Ruru's turn.
Her body didn't move. The puppet strings around her twitched violently, yanking an enormous card upward. It hovered for a second—then slammed to the ground.
BOOM—
A monster emerged from the card with a roar. Bright yellow armor gleamed like cut citrine. White Crystal's eyes narrowed. He knew that monster well.
Gem-Knight Citrine, Level 4, EARTH Attribute, Thunder-Type, ATK 1600.
She yanked another card from her puppet-hand—this time a Spell.
Fragment Fusion!
By sending monsters from the field to the Graveyard, she could Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight!
Citrine and Gem-Knight Sapphire began to spiral, swirling violently. In mere seconds, a new warrior—taller, bulkier, encased in radiant golden armor—materialized on the field.
Gem-Knight Topaz, Level 6, EARTH Attribute, Thunder-Type, ATK 1800.
Because Sapphire was sent from the field to the Graveyard, its effect activated—Ruru could return a card on Hikaru Amagi's field to the hand. She chose El Shaddoll Winda. But since Winda was a Fusion Monster, it couldn't go to the hand and instead had to be shuffled back into the Extra Deck.
At the same time, Ruru triggered Fragment Fusion's secondary effect.
When you Fusion Summon a monster using Fragment Fusion, you can banish the Spell itself from the Graveyard to target one Gem-Knight Fusion Material and add its ATK to the Fusion Summoned monster.
She revealed Citrine.
Which meant—
Topaz's ATK: 1800 → 3400.
Winda was struck down by Sapphire's spectral shield and vanished into extra-dimensional sparks.
Ruru's assault didn't stop. Because Winda returned to the Extra Deck, she could use Fragment Fusion again—this time, by fusing a Gem-Knight and a FIRE monster from her Deck.
Dark flames erupted.
A molten warrior stepped out, magma coursing through its arms, wielding a massive crimson greatsword.
Gem-Knight Garnet, Level 7, EARTH Attribute, Pyro-Type, ATK 2200.
It raised its sword slowly. Puppet strings yanked it into an attacking stance.
Topaz attacked.
Dragged like a marionette, it slashed toward Thunder Dragon Titan, whose strength paled before Topaz's empowered blades.
"Thunder Dragon Titan can banish a Thunder monster from the Graveyard to prevent its own destruction! I banish Thunder Dragon!"
But—
The damage still went through.
Hikaru clenched his jaw.
LP: 3700 → 2900
As the attack neared, something burst from Hikaru's back.
White Crystal.
Before Hikaru could even call its name, it leapt forward.
The puppet strings lashed at him—but White Crystal caught them all at once. They writhed, tried to retract—but it wound its own body around them, refusing to let go.
"Captain!?"
"Sir Amagi!!" it cried, straining every fiber. "You told me it wasn't my fault. That fixing a mistake is enough. But—standing by and watching is something I can never allow!
Just like you dueling those corrupted Fusionists!
Just like Lady Winda said!
This is my duty—my pride!"
"Let me—put an end to this pain!!"
Emotionless, Ruru continued. She commanded Topaz again—
Topaz could attack twice per turn.
It lurched forward for a second strike.
LP: 2900 → 2100
Hikaru banished a second Thunder Dragon.
More strings shot forth—but White Crystal howled and caught them all, even clamping down with its teeth.
Even after two attacks failed, Ruru didn't falter.
She revealed a Trap.
Gem-Fusion Radiance!
The card art depicted White Crystal surrounded by a storm of glittering gemstones.
She revealed one Gem-Knight from her hand, then sent Garnet and Topaz from the field to the Graveyard as Fusion Material.
Dozens of gems lit up, emerging from graves, from shadows.
A glorious knight wielding a gem-encrusted greatsword stepped forth.
Fusion requirement: Three Gem-Knight monsters.
Gem-Knight Master Diamond, Level 9, EARTH Attribute, Rock-Type, ATK 2900.
Its ATK increased by 100 for each "Gem" monster in the Graveyard.
Ruru had 12.
