"Battle phase," Hikaru Amagi said, organizing his hand. "Gem-Knight Prism Aura attacks Harpie Dancer. Then, Meteor Black Dragon—direct attack!"
[Guardians of the Mountain — LP: 5600 → 2100]
"That's a huge drop in LP!"
"He's so cool!"
"Hang in there, Brother Nine-Serpent Peacock!"
The avian warrior emerged from behind the cover of his protective feathers, locking eyes with Hikaru.
An impressive Duelist, no doubt…
"Since Dark Simorgh has left the field, that means we can once again Set cards," Hikaru announced.
He glanced at his remaining hand. "I Set two cards face-down."
Though he'd earlier revealed his entire hand was Spell Cards, the draw phase had changed that—meaning Nine-Serpent and Hundred-Year Dragon couldn't be certain what those face-downs were anymore.
"That's it. I end my turn."
"A brilliant duel so far, human warrior," Hundred-Year Dragon said, nodding as he cradled his claws. "Every play… fusion. In my century-long dragon life, I've never faced a Duelist like you.
But, as a Guardian of the Mountain—I can't afford to hold back."
"My turn—draw!"
He drew a card with a swift flick of his dragon claw.
"First, I activate the effect of Dark Simorgh in the Graveyard. By banishing one WIND and one DARK monster from my hand, I can Special Summon it!
I banish Baby Dragon and Collapserpent from my hand—rise again, Dark Simorgh!"
Fwoooosh—
The storm howled. The banished bird returned, winds swirling around its reborn silhouette.
"Dark Simorgh, able to revive endlessly as long as there is wind and shadow. Usually just found in textbooks—it's rare to see one in action," Fubuki (Atticus Rhodes) muttered, shielding his eyes from the wind.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card Monster Reincarnation! I discard Shining Giant Dragon from my hand to retrieve Harpie Channeler from my Graveyard!"
Hikaru narrowed his eyes. "He gave up a high-Level monster just to get back a lower one? Does he lack Tribute material?"
"No… he probably has something like Monster Reborn," Hikaru said calmly. "Shining Giant Dragon has a triggered effect when revived."
"I see." Fubuki nodded.
"Now—Reveal face-down card: Call of the Haunted! I'll revive Shining Giant Dragon!"
From above, a glowing scale dropped from the heavens.
"This card… was entrusted to me by Lord Shining Giant Dragon himself," Hundred-Year Dragon intoned. "Witness its true might!"
Each Guardian race entrusted one of their warriors with their legacy card—dragon, bird, or beast. While they may not be the strongest warriors, they were the most devoted protectors of the children.
Shining Giant Dragon — Level 8, LIGHT, Dragon-Type, ATK: 2800
"When this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, I can banish one monster from your field or Graveyard. It then gains ATK and DEF equal to that monster's Level or Rank x100!"
"What!? Even Xyz Monsters!?" Fubuki was startled.
"I banish Meteor Black Dragon!"
"Not so fast!" Hikaru slammed his face-down. "Quick-Play Spell: De-Fusion! I return one Fusion Monster on my field to the Extra Deck, then Special Summon the Fusion Materials from the Graveyard!"
Meteor Black Dragon's form shimmered, unraveling into two separate monsters.
Red-Eyes Black Dragon — DEF: 2000
Meteor Dragon — DEF: 2000
"You dodged a finishing move. Impressive read," Nine-Serpent Peacock murmured with a nod.
"Finishing move?" Fubuki blinked in confusion.
"You'll understand soon enough," Hundred-Year Dragon grinned. "Battle phase. Dark Simorgh attacks Gem-Knight Prism Aura!"
[Academy Students LP: 5300 → 5050]
"Shining Giant Dragon attacks Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
A burst of radiant energy engulfed the field—Red-Eyes shattered into fragments.
"At this moment, Shining Giant Dragon's effect activates! When it destroys a monster by battle, I can target a Level 7 or 8 Dragon-type monster in either player's Graveyard—except itself—and Special Summon it to my field!
I target… Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"What?!" Fubuki gasped.
Under a burst of sacred light, Red-Eyes Black Dragon reemerged—on the enemy's field.
"The battle phase isn't over yet. Red-Eyes Black Dragon, attack Meteor Dragon! Inferno Fire Blast!"
A fireball erupted from Red-Eyes' maw, blasting its former ally to ash.
"Ugh—"
"Waaahhh—"
Some of the younger spirit creatures watching were visibly shaken.
"Geez, I thought this Hundred-Year Dragon was all friendly. Didn't expect him to be this brutal," Fubuki wiped the sweat from his brow.
Only now did he fully grasp what they meant earlier by "a finishing move."
"I Set a card face-down and end my turn," the dragon announced, exhaling a puff of smoke as he side-eyed Fubuki.
He had already come to respect Hikaru's strength—if the young spirits wanted to follow him after this, he could accept that. But this loudmouthed human…
His eyes flicked to the card he'd just Set.
Trap Card: Des Counterblow — a Counter Trap that reflects effect damage back to the opponent. If that human dared use another "Inferno Fire Blast," he'd regret it.
Now it was Fubuki's turn.
He drew his card, then glanced over at Hikaru's Set card. A knowing grin spread across his face.
"Ahaha… Hikaru, you really Set this card for me? You're betting I'll make use of it?"
"If what you said earlier—your pride, your frustration—is true, then yeah. I believe you will."
"Ahahahah! That's why you're the Fusion Duelist! You really do know your ally and your enemy!"
"Then—I won't hold back!!"