By the time Tenjo Hikari regained his senses, he was already standing on solid ground.
The air was filled with the smell of smoke and something strange. The sky was extremely low, with seemingly no sun, only a faint flicker of firelight illuminating the world.
Everywhere there were remnants of walls and ruins, the world enclosed like a narrow box.
It was Tenjo Hikari's first time in a real "Broken Dimension." Looking at the surrounding devastation, he felt somewhat uneasy.
After all, the world seemed too low.
"Mamma mia!!!" Professor Cronos had just landed and seemed to step on something, letting out a terrified scream as he clawed at anything nearby, holding on and crying out.
"Professor, that's a bone in your hand."
"Ah ah ah—"
More panic ensued.
"Why all the noise, it's driving me crazy!" Professor Cronos shouted even more fearfully, seemingly finally irritating the "locals" here, who couldn't help but roar in anger, "Who are these people making such a racket? Don't you see I'm busy here!"
Following the sound, they saw a campfire emitting a glow, with a giant pot placed on it, and a figure stirring something frantically.
"It's here!!!" Professor Cronos screamed in terror, as if seeing a ghost.
"Eh, humans?" The figure noticed Tenjo Hikari and Professor Cronos, pausing slightly before complaining, "Didn't I say, if you can't solve my problem, don't bother me, don't you under—stand!"
"Master, be careful!"
As the spirit began to speak, Flame Swordsman suddenly appeared beside Tenjo Hikari, the searing firelight brightening the world. At this moment, everyone realized that a mass of darkness was heading toward them. Meanwhile, Dark Flare Knight sensed danger and quickly unsheathed his weapon.
The two spirits fought hard to deflect the encroaching darkness, yet the others, caught in panic, couldn't fend for themselves. Professor Cronos let out a fearful cry as he was hit in the head by one of the pieces and knocked back, collapsing with a scream of pain.
"Tenjo-san, quickly go—" Before passing out, he threw what he was clutching in his hand toward Tenjo Hikari.
"Ahhhhh!! My stove!!!!" On the other side, the indistinct spirit also screamed as his large pot was struck by the black mass, shattering it. The contents, blue and purple, spilled everywhere, likely ruined.
"Professor—" Tenjo Hikari couldn't have expected that right upon arriving here, they would encounter such a sudden situation. He caught the emergency escape button, still somewhat confused.
"Don't leave, compensate me for my stove!"
"Master, watch out!" Flame Swordsman shouted in horror.
For they saw a massive, far larger mass of darkness charging madly towards Tenjo Hikari!
Tenjo Hikari's expression turned cold.
Flame Swordsman rushed over, trying to push Tenjo Hikari aside to take the hit himself, but at this moment—
Tenjo Hikari tore off the pendant on his neck, using it as a shield in front of himself.
The black mass collided with the pendant, its immense energy crushed the pendant, yet the [Card] inside remained utterly still!
Under the astonished gaze of the spirits, the black force melted like ice cream under the sun in front of the card and soon vanished without a trace!
What followed was a cracked card, slowly falling from the sky, casually caught by Tenjo Hikari.
Scrap Fusion?
A myriad of associations flashed in Tenjo Hikari's mind.
"What, what is that!?" The local spirit, witnessing this, jumped in fright.
"What a powerful card, is this the hidden strength Master always bore?" Flame Swordsman, though unsure of what Tenjo Hikari held, refrained from questioning.
Since Master had never placed this card in the deck and always wore it, there had to be a reason of his own!
"Master, your teacher has just fainted." Meanwhile, Dark Flare Knight finished checking Professor Cronos's condition, reporting to Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari nonchalantly put away Scrap Fusion, looking toward the source of the black energy. A shadowy figure started to emerge there.
The world was too dim for Tenjo Hikari to see clearly—after all, the figure seemed to blend into its surroundings, being pitch black!
Tenjo Hikari picked up Super Polymerization, flicking the card cautiously to dissipate heat, watching warily.
Though he'd gained a card for free using the opponent's energy, and the attack was neutralized, it was a creature that had inexplicably attacked him, even causing his teacher to faint, so vigilance was necessary.
On the other side, the spirit raised the magic staff at hand, its core spinning wildly, unleashing bright firelight that illuminated the whole world.
And this, finally allowed Tenjo Hikari to see its appearance clearly.
Could it be—Fullmetalfoes Alchemist?
With a wizard hat, a magic staff, and a mage's robe, just from the appearance, one might indeed mistake him for a Spellcaster-Type Monster. But looking slightly closer, something seemed off—the entire outfit was not that of a mage but a "Technology Product."
He was Fullmetalfoes Warrior: Fullmetalfoes Alchemist!
This wasn't a Spellcaster-Type Monster; he belonged to the Psychic-Type—
What about the other side?
Looking again, Tenjo Hikari's pupils narrowed.
Encased in armor with shoulders adorned in crystals, the figure appeared utterly black, devoid of light—wasn't this Captain Crystal?!
Though enveloped in black mist, appearing abnormal and unusually dark, Tenjo Hikari could never mistake him—
This was Gem-Knight Crystal!
Why was Crystal with Alchemist in the same dimension?
Weren't they from different worlds?
Tenjo Hikari was momentarily bewildered.
Then he quickly realized—it must be Para's doing!
That Para had given Ryu "Gem-Knight" cards before!
It all came together.
"Aaaaaaah!!!" Captain Crystal roared, the black mist around him strengthening. Yet, though restless, seemingly having lost reason, he dared not rush at Tenjo Hikari. Instinct warned him of the fearsome power in Tenjo Hikari's hand!
"Wah ah—" Alchemist was startled, "What's happening, were these creatures sent to hunt me? I just found a quiet place to experiment—"
He was still slightly confused.
Initially wanting to gather his materials by the firelight, Alchemist quickly said after seeing the scene: "That human over there, handle him for me, and I'll leave with you!"
Hearing this, Tenjo Hikari's eyes brightened. He flipped over, landing by Professor Cronos and retrieving his deck from the duel disk. After pulling out a monster card decisively adding it to his deck, he unfolded his duel disk to face the Gem-Knight.
Clack, clack—
The duel disk automatically unfolded.
"Don't call me 'that human over there.' My name is Tenjo Hikari!"
"Come on, spirit, let's duel!"
On the other side, seeing Tenjo Hikari's duel disk unfold, Captain Crystal froze initially. Then, with a clattering sound, his left arm started to fracture, shedding many black crystals that finally formed into a black crystal duel disk, revealing a deck.
Tenjo Hikari grinned.
Great!
Even without reason, once a duel invitation is issued, it will be accepted!
No matter what, as long as cards can be played!
Gem-Knight is a "Fusion" deck, so there's no reason I should lose!
Both the Gem-Knight series and the Alchemist make excellent "Fusion" related cards!
Professor Akuma, I accept this "gift" from you!