What We Saw in Another Dimension

"Alright, draw! My turn." He glanced at his hand and murmured, "Lucky draw," before placing the card into his Duel Disk. "Field Spell Card, Fusion Recycling Plant!"

"I discard one card from my hand to add one Polymerization from my Deck to my hand. I discard Metalfoes Fusion and add Fusion Substitute to my hand.

Then, I activate Metalfoes Fusion's effect, return it to the Deck, and draw one card."

Hikaru drew, looked at the card, then stared at his opponent.

An EARTH-Attribute Invoked monster with 3300 DEF.

But, Professor Banner still had an Aleister in hand, which could boost a Fusion Monster's ATK and DEF by 1000 by discarding itself.

In other words, even if Hikaru used Future Fusion to summon Labyrinth Tank, he still wouldn't be able to break through it using Flame Swordsrealm.

Still, he had no choice but to try!

He thought hard.

What was his biggest advantage against Banner?

Half-baked alchemy? Too many Fusion cards?

No. It was that he knew Banner, and he knew what Banner's cards could do!

And Banner didn't know that he knew!

"I activate Future Fusion's effect! I send Giga-Tech Wolf to the Graveyard, then banish the Fusion Materials from the Graveyard, Fusion Summon Labyrinth Tank!"

[Labyrinth Tank] Level 7│DARK│Machine│2400 ATK

"Battle!"

"Yes!" Chazz cheered, slamming the star shell. "Flame Swordsrealm reduces the ATK of Warrior monsters while raising others by 1000! Labyrinth Tank goes to 3400 ATK! That beats the Invoked monster!"

"If the hit goes through, that's 3200 and 800 damage, Banner would be done for!" Bastion followed.

"No! It won't go through!" Zane's face darkened. "Damn, Hikaru fell for it!"

"Reduce Flame Swordsman's ATK by 1000, increase Labyrinth Tank's ATK by 1000!"

[Flame Swordsman, ATK: 1800 → 800] [Dark Flare Knight, ATK: 2200 → 3200] [Labyrinth Tank, ATK: 2400 → 3400]

The giant rock Invoked monster began to shift, its massive form about to be pierced by the tank.

"Too naive, Hikaru!" Banner roared. "I activate the effect of Aleister the Invoker from my hand! Discard it to target a Fusion Monster I control, that monster gains 1000 ATK/DEF until the end of the turn!

This effect can be used during either player's turn!"

[Invoked Mechaba, DEF: 3300 → 4300]

"What!?" Bastion gasped. "This is bad, Hikaru!"

"Urgh—" Hikaru was knocked back by the ricochet, landing hard. Tierra reached out and helped him stay upright.

"You okay, human?"

"Thanks," Hikaru winced, clutching his abdomen.

[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3100]

"Tch…" Hikaru gritted his teeth. "I set one card, switch my other monsters to Defense Position. End turn."

"Is that all you can do?" Banner said with a disappointed shake of his head.

"Professor Banner!" Jaden shouted from his transparent star prison, "Why can't I understand why you're doing this!?"

He looked genuinely distraught.

Hikaru glanced at him, then paused and realized something.

'So that's it…'

Because of Hikaru's existence in this world, the duels with the Shadow Riders hadn't led to any deaths or severe injuries. As it was in canon, Crowler and Zane went down early, putting huge pressure on Jaden.

In that world, Jaden's first reaction to Banner's betrayal was anger, then confusion.

But here, he hadn't suffered the same pain, so he was just confused.

"Jaden," Banner said softly, shaking his head, "I once traveled the world as an alchemist."

He didn't seem bothered about revealing his past, in fact, he looked eager to tell it:

"I studied alchemy, dreaming of creating the Philosopher's Stone. I traveled the globe, searching ancient ruins, seeking possibilities.

Like Pegasus himself, in the end, my research turned to Duel Monsters. That's when I discovered the legendary cards of the Sacred Beasts."

