Seraph's turn came around again.
"Well now, Pot of Greed. Draw two cards."
Having drawn Pot of Greed right on cue, Seraph activated it immediately.
After drawing from his Deck, he revealed one of the new cards alongside the Ixchel he'd obtained last turn. "I activate Ixchel's effect. I discard Darklord Amdusc and Ixchel from my hand. Draw two cards."
"Then, Spell Card: Darklord Contact!"
"With this card's effect, I revive a Darklord from the Graveyard."
"Here we go again!"
"Superbia, destroyed last turn, is coming back!"
Just as Chazz and Aster predicted, Professor Seraph didn't need to overthink anything. He simply played key cards at key moments.
Compared to Hikaru's painstaking Fusions, the Darklord strategy was almost too easy to understand.
But precisely because it was easy to understand, they could also clearly see how dangerous Hikaru's situation was.
Although Hikaru's monsters still had far higher ATK than Seraph's, it didn't change the fundamental problem. Compared to last turn's more versatile Ultimate Flame Swordsman, Magnum the Reliever could destroy back-row cards but lacked Ultimate Flame Swordsman's convenience.
Magnum the Reliever had to chain to another card's effect activation, limiting its effective range.
Although Hikaru still had two Trap Cards that could assist him this turn, one was the already-revealed Salamandra with Chains, and the other hadn't been activated last turn...
This...
"When Superbia is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one Fairy monster from my Graveyard. I choose to revive Darklord Nergal."
"Nergal's effect: pay 1000 LP, copy the effect of Darklord Contact in the Graveyard. Revive Darklord Ixchel in Defense Position from the Graveyard."
Seraph, LP: 3300 → 2300.
Three fallen archangels once again soared from Seraph's side, standing before Hikaru like an honor guard.
"Three angels summoned effortlessly, again..." Chazz frowned.
If this kept up, every time Hikaru's Fusion Monsters fought past the three angels, they'd just be revived with ease, used as "resources" to negate effects and recover LP through the Darklords' power.
At this rate, winning was nearly impossible.
"But compared to last turn," Aster spoke up, "this turn, his Graveyard doesn't have Darklord Rebellion. So he can't deal with the Chief's monsters.
Not only that, although Superbia has 2900 ATK, the Superbia revived by Darklord Contact can only be in Defense Position. It can't destroy Magnum in battle."
Hikaru still had room to interact!
"That sounds right, but..." Seraph held up a card and shook his head gently. "This card can Tribute one Fairy monster on the field for a Tribute Summon.
I Tribute Superbia. Tribute Summon: Darklord Desire."
The red-winged Darklord began to fracture. Its metallic components gradually transformed into weapons, merging into a newly descended angel.
A crimson Darklord with gauntlets embedded on both arms, gleaming with golden light, descended!
Darklord Desire. Level 10, DARK Attribute, Fairy-Type. ATK: 3000.
"Darklord Desire!" Chazz's face fell. "This is a monster that can reduce its own ATK by 1000 to send an opponent's monster directly to the Graveyard!"
Aster frowned too. "Send to the Graveyard... Mirage Swordsman's effect only triggers when destroyed by battle or card effect. If it's just sent there...
Chief! You can't let this effect go through!"
"So, will you activate your Trap?" A pleased smile crossed Seraph's face. "Your Set Salamandra with Chains can equip to a FIRE monster and then Set a monster on the field. But if you activate it, I can freely drain your monster's LP."
Salamandra with Chains could Set Hikaru's own monster face-down. If Hikaru Set Magnum the Reliever when The Sanctified Darklord's effect applied, the effect negation wouldn't work since the monster would be face-down. Although The Sanctified Darklord's non-targeting effect could still drain LP, Magnum's effect would go through.
This was also how "Setting" could be strategically utilized.
However, Professor Seraph had clearly anticipated this!
"Resource trading and Trap exchanges..." Chazz had to admit that Seraph's dueling was full of calculated plays. "He's the exact same type of duelist as Hikaru."
