"Mamma mia…"
Professor Vellian Crowler arrived at the Fusion Club building with a deeply complicated look on his face.
Why had something like this happened?
He held Ancient Gear Golem in his hand, mind tangled in confusion.
As someone who once tried to expel Jaden Yuki—a so-called "delinquent"—Crowler was now hearing that even students from Obelisk Blue had started pulling similar stunts.
It threw him into chaos.
His own bias against Jaden was personal.
This Blue dorm student's targeting of other students from different dorms was also personal.
But as a teacher, both cases were clearly wrong.
The reflection stung.
Was this the result of his behavior?
Had his vendetta against Jaden trickled down and encouraged this kind of abuse?
Maybe that was why Hikaru Amagi hadn't even bothered defending himself—and had just challenged them to a duel right away.
"Professor, can we begin the duel?" Hikaru prompted, seeing Crowler lost in thought.
"Ah… yes. I'll serve as the witness. Now then—"
"Duel!" ×2
Hikaru Amagi LP: 4000
Yanagi LP: 4000
"As your senior, I'll graciously let you go first," Yanagi said with a feigned magnanimity.
He had already done his homework.
Hikaru's deck was a "Full Fusion" build, with Instant Fusion and Metamorphosis as its core combo. If he didn't draw them together, the summoned monsters would self-destruct at End Phase.
Letting Hikaru go first meant less risk, more advantage.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"Then I won't hold back, senpai—my turn, draw!"
He glanced at his hand.
As for Crowler's conflicted thoughts? Hikaru hadn't given them a second of consideration.
He knew exactly how these Obelisk Blue types thought.
They didn't care what he had "in his stomach." They just wanted him gone.
So there was no need to get caught up in justifications or traps.
In the world of duels, you solve problems by dueling.
No need to fall into a self-defense loop.
His hand…
Another full set of Fusion Spells.
Hikaru let out a small sigh.
He had already stuffed a bunch of monsters into the deck—Ancient Gear monsters, even HERO monsters easily bought in GX's world—but they just refused to show up.
Still too many Fusion cards.
"I activate the Continuous Spell—Over-Future Fusion!
I reveal a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck and send one of its Fusion Materials from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
He opened his Extra Deck and selected a card. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"I reveal Labyrinth Tank, and send Cannon Soldier to the Graveyard.
Until the end of this turn, I can't Special Summon a monster with the same name as the revealed card or activate its effects."
Another Fusion?
How many Fusion options did this guy have?
"Hmph. Useless. Just dumping materials into the grave? Without any monsters on the field, you're wide open!"
Hikaru chuckled.
Then his expression turned sharp.
"Foolish."
"?"
"Fusion is the noblest summoning method.
As a member of the Fusion Club, you dare speak so carelessly?
You lack the respect Fusion deserves."
"Just watch. I'll show you what Fusion truly means!"
"I set two cards. End my turn!"
No monsters.
And he still talked this big?
"Hmph, let me show you how a real senpai handles things."
Yanagi sneered as he drew. A cold grin spread across his face.
That damned Ra Yellow newbie—he dared waltz into their sacred Blue space, called a professor to spectate, and exposed his little game in front of everyone. Yanagi now despised Hikaru from the bottom of his heart.
But the hand he drew? It made him grin like a madman.
"I activate the Spell Card—Polymerization!
I fuse Cyber-Tech Alligator and Cannon Soldier from my hand!"
"Fusion Summon! Labyrinth Tank!"
RUMBLE.
A monstrous tank covered in red drills burst up from the ground, roaring with power.
Labyrinth Tank – Level 7, DARK, Machine-Type, 2400 ATK. Fusion Monster.
"Didn't you say I lacked reverence for Fusion?
Then tell me—why haven't you performed a single Fusion summon, while I bring forth this beast!?"
Yanagi laughed triumphantly.
Hikaru didn't even respond.
He calmly pressed a button on his Duel Disk.
"I activate a Trap Card."
"A Trap? What, I thought you were all about Fusion Spells only!"
Yanagi cackled. "Caught you contradicting yourself!"
But Hikaru's eyes flashed.
He snapped open his Extra Deck and shouted:
"Don't interrupt—watch carefully!"
"Wha—?"
"I activate Flame Swords Dance!
When a monster is Special Summoned, this Trap can be activated!"
He pulled a sleek Fusion card from his Extra Deck and held it high.
"Special Summon a Level 7 or lower Fusion Monster that lists Flame Swordsman or its name in its text!"
"Come forth—legendary warrior! Flame Swordsman!"
Fwooooosh!
Flames erupted as a crimson-armored swordsman emerged from the fire, his blazing sword raised high.
Flame Swordsman – Level 5, FIRE, Warrior-Type, 1800 ATK. Fusion Monster.
"Fl-Flame Swordsman?!"
"Whoa! That's a legendary card!"
Hikaru smirked slightly.
Truthfully, Flame Swordsman wasn't anything impressive nowadays.
Two monsters for an 1800 vanilla Fusion?
Even a Cyber Dragon would wipe it out.
But it was still a legendary monster—the signature card of Joey Wheeler, a duelist once ranked just below Yugi and Kaiba. A rare card among rare cards.
The original owner of this body didn't have it.
It had been printed by Super Polymerization through days of dueling effort.
"After Special Summoning with Flame Swords Dance, I can target one face-up monster on the field and change it to face-down Defense Position.
Your Fusion Monster doesn't deserve to suffer under your misuse.
Labyrinth Tank—go to sleep."
Before the tank could move, a massive card projection appeared and slammed down on it, flipping it face-down.
"Wha—he used a Trap to summon a Fusion AND protected himself?"
"Who is this guy? I've never seen him before."
"A new member? That deck is… so Fusion!"
"Now that's a real Fusion deck!"
"Yanagi wanted to kick out a guy like this?!"
"He's not a Blue student, but his soul is Purple!"
Even the Fusion Army spectators—those who came just to watch—were blown away.
They were Fusion Supremacists, extremists who idolized the mechanic.
And watching Hikaru duel like this? It thrilled them.
"Tch…" Yanagi grit his teeth.
The crowd was murmuring. Some of the Obelisk Blue students who had backed him were wavering—shifting their support to Hikaru.
Even if he won, Yanagi now realized—
The Fusion Club would never let Hikaru be kicked out.