Battle City Tournament, private lounge.
"You're saying the people who invaded the ruins claimed they're from the Fusion Dimension, and every one of them has a copy of Super Polymerization?"
At that, Chidori nodded.
"Yeah. That's exactly it."
Hearing that, Yusaku rubbed his chin, thinking.
So it really was like Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V after all, with Fusion being a walking disaster.
Except this time, they weren't invading other Dimensions.
They were invading his.
Off to the side, Merrli and Saya stood together, fists clenched, cheeks puffed in anger.
"Master, they forced Spirits into cards. When do we go beat them up?"
Before Yusaku could answer, the Underworld God, floating quietly in the air as always, spoke in a cool, clear tone.
"Based on intelligence gathered from other ruins, it's not just the people calling themselves Fusion Dimension. There are other Dimensions involved too. Their relationships don't seem friendly. Until we confirm the full picture, don't expose our own information."
"Underworld God-onee-san is right." Suisen drifted over beside Merrli and lightly pinched her puffed cheek, teasing. "Those guys are best at dealing with little Spirits like you who don't think and just charge in. What if they trick you and take you away?"
Merrli pouted. "Then when do we go after them? We can't just sit here and watch Spirits get bound up and turned into cards."
"Not yet." Yusaku ruffled Merrli's hair. "Mikanko and the Dragonmaids just sent me word. They tailed a Fusion Dimension squad, and among them they saw people from Genius Academy."
"One of the tournament's organizers is Genius Academy. I'm guessing it won't be long before they slip up and expose themselves."
Saya tilted her head, thinking hard. "Master, the timing of this tournament feels too perfect. The moment it starts, these so-called 'Dimensions' invade. The tournament's probably meant to distract everyone."
Yusaku smiled faintly and glanced upward. "That's likely. You told me before, didn't you? Someone's collecting Duel energy generated during Duels. I'm guessing it's almost full. Once it is, we'll find out what they're trying to do."
"So instead of us hunting them down, we let them come to us."
"…Okay." Merrli nodded gloomily, but in the next second her eyes lit up as if she'd remembered something. She stared at Yusaku, sparkling with anticipation. "Then, Master, when do we get to go on stage?"
Saya immediately looked up too, eyes full of hope. She clearly hadn't had a chance to appear either.
Seeing their eager faces, Yusaku smiled warmly.
"Not yet. Those invaders might already be mixed into the tournament venue. When the timing's right, that's when you two make your entrance."
"So… we're Master's hidden trump cards?" Merrli asked innocently, head tilted.
Yusaku chuckled and patted her head. "Yeah. That's right. You're all my trump cards. No, I should say it like this. You're my aces."
Knock knock knock.
The moment he finished speaking, crisp knocking sounded from outside, followed by a respectful voice through the door.
"Mr. Yusaku, the Top 4 match is about to begin. You're in the first duel. Please head to the arena and prepare."
Yusaku smiled. "Let's go. Looks like the semifinals are starting."
"Yay! More Duels to watch!" Merrli instantly shook off her earlier gloom and threw both hands up, grinning. "I wonder who's unlucky enough to run into you this time, Master!"
…
At the same time, the stadium was already roaring, packed to the brim. At center stage, the commentator clutched the microphone, hyping the crowd with one last burst of energy, trying to push the atmosphere over the top.
"Hello, everyone! It's your favorite commentator, Sasaki!"
"After yesterday's nonstop battles, our Top 8 have been decided! They are: [garbled contestant list omitted]!"
"And today, we'll narrow those eight down to the four who advance! When today's matches end, only four duelists will remain on this stage, still charging toward the throne of 'King of Games'! I know you're all dying to see the Duels, so no more nonsense. Let's begin!"
As his words fell, a cold-faced man in sunglasses stepped onto the Duel stage.
He didn't waste a syllable.
"Top 4 Match One: Yusaku versus Karasu. Duelists, take the stage!"
The music surged. Yusaku and Karasu emerged from opposite tunnels, immediately swallowed by cheers and applause, walking under the lights toward the center platform.
Once onstage, Yusaku looked at the stone-cold official and smiled. "Roland, long time no see."
Roland only glanced at him, voice flat. "Both duelists, prepare. The match will begin immediately."
Seeing Roland still as icy as ever, Yusaku felt a flicker of boredom. He shrugged lightly.
Across from him, Karasu noticed Yusaku hadn't even looked his way and spoke up.
"Aren't you being a little disrespectful?"
Yusaku turned back.
"Sorry. Didn't notice. Your Gurus people hide under robes all day and only show their eyes. Honestly, your presence is kind of… low. In a crowd, if you don't focus, you don't even see you."
"You…"
Karasu tried to speak, but Yusaku waved him off.
"Enough. Start already. I don't sense anything from the Millennium items. Looks like your leader is still hiding like a sewer rat, too scared to show his face."
He had no intention of being polite to someone already trying to kill him.
Karasu took a breath, forcing his anger down, and snorted. "To deal with trash like you, our leader doesn't need to step in personally!"
"Oh?" Yusaku raised an eyebrow, smiling. He lifted his arm, and his Duel Disk snapped open with a sharp mechanical click. "Then come on."
Karasu didn't bother with more talk. He opened his Duel Disk and slotted in a Deck that gave off a faint, sinister black sheen.
"Duel!"