Although Hikaru typically shouted "Fusion! Fusion! Fusion!" in his duels, as a friend, Chazz knew perfectly well that what Hikaru truly took pride in wasn't the spectacular Fusions or Fusion Monsters, but the mind games and strategic thinking during duels.
At least in this regard, Hikaru clearly hadn't...
"I activate a Trap Card!"
So he had no choice but to activate it?
Both spectators felt a pang of regret.
But quickly, both were startled.
It wasn't the recently Set Salamandra with Chains. It was the other one.
"Trap Card: Frightfur Reborn!"
Frightfur!
Seraph flinched.
It was the card that hadn't been activated the turn before last!
"Frightfur Reborn's effect: I target one Edge Imp or Fluffal monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it. When the monster Special Summoned by this effect is used as Fusion Material, it can be treated as a Frightfur monster.
I revive Edge Imp Chain!"
"Ah! I see!" Chazz exclaimed from the side. "That's why Hikaru didn't use Frightfur Patchwork to add a second Chain last turn. Because the card he'd Set before was this!"
"And he just activated a Trap!"
"When a card effect is activated, I activate Magnum the Reliever's effect!" Hikaru opened his Graveyard and slowly picked up Polymerization. "I banish Polymerization from the Graveyard. I destroy your Darklord Desire!"
Hikaru pointed at Desire, calm and precise. "Professor, how about it? Will you activate The Sanctified Darklord's effect from the Graveyard?"
He'd truly been outmaneuvered.
Seraph surveyed the field without panic. He still had options.
Red feathers spiraled through the air, then crashed down.
This time, the red-winged angel was truly defeated. No resurrection possible.
Yet despite the setback, Seraph showed no alarm. Instead, he offered praise. "As expected of Duel Academy headquarters' overall representative, the GX Tournament champion... Your dueling talent surpasses even my expectations.
But... I still have follow-up plays."
He held up a card. "Spell Card: Pot of Avarice."
"I return the second Darklord Ixchel, Darklord of Pleasure, Darklord Ukoback, Darklord Amdusc, and Darklord Desire from my Graveyard to the Deck. Shuffle, then draw two cards."
Black feathers rose from the Graveyard, blending into his Deck, which shuffled at blinding speed before ejecting two cards.
He placed his hand on them and felt a sudden flash of inspiration. Something seemed to flicker in his mind. He looked down at the cards and saw them faintly glowing.
A Revelation.
He drew two cards, glanced down, and his eyes slowly widened.
This card was...
Countless possibilities flashed through his mind. His lips curved upward.
"I activate the Spell Card: Graceful Charity. Draw three cards from the Deck, then discard two..." He leisurely drew three cards, no longer tense. He checked his hand, then discarded two. "I discard Darklord Nasten and Darklord Uprising."
"Next, I activate Ixchel's effect. Pay 1000 LP, copy the effect of The Sanctified Darklord in the Graveyard."
"Looks like he has nothing else to do, so he's trying to recover LP while he can?" Chazz breathed a sigh of relief. Although The Sanctified Darklord's non-targeting effect could freely steal LP, it was better than the alternatives.
This way, Hikaru might survive another turn.
Although Hikaru's hand was shrinking and his field thinning, he had also constrained Seraph's tactics. So... it should be fine.
Hikaru frowned.
What had Professor Seraph drawn? Why was he suddenly activating this effect?
He should know that simply activating it would accomplish nothing. But Hikaru couldn't just let Seraph use the effect for free either.
So... he had no choice but to respond. While he couldn't stop Seraph from draining LP, he could Set one of Seraph's Attack Position monsters, ensuring Magnum the Reliever wouldn't be destroyed in battle.
"I activate the Trap Card: Salamandra with Chains! I equip this card to Mirage Swordsman on the field, increasing its ATK by 700. After that, I can Set one monster on the field face-down."
"A Trap Card... that can also Set monsters, and from the Graveyard can even serve as Fusion Material. A key Trap in your beloved Flame Swordsman series. But that card has one weakness."
?
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"'After that,' 'when.' In our duels, in our lives, in this world, we always face this kind of problem." Seraph lightly tapped his halo. Only now did everyone notice with surprise that the halo was actually physical.