His crimson eyes stared at the book in his right hand.

"Professor Banner discovered the Sacred Beasts!?"

"Mama Mia, I never heard about this!"

Banner gently flipped open the book, revealing a wealth of knowledge. "Someone heard of my research and funded me, offering me a role in KaibaCorp's Dimension Gate project."

"I stepped onto the path of interdimensional alchemy," he said, looking at Aleister. "At first, I visited simple spirit worlds, but eventually, I reached grand gatherings of spirits.

The Golden Land, Village of Spellcasters, Spell Academy, Skyscraper, Vampire Kingdom, Realm of Chaos, Sky Sanctuary, and more. I explored alchemy across these realms, and gained quite a reputation."

"No way." Hikaru blurted in awe. "Is he really?"

"Yes, I'm the one the spirits call the peerless alchemist." He pointed at the sealed students. "I created the true Philosopher's Stone. I saved the Berserk Summoning Master, awakened the maddened Golden Lord, and accomplished countless feats.

But with all this, I discovered something, a terrifying force that threatens to fracture the spirit world, and a future full of infinite peril."

"What—!?" The students were shocked.

"Humanity isn't ready for interdimensional contact. Too many are lured by spirit power, and the world is evolving too fast!" Banner clenched his fists. "This world is developing faster than it should, drawing in spirits and making it ever more fragile!"

"Even you, Atticus, Zane, and Jaden, against monsters from beyond this world, even the best will fall. What about the others? Are they prepared for such contact?"

"And fools like Leo Akaba, who seek to exploit other dimensions, are everywhere! Worse still, humanity's reckless exploration has caught the attention of evil beings from other realms!"

"I once wanted to keep researching. But a life prolonged by alchemy has limits." He tapped his face, pieces of it crumbling off. "Seems this world no longer allows me to live as a human."

"All I've learned about alchemy, and the spirit worlds I've visited, I've recorded in this recompiled Emerald Book. Hikaru, if you defeat me, it will be yours.

But alas, it seems you may not be up to the task."

Hikaru's expression turned serious.

If he's saying that much, he's truly going all out today.

Way more serious than in the original!

"My turn, draw!"

"Normal Summon a second Aleister!"

'Yes!'

Hikaru silently cheered, keeping a stern face.

"Same as last turn, I add Invocation to my hand. Then, I discard Aqua Spirit and banish Aleister from the field, Fusion Summon: Invoked Cocytus!"

A blue-and-white dragon tethered to summoning glyphs soared down from the heavens.

[Invoked Cocytus] Level 6│WATER│Dragon│1800 ATK / 2900 DEF

"Defense Position?" Chazz said in confusion.

"This monster can attack while in Defense Position," Banner smiled, returning Invocation to the Deck and adding Aleister from the Banishment Zone to his hand.

"Damn! 2900 DEF, now it's even worse!"

"It can attack and defend!? This is Invoked!?"

"I switch Invoked Magellanica to Attack Position. Battle! Destroy his two Knights." Banner waved casually.

"Forgive me, my lord!"

"Thanks for your efforts, both of you."

Always running into powerhouses and still never complaining, Hikaru felt a little bad for his monsters.

"I set one card. Your turn, Hikaru."

Hikaru wiped sweat from his brow.

Dueling Invoked under these conditions was no joke.

Good thing he had a backup plan.

"My turn, draw!" Hikaru looked at the card, steeled his eyes, and stared back at Banner. "Professor, your concerns aren't unfounded. But don't underestimate your students!"

"Oh?" Banner replied calmly.

"I pay 2000 Life Points!"

Hikaru gritted his teeth as he felt energy drain rapidly from his body.

The watching students gasped at his desperate move.

[Hikaru, LP: 3100 → 1100]

"I activate: Lullaby of Obedience!"

"Lullaby of Obedience!?" Banner reacted with sudden shock. "Don't tell me—"

"That's right, Professor Banner. I declare, Aleister the Invoker!"