Additional gains

The card Professor Banner created- Sabatiel - The Philosopher's Stone- was, without exaggeration, a truly broken "non-official card."

Even in the original world where unofficial cards ran rampant, the Philosopher's Stone ranked as one of the top-tier broken ones. After all, it didn't even need to be activated. As long as the user willed it, it could become any card they desired and then return to hand.

In canon, Jaden used this card during his battle against the Sacred Beasts. He activated its effect three times and ultimately relied on it to win the battle and save countless spirits.

Was it powerful? Absolutely.

But was it wasteful? Oh, incredibly so.

When Jaden later faced Yubel, if he still had this card, the fight would have gone very differently.

Of course, that's hindsight.

At the time, Jaden was cornered and truly had no other option. Without the Philosopher's Stone, it was questionable whether he could have won or if the world could have even been saved.

By the same logic, even though Hikaru had defeated Banner, he couldn't be sure what tricks Kagemaru might still have in store in this world.

Besides, the Sacred Beasts of the original weren't just the physical cards. Their effects and power far exceeded standard card logic.

If things ever got too dire, Hikaru wouldn't hesitate to pass the card to Jaden or use it himself. Better to waste it than be defeated.

That said, Super Polymerization would likely remain his go-to.

At least that card was reusable.

Even more, Hikaru considered creating or duplicating the Philosopher's Stone himself to better fit his needs.

The idea of using it as a cost for Super Polymerization intrigued him even more—a clever workaround to its limitations.

If he could produce three copies, not even the Sacred Beasts or Yubel would scare him!

'Bring it on, Yubel! Bring on a thousand Kagemarus!'

However, Tierra seemed to have a different perspective.

When she saw Hikaru resist the urge to touch the card, she smiled, and folded her arms, "Honestly? Even I'm surprised."

Tilting her head, she continued, "This artificial dimension was likely created by your teacher using the Philosopher's Stone as its base. Even if you take the card, the dimension might still exist. But it would start to shrink, and eventually collapse. Only the workshop area would remain."

"But that's not the important part.

The real issue is that your teacher built this dimension to use energy circulation to amplify card power."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I suspect he intended for the Stone to endlessly sustain the dimension and protect it from outside interference."

"But because of this structure, you have other ways to use it."

"Other ways?"

"The Philosopher's Stone's core purposes were gold transmutation and immortality." Tierra gently twirled her finger.

"Though I doubt you'd use it to make gold. That alchemist over there might be interested, but I wouldn't allow that."

That was true.

Besides, Alkahest was a prideful alchemist. It might accept creating gold from other materials, but only if it transmuted them.

"Then there's nourishment." Tierra folded her arms. "Your teacher lived as long as he did thanks to the Stone's power. But this benefit isn't limited to humans.

It can also apply to spirits and even to cards themselves."

She looked at the two sword-wielding spirits always following Hikaru, her smile curving slightly. "Your two retainers have already begun evolving. They might become cards the world has never seen.

But to grow that far will take a great deal of battle experience and tempering.

Even the Duel with your teacher only gave them a small boost."

'Wait, really?'

Hikaru looked at his swordsmen. They exchanged glances, inspecting themselves carefully, and finally noticed subtle changes to their blades and armor.

"You'd never notice without close inspection."

They looked at Tierra. Even they hadn't realized it. How did she?

"Because I'm a god," Tierra replied nonchalantly. "This isn't a detail. This is a flaw I noticed the moment I opened my eyes."

"Such is the weakness of carbon-based life, unable to self-analyze. Pathetic."

The two spirits stood frozen, awkward and unsure how to respond.

On the side, Hikaru furrowed his brow and asked cautiously, "Then in this place, are you..."

"Yes. You guessed correctly," Tierra said, scanning the room. "In this artificial dimension, I can feel my power slowly recovering, at an almost imperceptible rate.

Still, it's returning."

Hikaru stiffened.

If just being here let her recover strength, what if she had the full Philosopher's Stone?

Even if she couldn't revive fully, she might reach immense power again.

Was she planning to act now?

Hikaru tensed, ready to defend the card. Even if he never used it, it was Professor Banner's legacy. He wouldn't let anyone else have it.

Tierra, however, calmly raised her staff. "So, as thanks for teaching me to Duel and letting me witness such a fascinating ritual, I'll use this restored power to help you craft a card."

"Huh?"

Seeing Hikaru dazed, Tierra tilted her head in confusion and playful sarcasm. Her head literally twisted with a click, flopping sideways.

"What, you thought I'd try to steal it?

Hikaru, I am a god. I honor my deals."

Though the subtext was clear, had there been no deal, she'd have no problem backstabbing him. But as a divine being, she had her own pride and dignity.

"Materials: a Level 2 monster, a DARK monster, a Fiend, a Fairy, a Machine, a Winged Beast, a WIND monster- Normal or Effect doesn't matter. Also, I need a bird feather, a gemstone, preferably purple or black. If you can't find those, shove that White Crystal into the pot."

"You figure out the rest. Typical card-crafting stuff."

"Uhh… got it!" Hikaru blinked, then rushed off to prepare.

Only now did he realize, when Tierra first told him about the Stone, she wasn't being kind. If he hadn't resisted temptation, she might really have betrayed him.

Only when she confirmed he had respect without greed did she abandon the thought.

A god who loathed living beings, you couldn't trust her smile.

Focused again, Hikaru returned to the human world. After three to four days of material hunting, he and his spirits came back to the workshop to begin crafting.

Nearly a week later, he opened the furnace and pulled out a new card.

'Successful!'

A flash of excitement lit his face.

It was a Shaddoll Main Deck monster—Shaddoll Falco!

An unexpected bonus!

He pumped his fist.

Hikaru never imagined he'd get a Shaddoll monster so soon, so now, all his Shaddoll Fusion cards would finally come into play!