The red flame dissipated, followed closely by golden flames, as a swordsman in golden armor cleaved through the fire, appearing alongside Tenjo Hikari.
"Oh?" Seraph looked at the glittering swordsman, nodding slightly, "It seems it was the Card Destruction that sent this to the graveyard—if not for Card Destruction, it would have been Special Summoned from the hand?"
"What a pity, I was hoping to seize this opportunity to launch a direct attack on you... Since that's not possible, I'll use this instead." Seraph picked up a card and placed it in the Monster Zone: "Normal Summon, Indulged Darklord."
Unlike those towering Darklords, this was a very ordinary-looking woman, with only one wing, far inferior to other angels.
Indulged Darklord, LV 4, Dark Attribute, Fairy-Type, ATK 1600.
"Indulged Darklord's effect. When this card is Summoned·Special Summoned, I can add two Darklord monsters with different levels from my Hand·Deck to my hand, and Special Summon one of them in Defense Position on the opponent's field, while the other is added to my hand.
I'll Special Summon Darklord Ukoback on your field, and add the second Darklord Ixchel from the Deck to my hand."
"Then, battle, Indulged Darklord attacks and destroys Ukoback."
The Darklord, who had barely settled on Tenjo Hikari's field, was about to say something but was grabbed single-handedly by the female angel, who with an eerie smile, choked it to death.
"Set a card, turn—end." Seraph finished indifferently.
Not even engaging in any intense battle, just Special Summoning a monster.
"Two Defense Monsters and one Monster with 1600 ATK, it looks like Tenjo can seize this opportunity to attack properly."
However, Tenjo Hikari knew that Seraph's goal this turn wasn't battle, nor to win in one turn, but rather to slowly accumulate resources.
Tenjo Hikari examined his hand cards.
Chain and Ascendancy...
"My turn, draw card!" Tenjo Hikari glanced at the card drawn, placed it in his hand, then raised a card, "Activate the effect of Flame Swordsrealm, send Edge Imp Chain from the hand to the Graveyard for a direct Fusion Summon!
Fusion Summon, Flame Swordsman!"
A second Flame Swordsman!
"Edge Imp Chain's effect, when this card is sent from the Hand·Field to the Graveyard. You can add 1 Frightfur card from the Deck to the hand.
I add Frightfur Patchwork to my hand."
"Then immediately activate the effect of Frightfur Patchwork, adding a Polymerization and Edge Imp Sabres from the Deck to the hand."
Tenjo Hikari rubbed his hand cards slightly, then began his next Fusion: "Spell Card, Polymerization, Fusion Conditions, a Monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck and a monster from the hand.
I fuse Edge Imp Sabres and the Flame Swordsman on the field."
"Fusion Summon, the combination of destruction and creation—
Magnum the Reliever!"
Zzzt-
Orange-yellow lightning gathered in the air, and then, a black archfiend appeared on Tenjo Hikari's field.
Magnum the Reliever, LV 8, Light Attribute, Fiend-Type, ATK 2800.
"After an angel comes a demon?"
"The battle of angels and demons, but for us, if an angel does evil, then summoning a demon, there's nothing wrong with it."
As Magnum appeared, Tenjo Hikari spoke: "Magnum's effect, targeting a Fusion Spell Card in the Graveyard, that card is returned to the bottom of the Deck, then draw 1 card."
Tenjo Hikari opened the Graveyard: "I return Salamandra Fusion from the Graveyard to the Deck and draw a card."
"Oh! I see!" Manjome's eyes lit up upon seeing this, "Recovered Salamandra Fusion, then when Salamandra in the Graveyard is destroyed it can equip to Mirage Swordsman, and when Salamandra is destroyed next time, it can add Salamandra Fusion back to the hand from the Deck for the next fusion."
"Not only supplementing hand cards, but also using monsters for Cycle Fusion?" Ed once again praised, "The minister's duel is as pleasing as ever."
"I see, you engaged the Trap with this idea—then, I won't let you activate it!" Seraph raised his hand abruptly: "Activate Trap Card, The Sanctified Darklord!"
