"According to Invocation's effect, by banishing Aleister the Invoker from my Graveyard and Petiteranodon from your Graveyard, I Fusion Summon an Invoked monster."
"Come forth, Earth Invoked Monster!"
"Invoked Magellanica!"
BOOM!
A colossal stone giant emerged behind Hikaru, hoisting an enormous mountain upon its back. Its sheer size rivaled even the towering Gigantozowler standing opposite it.
Invoked Magellanica Level 8 | EARTH | Rock ATK: 3000
"Invocation's Graveyard effect can only be activated once per turn," Hikaru continued calmly. "I target my banished Aleister the Invoker. This card returns to the Deck, and Aleister is added to my hand."
Aleister returned to Hikaru's grasp as he raised his gaze toward the opposing field.
"Battle Phase. Invoked Magellanica, attack Ultimate Ancient Tyranno!"
The stone giant surged forward, its massive body crashing down upon the white-winged dinosaur.
"He didn't attack Gigantozowler?"
"He's probably trying to keep Aleister in hand. That card's way too important."
Several Fusion Army soldiers whispered among themselves.
Even without fully understanding Aleister's later effects, Yugo could tell how critical the card was. A single monster that enabled Fusion Summoning while also synergizing with a dedicated Fusion Spell was invaluable.
Still, something felt off.
If Lilos had more revival options, why leave Ultimate Ancient Tyranno alive? After all, with that monster on the field, Special Summoning Dinosaurs from the Graveyard could lead to additional draws.
Lilos LP: 4000 → 3700
"Main Phase 2," Hikaru said. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Overload Future Fusion."
"Overload Future Fusion?" Lilos frowned. "Why use that when Future Fusion is stronger?"
Hikaru chuckled lightly.
"Overload Future Fusion's effect: I reveal one Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, then send one Fusion Material listed on it from my Deck to the Graveyard.
This turn, I cannot Special Summon that monster, monsters with the same original name, nor activate their effects."
He revealed a card from his Extra Deck.
"I reveal Super Magician Swordsman – Dark Magician Swordsman. I send Dark Magician to the Graveyard."
"That card!" Yugo exclaimed.
He hadn't forgotten the crushing defeat he suffered at its hands during the Interdimensional Friendship Cup.
"I set one card and end my turn."
Hikaru crossed his arms, watching his opponent calmly, as if inviting the next move.
Lilos snorted coldly and drew.
"Spell Card, Pot of Greed. I draw two cards. Hehehe…"
His grin widened as he glanced at the stone giant across the field.
"Aleister can discard himself to increase the ATK of a Fusion Monster you control by 1000," Lilos said confidently.
"As long as Aleister stays in your hand, Invoked Magellanica effectively has 4000 ATK. Even Gigantozowler's 3800 can't overpower it."
"But you made one mistake."
"This turn, I can activate Gigantozowler's effect to destroy your monster. When that happens, even a 4000 ATK monster will vanish in an instant."
Hikaru merely watched, silent and thoughtful.
"The only thing I lack," Lilos continued, "is a Normal Monster in my Graveyard. So, I'll simply solve that."
"Spell Card-Beta Evolution Pill: Ultratranscendence!"
A massive capsule appeared overhead, half glowing white, half pulsing with ominous purple light.
"This card activates by tributing two monsters from my hand or field, including a Dinosaur-Type monster! I then Special Summon one Level 5 or higher Dinosaur-Type monster from my Deck or Extra Deck whose ATK is equal to or greater than the combined ATK of the tributed monsters!"
"Ohhh! A brand-new Fusion!" a Fusion Army soldier shouted.
"I've never even seen that card, this wasn't developed by the organization!"
Lilos smirked.
"Of course not. This is a card I acquired in this world through dealings with its nobles over the past two days.
A card that belongs to this world."
He locked eyes with Hikaru.
"Just like the Metamorphosis you love to use, this card can Special Summon Fusion Monsters directly from the Extra Deck.
But, this one goes even further!"
"I tribute Frostosaurus and Petiteranodon from my hand!"
"Special Summon."
"Level 12!"
