"Then, based on the effect of Shaddoll Beast, when it's sent to the graveyard by a card's effect, I draw a card from the deck."
Tenjo Hikari drew a card again, taking another glance.
Mr. T felt a sense of embarrassment.
Lancelot's effect was completely ignored, Golden Cloud Beast's effect seemed completely unaffected, and Skill Drain was completely bypassed—
Humans are truly despicable!
Fortunately.
It's not yet a loss.
Nephilim doesn't engage in battle, and directly destroys the opponent's Special Summoned monster. Even if Tenjo Hikari recycles the Excluded Aleister and boosts Nephilim's attack by 1000 points, it's unlikely to cause damage.
If Tenjo Hikari doesn't attack Lancelot this turn, next turn, Lancelot with material can directly attack. If the attack succeeds, its secondary effect can destroy Nephilim; then Nephilim's graveyard effect can be negated by Lancelot, holding an advantage.
Not only that, Number Monsters can only be battle destroyed by Number Monsters. Without piercing damage, they can't be destroyed while in Defense.
Opposite him.
Tenjo Hikari looked at the card he drew.
Fortunately—
He then turned to the card on his left hand.
Thunder Dragon Fusion, Shaddoll Schism.
These two cards either can't be used or need to be set, so they're just left there. Importantly, besides these, the card Tenjo Hikari held was—Evil Hero Vicious Claws.
This card was practically given to him by Judai, because its effect can only be used once per duel. Judai had several copies and didn't need it much, so he exchanged one with Tenjo Hikari for a Fusion Spell, mutually beneficial. At the time, Judai also gave him a Fiendkuriboh, but Tenjo Hikari never got to use it.
Tenjo Hikari coincidentally lacked high-level Hero Monsters, and although this card seemed humorous, other high-star Heroes—Neos, exclusive to Judai, not possible to give; Sprintman, exclusive to Ed, and a Spirit, not possible to give; Malicious, even though Ed has three copies, one can't fully utilize its abilities better than Ed keeping all three.
Suitable, high-star Heroes are rare; even if this card appears oddly humorous, strong yet not strong, but it's still explosive and self-reviving, so Tenjo Hikari was willing to take it.
And today, he drew it.
It happens—regular occurrence.
Before coming to this world, when Phoenixman was newly released, playing Master Duel often led to Malicious or Denier in hand; now, this Mr. T's "force" is clearly much stronger than those stray spirits, so drawing it isn't surprising.
He looked again at the card he just drew.
He smirked: "Activate Spell Card, Fusion Destiny!"
"Fusion Destiny...? "
Tenjo Hikari smirked: "Feel honored, what you're witnessing is the birth of the Fusion Deck as Fusion reaches a brand-new stage.
The Passionate Fusion People Card Deck."
Mr. T stared perplexedly at Tenjo Hikari.
"This card sends cards from the hand or deck to the graveyard for a Hero Fusion Summon. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed at the end phase of the opponent's turn. After this card's activation, until the end phase, HERO monsters that aren't Dark Attribute can't be Special Summoned."
"Ugh—"
Thunder Dragon Colossus, Little Winda, Phoenixman, Melkaba; Tenjo Hikari's deck gathered these powerhouses, and since their summon conditions are extremely simple, Tenjo Hikari massively revised the deck, except Melkaba being harder to get out due to lack of "Link," he felt other issues weren't severe.
Now, in this duel with his "force" not being very high, he confirms these adjustments.
"Fusion Conditions: LV 6 or higher HERO Monster, paired with a Destiny HERO Monster!"
"Send Evil Hero - Vicious Claws from the hand and Destiny Hero - Drawhand from the deck to the graveyard for a Fusion Summon!"
"World, humanity, the process of dueling; all about breaking apart and re-creation, purifying everything, sublimating into a new form!
Fusion Summon!!!
LV 8!
"Become an immortal hero!"
"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
Fierce flames surged up; a hero waved his hands, spread his wings, and descended slowly.
Destruction, death, pain, yet ultimately, what will be ushered, is a rebirth.
A muscular, dark and fierce hero burning with crimson flames, gently raised his head.
Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, Attack Power 2500.
"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer will reduce opponent's monster's attack power on the field by 200 per HERO in my graveyard."
Two heroes equal 400; it's not much, but it's passable.
However, even reduced by 400, Five-Headed Dragon still has 4600 attack points.
But—
The duel is already over!
"Battle—" Tenjo Hikari pointed at Five-Headed Dragon, "Nephilim attacks Five-Headed Dragon! Due to Nephilim's effect, it doesn't engage in battle and directly destroys the opponent's monster!"
"But—Number Monsters can only be battle destroyed by Number Monsters!"
"Then activate the effect!" Tenjo Hikari wasn't bothered; "Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect, once per turn during either player's turn. Destroy 1 card on my field and 1 card on opponent's field—Number Monsters can't be destroyed except by Number Monsters, but that only applies to battle destruction resistance; if destroyed by an effect, regardless of the Number, it won't change."
"Ugh—"
Tenjo Hikari chose Prism-Man on his field, then pointed at Lancelot.
Prism-Man transformed into a ball of flames, its prisms burned bright, and Tenjo Hikari faintly felt a urge as if it had its own consciousness, wanting to assist him.
Tenjo Hikari paused.
Was it... Kagurazaka's fighting spirit?
Even in a coma, his will wanted to help me?
He didn't understand, but while pondering, Prism-Man had already rushed into Lancelot, exploding with a roar.
Mr. T showed a troubled expression.
But he wasn't afraid.
Though he'll "die," his memory will be transmitted to all his peers, who will inherit it and rejuvenate their tactics, becoming stronger next time.
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Tenjo Hikari lightly frowned.
This duel was undoubtedly a "Darkness Duel"—or rather, when those black walls descended, normal duels ceased to exist on this island.
"Aren't you afraid of dying?"
"Even if I die, my peers will inherit my memories and use them to defeat you. Since that's the case, what's there to fear—we've always been united." More than fearing death, he resented losing to Tenjo Hikari in just one turn! Their training wasn't enough!
Tenjo Hikari frowned. Mr. T was a "collective;" thousands of Mr. T's shared one consciousness.
But, transmitting memory to other selves after dying, can that be considered the same entity?
"Pitiful creatures—"
Tierra expressed his sentiment.
Unaware of the grandeur and sorrow of death, how could one comprehend the preciousness and beauty of life?
No wonder—he disliked these beings.
"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, direct attack on the opponent!" Tenjo Hikari paused for a while, finally acknowledging talking or reasoning with beings like Mr. T wasn't necessary—these things inherently lacked such essence.
Phoenixman silently rose, rushing to Mr. T and punching through him; his body shattered into cards, as his chest was hollowed out joyfully, and countless cards burst, with black liquid splashing out.
Mr. T, LP: 1000→0.
With his life zeroed, his entire form faded, losing features, turning into numerous cards, along with his duel disk and deck, transformed into cards.
Tenjo Hikari stepped forward and picked up the cards.
Synchro Monsters, Xyz Monsters, started slowly contorting, turning into cards without a "face."
Tenjo Hikari faintly frowned.
Seemed to be [Cloned] cards. He wasn't surprised, having seen Psychic End Punisher created by darkness in the S Dimension, so he wasn't too shocked.
He observed the cards exuding dark aura.
Well—good enough.
If he truly acquired a Number Card, Tenjo Hikari wouldn't know what to do; now having blank cards matching the Number Card level, they're immensely useful for Tenjo Hikari's Alchemy Workshop.