Yu-Gi-Oh: Fusion Is the Noblest Summoning Method!

Hikaru's turn.

He placed the drawn card in his left hand, casually riffling through them while rechecking the field.

Their LP was at 4100. The opponents' LP: 15600.

The opponent's field had two set cards, the Continuous Trap "Amazoness Hall," one "Amazoness Empress," one "Amazoness Pet Liger", and three Ojama Tokens.

With Amazoness Empress on the field, Amazoness cards couldn't be destroyed by battle or effects, and gained piercing. Amazoness Pet Liger prevented attacks on any monster besides itself.

His side had only one monster: the Level 1 Flamvell Guard.

"What's wrong, Hikaru? If you're going to surrender, now would be a great time to do it," Gloria said with folded arms and a mocking laugh.

"Indeed. A Level 1 monster with 0 Attack, your teammate didn't leave you any real Fusion materials."

"Your Deck has way more Fusion cards than materials. You won't be breaking our field that easily."

Even though their monster zones were sealed, the Tyler Sisters' field was rock solid. What good were Hikaru's six cards in hand?

Hikaru stopped riffling.

"Surrender? Too naive. One card is enough to change everything."

"What did you say?" the sisters echoed.

"I activate the Spell Card, Metamorphosis."

"Ohhh! It's Metamorphosis!"

"Haven't seen Hikaru use that in a while."

"Yeah, yeah!"

Ever since gaining access to Shaddolls, Hikaru's deck synergy had improved drastically. Still, his deck generally operated on a one card, one play principle.

Cards like Metamorphosis, he never wasted them.

"Metamorphosis..." Gloria frowned, trying to recall.

Grace, meanwhile, covered her lips with her right hand. "This is bad, Gloria. It's Thousand-Eyes Restrict."

With her sister's reminder, Gloria remembered too.

"Tribute 1 monster to Special Summon a Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck with the same Level. I tribute my Level 1 Flamvell Guard to Special Summon...

The legend of legends.

The evil of all evils.

Level 1, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"

From the darkness emerged the Eldritch God, its many eyes opening and staring down at its prey. The sisters involuntarily shuddered, arms raised to fight the goosebumps.

[Thousand-Eyes Restrict]

Level 1 | DARK | Spellcaster | 0 ATK

Though it wasn't their first time seeing Hikaru use this grim card, many second-years still cheered.

Hikaru had used it to defeat many formidable opponents. It was practically a second-year legend. And more importantly, this one card could break the entire field.

First, with 0 Attack, it wouldn't trigger Amazoness Hall, so no LP recovery.

Second, it absorbed opposing monsters as Equip Cards, ignoring the effects of both Empress and Pet Liger.

Third, while it was on the field, no other monster could declare attacks.

In other words, with this on the field, Amazoness' strategy of LP-trading through combat was nullified. No matter how much LP the sisters had, he could grind them down one strike at a time.

"Damn..." Grace murmured.

Since the monster would become an Equip Card, Amazoness Empress's special summon clause wouldn't activate. Her effect only triggers when she leaves the field as a Fusion Summon.

But as an Equip Card, she's no longer treated as Fusion Summoned.

"I activate Thousand-Eyes Restrict's effect. I equip one of your monsters. I choose... Amazoness Empress!"

The countless eyes locked onto the Empress. She trembled, her grip on her sword unsteady. Yet, regardless of her fear, once the purple light struck her, she dissolved into nothing and merged with Thousand-Eyes Restrict.

"Thousand-Eyes Restrict gains the ATK and DEF of the equipped monster."

[Thousand-Eyes Restrict, ATK: 0 → 2800]

The sisters gasped.

"Battle. Thousand-Eyes Restrict attacks Amazoness Pet Liger."

The god's many eyes lit with purple energy. The Pet Liger crouched low, fur standing on end, growling deeply.

"Not so fast!

Flip Trap, Amazoness Hot Spring!"

A Trap Card featuring Amazoness warriors relaxing in a hot spring shimmered into view.

"Once per turn, if we control an Amazoness monster, we recover all Battle Damage."

"Your monster is still destroyed, though."

Boom!

Pet Liger was destroyed. Regardless, their LP stayed unchanged.

"Battle Phase ends."

Ah, so that's what it was. Hikaru had suspected something like Amazoness Archers, but this?

He glanced at his hand. "I now activate the Continuous Spell, Brilliant Fusion."

"Tch. Since our Amazoness monster got destroyed, now he can Fusion Summon freely. No LP gain," Gloria muttered.

"Hah. Don't assume I'm that predictable.

If only one monster can attack, then that's all I need." Hikaru slotted the Spell card. "When Brilliant Fusion is activated, I send Fusion Materials from my Deck to the Graveyard to Special Summon a Gem-Knight Fusion Monster with 0 Attack and Defense."

"Ah!" Grace was stunned.

He bypassed Hall's effect entirely.

"I send Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Tourmaline from my Deck to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon!

Level 7, Lightning-Crystal Gem-Knight Prismaura!"

They knew this card well.

The Thunder-type variant of the Gem-Knight Crystal line, Hikaru's go-to for field breaking. While weaker than XYZ-Dragon Cannon, they had no Empress now.

"I discard Gem-Knight Fusion from my hand," Hikaru tossed the card, "to destroy Amazoness Hall."

Prismaura raised its shield, light refracting into a beam that shattered the Trap Card.

"So strong!"

"That's nuts!"

Some first-years, watching their first duel, gasped in awe. Two cards, and Hikaru dismantled the Tyler Sisters' whole defense line?

Though their LP was still high, the field had been flipped.

And all that,

From just one Level 1 monster left behind by his teammate.

"Sorry, Gloria. I should've attacked when Chazz revived that monster."

Without that Level 1 material, Hikaru couldn't have summoned Thousand-Eyes Restrict.

"What are you saying, Grace? This duel just got way more exciting!" Gloria beamed. "Come on, Hikaru. Show me more Fusion!"

Hikaru raised an eyebrow at the two, then casually set two cards.

"Set two cards. End turn."

"Eh, already?" Grace looked disappointed.

"Tch. Don't tell me he thinks this little strategy will beat us?" Gloria's brows furrowed with irritation.

Chazz checked the cards Hikaru had set.

"Cool... Hikaru, you had this card all along?"

"Put it in the Deck just for Tag Duels. If you want, I'll trade it for B-Buster Drake."

"Hah! You wish. No deal!"

While Hikaru had A-Assault Core, and Chazz had B-Buster Drake, neither of them had C-Crush Wyvern.

Otherwise, Chazz would've fused ABC long ago instead of settling for XYZ.

Laughing, Chazz visibly relaxed.

"Damn you, ignoring me!? Draw!" Gloria, fuming from Hikaru's indifference, yanked her next card.

But as she looked at it, her anger turned into a sly grin.

She'd drawn Amazoness Archer.

...

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