"Set two cards, end my turn."
After the attack ended, Ed set two Trap Cards on the field, ending his turn.
Now, it was Tenjo Hikari's turn.
"It's my turn."
"Draw." Tenjo Hikari glanced at his hand card but didn't activate anything immediately and instead looked at his opponent.
It seemed that with the appearance of the Mirage Swordsman, Ed had regained some spirit, no longer as desolate as before.
Having dueled in this world for nearly two years and having taught Serena, Tenjo Hikari could more or less sense his opponent's mindset during a duel.
However, it seemed it wasn't enough.
"Once again, activate Flame Swordsrealm's effect, send a Monster Card from my hand to the graveyard, Fusion Summon another Flame Swordsman."
Tenjo Hikari sent a monster from his hand to the graveyard, bringing out a second Flame Swordsman.
"Haha, I'm back again!"
The Flame Swordsman shouted chaotically.
"Another Flame Swordsman, huh."
"But, even if you summon a second Flame Swordsman, it's pointless, isn't it?"
"No, haven't you forgotten the other effect of Flame Swordsrealm? It can decrease the ATK of 1 Warrior-Type monster on your field by 1000 points until the end of the turn while increasing the ATK of every other monster by 1000 points!"
"Oh!!" Someone suddenly understood.
"Battle!" Tenjo Hikari immediately entered the Battle Phase.
"…At this moment, I activate a Trap Card!" Ed flipped open his set card, "Continuous Trap Card, Call of the Haunted, to resurrect a monster from the graveyard."
"I want to revive, Disk Commander."
"And—it's not over!" Ed didn't stop his actions and immediately flipped another card, "Trap Card, D-Fusion!"
"Fusion from a trap!"
"Ed counterattacks with fusion as well!?"
"I recognize this card, it was used in the duel against Caesar!"
D-Fusion?
Tenjo Hikari slightly raised an eyebrow.
So that's how it is.
"This card can fuse the Destiny Heroes on the field, and the monster fusion summoned this way won't be destroyed by battle or effects this turn."
Ed took the Malicious and Disk Commander on the field: "Fusion condition is... Destiny Hero and a Dark Attribute monster card."
Shhhh—
Clang, clang.
The sound of countless chains ringing out, the monsters turned into streams of light, merged into the chains, and then, a warrior clad in silver-white armor, with a cloak like the claws of an archfiend, appeared, covering his face, roaring in rage.
Unlike the Elemental Heroes, the Destiny Heroes focus on "darkness" and "depth," and this Fusion Monster is one of their representatives.
"Fusion Summon, Destiny Hero - Dangerous!"
Destiny Hero - Dangerous, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 2000.
Ed clutched the last card in his hand and said, "Flame Swordsrealm's effect is, during the monster's attack declaration, decrease the ATK of 1 Warrior-Type monster on your field by 1000 points, and then until the End Phase, increase the ATK of all other monsters on the field by 1000 points."
"So—as long as it's stopped before the attack begins, it's fine!"
Ed sent the card in his hand to the graveyard: "Activate Destiny Hero - Dangerous's monster effect, during either player's turn, discard 1 card to activate. From your hand or Deck, send 1 Destiny Hero to the graveyard!"
Then, if there's a Destiny Hero in your graveyard, all Destiny Heroes on your field will increase ATK by 200 points per Destiny Hero monster in your graveyard until the end of the turn!"
He explained the card's effect: "I discard Destiny Hero - Disk Commander from my hand, and send Destiny Hero - Celestial from the deck to the graveyard! Increase the ATK of all Destiny Heroes on the field!"
Now, with Disk Commander, 1 Malicious, Disk Commander, and Celestial in his graveyard, a total of 4 monsters, the Destiny Heroes on his field will increase their ATK by 800 points.
Dystopia, ATK: 2800→3600.
Dangerous, ATK: 2000→2800.
"At this moment, Dystopia's effect activates! Restoring its ATK, destroying your Flame Swordsrealm!"
"Supreme Justice!"
The flaming realm is violently torn apart by a powerful suction force; not long after, the flames are absorbed into Dystopia's hands, and with a soft "snap," they vanish.
Dystopia, ATK: 3600→2800.
Tenjo Hikari observed the field but remained calm.
The presence of Dangerous and Dystopia is indeed formidable, as in this world, means of interfering during the opponent's turn are not numerous. Thus, in this world, Ed's combination truly is intimidating.
However, when considering that Dangerous + Dystopia amounts to just a subpar Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Tenjo Hikari wasn't as fearful.
After experiencing it many times, Tenjo Hikari's "resistance" was high.
"Though this assault was blocked, it still feels like a bit of a loss, doesn't it?" The surrounding murmurs arose, with many feeling Ed's actions were somewhat foolish.
"Yeah! If Dystopia directly destroyed Mirage Swordsman, wouldn't it have been better? There aren't any other monsters anyway. There was no need to worry about Flame Swordsrealm."
No—
Ed directly denied these thoughts in his mind.
Although not fully clear about Mirage Swordsman's entire effect, his duelist intuition and understanding of Tenjo Hikari informed him that Mirage Swordsman must have an effect related to Fusion!
"…Well, Ed, in that case, I will have Mirage Swordsman attack your Dystopia!"
"Bring it on!" Ed responded.
The two warriors leaped towards each other simultaneously, one twirling twin swords in a dazzling display of swordsmanship, the other surging with energy in a dazzling showcase of superpowers, the two neck and neck, disappearing in a booming roar.
Yet startling everyone, although Mirage Swordsman disappeared, the flames protecting Tenjo Hikari were undiminished.
"The monster effect of Mirage Swordsman!" Tenjo Hikari raised his voice, lifting his hand, "When this card is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can Special Summon one 'Flame Swordsman' or a LV 7 or below monster with that card name from your Deck or Extra Deck!
Come forth—
Special Summon in Defense Position.
Dark Flare Knight!"
The blue flames slowly turned back to black, and after a while, a cold knight returned to the field, holding the Black Flame Sword with one hand, confronting the opponent.
Dark Flare Knight, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, DEF 800.
Indeed, a power related to Fusion Summoning!
Ed nodded slightly in his heart.
"…The opposite of Mirage Knight?" Simultaneously, he furrowed his brows, "I see, even if Mirage Swordsman perishes, as long as there's a Fire Attribute Fusion Monster on the field, it can be revived. And even without Flame Swordsrealm, Mirage Swordsman itself can directly summon Fusion Monsters."
"What an impressive card." Ed lamented.
As long as there's a Fire Attribute Fusion Monster, it can continuously revive, reincarnate, and resurrect!
Like a phoenix born from the flames!
At this moment, many students realized the danger they were just in.
If Ed had destroyed Mirage Swordsman instead of Flame Swordsrealm, Mirage Swordsman would have summoned Dark Flare Knight and used Flame Swordsrealm's effect to battle-destroy Dystopia, not only dealing battle damage but also keeping Flame Swordsrealm on the field for better endurance!
So this is the card evolved from the power of fusion!?
Ed looked at the Dangerous on his field and couldn't help feeling conflicted.
His surname, Phoenix, signifies [Immortal Bird].
Yet now, he's like a prisoner in chains.
"Set a card, end turn." Tenjo Hikari, unable to pursue further, set another card before speaking, "Ed, what has happened to you lately? Tell me, I might have a way; maybe I or someone else have encountered something similar."
"A way?" Ed's handsome face twisted involuntarily, his head lowered, voice trembling, "How could you possibly understand!"