"Graveyard effects—wh-what is this?!" X was a bit dumbfounded.
"Ha, the process of fusion is breaking down, recreating, purifying, and re-sublimating," Tenjo Hikari said casually, "It's exactly the process of [Alchemy]."
Tenjo Hikari shook his head: "Sorry, you've found the wrong opponent.
To me, the graveyard is never the [Monster's Grave], but a place for them to recycle, reclaim, and ascend anew."
"This, huh?"
"El Shaddoll Winda's effect is that when this card is sent to the graveyard, you can add a [Shaddoll] Spell·Trap from the graveyard to your hand.
As for... Elder Entity N'tss, when this card is sent to the graveyard, you can destroy one card on the field."
"Un-unbelievable..." X watched as two phantasmal images appeared behind Tenjo Hikari, feeling a chill run down his spine.
How could this be happening?!
"Ha, destroy your set Trap Card, then add El Shaddoll Fusion from the graveyard to the hand."
Bang—
The set card shattered on cue; it was a Sakuretsu Armor.
Hmm—
That makes sense now.
"This..."
Now he completely lost all means of defense, meaning he could only watch as Tenjo Hikari took control.
"Wow! Brother Hikari is amazing, isn't he?"
"Doesn't this mean he'll get whatever he wants?"
"It's not just that!" Tenjo Hikari didn't wait for his classmates to continue before activating a set card, "Activate the set card, Shaddoll Schism!"
"This card allows you to banish monsters from the graveyard to Fusion Summon a Shaddoll Monster!"
"I banish El Shaddoll Winda and Shaddoll Beast from the graveyard to Fusion Summon, El Shaddoll Grysta!"
Rumble—
A Fusion Monster as majestic as a mountain stood on the field.
"But you still have to discard cards!"
"Ha, like I said, it doesn't matter!"
El Shaddoll Grysta, LV 7, Fire Attribute, Rock-Type, ATK 2450.
Tenjo Hikari drew seven cards from the top of his Deck and sent them to the graveyard: "Fusion is the process of re-sublimation!"
He looked at his graveyard, lifting another set card: "Now, it's time for reclaiming and sublimating!"
"I activate the Trap Card, Fusion Reclamation, this card banishes the Fusion Material Gem-Knight from the graveyard to Fusion Summon!
I banish Gem-Knight Crystal and Gem-Knight Sapphire to Fusion Summon, Gem-Knight Aquamarine!"
Gem-Knight Aquamarine, LV 6, Earth Attribute, Aqua-Type, ATK 1400.
Now, Tenjo Hikari had to send another six cards to the graveyard.
Even though Tenjo Hikari's deck was much thicker than others, it was no more than 60 cards, and now there weren't many cards left.
Hmm—
X pondered.
Sending cards from the deck to the graveyard wouldn't result in failure, only when you have to draw from an empty deck will it be deemed a loss.
But—
X glanced at his set Monster.
As long as the opponent attacks, Morphing Jar's effect activates, and at that point, both of them have to discard all their hand cards and draw five new ones, which will lead to his victory!
Moreover, he also had Gravity Bind on the field, preventing the opponent from attacking.
"That Prism Crystal was sent to the graveyard, right? In that case, you can't destroy my Gravity Bind," X reassured himself.
He saw it, Prism Crystal was in the graveyard.
"Ha... Fusion is a [Cycle] process, Mr. Ex," Tenjo Hikari laughed, holding up a card from the graveyard.
What?!
"Activate the effect of Fusion Substitute in the graveyard, banish this card, return one Fusion Monster from the graveyard to the Extra Deck, and draw one card! What I'm returning, of course, is—Prism Crystal!"
"Ah!!"
"No matter the time, no matter the place, no matter the situation, I will always maintain—Fusion!" Tenjo Hikari raised his Duel Disk, speaking to himself and everyone around him, "No one can stop me!"
"Continue the fusion!"
"Spell Card, Gem-Knight Fusion!" Tenjo Hikari played standard Gem-Knight Fusion, "This card is the fundamental Gem-Knight Fusion, allowing monsters on the field and in the hand to be used as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight Monster!
I fuse Aquamarine and Citrine in my hand!"
"Fusion Summon, my first and favorite Gem-Knight—Gem-Knight Prismaura!"
Buzz.
Countless beams of light shot down from the sky.
Next to the imposing Darklord, a Gem-Knight wielding a spear and covered in white crystals appeared on the field.
Gem-Knight Prismaura, LV 7, Earth Attribute, Thunder-Type, ATK 2450.
Tenjo Hikari then sent seven more cards to the graveyard.
No less—
It felt quite exhilarating.
Tenjo Hikari hadn't fought such a plentiful battle in a long time.
He glanced at the graveyard.
"Because Aquamarine was sent from the field to the graveyard, I can activate its effect," Tenjo Hikari pointed at the opponent's set Monster Card, "that card returns to the owner's hand!"
Oh no!
This is terrible!
X stared wide-eyed at the Monsters on Tenjo Hikari's field.
Gem-Knights, Shaddoll, Thunder Dragon, each with their own unique skills, each representing one aspect of Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Power.
"So, everyone should see what the next move is, right?"
Tenjo Hikari raised his left hand.
"Got it!!" shouted one classmate.
"The Gem-Knight Fusion in the graveyard!!" Kagurazaka waved excitedly.
Many members of the Fusion Department even shouted in excitement:
"Banish the Gem-Knight Monster in the graveyard, reclaim Gem-Knight Fusion!"
"Activate Prismaura's effect, discard a Gem-Knight Card, and destroy the face-up card on the field!"
"Destroy Gravity Bind!"
Prismaura aimed at Gravity Bind, and the spear in its hands released a searing light, tearing it apart in an instant.
Tenjo Hikari joyfully shook his head.
It was so exhilarating—
When else could one encounter such good fortune?
He managed to play a super-powered version of Tearlaments Shaddoll!
The opponent helped him mill about 30 cards!
He glanced at his hand.
Instant Fusion and De-Fusion.
At this pace, fusing Trishula mid-battle and then using De-Fusion, he could inflict 8000 damage and finish it.
But then again,
No need to use Trishula; the opponent helped set up such a satisfying combo, better to conserve it.
Even Falcon's flip effect hadn't activated yet, and there were still many cards in the graveyard that could be used...
In this state, he felt he could face three of the Three Phantasm on the field with ease.
Tenjo Hikari gently tousled his hair.
"It's time to battle."
Even though Grysta was a monster summoned via Shaddoll Schism and couldn't attack directly, the number of Fusion Monsters on Tenjo Hikari's field was overwhelming.
In fact, many could see.
Tenjo Hikari battled with the mindset that there was no need for further actions, simply to end the duel quickly, or otherwise, his field would have looked even more dazzling!
After all—
Even El Shaddoll Fusion had not been used by Tenjo Hikari.
Using this card to fuse Falcon and Grysta on the field could even call forth the spirit that never parted from him!
Ed couldn't help but clap, leading his classmates into applause.
Indeed.
Indeed, this person, is a duelist entirely different from the ordinary kind!
Fusion, huh...
On the other side, Saiou saw a burst of shimmering golden light emerging on the death's tarot card.
The entire duel, also like an image, flashed through his mind.
"It's really astounding.'
This is...
[The Sun]?