At first glance, the current scene seems unfavorable for Tenjo Hikari.
Yuki Judai has four cards in his hand and a monster with an attack power of 2400 on the field.
Tenjo Hikari has 5 cards in hand, with only a remaining token and a Set Card on the field.
But all of this changed when Tenjo Hikari activated a Spell Card!
Flames rose around Tenjo Hikari, and everyone who knew this card and had seen Tenjo Hikari use it couldn't help but cheer.
It seems that the long "wait" has ended, and the time for counterattack has come!
"Continuous Spell Card, Flame Swordsrealm's effect lets me send a face-up monster on the field to the Graveyard along with a hand card to Special Summon one [Flame Swordsman] from the Extra Deck as a Fusion Summon." Tenjo Hikari reveals a monster from his hand, "I'll send Giga-Tech Wolf to the Graveyard for a Fusion Summon!
Come forth, Flame Swordsman!"
Boom!
The flames intensified as the heroic warrior stepped forth from the fire!
"Haha, finally my time to shine!"
Flame Swordsman, LV 5, Fire Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1800.
"No need for Fusion Material, a direct Fusion Summon… it's happening!"
"Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Deck!"
The Fusion Department began to cheer.
"It's not over yet; I will promptly activate this Continuous Spell Card, Overload Future Fusion!" Tenjo Hikari quickly reveals another hand card. "The card's two effects can each be used once per turn! According to its effect, I first reveal a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, Labyrinth Tank. Based on its effect, I send Cannon Soldier from my Deck to the Graveyard. This turn, I cannot Special Summon Cannon Soldier or use its effect!
Then, I immediately activate Overload Future Fusion's second effect!
Once per turn, I can banish the monsters in my Graveyard as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon a Dark Attribute Machine-Type Fusion Monster!"
"I banish Cannon Soldier and Giga-Tech Wolf from the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon – Labyrinth Tank!"
Reappearing on the field!
A handy little tank!
Labyrinth Tank, LV 7, Dark Attribute, Machine-Type, ATK 2400.
"Whoa!"
"Its attack power matches that of Thunder Giant!"
Tenjo Hikari glanced at his Set Card.
What he Set last turn was Salamandra with Chain; if he were to activate it now, he could boost Flame Swordsman's attack power, dealing greater damage.
However, he chose not to.
Dueling is a form of strategic interaction. Although he had no monsters in hand earlier, he wasn't in a hurry to use his cards. He believes that dismantling the opponent's strategy step by step is the best tactic in this world.
There's also nothing he can do; if it were his Deck from his world, he would've already performed various Branded Fusions and such without any restrictions, directly imposing powerful suppression, making victory much easier.
But in this world, it's challenging because Super Polymerization only grants him "Fusion" and "Fusion Monster" without lower-tier Destiny Heroes or Branded cards. These powerful fusions can only watch.
Therefore, gradually dissecting the opponent's field with available cards to force the opponent, slowly eroding them, is Tenjo Hikari's best choice against Judai.
"Then, battle!"
"The attack power is the same!" Judai showed no fear on his face. "Are you going to activate your Set Card?"
"There's no need for that! Attack with Labyrinth Tank, and at the same time, Flame Swordsrealm's second effect can activate! Once per turn, when a monster declares an attack, you can choose a Warrior-Type monster on your field as a target, reducing that monster's attack by 1000 points until the end of the turn, while all other monsters on your field gain 1000 attack points!"
Flame Swordsman, ATK:1800→800
Labyrinth Tank, ATK:2400→3400
"It surpassed Thunder Giant!"
Yuki Judai braced himself, withstanding the cannon barrage.
"Then attack with Flame Swordsman!"
Yuki Judai LP:5000→4000→3200
"A solid counterattack." Marufuji Ryo watched as Tenjo Hikari counterattacked, unable to resist a slight nod.
As the strongest Duelist in the first year's storyline, also having defeated Judai before, he understands Judai's dueling style very well. He might seem hot-blooded, but always manages to pull off brilliant chains. At first glance, he might appear reckless, but each move is well-prepared.
You absolutely must not think Judai will act without composure just because he appears scatterbrained.
Gradually forcing Judai to exert himself solving the opponent's field and then executing a blitz is the best choice – much like what he did!
Especially... It seems Judai has grown stronger since then?
Tenjo Hikari wiped the sweat off his forehead.
He felt the long-lost thrill, the rare… pure joy of card games.
In his world, playing cards was simply a pastime, either building a field against an opponent without hand pits or surrendering quickly during the opponent's build.
He hadn't experienced such pure, unadorned confrontations in a long time, especially with seemingly tangible imaging surrounding him, making his heart pound.
