People.
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, the afternoon had arrived.
In the afternoon, everyone from Class E came to the Summoning Plaza. At this moment, all eyes were focused on Alicia and Nash, and Professor White, their homeroom teacher, was also watching along with the others.
He had already learned in the morning that Alicia had gone to Nash to study "Xyz Summoning," and Alicia's earlier words had also reached his ears. Professor White had no objections to this.
After all, the academy truly was as Alicia had said—they hoped that students who weren't suited for "Fusion Summoning" could find a summoning method that was right for them. The Duel Academies of the Three Nations also hosted "transfer student" programs every year for this very reason.
Given that, any student capable of entering the Duelist Academies of the Three Great Nations was a true talent, and the academy heads and national leaders of each country did not wish to see these talents waste their lives due to an unsuitable summoning method.
Next, Nash and Alicia took their positions on the field, and the two of them inserted their Decks into their Duel Disks.
Nash was the first to speak. "Since you asked me to teach you Xyz Summoning, I'll tell you everything I know about it. I also gave you an Xyz Monster earlier. As for whether you can learn it and use it successfully… that depends on you!"
"No problem!" Alicia nodded.
"Good, then let's begin!"
"Duel!" ×2
[Nash, LP: 4000]
[Alicia, LP: 4000]
In the crowd, Ace watched the scene and couldn't help curling his lip, muttering softly, "Synchro Summoning is indeed stronger… I really don't get why she wants to learn Xyz Summoning!"
On the field, Nash waved his hand. "Since this is a lesson, I'll take the first turn. My turn, draw!"
Nash glanced over his hand, then looked toward Alicia. "First of all, Xyz Summoning requires gathering monsters of the same Level on the field that meet the conditions and required number to summon an Xyz Monster. You need at least two monsters, and Tokens cannot be used for Xyz Summons. Then, you overlay the two monsters on your Duel Disk to construct an Xyz Network, and from that, you Summon an Xyz Monster whose Rank matches the Level of those monsters.
"As for the so‑called Xyz Network, it's a special dimensional space created by Star‑Creating God Sophia exclusively for Xyz Monsters. If you look it up, you'll find very detailed information on it, so I won't explain too much here."
"Mm, I understand." Alicia nodded.
In truth, she already knew everything Nash had just explained, thanks to Yuui's earlier lessons; she actually understood Xyz Summoning far better than outsiders would expect.
Seeing Alicia nod, Nash continued, "Alright, then I'll demonstrate an Xyz Summon for you now!"
With that, Nash swept his arm and played a card.
"First, I Normal Summon Hammer Shark!"
[Hammer Shark] Level 4│WATER│Fish│1700 ATK
"Then I activate Hammer Shark's effect. Once per turn, during my Main Phase, this card's Level decreases by 1, and I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower WATER monster from my hand.
"I decrease Hammer Shark's Level by 1, and then Special Summon the Level 3 Big Jaws from my hand."
[Hammer Shark, Level: 4 → 3]
[Big Jaws] Level 3│WATER│Fish│1800 ATK
"Then I overlay the two Level 3 monsters—Hammer Shark and Big Jaws—to construct the Xyz Network!"
As Nash stacked the two cards vertically, a golden Xyz vortex appeared on the field. Alicia watched the scene and thought, "So this is the Xyz Network!"
"Yes." Yuui appeared beside Alicia, nodding slightly. "This is the Xyz Network. Only through it can you perform an Xyz Summon. Xyz Monsters summoned by other methods cannot be revived from the Graveyard or when banished by effects like Monster Reborn or Different Dimension Revival once they leave the field."
"I see. There's even such a restriction! It really is similar to Fusion Summoning!" Alicia couldn't help nodding.
"This 'revival restriction' applies to nearly all Extra Deck monsters. If they weren't Summoned properly, they can't be revived again."
"Mm, I understand, Yuui‑san!"
While Alicia and Yuui were discussing revival restrictions internally, Nash raised his voice on the other side. "The summoning conditions are two Level 3 monsters! Predator of the deep sea—nightmare of all prey—show yourself this moment! Xyz Summon! Appear, No.47 Nightmare Shark!"
"Roar!!"
Waves surged upward as a winged, eyeless shark burst from the sea spray and landed on Nash's field.
[No.47 Nightmare Shark] Rank 3│WATER│Sea Serpent│2000 ATK
Materials: 2 Level 3 monsters
"This is Xyz Summoning!"
Nash lifted his chin toward the Nightmare Shark on the field. "Next, I'll explain the traits of Xyz Monsters, but before that, I activate Nightmare Shark's effect. When this card is Special Summoned, I can take a face‑up Level 3 WATER monster from my hand or my field and attach it to this card as material.
"I attach Needle Sunfish beneath this card."
[No.47 Nightmare Shark, Xyz Materials: 2 → 3]
After placing a card beneath Nightmare Shark, Nash continued, "Now I'll tell you the traits of Xyz Monsters—starting with Level, or rather, Rank.
"Xyz Monsters do not have Levels. That doesn't mean their Level is zero—just that Levels do not apply to them. They use Ranks instead.
"For example, if a monster has an effect that destroys monsters with Levels lower than its own, that effect does not apply to Xyz Monsters."
"It doesn't apply!?" Alicia blinked.
"That's right. It doesn't apply." Nash nodded. "Because Xyz Monsters do not have Levels, any effect that targets Levels is ineffective against them—in other words, invalid."
Around them, the students of Class E murmured in surprise. They hadn't known much about Xyz Monsters, and only after Nash's explanation did they realize Xyz Monsters were even immune to effects that targeted Levels.
...
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