The first move was taken by Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari held the card, while Tierra watched from the side.
Back in this world, facing duelists with not as high "strength," Tierra had the chance to observe, and even "participate."
It's a rare opportunity, and since Tierra noticed the opponent had no malicious intent, she started pointing things out.
"Tenjo Hikari, use this, use this, I like this one."
"...Okay then." Tenjo Hikari glanced at the card in his hand, pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly.
In this world, rather than "strength," "preference" often takes a more significant role.
"I activate Spell Card: Polymerization." Tenjo Hikari drew a card from his hand and revealed it.
"It's Polymerization!"
"It's actually the original Polymerization!"
At this very moment, at the main entrance of the academy, in the center of the venue built separately by the Integration Department and Fusion Department, the head of Integration Department, Fukami Subaru, and the head of Fusion Department, Tenjo Hikari, were dueling.
Many new students were watching, along with some second-year and third-year students, who upon discovering the duel between the Integration and Fusion Departments, started calling friends over to watch live.
In no time, the venue was surrounded, with people watching the duel, and occasionally teachers joined in to watch this "Integration vs. Fusion" rematch that started even before the new semester.
After all, on the secluded Duel Island, this was considered a rare "reserved project" level of entertainment for students and teachers.
Nobody anticipated that Tenjo Hikari, who always used various fancy types of fusion, in this first duel of the new semester, would actually use the most primitive Spell Card: "Polymerization"!
But then again.
Of course!
In this brand-new semester, using the original fusion felt more like "the absolute fusion of Tenjo Hikari."
"I fuse Ancient Gear Beast and Ancient Gear Knight from my hand to Fusion Summon Ancient Gear Howitzer!"
Whirrr——
Whirrr——
The red warning lights flickered, and in a series of crackling sounds, a massive Mechanical God statue was born.
Ancient Gear Howitzer, LV 8, Earth Attribute, Machine-Type, DEF 1800.
"It's actually Ancient Gear Howitzer!?" Fukami Subaru obviously recognized this card, and his expression changed suddenly.
"Ancient Gear!"
"Didn't expect it to be not Flame Swordsman at the start."
"But Ancient Gear is also one of Tenjo Hikari's most commonly used cards!"
"Oh, so disappointing, I wanted to see the legendary Dark Magician..." lamented a student.
"Ancient Gear Howitzer's effect can be activated during the main phase once per turn, dealing 1000 damage to the opponent!"
"Gear Blast!"
Tenjo Hikari commanded Ancient Gear Howitzer, whose several barrels aimed at Fukami Subaru, and as the gears turned, several old-fashioned gear-shaped shells loaded into its barrels before slowly aiming at Fukami Subaru for a salvo.
Boom boom boom——
Shrapnel rained down like a storm, quickly reducing Fukami Subaru's Life Points to 3000.
Fukami Subaru LP: 4000→3000.
"End turn."
Tenjo Hikari glanced at his hand cards. He simply chose to end his turn.
"What a splendid turn, not only did he summon a Fusion Monster, but also dealt damage to the opponent!" a new student exclaimed.
"Indeed, he performed a Fusion Summon in the first turn, as expected of Senior Tenjo!"
Some second- and third-year students exchanged glances upon hearing this, puzzled.
Eh——
Was this such an amazing scene?
Was it?
Many asked themselves.
For Duel Academy students, assembling a fusion at the beginning and directly performing a Fusion Summon to summon a monster with attack power over 2000 was already quite remarkable.
However, after watching Tenjo Hikari perform various fusions all year round, summoning various powerful monsters starting from 2000 attack power, now seeing this simple fusion, they felt a bit unaccustomed.
What is this?
Back to basics?
Truly, Tenjo Hikari continues to pursue even higher goals on the path of fusion.
In contrast, Fukami Subaru felt a surge of—excitation!
Because he recognized this scene!
It's the strategy used in his duel with Dinosaur Lyuzaki!
"Ancient Gear Howitzer has a powerful ability of being unaffected by any card effects while it's on the field, and when destroyed by battle, it can Special Summon an Ancient Gear Monster from the deck ignoring conditions." Fukami Subaru said while drawing a card, "You want to use the effect of that card to Special Summon Ancient Gear Golem from the deck, ignoring its restriction, and then use Antique Gear Fusion or Ancient Gear Duel, or Necro Fusion, to summon your strongest Fusion Monster—
Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, right!"
Tenjo Hikari raised his eyebrows.
The students from the Integration Department behind Fukami Subaru gasped at his analysis, thinking their head made valid points.
This is exactly what Tenjo Hikari would do!
"Moreover, while Ancient Gear Howitzer is on the field, it's unaffected by any other card effects, so as long as it's here, I must find a way to destroy it in battle, because if left unchecked, the 1000 LP damage per turn can be decisive!"
"This is your [Ancient Gear Strategy], am I right!"
"Oh oh oh! Boss, amazing!"
Good guy.
Tenjo Hikari couldn't help but mutter.
Information Integration Department?
New students among the spectators excitedly discussed, feeling that Fukami Subaru's analysis sounded quite accurate. Those who had seen Tenjo Hikari's duel videos with Dinosaur Lyuzaki began to act like experts, eagerly analyzing.
Meanwhile, Manjome and others were not worried about Tenjo Hikari, only Mitsuzawa Daichi burst out: "With masterful fusion knowledge, Hikari' is proficient at dueling other Fusion-using duelists, relying on understanding the opponent's deck to strategize against…"
He looked at Fukami Subaru, puzzled.
Clearly, this is Tenjo Hikari's strategy!
And it's evidently not a direct copy like Kagurazaka's; there's thought and idea, showing it's a serious study opponent of Tenjo Hikari!
Seeing Tenjo Hikari mutter quietly, Mitsuzawa Daichi and other "core" members of the Fusion Department uttered astonished words at him, while Fukami Subaru's mouth curled into a smile.
Honestly, that felt pretty nice.
"Newbies, watch how I'll crack Tenjo Hikari's strategy!"
He drew a card, glanced at it, and grinned: "Nice one!"
"It seems this human drew a good card." Tierra felt a bit nervous.
After all, this game counted as her "second duel."
"First—I activate this card!"
"Frightfur Patchwork!"
Oh!
Tenjo Hikari's eyes lit up.
It's Frightfur!