The Dawning of the Dog-Walking Brigade

Gradually, a crowd gathered in the open space in front of the clubroom.

Some were just students passing by, others were members of the original Fusion Club who'd heard the commotion. They split into different camps, taking positions on either side of the courtyard.

"Jinrin Kaname's going to duel Hikaru?" Zane Truesdale stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the spectacle unfold beside Jaden.

They had just returned from the coliseum.

That duel with the strange female spirit had been intense—physically too—but to Jaden, it was still child's play. He and Zane had made short work of it.

Meanwhile, Bastion, who had previously been smitten, was slowly recovering from the shock of watching his "dream girl" transform into a "muscle-bound nightmare."

"Duel Spirits really are fascinating…" Bastion murmured, still haunted by the memory of that beefy spirit babe. She'd reverted to her original form after losing a Shadow Duel, but he was still having trouble processing it.

He shook his head, trying to focus. "A third-year is dueling Hikaru? Why would he accept that?"

"Huh? What's the problem?" Jaden rubbed the back of his head. "I duel Zane all the time."

"This is different," Bastion said, shaking his head.

At Duel Academy, student duels—even wagers—were allowed, but there were a few strict rules in place.

First: no card-for-card wagers.

Second: no upperclassmen dueling underclassmen without official approval.

The first rule was to prevent bullying. The second? To protect developing duelists. Even in other schools—Heartland Academy, Spade Academy, or even across dimensions—this was standard practice.

Getting obliterated by a stronger upperclassman was a great way to destroy a younger student's confidence.

So normally, club-versus-club duels were meant to be between students of the same year.

But the Fusion Club had found a loophole.

When it's a battle between club presidents, not even the headmaster could object.

And judging from the steel in Hikaru's gaze, not even Professor Crowler could say no.

"In that case," Crowler said, adjusting his cuffs, "I will act as referee. The duel and its outcome will be witnessed by all present.

The winner claims the name Fusion Club. The loser must rename their organization."

"Then, let the duel begin—!"

"Duel!" ×2

Kaname Jinrin LP: 4000

Hikaru Amagi LP: 4000

"I'll go first!" Jinrin declared.

His reflexes had been honed over three years, plus the rigorous training of cross-dimensional missions. His hand speed easily beat Hikaru's more casual style.

"What a cheap move…"

"Seriously? A third-year rushing for turn one against a freshman?"

The students who were already thinking of defecting to Hikaru's club had no filter—they openly mocked Jinrin's conduct.

"Foolish," Jinrin snapped. "To duel is to give everything—there is no such thing as holding back!"

He immediately drew and began his turn.

"I remember Jinrin ran a Ritual deck before joining the Fusion Club," Zane murmured.

"But now that he's their president, he must've switched to a Fusion-focused build."

"Draw!" Jinrin shouted, then immediately slammed a card down. "I activate Pot of Greed—draw two cards!"

Hikaru's expression twitched.

Seriously?

He'd had the money to buy Pot of Greed for a while, but never once used it. Either it had been mysteriously absorbed by Super Polymerization, or it simply never made it to his opening hand.

Jinrin kept going.

"I normal summon Ancient Gear Hound!"

Ancient Gear Hound – Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / ATK 1000

"Huh?"

"Eh? What the heck is that?" Crowler muttered reflexively.

He didn't recognize it.

He, the world's leading Ancient Gear expert, didn't recognize that card.

"What?! Even Professor Crowler doesn't know that one? Should we be sticking with the original Fusion Club then?"

"Sure, if you want to keep getting bullied, go ahead."

Bastion tilted his head. "I've never seen that card either… must be some new Ancient Gear monster Jinrin picked up while exploring another dimension."

Zane nodded. "I've never seen it in my three years here."

Hikaru, meanwhile, wasn't surprised at all.

So it really was the Hound.

Yup. These guys were going full Dog-Walking Brigade, just like the ones from Arc-V.

"Upon Normal Summon, Ancient Gear Hound deals 600 damage to the opponent!"

The metallic mutt let out a distorted howl, lunging and sinking its jaws into Hikaru's arm.

Hikaru winced, instinctively flinging it off—but when he looked down at his arm, there was an actual bite mark.

His eyes narrowed, turning toward the red-eyed hound.

Yup. Definitely a Dog-Walking deck.

Hikaru LP: 4000 → 3400

"Direct damage right out of the gate?"

"But it only has 1000 ATK…"

A few students wavered but still seemed unimpressed.

"Next, I activate the effect of Ancient Gear Hound! Once per turn, I can use monsters from my hand and field as materials to Fusion Summon an Ancient Gear monster!"

"I fuse the Hound on my field with the Hound in my hand—merge, loyal beasts of destruction! Combine and form the twin-headed guardian of ruin!"

"Fusion Summon! Ancient Gear Double-Headed Hound!"

Another hound appeared in Jinrin's hand, then both merged into a two-headed mechanical canine monstrosity.

Ancient Gear Double-Headed Hound – Level 5 / EARTH / Machine / ATK 1400

"What the—another card I've never seen!"

"It fuses itself? That's crazy!"

"But… it only has 1400 ATK. Pretty weak, honestly."

"Light work, Hikaru! Just summon a monster with 1500 ATK and you've got this!"

"What a weak first turn…"

"Yeah, nothing impressive here."

"Hmph. Fools," Jinrin muttered, setting one card and ending his turn.

"My turn. Draw." Hikaru glanced at the mechanical beast. "Ancient Gear Double-Headed Hound… its effect triggers when I summon a monster, right? It puts an Acid Counter on the summoned monster, and when battle starts, if the monster with the Acid Counter attacks—it gets destroyed before damage calculation.

Did I get that right?"

Jinrin's grin froze.

"W-What!?"

"How does he know that?!"

"Did he guess it?"

"No way—that was no guess. Hikaru knows that card."

"Wait, then why didn't Crowler recognize it?"

"…Is he messing with us?"

Everyone turned toward Crowler. The professor forced a pained, awkward smile.

Mama mia… how does Hikaru know this card?

Why don't I know it?!

"Whew… thank goodness Hikaru knew the effect. That could've gone bad."

"He's the guy chasing the ultimate form of Fusion. No way you'd catch him slipping like that."

Even Jinrin's own Fusion Club reps nodded before getting a death glare from their boss.

"Alright then… let's kick things up."

"Special Summon—Cyber Dragon!"

"Then—Fusion Summon!"

"I fuse my Cyber Dragon with your Double-Headed Hound!"

Hikaru laughed triumphantly, pointing straight at Jinrin.

"What?! Cyber Dragon?"

"Fusion!?"

The crowd exploded.

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For this week I will do more release depending on the power stones !

100 Power Stones = 1 chapter (in addition to the daily update) 

So give stones if you want mooooar !