The effect of Scatter Fusion can only be used once per turn and it's only activatable when the opponent has a monster on the field. You can send the materials required for a non-Rock-Type Gem-Knight Fusion Monster from your Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck.
After this effect is activated, until the end of the turn, you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck except for Gem-Knight Fusion Monsters.
Hikaru opened his Extra Deck and revealed a tall and valiant knight. Then, he sent Prismaura and a Yellow Peridot from his Deck to the Graveyard.
Brilliant diamonds slowly descended from the sky, accompanied by a steady cracking sound as an evolved "Captain Crystal" made his dazzling entrance in a lightning strike!
[Gem-Knight Prismaura] Level 7│EARTH│Thunder│2450 ATK
"Leave it to me, Lord Hikaru!" Prismaura swung his massive lance, manifesting in this world for the first time.
"I switch Labyrinth Tank to Attack Position!"
[Labyrinth Tank, ATK: 2400]
"Battle! Prismaura, attack Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"Tch." Darkness let out a cold snort.
At the moment, Crystal's noble 50 ATK advantage demonstrated its value.
This is Yu-Gi-Oh! A single point of ATK is enough to dominate. Although 2400 and 2450 differ by only 50 points, Prismaura could still suppress and pummel Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
The fire, Red-Eyes Black Dragon was shattered into pieces, falling into the magma below.
[Darkness, LP: 3500 → 3450]
"Next, Labyrinth Tank, direct attack!"
The wheels and spikes of the modern, stylish combat vehicle began spinning wildly. At Hikaru's command, it rammed straight into Darkness with full force.
[Darkness, LP: 3450 → 1,050]
"Ahhhhh!!"
Darkness was struck by the powerful drilling tank and sent flying. He bounced a few times on the blue energy floor before barely landing at the edge.
He struggled to stand up, his clothes tattered, and blood started to seep from his body.
"Heh…heh…heh, that was quite the pain. It seems your Spirit Power is not weak either."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
'Why hasn't he used his Set Card yet?'
He found it odd.
A Set Card that couldn't be used, what kind of card was it?
He glanced at his own Set Card, a Trap Card "Salamandra with Chain" Since he hadn't drawn any cards related to Flame Swordsman or any FIRE monster, it had just been sitting there, unused.
And what about Darkness?
"Alright, with this, we've seriously reduced Darkness's Life Points!" Alexis let out a sigh of relief on the sidelines, her inner tension and unease resembling that of Thunder Giant's striking waves.
A Shadow Duel, such a thing was still too surreal for an ordinary schoolgirl.
"I activate the effect of Over Future Fusion again, revealing Flame Wingman and sending Avian from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Hikaru hadn't forgotten to continue compressing his Deck using Over Future Fusion's effect.
"I end my turn."
"Heh, heh, heh, heh…" Though he had fallen into a disadvantage, Darkness showed no signs of worry or fear. Instead, he started laughing maniacally. "You've made me feel pain!"
'Is he already going crazy?' Hikaru thought. That didn't sound like Atticus at all. Was he pulling a Zane Truesdale act?
"My turn, draw!"
"I activate the Spell Card, Pot of Greed, drawing two cards from my Deck." He glanced at his draw, then laughed again. "I flip my Set Card, Call of the Haunted!"
"Why Call of the Haunted?" Alexis immediately sensed something was off. If it was this card, why didn't he use it during the previous Battle Phase?
Even if Labyrinth Tank and Red-Eyes Black Dragon had the same ATK, it was unlikely that he would let them destroy each other, right? Besides, even if they did, he wouldn't have lost much. He could've even preserved 2400 Life Points.
Hikaru frowned, observing.
Life Points didn't matter as long as they didn't hit zero.
Saving the more crucial cards and executing deeper strategies and exchanges was the mindset of a wise Duelist.
From this perspective, Darkness had been willing to endure the pain and preserve his Red-Eyes Black Dragon. That was indeed something reminiscent of Joey Wheeler back in the day.