"Darklord Superbia can Special Summon a Fairy monster from the Graveyard when it's revived. But because its effect uses 'when,' if the Darklords' effect copies Darklord Contact's effect, the card being shuffled back to the Deck causes Superbia to miss its timing, losing the revival opportunity.
Similarly, your Magnum the Reliever possesses powerful destruction, but it must chain immediately when another card's effect activates."
Seraph closed his eyes. "If I could have noticed when things happened. If I could have made the choice at the necessary moment. If I could skip the final chain and directly negate the initial card's effect. How wonderful that would be."
"But... that's how dueling works." Chazz said, confused.
"Yes, dueling is exactly like that. And so, for me, my goal is the same." Seraph looked at Hikaru, his madness undiminished. "If this world is destined to face an apocalyptic crisis, then let me be the one to bring it on. I hate humans anyway.
If humanity can't survive this crisis and goes extinct, that's something to celebrate as far as I'm concerned. Going to hell would be no loss.
If humanity survives and defeats this so-called evil god, this so-called ultimate darkness of final destruction, then humans are tougher than I thought. Facing the next crisis sooner is even better!
'After that'? What comes after has to be tested right here, right now. This is the Revelation! Quick-Play Spell: Mystical Space Typhoon!"
Hikaru's movements froze.
Oh...
"I target one Spell/Trap on the field and destroy it." The chains that had just materialized were instantly shattered by the gale. In an instant, much of the fire on Hikaru's field dissipated.
Because Salamandra with Chains hadn't even finished equipping to Mirage Swordsman, its subsequent effect couldn't resolve. It couldn't Set the higher-ATK Mirage Swordsman or Seraph's Attack Position monster.
The flames on Mirage Swordsman began to fade. The golden armor lost its color, until finally the swordsman stood in stark black and white.
Seraph, LP: 2300 → 1300 → 4800.
"His LP is above 4000 again!"
"But at least Hikaru's field still has Magnum and Mirage Swordsman. Next turn, he can slowly counter-attack."
"That's a nice thought, but it won't be that easy. I activate the Spell Card: Banishment of the Darklords. From my Deck... I add this card to my hand.
Darklord Morningstar."
"Morningstar!"
"This must be his ace!"
Both spectators' hearts clenched.
"Then... Quick-Play Spell: Forbidden Lance." Seraph slowly slotted a card in. "I target one monster on the field. Its ATK decreases by 800, and it becomes unaffected by other Spell/Trap effects."
"Your Flame Swordsrealm can reduce a Warrior's ATK by 1000 to boost other monsters by 1000, correct? But once touched by God's forbidden relic, that kind of effect is useless."
Beside the ashen swordsman, Magnum stood calmly. The next second, a lance of light from nowhere pierced its chest.
Magnum the Reliever, ATK: 2800 → 2000.
"Battle! Nergal, attack!"
The skeletal angel raised its right hand and hurled lightning at Hikaru's field.
BOOM.
The highest crystallization of Hikaru's current "alchemical Fusion," born from research into the Light of Destruction's power, ultimately couldn't withstand the forces of darkness. It was completely defeated.
Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3300.
"Tch, it's only 700 damage. Why does Hikaru look like he's about to lose?" Chazz's expression was grim.
Aster understood the feeling.
Although Hikaru's field still had a 3500 ATK monster that outclassed everything Seraph had, and couldn't be easily overcome...
As Seraph's board slowly accumulated, the cards Hikaru could use for resource recovery and field destruction had vanished one by one. Now his Graveyard had no Fusion Spells left. He was in a massive crisis.
And Seraph's two Darklords could both copy Darklord Spell/Trap effects from the Graveyard. He could keep using Banishment of the Darklords to replenish his cards...
After Hikaru's next turn, he might even exhaust all his Flame Swordsman resources entirely. He simply couldn't compete with the Darklords' cycle!
Hikaru frowned and drew from his Deck. At that moment...
"I activate Darklord Ixchel's effect. Pay 1000 LP. Apply Banishment of the Darklords' effect. From the Deck, I add Darklord Contact to my hand."
