#450 - Meet and greet

Rumble—

Amakage Hikaru slowly ascended the stage. Because it was so far from the ground, the wind buffeted his face like a knife, and before long, his body felt a chill.

However, he didn't show the slightest fear, but instead seemed exceptionally excited.

Finally, he had ascended to the highest stage in this world.

Just like the protagonists he had seen in anime battling in the finals, he had finally arrived at the "final arena."

The airship slowly began to rotate, and countless drones rose from all around, aiming at the two of them.

Buzz—

"Come, duelists who aspire to climb even higher peaks! Stand on your own stage, fight, dance, and then—win!"

Kaito Seto's holographic image raised its head and shouted.

Then, as his voice fell, the airship began to slowly rotate, fly, and rush out of the arena.

"When the airship leaves directly above the duel field, the first duelist to call out 'First Turn' will gain the first turn!"

At the same time, the screen began to slowly count down, and the numbers began to decrease.

10... 9...

3, 2...

1!

"I'll go first!"

After a year and a half of training, Amakage Hikaru shouted these words instantly at this critical moment, and swiftly drew a card—

Absolute Fusion Enabler, Amakage Hikaru, LP: 4000.

Hell Kaiser, Marufuji Ryo, LP: 4000.

"Interesting, Hikaru, I didn't expect you to be even faster than me."

"Every talent of a duelist must reach its peak in order to reach a more distant future and arrive at the ultimate fusion—"

"Hahaha, good, come on, Hikaru!"

"Let's duel!"

"Brother, go!!"

"Ryo-kun or Hikaru-kun, oh my, who should I choose to support!"

"Tch, Kaiser Ryo and Amakage Hikaru..."

They each had their own thoughts, but equally, they each had their own needs.

Some wanted to see a more dazzling and exciting duel, while others, because of their allegiances and hatred, eagerly wanted to see these two 'brothers' in a final battle.

"Speaking of which, we were both students of Professor Chronos."

"Ah, he is the best professor." Marufuji Ryo nodded slightly.

He was able to successfully enter the professional arena and become a professional duelist, thanks in no small part to Professor Chronos's help. When he was discovered by people from the company, Chronos followed him throughout, handling some affairs for him and preventing him from suffering losses.

After that, it was also Professor Chronos who, without stopping, went to help Amakage Hikaru sign a contract, and tirelessly helped Amakage Hikaru with inquiries and calculations.

For both of them, Chronos was the most important professor in their academy learning career.

So they were both happy to call themselves Chronos's disciples and would not specifically refute it.

"It's a shame that I didn't duel with you, Hikaru, when we graduated." At the time, Marufuji Ryo noticed that Judai's emotions were not right, and chose Judai as his opponent for the graduation duel, which resulted in him not dueling with Amakage Hikaru at the end of his time at the school.

And now, they can finally fight.

"Haha, then, let's consider it a rare, second chance, Kaiser!"

As the two finished speaking, the airship had carried them to directly in front of the [Sun] under the gaze of the audience.

The audience at close range, such as Jim and Misawa, swallowed lightly as they watched this scene.

Because... the duel was about to begin!

"My turn!" Amakage Hikaru took out a card with his backhand, held it next to his eyes, and said, "Activate the Normal Magic Card, Frightfur Patchwork! This card can only be activated once per turn. Add one 'Edge Imp' and one 'Polymerization' from your deck to your hand.

I add Edge Imp Chain from my deck and Polymerization from my deck to my hand!"

The deck made two 'whoosh whoosh' sounds, and two cards popped out automatically, launching into Amakage Hikaru's hand in the fierce wind.

"Frightfur!" In the Fusion Army's base, in a training camp full of children, a blue-haired child saw this card, and was suddenly startled, taking out a lollipop and putting it in his mouth.

"Then, I activate the Field Magic Card, Dream Mirror!"

Amakage Hikaru raised a card and put it into the field zone with a 'whoosh'.

Purple light shone on the airship, and then, faint white light spots appeared next to the airship. A huge floating island appeared next to the duel field, slowly flying along with the airship.

"Oh? It's not Fusion Recycling Plant?" Seeing the Field Magic Card appear, he thought that Amakage Hikaru was going to use Fusion Recycling Plant, but he didn't expect it to be a card he had never seen before.

"Activate the Magic Card, Polymerization!"

Amakage Hikaru picked up Polymerization, Edge Imp, and another monster in his hand, and said, "I fuse Predaplant Sundew Kingii and Edge Imp Chain from my hand, Fusion Summon!

On the spine of the White Dragon, it seemed as if soil was churning, and vines began to stir. A huge pink flower slowly rose.

Predaplant Chimerafflesia, Level 7, DARK Attribute, Plant Type, ATK 2500.

"Here it comes? Chimerafflesia?" Seeing this monster, Kaiser also gradually felt his blood boiling.

A powerful monster that can search for [Polymerization] Magic Cards, and it also seems to be Amakage Hikaru's favorite Fusion Monster in the critical point.

In the Aroma Garden, the Aroma herbalists were watching this semi-final in front of a light screen along with many beast-type spirits from the forest. After seeing this card appear, Marjoram gently sipped her black tea, while Rosemary jumped up and cheered.

"It's not over yet, Kaiser!" Amakage Hikaru suddenly opened his hand and said, "Activate the effects of the monsters and the field!

The monster effect of Predaplant Sundew Kingii, this card name's effect can only be activated once per turn. If this card is sent to the graveyard, activate it. Add one Predaplant monster other than [Predaplant Sundew Kingii] from your deck to your hand, I choose Predaplant Flytrap Spiketail."

This card was made by Amakage Hikaru when he returned to Daewoo Universe Factory, using the last materials and accumulated duel energy. He had never used it before.

"Then, the effect of Edge Imp Chain, once per turn, activate this effect when this card is sent from your hand/field to the graveyard. Add 1 [Frightfur] from your deck to your hand!"

"I choose Frightfur Patchwork!"

"Oh!!" Jim couldn't help but exclaim when he heard this, "In this way, back and forth, it's equal to fusing a Fusion Monster for nothing, and he still has Frightfur Patchwork and a Predaplant monster in his hand. Next turn, he can add Polymerization and Edge Imp to his hand and fuse again!"

"Wow, isn't Fusion very wasteful of hand cards? Why are there more and more!?" The audience also exclaimed.

"He actually used Edge Imp to fuse other monsters?"

"Master, so handsome!"

"It's not over yet—the effect of Dream Mirror!"

"This card gains a specific effect depending on the type of monster on the field. When a [Fusion] Monster exists, once per turn, activate this effect when a monster on your hand/field is sent to the graveyard by an effect. Draw one card from your deck."

He drew another card with a 'whoosh'.

In this way, he didn't lose a single card from his hand!

"I see, so that's the effect of that field..."

"Is that a field that assists Fusion drawing? How interesting."

Some viewers also generally knew what kind of field this was.

"Ha... is this your [Welcome] ceremony? Hikaru."

"Heh, this is just the beginning, Kaiser!"