"Hmph..." Kurosaki Shun, hearing the other side had noticed where he was from, gave a cold snort. "So what if I am."
"I'm guessing you're someone who, after the Fusion Army incident, wants to hunt down representatives of the Fusion Dimension for revenge, or to interrogate them or something. About the Fusion Army's invasion of your world, I'm truly sorry—that disaster happened because we on this side failed to stop it in time."
"Cut the crap!" Hearing this, Kurosaki Shun's anger shot up as he shouted, "I don't need your phony sympathy!"
"I'm only telling the truth—" Tenjo Hikari narrowed his eyes and said, "I am a Duelist who pursues Ultimate Fusion. I am a Fusion Master from the Fusion Dimension. I am a Duelist who believes Fusion is the most noble form of Summon. So naturally, I draw a clear line between myself and those who disgrace the name of Polymerization—and even smash them to pieces—"
"For that reason, I've personally fought the Fusion Army, I've even saved people from your Dimension, and later I sent letters to your world. Didn't you receive them?"
Those words made Kurosaki Shun hesitate for a moment, but then he threw all of that out of his mind. He absolutely did not believe that anyone from the Fusion Dimension could be acting out of goodwill.
Seeing this, Tenjo Hikari shook his head, a bit helplessly.
"Fine then, I'll just show you my doctrine of Polymerization."
"I set Scale 1 Metalfoes Goldriver, destroy Melcaster, and from my Deck Set Metalfoes Fusion."
Fusion!
Here it comes!
Kurosaki Shun braced himself.
"Next, Melcaster's effect: this can only be activated when this Card is destroyed by battle or card effect. I add a Metalfoes Pendulum Monster other than Parametalfoes Melcaster from my face-up Extra Deck to my Hand Card. This turn, I cannot activate in my Pendulum Zone the effects of the Card I added by this effect nor those of any card with the same name. I add Bismuth Witch to my Hand Card."
So that's it—
Kurosaki Shun suddenly understood.
Bismuth Witch is LV 1, and since Pendulum Scales don't have 0, it's impossible to Pendulum Summon it from the Extra Zone. But thanks to this effect, he can recycle Bismuth Witch, giving it a chance to be used again next turn.
As expected of the strongest Fusion Master—sure enough, he's not comparable to those other Duelists. A true powerhouse.
"Next I also set Silverd to the Pendulum Scale, then destroy Magicians' Souls and Set Fullmetalfoes Fusion from my Deck."
Preparations were just about complete. Tenjo Hikari checked his Hand Cards and Extra Deck, then raised his head to look at Kurosaki Shun, and said, "You know, Alchemy is, in essence, Fusion. Through Pulverization, Re-Creation, Purification, and Sublimation, you perform step-by-step Alchemy. And that is the most basic principle of Polymerization in our Fusion Dimension."
"I'm not interested in your Dimension's story!!!" Kurosaki Shun roared furiously at Tenjo Hikari, cutting off his explanation. In this moment, all these so‑called Summons, so‑called souls, no longer held any appeal for him.
Tenjo Hikari let out a sigh, knowing no words could persuade him, and continued his plays: "Then—I'll conduct a Pendulum Summon!"
"My Scales are 1 to 8, so I can Pendulum Summon Monsters from LV 2 to LV 7! If it's a Pendulum Monster face‑up in the Extra Deck, I can Pendulum Summon it directly from the Extra Deck!"
"Come—let's prepare for Alchemy!"
"From my Extra Deck, I Special Summon LV 7 Metalfoes Volflame; LV 7 Parametalfoes Melcaster! Then, I Normal Summon Raremetalfoes Bismugear!"
"I flip my Set Card, Metalfoes Fusion! I fuse Melcaster and Bismuth Witch on the field as Fusion Material! Fusion Summon!"
"The legendary metal—
Metalfoes Orichalc Berserker!"
Shh—
A massive cloud of steam rose up behind Tenjo Hikari. Then, two bright crimson axes slowly took shape within the thick mist, and a burly Warrior abruptly appeared!
The two materials that had encircled this product of Alchemy then returned once more to the Extra Zone, placed there face‑up.
Metalfoes Orichalc Berserker, LV 8, Fire Attribute, Psychic-Type, Attack Power 2800.
"Attack Power 2800?" Kurosaki Shun frowned.
That kind of ATK can't compare to Gem-Knight or Qliphort. Could this Monster really not be his Ace Monster?
"Metalfoes Fusion's effect in the Graveyard: this can only be activated while this Card is in the Graveyard. I return this Card in the Graveyard to my Deck and shuffle. Then, I Draw 1 Card from my Deck."
Tenjo Hikari drew quickly, glanced at the card, and raised an eyebrow.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
"At this moment, Bismuth Witch's effect resolves. From my Deck, I add the LV 3 Normal Pendulum Monster, Metalfoes Silverd, to my Hand Card."
Then, folding his arms, he looked at his opponent and said, "All right, it's your move."
"Hmph, that's all you've got?"
Kurosaki Shun snorted coldly, placed his right hand on the top of his Deck, and then violently drew.
As he pulled the Card, a fierce gust of wind blasted out, his fighting spirit rising sky‑high. Not far away, many birds, startled by his motion, suddenly took off from eaves, utility poles, and the like, beating their wings as they fled.
"My turn, Draw!"
"I'll show you the steel of our will and the iron of our spirit!"
His movement startled countless birds—and also, some other people.
Namely, the group positioned near this spot.
That's right—it's the Moon Wind Bird Team.
Serena and the others noticed the birds in the distance. Ruri looked thoughtful, while Serena's eyes lit up as she pointed off into the distance. "It's a Duel! Hey everyone, wanna go watch the fun?"
Rin heard and mulled it over for a moment.