Chapter 256: Psychic Flow
As Lava Golem "contentedly" transformed into the great hero who ended the war, reducing Psychic Ryujin's Life Points to zero, the image projected by the Virtual Projection System gradually disappeared.
Ryujin, whose Life Points had reached zero, hadn't yet recovered from the recent Duel. He knelt on the ground with a look of disbelief, muttering, "I... I lost?"
"Older Brother!" From the crowd, Ryujin's "accomplices" - his two younger brothers - ran out and came before the dispirited Ryujin, saying with concern, "Cheer up, Older Brother!"
"What does 'Older Brother' mean?" Also in the crowd, Ryuzaki, who had taken the opportunity to watch the spectacle, hadn't figured out why the two Kids who had just been subjected to "Psychic" Ryujin's Petrification Technique would call him Older Brother.
Ishizu Ishtar, who had returned to stand beside Hayato, blushed slightly. She herself had the ability of Future Sight, yet she had actually believed that something as unrealistic as psychic powers could truly exist. She had even reminded Hayato to be careful in a Duel against a Future Sight user just now; it was utterly embarrassing!
Hearing his brothers' comfort, Ryujin raised his head and saw Hayato, who had put away his Duel Disk and stopped in front of him. He forced a smile at the corner of his mouth: "Heh, laugh at me, anyway, someone like me..."
"You played well."
Ryujin was slightly taken aback and looked at Hayato, whose expression hadn't changed at all: "Just now, did you say something?"
"I said, you played well. Your Duel Strength is quite strong," Hayato wasn't just being polite; he was genuinely praising Ryujin. "Although using such underhanded methods in the Duel Monsters game, where Strength is paramount, is truly despicable, aside from that, wasn't the Duel just now quite exciting?"
Saying this, Hayato began to clap. With Hayato leading the way, many people around also started applauding Ryujin.
"Played well."
"Although he lost, he looks stronger than me."
"After all, the opponent is the King of Games."
Ryujin, who had expected to be looked down upon after losing the Duel, never imagined that he could still gain the respect of others even in defeat. His eyes, as he looked at Hayato, who had led the applause, were full of gratitude.
Then, he saw Hayato extend his hand.
Standing up, Ryujin shook Hayato's hand and said emotionally, "Yes, it was truly an Interesting Duel, King of Games."
Unexpectedly, Hayato looked at Ryujin with a strange expression and extended another hand: "Who wants to shake your hand? I want you to hand over the Puzzle Card and the Rare Card."
Awkward. Ryujin felt extremely awkward. After taking out the Puzzle Card from his pocket, he spread out his Deck and was about to take out Jinzo to give to Hayato.
"No, the Rare Card I want isn't this one." Hayato stopped him and chose another Card.
It was the Reverse Trap that Ryujin had used at the beginning of the Duel.
"As always, you're a gentle guy, Hayato." Just as Hayato chose the Reverse Trap, a familiar voice came from behind him.
Turning around, it was none other than Samejima Iemitsu, who had dueled Hayato during the Duelist Kingdom. However, Hayato wasn't surprised to see him here. After all, as a true Duelist, how could one refuse the grand event that was Duel City?
His gaze shifted downwards, and Hayato saw the Duel Disk worn on Samejima's wrist.
"Long time no see, Mr. Samejima. Although it's actually only been about three months," Hayato said to Samejima with a smile. At the same time, he didn't forget to introduce Samejima to Ishizu Ishtar beside him, "This is Mr. Samejima Iemitsu. He was also one of the Top 4 players during the Duelist Kingdom and is a famous Duelist of the 'Electronic Flow'."
Although compared to the conventional Cyber Dragon strategy, Samejima's "Electronic Flow" was indeed a bit unconventional.
"A slight correction, Hayato-kun," Samejima said with a proud smile. "Since we parted ways at the Duelist Kingdom, I returned to the Electronic Flow Dojo and inherited the position of the Former Master. Now, I am the legitimate 'Electronic Flow' Menkyo Kaiden."
Within a Dojo, positions are divided into many levels from bottom to top, and "Menkyo Kaiden" is the highest among them. As the name suggests, it means being able to teach the techniques of the style to others without permission. This meant that Samejima had now become the Master of the "Electronic Flow," just as in the original Future.
"Then congratulations, Mr. Samejima," Hayato was genuinely happy for Samejima. After all, if he successfully inherited the "Electronic Flow," it meant that Samejima's Deck would more or less change for Cyber Dragon.
Perhaps his Deck was no longer as unconventional as before?
"I seemed to have heard some garbage from the 'Electronic Flow' talking here, huh?"
A burly man suddenly pushed through the crowd surrounding Hayato, bringing a large group of henchmen with him. He came up to Hayato and the others, his eyes scanning the people in the center with a fierce look.
"Who are you, you guy! Take back what you just said immediately!" Although Samejima had a very good temper, the "Electronic Flow" was his pride. Hearing the burly man in front of him slander the "Electronic Flow" and even call it "garbage," the gentle Samejima couldn't help but get a little angry.
"Huh? Did I say something wrong? The Electronic Flow or whatever, it's just outright garbage," the burly man saw Samejima getting angry and laughed even more wildly. "Compared to something incomprehensible like the 'Electronic Flow', it's obvious that the 'Psychic Flow' is the strongest!"
"Hmph, no wonder he said such things. So he's from the 'Psychic Flow'!"
Although Ishizu Ishtar could use Future Sight, it didn't mean she was omniscient. She asked Hayato with some confusion, "Hayato, what's the deal with the 'Electronic Flow' and the 'Psychic Flow'?"
"I can't explain it in detail, but roughly speaking, because these two styles were established almost simultaneously, and the Duel Monsters they inherited are both of the Machine Type, the two Dojos just clashed."
"However, the scale won't always remain balanced. After a long stalemate, the Electronic Flow gained a certain advantage and successfully made a name for itself, then continuously accumulated advantages, leading to the current situation in the Duel Monsters world where many people know about the Electronic Flow but don't know about the Psychic Flow, which was established at the same time."
And just as Hayato was introducing the Grudge between the two Dojos to Ishizu Ishtar, that burly man ran to Ryujin, who was surrounded by his henchmen. His face, full of excess flesh, forced out a kind expression: "Young man, I saw your Duel just now."
"How about joining our Psychic Flow? The benefits are very good."