Honestly, at the time, I said that purely to calm them down because I couldn't provide any evidence to prove it to them…"
Several Fusion Department students awkwardly scratched the back of their heads.
"Pursuing strength is not wrong," Tenjo Hikari said, "Even the Dragon Magician card given to me by Mr. Pegasus has a very potent effect.
The real key isn't there; it's the belief."
Tenjo Hikari slowly began to speak: "I can feel it, feel a voice calling me, calling me toward a brand-new world."
As if responding to his words, a red light brighter than the "Morning Star" represented by the Darklord flashed across the sky.
Tenjo Hikari opened his eyes, and the red light illuminated him, stretching his silhouette.
Countless spirits watched this scene, seeming to realize something.
"Now, I can prove it to them—I have been ready for this!
Activate the Monster Effect of the Tuner Monster in the Graveyard, Growth Bulb, send the top card of the Deck to the Graveyard, Special Summon this card!"
"Huh?"
Caesar suddenly gasped.
Growth Bulb, LV 1, Earth Attribute, Plant-Type, ATK 100.
"Wow, it's the little bulb, it's the little bulb, Marjoram sis, look, it's the little bulb!"
"Hmm, I see it… But summoning it at this time…"
Tenjo Hikari slowly raised three fingers: "Field Spell Card, Dreamland effect.
When there's a Fusion Monster, every time a monster from hand or on field is sent to the Graveyard by effect, I draw a card.
If there's an Xyz Monster, at the end phase of each of my rounds, destroy the highest level monster on the field.
If there's Synchro Monster, when a monster is Summoned·Special Summoned successfully, it's activated by oneself. Those monster levels increase by LV 1."
"..." Caesar went from confusion to gradually opening his eyes wider and wider, becoming increasingly incredulous.
Not only him, but those friends nearby, the spirits watching, all the ordinary spectators, the Fusion Army's members, everyone, everyone was wide-eyed at this moment.
They seemed to know what was going to happen next—
"Witness it, Caesar!"
He raised his hand, as if a red light shone from him: "Use LV 5 Flame Swordsman and LV 1 Growth Bulb for Tuning!
Transform into the new answer of fusion, Ancient Fusion Explorer!
Synchro Summon! LV 6 Muddy Mudragon!"
The two monsters transformed into stars under the green ring, finally changing shape into an ancient glowing dragon.
Tenjo Hikari felt, at the moment Muddy Mudragon officially appeared in this dimension, numerous chilling gazes concentrated on him, but he didn't mind, calmly welcoming the cold winds of the sky.
Muddy Mudragon, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 500.
"Wait, wait?"
"Wh—what's going on?"
"Synchro Summon!??? Synchro Summon!"
"That guy, Tenjo Hikari, used Synchro Summon???"
Dimension, world, all humans seemed to explode like a pot boiling over.
At this moment, why Tenjo Hikari, like Caesar, could perform a summon method other than fusion became unimportant.
Caesar looked ahead in shock, even doubting his eyes.
Tenjo Hikari… actually used a summon method besides fusion.
"I have already said, fusion is inclusive, fusion is a collection of Vientiane!
No matter what it is, no matter what monster, fusion can accept—
The road forward is ever-changing, and I am just pursuing the ultimate!"
"Activate Spell Card, Fusion Tag. Choose 1 monster on the field to activate. Show 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck to the opponent. This turn, the targeted monster, if used as fusion material, can be used as the same-named card of the shown monster."
Tenjo Hikari opened the Extra Deck, took out a Flame Swordsman: "I choose Fusion Dragon—"
"Myriad Phenomena Fusion!"
Upon hearing, the Fusion Dragon opened its giant light wings, absorbing the Flame Swordsman's power, subsequently, its name changed once again.
"And then—"
"Please witness!"
"Muddy Mudragon's Monster Effect, the Synchro Summoned monster can fuse with monsters on the field, additionally, when Muddy Mudragon is used as Fusion Material, it can substitute as 1 Fusion Material listed in the Fusion Monster Card's name. Other fusion materials at that time must be genuine—now the Fusion Dragon can be seen as [Flame Swordsman]. Precisely the genuine item!"
"Synchro Monster... but the effect is... fusion?!"
"My god, the head, the head, he really proved it!?"
