Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, Judai's first year at Duel Academy has come to an end.
For Judai and his buddies, it just means they've grown another year older and advanced to the next grade. But for the third-year graduates, it also means farewell.
In a regular school, top graduates would definitely have a platform to give a speech. But clearly, this isn't a regular school.
According to tradition left by one of the founders, Kaiba Seto, the academy hosts duels for everything, big or small. The teaching assessments involve card games, extracurricular activities are card games, student conflicts are settled with card games, leadership decisions are made with card games, holiday celebrations involve card games, school events involve card games, and even school trips have to be card game-themed...
With this backdrop, it's imaginable that graduation for the third years also involves card games.
The top-performing student among the graduates gets to choose one member from the current students they most desire to duel with, and together they perform a farewell duel for the graduate—this is Duel Academy's tradition.
This year's outstanding graduate representative, unsurprisingly, is of course the so-called "Caesar," Marufuji Ryo.
And the student chosen by Marufuji Ryo for his graduation duel is naturally the first-year, Yuki Judai.
Thus, the theme of the last day of the graduation ceremony naturally evolved into the card match between Judai and Marufuji Ryo.
"Judai, today I'm not the same as before." Marufuji Ryo was full of fighting spirit, "I must thank you. The experience of losing to you last time led me to complete my own transformation! It was a change I could never have achieved with my own power!"
"Now I'm completely different! Thanks to you, I've been able to expand the vision that's always been restricted and touch a brand-new realm I couldn't see before!"
"Oh? Sounds impressive!"
Judai clearly didn't understand, but he felt the fighting spirit and aura of Caesar, which made his blood boil with excitement.
For Judai, as long as he can duel, that's enough.
"Duel!" x2
[Judai, LP 4000]
[Marufuji Ryo, LP 4000]
Almost all the teachers and students gathered in the academy's dueling arena, filled with anticipation for the clash between the academy's two strongest students.
The decision on who goes first was made. But unfortunately for Ryo, as a Cyber Dragon player, he once again ended up going first...
But no problem.
The current Marufuji Ryo is no longer the same; even against a disadvantageous first hand as a Cyber Dragon player, he has prepared a countermeasure!
Ryo drew a card and played a face-down "Cyber Dragon Core" with 1500 defense, then activated the Core's effect to add a "Cybernetic" Magic Trap Card from his deck to his hand upon a successful summon.
He then waved his hand boldly, setting two cards facedown in the back row before passing the turn.
Judai looked at the Cyber Dragon Core, which seemed like a fish out of water, and the two dark facedown cards in the back row, instinctively sensing something was off.
According to Youyu-sensei's teachings, he would always try to understand his opponent before any duel began. Even if not crafting a specialized strategy, he would at least know the opponent's usual tactics and ace monster effects by heart.
So based on experience, shouldn't Caesar go first and directly summon a Cyber End Dragon with a four-for-one exchange?
Looking at it now, Marufuji Ryo's opening doesn't resemble the familiar Caesar at all; it looks more like Yuki Judai!
Strange indeed.
But moves still need to be made. So in Judai's turn, he summoned the duo Solidman and Blazeman, who have been consistent partners with Youyu in Duel City.
First, he summoned Solidman, and with Solidman's effect, he special summoned Blazeman from his hand. Then with Blazeman's effect, he added a "Fusion" card from his deck to his hand when summoned.
Marufuji Ryo squinted slightly as he watched Judai draw that Fusion card from his deck.
So it's coming, is it? Are you going to attack using Fusion, which you're best at...
Judai didn't disappoint him and declared with a wave of his hand that they would fuse right away!
"Fuse the 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' and 'Elemental Hero Solidman' on the field to Fusion Summon 'Elemental Hero Nova Master'!"
The heroes of fire and earth elements fused, and out of the vortex emerged the hero in red-gold armor, making a striking entrance!
[Elemental Hero Nova Master, ATK 2600]
"Then there is Solidman's effect. When he is sent from the field to the graveyard by a Magic Effect, you can special summon 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' from the graveyard in defense mode."
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, DEF 1800]
"Battle," Judai said, "Elemental Hero Nova Master attacks!"
And at that electrifying moment, Marufuji Ryo's facedown Set Card flipped over—
—Trap Card "Cybernetic Overflow"!
Cybernetic Overflow, casually known as "Brain Hemorrhage," can banish a "Cyber Dragon" from the game directly causing a brain hemorrhage for the opposing player... (crossed out)
"By banishing any number of 'Cyber Dragon' from your hand, field, or graveyard, you can destroy the corresponding number of cards on the opponent's field!" Marufuji Ryo explained.
This effect is quite potent. For one, it doesn't limit the number of cards you can destroy—if you have enough ammo, you can wipe out all the cards on the opponent's field in one go, and secondly, as clearly described, this card-destroying effect doesn't target any specific card.
Judai was surprised: "But you don't have any 'Cyber Dragon' on your field or in your graveyard."
"'Cyber Dragon Core,' while on the field or in the graveyard, can be treated as 'Cyber Dragon'," Marufuji Ryo explained, "So I banish 'Cyber Dragon Core' from the game to destroy 'Elemental Hero Nova Master'!"
As the cost for activation, Cyber Dragon Core vanished from the field, and dazzling electric light crackled out from the Trap Card, shattering the powerful elemental hero to pieces!
The superior Elemental Hero didn't even get a chance to stand firm before being hurriedly removed, and the crowd burst into an uproar.
"Oh no! Marufuji Ryo didn't bring out Cyber End Dragon at the start; this is heartbreaking!" shouted a typical silly player.
The forums streaming the duel were already filling up with real-time chatter.
"Marufuji Ryo: Judai, the more I play with Cyber Dragons, the more I realize that OTK has limitations!"
"Judai: What do you want to say, Caesar!?"
"Marufuji Ryo (pulls out Brain Hemorrhage): I'm not going for OTK anymore, Judai!"
"..."
Judai had a bad start, with the hero he got through three-for-one fusion being instantly destroyed, resulting in a significant loss.
But that's okay.
A true Duelist can nonchalantly use up all their cards, and then in the next turn, miraculously bring them all back with a smile.
"Activating Continuous Magic 'Mirage of Nightmare,' this card allows me to draw until I have four cards in hand during your opponent's standby phase.
He then set three cards facedown and ended his turn!
Judai had only Blazeman upfront, but with three facedown cards in the back row at once, even more than Marufuji Ryo, he found himself frowning.
Hiss~ Three facedown cards in the back... one more than me!
Looks like I still have a lot of room for improvement...