#443 - Vision (7K)

"I... I haven't improved?"

It took Gloria a long time before she whispered these words.

This—

This is impossible.

Half a year ago, when she fused with the Empress, it required three cards and a Fusion card to achieve. Now, she only needs the Princess, saving the cost of one card. Moreover, this turn, she can even use the effect of Amazoness Secret Arts to fuse monsters from the Extra Deck, accomplishing what Sawatari Shingo could do back then.

Yes!

She has now learned what Sawatari Shingo mastered back then: using cards from the Extra Deck as Fusion Materials!

How could she possibly be standing still!?

But—

Given her personality, she couldn't possibly say something like that. She could never say those words to refute Sawatari Shingo.

"Gloria, we've at least been through one team duel together. You're not one of those terrible people from the Fusion Force that I remember, so I'm happy to be friends with you," Sawatari Shingo said, raising one hand slightly as if chanting, "Fusing everyone who can be fused—that is my Fusion.

Even the core members of the Fusion Force, as long as they haven't truly done evil, as long as they're not beyond redemption, then I can choose to fuse with each other."

"Gloria, when we teamed up last time, perhaps it was because it was a team duel, so I didn't feel it so directly. But these past few days, seeing you lose to Manjoume and watching your revival duels, I've become certain—you're simply not suited for solo duels."

"Ugh..." Despite trying so hard to change, what Sawatari Shingo said was something she couldn't refute, and it was the reason why she had been working so hard lately.

Gloria herself had slowly become aware of it.

Without Grace, her duels weren't going well.

The two of them, as professional tag duelists, performed very poorly in single battles.

Sawatari Shingo had hit the nail on the head again.

She was fine, but her sister was simply imitating Sawatari Shingo's ideas because she saw his Fusion and his duels.

"So, what exactly are you thinking?" Even Sawatari Shingo didn't know this.

He could only infer some problems through external manifestations. It was impossible to see through a person's heart directly without a duel.

"Damn it... my turn!" Gloria's face flushed slightly, having her thoughts exposed. Perhaps it was because prolonged training had overstimulated her potential, causing a fever or illness, and her body was also a little hot.

Now that she thought about it, it seemed that was really the case.

If she really just wanted to duel Sawatari Shingo, wouldn't it be better to just find Sawatari Shingo directly?

There would always be time to find Sawatari Shingo. There was no need to find excuses or opportunities in the competition.

Gloria drew a card and glanced at it.

Tch—

Amazoness Archer!

She looked at the other cards in her hand.

"In that case, I'll activate this card—activate the Spell Card, Hand Destruction!"

"Players with cards in their hand discard all those cards. After that, each player draws cards equal to the number they discarded."

She also discarded Amazoness Archer into the Graveyard.

Sawatari Shingo raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at his hand, and also sent the cards in his hand to the Graveyard.

Gloria drew three cards from her Deck.

This way, it's completely different from before!

Although she still hadn't figured out the vague feeling in her heart, since Sawatari Shingo had said so, she might as well just give them up!

"Alright—" She saw the card she drew and immediately slammed one down. "Activate this card if you control no monsters or only [Amazoness] monsters. Special Summon this card!

Amazoness Chain Master!"

"Hah—long time no see, Sawatari Shingo!"

The Chain Master was actually abducted by the Taylor sisters?

Amazoness Chain Master, Level 5, EARTH Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 1900.

"When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can Set 1 [Amazoness] Spell/Trap Card or [Fusion] directly from your Deck.

I Set Fusion on my field. Then—banish Amazoness Secret Arts from the Graveyard to activate its effect. This turn, when I Fusion Summon an Amazoness monster, I can use a monster from the Extra Deck as a Fusion Material!"

"The Fusion condition is an Amazoness Fusion Monster and an Amazoness monster!"

"Lion that commands all beasts, offer your loyalty before the Emperor—"

"I Fusion Summon Amazoness Pet Tiger Liger and Amazoness Chain Master on the field!"

"Fusion Summon, Level 10, Amazoness Empress!"

A woman even stronger than the Empress, wielding a large sword, waved her weapon, raised her cloak, and landed on the ground.

Amazoness Empress, Level 10, EARTH Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 3200.

It seems that it doesn't have a spirit, it's just a card that the Empress gave to the Taylor sisters.

"Alright—beautiful, Sister Gloria," Grace said, gently clasping her hands beside her cheeks. "She did what Gem-Knight Prismaura did!"

"Amazoness Empress's effect: If this card is Fusion Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Amazoness monster from your Deck!"

