Madame Verre resignedly placed the Scroll in her hand onto the field, then said, "At the end of my turn, the Spell Cards in my GY will activate their effects. Besides the ones that weren't activated this turn, they can return to my hand.
And Witchcrafter Bystreet, when it exists in the GY while I control a Witchcrafter monster, can be placed directly in my Spell and Trap Zone." She recovered a large number of Spells, and the crystals around them once again reflected the alley's scenery.
"My turn, draw!" Hikaru glanced at his hand. "First, activate the effects of Fusion Substitute and Metalfoes Fusion in the GY. Return Frightfur Tiger to my Extra Deck, draw one card. Return Metalfoes Fusion to my Deck, shuffle, draw one card."
Free Fusions, dealt with Haine, and even drew cards.
It could truly be called "magic."
Madame Verre nodded to herself internally.
But getting past her field wouldn't be that simple.
She could negate all of her opponent's monster effects once per turn.
Bystreet could ensure that each of her monsters wouldn't be destroyed once per turn. And even if Hikaru used some effect that simultaneously destroyed Spells and monsters, due to how ruling logic worked, only Bystreet would be destroyed.
Finally, although she had been too startled and Haine had run over too fast for her to use Golem Aruru's effect, next turn she could still use Aruru for protection. She could also use the Aruru in her hand to defend against attacks and even remove Hikaru's field presence along the way.
Golem Aruru in hand: when a Spellcaster you control becomes the target of an opponent's effect or is selected as an attack target, 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.
Truly all-around defense!
"I flip Kraken face-up."
The massive, sky-blotting squid flipped over.
"Frightfur Kraken's effect. Once per turn, target one monster on the opponent's field. Send that monster to the GY. This turn, this card cannot attack directly."
"I send the Scroll on my field to the GY to negate the effects of all your monsters."
BOOM...
Haine, who had been carefully asking Tierra about various magical knowledge and feeling like she'd struck gold, turned around and found herself already back on the Witchcrafter workshop side.
"Haine~ We're still in a duel, you know~" Madame Verre couldn't help but call out her name.
Haine jumped in fright and hurriedly hid to one side.
With that, everything should be fine.
Next turn, she'd revive Haine, and with all the resources she'd recovered, winning the duel wouldn't be a problem.
He played very well. Truly an exceptional duelist. His understanding of Fusion and his "innovations" during the duel had amazed even her.
No wonder Aleister thought so highly of this kid.
Hmhmhm, but although you're excellent, although you're impressive, even if I was absent-minded on my first turn, even if I'm dead tired, I'm not that easy to beat. I'm one of the Three Sages! The Three Sages! But, given that you performed so many novel, innovative, and astonishing Fusions, I'll pass you on this certification.
After all, I ended up using Rilliona and Verre Magic, which theoretically shouldn't be used in a trial... Mmhm, let's just leave it at that. Crowley and the others won't know anyway, hehe~
But then, Hikaru wanted to push even further!
"Activate Frightfur Patchwork. I add Edge Imp Sabres and Polymerization from my Deck to my hand.
Activate Polymerization. Fuse Edge Imp Sabres and Fluffal Owl. Fusion Summon, Frightfur Wolf."
"Awooo~"
A toy wolf appeared on the field.
Frightfur Wolf Level 6, DARK, Fiend, ATK 2000
Frightfur Wolf? Not Frightfur Tiger this time?
But what purpose did this serve?
"Then..." Hikaru looked at Frightfur Kraken. The squid didn't care, nodding along.
Being able to breathe normally, come out and stretch her legs, was already rare enough. Dueling still had to be taken seriously.
Hikaru looked at Alkahest, and Alkahest patted its chest proudly, as if honored to be part of this.
"Alright! Then, I release Fullmetalfoes Alkahest and Frightfur Kraken on my field as Tributes!"
Huh?
Everyone was stunned.
"Tribute Summon! Dark Magician!"
"HAAH!"
The crimson, supreme magician made his dazzling entrance!
Dark Magician Level 7, DARK, Spellcaster, ATK 2500
Dark Magician?
A Tribute Summon?
Madame Verre's jaw dropped.
"Then, Fusion Spell: The Eye of Timaeus!"
This was...?!
A legendary dragon?
Just how many surprises did this kid have?!
Madame Verre finally, completely understood why Hikaru had such immense popularity, why so many spirits adored him, and why even Aleister had praised him.
"Using one Dark Magician on my field as material, Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster that lists 'Dark Magician' as Fusion Material.
I Fusion Summon! Dark Magician the Dragon Knight... no. Amulet Dragon... no.
I Fusion Summon, Master of Chaos!"
The warrior of chaos swung aside shield and sword, descending onto the field once more.
"When Master of Chaos is Fusion Summoned, I can target one LIGHT or DARK monster in my GY and Special Summon it."
"Magnum the Reliever!"
The horned Fusion fiend reappeared.
Beginning with Fusion, returning to Fusion.
Madame Verre applauded with both hands.
Beautiful.
On top of that, Hikaru returned the Polymerization in his GY to the bottom of his Deck, drew another card, and when he looked at it, it was Invocation!!
As one of the "top-tier" Spellcasters, one of the supreme mages, she of course recognized Master of Chaos.
Release one LIGHT and one DARK monster, then banish all monsters on the opponent's field.
This was precisely a situation that her hand, her field, her everything could not handle!
Hikaru hadn't come to this duel unprepared. On the contrary, he had anticipated this exact scenario, which was why he used these tactics, step by step working to banish her cards!
So that was it. Release the WATER and FIRE Attribute monsters, keep the DARK, and assemble the pre-prepared LIGHT.
Extra Deck Fusions, opponent's turn hand Fusions, Fusing with Fusions, Fusion recycling, single-material Fusions, both players' GY Fusions, and most importantly, unwavering faith in Fusion... truly beautiful.
Oh my, oh my...
She yawned.
Using Invocation to banish Aleister and a monster from the GY to Fusion Summon an Invoked, any of them would be enough to reduce her LP to zero, because she had no means to survive the damage. Even without doing that, Invocation could return itself to the Deck from the GY and recover the banished Aleister, at which point Aleister boosting Master of Chaos's ATK by 1000 would be equally unstoppable.
She'd lost... and she certainly wouldn't make excuses about not being serious on the first turn.
"One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness. Master of Chaos effect: release one LIGHT and one DARK monster on the field, and banish all monsters on the opponent's field!" While she was still thinking, Hikaru had already completed exactly the sequence she'd imagined. Familiar, classic, yet brimming with novelty in its entirely new combinations!
Swoosh...
The world split in two like the pages of a manga. On the left stood Hikaru and his allies; on the right, beneath the cut paper, were Madame Verre and Edel.
"Then, Master of Chaos attacks directly!" Hikaru immediately discarded the Aleister he'd recovered via Invocation, boosting Master of Chaos's ATK to 4000!
Master of Chaos leapt lightly, slashing his swords across the manga-like canvas. As the paper shattered, the crystals around Madame Verre cracked along corresponding fractures. Almost instantly, the glass sofa beneath her shattered, and she fell straight down, landing with a solid thud.
Madame Verre LP: 3300 → 0