"Duel!"
Their voices rang across the arena. The system display lit up, and in the glare, both Life Points appeared clearly.
Yusaku: LP 8000
Karasu: LP 8000
Turn 1: Yusaku
Yusaku glanced at the prompt, drew his opening hand, and spoke calmly, clearly, for the entire stadium to hear.
"Then I'll go first. Draw. Main Phase."
After a brief pause, he flicked his fingers and a card shot forward, landing onto his Duel Disk.
"First, I Normal Summon Maliss Dormouse!"
Light burst in front of him. A cute girl in sci-fi styled clothes, wearing an adorable hair accessory, appeared on the field with a bouncy sound effect.
Maliss Dormouse
Level 3 / Cyberse / Effect
ATK 900
"Maliss?"
The duelists watching froze for a second, then someone let out a shout.
"No way, it's Maliss!"
"Normal Summon Dormouse, game's over!"
…
On the field, after summoning, Yusaku looked at Karasu.
"Dormouse's effect. During my Main Phase, I can activate it. I banish 1 'Maliss' monster from my Deck. Then, all 'Maliss' monsters I control gain 600 ATK this turn."
He lifted his chin slightly. "Any response?"
Karasu didn't even glance at his hand. From under the hood came a bizarre, rasping laugh.
"No response. Go ahead. Move."
"No response?" Yusaku glanced at the cards in Karasu's hand. "No hand traps and you're still laughing. So you're holding something you're confident in."
Karasu smiled behind the robe. "Just play your line. If I can't break your board, then you win, right?"
"If you insist."
Yusaku's smile stayed calm.
"Then I'll give you exactly what you asked for."
He revealed a card from his Deck.
"By Dormouse's effect, I banish Maliss White Rabbit from my Deck. Dormouse gains 600 ATK!"
Maliss Dormouse
ATK 900 → 1500
"Next, White Rabbit's effect!"
"If this card is banished, I can pay 300 LP to activate it. Special Summon this card. For the rest of this turn, I can only Special Summon Link Monsters from the Extra Deck."
"I activate that effect and pay 300 LP!"
Yusaku: LP 8000 → 7700
"Special Summon Maliss White Rabbit from the banished zone!"
A soft white glow flew out from the banished zone. A cute girl with fluffy rabbit ears, pink hair, and a short skirt floated down onto the field.
Maliss White Rabbit
Level 3 / Cyberse / Effect
ATK 1200
"White Rabbit's effect!"
Yusaku continued.
"When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can activate it. I Set 1 'Maliss' Trap from my Deck with a different name than any 'Maliss' Trap already in my GY."
"I Set the Trap, Maliss Code TB-11!"
A crisp hum sounded as a face-down card with a faint red glow appeared at Yusaku's feet.
"Next, I Link Summon. I use Maliss White Rabbit and Maliss Dormouse as material!"
"Link Summon, Link-2: Raging Deadly Toxic Lizard!"
The two girls turned into two beams of light and shot into the Link Circuit. The arrows flared, and a green lizard with an umbrella-like ridge on its back descended with a low hiss.
Raging Deadly Toxic Lizard
Link-2 / Reptile / Link / Effect
ATK 800
The instant it hit the field, Yusaku called out.
"I activate its effect. I can banish 1 monster with 2000 ATK or less from my field or GY, then target 1 face-up monster on the field. That target's ATK becomes equal to the original ATK of the monster I banished to activate this effect, until the end of this turn."
He looked at Karasu.
"I banish Maliss Dormouse from my GY. Raging Deadly Toxic Lizard becomes 900 ATK!"
Raging Deadly Toxic Lizard
ATK 800 → 900
"At this moment," Yusaku said, "the banished Dormouse effect can activate."
"When this card is banished, I can pay 300 LP. Special Summon this card. For the rest of this turn, I can only Special Summon Link Monsters from the Extra Deck."
"I activate it and pay 300 LP!"
Yusaku: LP 7700 → 7400
Maliss Dormouse reappeared on the field.
Karasu folded his arms, letting out a snort from beneath the robe.
"Now I get it. The core of your 'Maliss' monsters is Special Summoning from banished, right?"
He paused, gaze sweeping over Yusaku's field, the mockery in his voice deepening.
"There's something I don't understand."
Yusaku lifted an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
Karasu glanced at Dormouse and sneered.
"You've got access to so many Decks. Why pick this one? A Deck that pays LP for effects, and after you activate those effects it has that ridiculous self-restriction. 'You can only Special Summon Link Monsters from the Extra Deck.'"
"Are you just chasing the banish-to-Special Summon gimmick? Or did we collect intel on your other Decks ahead of time, and you don't have the confidence to use them anymore?"
His voice dripped with contempt. "Not going to lie. This 'Maliss' Deck you picked is kind of weak."
Hearing that, Yusaku raised an eyebrow, almost amused.
In the stands, the duelists watching exchanged looks with expressions that could only be described as complicated.
"I heard that right, yeah? He just called Maliss weak? He's dreaming."
"That's because he's never been bullied by Maliss. He'll learn in a minute."
"'Maliss is weak' is a sentence I never thought I'd hear. That Deck can actually challenge Tearlaments. It's not stronger than Tear, but it's still in that top-tier bracket."
"Heh. This is going to be fun. He really called Maliss weak."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]