Only those who understood Serena's deck clearly knew, this was the normal way to play.
Serena's deck stressed multi-attack battle damage. Keeping an Attack Position Winda on the field was basically committing suicide.
Conversely, if she could make Serena attack and destroy 800-DEF Winda before summoning an upper-tier monster, then for Hikaru, that would be the biggest advantage.
Serena glanced at the very rarely seen Defense Position Winda and shook her head helplessly.
But whatever the case, at least Master hadn't summoned Fallen of Albaz. This way she could freely battle this turn.
If she could figure out a way to quickly resolve the battle this turn, she could win.
Only...
"Normal Summon, Lunalight Golden Lion. Activate its effect, add 1 Lunalight monster from my Deck to my hand."
She opened her Deck, carefully looking for the monsters she had, thinking of how to directly win this turn.
And outside the arena, other duelists were thinking together.
Zuzu and Masumi Kotsu were thinking most actively. Because they were the same age as Serena, and Serena looked identical to Zuzu, they naturally had more goodwill toward Serena. More importantly, they were both Fusion deck users too.
"Search Silver Wolf? But in that case, does the Special Summoned monster have a card that can negate Winda's effect?"
"Don't know, but from her look, probably not. Otherwise she'd have just Special Summoned already, no need to keep browsing."
"Eh, this is tough. Winda..."
"Can only Special Summon once. But Hikaru has Fallen of Albaz in his hand. If she can't win this turn, next turn she loses."
The two of them were discussing actively. Beside them, two LDS students couldn't help chiming in: "There's no need to worry that much, is there? Fallen of Albaz's effect is indeed very strong, but it needs an extra monster too, right?
If there's only one Titaniklad, even if Hikaru summons Albaz, he might not be able to Fuse."
That was also a possibility. But putting the whole duel completely on luck was, well, kind of... spineless, wasn't it?
"Alright, I've decided. I add Lunalight Crimson Fox from my Deck to my hand! Then I send Polymerization from my hand to the Graveyard."
"Hmm? Crimson Fox?"
Hikaru paused at her words.
"What? She actually discarded Polymerization?"
"In that case, how is she going to Fusion Summon?"
"Looks like this little girl has given up."
Many people thought so. But Zuzu, in the very first moment, noticed the eager anticipation and excitement in Serena's eyes.
Could it be, there was still a way?
There were only three cards on hand and field combined. In this situation, how could she Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster requiring 3 monsters?
"Master!"
"What is it?"
"That day, when I was locked up and undergoing experiments, I saw your Fusion! That strongest, most magnificent, most exaggerated Fusion, the one that fused all cards, all people!" Serena said excitedly, recalling that day's feeling.
Hikaru nodded.
Serena was the first person who could see Super Polymerization. That day had left many traces in her heart.
"I've always longed to duel with you. Always wanted to prove that I've never fallen behind in learning. Because I too have something I want to show, something I want to make you surprised and happy about!"
"You mean, could it be that you're going to use a more interesting Fusion?"
"Yes!" Serena replied vigorously. "I activate Spell Card, Heavy Polymerization!"
Heavy Polymerization!
Hikaru's pupils suddenly contracted.
This card, he'd only obtained last year! It was a Fusion card that didn't exist when he first came to this world!
"Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, using 3 or more monsters from my hand or field as material. When the opponent has monsters on their field, I can also banish monsters from my Extra Deck up to that number as material. In that case, when the Fusion Summon happens, I lose LP equal to the combined ATK of those monsters!"
"An Extra Deck Fusion! And it's a Fusion that can perform up to 3 Extra Deck Fusions!" Masumi Kotsu's face almost pressed against the screen. Seeing this scene, she was both shocked and delighted.
"Amazing. There really is Extra Fusion."
Extra Fusion.
Hikaru couldn't help laughing.
Using the Extra Deck for Fusion — in this world, not many could actually do it. The only one who'd caught up to him out of "unwillingness to lose" was Gloria.
"The Fusion Materials are Lunalight Panther Dancer and two Lunalight monsters."
"Let the vortex drawn by the moon's gravity give rebirth as new power!"
"Fusion Summon!"
"Come forth, the King of Beasts dancing at the summit of the moonlit plain!"
