Fusion Restriction Zone!

"I'll be taking the first turn!"

Hikaru really wanted to grab the first move, but facing a pro Duelist, the opponent's hand speed was clearly faster. Before Hikaru could even shout, the other side had already drawn a card.

Seeing this, Hikaru didn't mind too much. After dueling so many times in this world, he no longer cared as much about going first or second.

After all, duels here aren't the same as in the OCG.

[Max, LP: 4000] [Amagi Hikaru, LP: 4000]

"What kind of duel will a pro Duelist put on?" Bastion felt a cold sweat trickle down his forehead.

"This isn't a joke match anymore. That pro is going all out!"

The three from the main cast already had a clear understanding of the Fusion Club's ways. Seeing a pro Duelist from the Fusion Army show up, they knew this wouldn't be some casual match like when Aster showed up and didn't even set a card.

Even Aster was quietly watching the duel now, having stayed behind instead of leaving early as planned.

Though this duel didn't have any "stakes" and was essentially just a sparring match to show the "new freshman" around, Aster understood the situation far better than the surrounding students.

Pro Duelists are a different breed from normal Duelists.

This difference wasn't just about "strength". Honestly, there probably isn't a single pro Duelist who would dare challenge Seto Kaiba.

The difference here is in mindset.

Pro Duelists have only one identity: Duelist. Meanwhile, ordinary Duelists often have other roles besides being a Duelist. At a glance, it seems like the former is purer, but in reality, it's the opposite.

Pro Duelists are the less pure ones, because ultimately, they all have only one goal: money.

Even though Aster didn't become a pro Duelist for money, he did it to travel the world and hunt down his father's killer using the status of a pro, he still understood that pro Duelists are never truly "pure."

"My turn." At that instant, Max (Fusion Army's pro Duelist with the Tyler Sisters) had already drawn his card. Looking at his hand, the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"I Normal Summon, Alien Warrior."

With a chilling screech, a humanoid creature dragged its claws across the ground as it appeared on the field.

[Alien Warrior] Level 4│EARTH│Reptile│1800 ATK

"Reptile? That's a rare Type." Bastion said, surprised.

"Yeah, not many people run Reptile decks." Chazz nodded.

"Then, I set two cards and end my turn!"

Max's first turn was so short that the surrounding spectators hadn't even reacted before his turn ended.

"Huh? That's it?" a student from the Fusion Army asked in confusion.

"Quiet." A blonde girl spoke with a hand on her hip and a smile on her face. "The duel's just begun. The real show is still ahead."

"That's right," her silver-haired sister added.

The students from the Fusion Army awkwardly fell silent.

After all, the pair speaking were the Tyler Sisters from the American branch campus, well-known elite members of their own Fusion Army.

Though their own club was newly founded, it had already gained a strong reputation thanks to the sisters' leadership, and compared to the Polymerization Club that had spent this year constantly taking Ls, these girls had every right to talk down.

There were even rumors they'd be transferring to this main campus next year, so in terms of standing, none of the boys dared to argue.

The older sister was Gloria Tyler, and the younger one was Grace Tyler.

Gloria had blonde hair and a sterner presence, while Grace appeared gentler. Their outfits were nearly identical, differing only in sleeves, glove color, and Gloria's pants and boots versus Grace's skirt over leggings.

It was clear from just their clothing that they were a cut above the typical Fusion Army member, true elites.

Even this pro Duelist accompanying them wasn't the main event. He was likely here just to escort the sisters on their tour of the main Academy.

More precisely, to observe Amagi Hikaru.

"My turn." Hikaru drew a card, immediately revealing one from his hand. "I activate the Spell Card, Instant Fusion! I pay 1000 Life Points."

[Amagi Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3000]

"Naive!" Max sneered, flipping a Trap Card. "Continuous Trap, Non-Fusion Area!"

Hikaru's brow twitched.

"As long as this card remains on the field, neither player can conduct Fusion Summons!" Max declared with a cruel grin.

"That's dirty!" Syrus shouted first. "You know Hikaru loves Fusion, and you play this kind of card!?"

"Captain, this affects both sides! We can't fuse either!" one Fusion Army student said excitedly.

"Ugh..." Syrus was at a loss.

"Looks like that pro Duelist came fully prepared for Hikaru," Bastion muttered, his expression grim.

He also built counter strategies for individual students; that said, now that he was focusing on a Chemicritter deck, he wouldn't consider using that kind of card.

"Damn, if Fusion Summoning is blocked..." Jaden looked at Hikaru with concern. "Your deck is—"

Hikaru raised his eyebrow.

"Hahaha, what now, Hikaru?" Tierra popped up next to him. "Wanna use my cards?"

She snickered, conjuring a tiny demon floating beside him.

Seeing her, Aster finally realized, the Duel Spirit he saw when arriving on the island was actually Hikaru's.

'Destiny, huh…'

"As if I'd use that." Hikaru casually dismissed her. "Besides, one copy of Pirmais won't help."

He cleared his throat and declared, "Then I set a monster and one back row card. Turn end."

"Not so fast!" Max activated another card. "Quick-Play Spell, Mystical Space Typhoon! It destroys one Spell or Trap on the field. I destroy your set card!"

Hikaru raised a brow as his set Trap flipped open.

"Flame Swordsdance!" Syrus exclaimed.

"But that card won't help here, right?" Dimitri frowned.

"Hahaha, my turn. Draw! Battle- Alien Warrior attacks your set monster!"

"Back at you, Naïve!" Hikaru roared. "From the Graveyard, I activate Flame Swordsdance! During your Battle Phase, I can banish it to Tribute one face-down Defense Position monster on my field, then Special Summon one [Flame Swordsman] or a monster that lists it by name from my Deck or Extra Deck!"

"Huh?" Syrus tilted his head. "But isn't it just Dark Flare? Isn't that a Fusion—"

"Wrong!" Hikaru shouted.

"This is not a 'Fusion Summon'! It's a Special Summon of a Fusion Monster!"

"Come forth, It's been too long, Dark Flare Knight!"

Black fire blazed forth, tinged with gold as a familiar figure emerged, blade in hand, standing before Hikaru!

[Dark Flare Knight] Level 6│DARK│Warrior│2200 ATK

"H-He actually bypassed the Non-Fusion Area and Special Summoned a Fusion Monster?!" Gloria gasped.

Grace smiled in delight. "How interesting! Fusion Monsters can be summoned like that, too?"

Max looked embarrassed, his earlier confidence shattered. He stood frozen like a wooden plank, coughing a few times to mask the awkwardness.

"Battle takeback. I won't continue attacking."

"Nice job, Hikaru!" Chazz cheered him on.

"Amazing! That's our Hikaru, even when Fusion's sealed, he still pulls out Fusion Monsters!"

Hikaru smirked, glanced at Aster, and declared, "There are no limits to Fusion! Let me prove that to you!"

"Some puny Fusion lock can't stop Fusion itself!"