"Tuning is fusion, Synchro Monster is fusion as well…"
Everyone was excited, everyone was thrilled, many were tongue-tied, but none could deny, everyone clearly realized.
Tenjo Hikari certainly has already "faced the future."
"Swordman who manipulates flames, Flame Dragon that wields a greatsword!"
"Aggregate the power of fusion, transform into a brand-new form, guard by my side!"
"My partner, my friend, my symbol!"
"Ultimate Flame Swordsman!"
The Fusion Dragon transformed into purple flames, igniting the greatsword, Flame Swordsman gradually placed the sword in front of him, the armor on his body expanded crazily, and finally transformed into the absolute swordsman.
Ultimate Flame Swordsman, LV 8, Fire Attribute, Warrior-Type, ATK 2800.
Some people still lounging at the critical point in their dorms, never daring to take a step outside, yet still watching the live broadcast on their phones, couldn't help but put on clothes, leave their dorm, and look toward the sky.
Some, because of "Xyz" and "Synchro," felt their decades of effort wasted, suddenly found life with vigor again.
The Fusion Department's members exploded with cheers so loud; they could potentially shatter the ceiling, while the Fusion Army soldiers became silent as death.
Even some who witnessed this scene directly cried.
People fear the unknown.
People worry about the unknown.
But if everything had an answer...
No, perhaps there's no answer.
All there is, is effort and direction!
Just like Tenjo Hikari, absolutely, steadfastly, directly!
"Ultimate Flame…" Caesar looked at this monster, his previously vanished smile unexpectedly slowly blossomed without him even realizing.
From Flame Swordsman to Ultimate Flame Swordsman.
Tenjo Hikari walked this path all the way, and he witnessed nearly the entire journey.
This feeling, as a senior, is truly wonderful…
But, he still has to struggle a bit: "Though Ultimate Flame Swordsman can double its attack power, 5600 attack points are still not enough to bring my Life Points to zero!"
He pointed at Tenjo Hikari: "The turn Ultimate Flame Swordsman activates its effect, at the end phase, it will self-destruct. By then, the victory will be mine!"
"...The effect of Fighting Flame Dragon in the Graveyard, card name once per turn, this card can equip the Flame Swordsman or monster with that card name described on the field! Increase ATK by 700 points!"
Like Armor Prisoner Dragon's effect, equipping a monster as a weapon.
The difference is, this effect can be activated once every turn.
At this instant, feeling the power of "fusion," Caesar suddenly thought if he could fight alongside Tenjo Hikari in the future, this card could precisely serve as Armor Prisoner Dragon's "ammunition," equipping Flame Swordsman each time.
Ultimate Flame Swordsman, ATK: 2800→3500.
"With this, Ultimate Flame's attack power in battle will turn into 7000??"
"So cool!"
Caesar closed his eyes.
Even if Cyber Dragon Nova's ATK increases by 2100 points, doesn't survive this attack power… but.
"Activate Quick-Play Spell Card Cybernetic Zone!" Marufuji Ryo suddenly opened his eyes wide, swung his arm, and shouted, "Choose 1 face-up Machine-Type Fusion Monster on your field, banish it from the game until the end of this turn, its attack power doubles!"
Cyber End Dragon, ATK: 4000→8000.
Cyber End Dragon's figure grew larger, gradually expanding to a size larger than a spaceship, but at the same time, its figure slowly became illusory, eventually transformed like a mirage.
"Even at the last moment, I will journey with Cyber Dragons to a brighter future!"
"Ha…Caesar…" Tenjo Hikari laughed, "Then I'll use Ultimate Flame Swordsman, attack your Cyber Dragon Nova!"
"Xyz and Synchro, but ultimately, still competing as [fusion]? Interesting, then come, Cyber Dragon Nova, banish the Cyber Dragon Core on the field, do not fear, meet the attack!!"
Boom!
Flames enveloped the entire spaceship, in the sky, it was like a brand new sun, crossing the sky, illuminating the hearts of countless hesitant and fearful ones.
"Extreme·Fighting Spirit Flame Slash Sword!"
Ultimate Flame's silhouette swiftly flashed by, appeared behind Caesar, then slowly sheathed its sword, transforming its figure into flames, and disappeared.
The next second, Nova shattered.
The fire turned the faces of all life red.
Like the Tower of Babylon, the pillar of fire pierced the heavens.
Caesar, LP: 2000→0.