"—Amazoness Trainee!"

A group of cute little girls, either holding swords or small bows, stood on her field.

Amazoness Trainee, Level 2, EARTH Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 500.

Although its ATK is not high, since Prisman's DEF is 0, 500 is enough.

"Battle Phase, use Amazoness Trainee to attack your Prisman."

The Gem-Knight lost its light and could not fight. With 0 DEF, it was only touched by a small practice arrow and turned into fragments.

"Then—Empress's direct attack!" Her eyes were full of excitement.

"Open the Set card, Trap Card, Waste Fusion," Sawatari Shingo raised his hand. "Banish the Fusion Materials from the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight monster. I banish Lapis and Prisman from the Graveyard to Fusion Summon Gem-Knight Lapis Lazuli!"

Gem-Knight Lapis Lazuli, Level 6, EARTH Attribute, Aqua Type, DEF 2600.

It's that famous General again. Seeing it appear, Gloria 'tch'ed' slightly, but wasn't surprised. She said to the Amazoness Trainee next to her, "Continue the battle—at this time, activate Amazoness Trainee's effect, Tributing itself. Amazoness Effect Monsters you control cannot be targeted by card effects, and cannot be destroyed by card effects or by battle."

This is a Quick Effect that can also be activated during the opponent's turn, and can be chained when Sawatari Shingo Special Summons a monster.

"Continue the battle, Amazoness Empress attacks Lapis Lazuli!"

The Empress killing Lapis Lazuli is reasonable.

Lapis Lazuli was hit in the body by the Empress's huge sword. Although it wanted to counterattack, it was defeated and disappeared from the field under the support of the Trainee.

Although Lapis Lazuli has the ability to return 1 card on your opponent's field to the hand when it is sent to the Graveyard, unfortunately, this is a 'target' effect, so it cannot be used on the Empress.

"Alright... like this, I Set one more card and end my turn."

Sawatari Shingo touched his chin with his thumb and forefinger.

After thinking for a while, he didn't say anything and directly drew a card, entering his turn.

"Hand Destruction, Empress..."

Willing to use Hand Destruction to face the unknown possibilities, this alone shows that Gloria has the courage.

She's not the kind of person who is unwilling to admit her problems. On the contrary, after realizing her problems, she decisively abandoned powerful cards like Amazoness Archer. In addition, she can indeed do Sawatari Shingo's 'Extra Deck Fusion' as she said.

In terms of 'ability', Gloria has obviously not stagnated.

However, other aspects are unknown.

He would appear here, and would take the initiative to help Gloria, not because he was so kind-hearted. The main reason was that the Taylor sisters had not done those things in the original work, and their relationship with Sawatari Shingo had indeed eased a lot.

In the future, the mess left by the Fusion Force, such as the Conjunction Corporation, would require their efforts, so Sawatari Shingo would come over to help more or less, whether out of friendship or 'work'.

However, obviously, the Taylor sisters are still different. They don't even know what they want to do.

He glanced at the cards in his hand and then looked at the Graveyard: "First, the effect of Polymerization in the Graveyard, return Lapis Lazuli in the Graveyard and draw one card. Then, the effect of Thunder Dragon Fusion in the Graveyard, banish it, which wasn't sent to the Graveyard this turn, and add 1 Thunder-Type monster from your Deck to your hand."

Sawatari Shingo took Thunder Dragon Fusion out of the Graveyard, put it in the bag behind his waist, and then opened the Deck and searched for it: "Add Thunder Dragon to my hand."

"Then, Thunder Dragon's effect, discard it from your hand to activate. Add up to two Thunder Dragons from your Deck to your hand."

Sawatari Shingo opened the Deck, found two from it, and took them into his hand.

"Continuous Spell Card, Flame Swordsman's Domain—"

"Oh! It's the Domain!" Gloria's face showed a hint of excitement. "Are you finally going to use Flame Swordsman? Sawatari Shingo—"

It is said that Sawatari Shingo only starts using Flame Swordsman when he is most serious. Although this statement is an absolute fallacy for Sawatari Shingo, many people still think so.

At least for Gloria, being able to further access more of Sawatari Shingo's Fusions undoubtedly excited her.

Sawatari Shingo frowned.

"Flame Swordsman's Domain's effect, send one Thunder Dragon from your hand to the Graveyard, Special Summon—Flame Swordsman!"

"Haha! Flame Swordsman, making a dazzling appearance!" Flame Swordsman laughed and put his hands on his hips as he appeared.

Flame Swordsman, Level 5, FIRE Attribute, Warrior Type, DEF 1600.

