A multi-headed mechanical dragon, almost entirely composed of tires, appeared on Tenjo Hikari's field after the smoke cleared. In its place, both the Ancient Gear Two-headed Hound and the Cyber Dragon disappeared.
"This..."
"My Two-headed Hound!?"
"What happened!?"
"Hehehe," Tenjo Hikari raised the Monster Card on his field, "The Fusion Materials for Chimeratech Fortress Dragon are a Cyber Dragon and one or more Machine-Type Monsters. It can be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck by sending the Fusion Materials listed on either player's field to the Graveyard.
This process doesn't require Polymerization, nor the opponent's consent.
And its ATK is the Fusion Material × 1000 points."
Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Machine-Type, Attack Power 2000.
"Damn…" Kambayashi Kaname clenched his fists, his whole body trembling.
When Tenjo Hikari criticized him for neither fusing nor participating in club activities, it didn't hurt as much as now.
The Two-headed Hound wasn't exactly a Soul Card; to him, it was merely a tool. But watching such a large Monster being fused without a word, his fists really clenched.
"Ryo, that Cyber Dragon…?" Asuka asked curiously.
Marufuji Ryo nodded: "Earlier, Tenjo traded a Cyber Dragon with me using Cybernetic Revolution."
He had many Cyber Dragons, versions 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. Even the original Cyber Dragon, he had several spares, intending to give them to his younger brother later, so he indeed had plenty to trade with Tenjo Hikari.
Exchanging a Cyber Dragon for Cybernetic Revolution was worth it from any angle.
"As for Chimeratech Fortress Dragon… it isn't the same as mine." Caesar responded with a smile, "Perhaps it is a different card he obtained from some Other Dimension."
Not mentioning the various "same card, different effects" phenomenon that already existed, such as Caesar's Future Fusion being completely different from Tenjo Hikari's Future Fusion, he was curious why Tenjo Hikari's Future Fusion was so weak. Now with the existence of the Otherworld, different cards appearing was too normal, so a group of people immediately accepted this fact.
"Then, Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, direct attack!"
"Tch—Trap Card, Mirror Force! Activate!"
I curse, Hanno's Power!
"Ah, so close, so close, Tenjo almost dealt massive damage!"
"Eh, shockingly it's a Mirror Force. If it weren't for this…"
"Now, isn't Tenjo's field empty?"
Tenjo Hikari supported himself with his left hand, watching the vanishing Cyber Dragon, sighed for a moment, and shrugged.
"Watch carefully, Shou." At this point, Caesar suddenly spoke up.
"Huh?"
"Watch what Tenjo does next."
Shou was startled again; he quickly refocused and paid close attention.
"Then, Main Phase 2." Tenjo Hikari suddenly pressed the field button, causing the Duel Disk to automatically eject the field area, "Field Spell, Fusion Recycling Plant!"
Ding-ding, clank-clank—crash, crash.
A bunch of strange machinery rose from the field, replacing the surrounding forest. Everyone began to observe the new environment, with a giant factory emerging behind Tenjo Hikari, continuously scanning the surroundings.
"What is this?"
"A Fusion… Field Spell?"
"The effect of Fusion Recycling Plant. Once per turn, by discarding one card from your Hand Card, you can activate it. Select one Polymerization from your Deck or Graveyard and add it to your Hand Card."
"Eh?" Marufuji Shou tilted his head. Why not use Fusion Sage then?
Kambayashi Kaname also furrowed his brows in confusion.
"I discard Fusion Substitute from my Hand Card. From the Deck, I add a second Fusion Substitute to my Hand Card."
???
Except for Marufuji Ryo, Judai, Manjome, and other Duelists who immediately understood the situation, nearly everyone was baffled by Tenjo Hikari's move.
Discard a Fusion to fetch another Fusion?
What's the point?
But soon, Mitsuzawa Daichi, who had an excellent memory and was always eager to explain to confused classmates, sighed and said, "I see… the effect of Fusion Substitute. Banishing it from the Graveyard allows you to return one Fusion Monster to the Extra Deck and draw one card."
"Fusion Monster…" Kambayashi Kaname muttered, then his expression drastically changed.
"Yes, indeed!" Tenjo Hikari snapped his fingers, "You should understand now, right? I return Chimeratech Fortress Dragon to the Extra Deck, banish Fusion Substitute, and draw a card."
Kambayashi Kaname's face turned pale.
What's more terrifying than knowing your opponent has an Extra Monster that can devour all your Machine-Type monsters?
The answer is watching your opponent recycle the Monster right in front of you, indicating they'll devour your creatures again next turn.
"Unbelievable!"
"Unbelievable?" Hearing this, Tenjo Hikari's face darkened even more. "Who's really unbelievable here!?"
"Senior, I was polite enough to call you senior; if I didn't respect you, you're the unbelievable one!"
"Fusion Department is filled with bullying, with students from each academy harboring animosity against each other. It's supposed to be a club focusing on Fusion study, yet you act like a military drill. You people, what gives you the right to call yourselves the Fusion Department!?"
"Since there's an opportunity today, I must show you my determination!"
"Fusion should mean combination, unity, interaction, collaboration, cooperation…"
"Not like you guys!"
"Set three cards, turn end!"
A full three cards!
Set down in dark holes! Today, Tenjo Hikari is focused on tormenting the opponent!
Kambayashi Kaname felt his hand tremble.
Three Set Cards, what could they be?
Meanwhile, some first-year students, who were already more inclined towards Tenjo Hikari, couldn't help but start echoing his sentiments. Some even began to complain, recounting how difficult life in the Fusion Department had been.
In fact, such matters weren't uncommon in the academy, and even outside the Fusion Department, there were serious bullying tendencies between different colors.
After all, this isn't like the Hogwarts house system from Harry Potter; they're of equal status. Moreover, even the Hogwarts house system can lead to bullying.
But the Fusion Department still amplifying such a mindset is truly unforgivable.
Kambayashi Kaname barely managed to draw a card.
Always strict with himself, he seemed already soaked in sweat, unable to resist wiping the cold sweat off his forehead.
He always knew Tenjo Hikari was genuinely a fusion extremists' Duelist, but he never faced Tenjo Hikari himself before. Now really dueling, he increasingly understood why the professor disliked him so much.
Tenjo Hikari's purity made him feel insignificant…
What's going on? He's supposed to be a third-year student! He should be much stronger than Tenjo Hikari!
He wiped his sweat once more.
"Don't think it ends here!"
Indeed, next turn, he could use a Cyber Dragon to deal with his Machine-Type Monsters.
But, as long as he could win this turn, it wouldn't matter!
When Ancient Gear Monsters attack, Trap Cards cannot be used!