A skeletal dragon roared as it appeared on Skull Knight's field, snarling viciously, clearly pleased with its release.
[Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon] Level 8│DARK│Dragon│3000 ATK
'So it really was that monster.'
Watching the death dragon emerge, Hikaru raised an eyebrow, recalling details from 5D's lore.
In the original anime, this kind of concept didn't exist. While the Signers possessed powerful Synchro Dragons, they weren't classified in any concrete way.
It wasn't until the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's manga that the notion was formalized:
"Duel Dragons."
Including Stardust, Red Dragon, and Black Rose, the Level 7 and 8 Dragon-type monsters used by the 5D's main cast were collectively named "Duel Dragons."
In the manga, all of them were changed to either LIGHT or DARK Attributes, abandoning the anime's color diversity. This change was due to a fundamental narrative shift:
The "Crimson Dragon," once a force of spacetime and infinite energy in the anime, became an antagonist in the manga—the "Ultimate Phantasmal Deity" of the DARK side. Thus, the manga returned to the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! motif:
The eternal war between Light and Darkness.
Still, that raised another question.
If Duel Dragons existed alongside the "Ultimate Phantasmal Deity," what kind of world was this?
A righteous Crimson Dragon versus an evil Crimson Dragon?
What about Z-one, the anime's final boss—the Savior and last human?
"Battle! Dragonecro—Attack Thunder Dragon Colossus!
"Soul Rend Fang!"
Skull Knight pointed at Colossus, commanding his dragon to attack.
That snapped Hikaru back to the Duel.
Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon!
Among the myriad bizarre Duel Dragons, this one was special: it was a Fusion Monster.
In both anime and manga, the Crimson Dragon wielded Synchro power. That Dragonecro, as a Fusion Monster, was a Duel Dragon, was stunning.
The undead dragon lunged at Colossus and tore into it. The resulting shockwave blew across the field.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3600]
"Monsters defeated by Dragonecro have their souls imprisoned in darkness. Their shells remain on the field as hollow husks."
As he spoke, a shadowy mirage of Thunder Dragon Colossus appeared—darker, more ominous, breathing searing electricity.
[Dark Soul of Thunder Dragon Colossus] Level 8│DARK│Thunder│2600 ATK
[Thunder Dragon Colossus, ATK: 2600 → 0]
Cool as it sounded, the effect was straightforward: Dragonecro couldn't destroy Monsters by battle, but after damage calculation, the attacked monster's ATK became 0, and it spawned a token with the same stats.
Still, in this world, it really stole the monster's soul.
Thankfully, Colossus had been napping in the workshop. If it had been awake, it might have panicked—maybe even cried.
"Battle again. Dark Soul of Thunder Dragon Colossus—Attack his Colossus!"
The blackened dragon flapped its wings and launched lightning, striking the original. As the blast hit, a wave of death aura swept over Hikaru.
[Hikaru, LP: 3600 → 1000]
"You okay, Hikaru?"
Tierra, seeing him pierced by lightning and down on one knee, asked in a low voice.
"I'm fine," he waved her off.
His body trembled slightly, swaying where he stood.
"What's wrong, human? Is that all you've got?" Skull Knight chuckled. "Or have you already fallen, cowed by death's power and presence?
"If this were a Riding Duel, you'd have lost the moment your D-Wheel stopped."
"Afraid? No. I'm thrilled." Hikaru stood back up, eyes locked on Dragonecro, face lit with exhilaration.
Ghost Fusion. Dragonecro. These were amazing Fusion cards!
Especially the manga version of Ghost Fusion—his own Ghost Fusion required his LP to be lower than the opponent's to use monsters from the Deck. But this one had no such restriction—a straight upgrade.
He was beyond excited.
Ever since his Duel with the Vampire Fraulein, he'd acquired two Vampire cards, however, he lacked the Fusion Monsters to play them. They sat in his dorm room, unused—lest Super Polymerization melt them on the spot.
Too bad Duel Dragons only obeyed their true masters—His opponent wasn't a real Duel Spirit.
Still, Hikaru's joy made his body tremble.
Skull Knight studied him, thoughtful.
'Interesting.'
'Rex, it seems this "Fusion Duelist" you admired is indeed worthy.'
"I Set one card. End turn."
"Then it's my turn!"
Hikaru swiftly drew.
"A dragon of undeath fused from souls, is it? Then let me show you my Graveyard too.
"I activate the effect of Thunder Dragon Fusion in my Graveyard. During a turn, it wasn't sent there, I can banish it to add 1 Thunder monster from my Deck to hand.
"I add Thunder Dragon."
'Graveyard Fusion?'
Skull Knight peered into Hikaru's Graveyard with hollow sockets.
"Next, I discard Fusion Substitute to activate Fusion Recycling Plant. I add 1 Polymerization from the Deck to hand.
"Then I activate Fusion Substitute's Graveyard effect: banish it to return 1 Fusion Monster from the Graveyard to the Extra Deck, then draw 1 card!"
Watching this, Skull Knight chuckled, bones clicking.
"I see. By doing this, Thunder Dragon Colossus and its materials return from death to life."
"This... is Thunder Dragon Rebirth!" Hikaru said dramatically.
"But even so, Colossus only has 2600 Attack. It can't beat Dragonecro!" Skull Knight roared. "Against my wraiths, your resurrection is futile!"
"Don't be so sure," Hikaru grinned, glancing at his hand. "Fusion's only just getting started."
...
Bonus Chapter @900
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