# Chapter 127: Critiquing the Warm-up Match (Part 1)
Finally, after being violently beaten by Yuzu with a paper fan, Yugo gave up on the idea of dragging people to watch the warm-up match live.
However, to help Yugo, Kaito, and Bruno—who were confirmed participants—get a grasp of the general strength of the other duelists, Kiryu still called everyone to the meeting room to watch the live broadcast.
With a domineering proclamation of, "There is only one KING, and that is I, Jack Atlas!", our Crash King appeared on the racetrack, riding his world-unique Wheel of Fortune. Even through the screen, Yūga Hōzumi could smell that arrogant aura.
With his D-Wheel, Jack performed several stunts on the racetrack that would make top physicists rise from their graves, before landing steadily at the starting point.
Soon, Jack Atlas's opponent made his entrance.
As the announcer loudly called out the name Yuya Sakaki, a red D-Wheel stumbled out from the competitor channel.
"Huh? Yuya?" Yuzu exclaimed from the meeting room.
"What? Do you know him?" Yugo asked curiously.
"That's right," Yuzu nodded.
"Then your friend is in trouble. I hope he can hold on," Yugo said with a solemn expression.
"Huh? Why? Isn't this just a regular match?" Yuzu asked, puzzled.
"No. Do you know why every Friendship Cup has a warm-up match?" Bruno said. "Because the KING doesn't participate in the main tournament. He only waits on his throne for the challenge from the Friendship Cup's victor. The so-called Friendship Cup Champion is merely a ticket to challenge the KING."
"But, to satisfy the audience's expectation of watching the KING's performance, this warm-up match was created, where an unlucky soul is chosen from the participants," Bruno explained.
"Unlucky soul?" Yuzu was somewhat confused.
"Because, without exception, every duelist chosen for the warm-up match these past few years has had their confidence shattered after losing to Jack, leading to an early exit from the main tournament," Yugo said.
"Is he... that strong?" After hearing Yugo's words, Yuzu looked at the two figures at the starting line on the screen, her face filled with worry.
"If you're worried about this kid's mindset, you don't have to be. Leaving aside everything else, I can vouch for his mental fortitude," Yūga Hōzumi said from the side. The last time Yūga Hōzumi finally managed to beat him into a state of withdrawal, he was back to bouncing around within half a day.
"Does Yuya... have no chance of winning at all?" Yuzu hesitated for a moment, then asked.
"None," Yūga Hōzumi stated decisively. "Strictly speaking, he doesn't even have the right to stand before Jack right now."
*Unless he's getting his account boosted,* Yūga Hōzumi grumbled inwardly.
As they spoke, the female commentator on the screen began introducing the Friendship Cup's new rule: Action Cards.
"Is this the rule you mentioned before, the one where you can pick up cards?" Kaito frowned.
"That's right. I didn't expect them to bring this over, too," Yūga Hōzumi sighed, looking a bit troubled.
"You still have those cards, right?" Kaito asked.
"Of course," Yūga Hōzumi nodded, taking a stack of powerful Trap Cards from his side deck that required a cost to activate, such as Karma Cut, which he hadn't used since returning from the Standard Dimension. He pushed them onto the table, saying to Kaito, Yugo, and Bruno, "You three can share these."
"Oh, and take this card," Yūga Hōzumi said, taking a card from his Duel Disk's extra deck and handing it to Kaito.
"Did you get a new Number Card again?" Kaito was accustomed to Yūga Hōzumi's actions; after all, Yūga Hōzumi would often pull out one or two Number cards for him every so often.
"No, this isn't a Number Card this time," Yūga Hōzumi shook his head. "However, this card is very useful against both Synchro Summons and Pendulum Summons."
"Because most Xyz Monster material restrictions only specify Level, we duelists from the Xyz Dimension can pull out all sorts of Xyz Monsters to face different situations. This is our unique way of fighting, isn't it?"
The card Yūga Hōzumi pulled out was precisely Steelswarm Roach, the one that had thoroughly disgusted Tomato back then.
After Kaito took the card, the warm-up match on the screen began its countdown.
"3! 2! 1!"
"Turbo Duel, accelerate!" they both shouted.
Yuya and Jack accelerated simultaneously, but when it came to D-Wheel riding, Tomato was naturally no match for the seasoned Crash King. Jack was the first one through the first curve.
"My turn!" Jack's right hand pointed a finger to the sky. "The King's duels must be entertainment!"
"And the King's entertainment consists of three steps! First, take the first turn and set up the King's formation!"
"Second step!" Jack extended another finger. "On the second turn, give the opponent a full opportunity to show me what they've got! But only for one turn!"
"Because the third turn will usher in the third step of the King's entertainment!" Jack's hand, pointing toward the sky, flicked out another finger.
"Third step, the King will cleanly and decisively claim victory in this duel as the curtain call for the entertainment!"
Yūga Hōzumi, in front of the TV: ...
Although he had long known of this guy's show-off nature, witnessing it firsthand still made Yūga Hōzumi a bit uncomfortable.
"Has he always... been so full of himself?" Serena also looked at the screen with an indescribable expression.
"He's always been like this," Kiryu said coldly from the side. "He was like this ten years ago, too."
Upon hearing this, Yūga Hōzumi turned his gaze to Kiryu. That sounded like there was a story there!
But Kiryu seemed to have no intention of saying more. Just then, Jack began his play, attracting everyone's attention.
"I summon the Tuner Monster, Red Resonator, in Attack Position!"
Since there was a Fiend-Type Tuner with 1500 or less attack on the field, another card could be special summoned from his hand.
"Appear! Wandering King Wildwind!"
"I tune the Level 2 Red Resonator with the Level 4 Wandering King Wildwind!"
The small demon beside the Wheel of Fortune struck its tuning fork, and a strange ripple enveloped the two monsters, revealing a blazing path of starlight.
[2+4=6]
"Crimson soul, unite once more! Resonate with the King's roar! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Red Wyvern!"
A dark red demonic dragon flapped its wings at the end of the fiery path, soaring down to land beside Jack.
Red Wyvern ATK: 2400
"As expected of Jack! He started with a splendid Synchro Summon!" the female commentator enthusiastically hyped up the event, and Jack's fangirls on the sidelines screamed, "Atlas-sama!"
Accustomed to the cheers, Jack's expression remained unchanged. He calmly set two cards. "I set two cards and end my turn!"
Having done all this, Jack twisted the D-Wheel's handlebars, and it began to drive backward. Then, Jack pointed at Yuya. "Come on, challenger! Show me everything you've got! This one turn is the only mercy the King will grant you!"
...
(end of chapter)