"Transcendosaurus Glaciasaurus."
Icy winds howled across the battlefield as shards of frost rained from the sky. A colossal Brachiosaurus encased in ice stepped forward, standing beside Gigantozowler.
Transcendosaurus Glaciasaurus Level 12 | WATER | Dinosaur
ATK: 3600
"Th-this is!?"
Rin covered her mouth in shock.
Yugo screamed, "A Spell Card that Special Summons a Synchro Monster without Synchro Summoning!?
It...It fused a Synchro Monster like a Fusion!!"
"Ohhhhh!!"
"Incredible, General Lilos!"
"So strong, this is real Fusion!"
The Fusion Army erupted in exhilaration.
When would they ever see such an abnormal, transcendent form of Fusion!?
To "fuse" even a Synchro Monster...
"How about it, Hikaru!" Lilos demanded.
"Excellent," Hikaru replied without hesitation.
"This truly is an excellent Duel."
The cheering Fusion Army froze.
Slowly, realization dawned on their faces.
Yes.
Hikaru was that kind of Duelist.
Even if you stood on the opposite side, so long as you truly executed a brilliant maneuver, you would still earn his praise.
But precisely because of that…
"It makes me even angrier, Lilos."
"What?"
Lilos turned sharply to stare at him. "What did you say? Say it again."
"Lilos," Hikaru said calmly, "do you truly believe that others can be sacrificed for your so-called 'Great Cause'?"
Lilos answered without hesitation.
"It has always been so. Human history is the history of war. If humanity wishes to advance, conflict is inevitable.
In the past, nations fought one another, accelerating the development of weapons. Now, conflict between Dimensions accelerates the evolution of Dueling itself.
This is only natural."
He sneered lightly.
"Or are you saying it's wrong for me to destroy my own monsters and constantly send them to the Graveyard? Heh. Aren't you the one who preaches your so-called 'Cycle of Sublimation'?"
There was no evasion in his words.
No hesitation.
Hikaru paused.
This wasn't the second time he had encountered such thinking.
No, this was the first.
The Fusion Army Duelists he had met before only repeated Leo Akaba's slogans. In truth, they didn't believe in them at all. They merely used his theories and technology to gain power, authority, and stronger cards.
But Lilos was different.
He believed.
And by relying on that belief, he had truly become a "Transcendent" Duelist.
From a Dueling standpoint alone, Lilos was unquestionably a real Fusion Army general, not a hollow figurehead.
And precisely because of that…
He was far more dangerous than the others.
"Have you ever thought about the victims?" Hikaru asked.
"If it were me," Lilos replied evenly, "I would sacrifice myself without hesitation. Just like this Duel.
Even if I cannot defeat you, I will not retreat. I want the soldiers to understand that the Fusion Army's 'Fusion' is never false."
"So you're willing to sacrifice these innocent S-Dimension Duelists standing beside you?"
"Their descendants will thank us," Lilos said coldly, "for creating a more perfect world."
"I see."
Hikaru no longer argued.
Instead, he said quietly:
"Then let's continue this Duel in the most direct way possible."
"Hmph."
Lilos was unmoved. Raised under Leo Akaba's doctrine, utterly convinced that exporting his 'civilized ideals' was righteous, he would never listen.
"Battle, Hikaru!"
He pointed at the stone giant on Hikaru's field.
"I attack your Earth Invoked monster with Gigantozowler!"
"I discard Aleister the Invoker from my hand!" Hikaru declared.
"Invoked Magellanica gains 1000 ATK and DEF!"
"Four thousand!?"
"Just from Aleister alone!?"
"So strong…" Yugo muttered in disbelief.
A single monster pushing ATK that high felt absurd.
"It's fine, Gigantozowler!" Lilos roared.
"Sacrifice yourself for victory!"
Gigantozowler charged, violently clashing with the Earth Invoked monster. The two titans struggled, but in the end, Gigantozowler shattered with a thunderous explosion.
Lilos LP: 3700 → 3500
"At this moment," Lilos shouted,
"Gigantozowler's effect activates!
When this card is destroyed, return one Normal Monster from my Graveyard to the Deck, then Special Summon this card!