Seraph, LP: 4800 → 3800.
Of course!
Next turn, Superbia and that accursed Nergal again. Seemingly endless!
Hikaru looked at his drawn card, glanced at the field, and spoke. "I activate Flame Swordsrealm's effect on the field. I send Edge Imp Chain to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon a third Flame Swordsman!"
Flame Swordsman returned once more!
But this time, his expression was grim. Three appearances, yet the situation hadn't changed one bit. The pressure was immense.
"Chain's effect: when sent to the Graveyard, add one Frightfur card from the Deck to my hand. I choose Frightfur Patchwork."
Hikaru held up Patchwork.
"Frightfur Patchwork: through this card's effect, I add Polymerization and Edge Imp Sabres from the Deck to my hand."
Hikaru silently took the second Sabres, then revealed it alongside his drawn card. "Spell Card: Polymerization. I fuse Fluffal Penguin and Edge Imp Sabres from my hand."
"Fusion conditions: Edge Imp Sabres plus one or more Fluffals."
"Ferocious tiger, become a demonic toy and destroy my enemies!"
"Fusion Summon! Level 6: Frightfur Tiger!"
A green-skinned stuffed tiger plummeted from the sky. From within, a pair of scissors suddenly sliced it open, revealing crimson eyes.
Frightfur Tiger. Level 6, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 1900.
"When Frightfur Tiger is Fusion Summoned, I can target cards my opponent controls up to the number of Fusion Materials used, and destroy them. Fluffal Penguin's effect: when this card is sent to the Graveyard as Frightfur Fusion Material, draw two cards, then discard one.
I destroy both your angels!"
"Beautiful!"
"Yes! If this destruction goes through, then Mirage Swordsman and Frightfur Tiger can attack directly for the win!"
"Hikaru held on!"
"Impressive. Even in this situation, you can break through with Fusion?" Seraph looked amazed.
"But I won't let you!" Seraph commanded his field. "Nergal's monster effect: pay 1000 LP, copy one Darklord Spell/Trap effect from the Graveyard."
"At this point? What effect could he possibly copy?"
Seraph opened his Graveyard and held up a card. "The answer is... the Trap Card, Darklord Uprising!"
Seraph, LP: 3800 → 2800.
Darklord Uprising!
Huh?
Both duelists froze.
They knew this card, of course!
Because Hikaru used it. And used it frequently!
A dedicated Fusion Trap for DARK Fusion Monsters...
Oh. So it was a Darklord in-archetype Trap. It could be copied...
Both of them had gotten a bit fuzzy on "in-archetype versus generic" since Hikaru used so many random Fusion cards. But seeing Professor Seraph copy it, they instantly understood.
He was going to Fuse!
"Fusion conditions: three DARK Fairy monsters!"
"I fuse Darklord Ixchel and Darklord Nergal on my field with Darklord Morningstar in my hand!"
A three-Darklord Fusion!
Both spectators stared in awe.
"Like the morning star, like the dawn, like the sun.
The world's most ancient rebel. Now, become darkness and descend to my side!"
"Fusion Summon!"
"Level 12!"
"The First Darklord!"
Countless black feathers fell from the sky.
The bright midday sky was suddenly engulfed by dark clouds.
No...
Not clouds.
With this monster's descent, every trace of light in the sky was devoured. The sun was completely blotted out. Darkness directly engulfed the island.
A black, enormous "egg" slowly descended from the sky. Then it began to open. Those were wings. Pair after pair of wings!
As the wings unfurled, a handsome angel slowly descended.
A blood-red halo became the world's sole "light source." Everything in existence was bathed in its glow!
The First Darklord. Level 12, DARK Attribute, Fairy-Type. ATK 4000!
"4000 ATK?"
"The highest-level Fusion Monster..."
"Lucifer..."
Both Chazz and Aster felt a wave of pressure.
With The First Darklord's descent, even as mere spectators, they found breathing difficult. Terrifying, tangible darkness coiled around them like serpents, making every breath harder until a suffocating sensation set in.
It wasn't just here.