"Select 1 Darklord monster from your hand or face-up on the field and send it to the Graveyard. Select 1 effect monster on the field that monster's effect is negated until the end of the turn; gain Life Points equal to the selected monster's ATK!"
"I'll send Indulged Darklord on the field to the Graveyard. Negate your Magnum's effect!"
Tenjo Hikari's eyes widened, finally his lips curved up, and he began to speak: "The moment I've been waiting for, activating Magnum's effect! During the activation of another card's effect, banish a Fusion Spell Card from the Graveyard, targeting 1 card on the field, destroy it!
I banish Salamandra Fusion from the Graveyard, the target to destroy is... your Darklord Ixchel!"
A second effect?!
The first effect reclaims Fusion, the second utilizes Fusion for destruction?
Seraph was momentarily stunned, then had to shake his head, saying: "An impressive duel, worthy of someone known for pursuing Extreme Fusion like Tenjo Hikari..."
"Beautiful! Tenjo tricked the opponent!"
"Now, the minister didn't actively activate this effect, so it won't get negated, preserving this crucial destruction effect!"
The two spectators cheered out.
"But—it's not over yet, Tenjo-san! Activating another Set Card!"
Tenjo Hikari frowned.
What could the next Set Card be?
"Quick-Play Spell, Forbidden Dress!"
Tch!
It's "Forbidden"!
A classic white garment descended from the sky, gently draping over Ixchel.
"Target 1 face-up monster on the field, that monster's attack is reduced by 600 points, it cannot be destroyed by card effects, and neither player can target it with card effects until the end of the turn."
"The one I'll choose, of course, is Ixchel."
Magnum launched a golden light sphere with its right hand, crashing into Ixchel's body, but this attack had no effect, gradually dissipating just like that.
And then, a drop of an unidentified liquid fell from the sky, dripping onto Magnum the Reliever, causing its body to quickly lose color and eventually become completely colorless.
Seraph, LP: 1500→4300.
"Taboo Card." Seraph looked at the Forbidden Dress in his hand, speaking softly, "It's a card I shouldn't be using, restricted by the gods, but at this point, we ought to give it our all, no holds barred."
"...Effect of Salamandra, the Flying Flame Dragon in the Graveyard, equipping to Mirage Swordsman, increasing its ATK by 700 points."
Mirage Swordsman, ATK: 2800→3500.
Again, three thousand five.
Still three thousand five.
This is the bond of the Flame Sword Brothers!
But, any spectator can see the predicament Tenjo Hikari is in right now.
"This is pretty bad..." Manjome furrowed his brows.
"Indeed..." Ed also had a pained expression.
If things go as expected...
"Pay 1000 Life Points, activate the effect of Ixchel." Seraph shook his left hand, a Spell Card flew from the Graveyard, transformed into the Radiant Altar, and descended here, "Return Banishment of the Darklords to the Deck, activate its effect, add Darklord Contact from the Deck to the hand."
Seraph, LP: 4300→3300.
"Enter the Battle Phase." Tenjo Hikari frowned deeply.
In any case, this time, it's essential to prioritize destroying the two monsters on Seraph's field; otherwise, they'll accumulate, making it even more difficult for Tenjo Hikari to handle.
However, as Mirage and Magnum attacked, although the two angels were destroyed, their figures didn't dissipate but instead floated to Seraph's side with a soft laugh, as if they hadn't been destroyed at all.
"As expected!" Ed clenched his fist.
"Darklord Contact—next turn, the professor can use the Contact to Special Summon monsters from the Graveyard again!"
"Not only that... this time, his Graveyard now includes The Sanctified Darklord... ready anytime to negate the minister's Magnum!"
If this continues, Tenjo Hikari will face a dilemma where his monsters' effects on the field are negated, his hand resources deplete, while the opponent's Life Points keep increasing!
Tenjo Hikari glanced at his hand cards, frowned, and said: "Set a card... End turn."
That card can only be Salamandra with Chain!
The situation seems to be developing unfavorably towards Tenjo Hikari!