Is this what pure joy feels like?
To know, Judai isn't yet in his "complete form" yet!
"End of the turn, the ATK of the two Monsters returns to normal."
Judai seems infected too, he draws a card, looking at the image on it, revealing an excited expression: "Indeed, dueling with you, I must use this card!"
"Oh?"
"During the duel in the Other Dimension before, it was because you brought out this card that we could win, back then I realized, you think further ahead than I imagined." Judai has a bright smile, "Now, finally there's a chance to face you directly!
I activate the Spell Card, Miracle Fusion!"
"Miracle Fusion?"
"Sounds like you've gotten inspiration from Tenjo Hikari?"
Tenjo Hikari is also surprised: "Where did you get that from?"
"Previously drew it from a pack at Auntie Tami's by chance."
So rich, so lucky, so damn it...
Tenjo Hikari is almost out of bread money.
"Then, according to the effect of Miracle Fusion, I will banish Avian from the Graveyard and Wildheart to perform a Fusion Summon!"
"Graveyard Fusion!"
"Surely learned from Tenjo Hikari!"
"Fusion Summon, Elemental Hero Wild Wingman!"
Elemental Hero Wild Wingman, LV 8, Earth Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 1900.
"Avian... was the discarded Hand Card by Thunder Giant last turn." Tenjo Hikari had checked Judai's Graveyard before, no surprise.
"According to Wild Wingman's effect, discard a Hand Card, destroy a Spell or Trap Card on the field! I choose your Set Card!"
Upon hearing this, Tenjo Hikari immediately activates a Trap: "Then I'll activate the Set Card, Salamandra with Chain, equipping it to Flame Swordsman, according to its effect, increase Flame Swordsman's ATK, then choose an Effect Monster on the field to change to Face-down Position, I will set Wild Wingman!"
"No problem!" Judai hardly minds, "Go, Wild Wingman!"
Chains aflame wrap around Wild Wingman, who roars fiercely, shooting countless feathers, colliding with the chains.
The final result is, Wild Wingman is set, while the chains are shattered by the feathers.
"Was it indeed that Set Card?" Judai isn't surprised seeing this, "You gave up dealing more damage to me because you didn't want to waste the powerful set effect! Just like when you stopped me from using Sakuretsu Armor before!"
"Ha, indeed, Judai, you've learned fast." Tenjo Hikari says with a smile.
"And now, there's no protective card on your field either!" Judai's eyes shine, and beside him, the floating black Wildheart nods at him.
"I activate the Field Spell Card, Fusion Gate!" Judai opens the field slot on the Duel Disk, placing the card in it, then the entire Dueling Arena starts changing color into a pure black sky, with only some green grids able to display color.
"Fusion Material is... Elemental Hero and the Wind Attribute Monster—even set monsters can be used as Material! This is Fusion!" Yuki Judai shouts excitedly, "I activate Fusion Gate's effect, using the set Elemental Hero Wildheart on the field and this... second Avian in my hand for a fusion!"
Second Avian.
That black-colored, hard-actioned, certainly not "just" Spirit, under Tenjo Hikari's gaze, flies out of the card and mixes with the monster on the ground.
"Fusion Summon—descend beside me, my old friend, Elemental Hero Great Tornado!"
The wind roars!
A massive tornado sweeps through the entire Dueling Arena.
Many classmates start holding onto surrounding objects so as not to be blown away, some standing girls laboriously cover their skirts, screaming.
In the whirlwind, a battle-hardened warrior slowly reveals his true form, flinging his cloak aside, coldly gazing at the opponent.
Elemental Hero Great Tornado, LV 8, Wind Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 2800!
"Great Tornado's effect, when this card is Fusion Summoned successfully. All Monsters on the opponent's field have their ATK and Defense Power halved!"
Flame Swordsman ATK: 1800→900, Labyrinth Tank ATK: 2400→1200
"Wow! Such a powerful monster!"
"My god, even if it's five thousand, it has to bow before him, right?"
"Battle, use Great Tornado to attack Flame Swordsman!"
The wind blows in, Flame Swordsman still struggles a bit, but Great Tornado's side kick shatters him, just afterward, Great Tornado glances at Tenjo, merely waving lightly, not hitting him.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→2100.
"Ha, end of the turn!"
Tenjo Hikari rubs his shoulder, Avian talks tough, actually still quite pleasant, not handling him heavily, so completely non-painful.
However, Tenjo Hikari's competitiveness, has been thoroughly aroused!
He draws a card from the Deck, glances at it, can't resist laughing aloud.
"Judai, I admit after that, you've become more excellent!"
"But on the path of Fusion, I absolutely won't lose!"
"Final round!"