The duel ended, and this time, the Water Invoked did not return to its dimension using its own power. Instead, it calmed down and gently touched Tenjo Hikari's forehead.
The next moment, Tenjo Hikari felt a surge of power entering his body.
A card of the Water Invoked appeared in the air, and after leaving a message, Water Dragon Cocytus vanished from the world.
"Whenever you wish to summon me, feel free to do so."
Tenjo Hikari caught the card and glanced at it.
Invoked Cocytus.
Beside the card, a "Invocation" also floated.
So that's the logic behind this form?
It seems that once you gain Cocytus's approval, you can summon it using Invocation.
So that's it.
At least for ordinary spirits.
The real process is not to learn "Invocation" first and then control the Invoked with it, but to build a good relationship with the Invoked. The Invoked will naturally respond to your call.
On second thought, that makes sense.
In fact, the majority of Fusion Monsters aren't limited to a fixed "fusion method". As long as a Fusion Monster can be Fusion Summoned, using Fusion, Fusion Gate, or other bizarre fusion spells, they can be summoned quickly.
Invoked aren't limited to being summoned by Invocation, just like how Cocytus used The Book of the Law just now.
As a dragon, Dragon's Mirror is also an option.
But now, these surrounding mage students are only fixated on the "invincible Invocation".
"Congratulations, Lord Hikari." On the side, Bartle saw everything had ended, scratched the back of his head, coughed twice, and walked up to congratulate Tenjo Hikari.
"Well, Cocytus is quite reasonable." Tenjo Hikari mused.
Actually, Cocytus clearly had many other options and didn't necessarily need to lose directly. However, seeing Tenjo Hikari's fusion knowledge and understanding met its expectations, it didn't struggle to save face.
No matter how you look at it, it's a spirit that values its reputation a lot.
"Reasonable? Haha... Besides Lord Hikari, none of the Magic Academy students have succeeded in getting close to it." Bartle tapped his forehead lightly with a spellbook.
After thinking for a while, he thanked Tenjo Hikari again, "In any case, thank you very much, Lord Hikari. Although these mages are not my students, without you, they might remain unaware of true fusion and understanding of how to pursue fusion magic."
"This is something only you could achieve."
Tenjo Hikari shook his head with a smile, not continuing the topic. Instead, he turned to watch the "Summoning Class Junior Mage" handling the scene, and suddenly asked, "So, how did I do?"
"Huh? Ah, Lord Tenjo, what do you mean?" Bartle suddenly appeared nervous, sweating on his forehead, "I don't quite understand."
"Has no one ever told you that your disguise is quite basic?"
"Ah, my senior has said so, but I don't need to learn it... cough cough cough."
"So you might as well not bother hiding from me. I sensed it during the duel; someone was watching me continuously. It's not these people around, nor your academy's other teachers, right?"
After the Dragon King's cavern, Tenjo Hikari specifically sought out Tierra to help train his related senses. During the duel, the strange, tingling feeling he noticed shouldn't have been fake.
Of course.
Most importantly.
Tenjo Hikari confirmed it with Tierra.
Tierra sensed it during his duel and gave him a definite answer.
Though its source was unknown, it certainly wasn't from within this dimension.
That settles it.
Bartle coughed twice, ready to reply to Tenjo Hikari, when the spellbook in his hand suddenly emitted a beeping sound. Apologizing to Tenjo Hikari, he quickly ran aside and opened the spellbook.
From the spellbook, a figure emerged, slowly conversing with Bartle. His expression changed from nervous at the start to calmness and finally to a sigh of relief.
After finishing the conversation with someone high-ranking in the spellbook's hierarchy, Bartle sought out Tenjo Hikari again.
"Sorry about that, Lord Hikari. Director Juno just contacted me."
Tenjo Hikari nodded.
Juno... should refer to High Priestess of Prophecy Juno.
"I apologize for keeping it from you. Actually, we've always maintained contact with Lord Crowley." He began to explain while opening his spellbook. From it, the images of two cards emerged, followed by magical energy transmitted to his hand.
These were special cards.
In the parlance familiar to Yu Gi Oh players, they were "TOKENS."
In this world, they more closely resembled dimensional coordinates.
The card on the left bore a black sphere, with several triangles overlapped inside, marking it as a "Spell Counter."
The card on the right appeared to be a small spool of thread for a tailor, though it contained some unique power.
"We heard you were going to challenge our academy's subject, so Lord Crowley became very curious and requested us to set up an observation array. Thus, he also witnessed your duel."
"So... Teacher Daitokuji saw it too?" Upon hearing this, Tenjo Hikari immediately asked, instead of looking at these things.
"Of course," Bartle nodded. "Lord Gozen, one of the highest-level mages and a friend of Lord Crowley, is also your teacher, so he was very interested."
"I see. If that's the case, then it's fine." Tenjo Hikari contemplated this, not minding being "spied on" in such a small matter.
From the side, Tierra smirked.
In this world, the only person Tenjo Hikari would "let off the hook" is Daitokuji. Even she earned his trust only after a proxy duel with the Wave of Light.
"These two are the coordinates for the Magic City and the Witchcrafter Workshop. According to our academy's assessment and evaluation of the duel, you won't need to spend additional time dueling other representatives."
"Is that really alright? Won't the spirits from both sides have any objections?"
"Rest assured—Lord Crowley said he befriended Lords Endymion and Sanderion in the Mage Domain. According to him, they all pursued and achieved their respective accomplishments in magic within that domain, eventually building the Secret Village of the Spellcasters together.
Although their goals and aspirations differed, leading them to form different mage associations and nations, their friendship remains undying.
Their friendship is everlasting!"
"With his endorsement, even if you visit without permission, your travels won't be restricted."
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow slightly.
Friendship everlasting sounds nice.
But—
It's also good.
This saves time from going back and forth to the Magic Academy repeatedly.