"Impressive! You're making me even more determined to defeat you!" Yugo exclaimed excitedly, practically hooting like an ape.
"I activate the effect of Speedroid Gum Prize, which was used as Synchro Material!"
"When this card is sent to the graveyard as Synchro Material, I send the top card of my deck to the graveyard. If it's a Speedroid monster, the Synchro Monster summoned using this card gains 1000 ATK!"
"Another gamble on luck?"
"Hahaha, this guy is pretty entertaining!"
"It's not luck, it's certainty! I trust my deck; it'll definitely achieve the result I want!"
Yugo swiftly flipped over the top card of his deck, glanced at it, and laughed immediately. "The card sent to the graveyard is Speedroid Razorang!"
"Thus, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon gains 1000 ATK!"
Clear Wing roared to the sky, its strength rising.
[Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, ATK: 2500→3500]
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, Shock Surprise!"
He pulled two cards from his graveyard, "This card allows me to banish up to two Speedroid monsters from my graveyard and destroy that number of cards on the field! I banish Gum Prize and Razorang to destroy your Continuous Spell Flame Swordsrealm and your Set card!"
Flame Swordsrealm shattered instantly. Flame Swordsman shrugged as he watched his old ally disappear, while the Set Card on the other side flipped open.
"Trap Card, Destruction Sword Memories!"
"How does he have those cards?" Yugi Muto murmured softly.
"This is a Fusion Trap card that allows Fusion Summon from the graveyard, but right now I'm activating its first effect." He revealed a card from his hand. "By discarding one 'Destruction Sword' card from my hand, I Special Summon one 'Buster Blader' monster from my deck!"
"I discard Destruction Swordsman Fusion from my hand to Special Summon Buster Blader!"
A powerful armored warrior appeared, wielding a massive sword.
[Buster Blader] Level 7│EARTH│Warrior│2600→3100 ATK
"Buster Blader gains 500 ATK for each Dragon monster on my field and in my graveyard!"
"Phew, that was close." Yugo exhaled in relief.
He was glad he hadn't directly destroyed the monsters. Otherwise, his opponent could summon a 2600 ATK wall and stall until next turn to summon another Flame Swordsman. Luckily, he listened to Rin's advice to destroy the back row early.
'That monster gains ATK based on Dragons? Yugo pondered.
Comparing the 1800 ATK warrior and the seemingly effectless Tuner Fusion, Buster Blader was undoubtedly the bigger threat.
"Battle! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, Attack Buster Blader with Whirlwind Dive Slash!"
Clear Wing produced two wind blades and swiftly tore through Buster Blader.
[Amagi Hikaru LP: 3500→3100]
"Good judgment," Hikaru said, glancing at his hand.
Unfortunately, his hand didn't contain Shaddoll cards, otherwise, he would have had an easier time. Though that didn't mean he lacked cards to counter his opponent.
"Still, you look a bit inexperienced."
"What? Are you saying I can't win because I'm young?!"
"No, it's because you still have lots of room to grow, my turn, draw!"
Hikaru dramatically drew a card.
Tierra, who had been watching, laughed upon seeing the card, "Beautiful, Hikaru! Show this card to the whole world! That trip to the Village of Spellcasters this month was worth it, the Magical Scientist truly had connections!"
Hikaru nodded.
During this month's preparation, after setting up his workshop spirits, Hikaru visited the Village of Spellcasters and unexpectedly acquired a brand-new Fusion Monster, one perfectly representative of their world.
The Magical Scientist truly was impressive, obtaining cards like "Chimera" and "Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste," and even this Fusion Monster.
Though Draco-Equiste wasn't suitable now, he could use this card.
"Activating the graveyard effect of Destruction Swordsman Fusion! By discarding one card, I return this card from the graveyard to my hand."
Hikaru discarded the card he'd just drawn and retrieved Destruction Swordsman Fusion.
"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell card, Over Future Fusion! I reveal a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck and send one of its listed materials from my deck to the graveyard!"
"I reveal, Meteor Black Dragon! Sending Meteor Dragon from my deck to the graveyard!"
"What's Hikaru planning?" his friends wondered.
"Preparations complete!"
"Oh! Duelist Amagi declares victory!?" the MC shouted. "But Duelist Yugo has a monster with 3500 ATK! Does Hikaru have an incredibly powerful monster in hand?"
"It won't be that easy!" Yugo said. "My Clear Wing Synchro Dragon can negate and destroy the effects of Level 5 or higher monsters and gain their ATK! Even if you summon a strong..."
"I don't!" Hikaru raised his hand. "Currently, my hand contains only a Fusion Spell!"
"Only a Fusion Spell?" The MC was stunned.
Could that kind of deck really work?
"You duel with that kind of deck?" Yugo asked in surprise.
"Of course! Because I firmly believe Fusion is the noblest summoning method, and I pursue ultimate Fusion! Activate Fusion Spell: Magicalized Fusion!"
He snapped his fingers, revealing the spell card.
"Magicalized Fusion allows me to Fusion Summon a Spellcaster Fusion Monster by banishing Fusion Materials from my graveyard!"
"Spellcaster monster? But Hikaru's graveyard...Ah!"
"What did Hikaru discard earlier with Destruction Swordsman Fusion!?"
Hikaru calmly showed two cards from his graveyard.
Everyone saw clearly, Seto Kaiba stood up abruptly, and Yugi smiled softly.
And, at this moment, everyone watching saw clearly, Hikaru was performing a Fusion Summon!
"Fusion Materials: Dark Magician and Buster Blader!"
He raised his hands, clasping them together:
"Strongest magician of generations, and swordsman who hunts dragons! Witness this legendary magician's arrival!
"Fusion Summon!
"Dark Paladin!"
Space tore open, and a red-armored magician stepped through.
[Dark Paladin] Level 8│DARK│Spellcaster│2900→3900 ATK
"Dark Paladin gains 500 ATK for every Dragon monster in both players' fields and graveyards! This is a Continuous Effect and can't be negated even by your dragon!"
"Uhh…" Yugo slumped.
"Battle! Dark Paladin, Attack! Super Magical Slash!"
Dark Paladin cleaved through Clear Wing Synchro Dragon.
"Ahhh!" Yugo cried out as his LP fell.
[Yugo LP: 2200→1800]
"Next," Hikaru smiled, signaling Flame Swordsman, who attacked directly.
[Yugo LP: 1800→0]
"Ahhh!" Yugo clutched his head dramatically.
The duel ended in stunned silence.
"The winner of the first Friendship Cup duel is Absolute Fusionist, Amagi Hikaru!" the MC declared enthusiastically.
Though the duel was over, the storm it caused was just beginning!