Nani!!?
The entire venue instantly exploded, as the students who were still immersed in the passionate atmosphere of watching a god-level duel went from heaven to hell in one second, all turning dumbfounded.
The results of the GX Tournament... are directly linked to the end-of-term exams!?
Doesn't that mean if the performance in the tournament is poor, you'll directly fail the exams?
Of course, there are only so many ranks in the tournament. If you must rank to pass, then this year's passing rate would definitely be a teaching accident, and it seems not many students would pass.
But Youyu said we aren't demons either. Considering everyone is a student and not professional players, the difficulty naturally has to be lowered a bit.
He briefly explained the rules.
First, each contestant will be given a badge with the "GX" insignia, which is similar to the Puzzle Card from the Duel City days. It's a proof of participation and also used to calculate points.
The winner can take the GX badge from the loser, with the eight people holding the most badges advancing to the quarter-finals to compete for the championship.
The number of badges students win in the tournament will be converted into score points added to their end-term exam results. The higher the score won, the better the end-term exam result. If the points won are high enough, they could even skip the end-term exams and still pass.
Of course, even if their tournament results are very poor, they won't directly fail the semester, just that the exam will be much harder than that for other students.
In fact, in Youyu's opinion, he thinks they might as well directly use the tournament to replace the end-term exams completely, offering higher value, as real contests are certainly more reliable than theory tests.
But Principal Samejima and Professor Chronos consistently insisted, believing this tournament with professional players gathered would be too harsh for the students, so they proposed this compromise.
Honestly, Youyu was unconvinced of this.
Professional players? What's so special about professional players? Do you believe I could bring out a student at the bottom of the academy ranking and they couldn't beat them?
However, he eventually approved this proposal.
Upon hearing this news, Ed suddenly became energized again. He stood up and solemnly said to Judai, "It looks like the opportunity will come soon, Judai!
Although I lost this time, it will be different on the tournament field. Just wait, Judai, the GX Tournament champion... will be none other than me!"
Even in the final arenas of professional leagues, Ed never showed such high fighting spirit and desire for victory. It seems in his mind, the academy event is far more significant than the world professional league...
"Great!" Judai readily agreed, "By the way, Ed, how about we go eat dinner tonight? Show me your new Hero while we're there; it's so cool I really want to see it..."
Ed couldn't help but curl up his lips at the compliment, feeling a little proud.
Actually, Judai's various forms of Neo-Spacians left a very deep impression on him, and he genuinely wanted to observe and appreciate this brand-new Cosmic Hero up close.
Exchanging admiration with Judai didn't seem so bad, right?
That's what he thought, but when it came to saying it, the words turned into...
"Hmph, who wants to have dinner with you?" Ed adjusted his collar elegantly and turned around, "Unlike you carefree folks, I am very busy.
That's all, see you at the arena."
"Okay." Judai wasn't bothered, he just stood on tiptoes and waved vigorously at Ed's back, "Tonight I'll be at the Red Dormitory's canteen, the window seat on the far right. If you change your mind, just come find me~"
Ed ignored him and walked straight off the dueling platform.
However, his mind was filled with the imposing, glamorous, and mighty Neo-Spacian Hero, and Judai's silly yet radiant smile.
He shook his head hard yet found no matter what he could not get this guy out of his mind.
The secretary was long waiting below the stage. She held a tablet in her snow-white hands, her fair and slender fingers quickly operating on the schedule in the device.
She didn't say a word, but silently deleted the evening's original schedule and changed it to "have dinner at the Red Dormitory."
Although the boss hadn't spoken, she just knew this was the change to make.
Bosses are often fickle; sometimes they have already made up their minds about something internally yet just refuse to say it out loud, sometimes even they don't know they have settled it.
Being able to grasp the boss's intentions was her duty as a secretary.
...
An unknown location.
Tarot Cards flew along a predetermined path, one card after another lightly landing, stacking on the round table covered with white cloth.
Saiou Takuma stared intently at the tabletop, uncovering the first card fate had revealed to him.
It showed a tower struck by lightning, with people falling from the crumbled top.
Foretelling destruction.
Saiou angrily flipped the table again, scattering the Tarot Cards all over.
He felt irritated.
Ever since he lost to a Duel King called Youyu, everything seemed to have gone wrong.
It was the first time since this personality had come into existence, that fate seemed to have been shaken. It felt like he was charging on the chariot of destiny with overwhelming momentum, only to crash into something far larger than fate, instantly being sent tumbling.
A shadowy figure appeared in the dark corner.
The person glanced at the widespread Tarot Cards and said calmly, "I took the risk and saved you from the Duel King, not for you to wallow in self-pity here."
Saiou turned his back on him without a word: "Any progress?"
"It's hard to say." The shadow slowly said, "But I found the thing we're looking for; at least I have the exact coordinates."
Saiou frowned: "Then why not just take it?"
"It's not that simple." The shadow said, "That thing is with the Kaiba Group, and its security protocol is of the highest level. Kaiba Seto seems to value it highly. It's key to some cutting-edge technology he's developing."
"Can't you deal with Kaiba Seto?" Saiou folded his arms.
"...Not exactly, but it's difficult for me to act on this from my position." He said, "Kaiba isn't to be taken lightly, and if I act rashly, I could risk exposure. I'm not planning to reveal myself so soon."
Saiou understood: "You want me to obtain that thing."
"Exactly."
Saiou sneered.
"Your plan is not invincible and already failed. If not for me, you would've become just another defeated pawn of the Duel King." The shadow said calmly, "So do you want to go out and get beaten again, or follow my method?"
Saiou fell into brief silence.
"...Alright, we'll go with your method."
He compromised, his eyes lighting up with a crimson glow.
"I'll take care of matters at the Kaiba Group."