I return Companion Dinosaur to the Deck!
Revive, brave and fearless Gigantozowler!"
The crimson dinosaur roared back onto the field.
"And when Gigantozowler is Special Summoned," Lilos continued, "I target one Dinosaur-Type monster in my Graveyard and add it to my hand!"
"I get it now!" one Fusion Army soldier exclaimed.
"Even if Hikaru has a Trap to respond, the recovery effect still resolves!"
"And if Hikaru doesn't respond," another added quickly,
"Invoked Magellanica will be destroyed, and then he'll be hit directly by 3800 and 3600!"
Unless Hikaru could perfectly time his Set card, or had something immune to destruction...
One Set card alone couldn't possibly solve everything.
"Open the Set card."
—!!
Lilos's gaze sharpened as he stared at Hikaru's facedown card, rapidly calculating.
"Quick-Play Spell- The Book of the Law."
"This card can be activated by Tributing one Invoked monster on my field. I then Fusion Summon one Invoked monster with a different original Attribute."
"Different Attribute!?"
Hikaru had only used Earth so far.
"I Tribute Earth Invoked Magellanica, and transform it!"
"Invoked Cocytus!"
Cracks spread across the stone giant. The summoning circle shifted, and the sound of flowing water echoed through the field.
A moment later, a silver-white giant dragon burst forth from beneath the summoning circle.
"Hikaru are you finally going to use me, the great one?"
"Yes, Cocytus. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to hold on," Hikaru replied honestly.
"Hahaha! As expected, I really am the strongest Invoked monster!" Cocytus laughed, clearly in high spirits.
Invoked Cocytus Level 6 | WATER | Dragon DEF: 2900
"I return Frost Brachiosaurus from my Graveyard to my hand, then," Seeing the change in Attribute, Lilos paused, checked the cards in his hand, and frowned.
"I destroy Electronic Stegosaurus from my hand."
"And then, your Invoked monster..."
"Sorry," Hikaru interrupted calmly.
"Invoked Cocytus cannot be destroyed by card effects."
"Tch…!"
The same type of effect as Transcendosaurus Glaciasaurus, huh?
Hmph, but my stats are higher!
"I attack Invoked Cocytus with Transcendosaurus Glaciasaurus!"
A blizzard erupted as Glaciasaurus unleashed countless ice shards toward Cocytus. Though Cocytus was immune to card effects, battle was another matter entirely.
Hikaru had no second Aleister in hand. Even with 2900 DEF, Cocytus couldn't withstand the crushing assault of the Level 12 dinosaur.
The silver dragon froze solid, then shattered into ice.
"And the Gigantozowler revived from the Graveyard has refreshed its battle position!" Lilos roared.
"It can attack directly! Die, Hikaru!"
At that moment, Lilos was ecstatic.
3800 ATK.
Even full Life Points were only 4000.
With the overwhelming pressure of the battlefield, and the presence of the Earthbound Immortal, this blow would finish it!
As if answering his will, Gigantozowler roared and lunged forward, its mountain-sized horn stabbing toward Hikaru.
RUMBLE!
Entire residential blocks were crushed under the impact. The orphanage vanished beneath smoke, debris, and collapsing rubble.
Did it succeed?
Lilos stared eagerly at Hikaru's position.
The smoke slowly began to clear.
A shadow flickered within, indistinct, wavering.
Only a pair of eyes shone through the haze, glowing with an eerie violet light.
Lilos instinctively took a step back.
As the dust settled, Hikaru stood there, clothes torn and disheveled, yet completely unharmed.
He wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.
Although Lilos's spirit power wasn't weak, it still wasn't a direct strike from a true Earthbound Immortal. The damage was far less than Lilos had imagined.
Hikaru LP: 4000 → 200
Hikaru brushed the dust from his clothes and calmly met Lilos's gaze, showing not a trace of fear despite his dangerously low Life Points.
Lilos's expression darkened.
He glanced at his hand and snorted.
"Activate the Spell Card, Foolish Burial. I send Megazowler from my Deck to the Graveyard."
The Fusion material hit the Graveyard.
