"We will now begin the final test of the day! Your opponent remains the Head of Duel Academy's Practical Exams, Professor Vellian Crowler!" Crowler declared with grand momentum.
Then, both he and Jiang He spoke in unison.
"Duel!"
Their Duel Disks lit up with a crimson glow as they deployed, and the arena displays flickered to life, showing both players starting at 4000 LP.
"I shall grant the first turn to you, Candidate 111," Crowler said, drawing his starting five cards. He smiled inwardly. He would consider this "compensation" for bullying a student with his hidden trump cards.
"Uh... In my opinion, it might be better if you take the first turn, Professor," Jiang He said with a strange expression.
After looking at his starting hand, Jiang He felt a sudden wave of pity for the man. It was like looking at a puppy that had just wandered onto a highway.
He had drawn the perfect "God Hand" with his starter deck.
"Detestable slacker! What is with that annoying look in your eyes?!" Crowler looked ready to chew through his own pink collar. He felt utterly insulted.
"Whoa!"
"That candidate... he gave up the first turn to Professor Crowler?!"
A commotion broke out in the stands. Everyone knew Professor Crowler was no pushover. Jaden might have gotten lucky, but that didn't mean Crowler was weak.
"Quite the arrogant fellow, isn't he?" Syrus said, surprised.
"No, perhaps he actually has a plan," Bastion Misawa pondered, watching Jiang He. He turned to Jaden, who had just returned to his seat. "Candidate 110, do you know what kind of deck Jiang He uses? You two arrived together, right?"
"Haha, well, we came here together, but I've known him for less than thirty minutes," Jaden replied, scratching the back of his head.
"..." Bastion and Syrus were speechless.
The other spectators who had leaned in to eavesdrop could only turn their attention back to the field.
"Since you are in such a hurry to lose, I shall fulfill your request, no-ne!" Crowler suppressed his annoyance for the sake of the audience. He reached for his deck.
"My turn! I draw!"
As the card slid into his hand, a smug grin spread across Crowler's face. "It seems your luck is truly abysmal, Candidate 111. I've already drawn my ace."
He flipped the card to show Jiang He. It was [Polymerization]!
"The Spell Card Polymerization! But wait, does Professor Crowler have any other fusion monsters in his Ancient Gear deck?" an upperclassman wondered aloud.
The Ancient Gear deck was incredibly rare in this world easily worth a fortune. Most people had never even seen its effects, knowing only of its boss monster, the 3000 ATK Ancient Gear Golem.
Jiang He, however, knew better. Having seen the show, he knew the Ancient Gear archetype possessed several Fusion Monsters with terrifyingly high attack points and effects capable of an OTK (One Turn Kill).
He glanced at his five cards. He wasn't worried at all; instead, he watched Crowler's "performance" with genuine interest.
I'll just watch you play your part, he thought. Jiang He lived by one core belief: the harder you flex now, the more it hurts when you face-plant later.
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