"Alchemist, do you have any healing potions?"
Realizing this broken dimension probably had nothing else, Hikaru moved to Professor Crowler's side, first returning the cards he had previously "borrowed" from him to his deck, before helping him lean against a large rock, furrowing his brow.
'How long has it been? Why hasn't he woken up yet?'
Although Crowler was often unpredictable, when danger struck, he didn't run away immediately. Instead, he prioritized handing over anything that could save his life to Amagi, ensuring his safe escape.
No matter his educational level, at least in some respects, his "teacher's morals" were absolutely outstanding. He definitely didn't want to leave the professor unconscious like this.
"Don't worry, I checked your companion's body. He should only be unconscious for another two hours at most. He just has low adaptability..." Alchemist shrugged.
"I see." Hikaru nodded, finally feeling relieved.
In the later stages of the original story, Crowler could be considered the best professor. But in the early stages, beneath his comical and ugly appearance, his protection for his students had already shown through.
For instance, although he was almost forced to participate in shadow duels, before facing death, his thoughts weren't filled with resentment.
Instead, he used his final moments to teach his students that no matter how strong the darkness is, it can be overcome, don't be afraid and face death calmly.
He was a teacher who would be willing to die for his students, so even though he was often disorganized, Hikaru, who knew the future, didn't hold any ill will toward him.
He had invited the professor mainly because of the professor's high status, the forced exit device, and most importantly, "Ancient Gear Golem," one of the best fusion materials currently in his deck.
According to his thoughts, two of them could at least dominate the battlefield, if not be invincible.
Who would've known that the dark powers would control Gem-Knight Crystal and make him attack them without dueling first?
Taking advantage of the current situation, Hikaru asked about the Alchemist.
How did he end up here?
He asked and learned that the Alchemist disagreed with his teacher's views, so he decided to leave the Alchemy Academy, to work alone and prove his theories through his own hands and experiments.
"So what's the problem?"
"The Philosopher's Stone," Alchemist replied.
"The Philosopher's Stone?" Amagi Hikaru stared at Alchemist in surprise.
'What's so strange about that?'
"My mentor said the ultimate pursuit of alchemy is Philosopher's Stone, and stuff like immortality and universal medicine are mere byproducts."
Alchemist tapped his staff on his back, shaking his head. "I had a big argument with him because I thought he was talking nonsense, alchemy's ultimate pursuit should be gold! The Philosopher's Stone is just a tool to turn ordinary metals into gold!"
'Wow, a fundamentalist alchemist.'
Hikaru glanced sideways at the various equipment around them, narrowing his eyes, and cautiously asked, "So... you're just making gold here by yourself?"
"Ha… I've already used up all the materials I brought with me, and yet nothing has come of it," Alchemist scratched his head and sighed. "But I do have some byproducts which I have no use for. Master, would you like them?"
He rummaged through a nearby box and pulled out a large pile of items, handing them all to Hikaru who took and carefully examined them.
In no time, Hikaru recognized them, they were all low-level monsters without "spirits", Normal monsters!
He raised an eyebrow.
'That works too.'
The fusion materials for the Fullmetalfoes Alkahest are precisely Normal monsters, so it's not surprising to have a bunch of them with him as materials.
Although most of them were useless, it wasn't a big problem, they could be used for Super Fusion.
'Sweet. Saved some money.'
Hikaru thought as he put the items away.
After a while, once Professor Crowler woke up, he simply told him that the duel was over.
Professor Crowler was slightly confused about what had happened. He only remembered being knocked out by a rock, but after hearing Hikaru duel with his cards and gaining recognition from the spirits, he didn't dwell on it and even felt pleased.
'Mamma Mia… I don't have to face the spirits directly, thank goodness.'
After a short rest and giving the professor time to fix his hair, Hikaru and Crowler stepped into the dimensional gate and returned to their own world.
