No Respect Given
"Elemental HERO Prisma?"
Under Morishima's puzzled gaze, a warrior formed entirely of reflective crystal emerged onto Hikaru's field, shimmering with light.
[Elemental HERO Prisma] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1700 ATK
"What kind of monster is this?" Morishima muttered.
Elemental HERO was an extremely "common" archetype, to the point that nearly everyone recognized it.
Thematically based on American superheroes, the deck was cheap and widely available, and with multiple Fusion variants, it remained very popular among children.
Yet, on its flip side was "etched" simplicity.
In the public eye, Elemental HERO was a weak deck.
The monsters had low ATK and often lacked effects, so they saw virtually no play in pro dueling circuits.
Morishima remembered a pro duelist who once used HERO cards. After being defeated by Seto Kaiba's Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, he had a mental breakdown, quit dueling, and became a tabloid journalist.
He didn't recall any HERO like this.
Morishima eyed Prisma warily, ready to activate his set card.
"Heh, before using him, I'll play another card," Hikaru revealed a Spell Card from his right hand. "Normal Spell: Shaddoll Fusion."
'Fusion?' Morishima's eyes shifted toward the card.
As Hikaru activated it, countless purple threads began to spiral behind him, forming a massive void.
"Shaddoll Fusion is a Fusion Spell for Shaddoll monsters. It lets me send monsters from my hand or field to the Graveyard for a Fusion Summon.
But, if you control a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, then I can also fuse using monsters from my Deck!"
"What?!" Morishima's eyes narrowed. "A deck fusion like Future Fusion?!"
In this world, thanks to the existence of Future Fusion, the idea of fusion using Deck materials wasn't completely unheard of. That said, Future Fusion was an ultra-rare card. Any other form of deck fusion was a massive advantage.
Drawing one extra card meant easier fusions, which meant greater strength, every duelist understood that.
"Fusion materials: 1 'Shaddoll' monster and 1 DARK monster. I send Shaddoll Falco and The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion from the Deck to the Graveyard!"
"Ughh—" Though no battle had started, Morishima already felt he'd taken a loss.
"Hear the voice of the gods!
Fusion Summon!
Descend now—El Shaddoll Winda!"
A green-haired sorceress riding a draconic mount burst through the wall and landed on the field.
[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5 │ DARK │ Spellcaster │ 2200 ATK
"Because of the Spell activation, I gain 500 Life Points."
[Morishima LP: 4500 → 5000]
"El Shaddoll Winda. Professor told us she's your ace and Duel Spirit," Morishima said. "Her effects are incredible: blocks multiple Special Summons, can't be destroyed by effects, and recycles Shaddoll Spells/Traps."
"But!" he added. "Her Special Summon lock affects both sides. After summoning her, you can only Special Summon one monster this turn!"
His face curled into a grin. "That's why students will always be students. The world outside your school is vast!
This move was a grave mistake."
"Heh, Senpai—the world is vast."
"!!?" Morishima's grin froze.
"I activate Prisma's effect! Once per turn, I can reveal a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, then send one of its listed materials from my Deck to the Graveyard. Until the end of the turn, Prisma's name becomes that of the sent monster!"
"Huh?!"
Morishima's expression changed dramatically.
"That monster can become any Fusion material?!"
That may have been a stretch, even so, for him, it was close enough.
"I reveal Cyber Twin Dragon from my Extra Deck and send Cyber Dragon from my Deck to the Graveyard! Until the end of the turn, Prisma is treated as 'Cyber Dragon'!"
A copy of Cyber Dragon shot out of Hikaru's Deck and dropped into the Graveyard. Prisma's armor reflected its image like a mirror.
"Cyber—Cyber Dragon?!" Morishima gasped.
"What's a Cyber Dragon?" the Union Doctor asked.
"Fusion without Fusion Materials? Combination? Heh. Out of respect for your Academy status, I'll call you 'Senpai'.
If I were less polite, I'd just call you trash."
"I send Prisma (now 'Cyber Dragon') and your Machine monster to the Graveyard!
Fusion Summon!
Descend—Chimeratech Fortress Dragon!"
As Hikaru shouted, a massive metal dragon surged forth. Five or six mechanical heads rolled and twisted, scooping up scrap metal as it moved, assembling into a hulking tire-bodied machine dragon.
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon] Level 8 │ DARK │ Machine │ ? ATK
"Damn it. I didn't expect that." Morishima's face darkened.
The Professor's intel did mention this card—a Fusion Monster that could be Summoned by sending Cyber Dragon and any number of Machine monsters on the field to the Graveyard. Still, he hadn't realized Hikaru could summon it without a real Cyber Dragon.
"Chimeratech Fortress Dragon gains 1000 Attack for each Fusion Material! Two materials make it 2000!" Tierra's eyes gleamed.
"2000 and 2200. If those attacks land, Morishima will be down to 800!" the Union Doctor calculated nervously.
"But even if they do land, he'll only be able to use Archfiend's Oath once next turn," Tierra added.
Hikaru nodded.
While he usually aimed for one-turn kills, this was a time to whittle down Life Points first.
"Battle! Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, direct attack—"
"Tch! I activate my set card: Mirror Force!"
Morishima shouted, "Like I'd let you damage me that easily!"
Chimeratech's beam collided with a sudden mirror, which reflected the blast back, obliterating the dragon.
Hikaru shielded his face from the blast.
"Winda is unaffected by the opponent's destruction effects! Battle Phase continues! Winda, direct attack!"
Wielding her staff, Winda hurled her draconic mount forward. It crashed into Morishima with a massive shockwave.
[Morishima LP: 5000 → 2800]
"I set one card and end my turn." Hikaru placed a card face-down.
"Captain Morishima?!" the Union Doctor cried faintly.
If he lost, he'd be arrested next!
He watched the smoke nervously. As it cleared, a figure emerged.
Morishima stepped forward, electricity crackling from his body.
"Heh heh heh heh—My turn. Draw!"
As he drew, scattered machine spirits around them screamed in pain, sparks dancing through the lab.
Tierra said, "Careful, Hikaru! He's about to go all out!"