NOVEL WEB Chapter 370: Muddy Mudragon
Never did Hikaru expect to encounter Muddy Mudragon in a place like this.
Yet, though he'd found it, he couldn't quite tell which Muddy Mudragon it was. Was it Muddy Mudragon? Or Mudragon of the Swamp? Appearance alone made it impossible to distinguish.
For all he knew, they might just be regional versions of the same concept.
Dimitri hadn't specified either, he only ever called it "Muddy Mudragon."
The Muddy Mudragon flew over with a host of baby slimes, lowering its head to inspect them.
Hikaru noticed that these swamp-born spirits varied in form: some retained dragon-like shapes, while others constantly shifted, knights, warriors, mages, beasts, their forms fluid and ever-changing.
It made sense. These creatures were likely "Universal Fusion Materials" precisely because of this property.
"Before we duel, I must ask a few questions."
"Go ahead! No problem at all!"
The Muddy Mudragon hovered back as a few of its children floated forward, shifting forms.
A swordsman, a mage, and a bizarre machine.
"Well? Recognize them?"
"Of course! These monsters? Our captain's used all of them before, Flame Swordsman, Dark Magician, and the Fusion Monster Metal Dragon, right?"
Dimitri's memory and mimicry were top-tier; he instantly identified the illusions.
And so, the duel began.
Having answered correctly, Dimitri earned the chance to duel the "Beast King of the Swamp" he had long set his sights on. As per their agreement, a win meant the spirit would follow him.
They had dueled multiple times already, both familiar with each other's decks.
To Hikaru's surprise, the Mudragon used a hybrid deck packed with a hodgepodge of Fusion Monsters.
"Kind of like your style," Tierra remarked.
Hikaru nodded. Though the specific Fusions and materials differed, the theme was mixed-fusion chaining, undeniably similar.
So was Dimitri's deck.
After dueling Hikaru and watching him battle the Sacred Beasts, Dimitri had joined the Fusion Club and studied Fusion mechanics on his own.
Unlike most students who built decks based on favorites, he jammed together any chain he found fun.
Yes.
Ancient Gears and Gem-Knights from Hikaru. Heroes from Jaden. VWXYZ from Chazz. Cyber Dragons from Zane.
Except for exclusive cards like Cyber End Dragon, he had basically collected every combination the Fusion Club founders ever ran.
"Spell Card: Gem-Knight Fusion! Fusing Thunder Dragon and Gem-Knight Tourmaline!"
Out came Gem-Knight Prismaura.
Who knew where this guy even got his cards. Professor Crowler struggled to gather rare ones, but Dimitri casually acquired ones outsiders couldn't even find.
That was its own kind of talent.
Moments later, the duel ended.
"Mmm. Not bad." Muddy Mudragon floated over to Dimitri, extended a claw to his badge, and lit it with a strange liquid-like symbol.
Star Rank 3, a basic low-level seal.
"Then do as you please," it said to the spirit Dimitri had dueled.
"Yessss!!!" Dimitri clasped the Beast King's hand and spun in place with joy.
After days of dueling, they had grown close. With the Muddy Mudragon's approval, both were ecstatic.
"Alright!!" "Awesome!!" the other two Fusion Club members cheered.
It caught Hikaru slightly off guard.
"Senpai, aren't you two going to challenge one too?" Celina asked curiously.
There were dozens of spirits around. Surely there were more opponents.
Given the Fusion Club's love for Fusion, why wouldn't they?
"We want to... but they said we lack a certain trait..." The two glanced at each other and shook their heads regretfully.
The Muddy Mudragon flew in front of Celina, glanced at her, and said:
"If you wish, you may challenge one of my children."
"Eh? I can?"
"I see in your eyes a passion for Fusion," it said, turning toward Hikaru and hesitating. "But you..."
It hesitated.
"Human... I can't tell whether you are suited for our power. I can't even perceive your potential."
It flexed its claws.
"There are two possibilities.
Either you are wholly unsuited for Fusion and should abandon this path soon,
Or you have transcended ordinary humans and even spirits, your concept of Fusion exceeds what I can perceive."
"It's gotta be the second one!" the students immediately declared.
"That's right! Captain is our world's top Fusionist, they call him the Absolute Fusionist!" Dimitri cried out while hugging the Beast King.
"Oh? Is that so?" The Muddy Mudragon stared at Hikaru, as if trying to see through him. Hikaru met its gaze, unflinching.
"Very well, he's your leader, is he? Then let me test him personally."
The Muddy Mudragon's body shifted, morphing into a towering dragon warrior wielding a dragon lance.
"Do you know this monster?"
The students and Celina were stunned.
Tierra tilted her head, trying to remember.
"Wave Motion Dragon Knight," Hikaru said calmly.
"Ohhh!" Tierra exclaimed.
"Interesting, then..."
The creature twisted again, becoming a luminous mage in gleaming green robes and violet armor, holding a radiant staff.
"And this one?"
Even Tierra was lost.
"Supreme Arcanite Magician," Hikaru nodded.
Now the Muddy Mudragon understood. This Duelist was unlike the others who'd come to the cave. He possessed deep fusion knowledge.
"Seems I'll have to show my true power. Then... a monster no human of your world could know!"
Its form warped into a gigantic squid covered in eerie purple markings. Though three-dimensional, the pattern evoked ancient runes, primal and fearsome.
Watching from the shadows, Yubel trembled slightly.
She had been tracking Hikaru this whole time, but refrained from acting, waiting to observe.
Even she felt pressure from the monster. A human facing it head-on would surely suffer.
Because, this was a projection of some god from another realm!
Yet Hikaru didn't flinch. His body didn't even tremble.
Yubel realized: Tierra wasn't shielding him. Hikaru was enduring with his own will.
She now understood: Hikaru could not be underestimated. She became even more cautious, careful not to let Tierra notice her presence.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow at the creature, mildly surprised.
Indeed, no one from his world would know this card.
But he did.
"Earthbound Servant Geo-Kraken."
"Oh!!" the Muddy Mudragon gasped. The surrounding slimes all shrieked in astonishment.
"Whaaat?"
"I can't even pronounce that!"
"Amazing!"
The Muddy Mudragon twisted back into its original form, eyes glowing.
"I've waited so long for a worthy partner, so long I forgot why I even started. I simply raised my juniors in peace here."
"But now, I feel strength returning to my limbs!"
Despite being the leader here, it was clearly eager to leave.
"Then let me introduce myself. I am the third ruler of this cave: Muddy Mudragon. And you, human?"
"Amaki Hikaru. From the human world."
The Muddy Mudragon landed, its swamp bubbling. The sludge flowed to its claw and shaped itself into a translucent Duel Disk.
"Then, will you challenge me, human?" It raised a plaque. "My Duelist Star Rank is 7."
Seven Stars, one above Marjoram. But rank alone didn't dictate strength. Duels depended on matchups.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Hikaru smiled and equipped his Duel Disk.
An unexpected thrill on a rescue mission.
"Duel!"
[Muddy Mudragon, LP: 4000]
[Amaki Hikaru, LP: 4000]