"My turn."
Tenjo Hikari drew a card, glanced at his hand, and then eyed his opponent.
"Do you know what it means to have a high probability of encountering a low-probability event?"
"Hmm? What's that, human math?"
"Activate Metalfoes Fusion's effect from the Graveyard, return this card to the Deck, shuffle, and then draw a card."
Tenjo Hikari looked down.
Curse of Dragon.
"…" On the other side, Light Monarch couldn't help but punch the air speechlessly.
Five cards in hand.
Destroy one card.
Not a monster, and with this kind of effect!
Light Monarch couldn't help cursing mentally.
Tystaros, this useless thing, when I become the strongest, I'm definitely going to scold it fiercely back in the domain.
Tenjo Hikari finished drawing and scanned his cards.
"Activate Spell Card, Instant Fusion." Tenjo Hikari took out a card from his hand, "Pay 1000 Life Points to Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster below LV 5 from the Extra Deck!"
"The one I'm going to Fusion Summon is this—LV 1, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→3000
An eye opened on Tenjo Hikari's field, followed by countless eyes combining to form a terrifying Evil God.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict, LV 1, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, Attack Power 0.
"Heh, an Evil God that can devour monsters... Though its attack power is low, it has an extremely powerful effect—However! It's useless!"
Light Monarch unveiled a Set Card: "Open Set Card, Continuous Trap Card! The Monarchs Erupt!"
Suddenly, flames ignited on the body of Firestorm Monarch, rolling fire started burning across the combat arena, igniting the entire arena, causing many spirits to instinctively sweat and fear.
"This is a Continuous Trap Card that can only be activated if there are no cards in your Extra Deck, and if there is a Tribute Summoned monster on your field!
As long as this card exists in the Spell & Trap Zone, the effects of monsters other than Tribute Summoned monsters in face-up position on the field are negated!"
"My lord!" Gaia softly called out, "This is the card that defeated me—"
"What a powerful effect." Flame Swordsman couldn't help but speak.
"Hmm... Nullifying field monster effects, indeed it's incredible, Tenjo Hikari." Tierra stroked her chin, nodding repeatedly, "I see, with this effect, you don't need Fusion Monsters or Synchro Monsters to fight, perhaps it might even be stronger."
She then looked at Tenjo Hikari's hand.
But actually, it wasn't a big deal.
"Indeed, one side has monster effects, the other doesn't, no matter how you look at it, it's an obvious gap, but one thing won't change." Tenjo Hikari placed a card onto the Duel Disk, "And that's the attack."
"Activate Continuous Spell, Flame Swordsrealm!"
Just like on Light Monarch's field, the same flames ignited around Tenjo Hikari, only unlike the flames set to destroy everything, this flame turned into a fire dragon in the air, dispersing the surrounding fire and protecting the weak spirits.
"Ha, at times like this, we brothers should work together!" Flame Sword enthusiastically shouted.
"Effect of Flame Swordsrealm, once per turn, send a hand card or a monster on the field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon one Flame Swordsman!"
"I send Thousand-Eyes Restrict on the field to the Graveyard, to Fusion Summon, Flame Swordsman!"
Flame Swordsman rode on a fire dragon, facing the Monarch who controlled the lava, without an ounce of fear.
Flame Swordsman, LV 5, Fire Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1800.
"Heh, such a Fusion Monster, what's the big deal even if it appears?" Light Monarch was indifferent.
"Then let's fuse more—Equip Spell Card, Salamandra Fusion!" Tenjo Hikari continued to play a Fusion Spell Card, "This card can be equipped as an Equip Card, equipping to a Warrior-Type, Fire Attribute monster, boosting that monster's ATK by 700!"
Flame Swordsman, ATK: 1800→2500.
"What, it actually surpassed Tystaros!?"
"Battle, Flame Swordsman, stop the lava!"
"Leave it to me!" Flame Swordsman jumped high, charging toward the Monarch of molten lava. The ruthless Monarch tried to stop him with a backhand, but the highly skilled Flame Swordsman dodged, thrusting his sword into its throat.
Boom—
The Monarch was directly knocked down.
Light Monarch LP: 4000→3900.
"Wha-What? It actually damaged Lord Light Monarch!?"
"Wow! The attack succeeded!! Beat that scary Firestorm Monarch!"
"Humph, what's there to be excited about, you guys paid 1000 Life Points just to deal a mere 100 damage, what's so impressive!"