"Normal Summon, Thunder Dragonroar—then, Tribute it to Special Summon, Thunder Dragonduo!"

A golden ball flickered in front of Sawatari Shingo, and then, the light burst, eventually turning into a black Thunder Dragon as tall as a person.

Thunder Dragonduo, Level 7, DARK Attribute, Thunder Type, ATK 2600.

"Fusion directly from a monster into a Fusion Monster!" Grace exclaimed—

Gloria was extremely excited, taking a step forward. Her already tired body became more energetic and powerful.

She felt her heart pounding wildly. The scene in front of her made her feel novel.

This is Sawatari Shingo: single card Fusion, Deck Fusion, Extra Deck Fusion, Graveyard Fusion, direct transformation... Sawatari Shingo's Deck is full of Fusion, and he, like his Deck, continues to fuse with each other.

Even the Fusion Force, even the Conjunction Corporation, as long as they don't cross his bottom line, they can be fused—

Before, at the Amazoness camp, she had doubted Sawatari Shingo, suspecting that Sawatari Shingo was unwilling to cooperate with her because of her identity, and was unwilling to work with her in the team duel. But after that duel, she understood.

Sawatari Shingo is such an absolute Fusion duelist.

Full of curiosity, full of expectations.

She wanted to see more, more interesting Fusions, and even more intoxicating Fusions.

"Use Thunder Dragonduo to attack Amazoness Empress. Flame Swordsman's Domain's effect, reduce Flame Swordsman's ATK by 1000 and increase Thunder Dragonduo's ATK by 1000," Sawatari Shingo commanded the little Thunder Dragonroar to attack the opponent.

Thunder Dragonduo, ATK: 2600 → 3600.

"Flame Swordsman's Domain can increase the ATK of all your monsters, so although it's lower than the Empress's ATK, you can still attack. But—however, because of Hand Destruction, my cards have changed!

Open the Set card, Continuous Trap, Amazoness Onslaught!"

"Select 1 Amazoness monster from your Graveyard and Special Summon it in Attack Position," Gloria opened the Set card with a big laugh. "The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot change its battle position, and must attack if it can. When this card leaves the field, that monster is destroyed; when that monster is destroyed, this card is destroyed—

Heh, what I want to revive is... Amazoness Empress!"

Buzz—

The Empress's figure flickered on the field again.

Amazoness Empress, Level 8, EARTH Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 2800.

"Ha, with Amazoness Empress on the field, Amazoness cards on the field cannot be destroyed by card effects or by battle; with Amazoness Empress on the field, other Amazoness cards on my field cannot become the target of opponent's card effects!"

Gloria waved her left hand as if dancing with a sword.

"How is it? In this way, the monsters on my field will not be destroyed by battle or by effects, and you can no longer use Thousand-Eyes Restrict to control them like before!"

To be honest, the combination of the two Empresses has very high resistance.

However, Tenjo Hikari wasn't afraid: "Because you Special Summoned a monster, the number of monsters changed, so the battle is returned to the beginning—but it doesn't matter, just continue the attack.

Change the attack target to Amazoness Empress."

Zzzzz.

The sound of electricity crackled.

Gloria used her hand to slightly resist the pain.

Gloria LP: 4000 → 3200.

Tenjo Hikari thought for a moment and ended his turn like that.

"Okay—in that case, our life points are basically at a similar level," Gloria said with an eager smile on her face.

Tenjo Hikari frowned.

"Tenjo Hikari—perhaps like you said, I still haven't figured out what I want to do, I'm still stuck in the same place, but it doesn't matter." Gloria clenched her fist, a ferocious smile filled with bloodlust on her face, "But I know that I want to duel with you, I want to see more of your wonderful fusions.

So, I just need to know that!"

She touched her chest, feeling that intense excitement.

"Draw!" A moment later, she drew a card forcefully.

Gloria drew a card, and her eyes seemed to flicker with strange brilliance when she saw it: "Okay—

Activate the Field Magic Card! Amazoness Arena of Death!"

Rattle, rattle, jingle, jingle—

Countless steel chains rose from all around, combining to form a huge cage.

"When this card is activated, both players recover 600 life points."

Gloria LP: 3200 → 3800.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 3000 → 3600.

"Both players recover life points?" Tierra said with her hands behind her back, a little surprised.

"Okay—in that case, let's go in the most direct way—Tenjo Hikari." Gloria raised her right hand, pointing at Tenjo Hikari, "In the most primitive, most basic, most bloody way, as long as this card is on the field, when either player's monster declares an attack, they can pay 100 life points to inflict 100 damage to the opponent."

