stop his play. He pointed at Haine. "Activate Fullmetalfoes Alkahest's effect. Once per opponent's turn, target one Effect Monster on the field. That Effect Monster is equipped to this card!"
It was an effect similar to Thousand-Eyes Restrict.
But...
You're choosing me?!
Not master?!
Haine pointed at herself in disbelief.
Then, she excitedly ran straight over, instantly arriving at Hikaru's side of the field, greeting Hikaru and curiously asking about the "Fusion using Fusion" concept, exclaiming that his approach was incredible. She had zero hesitation about running to the opponent's field during a duel.
After all, her master screwed her over far too often on a daily basis. By the time Madame Verre snapped out of her amazement over the "Fusion using Fusion" and prepared to use Golem Aruru's effect in her hand to deal with the situation, she was shocked to discover that Haine had already run to the other side.
Hikaru was also a bit surprised. At this point, Golem Aruru's effect, "When a Spellcaster you control becomes the target of an opponent's effect or is selected as an attack target by an opponent's monster: you can target one card on the opponent's field or one Witchcrafter Spell in your GY; Special Summon this card, and return that card to its owner's hand," could have directly dealt with Alkahest or the Kraken.
He had originally planned to gamble on her bouncing the Kraken, which would leave him plenty of room to work with next turn.
Madame Verre rubbed the bridge of her nose. She was just too tired, and the "Fusion using Fusion" had genuinely caught her off guard. Of course, there was also the matter that Haine had run over too fast. By the time she came to her senses, she had already missed her activation window.
But it wasn't a serious problem. As long as she battle-destroyed Alkahest, she could use Edel's effect to Tribute herself and revive Haine from the GY. Not difficult at all.
"Alkahest's DEF increases by the ATK of the monster equipped to it by its effect."
Fullmetalfoes Alkahest DEF: 0 → 2700
The DEF now exceeded Edel's ATK, but the problem wasn't severe. She still had a Spell Card in hand, Witchcrafter Scroll, which could boost Edel's ATK by 1000, enough to destroy the monster. But what she really wanted to do was use Golem Aruru's effect to Special Summon it and deal with that bizarre "toy." Although she didn't know its effects, that giant toy was just too suspicious.
The purple witch swung her massive artisan's hammer, bringing it down on Alkahest.
However...
"Ah. Sorry, Madame Verre." Hikaru flipped over the card in his hand. According to his original plan, as long as he could bait Madame Verre into bouncing the Kraken, keep Alkahest on the field, and deal with Haine, then no matter what the opponent attacked with, he could use the Dark Kuriboh that Jaden had given him to protect his field.
But he had just drawn something else unexpectedly. "I happened to draw Aleister."
It was from Fluffal Penguin's draw effect.
Madame Verre remembered.
"Damn it, that good-for-nothing idiot..."
Aleister could boost the ATK and DEF of a Fusion Monster on the field by 1000!
It collided perfectly head-on with her boost!
Madame Verre LP: 4000 → 3300