The first stage of the midterm exam finally arrived.
Similar to the entrance exam, the midterm exam was also divided into two parts: written test and practical battle. As a dueling academy, the school actually seemed to place surprisingly high importance on written test scores.
After all, Judai's dueling skills had been top-notch in the academy since he enrolled, but because of his theory scores, he was stuck in the Red dorm.
The written test was scheduled for the morning, and the practical battle in the afternoon. Yugen arrived at the exam room early and finished the test in about 20 minutes.
However, according to the rules, he could only submit the paper after half an hour had passed. So he had no choice but to flip through the paper he felt had nothing worth checking, making loud rustling noises, which attracted envious and angry gazes from around him.
Almost everyone in the exam room was still writing furiously. Even the typical top students, Misawa and Asuka, were still frowning in thought. But he really had nothing else to do, so he started twirling his pen.
Some of the students in the exam room who knew him couldn't help but feel a headache.
How could this guy even make people feel uneasy just by checking the exam?
Almost as soon as the minute hand on the wall clock reached the 30-minute mark, Yugen stood up without hesitation, submitted his paper, and left, leaving behind a carefree silhouette for the people in the exam room.
The pressure on the remaining examinees instantly increased.
It took a long while after Yugen left before Judai finally strolled in, energetically patting Marufuji Sho's shoulder, who was lying on his desk snoring loudly.
"Unforgivable, Sho, to actually sleep during the exam. Isn't this just coming for nothing?"
"Ah!" Marufuji Sho woke up with a start, "Big brother?"
"Cheer up, Sho!" He said with a hearty laugh, "The real battle is about to begin!"
This shocking statement immediately attracted the attention of those around him.
Asuka frowned, thinking that this person came so late, did he think this kind of exam was just child's play and passing easily was just a matter of course?
Misawa couldn't help but glance over. He was puzzled why this person, with such powerful strength, never seemed to be serious at all.
Professor Daitokuji, who was in charge of invigilating, peeled an orange while watching this scene, and stroked his chin with a smile.
Well, as expected of our academy's two great talents this year. One just arrived, and the other has already left.
Each in their own special way, they distinguished themselves from the other examinees in the exam room.
However, Judai, who strode confidently to his seat to receive the exam paper, ultimately failed to complete it. Only 10 minutes later, he joined the ranks of Marufuji Sho, and the two leaned together, snoring until the end of the exam.
Professor Cronos, who happened to pass by the back door, couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.
Just as he expected, the poor students wouldn't need him to do anything; they would directly self-destruct in the written test. That way, he only needed to tamper a little with the practical battle.
Hehehehe...
After lunch, Yugen went to the duel arena early to grab a good seat and wait for the exam to begin.
"So early, rank one."
Misawa Daichi sat down next to him.
Yugen smiled at him, "You too, rank two."
"Haha, but it's hard to say if that will still be true after today." Misawa smiled slightly.
The practical exam involved choosing suitable opponents from within the dorms. Sure enough, just as Misawa had predicted, they, the top two in the dorms, were each other's practical exam opponents this round.
During the Yellow dorm's internal exchange meeting that had already concluded, the top two hadn't had the chance to duel. Moreover, both of their records in the exchange meeting were undefeated. So today was not only an exam but also a duel that all Yellow dorm students were paying close attention to.
Today would decide who was the Yellow dorm's king this year.
"Hmm?"
Misawa looked towards the arena where the exam had already begun, surprised.
"Isn't that the red Yuki Judai? Is his opponent Manjome?"
Many eyes were drawn to that arena. Clearly, according to the exam rules, this was irregular.
But Professor Cronos had his own explanation.
"With Yuki Judai's outstanding practical battle results, he actually can't find a suitable opponent in the Red dorm!" Cronos said reasonably, "Only Manjome is suitable to be your practical battle opponent!"
Saying so wasn't entirely unreasonable. Indeed, as a student with seriously skewed strengths, although his written test had always failed, Judai's practical battle performance was obvious to everyone. Placing him in the Red dorm was indeed a complete mismatch.
Cronos's reasoning was that he wanted to maintain the school's normal elite level system. His reason for choosing Manjome was not only because Manjome was strong but also because Manjome had the prestigious status of being recommended to Obelisk Blue.
