Although Prohibition prevents the summon of the "Flame Swordsman", as an "upgrade" of the Flame Swordsman, the Dark Flare Knight is free from that ban.
Of course, generally speaking, without a fusion between Dark Magician and Flame Swordsman, Dark Flare Knight cannot be summoned in this world.
But Hikaru's trap card dealt Ryu a severe slap across the face, as Dark Flare Knight doesn't have 'Flame Swordsman' in its name, and Flame Swordsdance can also Special Summon a monster that mentions 'Flame Swordsman' aside from its name.
"A fusion card that can be activated from the graveyard? That's amazing!"
"No, no, no, that's beyond amazing!"
"Using a card from the graveyard and a monster on the field to bypass the normal fusion process to summon a fusion monster. That's just too strong!"
Beside them, Jaden, who had been a bit worried earlier, now saw that Hikaru not only took no damage but even restricted his opponent, and immediately high-fived Syrus in celebration.
"Tch… I set a card and end my turn!"
Ryu wiped the sweat from his forehead and glared at Hikaru through gritted teeth.
"My turn, draw!" Hikaru examined his hand, and let out a "wow."
'Good. It looks like I am going to fuse again!'
Although Ryu's face showed tension, deep down he already had a winning strategy prepared.
His set card was the Sacred Shield, Mirror Force!
Ever since he lost to Hikaru, ever since he was kicked out by the Fusion Club, ever since Professor Crowler publicly criticized him, he has been thinking day and night about how to defeat Hikaru.
In his view, the Yellow Dorm is just the Yellow Dorm, and the Blue Dorm should be riding on the Yellow Dorm's head, even if they are all members of the Fusion Club, it should be so!
So he never felt that he was at fault; it was Hikaru who dared to defy him, It was that guy who didn't know gratitude and Professor Crowler who didn't stand up for him!
And after receiving help from Professor Leo Akaba, he finally got the chance for revenge.
Following Professor Leo Akaba's teachings, he went to another dimension and searched for several Gem-Knight cards, but these were only "secondary." What was truly important was the boundless "dark" power hidden in that dimension.
According to Professor Leo Akaba's teachings, he imbued his deck with "shadow." As long as he defeated Hikaru, he could make Hikaru lose his arrogant confidence, even directly erode it into his own power.
And this trap card is the strategy he painstakingly devised after many days of contemplation.
Hikaru can duel with a full fusion deck, which is indeed very formidable, but as everyone knows, these fusions do not have the effect of destroying cards.
No matter what fusion monster it is, as long as it attacks…
"Senpai."
"?"
Hikaru examined the card in his hand, gently twirling one card while gazing at the sky as if deep in thought, "Actually, after that, I also thought for a long time, sometimes wondering if I had done something wrong back then."
"Ha, at this point you finally realize you must apologize to me."
"After thinking for half a month, I finally concluded—" Hikaru refocused his gaze on his opponent, and smiled, "I was not wrong. I was absolutely right."
"You!"
"I pay 2000 life points to activate the Spell Card, Lullaby of Obedience!"
"This… what is that?"
Hikaru stroked his chin, "Hmm, I originally intended to use this when dueling Jaden, after all, HEROes are extremely high-quality fusion materials."
"Hey, Hikaru, what are you saying? Are you trying to steal my hero!"
From below, Jaden raised his fist to protest Hikaru.
"This, this is also called…"
"Enough, stop talking. I know what you're trying to say." Hikaru interrupted him, "'Is this even called fusion?' That's too narrow-minded, senpai. In a duel, it's never been said that only one's own monsters can serve as fusion materials!"
"HUH!!"
"You're standing here today, talking nonsense, saying something about revenge, even bringing cards specifically to counter my deck. Then, if I'm not mistaken, you must wanna return that line to me, right?
That line…"If you don't respect and take care of your cards, the cards naturally won't respond to you."
"So, you surely brought that card with you! I declare, Ancient Gear Golem!"
"Ugh!!" Ryu was so startled that he stepped back.
Hikaru's Lullaby of Obedience declares one card name, and the opponent must check their deck. If they have the declared monster card, they must either give it to the player who activated the card or ignore the conditions to Special Summon it onto the field of the player who activated this card.
"It's the same type of card as Prohibition?"
"What's this called, 'an eye for an eye'?"
"I think that is a great move."
The crowd below began discussing loudly.
"Hurry up and check senpai, you must have it, right?" Hikaru said.
"Tch." Ryu flipped through his deck, found a card, and threw it with force, tossing it into Hikaru's hands. Hikaru caught it and chuckled lightly, "If you don't want me to Special Summon, that means..."
"I don't care, I activate a Spell Card, Ready Fusion, paying 1000 life points to Special Summon a Level 6 or lower non-effect Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck. I Special Summon, Bracchio-raidus!"
