"Water Dragon Cocytus? You summoned it so quickly."
Two top-level mages watched the duel, discussing the situation as they observed.
"Though not the strongest Invoked, Cocytus has formidable defensive abilities. Combined with specific cards, it can form an impenetrable shield."
Aleister shook his magic staff and asked, "Daitokuji, how do you think your disciple will overcome this challenge?"
"It's been a year; how should I know, meow~" the Quintet Magician muttered while stroking his chin softly, "But Crowley, it's been a year, so don't underestimate my disciple."
Aleister raised an eyebrow.
He actually had always appreciated Tenjo Hikari; even though he had not personally dueled with Tenjo Hikari, he had watched the entire duel between Daitokuji and Tenjo Hikari. He understood Tenjo Hikari's commitment to Fusion, comprehension of it, and the ability to judge the opponent's mindset during a duel, which is why he highly regarded Tenjo Hikari, even gifting him the "Earth Invoked".
However, in his view, he was overwhelmingly defeated by Daitokuji using himself a year ago. Over the past year, it would be equivalent to comparing to Water Invoked...
"My turn, activating Field Spell Card - Magical Meltdown!"
What?!
Aleister was so shocked he almost fell back, his magic nearly crumbling from his hands.
In the Magic Academy, Tenjo Hikari quickly operated: "Field Spell Card, Magical Meltdown's processing effect, adds one Aleister the Invoker from the Deck to the hand!"
Wow—
In the academy, many mages let out sounds of shock.
"It's Crowley?"
"Although I've heard that this human called Hikari is a warrior pursuing extreme fusion, I didn't expect him to be this impressive?"
"He even has an Aleister card?"
Humans are not Spirits; Spirits can use their own power as cards during duels.
But humans must collect real cards or spirits to use certain specialty cards.
Aleister is not only a top-tier Spellcaster-Type Spirit but also one of the rarest, known among the Three Sages with Endymion and Sanderion; they are extraordinarily rare.
This human actually possesses such a card, and looking at this stance, he even has an Invocation!
"Roar..." Water Dragon Cocytus growled lowly, eyeing Tenjo Hikari's moves, feeling an immense pressure.
As a Spirit of the Invoker, it's very well aware of a Summoner's power.
However, after obtaining Aleister, Tenjo Hikari didn't perform a Normal Summon directly but instead looked at his hand and activated another card, "Continuous Spell Card, Brilliant Fusion."
He casually inserted a Continuous Spell Card into his Duel Disk and announced, "As the effect processing of this card, using a Monster from your Deck as Fusion Material, Fusion Summons a Gem-Knight Fusion Monster, reducing its ATK·DEF to zero. When this card leaves the field, that Monster is destroyed."
Tenjo Hikari picked up his Deck and leisurely flipped through it.
Besides adding an Aleister from the Deck to the hand, Magical Meltdown has a persistent second effect, specifically "As long as this card is in the field zone, any effect initiated by you including a Fusion Monster's Summoning won't be negated; additionally, during that Fusion Summon, the opponent cannot activate spells, traps, or monster effects."
This is quite a formidable effect. Later in the Branded series, there's a Continuous Spell called Lost Brand, which shares the same effect, serving as a protective measure.
It's precisely because of this defensive capability that unless faced with something like a Mystical Space Typhoon, activating this card allows Tenjo Hikari to proceed smoothly.
"I will send Gem-Knight Crystal and Gem-Knight Sapphire from the Deck to the Graveyard for fusion - Fusion Conditions being Gem-Knight Sapphire and a Gem-Knight Monster."
"Come forth - Fusion Summon, Gem-Knight Aquamarine!"
The blue Gem-Knight brandished his shield and blade, his cape fluttering as he stood gallantly on the field.
Gem-Knight Aquamarine, LV 6, Earth Attribute, Aqua-Type, DEF 2600→0.
"Oh, this material—" a Mage adjusted his glasses excitedly.
"Normal Summon, Aleister the Invoker!"
The Water Invoked let out a low, hissing growl.
"Aleister the Invoker's Effect, add one Invocation from the Deck to the hand."
Tenjo Hikari's Deck automatically ejected a card, sending it into his hand.
"And then—activate! Invocation!"
"Banish Aleister on the field and Sapphire in the Graveyard for Fusion Summon!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!!"
"Ohhh—it's an inner conflict between Invokeds!"
The magicians were thrilled beyond measure.
"LV 8, Earth Invoked!
Invoked Magellanica!"
A magical array appeared beside Tenjo Hikari's hand, and a giant composed of rocks slowly rose before him.
Invoked Magellanica, LV 8, Earth Attribute, Rock-Type, Attack Power 3000.
"Grrr..." The Water Dragon looked at the stone giant, clearly disheartened.
The stone giant is a Fusion Monster but has no effect.
However—
Attack Power 3000.
Even though it's a fusion variant of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, you can't deny one fact.
That is—while powerful monsters have mighty effects, even the most robust effect can crumble with a higher attack power.
Battle Destroy Resistance might be the least useful resistance, but battle destruction is always effective.
With a 2900 frame, it really can't withstand a 3000 attack power.
"The effect of Invocation in the Graveyard, return it to the Deck, and return the banished Aleister the Invoker to the hand."