"My turn."
"RROAAH!"
Just as Hikaru was about to use the technique he'd been practicing, "I'll secure the first move!", the Gem-Knight Crystal before him wrecked all conventions, simply drawing a card from his deck and howling wildly.
'Wait, you can do that?'
Hikaru had to admit, he just learned something new.
Seeing his opponent's crazed state, he knew this wasn't entirely intentional. But since the Duel Disk hadn't flagged it as an illegal move, it meant this method of seizing the first turn was technically allowed.
"KRRRAH!!" Crystal revealed a card from his hand, projecting it into the air for all to see.
'Summoner's Art?'
Hikaru recognized it, a Spell Card that allowed the user to add a Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from their deck to their hand.
A glow emanated from Crystal's deck. In the sky, a massive, smoke-emitting white gemstone coalesced. With a sharp crack, the card shattered, revealing its true form.
[Gem-Knight Crystal]
'He added himself to his hand?'
"GRAHH!" Crystal immediately set two cards face-down before playing another Spell Card.
[Card Destruction]
Both players had to discard their entire hands and draw the same number of new cards.
Hikaru glanced at his hand, rubbing the cards between his fingers before smoothly placing them into his Duel Disk's Graveyard. The device ejected five new cards, which he drew in one swift motion.
Meanwhile, Alkahest, now reduced to a spectator, peeked at Hikaru's deck.
"What the hell? Instant Fusion, Future Fusion, Flash Fusion, De-Fusion… even a Metalfoes Fusion?! Your entire deck isn't just these kinds of cards, is it?"
He was so baffled he didn't even question why Hikaru had a [Metalfoes] card. Instead, he clutched his head and screamed, "I'm doomed! I'm dead! Why did I have to run into a duelist fresh on the road to mastery at a time like this?!"
"Hey, show some respect! Hikaru pursues the pinnacle of Fusion!" Flame Swordsman snapped.
"It's true! But don't judge me by appearances, I'm an Alchemist! I know more about fusion than you do!" the Alchemist shot back.
"To complete Alchemy, you need materials and a process! If your deck is all Spell Cards, without any materials, how are you supposed to create an alchemical product?"
"Heh… Then watch closely, you backwater Alchemist from another dimension."
Dark Flare Knight, usually reserved, had a venomous tongue when he chose to speak, leaving the Alchemist momentarily speechless.
Hikaru wanted to chime in, but his focus remained on his opponent. Since Crystal wasn't speaking, he had to watch closely for any sudden "loophole abuse" or "cheating" he might otherwise miss.
After using Card Destruction, Crystal flipped one of his previously set Spell Cards.
[Monster Reborn]
Hikaru had no objections, any set Spell Card could be activated on the same turn.
As the glow of Monster Reborn filled the battlefield, a black-smoke-covered crystalline warrior, identical to the duelist himself, slowly rose from shattered gemstones.
[Gem-Knight Crystal] Level 7│EARTH│Rock│2450 ATK│Normal
A powerhouse with 2450 ATK, only 50 points lower than the "ace monsters" of most protagonists. In this world, taking it down wouldn't be easy.
And that wasn't all. On top of the one existing set card, Crystal set another before letting out a final roar, signaling the end of his turn.
A frontline with a 2450 ATK monster and two unknown backrow cards, this kind of opening hand could wipe out a North Academy representative or a second-year senior in no time.
Even Jaden himself would struggle to deal with a 2450 ATK monster, just 50 points higher than Thunder Giant, meaning he'd have to rely on Tornado Guy to deal with it. And that's not even considering the Spell and Trap support.
'No wonder that bald egg wanted to use this to trip me up.'
"My turn, draw!" Hikaru looked at his hand and actually felt pretty good. "I activate the Spell Card—EN Wave—"
"KRAGHHH!"
Just as Hikaru was about to play his Spell, Crystal abruptly flipped one of his set cards.
Under his thunderous howl, the revealed card was none other than the Counter Trap, Solemn Judgment!
"Oh no, that's a Counter Trap that can negate and destroy a Spell or Trap!"
The Alchemist clutched his head in horror, muttering despairingly, "It's over, it's all over! The fusion cards meant for material setup are gone. Even Instant Fusion, such a powerful card that enables direct Fusion Summoning, got discarded. We're all doomed! If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have argued with my master. I should've just stayed at the base and attended my lessons."
"And now, look at this! We can't return to our world, we've run into what seems like invisible, flesh-eating zombies, and humans here are useless for help! We're completely screwed!"
It seemed this poor Alchemist had sneaked out alone, gotten stranded in this broken dimension, and had been conducting endless experiments in a desperate attempt to find a way back, only to end up in his current predicament.
Snap—
Watching his Continuous Spell get destroyed, Hikaru could only shake his head helplessly.
"Hey Alkahest."
"Huh?" The Alchemist instinctively responded upon hearing Hikaru call his name, then blinked in confusion. "Wait, how do you know my name?"
"It's just one card being negated. No need to panic."
Seeing Hikaru remain as composed as ever, Flame Swordsman and Dark Flare Knight exchanged glances before grinning in unison.
This was the master they had sworn to follow. This was the one who wielded them.
"Fusion is the most noble form of summoning in the world. Don't let your own understanding limit your imagination!"
"It's just one Fusion getting negated!"
"There are countless ways to obtain materials! And who says we even need them?"
"Let me show you, then you can follow me out of this dimension without any second thoughts! I activate the effect of Metalfoes Fusion in my Graveyard! If this card is in the Graveyard, I can shuffle it back into the Deck, then draw one card!"
As the familiar energy of a Fusion Spell ignited, Alkahest momentarily froze.
No wonder those two spirits were so loyal to this human, it was not without reason.
But talking was cheap. If Hikaru couldn't pull it off, then everything would be over.
"Next, I activate the Normal Spell Fusion Armament!" Hikaru revealed a Spell Card with an illustration of Flame Swordsman and Dark Flare Knight in the background.
"This card can only be activated once per turn. I can reveal one Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck, then Special Summon one of the Fusion Materials listed on it from my Extra Deck or Graveyard!"
"A monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack and has its effects negated until the end of the opponent's turn—"
"I reveal Dark Flare Knight from my Extra Deck. Flame Swordsman, it's your turn to enter the stage."
"Oh! My lord, my blood is boiling!" Flame Swordsman cheered, leaping from the spectator area onto the field, raising his sword as he faced the towering knight before him.
Flame Swordsman had no indecision in serving as a stepping stone or as the "overworked and sacrificed" unit, he brandished his sword excitedly.
"A… A material-less Fusion?" Alkahest removed his hat, revealing his eyes as he stared at the battlefield.
"Heh, so, do you see it now?" Dark Flare smirked. "Our master will surpass your imagination!"