The New Strongest Form

Chemicritter Carbo Crab had the appearance of a transparent golden crab, with a right claw colored gray symbolizing the carbon element, while inside its body, floating chemical bonds could also be seen.

[Chemicritter Carbo Crab] Level 2│FIRE│Aqua│1400 DEF

"What's that card?"

"This duel today is really worth it. Not only is there Black Luster Soldier, but even cards we've never seen before."

"Chemicritter? Looks like one of Bastion's favored chemical-themed monsters?"

The students murmured among themselves, and even Jaden and the others exchanged opinions, though none had ever seen these monsters before.

And the person who would usually explain card effects to them was currently dueling up on the stage.

"Chemicritter, that's a Gemini Monster, right?" Hikaru watched the crab on the field, trying hard to recall.

In his memory, it seemed to be the first archetype built around Gemini Monsters, although it hadn't left a deep impression on him. Seeing Bastion using it now, he could only vaguely remember it being a Gemini.

From his personal understanding, Hikaru thought Gemini Monsters were among the most awkwardly designed types in Duel Monsters.

Because when first summoned, they had no effects and were treated as Normal Monsters. To activate their effects, they needed a "second summon," and by the time two turns had passed, the opponent might already be preparing to strike while the effect still hadn't gone off.

However, seeing Bastion use this archetype looked rather fitting.

"I activate the effect of Ultimate Offering, paying 500 Life Points to Normal Summon again, I perform a Gemini Summon on Chemicritter Carbo Crab!"

[Bastion, LP: 4000 → 3500]

"Now, Carbo Crab's effect activates! Send 1 Gemini Monster from the Deck to the Graveyard. I send Chemicritter Hydron Hawk from my Deck to the Graveyard. Then, I can add 1 Gemini Monster from my Deck to my hand!

I add Chemicritter Oxy Ox to my hand!"

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

"I activate Ultimate Offering again, Defense Position Summon, Chemicritter Oxy Ox! Then, pay another 500 Life Points to perform its Gemini Summon!"

Oxy Ox was a transparent green bull with two horns burning with flames, symbolizing the relationship between oxygen and combustion.

[Chemicritter Oxy Ox] Level 2│WIND│Beast│2100 DEF

[Bastion, LP: 3500 → 2500]

"What is Bastion even doing? He hasn't hurt Hikaru at all, and his Life Points are already half gone."

"Gemini Monsters. I thought Phoenix Gearfried was the only one."

"I activate Oxy Ox's monster effect: Once per turn, I can Special Summon 1 Gemini Monster from my hand. Then, all Gemini Summoned monsters I control have their Levels become the same as the summoned monster's original Level until the end of the turn!"

"Wait." Seeing this, Hikaru immediately flipped open a set card, "Quick-Play Spell, El Shaddoll Fusion!"

Hikaru revealed the set card.

"Knew it."

"Here it comes, the monster that locks down Special Summons!"

Hikaru pointed to the monster on the field and the card in his hand, "Fusion materials are a Shaddoll Monster and a DARK-Attribute Monster.

I fuse the Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion on my field with the Shaddoll Falco in my hand!

Hear the voice of the gods!

Fusion Summon!

El Shaddoll Winda!"

Without hesitation, Hikaru initiated a Fusion Summon. Amid a mass of purple puppet strings, a green-haired, purple magician appeared stiffly like a machine.

[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5│DARK│Spellcaster│2200 ATK

"Haha, as expected, Hikaru. Whenever the opponent attempts a Special Summon, you find a way to Special Summon Winda to lock it down.

But too bad, Hikaru, today my specialty is Normal Summoning!"

Hikaru shrugged, unconcerned.

Immediately, Bastion continued his Special Summon.

"Special Summon, Poly-Chemicritter Dioxogre!"

It appeared, the self-proclaimed 'Ogre Deity', Dioxogre!

Dioxogre's body combined features from three other Chemicritters, appearing like a Fusion of all of them.

Since it was a serious duel, Hikaru didn't tease Bastion, only chuckled inwardly.

[Oxy Ox & Carbo Crab, Level 2 → Level 8]

"My Shaddoll Falco, when sent to the Graveyard by an effect, Special Summons itself face-down to my field." Hikaru retrieved the card from the Graveyard and set it in his Monster Zone.

Then he looked at Bastion and sighed, "Your deck really has evolved into something else."

"Chemical reactions, different elements combining to form entirely new chemical formulas, that's scientific calculation, different from your alchemy. This is my new choice." Bastion laughed and shook his head, "No, rather, I should have stuck to this path long ago."