The spirits were arguing, and those on Tenjo Hikari's side, being weaker and often bullied, gradually quieted down.
Tenjo Hikari didn't speak because there was no need to.
As long as they won, they would naturally regain their confidence.
"End turn."
Unlike what the surrounding spirits thought,
Tenjo Hikari not only understood the Monarch deck but could even be considered to "understand it particularly well."
It's not that he particularly enjoyed playing with cards like Flunder, Monarch, or True Draco; Tenjo Hikari was familiar with this card because, before crossing over, he had indeed experienced playing doubles with people using Monarch decks.
The scene was quite abstract.
He looked at The Monarchs Erupt.
"During the end phase when there are no high-level monsters on your field, that card will be destroyed, right?"
The Light Monarch was taken aback.
"You actually know!?"
Tenjo Hikari's lips curved upward: "Dueling with friends, opponents, and even enemies, regardless of preference, understanding and learning about the opponent equally—that is the true essence of 'Polymerization.' Whether it's a Tribute Summon or a Fusion Summon, in essence, they're just means to an end—but someone like you, no matter how powerful your methods are, it's just a waste of effort!"
"Damn you!" The Light Monarch was infuriated by Tenjo Hikari's words, "You think that just by destroying that useless Testalos you can defeat me!? Naïve! Don't underestimate my Monarch deck—
draw a card!"
He glanced down and immediately played, "Spell Card, Pot of Greed, draw two cards."
Then, several gold stars appeared around him, looking pleased: "Since there are two or more cards in the opponent's Spell and Trap Zone, this card can be Special Summoned!"
He promptly placed a card on the field.
"Escher the Frost Vassal!"
A white magician draped in a red cloak appeared on the field.
Escher the Frost Vassal, LV 4, Water Attribute, Aqua-Type, ATK 1000.
"Then, using the Frost Vassal as a sacrifice, Tribute Summon—Mobius the Frost Monarch!"
Following the blazing magma was the biting cold ice; numerous ice blocks froze the flowing lava into massive ice pillars, freezing everything around.
One of the most practical Monarchs, Frost Monarch!
Mobius the Frost Monarch, LV 6, Water Attribute, Aqua-Type, ATK 2400.
"When Frost Monarch is successfully Tribute Summoned, you can destroy up to two Spell and Trap cards on the field." The Light Monarch pointed to Tenjo Hikari's field, "Destroy your Salamandra Fusion and that Flame Swordsrealm!"
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
The flames were frozen by ice blocks, gradually extinguishing, and the entire field turned into ice, forcing the spirits, who previously felt hot enough to sweat, to huddle together for warmth.
"This effect sounds more powerful than Firestorm Monarch." Tierra spoke up.
"Just in case, I'll also use this—"
"Continuous Spell Card, March of the Monarchs! As long as this card is on the field, your Tribute Summoned monsters cannot be targeted by effects and are not destroyed by effects!"
"As a cost, while this card is on the field, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck—of course, I don't have such cards anyway."
A classic card among Monarch deck allies.
"Battle, Mobius, freeze that swordsman who dares to challenge the king into an ice statue!"
Frost Monarch clapped his hands together, summoning a fierce storm; the icy wind and snow swept in, instantly freezing the Flame Swordsman trying to counterattack the Monarch again, shattering him into pieces with a bang.
Subsequently, countless ice pillars erupted from Flame Swordsman's body, piercing Tenjo Hikari, leaving several cuts on him.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 3000→2400.
"Hehehe... 2400, precisely the Monarch's strike." The Light Monarch observed, "Hmph, consider yourself lucky that the turn I summoned myself, I couldn't attack, or you would have been killed by my hand."
After breaking the Fusion Monster and seeing this life point total, the Light Monarch's confidence surged explosively, shining even brighter and laughing out loud uncontrollably.
And his subordinates and attendants couldn't help but laugh sinisterly.
"My liege!" Gaia was a bit anxious, eager to showcase hand-to-hand combat against the opponent.
"Don't rush, Gaia. This is just the beginning." Tenjo Hikari shook his head, "You haven't met the new friends yet."
As he spoke, Tenjo Hikari gestured beside him, simultaneously, a few ephemeral figures emerged, waving hello.
New friends—
Gaia was somewhat puzzled, then shifted his gaze.
So many!?
"My turn—draw!"
Tenjo Hikari looked at the card he drew: "Ah, just in time—
Continuous Spell Card, Scatter Fusion!"