"Lunalight Leo Dancer!"
The full moon rose. Bright moonlight spilled onto the ground, like a shining golden corridor. Above the corridor, a beautiful silver-haired Beast-Warrior danced lightly. Truly a perfect beauty beneath the moon.
Lunalight Leo Dancer. Level 10, DARK Attribute, Beast-Warrior-Type. ATK 3500.
At the same time, two sharp blades also pierced Serena, making her let out a muffled grunt.
Serena, LP: 4000 → 1200.
"3500 ATK!"
"But still not as much as Titaniklad..."
"Lunalight Crimson Fox's effect. When this card is sent to the Graveyard by an effect, target 1 face-up monster on the opponent's field to activate. That monster's ATK becomes 0 until the end of the turn!"
Titaniklad's body took two claw strikes from Crimson Fox and lowered its head.
Titaniklad, ATK: 3800 → 0.
"Whoa, so it surpasses Titaniklad now."
"But still not enough. Not enough to reach 4000!"
Some people felt regretful for Serena.
The ATK was indeed already very high, but still not enough!
"Not necessarily. I activate the effect of Lunalight Sabre Dancer in the Graveyard! Banish this card from my Graveyard, target 1 Fusion Monster on my field to activate. That monster's ATK increases by 3000 until the end of the turn!"
"Ah!?"
The silver moon shone behind Leo Dancer, and the long blade in her hand slowly shifted from silver-white to gold.
Lunalight Leo Dancer, ATK: 3500 → 6500.
Many spectators watched this monster in a daze.
6500 ATK. In the vast majority of situations, that was already a number impossible to destroy through battle.
And at this very moment, there just happened to be a monster with 0 ATK on Hikaru's field!
As long as the attack landed, there would be no so-called next turn. She could win directly!
"Beautifully played, Serena." Hikaru looked at Serena beside him and couldn't help feeling pleased.
Beside them, Tierra was also lightly nodding, praising Serena.
Over two years, Serena's growth wasn't only in Hikaru's eyes. Tierra had naturally seen it too.
Although a bit hot-tempered, although she tended to act without regard for consequences, her alchemy and dueling had both already gotten this strong!
"Then, then it's time to battle! Master!" Serena drew a deep breath. "Lunalight Leo Dancer attacks Titaniklad the Ash Dragon!"
"Lunalight Leo Dancer cannot be targeted by opponent's effects, is unaffected by opponent's effects, and can attack twice in the same Battle Phase!"
Serena had quickly come to understand Hikaru's earlier teaching.
Since Sabre Dancer could be affected by monster effects, why not summon one that wasn't affected by effects?
This point didn't surprise Hikaru either.
The Lunalight series cards Serena held were all "complete forms." Some Lunalights were the strengthened OCG version, while others were the "anime version" she personally held. Typically, whichever was more useful was what she used.
In the original series, Lunalight Leo Dancer wasn't only fully immune, but even its destruction range was stronger than the OCG card. It directly destroyed "all monsters" rather than "Special Summoned monsters," very powerful.
"Lunalight Leo Dancer attacks Titaniklad. I win!"
She cheered, even doing a bit of a happy dance.
Leo Dancer slashed at Titaniklad's body. Titaniklad instantly exploded in a burst, and rolling thick smoke swept across the entire dueling arena. Countless spectators watched this scene.
Could Team 5D's be about to lose again?
Only...
Accompanied by the sound of D-Wheels driving, within the smoke, two figures, one in front and one behind, drove down the track once more.
Hikaru, LP: 4000.
"This?"
"Well played, Serena. But my luck's pretty good." Hikaru said as he revealed a card from his hand.
Arcana Force XIV - Temperance.
Discard this card from my hand, and one instance of battle damage I take becomes 0.
Blocked it!
Serena felt a pang of regret and thought that Master truly wouldn't lose a duel that easily.
Then she shook her head and rallied herself with a change of thought.
It's fine!
Lunalight Leo Dancer is unaffected by the opponent's card effects. Fallen of Albaz should have no way to handle her either!
"Lunalight Leo Dancer's effect! When this card's first attack's damage step ends, activate. All monsters on the opponent's field are destroyed!"