[Poly-Chemicritter Dioxogre] Level 8│DARK│Fiend│2800 ATK

"A monster with 2800 ATK is already quite a powerhouse!"

"But standing opposite him is a Master of Chaos with ATK rivaling Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

"Yeah, that's a monster fused from Black Luster Soldier!"

Bastion smiled lightly, "Haha, Dioxogre is also a Gemini Monster, so it can undergo another Normal Summon!

I pay 500 Life Points to Gemini Summon Dioxogre!"

Bastion raised his hand, and the chemical bonds inside Dioxogre's body began flashing wildly.

Suddenly, as if the air itself had been sucked out, everyone felt a momentary "suffocation."

"Now, as long as Dioxogre remains on the field, Gemini Summons cannot be negated.

Moreover, once per turn, by banishing a Gemini Monster from my Graveyard, I can target 1 card on the opponent's field and destroy it!"

"I see, with this, Attack doesn't even matter!"

"Smart move, Bastion!"

"No matter how high the opponent's Attack, destroying them bypasses that!"

Bastion nodded, not wasting words. He banished the Hawk from his Graveyard, activating Dioxogre's effect. Dioxogre's body blazed with fierce flames and charged at the Master of Chaos.

Master of Chaos was hit by the flames, blasted away, and vanished into nothingness.

Yet just as Bastion thought he had secured victory, Hikaru suddenly spoke up, "Now, the Master of Chaos's effect activates."

'It still has an effect?' Bastion thought.

"When a Fusion Summoned Master of Chaos is destroyed by battle or effect, I can target 1 Spell Card in my Graveyard and add it to my hand."

The Graveyard opened automatically, and one Spell Card glowed, "I add Polymerization to my hand."

"That monster had another effect." Bastion frowned tightly, "Before, I only knew it could banish monsters, but I didn't realize its Fusion Summoned form was this tricky."

Luckily, it was dealt with.

Having defeated "Black Luster Soldier," Bastion breathed a sigh of relief. That monster's fame alone exerted tremendous pressure.

"Battle- Dioxogre, Attack Winda!"

Dioxogre, still ablaze after defeating the Master of Chaos, destroyed the Spellcaster before it as well.

[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3400]

"Even though it wasn't me controlling her, I still feel a little displeased," Tiera said, suddenly appearing beside Hikaru.

"Well, Hikaru, this is my evolved deck, based on Normal Summons, a deck that doesn't rely on Special Summons!" Bastion declared confidently. "This deck has no fear of your Winda!"

"Hmm." Hikaru shrugged and nodded.

Indeed, Winda wasn't a summon restrictor, nor was she a duel's meteor; she couldn't interfere with Normal Summons.

"However, now, Winda's effect also activates."

"There's more?!"

"Winda still has an effect!"

The surrounding students gasped.

"Hahaha, interesting. As expected, Winda has hidden effects yet to reveal!" Bastion showed no surprise.

"Exactly." Hikaru pointed at the Graveyard. "When Winda is sent to the Graveyard, I can target 1 'Shaddoll' Spell or Trap in my Graveyard and add it to my hand.

I retrieve El Shaddoll Fusion to my hand."

"Guessed so, the destruction and re-creation of alchemy, Hikaru, that card is just like you," Bastion said.

"From an ordinary card transforming into a powerful monster, indeed, much like yourself now."

"Chemistry versus alchemy." In the spectator seats, Chazz leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, murmuring, "Bastion's chemical synthesis versus Hikaru's pulverization and re-creation, which will prevail?"

"I set 1 card face-down and end my turn!" Bastion set a card.

"Right now, Fusion Recycling Plant's effect activates!"

"I add the The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion used as Fusion Material this turn from the Graveyard to my hand!"

'He recovered that card again!' Bastion frowned deeply.

When he saw Celina pull that card for Hikaru during a card pack draw, he thought it suited Hikaru.

But he never expected that facing it would feel so frustrating. Even worse than learning that Master of Chaos and Winda could recycle cards.

Facing him, Hikaru also silently admitted. Today's Bastion, from sheer presence alone, was far more impressive than the sidelined, forgotten version in the original.

Though unfortunately. Today, Bastion was very unlucky.

Because now, he was facing the new, strongest version of Hikaru, the "No-Material-Shortage" Hikaru!

He drew a card.

One day, Dark-Hex-Sealed Fusion might suddenly transform into any Fusion Monster.

So now, with a usable opportunity, Hikaru would naturally unleash it with full force!