Far away at the academy, even spirits hiding across the island felt the choking pressure. Even in the most distant crowds, countless people suffered.
Some with weaker constitutions collapsed unconscious the instant heaven and earth shifted between light and dark!
This was...
The First Darklord!
"When The First Darklord is Fusion Summoned using Darklord Morningstar as material: destroy all cards my opponent controls!"
The First Darklord slowly raised its right hand. An enormous sword spun through the air as purple-black flames swept across Hikaru's field, engulfing everything in an instant.
"Ahh!" Even the battle-hardened Flame Swordsman felt agony in that moment.
"Guh..." Even the taciturn Mirage Swordsman clutched his own throat.
Death by suffocation.
A painful way to die.
After the flames burned out.
Hikaru's field was completely empty.
"When Mirage Swordsman is destroyed by a card effect: I can Special Summon one Level 7 or lower Flame Swordsman or monster that mentions it in its name from my Deck or Extra Deck.
I Special Summon the Fusion Monster: Fighting Flame Dragon."
Though Flame Swordsman was destroyed, his sword remained on the field, transforming into a flame dragon that guarded Hikaru.
Fighting Flame Dragon. Level 5, FIRE Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 1700.
"Hmph..."
Seraph looked at the angel that shared a name similar to his own and couldn't help but sigh.
Ideally, he would have Fused last turn and destroyed all of Hikaru's cards. But his LP had been a bit low, requiring supplementation first.
After all, Mirage Swordsman could Special Summon a "wall" even when destroyed, so there was no urgency.
Now, however, there was nothing to worry about.
"During either player's Main Phase, The First Darklord can pay 1000 LP to revive one Fairy monster from the Graveyard."
What?
That powerful?
Those Darklords could all copy Darklord Spell/Trap effects from the Graveyard too, right?
At this rate, the resource exchange would only get worse...
"However, this effect and its Fusion Summon effect can only use one per turn." Seraph didn't hide anything, stating it plainly. "But here's one more lesson for you, Hikaru. As long as The First Darklord is on the field, my Fairy monsters cannot be targeted by my opponent's effects.
So even if you Fuse another Frightfur or Magnum the Reliever, it won't work."
4000 ATK, field-wipe on summon, targeting immunity, and Graveyard revival!
Destruction, protection, recovery. It had everything!
"This is bad. Hikaru's field is in critical condition!"
"And his last Flame Swordsman is gone."
"Not only that, his Extra Deck only has a few cards left!"
Chazz and Aster took turns spelling out Hikaru's predicament.
Very bad. Extremely bad!
"The First Darklord... If I'm not mistaken, Professor, this is the 'Revelation' you spoke of?"
Seraph nodded gently.
"But as far as I know, Lucifer's legend is common knowledge. You must understand what kind of angel Lucifer was. Do you truly believe you received a Revelation, rather than a demon's temptation?" Hikaru was genuinely curious.
"A demon's temptation... Indeed, from an ordinary perspective, that's what it would seem." Seraph nodded. "But in truth, it isn't so.
Hikaru, this should be the most intuitive thing for you. As a duelist pursuing the ultimate Fusion, you and the Fusion Dimension's duelists will never understand each other.
Because although you both use Fusion, your philosophies are completely different."
"Those Fusion Monsters that look evil at first glance have, under your control, defeated enemy after enemy..."
Seraph took a deep breath. "Of course I know what Lucifer represents in legend. But what truly matters isn't temptation or deception. It's whether I, as a duelist, choose to believe. Isn't that right?
Whether a ritual's outcome leads to justice or evil was never determined by whether the demon ritual brought malice. It's determined by the summoner's heart.
If the summoner's heart is already evil, even an ordinary spirit will be corrupted. Likewise, I made this choice simply because I felt it was... worth trying."
"Is that so?" Hikaru's expression gradually cooled. "Then, just as you say, demon rituals depend on one's choices. Through my alchemical experiments, I summoned Tierra to our world. We live together, study together, and cooperate.
We each have our own understanding and answers. But the real key shouldn't be another principle of demon rituals? Temperance."
Temperance.
Or rather, "acting within one's means."
