Allied Machines

Compared to the first step of crafting the alchemical runes, the following steps were actually much simpler.

All that was needed was to gather the materials, assemble them, and install the proper and sufficient runes. A "must-have portal for lazy people" would be ready just like that.

However, that step wasn't simple either.

The main challenge lay in the materials.

Though the core components, such as stone, weren't expensive, in a Duel Academy centered on Dueling, these materials were ironically the hardest to obtain.

He just couldn't find them!

Why did it have to be marble?!

Of course, after the initial round of complaints, Hikaru quickly accepted reality.

Alchemy, requiring specific materials, was completely normal.

He had already mentioned this to Alkahest, having ordered the materials ahead of time, preparing to assemble the device himself in the workshop.

At first, according to his plan, he would finish the basic runes while waiting for the materials, then gradually decipher the various interdimensional puzzles hidden in the book, pick one that interested him, and see what kind of dimension it led to.

If possible, he was particularly curious about seeing the Golden Land.

But Professor Banner's book recorded numerous dimensions, each one sealed with an alchemical puzzle. Only by solving it would one earn the right to explore.

So Hikaru didn't know which one was the Golden Land.

"This book of yours—no, the one that human left you, is quite intricate," Tierra remarked after reading alongside Hikaru for two days. "I can tell, he must've added these locks in a rush before the ceremonial Duel against you all. Every lock builds on the previous one. Only by learning each step and mastering it can you proceed further.

Even if he isn't teaching in person, the structure of this book is incredibly thoughtful."

Hikaru nodded in agreement, letting out a soft sigh.

In this world, he hadn't actually interacted much with Professor Banner outside of class. In terms of personal relationships, he was closer to Professor Crowler. He mostly visited Banner to ask about alchemy.

Yet Banner had still treated him as a true disciple.

"All the more reason I can't let Professor Banner down," Hikaru murmured, rubbing his temples.

In the original, Professor Banner left the Philosopher's Stone with Jaden because he feared the Sacred Beasts. He remained at Jaden's side, quietly protecting him to the very end.

Now, with the world transformed, Banner couldn't stay by his students' sides—He left behind a far more important book.

And since Hikaru was the only one among the students who could understand alchemy and had been entrusted with it by Banner, he naturally had to study it seriously.

Over the following days, with the help of spirits, he transported materials into the workshop.

With Captain Crystal's immense power and precision over stone, Hikaru gradually constructed a dimensional gate that resembled the one used by Duel Academy.

But—

There were still differences.

That one was based on science. Hikaru's portal was based on mysticism.

And truthfully, even after assembling it, there were many parts Hikaru couldn't understand.

Unlike others, this portal was a portable version specially left by Professor Banner, even disguised to look like a regular portal, fearing Hikaru might struggle to use it.

Standing before the gate, Hikaru flipped through the book one last time and, deciding it was ready, closed it.

Next would be the "safety test" and "round-trip test."

Luckily, Hikaru only had a few coordinates: "Village of Spellcasters" and "Vampire Kingdom." He had no reason to visit the latter, and he couldn't apply for another challenge to the former for now.

So, this free time was perfect for safety testing and maybe decoding a few interdimensional coordinates.

During this lull, several events happened at the Academy.

First was a fire in the Princeton household.

Chazz's two older brothers, heads of the Princeton Group, wanted him to use their company's latest technology and Deck at the Academy. They also hoped to leverage this to acquire Duel Academy and boost their corporate position in dimensional affairs.

Naturally, Chazz refused this nonsense. Especially after seeing the rare cards they offered him—he knew he'd be mocked by classmates for using them.

But his brothers were relentless.

They reminded him that he had always benefited from the Princeton Group's resources—competing in tournaments since childhood, racking up championships, all thanks to the group's promotional efforts.

Without them, how could he have become famous so fast and even caught Seto Kaiba's eye to become his disciple?

That struck a nerve.

The one thing Chazz hated most was people bringing up his "background."

He joined Duel Academy to prove he didn't win through nepotism or corporate power. He wanted victories earned by his own strength, not his name.

Even if he'd lost a few times at the Academy, Hikaru, Jaden, and Bastion never cared about his background. They joked with him, bonded with him. Jaden even often sparred with him, making Chazz open up more and even share some of his "secrets" with Hikaru.

And now, his own brothers dared to claim they'd been orchestrating everything all along.

Unforgivable.

So he accepted their wager.

"No way. Chazz, your brothers are insane?" Alexis stopped strumming her guitar, dumbfounded. "You said you agreed to enter a brand new, dangerous dimension using only monsters with ATK 500 or less?"

Chazz covered his face and nodded helplessly.

"That's way too reckless," Bastion frowned.

"Are you sure they're your real brothers?" Alexis asked skeptically.

Even her flaky brother wouldn't set her up like this. At worst, he'd just take embarrassing photos.

Chazz shook his head, silent.

Listening nearby, Hikaru grasped the gist of the incident.

It seemed to be something that had occurred in canon, just earlier than expected. There, Chazz used monsters with ATK less than 500 to defeat his brothers and their rare card Deck.

While in this world, his brothers had clearly reevaluated his strength. They knew rare cards alone couldn't beat Chazz. Yet they still didn't believe in him, assuming his success was just manufactured by their efforts.

"What about the world?" Hikaru asked. "How dangerous is it? Can anyone go with you?"

Chazz took a deep breath. "I'm allowed to bring one classmate as support. The duel must be solo, no tag teaming. My classmate is only there to forcibly extract me if things go bad."

Everyone nodded.

"As for the dimension—" Chazz rubbed his temples, thinking, "The Union Machines Dimension."

'Union Machines—the XYZ archetype?'

'Makes sense.' Hikaru nodded.

His brothers weren't choosing at random.

"Chazz, I'll go with you!" Jaden offered.

"If you need me, I'll come too," Bastion said.

Just as the others began volunteering, Chazz suddenly turned to Hikaru.

"Hikaru, can you come with me this time?"

Hikaru nodded.

Since he wasn't allowed to duel, anyone could tag along. He happened to be studying dimensional travel anyway, so it'd be a good experience. Despite that, he was still curious why Chazz had asked for him specifically.

Chazz was undoubtedly closer to Jaden, having already been to a different dimension with him earlier in the semester.

Chazz only shook his head and subtly gestured toward Celina, who was eavesdropping nearby.

"I see. Well then, since you trust me that much, and I do find Fusion Monsters quite fascinating, I'll accompany you."