"El Shaddoll Winda cannot be destroyed by effects."
"Ugh. Then I'll battle-destroy it."
Serena understood that even if she didn't want to destroy Winda, Master could still use Winda as a Fusion Material next turn. Since that was the case, it was better to just destroy it honestly.
Lunalight Leo Dancer spun her blade and slashed at Winda. Winda was instantly cut into points of light and slowly faded away.
"When Winda is sent to the Graveyard, I can add 1 Shaddoll Spell or Trap Card from my Graveyard to my hand. I add Shaddoll Fusion from my Graveyard to my hand."
Watching Master start "refining" again, Serena felt slightly disappointed, but there was nothing else she could do. She ended her turn like this.
"End turn."
Lunalight Leo Dancer, ATK: 6500 → 3500.
"What a shame. She almost defeated Hikaru."
"But it's fine, right? Even though he has Fallen of Albaz, Leo Dancer isn't affected by the opponent's card effects. So it doesn't matter, right?"
"Indeed."
Although Fallen of Albaz could ignore "targeting" effects, it had no way to defeat "full immunity."
"Well played, Serena."
"Eh, hehe..." Serena laughed a little bashfully.
"Your dueling is already quite satisfying. When I was in first year, I wasn't as good as you. You really have surpassed me in this aspect. But don't be too proud. The path of Fusion is endless. Just where the limit lies, no one knows.
My turn, draw!"
Hikaru drew a card, glanced at it, and couldn't help smiling.
"Serena, your Fusion is indeed already very strong. Untargetable, unaffected by opponent's effects, competing only in ATK. My Fusion can do the same.
Spell Card, Shaddoll Fusion. Send Naelshaddoll Ariel and the FIRE-Attribute Salamandra, the Flying Flame Dragon from my Deck to the Graveyard, Fusion Summon, Level 7, El Shaddoll Grysta!"
"Wait, could it be..."
Serena's mouth fell open, her eyes went wide.
"That card is Salamandra the Flying Flame Dragon!?" On the Fusion team side, almost everyone was startled.
He was actually going to use Salamandra the Flying Flame Dragon!
"Ha, Serena must be over the moon."
Everyone at Duel Academy nodded in deep agreement.
Hikaru was quite an outstanding duelist, and also a good teacher and friend. Good character, good personality, willing to help. So many people considered themselves Hikaru's friends.
But what level counted as "heart-to-heart friends"?
Many people had debated this question, but there was one thing that was consensus.
If Hikaru went at you with Flame Swordsman at full power, you were absolutely not ordinary in his heart.
Jaden was like that, Aster was like that. Even the Tyler sisters were like that.
"Salamandra, the Flying Flame Dragon's effect. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, activate. Add 1 'Salamandra' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand!"
"Salamandra Fusion!"
Hikaru's Deck flared into fierce flames.
Hikaru's most loyal, most proficient, and also his most "truehearted" monster!
"Then, Continuous Spell Card, Flame Swordsrealm!"
"This card can be activated by sending 1 monster from my field or hand to the Graveyard. From my Extra Deck, Fusion Summon 1 'Flame Swordsman'!
I send El Shaddoll Grysta to the Graveyard!"
"Whoa!" Serena cheered.
"Come, my most loyal knight!"
"Fusion Summon, Level 5, Flame Swordsman!"
Flame Swordsman split open the raging flames, cloaked in circling crimson fire, standing guard beside Hikaru.
Flame Swordsman. Level 5, FIRE Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 1800.
"Flame Swordsman?"
"Eh, actually Flame Swordsman?"
Quite a few people watched this scene in surprise.
Flame Swordsman was a card that existed in every dimension. Genuinely a card with "legend but no use"!
Under such a serious situation, Hikaru actually gave up the higher-ATK El Shaddoll Grysta to Fusion Summon this?
"El Shaddoll Grysta's effect, retrieve Shaddoll Schism from the Graveyard." Hikaru casually took Schism back, then smiled. "Equip Spell Card, Salamandra Fusion! This card equips to Flame Swordsman!"
"It's, it's coming!" Serena swallowed, quite tense.