Hikaru and Tierra cooperated but also remained vigilant with each other, then opened their hearts, and finally became friends.
That was the process.
If either party blindly accepted everything the other said during that process, they would lose their "self."
Seraph claimed it was his choice. In reality, at every moment where he could have chosen for himself, he had abandoned choice and surrendered everything to "Revelation," to "God."
Because...
He had given up searching for answers himself!
What he called choice was actually surrender! He had simply given up. Whatever Darkness or Lucifer told him, he was willing to do.
Hikaru looked at his hand.
He had originally thought the Deck he'd prepared before this duel was meant for the wrong opponent. But now...
No. At this moment, it was exactly the right opponent.
Now he understood something even more clearly.
As partners and friends, he and Tierra had moved past scheming against each other. So naturally, they should respect and support one another.
Tierra looked at Hikaru's hand. She didn't voice what she was also thinking. She simply nodded at Hikaru. "All right, Hikaru. Don't hold back. Use my power to your heart's content."
"The First Darklord? Ha, I don't fear it one bit."
Hikaru smiled, then slowly raised his hand cards. "Spell Card: Dark Fusion."
"Huh? Is he going to use Evil HEROes? But Evil HEROes... how would they handle this field?" Aster was momentarily confused.
"Dark Fusion is a Fiend-exclusive Fusion Spell Card. It can Fusion Summon a Fiend Fusion Monster using monsters from the hand or field as materials. This turn, the opponent cannot target the monster Special Summoned by this effect with card effects."
Hikaru held up two cards from his hand. "I fuse Infernoid Attondel and Infernoid Decatron from my hand!"
"Fusion conditions: two Infernoid monsters!"
"Its name is sin, its name is evil. Fusion Summon! Level 1.
Infernoid Evil."
Blue flames erupted violently.
Unlike Flame Swordsman's fire, this was hellfire. The fire of death. The fire of... Tierra!
"Infernoid?" Aster asked in surprise.
"Infernoid!" Chazz was shocked.
"Evil?" Seraph frowned, displeased with the name.
Infernoid Evil. Level 1, FIRE Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 1100.
This card was a byproduct of Hikaru's attempts to craft "Materialism." Unfortunately, Materialism wasn't easy to create. But the good news was that Evil and Decatron-type copies had been born in the process.
"When Evil is Fusion Summoned: I banish one Infernoid monster from my Graveyard. Based on that monster's Level, I send Infernoid monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard, one per name maximum.
I banish Attondel."
Then Hikaru picked up his entire Deck, fanning it out. Cards flew into the air, hovering in suspension.
"Attondel is Level 8. Therefore, I can send eight different Infernoid monsters to the Graveyard."
From Hikaru's Deck, eight cards ignited one by one with pale blue flames. Then, one after another, they were sent to Hikaru's Graveyard.
"This..."
Several card names made Seraph uncomfortable.
Despite having "given up," his background as a priest meant hearing names like "Satan" still felt strange.
"Finally... Quick-Play Spell: Dark World Enthronement!"
"Dark World?"
"Another Fusion we've never seen!"
Both spectators felt they were seeing yet another new side of Hikaru.
Before today, they had never realized Hikaru harbored such a "dark" side.
But...
Perhaps, as Seraph had said, although the monsters were demons, Hikaru himself was not "evil."
"This card can only be activated during either player's Main Phase."
Hikaru's right eye gradually blazed with blue fire. A sensation Seraph found deeply familiar...
The feeling of divine favor!
Hikaru possessed a similar "status" to his own.
"Fusion conditions: Infernoid Nehemah, Infernoid Lilith, and one or more Infernoid monsters. From my Graveyard, I banish the Hex-Sealed Fusion - Dark discarded on Turn 1, Infernoid Lilith, Infernoid Decatron, Infernoid Seitsemas, Infernoid Sjette, Infernoid Onuncu, Infernoid Patrulea, Infernoid Harmadik, Infernoid Beelzebul, Infernoid Pirmais... and Fuse!!""
"Now is the moment of rebirth!
Awaken!
My ally, my friend, my soul!
