Yu-Gi-Oh: Fusion Is the Noblest Summoning Method!

The duel began.

Not just in the arena.

All across the world, people were watching the duel via livestream.

At Funglow Corp headquarters and factories, everyone had stopped working to watch this duel that would decide their company's future.

In a hospital room, Rex Raptor sat silently on his bed, watching the duel unfold.

"Hehehe, I'll take the first turn!" As the previous winner, Weevil Underwood naturally had the right to choose.

After drawing his card, he glanced at his hand and let out a creepy giggle.

"Normal Summon, Flying Kamakiri #2!"

With a shimmer of his Duel Disk, a reddish-brown Flying Kamakiri #2 with crimson wings appeared on his field.

[Flying Kamakiri #2] Level 4│WIND│Insect│1500 ATK

'A Normal Monster?'

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

Even for someone who hadn't evolved in over a decade, starting with a Normal Monster seemed a bit... basic for a legendary Duelist.

Then again, Rex Raptor had opened with a 1500 ATK Normal Monster back then and followed it up with Ultra Evolution Pill and Monster Reborn to summon two high-level monsters.

'So if Weevil had defeated Rex Raptor…'

"End my turn!" Weevil tilted his head back with confidence, ending his turn decisively.

Hikaru arched an eyebrow.

This scene...

Meanwhile, Rex Raptor, watching from his hospital room, couldn't help but frown.

"My turn, draw."

Hikaru glanced at his hand.

"Activate the Field Spell, Fusion Recycling Plant."

Ding ding ding... The duel field transformed into a scrap-filled recycling factory, specialized for Fusion.

"Next, I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Prisma."

[Elemental HERO Prisma] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1700 ATK

"Activate Prisma's effect. Once per turn, reveal a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck. Then send one of the Fusion Materials listed on that card from my Deck to the Graveyard, and Prisma's name becomes that monster's until the End Phase."

"I reveal Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem and send Ancient Gear Golem from my Deck to the Graveyard."

"Then, Spell Card, Ancient Gear Fusion!"

"Whoa, he's going all out from the start!"

"Starting right away with Ancient Gear Fusion!"

The spectators gasped as Hikaru wasted no time going full power.

"Ancient Gear Fusion is a Fusion Spell for 'Ancient Gear' monsters. If you control Ancient Gear Golem, you can also use monsters from your Deck as Fusion Materials."

Hikaru slid through his Deck, pulled out two cards, and declared, "I send two Ancient Gear Knights from my Deck to the Graveyard, and Prisma, whose name is treated as Ancient Gear Golem, from my field. Fusion Summon!"

"Steel knights, become the body! Join with the ancient giant to form the ultimate machine! Fusion Summon, Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"

Rumble...

A massive, terrifying machine towered on the field, radiating overwhelming power.

[Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem] Level 10│EARTH│Machine│4400 ATK

"Whoa! 4400 Attack!"

"That's Hikaru's signature Fusion Monster!"

In Funglow's factory, the employees erupted into cheers.

After all, between 4400 and 1500, the winner was obvious.

But Rex Raptor muttered to himself from his hospital bed, "No, something's not right..."

"Battle!"

"Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem attacks!"

The colossal mech raised its iron fist toward the helpless Flying Kamakiri #2. The Flying Kamakiri #2 froze mid-air, its wings ceasing to flap, slowly drifting down.

"Waaah! 4400! I'm doomed!" Weevil screamed, clutching his head in frustration.

"Wahoo! Hikaru's gonna deal massive damage!" the Funglow manager shouted excitedly.

But just as the iron fist was about to slam down, Weevil smirked darkly beneath his hood.

"Haha, fooled you."

"I activate the effect of a monster in my hand!"

"From the hand?" gasped the manager.

"Parasite Paranoid!" Weevil giggled. "This card equips itself to a monster on the field. The equipped monster becomes Insect-Type, cannot attack Insects, and its effects are negated against Insect monsters! Hehehe, and this effect can be activated during your turn too!"

"Go, Parasite!"

A green, snake-like bug slithered out of the card, flying into the Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem's head. The giant mech halted, stiffening in place.

Hikaru tilted his head, staring at his frozen giant.

"Hehehe, see that? That's the power of a veteran Duelist!" Weevil cackled. "Admit defeat now and become my underling, and I might spare you!"

"Ridiculous."

Hikaru calmly turned to face him.

"I saw this coming."

"Pfft, talk big much?" Weevil scoffed.

Hikaru shook his head. "No, it's not empty talk."

Everyone except Rex Raptor looked confused, including Weevil, who started sweating.

"I was just testing you, to see what tricks you had, and surprise, it's exactly the same."

"Hahaha, what are you saying? I don't get it!"

Hikaru glanced at his hand, set a card face-down, and declared, "End my turn. At the End Phase, Fusion Recycling Plant activates. Once per End Phase, I can add one Fusion Material that was used this turn from my Graveyard back to my hand. I retrieve Prisma."

He showed Prisma from his Graveyard, then added it to his hand. "Now, back to our conversation. Did you really think I came here furious and unprepared to duel you?"

Hikaru tapped his Duel Disk. "Knowing that my opponent is a 'legendary scumbag' like you, how could I possibly rush in like Rex Raptor did?"

"I reviewed the footage of your previous duel. Your plays and setup, it's all identical to when you dueled Rex!"

"Tch, you brat!"

Hikaru coldly retorted, "My name, Amaki Hikaru, is destined to crush yours."

"Drop the elder act, bug freak!"