Fusion Heart, Dino Soul

Hikaru glanced at his hand.

Thanks to Rex Raptor's Card Destruction, Hikaru had discarded two Thunder Dragons and drawn a new hand, surprisingly, a solid one.

But now...

Hikaru eyed Rex's set card.

Hands in pockets, Rex didn't look worried. On the contrary, he seemed pleased, enjoying the duel so far.

"From the Graveyard, Thunder Dragon Fusion's effect, banish itself, if it wasn't sent there this turn, to add 1 Thunder monster from the Deck to hand. I add Gem-Knight Tourmaline."

Then...

Hikaru stared at his cards.

"I activate the Spell Card, Gem-Knight Fusion. This is a Fusion Spell for Gem-Knight monsters. I fuse Gem-Knight Crystal and Gem-Knight Tourmaline from my hand to Fusion Summon Gem-Knight Prismaura!"

Gem-Knight Captain Crystal tapped his shield with his spear, appearing in another form.

[Gem-Knight Prismaura] Level 7│EARTH│Thunder│2450 ATK

Maybe it was just his imagination, but it felt like the first time Hikaru had ever used "Gem-Knight Fusion" properly from the hand.

"In the Graveyard, Gem-Knight Fusion's effect, banish a Gem-Knight monster to add this card back to hand. I banish Tourmaline to retrieve it."

"Then I activate Prismaura's effect! Once per turn, I can send 1 Gem-Knight card from my hand to the Graveyard, then target and destroy 1 face-up card. I send Gem-Knight Fusion to destroy your Super Conductor Tyranno!"

Prismaura raised his prism-blade, targeting the massive Tyranno, which roared, sparks flaring, yet the reflected blast bounced back like a mirror and blew it to pieces.

"Heh heh. Nice one." Even after his monster was destroyed, Rex could sense the audience's tension rising. The hype had peaked.

"You're planning to attack with your 4400 ATK Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem and 2450 ATK Prismaura to bring my LP to zero, huh?! Even so, can you actually pull it off?"

Hikaru glanced again at his hand.

On the left were the Fusion cards gained after Card Destruction; on the right, a card to search Fusion materials.

If that set card was "the card", then this attack wouldn't work.

So...

"I activate the Spell Card, Fusion Conscription! I reveal a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, then add 1 of its listed materials from Deck or Graveyard to hand. Afterward, until the end of the turn, I can't Summon or activate effects of that monster or its namesakes."

"I reveal Cyber Twin Dragon and add Cyber Dragon to my hand."

"Still adding cards at this point?"

"Then, Battle Phase!" Hikaru shouted.

"Whoa!!"

"Careful, Mr. Rex!"

"This is what I've been waiting for!"

As Hikaru declared battle, Rex's eyes lit up and the tired aura vanished as he shouted:

"Activate Trap Card, Jurrac Impact!"

'Of course!' Hikaru cursed internally.

"This Trap can only be activated when I control a Dinosaur monster with 2500+ ATK. Destroy all cards on the field!"

"All of them?!"

"DESTROY!!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

"Go, Titano!"

Jurrac Titano roared and leapt, charging fire in its jaws. Meteors fell from the sky like an apocalypse.

As the crowd cried out, Titano crashed to the field.

Firestorm. Sunflare. Meteor rain. Cataclysm- Gem-Knights and Machines alike were obliterated. Nothing survived.

The field was empty.

After a moment, the smoke cleared.

The duelists stood alone again.

[Amagi Hikaru, LP: 3500]

[Rex Raptor, LP: 2400]

The field: completely bare.

The crowd was stunned, as if the previous spectacle had been an illusion.

Then Rex broke the silence, "Amagi Hikaru, I saw you duel on TV, in that interdimensional youth match.

"You said Fusion is the noblest summoning method.

"When I heard you'd be endorsing our products, maybe even investing tech, I had to see it for myself, whether you were really like you were on TV.

"I know what it's like appearing on television, becoming a star, thinking you're hot stuff. Then arrogance creeps in, you look down on others, maybe even join the darkness and steal souls.

"Champion, runner-up- glory means nothing!"

'Whoa…'

Rex was practically roasting himself!

Hikaru was stunned.

He never expected Rex Raptor, years after the original series, to be this introspective.

"When you defended me during my argument with the execs, I was glad. Your duel performance so far? Genuinely impressive. But I can't take chances. I want to see your duel!

"It's still Battle Phase. Your field is wiped, but my LP is 2400 and I have more cards in hand. Next turn, I can summon another powerful Dinosaur.

"If you don't win this Battle Phase, you lose!"

He glared sharply.

"Come on. Show me, show everyone, show us, show this company, show our future that you really are the Fusion Duelist they say you are!"

"Whoa..."

"God, Rex-san, that's so—"

The staff were speechless.

Hikaru couldn't help but grin.

"How fun, senpai." He looked at his hand. "I've heard the legends of Yugi Muto. I always thought you were just a clown—"

Rex didn't react.

"That said, now I see. You truly are a legendary duelist."

"So, with the two cards you let me draw with Card Destruction, I'll show you what Fusion means to me!

"I pay half my LP to activate the Quick-Play Spell, Cybernetic Fusion Support!"

[Amagi Hikaru, LP: 3500 → 1750]

"For the rest of the turn, I can Fusion Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster by banishing its materials from my hand, field, or Graveyard!"

"One card!" Rex said. "You still have one card, Cyber Dragon. That means your last chance is that other card!"

"My second card is, Quick-Play Spell, Cyberload Fusion!" Hikaru declared.

The artwork showed three Cyber Dragons swirling into Fusion!

"I return Fusion Materials from my field and banished zone to the Deck, for a Machine Fusion using Cyber Dragons. That monster alone can attack, but other monsters can't!"

"But thanks to Cybernetic Fusion Support, I can also use monsters from hand and Graveyard! First, Cyber Dragon."

"Then, Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem and Ancient Gear Knight from the Graveyard!"

Hikaru raised his hand: "I fuse three Machine monsters!"

Rex lowered his hat slightly.

He knew what was coming.

"Ancient ultimate warrior, steadfast knight, swirl around Cyber Dragon!"

He clenched his fists and thrust them forward:

"Fusion Summon, Chimeratech Overdragon!"

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG. WHIRRRR.

Countless cybernetic dragons assembled into a towering fusion beast, lightning sparking from each head.

"W-whoa!"

"T-this is..."

The crowd was speechless.

He actually pulled it off!

Most thought Rex had forced him too hard.

[Chimeratech Overdragon] Level 9│DARK│Machine│ATK ?

"Chimeratech Overdragon's ATK is 800 x number of materials used. That makes—"

"Exactly 2400."

Rex let his eyes vanish under his hat brim and applauded.

"Well done!"

"Chimeratech Overdragon, attack Mr. Rex directly!"

[Rex Raptor, LP: 0 →

In the echo of applause, Rex Raptor's LP hit zero.