Now everything should be airtight.
Gigantozowler's revival required a Normal Monster, so he'd sent one himself.
As long as Transcendosaurus Glaciasaurus remained on the field, Dragons Special Summoned from the Graveyard couldn't be targeted or destroyed by effects.
Without Aleister, it wouldn't be easy for Hikaru to raise another 4000-ATK monster.
On top of that, Glaciasaurus couldn't be destroyed by battle.
And Electronic Stegosaurus in the Graveyard added another layer of insurance, when an opponent's monster attacks, Lilos could pay 1000 LP, Special Summon it, and reduce that battle damage to zero.
No matter how you looked at it, there was no way through.
At the very least, Gigantozowler would revive once more.
"My turn. Draw."
Hikaru drew a card, paused when he saw it, then looked up at Lilos with a faint smile.
"Lilos, let me give you some advice as a fellow Duelist."
"Don't always assume you're right."
…?
"It was already obvious last time," Hikaru continued calmly.
"You might look different from that noble, but deep down, you're exactly the same.
Arrogant. Self-righteous. Completely unwilling to listen to others."
"How dare you compare me to that useless!"
"When you first appeared, you stood atop a mountain, looking down on me. Later, you descended from above again.
From beginning to end, you've Dueled the same way, talking down to others, forcing your ideals onto them."
Lilos stared at Hikaru in silence.
He didn't care about the insult.
What troubled him was this.
In a situation like this, with only 200 Life Points left, Hikaru still dared to speak so calmly.
It was as if, at this very moment, the one with fewer Life Points wasn't Hikaru, but Lilos himself.
Just like that day.
It no longer felt as though he was looking down at Hikaru.
Instead, it felt as though Hikaru was looking down at him.
"I Normal Summon Keeper of Dragon Magic."
Keeper of Dragon Magic Level 4 | DARK | Dragon ATK: 1800
"Hmph… it's one of Hikaru's Fusion tools," several Fusion Army soldiers muttered resentfully.
"Keeper of Dragon Magic's effect," Hikaru continued calmly."When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can discard one card to add a Normal Spell with 'Fusion' in its name from my Deck to my hand."
Hikaru's Deck didn't physically move. Instead, a faint card converted into data and appeared before him.
Behind him, Yugo and Rin saw countless Fusion spells flash by like a dazzling banquet.
"Fusion Spell- Fossil Fusion."
"What!?"
Lilos's expression changed instantly. "Fossil Fusion!?"
Damn it, he had only considered Invocation. He'd completely forgotten about that card!
"Spell Card-Fossil Fusion!" Hikaru declared, inserting it into his Duel Disk.
"I banish the Fusion Materials listed on a 'Fossil' Fusion Monster from my hand, field, and/or either player's Graveyard, then Fusion Summon that monster!
The Fusion condition is one Rock-Type monster in my Graveyard and one Level 5 or 6 monster."
"Rock?" Lilos froze.
"That's right," Hikaru said evenly.
"I banish Invoked Magellanica from my Graveyard and your Level 6 Stegocyber from your Graveyard!
Fusion Summon-Mesozoic Fossil Machine - Skull Wagon!"
Bones and stone surged together as a skeletal dinosaur cart formed atop the battlefield.
Mesozoic Fossil Machine - Skull Wagon Level 6 | EARTH | Rock ATK: 1700
"Tch…" Lilos cursed.
"You wanted to rely on that monster in your Graveyard to block direct attacks and negate damage," Hikaru said.
"That is a strategy. But why do you always assume you can never be wrong?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Just like the strategy you handed to that noble, didn't that fail too?"
Hikaru had never believed victory was guaranteed.
If he had, he wouldn't have been caught off guard by beings like Banner-sensei or the Light of Destruction, even with preparation.
"It's not over yet," Hikaru continued.
"Your strategy revolves around repeated destruction, repeated revival, and layered resistances. But when you saw Overload Future Fusion, didn't you think of anything else?"
"What?" Lilos frowned.
"Hmph, Keeper of Dragon Magic's second effect. I reveal one Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, then Special Summon one monster from my Graveyard that's specifically listed in its text, in face-down Defense Position."
