Gem-Knight Lapis drew a card to begin her turn, then activated a Continuous Spell Card.
"Scatter Fusion!"
Another Fusion Spell commonly used by Hikaru. It could only be activated if the opponent controlled a monster. Seeing it trigger, Hikaru narrowed his eyes and flipped a set card, "Right now, I activate Quick-Play Spell, El Shaddoll Fusion!"
"This card can be activated once per turn. I can Fusion Summon an El Shaddoll Fusion Monster using monsters from my field or hand as material!"
"I fuse Shaddoll Falco on my field with Predaplant Chlamydosundew in my hand!"
"Fusion Materials: a Shaddoll monster and a DARK monster!"
"Descend now, divine echo- El Shaddoll Winda!"
Tierra lifted her hand lightly as a multitude of violet puppet strings fell from the sky, before a massive flying dragon materialized, and a phantom identical to Tierra stood before it.
[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5│DARK│Spellcaster│2200 ATK
Meanwhile, Scatter Fusion's effect resolved.
Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Garnet were sent from Lapis's Deck to the Graveyard.
Like Brilliant Fusion, Scatter Fusion also allows Fusion from the Deck. However, unlike Brilliant Fusion, Scatter Fusion requires the opponent to control a monster, only allows summoning Gem-Knight Extra Deck monsters, and cannot use Rock-type Gem-Knights.
With the fusion complete, a crimson figure landed, swinging a massive scythe and casting off its cloak.
[Gem-Knight Ruby] Level 6│EARTH│Pyro│2500 ATK
"Nice. That means Lapis can no longer Special Summon monsters unless she destroys Lady Winda!" Captain Crystal exclaimed. "But Hikaru controls Wendigo. As long as it remains, it can grant a monster protection from battle destruction by Special Summoned monsters!"
Lapis attempted to activate a Spell Card, but it failed; either she didn't hear Crystal or was too far gone to understand. Realizing it, she instead chose to attack.
Ruby slashed its scythe toward Winda.
"Wendigo's effect, once per turn, it grants a monster protection from battle destruction by Special Summoned monsters!"
Lapis ignored it. The puppet-wrapped Ruby continued its attack.
With the attack came 300 points of damage, but not from Ruby.
Puppet strings suddenly shot from the sky toward Hikaru!
He raised his arm to shield himself. The gemstone-armored silhouette of Captain Crystal shimmered into view. The puppet strings sparked violently, stinging his flesh.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 3700]
"Oof..." Hikaru winced. His right hand burned with pain.
Normally, Crystal's support would shield him from duel pain. Despite that, this was different. Lapis had accumulated far too much residual energy, comparable to weaker Sacred Beasts.
The power was unrefined and chaotic, even so, Tierra offered no aid this time.
He flexed his hand.
Still numb.
Lapis did not make further plays and ended her turn.
"Notice it yet?" Tierra said. "That Spirit, she has no will of her own anymore. What's driving her is hate. Hatred for life, for the pain she endured."
She tilted her head. "That's why I said you should've waited two more months. By then, she would've become a full machine with no emotions. Of course, you're not wrong either, if you'd come earlier, she might still have her mind, and things would've been easier and less cruel.
"Right now, all she wants is to make others suffer as she has."
She glanced sidelong at Captain Crystal within Hikaru.
"Which is why, in the end, you're just a fake copy."
"..."
Crystal said nothing.
Hikaru drew his next card. "Tierra, you're not one to talk. When you first arrived in this world, weren't you fascinated?
"You're disappointed now because it's not the world you hoped for. Nothing familiar. That's why you're sad, right?"
Tierra closed her eyes and nodded. She had no reason to lie to Hikaru.
Even after countless years alive, waking from that great slumber into an unfamiliar world left her lonely. She craved echoes of the past. That's why she was so thrilled upon acquiring Pirmais.
And she had always disliked Hikaru's "Captain Crystal."
Partly because, even though Crystal served Hikaru, he always insisted on "returning to aid his own kind" if he found them again. Also, partly because... he wasn't the real one.
Too similar, yet not quite. That made it worse. To Tierra, he was offensively off-brand.
His aura, virtue, and loyalty, they were all just close enough to be annoying.
The original Captain Crystal never despaired from tragedy. He simply rose again and again, a deathless warrior who fought to the bitter end.
Back then, she had tried to resurrect herself, to reset the planet's ecosystem and create lifeforms to her liking, leading to the native spirits' rise in rebellion.
Captain Crystal, blessed by the entire world, became the "Celestial Divine Star Dragon," gaining power equal to Tierra's. With countless allies, he defeated her and ended her reign again.
If it were this Crystal who did it?
She'd never forgive that.
By contrast, Hikaru's purity made her waking world less insufferable.
"I switch Wendigo to Defense Position."
[El Shaddoll Wendigo, 200 ATK → 2800 DEF]
"I discard Thunder Dragon to add two Thunder Dragons from my Deck to my hand.
"Then, I Tribute Shaddoll Falco to Normal Summon, Thunder Dragon!"
Zzzzzt!
A two-headed lightning beast roared onto the field.
[Thunder Dragon] Level 5│LIGHT│Thunder│1600 ATK
"Now, I send it to the GY to Special Summon from the Extra Deck, Thunder Dragon Colossus!"
The green Thunder Dragon faded, replaced by a jet-black, berserking thunder beast. Its true Spirit was sleeping in the workshop, so its projection appeared extra massive and menacing.
[Thunder Dragon Colossus] Level 8│DARK│Thunder│2600 ATK
Now with Winda and Colossus, Hikaru had completed the iconic floodgate duo. While it might not matter here—it looked damn cool!
"Battle! Thunder Dragon Colossus, attack Ruby."
BUZZ.
Just as the order was given, the puppet strings on Ruby snapped taut. A massive Trap Card on Lapis' field flipped face-up. The artwork showed Ruby's gemstone blazing brightly.
"Gem-Enhancement!" Captain Crystal recognized it instantly.
Ruby's massive fists clenched. The puppet wires snapped her apart with a crack. As she crumbled to rubble, countless puppet strings plunged into the GY and yanked out a slumbering knight in blue armor, hurling him to the field like garbage.
Hikaru arched a brow…Lapis's hatred ran deep.
[Gem-Enhancement] — Tribute a Gem-Knight to Special Summon another from the GY.
[Gem-Knight Aquamarine] Level 6│EARTH│Aqua│2600 DEF
"Cease battle." Hikaru ended the Battle Phase.
He glanced at his hand.
Everything was still within expectations.
"End turn."
...
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