NOVEL WEB Chapter 230: 230
Clang.
As Goldd's physical form reverted to a card, his axe clattered to the ground with a crisp metallic ring. Along with it, the parchment he had held slipped from his grasp and fluttered down.
"Lord Goldd!!!"
"Ahhh!" The surrounding Spirits screamed in panic. In an instant, the general who had overwhelmed them with sheer power and presence had been utterly obliterated, leaving them too afraid to stay. One after another, they fled toward the still-fading Gates of Dark World.
But before they could make it through, purple puppet strings weaved into a net that instantly ensnared all of them, holding them outside the portal.
Just before the Gates of Dark World fully vanished, under the watchful eyes of Hikaru and Celina, a black mist like vapor rose from the [Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World] card lying on the ground. Before anyone, Spirit or otherwise, could react, it transformed into a streak of black light and shot into the gate with a shriek, vanishing along with the door.
"What was that?" Celina had somehow already run up to Hikaru, pointing toward the gate in curiosity.
Hikaru didn't answer. Instead, as the black light fused into the portal, the cards Goldd had previously held shimmered and began to manifest figures.
The Elemental HEROes were being revived.
"Ugh..."
"Where is this?"
"Cough, cough, cough. Miss Bud, I need healing."
"Where are the civilians?! Where did they go?!"
As soon as the HEROes regained their senses, they began chattering in confusion.
Compared to Goldd's demonic rabble, this kind of noise didn't bother Hikaru at all.
"Everyone," Bubbleman used his grappling line to anchor himself from a rooftop and rebounded to the ground, quickly explaining everything to his companions.
That saved Hikaru the effort.
While Bubbleman expressed his thanks, Hikaru walked over to where Goldd had stood, picked up the fallen axe, gave it a few spins, then handed it to the wide-eyed Fullmetal Alkahest.
Honestly, this thing might actually be gold.
Then he turned to Goldd's original card: a Level 5 Fiend with 2300 ATK.
While this card might not serve any purpose in Hikaru's Deck, he did recall that before his transmigration, Dark World had already begun transitioning from its old hand destruction combo plays.
Nowadays, Dark World was a Fusion Deck.
Even the Dragon Overlord archetype discarded for Fusion setups.
Then there was the parchment. On it, a humanoid figure was sketched.
"Hmm..."
Hikaru pulled the parchment close, inspecting it carefully from top to bottom. After a long pause, he still couldn't recognize what the image was.
Structurally, yes, it had a nose and eyes, so probably a face. But every other stroke screamed one thing to Hikaru: abstract.
The art didn't resemble a human at all. It looked more like a demon. Maybe to the Dark World denizens, this was a more traditional art style.
Could you not just use pencil sketching?
Who's supposed to identify this?
Click.
As Hikaru tugged at the parchment, he suddenly felt something off. He pulled further and found something hidden between the layers.
He asked Fullmetal Alkahest to gently slice it open with the axe. Inside, a single card fell out.
"There was a card in there?" Tierra asked, puzzled. "I didn't sense anything."
She didn't sense it?
Hikaru picked up the card. As he looked at it, Celina tried to peer over, but he quickly stopped her.
[Wicked Rune - Anger]
Effect: When this card is sent to the Graveyard, all cards of the same name in the Graveyard are banished.
At a glance, it seemed pointless. But this wasn't just a regular card. It was a sacrificial component for a ritual.
One of the keys to finding the ultimate Fusion: [Super Polymerization].
In the original, Chazz and the others were possessed by this Wicked Rune. Their hatred for Jaden was magnified until it drove them to tragic ends and broke Jaden completely.
Hikaru looked back at the parchment. Now it made sense.
These Dark World Spirits had been hunting sacrifices.
And it looked like they had mass-produced Wicked Rune cards.
A wide-net search operation for ritual fodder.
Hikaru frowned.
Dark World was canonically under the Supreme King, but it was also influenced by Yubel.
It seemed the moment of being "targeted" was fast approaching.
The Light of Destruction under Yubel's shadow...
In the original, until Yubel fused with Jaden and used the power of universal darkness to defeat the Light of Destruction, that light continued to subtly manipulate anyone harboring malice. It amplified greed, granting unnatural strength, like an omnipresent evil waiting for someone strong enough to end the world.
And with Yubel added to the mix, things only got worse.
Yubel was a top-tier threat, both in Duels and physical power. In the canon, Jaden had no choice but to fuse with Yubel via Super Polymerization to stop her.
Clearly, this was an enemy Hikaru would have to face.
This wasn't Hikaru sticking his nose in other people's business.
He'd always kept to himself, pursuing his own path. Even knowing some characters were villainous, he left them be unless they came for him. Like most of the side villains or antagonists from the original, Hikaru hadn't even met them.
He'd never encountered Jinzo or the Gravekeeper clan.
Jaden vs Aster? Chazz's path? Bastion's or Atticus'? Hikaru would only offer advice. What they chose was their own.
Back during the Shadow Riders arc, Hikaru had even prepared to give Jaden the Philosopher's Stone or just hand him Super Polymerization if Kagemaru ever showed up.
Because Hikaru knew: Kagemaru wasn't after the strongest Duelist. That said, the one with the strongest Spirit energy.
Though Kagemaru died under strange circumstances, that view hadn't changed.
Stick to your goals. Help friends when needed. You're not their babysitter. They're not infants. Everyone has their path. Otherwise, how would they become great Duelists?
What Hikaru wanted to do in this Academy was fight the Fusion Army.
But Yubel...
That changed everything.
This was a threat he had to confront. Even if Hikaru had no interest, even if he believed Jaden in this world had better allies and stronger Duels and could defeat Yubel...
He still had to face it.
Because Yubel would indiscriminately attack everyone around Jaden.
Duel or supernatural might, Yubel would use them all.
And Hikaru? He was Jaden's best friend.
However, to avoid Jaden just because of that? No way.
He and Jaden became friends not because Hikaru knew Jaden was the protagonist, but because Jaden invited him into a tag Duel, and time revealed this passionate, brilliant Duelist.
All his other friends? Same story.
There was no chance of distancing himself.
"Warrior of humanity!" Over there, the HERO warriors had lined up and saluted Hikaru with reverence. "Thank you for your aid!"
He slipped [Wicked Rune - Anger] into his pouch and waved them off with a smile. "No need for that. A Duelist lends a hand when there's injustice. It's nothing to thank me for."
Celina nodded beside him.
"Still, as those rescued, we must express our gratitude." The one leading the group was Elemental HERO Thunder Giant, the captain of the remaining rooftop defenders. After thanking them, he asked if the two human warriors had any requests.
Finally, the plan for dimensional travel could proceed as planned.
"We do. We're from Duel Academy, you've heard of it?"
"Ah! So you're friends of Jaden. He's quite well-known among HERO Spirits, even if he's only visited a few times."
"Understood. Though, Skyscraper right now..." Thunder Giant scratched his head.
Given the current wrecked state of Skyscraper, finding a proper opponent for new human Duelists would be tricky.
"It's fine! Anyone will do!" Celina raised her hand, trying to catch their attention.
She was itching for a Duel.
"I see. Then we'll prepare," Thunder Giant nodded. "We'll find this warrior lady a suitable opponent. For now, please rest at the HERO Guild."
"Much appreciated."