"Salamandra Fusion's effect. Activated only when this card is equipped to a Fusion Monster on the field. Send the equipped monster and this card to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 'Flame Swordsman' or a Fusion Monster whose card name mentions it, treated as a Fusion Summon from the Extra Deck!"
"Flame Swordsman?"
"What's the use?"
"What does 'card name mentions' mean?"
They didn't understand.
Hikaru raised his hand. Flames burned in his palm.
"Behold!"
Fire burned up from his hand, gradually swept across to the D-Wheel, and ignited the track. Finally, Flame Swordsman bathed in the raging flames!
Flame Swordsman's armor and weapon revealed a brand-new form in the flames. In moments, the previously frail-looking swordsman had transformed into a burly warrior!
"My most trusted companion..."
"Fusion Summon!
My companion, my friend, my symbol!"
"Level 8, Ultimate Flame Swordsman!"
Ultimate Flame Swordsman. Level 8, FIRE Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 2800.
"Ultimate Flame Swordsman?"
"What what what!? Flame Swordsman can Fuse too!?"
"Wait, your dimension has Flame Swordsman too?"
"Isn't this a card that's a dime a dozen!"
The Fusion Dimension duelists glanced at each other. They knew Hikaru had already won this match, but hearing the discussion around them, they still couldn't help laughing.
Hikaru's Fusion, Hikaru's pursuit, was just like this Flame Swordsman. A card useless in others' hands, accompanied by his effort, had evolved into such a domineering form.
For the people of this dimension, this seemed to be the card that most proved Hikaru's "Fusion."
"Flame Swordsman, it can actually Fuse too." Masumi Kotsu took a few steps back, somewhat dumbfounded.
Flame Swordsman, "my symbol"...
This was Senior Hikaru's true symbol?
Eh.
She was a little jealous of Serena.
"Salamandra, the Flying Flame Dragon's effect in the Graveyard. In my hand or Graveyard, it can equip to 1 Warrior-Type monster on my field. When equipped to Flame Swordsman or a monster whose card name mentions it, the equipped monster gains 700 ATK."
Ultimate Flame Swordsman, ATK: 2800 → 3500.
"Same ATK as Leo Dancer!"
"With this, if he just Normal Summons Fallen of Albaz and attacks directly, he wins?"
"Seems so..."
"Enter Battle Phase!"
"Ah?"
Quite a few people didn't understand.
"Ultimate Flame Swordsman, attack Lunalight Leo Dancer!"
Serena drew a deep breath, suppressed the excitement and thrill in her heart, and responded: "Leo Dancer, counterattack!"
The two monsters' blades clashed in an instant, bursting out a terrifying shockwave.
Hikaru's goggles looked purple in the raging fire. He watched the two monsters clashing and slowly opened his mouth: "Flame, time to get serious."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Ultimate Flame Swordsman's effect. Activated only at the start of the damage step of this card's battle. This card's ATK becomes double until the end of the turn! This card is destroyed at the end of this turn!"
Ultimate Flame Swordsman, ATK: 3500 → 7000!
"7000!"
"That, that's even higher than last turn's Lunalight Leo Dancer!"
"If this attack goes through, that little girl loses!"
More people were watching in a daze.
Flame Swordsman, 7000 ATK?
"Can you still hold on, Serena?"
"No problem, Master!"
"Then let's continue, Flame — Extreme Aura Flame-Slash Blade!"
Flame's eyes flashed with a trace of purple light. Then he suddenly exerted his strength, driving Leo Dancer back. Leo Dancer didn't control her form quickly enough. The next instant, the flame-light swept across. Leo Dancer was engulfed in raging fire, and with a puff, vanished.
Serena, LP: 1200 → 0.
The duel ended. Hikaru wins!
Hikaru quickly slowed his acceleration, parked his car properly, and rushed out to look for Serena's position. Fortunately, before he could grow worried, Serena had already been safeguarded in advance by purple puppet strings. Although she hadn't controlled her D-Wheel and had slightly crashed, both person and vehicle were fine.
Not only that, she stood beside her car, still savoring Flame Swordsman's attack.
However many words were said, nothing was more real than the content of the duel!
Flame Swordsman!
The Flame Swordsman she hadn't seen in so long!
She had truly received Master's complete recognition!
...
STONESSSS
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