"Eh?" Yugo blinked in confusion.
Everyone—whether they were locals of Satellite watching the duel live or elites sipping wine in Neo Domino's upper district—was baffled by Hikaru Amagi's bold declaration: "Fusion is the noblest summoning method."
After all, Fusion Summoning existed in this world too.
It wasn't anything special.
Was this guy nuts? Or… were all interdimensional duelists like this?
Even the Tyler Twins, standing with the Fusion Army representatives, frowned slightly.
Yugo had just summoned a Level 6 Synchro Monster with two cards—straightforward and efficient. Sure, it wasn't game-ending, but it was solid.
So why was this guy talking obsessively about Fusion ?
Hikaru shuffled his hand, face calm. His hand wasn't ideal, but Yugo's deck was clearly no joke—either that, or his luck was insane.
But "not ideal" didn't mean "helpless."
"Let's kick it off," Hikaru smirked.
"I activate the Continuous Spell: Flame Swordsman Domain."
The last time he'd used this card, it was during his duel with the Sacred Beasts. Nostalgia hit for a second.
"Once per turn, I can send a card from my hand or field to the GY to Fusion Summon a Flame Swordsman using monsters as material."
"I send Elemental HERO Avian from my hand to the Graveyard—Fusion Summon! Flame Swordsman!"
BOOM.
A roaring blaze erupted. A warrior forged in fire and steel descended—armor reinforced, greatsword gleaming, stance proud beside Hikaru.
Flame Swordsman – Level 5 / FIRE / Warrior / ATK 1800
"Haha! Master, leave this to me!"
Seeing Yugo's monster with only 2200 ATK and no face-downs? Flame Swordsman was hyped.
"…Flame Swordsman, huh…"
Yugi Muto's eyes softened with memory. That card had once been Joey Wheeler's iconic trump.
Meanwhile, Jaden, Chazz, and Alexis cheered.
Classic.
Of course Flame Swordsman would be Hikaru's first move. One of his all-time favorites.
"Wait, just one card for Fusion?" Yugo blinked.
"That's awesome," he muttered. Even if he had been trained under Yusei, he still knew Fusion Summoning was considered "old tech" in this world.
It needed Fusion Material and a Fusion Spell—too clunky compared to Synchro's instant tempo with a Tuner and some levels.
But if that weakness was removed…
Fusion and Synchro were really just different flavors of power.
"All right then," Yugo grinned, "Come at me! I'll crush everything you throw at me!"
"Ohh! That's the spirit! Our duelist from this world isn't backing down even after such a flashy declaration! What's his next move?!" the MC shouted, soaking the moment in pure hype.
Hikaru shrugged, scanning his hand.
"I activate the Spell Scrap Fusion! I banish monsters from your Graveyard for a Fusion Summon! And if the result is a Fusion Monster you could summon—I get to summon it!"
"Whaaaaat?!" Yugo yelped. "Using my monsters?! Wait—I don't even run Fusions!"
He frantically checked his Extra Deck. Toys, Synchro Dragons… but no Fusion monsters.
"No problem. I do."
"…What?!"
Even Rin leaned in, craning to see.
She knew Yugo's deck better than he did. And she knew for a fact—there were no Fusion plays in it.
"I banish Speedroid Tri-Eyed Dice and Speedroid Den-Den Daiko Duke from your Graveyard!"
"Wait—those two?!" Yugo blanched.
Those were critical for his follow-up combo!
"Fusion Materials: Two Tuner monsters."
Hikaru raised his fists dramatically, then clapped them together—
"Fusion Summon!
Tuner Fusion Monster – Sea Monster of Theseus!"
A haunted, broken ship clawed its way up from the depths. Tentacles slithered from its hull; its skeletal sails creaked as if alive.
Sea Monster of Theseus – Level 5 / WATER / Zombie / ATK 2200
A Fusion Monster that's also a Tuner.
Yugo's jaw dropped.
"Whoa… Hikaru even got that card?" Jaden blinked.
"Your friend's awesome!" Jesse Anderson grinned. "Man, I'd love to duel him myself!"
"Fusion using two Tuners… and the result is also a Tuner Fusion Monster?!" Chazz was visibly shaken. "That's… that's on a different level!"
"Unbelievable!!" the MC screamed. "Hikaru Amagi not only fused Flame Swordsman using one card—he also stole monsters from his opponent's Graveyard and summoned a Tuner Fusion Monster!"
"Oh no!" Yugo finally realized what had happened, stumbling back. "Tri-Eyed Dice could have blocked an attack! Daiko Duke could have revived a Tuner!"
"Wait, did I just hear that?!" The MC nearly choked. "This Fusion move didn't just summon a monster—it completely disrupted Yugo's strategy!"
Hikaru flicked his head to shake off the adrenaline.
"Battle. Sea Monster of Theseus—attack Hi-Speedroid Kendama!"
"And Flame Swordsman Domain activates! When my monsters battle, I can reduce the ATK of one Warrior on the field by 1000—then every other monster I control gains 1000 ATK!"
Flame Swordsman: 1800 → 800
Sea Monster of Theseus: 2200 → 3200
"Let's go! Sea Monster of Theseus, obliterate Kendama!"
BOOM— The ship's hull crashed through the Synchro machine, tentacles whipping like whips across the field.
Yugo LP: 4000 → 3000
"Now, Flame Swordsman—direct attack!"
Yugo LP: 3000 → 2200
"Ugh, I feel sick…" Yugo muttered. That combo of hot flame and cold, eldritch assault had left him spinning.
Hikaru glanced at his hand, set one card, and gave a light smile.
"I set one card and end my turn."