"Next, I will use the Dark Flare Knight and Bracchio-raidus on the field as a tribute to Tribute Summon, the Ancient Gear Golem!"
The Dark Flare Knight shrugged and his body dissolved into golden light. He was happy to make way for the Ancient Gear Golem, even though he couldn't truly show himself.
BOOM!
The mechanical giant made of steel and gears slowly stood up, turning its head to look at Ryu, its eyes glowing with crimson light.
[Ancient Gear Golem] Level 8│EARTH│Machine│3000 ATK!
"Uh, why does it look a little strange?" Hikaru, subconsciously asking, glanced at the somewhat darkened Ancient Gear Golem beside him.
"It's the Ancient Gear Golem!"
"A Tribute Summon? Didn't Hikaru-kun say he was going to Fusion Summon everything?"
"Don't rush. Hikaru-kun's fusion moves have already exceeded what I imagined. Maybe there's still something big to come!"
"Yes, yes, Hikaru-kun, now you actually haven't fused, right?" Ryu was still struggling.
"So naive, so naive," Hikaru shook his head. "It's precisely because you misunderstand fusion, your foolish ideas about fusion, and your blind hatred for me that you ended up like this.
I don't know what you've been through these days, but it doesn't matter.
What does that have to do with me?
Fusion is not that simple, senpai. Don't think that just because you got a fusion card and summoned a monster, you can compete with me!
You and your monsters don't communicate thoughts, your understanding of fusion is rigid, you don't know how to reflect after failing, and you don't have a decent play. Yet you dare talk to me about fusion!?
Let me show you now the power of fusion!"
"I activate the Spell Card, Ancient Gear Fusion!"
"Ancient Gear Fusion!?"
"What's that!?"
"I've never heard of such a card!"
"Oh my god!" Even Professor Crowler couldn't help but run to the edge of the duel stage, gripping the edge and leaning forward.
He didn't even know what this Ancient Gear Fusion was!
"As the name suggests, Ancient Gear Fusion is a Fusion Card specifically for Ancient Gear monsters! You can use monsters from the field or your hand as fusion materials to Fusion Summon an 'Ancient Gear' Fusion Monster.
However, when using an existing 'Ancient Gear Golem' on the field as a fusion material, this card can also use monsters from the deck as fusion materials!"
"From the deck!?"
"A monster from the deck!?"
"FUSION!?"
Everyone watching gasped in astonishment.
'We know you like fusion, but isn't this a bit too powerful!?'
"It's starting!" Hikaru raised his right hand, pointing at the sky. "I will fuse the Ancient Gear Golem on the field, the Ancient Gear Golem and Ancient Gear Knight from my deck as fusion materials, and perform a Fusion Summon!"
Countless steel and gears flew out of the deck, soaring into the sky, flying towards the Ancient Gear Golem, assembling more parts to its body!
He clapped his hands loudly in front of him and shouted, "Fierce hunting hounds, iron knights, now, transform your bodies and merge with the ancient giant to become the ultimate machine!"
I Fusion Summon, Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"
A massive giant with four legs, and arms that became enormous and incredibly tough, overshadowed the entire duel arena. Countless students looked up, unable to see the full scope of the giant!
[Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem] Level 10│EARTH│Machine│4400 ATK!
"My Goodness. It's the Ultimate Golem…" Professor Crowler naturally recognized the card, but... how would an ordinary student get such a card?
"Woah, it's huge," Syrus exclaimed, staring in terror at the monster.
"Such high attack!" Chumley swallowed nervously, "Jaden, be careful of this monster!"
Meanwhile, Jaden was cheering, "So cool, fusion!"
"This monster is the fusion of the Ancient Gear Golem, inheriting its effect. When it attacks, the opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap cards until the end of the damage step."
"Ultimate Golem, attack Gem-Knight Topaz—"
"Wait, wait—" Ryu stared at the enormous robot, stepping back in fear.
He noticed that the massive robot was also surrounded by a black, ominous aura.
It was probably because its fusion materials were his own cards!
He remembered Leo Akaba had told him that the higher the attack power, the greater the "impact" it would cause!
"Ultimate Gear Strike!" Hikaru shouted.
With 4400 attack points, the Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem struck down, and Ryu's body—
"No, no, don't, no—"
BOOOOOM!!!
One punch landed. Hikaru was about to continue with his turn, but suddenly he tilted his head, becoming confused.
Why had the 3D hologram disappeared?
Professor Crowler quickly jumped onto the dueling platform, rushed to Ryu's side, checked his breath, quickly performed CPR, shook his head, and then turned to shout, "Ryu has lost consciousness, the winner is Hikaru!"
"Quick, call the academy doctor!"
Hikaru stood frozen, stunned.
'Did I just knock someone out by playing cards?'