In simple terms, it's a desperate card.

Tenjo Hikari looked around, somewhat speechless.

Do Amazoness duelists all resort to this kind of method in the end?

Can't figure it out?

Just do it if you can't figure it out!

Misawa Daichi and his girlfriend met that way back then.

"Battle! Attack your Flame Swordsman with Amazoness Empress!"

"Pay 100 life points!"

"Inflict 100 damage to you!"

Zzzzz, a chain flew out from afar, and Tierra casually raised her hand, wanting to block it for Tenjo Hikari, but Tenjo Hikari shook his head.

Pfft—

The chain pierced Tenjo Hikari, and he felt a jolt of pain, and also a sense of fighting spirit.

Mad, infinite, crazy enthusiasm, this enthusiasm seemed to ignite Tenjo Hikari, wanting to tear Tenjo Hikari apart.

However, this feeling came quickly and disappeared even faster.

Gloria LP: 3800 → 3700.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 3600 → 3500.

"Activate the effect of Flame Swordsman Territory, reduce the Flame Swordsman's attack power by 1000, and increase Super Thunder Dragon's attack power by 1000."

"Ha—it doesn't matter!"

"With Amazoness Empress on the field, Amazoness monsters on the field will have piercing effect!"

Amazoness Empress ran to the side of the Flame Swordsman, raised her greatsword, and swung it down at the Flame Swordsman. The Flame Swordsman couldn't resist, and shattered with a crack.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 3500 → 2700.

Boom—

Even hotter flames swirled around, making Tenjo Hikari understand Gloria Tyler's "heart" even more.

Pure dueling, pure fighting, pure passion, this is what Gloria likes.

"Continue the battle, Amazoness Empress Queen also attacks!" She pointed at Super Thunder Dragon.

"Ah? Sister—attacking a monster with higher attack power? You'll take damage!"

"Oh ho." Tierra understood.

Chains flew out from all around again, piercing both of their bodies.

Gloria LP: 3700 → 3600.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 2700 → 2600.

Electromagnetic energy gathered on Super Thunder Dragon's body, and the huge power supported its body. Even though it had evolved further into Amazoness Empress Queen, it couldn't defeat the Super Thunder Dragon with 3600 attack power. It was enveloped in a net of lightning and retreated, kneeling on the ground.

Gloria LP: 3600 → 2800.

Lightning struck from afar, hitting Gloria's body, and she staggered, but didn't fall down at all.

"End of turn!" Gloria clenched her fist, and the knuckles cracked.

Tenjo Hikari touched his chest, silent.

On the other side, Grace slowly revealed a trace of harmless fanaticism: "So that's how it is… attacking each other, fighting each other, it's really interesting—"

However, she was ultimately a different person from Gloria. After saying these words, she gently tapped her cheek with her right index finger and muttered to herself: "Although Sister hasn't figured anything out, if we continue to duel like this, relying on the Amazoness warriors that can't be destroyed, the life point advantage will become more and more obvious."

Although Tenjo Hikari can still repeatedly Special Summon the Flame Swordsman, in that case, Tenjo Hikari will also have to repeatedly endure piercing damage, which is all relative.

The Flame Swordsman's excessively low defense power is its weakness. If we repeat the same actions every turn, then Sister will basically win.

"My turn, draw."

Tenjo Hikari glanced at the card he drew.

"I see—"

He thought for a moment,

It seems that this time, there's no way to help Gloria find her own path.

But relatively speaking, Gloria has found her own "method".

At least, the matters of the Future Union and Fusion Military should be much easier to handle.

"Flame Swordsman Territory's effect, send the Thunder Dragon from my hand to the graveyard to Fusion Summon—Flame Swordsman!"

"Haha, I'm back again! Master!" The Flame Swordsman ran back happily.

"Then—Equip Magic Card, Wyrm Flame Fusion!"

Raging flames rose from all around, enveloping the entire arena.

"This card can be equipped to a FIRE Warrior-Type monster, increasing that monster's attack power by 700."

The Flame Swordsman casually caught the Flame Sword, and then, his body began to slowly burn and grow larger. His body, armor, weapon, and Flame Dragon, everything was slowly changing.

"An equipped Fusion Magic…"

"Wyrm Flame Fusion's effect!" Tenjo Hikari raised his hand, and flames gathered above him, "When this card is equipped to a Fusion Monster you control: Send both this card and the equipped monster to the GY; Special Summon 1 "Flame Swordsman" or Fusion Monster that lists that card in its card text from your Extra Deck!