The Star-Creating God!"
Both his eyes blazed with blue flames. An absolute purple storm began surging across the entire island.
"Fusion Summon!
Open the gates of the Divine Star Tree! Awaken!
Level 11: Infernoid Tierra!"
Ten monsters, centered on Hikaru, became ten enormous metallic points. The ten points ignited with blue flames, then the flames formed a gate. A shadow emerged from within.
Sun and moon, light and dark, positive and negative. The sky The First Darklord had altered, the light and dark it had changed, were reset in that instant.
Seraph stared at his surroundings in shock. By the time he came to his senses, light had returned to heaven and earth!
This?!
He looked up. A serpentine being with an ox's head, lips pressed together, one white wing and one black wing spread wide... no, a serpentine machine had unfurled across the island. Countless people could see this moment!
"Wh-what is that?"
"I think I heard Hikaru's voice?"
"Wow... what a terrifying monster. Scary."
"Huh, that feeling of something pressing on my chest just now... it's gone."
Infernoid Tierra. Level 11, FIRE Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 3400.
Simultaneously, the entire island's seasons and temperature seemed to shift. Students who had been in pain gradually recovered under Tierra's influence.
"What... on earth is happening?" Many gazed skyward, at the entire island, at the world split between black and white, feeling as though they had fallen into a dream.
Meanwhile, Professor Viper, who had been preparing lesson plans, looked up at the horizon.
So that's how it was...
Truly powerful!
"3400 ATK... So this is the otherworldly god you summoned?" Seraph felt a slight pressure. But in terms of ATK, The First Darklord was still higher.
Chazz and Aster stared at Tierra in shock. Chazz had once glimpsed fragments of Tierra in a video, but seeing her mountain-dwarfing body in person was beyond anything he'd imagined.
"That's right." Hikaru gazed into the distance, toward Tierra's head. "Tierra is the Star-Creating God, the God of Rebirth, governing destruction and creation...
At this moment, her effects will activate!"
?
A god's effects!
"Tierra activates effects based on the number of different types among her Fusion Materials!"
"Three types: both players send three cards from their Extra Decks to the Graveyard."
Hikaru held up three fingers, opened his Extra Deck, chose three cards, and sent them to the Graveyard.
Seraph didn't understand, but opened his Extra Deck and sent his only remaining Fusion Monster, St. Joan, to the Graveyard.
"Five types: both players send the top three cards of their Decks to the Graveyard."
Hikaru revealed the top of his Deck: Fusion Substitute, Frightfur Fusion, Flame Swordsrealm.
Seraph frowned, glanced at his Deck, and slowly sent cards to the Graveyard.
The Sanctified Darklord, Banishment of the Darklords...
"Ha, Hikaru, this effect seems to benefit me more than you."
His milling was indeed stronger than Hikaru's.
But the third card...
Solemn Warning.
A card he had obtained by chance long ago. Seeing it now, he felt momentarily dazed.
"Eight types: both players select three banished cards and return them to the Graveyard."
Seraph had nothing useful for this. Hikaru returned several Infernoids to the Graveyard.
"And finally, ten or more types..."
Hikaru clenched his fist. Blue flames completely engulfed the dueling field. The instant this effect was declared, Seraph suddenly felt a flash of vertigo, as though he had "lost everything."
What was this?!
He screamed internally.
"Players with cards in their hand discard their entire hand!"
What...
Destroy all hand cards?!
If used from the very beginning, the concept of "sustain" wouldn't even exist!
Even for a Graveyard-reliant Deck like Darklords, losing every hand card was extremely dangerous...
Hikaru raised his fist and declared: "All things return to nothing!"
Raging flames erupted!
The cards in Seraph's hand spontaneously burst into blue fire. He yelped and released them. The cards were annihilated, ceasing to exist.
This...
Meaning his "sustain" was gone. He would have to rely on The First Darklord's abilities to regroup next turn.
At least there were still plenty of Spells and Traps in the Graveyard...
"When Tierra descends, all things restart. This is rebirth." Hikaru said casually. "The effect of Garuda the Symbiotic Wing, sent from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard: when this card is sent to the Graveyard, I draw one card."
