Based on the effect of Predaplant Chimerafflesia, over twenty cards were automatically ejected from Tenjo Hikari's Deck. All of these cards were Spell Cards with "Fusion" or "Combination." Tenjo Hikari extracted those cards, then picked one out from them, returning the rest to the Deck, which automatically shuffled.
"I add the Field Spell Card, Fusion Recycling Plant, to my hand."
"How could...could it be..."
"Doesn't that mean for Tenjo Hikari, he can just grab whatever he wants from the Deck?"
Most people knew what kind of Deck Tenjo Hikari was using.
A Full Fusion Deck!
Even if there were Trap Cards, they were mostly Trap Fusion!
So when facing Tenjo Hikari, there's no need to worry about him using Trap Cards to block your Summons.
The only thing to worry about is whether you can showcase your own Duel.
In fact, quite a few people present weren't just opposing Tenjo Hikari because of the Fusion Army.
It was because...
Tenjo Hikari's status was simply too "high."
Minister of Fusion Department, Academy Chief, beloved student of the interim principal Cronos, Duelist of the Legendary Duelists, Absolute Fusion Master, a renowned Fusion Duelist across three Dimensions...
Tenjo Hikari held countless titles. Although some of these titles didn't mean much to ordinary people, to students, any one of those identities was enviable.
In the past, they existed in a completely different world than Tenjo Hikari.
However, after the Fusion Army attacked the X Dimension, Fusion was somehow restricted. Though it wasn't impossible to use, one of the representatives of Fusion, Tenjo Hikari, would surely be affected, right?
They wanted to see, wanted to see that rising star fall because of this, and even abandon Fusion, turning into a useless Duelist just like them, which would greatly comfort them.
However—
What was presented in front of them was even purer than before, even having a Monster that could "retrieve all Fusions!"
Monster Cards are the symbol of a Duelist.
This meant that their voices, their discussions, had absolutely no effect on Tenjo Hikari at all...
In fact, Tenjo Hikari didn't even bother to explain or argue with them.
There was nothing more insulting than that.
More terrifying was...
Some noticed Serena, who was excited.
Her jubilant expression indicated her joy and vitality.
She obviously had the energy to hassle them, and she wasn't afraid of getting dirt thrown on her anymore.
"Activate the Field Spell Card, Fusion Recycling Plant!"
"Fusion never ends; instead, it keeps regenerating."
The massive Fusion factory enveloped the garden. Originally bright, it then became part of this huge factory, unable to function again.
"Although both sides in the Duel have a Field, only one Field Spell Card can exist on the field, and the previous one will be squeezed out, thus destroyed and sent to the Graveyard." Mitsuzawa Daichi nodded, "That field, although not particularly powerful, was indeed troublesome with its LP recovery each turn."
Marjoram glanced left and right. Seeing the forest she adored turned into a Fusion factory, instead of panic, she calmly added, "The effect of Aroma Garden remains even if it leaves the field, so my ATK won't decrease."
"I discard a card from my hand, activating the effect of Fusion Recycling Plant, adding a 'Fusion' from the Deck to my hand."
Tenjo Hikari sent a Spell Card to the Graveyard, adding a Fusion from the Deck to his hand.
"I discard a Thunder Dragon from my hand, adding two Thunder Dragons from the Deck to my hand." Tenjo Hikari continued his actions.
"Next, Spell Card Polymerization."
"Fuse the two Thunder Dragons in my hand."
Boom!
A burst of lightning fell from the sky.
"Fusion Summon, Thunder Dragon Colossus!"
Thunder Dragon Colossus, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Thunder-Type, ATK 2600.
"Now, I activate two Trap Cards, Trap Card Dried Winds and Trap Card Gift of The Mystical Elf!"
"The effect of Gift of The Mystical Elf, I recover 300 LP for each Monster on the field. There are two, so I recover 600 LP."
Marjoram LP: 4300→4900
"Then, the activation of Dried Winds and my effect."
"While Dried Winds is on the field, whenever I recover LP, I can destroy one Monster on the opposing side. As for me, I directly destroy a card."
"Thunder Dragon Colossus can use Thunder-Type Monsters in the Graveyard to substitute and remain immune from destruction."
The arid storm swept across the field; Thunder Dragon Colossus roared into the sky, and a green dragon shadow flew out, protecting it from the attack.
"...Then I'll destroy your Set Card."
She had always been curious about the Card Tenjo Hikari had Set, but he never activated it.
"The Card I Set is Fusion Substitute."
Tenjo Hikari coolly picked it up and sent it to the Graveyard.