Compared to last time, Hikaru didn't feel as bad this time; he was just a bit tired, far from the feeling of running a full few kilometers as before. It seemed there was a difference between the two dimensions. The Chaos Warrior's dimension was just too strong.
"Great heavens..." Professor Crowler stepped on the familiar school floor, took out a handkerchief, wiped his forehead, and sighed long. Meanwhile, the principal, who had been waiting for them, kindly walked over to greet them.
"How did it go, Professor Crowler? Everything's okay, right?"
"Huh? Uh, no, everything's fine," Crowler clasped his hands in front of him, rubbing them vigorously and acting flatteringly toward Principal Sheppard. "It felt completely ordinary and effortless, as easy as breathing."
Sleeping through the entire thing was too embarrassing. Before he had promised Hikaru if he performed well on this exam, he would guarantee to give him extra points in exchange for keeping his own situation a secret. So, Hikaru just kept nodding in agreement.
"Alright, alright, then, Hikaru, have you gained the recognition of that spirit?"
Hikaru nodded.
"Hahaha, it seems next year, that guy from the North will only have the new students challenge in a friendly match, and definitely won't let the second years participate!" Principal Sheppard laughed heartily. "Well then, thank you for your hard work, Professor Crowler."
Looking at the three of them laughing and talking, Leo Akaba, standing on the other side, wore a gloomy expression so heavy it could drown the room.
'No surprises? Nothing unusual? As easy as breathing? What does that mean? Crowler, are you hinting my methods are useless and making you laugh?!'
His hands, which had been clasped behind his back, clenched into fists.
'What does Crowler's ridiculous smile mean?!'
The Gem-Knight Crystal, which he had recovered in the strange ruined dimension with the help of employees from KaibaCorp, was accompanied by a few other Gem-Knights, all with strange "darkness."
Although he hadn't used his "full strength," the people from KaibaCorp were no fools. The darkness of the Gem-Knight Crystal far surpassed that of any other Gem-Knight card. How could two ordinary people survive so quickly and safely?
Even if Hikaru had been to another dimension, how strong could his spirit be?
Wasn't it just the Flame Swordsman? How long could it hold up?
Could it be...
Just then, Crowler turned around with a smile, looking at him. The grin was strange and massive, frozen on his face, looking almost like a giant lustful jar, making it very eerie and abstract.
'He's mocking me!' Leo Akaba felt as if he might explode with anger.
'Did he already expect this scene!? Did he even plan this step?'
'Could it be that he has the spirit of the Ancient Gear Golem? That would indeed counter the Gem-Knight Crystal…'
'What a damn old man! No, calm down, don't get angry. At least now, I learned about one of Crowler's trump cards.'
He took a deep breath, exchanged a few words with the others, claimed he still had work in his department, turned around to leave the teachers to their tasks, and stormed off.
He feared he wouldn't be able to hold himself back from directly fighting Crowler!
'No, I can't expose myself, I can't let my plans be hindered!'
"Mamma Mia... what's wrong with him?" Seeing Leo Akaba storm off, Crowler was a little confused. He lowered his voice and asked Hikaru, "Could it be I offended him somehow?"
"Professor Akaba might just not be good at chatting with people," Hikaru guessed a little of Leo Akaba's thoughts. He figured his plan had fallen and Akaba was upset, but he didn't mind.
He had already figured it out.
Leo Akaba was unworthy of being the leader of "Fusion."
Deliberately provoking internal conflicts, treating students like trash, militarizing student management, and secretly plotting against students, trying to trap them in another dimension.
How could fusion go well in such a department?
'He deserved it!' Hikaru had decided that in the future, he would hollow out the Fusion Army and create a "New Fusion Club" for himself.
As for now, the midterm exams are approaching.
He began planning in his mind.
The Duel Academy exams were divided into two parts.
One was a written test; the other, obviously, was "practical combat."
His goal was, of course, the scholarship. So now, he needed to fully immerse himself in his studies.