Huh?!
Hikaru got to draw, while Seraph could only watch.
Hikaru had also sent an Old Entity to the Graveyard, but unfortunately, The First Darklord couldn't be targeted by effects.
However...
Targeting immunity didn't mean it couldn't be dealt with.
"Fusion Substitute's effect in the Graveyard: return Ultimate Flame Swordsman to the Extra Deck, banish this card, then draw one card."
Another card.
For reasons he couldn't explain, watching Hikaru draw while he could only stand idle, Seraph felt an inexplicable irritation.
He had supposedly "given up" long ago.
Hikaru looked at the cards in his hand.
Future Fusion...
He smiled softly.
"The Chief won." Suddenly, Aster grew excited.
"Won?" Chazz hadn't caught on yet.
"I activate the effect of Salamandra with Chains in the Graveyard. I banish this card from the Graveyard. Using monsters from my hand, field, or Graveyard as Fusion Materials, I shuffle them into the Deck to Fusion Summon one FIRE Warrior or Dragon Fusion Monster. The monster Fusion Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase!"
Huh?
Oh!
Chazz understood.
Ultimate Flame Swordsman!
Hikaru took Fighting Flame Dragon from the field and Flame Swordsman from the Graveyard, shuffling them into his Extra Deck.
In the air, an enormous sphere of blue flame descended. Then Ultimate Flame Swordsman stood tall upon the earth once more!
"Thank you so much, Lady Tierra!" Ultimate Flame Swordsman swung his greatsword excitedly.
Finally, he could redeem himself!
From the start of this duel until now, he hadn't fought a single proper battle!
Now, with Tierra's descent, his "rebirth" was complete.
Ultimate Flame Swordsman. Level 8, FIRE Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 2800.
"Battle." Hikaru spoke calmly.
Seraph took a sharp breath.
Rounds of careful management, ended in a single moment.
"At the start of the Damage Step when Ultimate Flame Swordsman battles: its ATK doubles!"
Ultimate Flame Swordsman, ATK: 2800 → 5600.
Flame Swordsman cheered with excitement. He swung his greatsword and charged at the towering First Darklord in the sky. The First Darklord swept its left-hand shield forward, easily blocking the attack.
But Flame Swordsman had higher ATK!
He didn't falter. He kept attacking. But no matter how he tried, he couldn't reach The First Darklord.
Just before the next strike, Flame Swordsman suddenly felt his body change. The red flames on his greatsword were replaced by pale blue hellfire. Ashen, deathly, mechanical power enveloped Ultimate Flame Swordsman. He swung again. This time, The First Darklord could not stop him.
Ha ha!
He cheered.
"For my lord, I offer victory! Take this, Darklord!"
Hikaru called out in unison:
"Supreme Fighting Spirit Flame Slash!"
BOOM!!!
Blue flames engulfed The First Darklord entirely. With a crack, the halo above Seraph's head fractured and slowly fell away.
Seraph, LP: 2800 → 1200.
"Ugh... ahh..."
Seraph couldn't help but drop to one knee.
"Did I lose?" Seraph clutched his chest. "Ha, so be it. Being defeated by an excellent, righteous person means... humanity is evolving faster and better than I thought."
"How could I possibly represent all of humanity?" Hikaru responded with his usual coolness. "Professor, thank you for teaching me the proper attitude toward demon rituals, and thank you for showing me the wrong example...
But I won't hold back!
Tierra!"
Tierra spread both hands. One white, one black. Two enormous spheres of light coalesced in the air, collided, and discharged wild currents of electricity.
"With this attack, I declare my resolve!"
"Purgatorial... Heavenly Catastrophe!"
Like a meteor bombardment!
The spheres of light crashed from the sky!
Whether blessed by God or granted Revelation, in a duel, there was only one identity...
Duelist!
A human duelist!
Against a duelist who had betrayed humanity, Hikaru would show no mercy!
BOOM!
Angel wings turned to ash. The sacred halo shattered into fragments.
Seraph, LP: 1200 → 0.
...
STONES PLZZZ
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