"I Special Summon-Dark Magician."
A crimson-cloaked magician appeared, chuckling quietly as he concealed himself behind a flowing curtain.
"Quick-Play Spell-Secrets of Dark Magic"
"This card can perform either a Fusion Summon or a Ritual Summon."
"Ritual!?" Lilos's eyes widened.
"You even prepared Ritual Magic!?"
"There are moments of inspiration," Hikaru said calmly.
"I won't let my companions rot away in laboratories.
I activate Secrets of Dark Magic effect, Fusion Summon one monster using monsters from my hand or field, including 'Dark Magician' or 'Dark Magician Girl' as material!"
"Wait, Dark Magician? Don't tell me—"
"That's right," Hikaru said firmly.
"It's exactly that 'don't tell me.' It's been a long time, but this time, it's the real thing.
Go, Gaia."
"Oh, Lord!" Yugo gasped.
Gaia answered beside Hikaru, voice filled with conviction.
"Let this man, who cloaks invasion in lofty words, learn what true resolve is."
As a Lord, nothing disgusted him more than people like Lilos.
"The Fusion condition is Dark Magician and a 'Chaos' Ritual Monster!"
"One power guides light."
"And one guides darkness!"
"When light and darkness intertwine, chaos descends!"
"Appear!"
" Master of Chaos!"
A golden-armored warrior tore through space, cloak billowing, sword and shield blazing with power as he landed beside Hikaru.
Master of Chaos Level 8 | DARK | Spellcaster ATK: 3000
"Ohhh, so cool!" Yugo shouted.
Lilos, however, went pale.
Damn it, his ace feared nothing more than a Master of Chaos.
"But it doesn't matter!" Lilos forced himself to speak.
"You don't have a LIGHT monster on the field, and you've already used your Normal Summon."
Then he remembered Master of Chaos' effect.
And froze.
"Heh," Hikaru said softly.
"Master of Chaos' effect: when this card is Fusion Summoned, I can target one LIGHT or DARK monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it."
A beam of pure light flared within Hikaru's Duel Disk.
Lilos suddenly remembered.
Keeper of Dragon Magic had discarded a card.
"Thunder Dragonmatrix."
Zzzzt!
A massive dragon egg dropped from the sky.
Thunder Dragonmatrix Level 1 | LIGHT | Thunder ATK: 0
"Oh," Tierra remarked casually, glancing at it.
"That one looks like it'll evolve eventually, though it's not a Fusion Monster."
Hikaru considered it briefly, then looked back at Lilos.
Lilos was barely holding himself upright, hands braced against the ground.
The Fusion Army soldiers had already stepped forward instinctively, shielding him.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes and raised his hand.
"Then, I activate Master of Chaos' final effect."
"I banish one LIGHT and one DARK monster from my field, Keeper of Dragon Magic and Thunder Dragonmatrix."
"Banish all monsters on the field!"
"Creation of Heaven and Earth!"
Gaia raised his greatsword and swept it lightly through the air.
The world itself seemed to tear.
The two massive dinosaurs struggled violently, then vanished into the rift without a trace.
Lilos fell silent.
Hikaru had planned this from the moment he activated Overload Future Fusion.
He had never relied on a Normal Monster in the Graveyard.
"Battle," Hikaru said calmly.
"Direct attack."
The skeletal cart slammed into Lilos first, sending him crashing down.
Then Gaia appeared behind him.
That massive blade carried Gaia's rage toward invaders, his resolve as a Lord to protect the weak, and the absolute power earned through becoming a true Black Luster Soldier.
Lilos LP: 3500 → 1800 → 0
Pain tore through Lilos.
Chaos engulfed the man who had clung to a single, absolute belief, and stripped him of everything.
With a final cry, he lost consciousness.
At the same moment, the Duel field dissolved.
But then, Hikaru felt a sudden burning sensation.
Lilos's body began to dematerialize, turning into blazing fire.
Tierra murmured quietly, "That's his soul."
Pulled by some unseen force, it shot skyward, staining the heavens a deep, ominous red