Fusion evolution of a Fusion Monster?

The twins exclaimed in their hearts at the same time.

"Another new Fusion method!?" Gloria stared unblinkingly at Tenjo Hikari.

"Send the Flame Swordsman and Wyrm Flame Fusion to the graveyard—

"Swordsman who controls flames, Flame Dragon who controls the greatsword!"

"Gather the power of fusion, transform into a new form, and protect me!"

"My partner, my friend, my symbol!"

"Inferno Swordsman!"

Boom!

A pillar of fire soared into the sky, and beneath the impenetrable flames, the giant swordsman, already enlarged by the flames, revealed its new form!

Inferno Swordsman, Level 8, FIRE Attribute, Warrior Type, Attack Power 2800.

"Attack power 2800!" Gloria watched excitedly.

Its attack power is the same as Amazoness Empress Queen—even the race and level are the same!

"That way, we won't have to take piercing damage!" Grace was thinking about the duel.

"…Battle Phase! Inferno's attack." Tenjo Hikari looked at Amazoness Empress Queen, "Attack Amazoness Empress Queen with Inferno Swordsman!"

"Pay 100 life points!"

A chain pierced Tenjo Hikari's body, and then, the chain, with a faint purple light, also pierced Gloria's body.

But—

When the chain pierced Gloria, she didn't feel the "pain" she had imagined.

On the contrary, a warm, swelling warmth, as if it could envelop everything, covered her. She felt the power in her body, and was momentarily lost in thought.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 2600 → 2500.

Gloria LP: 2800 → 2700.

Before Gloria could feel more, that power dissipated—but at the same time, Inferno Swordsman had already rushed in front of her.

It swung its wide greatsword, not at all as goofy as before, with a determined expression.

"But, the Empress Queen's attack power is higher!"

"Inferno Swordsman's effect, this card's attack power becomes double during the Damage Step when it battles!"

Ah—

Inferno Swordsman, ATK: 2800 → 5600.

This time, the Flame Sword easily surpassed the jungle's greatsword.

The flames penetrated the Empress Queen, scorching Gloria, and even spreading to Grace.

Gloria LP: 2700 → 300.

She finally couldn't hold on and suddenly fell down. Grace quickly ran over to support her.

"Attack again, Super Thunder Dragon attacks—activate Flame Swordsman Territory's effect, reduce Inferno Swordsman's attack power by 1000, and increase its attack power by 1000.

At the same time… activate Death Arena's effect again!

Pay 100 life points! Inflict 100 damage to you—"

Tenjo Hikari didn't mind, using this method to make the other party feel their inner selves more directly.

He didn't hate passionate people, because the duels in this world are never absolutely ruthless.

This time, the chains pierced everyone present again, but unlike last time, this time, Grace was also pierced by the power, and it was precisely because of this that Gloria suddenly looked up, feeling her sister's concern, feeling the same, connected emotions between her and her sister.

Tenjo Hikari LP: 2500 → 2400.

Gloria LP: 300 → 200.

Gloria clutched her chest, her face flushed.

There was both long-term fatigue, as well as symptoms of a cold and fever, and even some more serious things.

She finally understood.

Finally understood why, after the first duel with Tenjo Hikari, she and her sister tried to get along with the guys from the Union, tried to learn some of Tenjo Hikari's tactics and ideas, tried to experiment with "Extra Deck Fusion", and even tried to imitate Tenjo Hikari.

It's…

Admiration.

These sisters, who seemed born for tag duels, had always only been able to rely on each other, and had never understood others.

Boredom permeated their previous duels, because it was almost impossible for normal tag duels to have peers who could defeat them.

But Tenjo Hikari's appearance, Tenjo Hikari's duels, made them feel the long-lost joy they had felt during their first duel.

So, even though they hadn't figured it out, they instinctively imitated and chased after Tenjo Hikari.

That's why Gloria started trying single duels, and that's why Grace started paying attention to Tenjo Hikari's affairs.

That's why Gloria tried her best to duel with Tenjo Hikari again in this tournament, because she was both expectant and fearful.

Looking forward to dueling with Tenjo Hikari, but afraid that she was not good at single duels.

And now… everything is clear.

"Super Thunder Dragon's attack—attack Amazoness Empress Queen!"

Thunder descended, but there was no pain, it was the wonder and inclusiveness of fusion—

It was also the applause for them re-embarking on a new path of dueling!

Gloria LP: 200 → 0.