The key trait of Dark Fusion is that the Fusion Summoned monster can't be destroyed by effects during the turn it's summoned.
Jaden, noticing Captain Gold adding a card to his hand, immediately braced himself.
He wasn't the same as he had been half a year ago, after traveling between dimensions, dueling alongside classmates, witnessing the strength of Zane, Chazz, Bastion, and Hikaru, and even experiencing several Shadow Games himself, he had gained a whole new understanding of dueling.
He remembered Dark Fusion's effects clearly.
Next would probably be Dark Fusion.
"Next, I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Stratos!" However, the Captain's next play shocked both duelists.
"Stratos??"
"Stratos!"
Each was stunned for a different reason.
Jaden was shocked because he had never seen that card before.
Hikaru was shocked because, 'Oh man, Stratos! If you had three Stratoss, who wouldn't want to be a HERO player?'
"Elemental HERO Stratos's effect, when this card is summoned, it can activate one of two abilities. I choose the second: add one HERO card from the Deck to my hand.
I add another version of myself, Evil HERO Adusted Gold, to my hand."
"Ehhh! What?" Jaden cried out instinctively. "Such a strong effect!?"
"It can freely search any HERO, even Evil HERO cards!"
"Heh..." Seeing Jaden's amazement, Captain Gold finally allowed himself a small smile before revealing another card. "Field Spell, Fusion Gate!"
Amidst the towering skyscrapers, a giant black hole formed of grids appeared.
"Skyscraper." Avian chuckled, pointing across. "If it's card effect-related, then the Captain should already be destroyed."
That comment unexpectedly tickled Hikaru.
Captain Gold's effect stated that if "Skyscraper" wasn't on the field, he would self-destruct, the ultimate "I-must-look-cool-or-die" personality.
But Hikaru quickly refocused: "No, Jaden, Evil HERO Fusion Monsters can only be Fusion Summoned using Dark Fusion, so..."
"Ah, right!" Jaden realized.
"Using Fusion Gate's effect, I fuse Stratos on the field with myself in hand."
"Fusion materials: one monster with 'Elemental HERO' in its name, and one LIGHT-Attribute monster."
"I Fusion Summon, the Hero who brings the light—"
"Elemental HERO The Shining!"
A hero in pure white armor, masked and arms folded across his chest, descended from the sky like a sun. Mechanical golden halos shone behind him, resembling the divine radiance in myth.
[Elemental HERO The Shining] Level 8│LIGHT│Warrior│2600 ATK
"Phew... My Clay Guardian still has higher DEF," Jaden muttered.
2800 DEF beats 2600 ATK after all.
"Jaden, it has an effect," Hikaru reminded him from the side.
"Ah, right!"
"The Shining's effect, it gains 300 ATK for each of my banished monsters with 'Elemental HERO' in their names."
[Elemental HERO The Shining, ATK: 2600 –› 3200]
"It's like Flare Wingman's effect!" Jaden then thought of another detail. "And the fusion materials are similar to Great Tornado."
"Ah, I see now, Captain, you've evolved new powers from the other dimension too!"
"Exactly." The Shining crossed his arms, posing just like the Captain.
"Battle, The Shining, attack, and destroy Clay Guardian!"
Golden light flooded the field; Clay Guardian shattered under the attack. Jaden shielded himself against the impact, then quickly activated a Trap Card.
"Activate Trap Card, Hero Signal!"
"When one of my monsters is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Elemental HERO from my hand or Deck!"
Instead of acting immediately, Jaden called out, "Hikaru, any monster?"
"Anything's fine, but preferably a Normal Monster."
"Got it, Avian, you're up!"
"Got it!" Avian leapt in enthusiastically.
"Oh?" Captain Gold paused, noticing Jaden's teamwork.
As a child, Jaden's overwhelming dark power had left him few friends, only the HERO cards had accompanied him, and he had always dueled thinking only of himself and his deck.
While now, he actually consulted a teammate during a duel.
Clearly, he had changed.
Of course, maybe it was also because Hikaru was strong enough to earn Jaden's trust.
"I Set two cards and end my turn."
'Two face-downs…'
Hikaru thoughtfully stroked his chin, glancing at the Golden Idol.
"I see," he murmured.
"?"
The Golden Idol, confused, mimicked the Captain, folding its arms, trying to look profound.
"Draw for turn." Hikaru drew a card and instantly began talking. "Captain Gold discarded himself to search Dark Fusion, then let Stratos add another copy of himself to fuse.
Even though Adusted Gold is LIGHT too, why not search a more useful HERO?
Simple, he left that Dark Fusion for you, his teammate!"
The Golden Idol's many golden eyes spun nervously.
"I don't understand what you're saying."
Hikaru shook his head.
"Even without obvious communication, these two actually coordinate pretty well. Jaden, be careful, this won't be like Gaia."
"Got it!"
Avian glared at Hikaru, stop hinting things at me!
"Alright, I Normal Summon Ancient Gear Knight!"
Hikaru revealed another card.
"Next, Spell Card, Fusion Tag!"
"This card lets a Monster on my field be treated as a Monster listed on a Fusion Monster's materials.
I target Ancient Gear Knight, and reveal, Fullmetalfoes Alkahest!"
"Next, Spell Card, Metalfoes Fusion!"
Hikaru really hadn't expected he'd one day use this card's effect.
"Oh! Is it my turn!?" Fullmetalfoes Alkahest cheered.
He was about to duel two golden spirits personally!
"Fusion materials: one 'Metalfoes' monster plus one Normal Monster!"
"Forge the ordinary into the universal, the alchemical product that dissolves all, descend!"
"Fusion Summon, Fullmetalfoes Alkahest!"
[Fullmetalfoes Alkahest] Level 1│FIRE│Psychic│0 ATK / 0 DEF
In Defense Position.
"Psychic-Type?" Captain Gold loosened his stance.
"Level 1, 0 ATK, 0 DEF..." Golden Eyes Idol nervously leaned back, starting to sweat bullets under his golden body.
Especially when Alkahest's eyes, hidden behind red shades, stared back at him like admiring a rare beauty, he nearly panicked.
"Activate Metalfoes Fusion's graveyard effect, shuffle it into the Deck, then draw one card...oh?"
Hikaru looked at the drawn card and shrugged.
"Lucky, Spell Card, Ready Fusion!"
"I pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon Thousand-Eyes Restrict!"
[Students' LP: 8000 → 7000]
Seeing the familiar monster, Captain Gold pursed his lips and glanced at his companion.
Golden Eyes Idol wiped its golden forehead nervously.
'This guy keeps stealing my plays!'