"The monster I'm reviving is, of course, Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, Inferno Fire Blast!"
'A second one!'
Unlike before, Hikaru had no Fusion Guard to protect him. He immediately shouted for Alexis to step back while he raised his arms to shield himself.
"Hahaha! Vengeful dragon, let your blazing fire incinerate the enemy! Black Fire Bullet!!"
Red-Eyes Black Dragon gathered energy into one point and then unleashed a massive black fireball.
"I'll block it!" Prismaura lived up to his title. Even though he was merely one manifestation of Crystal's long saga, Gem-Knight Prismaura still leaped out unflinchingly, transforming into a phantom covering Hikaru.
Powered by his gemstones and body, he shielded Hikaru from the scorching flames, protecting him from the searing heat.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 1600]
"Ugh…"
Even with Prismaura's protection, Hikaru still dropped to one knee, feeling a searing pain spread across his body.
He could faintly smell something burning. It wasn't from the volcanic magma, but his uniform was scorched.
"Thank you, Captain."
Alexis, seeing her classmate's unfortunate state, realized the true terror of a Shadow Duel. It made her even more aware of the danger of this match.
"Hikaru, are you alright?!" She hurried over, trying to help him up, momentarily forgetting about any reservations.
"Don't come over!"
Hikaru shouted.
The duel wasn't over yet!
"Heh, after activating Inferno Fire Blast, Red-Eyes Black Dragon cannot attack. However, I Tribute Red-Eyes Black Dragon to Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!"
GROAAARRR!
The flames surrounding the black dragon intensified, heating its scales to a metallic sheen. When it reappeared, it had completely transformed into something else.
"This card can only be Special Summoned by tributing Red-Eyes Black Dragon, and for each Dragon monster in my Graveyard, it gains 300 ATK!"
[Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon] Level 9│DARK│Dragon│2400 → 3000 ATK
"It's actually on par with Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Alexis gasped.
An ATK of 3000 was a significant benchmark in Yu-Gi-Oh! A monster with the same ATK as Blue-Eyes White Dragon was nearly an insurmountable obstacle for ordinary Duelists.
"Battle! Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, take down that self-righteous dimensional knight!" Darkness, who could clearly see Spirits, extended a finger and arrogantly pointed at Prismaura, commanding his Dark Dragon.
Darkness Dragon roared and charged at Prismaura, shattering it with a powerful strike.
"Ughhh!"
Hikaru felt as if his stomach had been pierced, letting out a groan while coughing up blood.
[Hikaru, LP: 1600 → 1050]
"Hikaru!" Alexis rushed over to support him, preventing his collapse.
"Heh heh, now both of our LPs are equal." Darkness laughed as he Set a card. "I Set one card and end my turn."
Hikaru took a deep breath. After resting for a moment, he said, "Thank you, Alexis," then let go of her hand, bracing himself as he looked firmly at Darkness.
"My turn, draw."
He glanced at the card he drew and smirked. 'Here it is!'
As expected, it was finally time to use this!
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Flame Swordsrealm!"
"Are you sure about this?"
Upon seeing the card, Darkness smirked, suddenly asking.
"What?" Hikaru wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at Darkness.
"Heh, heh, heh… Or perhaps, you're more familiar with this voice?" Darkness turned to Alexis and suddenly spoke in a calm voice. "Alexis?"
"!!?"
Alexis was struck as if by lightning.
That familiar, casual tone, that voice, wait, that figure.
Darkness spread his arms wide, leaving himself completely open, still wearing a smile as he chuckled. "The owner of this body seems to be called, Atticus Rhodes?"
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
'What the, no way!'
Hikaru's eyes widened, and his hands froze, stunned in place.
It wasn't a mind-controlled, amnesiac Atticus Rhodes, or "Dark Atticus."
It was the real Darkness!
The final boss of all of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX!
'Damn it!'