"It was a Normal Spell Card?" Marjoram paused for a moment, then laughed, "Setting a Normal Spell Card creates psychological pressure on the opponent, and it seems you did it on purpose for me to destroy it?"
"Even if I lose this Duel, I will acknowledge you. Human Warrior, your Duel is refreshing."
"Lose? My Fusion isn't finished yet."
"First, I pay half of my LP to activate the Spell Card Extra-Foolish Burial. Send a Monster from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard."
Tenjo Hikari LP: 1300→650.
"I send Elder Entity N'tss to the Graveyard, activating its effect. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can destroy a card on the field. I destroy your Dried Winds."
With a bang, Dried Winds shatters.
"!?"
"Next, the effect of Fusion Substitute in the Graveyard activates, banishing this card to return a Fusion Monster from the Graveyard to the Deck, then draw 1 card!"
Tenjo Hikari picked up the Predaplant Chimerafflesia from the Graveyard, put it back into the Extra Deck, and drew a card from the Deck.
"But, even if you return your Ace Monster to the Extra Deck, what's the point?" Marjoram was puzzled, "You must be lacking Polymerization or Fusion Material, right?"
"No…
I'm not lacking!"
Tenjo Hikari smiled radiantly, "Miss Marjoram, your continuous recovery and disruption through destruction are indeed strong, but I understand you better than you think!"
???
"Activating the effect of Aroma Blend from the Graveyard!"
"...What blend?" Marjoram opened her mouth in surprise.
A card arose from the Graveyard, with the image of none other than Marjoram herself!
"What!?"
"Ah???"
Many of the duelists watching, who might have been able to stay rational before, now completely crumbled—
What was the main reason they stayed here?
It was Aromage Marjoram!
And now?
Marjoram's image actually appeared on Tenjo Hikari's card.
And since it's Tenjo Hikari's card...
"Can...can I still Fusion?" Marjoram said, dumbfounded.
"Eh? Could we actually Fusion?" Rosemary on the side said, equally bewildered.
"Miss Marjoram is actually part of Fusion? No, no way, how...how could it be."
"Could it be, this, ah?"
Some of the observing duelists were at a loss for words.
If that's the case, wasn't everything they've been saying all along a slander against Marjoram?
"Aroma Blend's effect requires banishing it from the Graveyard to activate. Banishing your hand and field Monsters as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon 1 Plant-Type Fusion Monster. If your LP is higher than the opponent's, Monsters in the Graveyard can also be used as material.
But my LP is lower than yours right now."
Tenjo Hikari revealed the two cards in his hand: "I'll Fusion the Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra with Dark Magician for a Fusion Summon—"
"Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
The dormant Chimerafflesia rose again, seemingly well-rested and moodily dancing its vines.
"Mm…" Marjoram frowned, "While I'm on the field, if my LP is higher than the opponent's, the opponent cannot target my Plant-Type Monsters as effect targets. Your Chimera cannot banish me—"
"Then let's battle!"
"Chimera attacks the opponent!"
Chimera swung its vines.
Its effect immediately triggered—
Chimerafflesia, ATK: 2500→3500.
Sweet Marjoram, ATK: 2700→1700.
The vine struck Marjoram, knocking her out from the center of the battlefield. She lightly fluttered her wings, landing in the duelists' area.
Marjoram LP: 4900→3100.
"But, Thunder Dragon Colossus's attack is only 2600… I still have 500 LP."
"Next turn, I only need to slightly increase my LP, then it will be higher than yours again." Marjoram was quite confident, "Although you've shown a new possibility, but humans as warriors seem…"
However, even before she could finish speaking, Tenjo Hikari silently raised his last card and revealed it.
Thunder Dragonmatrix.
During either player's turn, discard this card to target 1 Thunder-Type Monster on the field and increase that Monster's ATK by 500 points.
Exactly 3100!
An endless cycle fusion, absolute trust in Fusion, unaffected by external influences, full realm Fusion search, perfect damage calculation, and even… revealing to the opponent possibilities of "Fusion" they didn't even know existed…
"Truly a perfect blend!" It couldn't help but applaud Tenjo Hikari.
How could such a warrior be considered "evil"?
It seems, the character lacked courage, it should've banished this crowd long ago!
"Discard Thunder Dragonmatrix, boosting Thunder Dragon Colossus attack by 500 and attack directly—"
Thunder Dragon Colossus, ATK: 2600→3100.
The dashing and powerful Thunder Dragon rolled its body, spewed lightning, hitting Marjoram, paralyzing her slightly.
Marjoram LP: 3100→0