"Huh..." Max looked at his Hand Card, raising his eyebrows.
"I admit, bypassing the Non-Fusion Area to directly Special Summon Fusion Monsters is indeed impressive, but how many times can you do such a thing? Even without the Non-Fusion Area, do you think you can beat me?"
"Moreover, I'm going to leave this on the field—Continuous Spell Card, Code A Ancient Ruins." He placed a Continuous Spell Card into the slot, and suddenly behind him appeared a gigantic gate, a portal leading to a mysterious corridor, inscribed with incomprehensible symbols.
"Hmph, end turn!"
Ed glanced twice.
Max?
The name sounded formidable, but alas, he had never encountered this person in the professional circuit.
Or perhaps, this person's winning streak was too low.
But that's typical; the professional circuit is filled with targeting. Even a slight misstep can lead to being besieged by a group of Professional Duelists.
Ed himself often swapped decks to hide his true deck, so it was rare for anyone to successfully target him, allowing him to maintain a winning streak in the Professional Duelist circle, undefeated.
Yet even he understands the "cruelty" of the Professional Duelist circle.
Every duel by a Professional Duelist isn't for "victory" or "ideals". They fight for their sponsors, for money, and thus the need to ensure either their own victory or the complete defeat of the opponent's company.
The latter is obviously simpler, so targeting a specific person like Kalam is an "unwritten" "rule" among Professional Duelists.
According to Akaba Leo, Tenjo Hikari is a Duelist specializing in Fusion, pursuing Fusion to the utmost. Hence, it's quite normal for a Professional Duelist facing him to fill their deck with anti-Fusion cards.
Yet still...
He glanced at the Dark Flare Knight.
Even restricted in Fusion, he managed to Summon a Fusion Monster.
Impressive.
Ed couldn't help but admit internally.
Whether it's a student or just an ordinary individual, this pursuit and familiarity with Fusion surpasses that of the so-called "Fusion Army graduate Professional Duelist" across from him.
...
Eh!
No way!
Why am I still thinking about this?
He shook his head.
Saiou, why don't you divine my luck today? Duels are worth divining too!
"Non-Fusion Area is understandable, but what's with that relic?" Manjome looked at Mitsuzawa Daichi.
"Eh... even if you ask me..." Mitsuzawa Daichi looked awkward, "I've heard that Professional Duelists often use some less popular, harder-to-target decks, perhaps..."
This is unavoidable.
Reptile-Type decks are so rare that they've never seen anyone use them. The school hasn't even covered such cards. Even the knowledgeable Mitsuzawa Daichi has limited time and energy, making it impossible to specialize in such obscure cards.
Not to mention Tenjo Hikari, during his time, even the card masters might not instantly recall the effects of the Alien series cards.
Remembering the Cosmic Fortress is already impressive.
Of course, this is also the advantage of playing a niche deck against mainstream decks—the intelligence advantage.
Tenjo Hikari shrugged, drew his card, and said, "That's an auxiliary Spell Card exclusive to the Alien series."
"Eh, so Alien is a series?"
"What? I thought it was a single Reptile-Type card..."
Tenjo Hikari knew they would say this. He shrugged while placing the card on the Duel Disk and said, "The effect of Code A Ancient Ruins is whenever a face-up Monster on the field with Alien in its name is destroyed, you can place an A-Counter on that card. Then, once per turn, you can remove two A-Counters to revive one Alien Monster from the Graveyard."
"Wow... Tenjo-san knows even this?" Shou exclaimed.
The Tyler Sisters looked at the soldier of the Fusion Army, who clenched his fist weakly: "Though I hate to admit it, Tenjo Hikari has always been like this. He claims to pursue Fusion to the utmost, so he seeks to understand every card to reach the pinnacle of Fusion."
"How fascinating, sister."
"Ha, it looks like things won't be dull at this academy."
"Activate Spell Card, Polymerization Call." Tenjo Hikari placed the card effortlessly, "Showing one Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck to your opponent, and adding one Fusion Material Monster from the Deck·Graveyard to your Hand Card. After this card is activated, until the end of the turn, you cannot Normal or Special Summon that Monster or any Monster with the same name added to the Hand Card, nor activate those Monsters' effects.
Showing Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, add Gladiator Beast Bestiari to the Hand Card."
"Gladiator Beast huh?" Noticing that Tenjo Hikari added the card to his Hand Card, Max laughed, "Setting aside that Gladiator Beast was discovered by us, Fusion Army, just being unable to Normal Summon, Bestiari becomes wasted?
Moreover, my field has Non-Fusion Area!"
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
Seems like this guy has a shallow understanding of Fusion.
"Battle, attack Alien Warrior with Dark Flare Knight!"
Dark Flare Knight swung his Greatsword, striking the strange Alien.
Max LP: 4000→3600.
"When Alien Warrior is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, give the Monster that destroyed it two A-Counters! Meanwhile, place one Counter on the Ancient Ruins!"
Beep—
The Ancient Ruins suddenly glowed with a bright rune, and Dark Flare Knight seemed to be entangled with something, with two black spheres added to his body.
"My liege—" He tried to burn his body with fire, "This seems quite eerie..."
"Two A-Counters?" Mitsuzawa noticed the problem, "I see, this way, every turn the opponent can use the effect of the Ancient Ruins to revive Aliens from the Graveyard! Additionally, they gain one more Counter!"
"Heh heh, indeed, this is the power of the invading world Alien Warrior. Undying Warrior, Alien Warrior!" Max laughed heartily.
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
"I activate Spell Card, Metamorphosis." Tenjo Hikari didn't waste words.
"Release one Monster on the field and Special Summon one Fusion Monster of the same level from the Extra Deck. Dark Flare Knight, take a break."
"Sorry, my liege." Dark Flare Knight threw off the strange slime on his body forcefully, then vanished from the field, replaced promptly by a blazing fiery bird.
"Special Summon, Crimson Sunbird."
Crimson Sunbird, LV 6, Fire Attribute, Winged Beast-Type, ATK 2300.
"Impressive." "Beautiful!"
"Not only did he avoid the effect of the Counters, but Special Summoned a Fusion Monster again?" The Tyler Sisters exchanged glances, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
"Tsk..." Max snorted coldly.
"Yet again... a Fusion Monster that doesn't need Fusion..."
He felt somewhat anxious; things seemed completely different from what he imagined!