ATK: 2900 → 4100!
It raised its sword and brought it down on White Crystal—
Strings rained down like a hailstorm.
Any normal monster would've been torn apart by such a barrage. But White Crystal howled again, undaunted. It caught them, even as bloodless pain ripped through its soul.
In its ears, it heard the screaming of corrupted Duel Spirits.
"Stay with me—"
"Why did this happen to me?"
"You'll suffer like I did—"
"I want to die—"
These cursed voices chanted endlessly like mantras. Every second, dozens of voices clawed at its mind.
But even then—it held strong.
"I am a Knight of the Gem-Knight Order! My duty and pride is to protect the weak!"
"Come—your agony, your fury—I'll bear it all!!"
Far behind him, standing beside Hikaru, Tierra looked away, her cold gaze softening.
She nodded. "Now that's more like it…"
LP: 2100 → 600
Hikaru looked up. White Crystal was now wrapped in strings like a cocoon—but its eyes were clear. It bore everything.
He smiled slightly.
Originally, Hikaru could've used El Shaddoll Wendigo's effect to protect Titan from being destroyed that turn. But now—
Ruru had no cards left on the field or in hand.
Which meant—
His plan had worked.
When she started recklessly attacking, he realized something—she wasn't thinking. She only cared about attacking. If she couldn't attack, she would try to eliminate anything that stopped her.
So his strategy became clear.
Make her run out of cards.
Yes, Master Diamond had monstrous ATK.
But—so what?
"My turn—!" Hikaru drew.
He had to end it quickly—to spare White Crystal any more suffering.
"I activate Spell Card—Fragment Fusion!"
Same Spell. Same cards. Same materials. But—
Different heart. Different aim.
"I send Gem-Knight White Crystal and Gem-Knight Citrine from my Deck to the Graveyard! Fusion Summon—Gem-Knight Prism Aura!"
A red cape. A shining shield. A crackling gem-lance.
White Crystal stood once more on Hikaru's field, brighter than ever.
Gem-Knight Prism Aura, Level 7, EARTH Attribute, Thunder-Type, ATK 2450.
"Fragment Fusion locks me into Gem-Knight Fusions for the rest of this turn—but that's fine! I flip my Set card—Trap Card—Broken Gem Fusion!"
Different from Radiance.
This card was born from White Crystal's suffering.
"I banish Fusion Materials for a Gem-Knight Fusion from my Graveyard—Citrine and White Crystal! Fusion Summon—!"
"Fusion requirements: a Gem-Knight and a Rock-Type monster!"
"Citrine + White Crystal!"
"Come forth—even if you're just a copy, your honor won't lose to the real thing—"
"Gem-Knight Imitation Diamond!"
"Stand beside me!!"
Imitation Diamond…?
Tierra looked at the card—then at Hikaru—and chuckled softly.
Gem-Knight Imitation Diamond, Level 8, EARTH Attribute, Rock-Type, ATK 2900.
A knight of pale armor, full of cracks—but within those cracks, a blinding purity glowed.
"Prism Aura's effect—discard one Gem-Knight card to destroy one face-up card on the field!"
"I discard Gem-Knight Tourmaline— destroy Master Diamond!"
BOOM—
Master Diamond looked into Prism Aura's eyes, like seeing itself in a mirror, before vanishing into the light.
"And now—All-Out Attack!!"
"This is the end! Let me—let White Crystal—let us bring you release!!"
With Hikaru's command, White Crystal gathered all the strings.
All of them.
They didn't fall—because it was holding them all, bearing every puppet's weight.
SLASH—
Puppet Ruru LP: 4000 → 1550 → 0
Every puppet around them collapsed—but White Crystal held fast, anchoring them.
The strings slowly recoiled—then melted into its body. It had taken in all that pain—and endured.
"Heh…" Tierra smiled. "I was wrong. It's not a fake. Not an imitation. Hikaru Amagi—it's yours. Your one-of-a-kind Duel Spirit."
"Hah—of course it is."