"But in exchange, if Yuki Judai wins this duel, he can be specially promoted to the Yellow dorm early. No problem, right?" Cronos said.
"No problem, no problem!"
Judai agreed readily without thinking.
He probably didn't even hear what the professor was saying. He only heard that there was a duel.
So the professor announced the start and then quickly retreated to the outside of the arena.
Alright then, today's first duel is between Judai and Manjome.
Yugen also paid a little attention. After all, if the timeline hadn't changed, this duel should have featured Manjome's VWXYZ ace monster. But since that deck was in Yugen's hands, he was quite curious about what Manjome would pull out this time.
Manjome started by setting a defensive 2000 ATK "Golem Dragon" and then casually set three backrow cards to end his turn.
Without VWXYZ, it seems he's focusing on Dragons now?
Is he moving towards Manjome's Manga Dragon deck?
No, it's just one monster; it's too early to say.
But looking at those three ominous backrow cards...
Well, it has nothing to do with me, definitely. Yugen was very sure.
Then it was Judai's turn. Judai performed quite steadily today. His opening hand was the exemplary Avian and Burstinatrix combo, plus a Fusion card. Still the familiar 502nd combination.
So he didn't say much either.
I must Fusion Summon immediately!
In the entrance exam, he showed his talent by aggressively summoning Flame Wingman on his first turn. But as Judai excitedly prepared to attack, he saw Manjome suddenly raise his head and let out a burst of loud laughter.
"You fell for it, Yuki Judai!"
Manjome shouted loudly.
"Activate face-down card! Trap Card - Chthonian Polymer! When an opponent's Fusion Monster is Fusion Summoned successfully, directly gain control of that monster!"
"Huh!?" Judai blinked twice.
Didn't that mean...
Manjome's smile became even more twisted, and he roared, "Gain control of Flame Wingman!"
Heard you like Flame Wingman the most, Yuki Judai?
Come here!
Sure enough, red pit can bring happiness, and NTR red pit brings double happiness. See, Manjome couldn't stop grinning.
Yugen pondered for a moment.
Well, Chthonian Polymer was originally Manjome's card. In the anime, Manjome used this to steal Flame Wingman in their first duel. It has absolutely nothing to do with me.
"."
Then came a few more turns of offense and defense. Judai tenaciously blocked Manjome's continuous attacks. Meanwhile, Manjome, besides stealing Flame Wingman, also summoned a 2200 ATK six-star Dragon-type monster, "Genesis Dragon," which he had also used in the Manga.
It seems like he's really leaning towards Manga Manjome's Dragon deck.
Then Judai relied on his classic anime combo, activating the Trap Card "A Hero Emerges" from his hand when the opponent attacked, and Special Summoning "Elemental HERO Bladedge" to counter-attack Genesis Dragon. But one turn later, Bladedge stepped on Manjome's "Mirror Force" and was directly sent to the graveyard.
A moment later...
"."
"Activate the Spell Card 'Fusion Recovery' to return 'Burstinatrix' and 'Polymerization' from the graveyard to my hand!" Judai seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, "Then activate 'Polymerization' again to fuse Burstinatrix with Clayman from my hand."
"I won't let you, Yudai!"
Manjome's smile became twisted again.
"Counter Trap - Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell! Discard one Spell Card from my hand to negate the activation of that Spell Card and destroy it. Furthermore, the opponent cannot use that card again in this duel!"
Yugen thought deeply.
Well, this is the Fusion Seal tactic that Misawa developed in the anime. Manjome, after all, is an excellent student, so it's natural for him to think of using this move to deal with Judai.
It definitely has nothing to do with me.
Dueling is just like this.
"Huh?" Judai exclaimed, "I can't even use Fusion anymore?"
Manjome: "Hahahaha—!
You're completely in the palm of my hand, Yuki Yudai! Feel the trembling power!
My turn! Attack your on-field 'Elemental HERO Sparkman' with Flame Wingman."
"Activate face-down card! 'Mirror Gate -'!" Judai flipped his backrow, "When a monster on my field is attacked, exchange control of both players' monsters!"
Manjome: "Nani!?"
Why does this big-eyed, thick-browed jellyfish-head also have this kind of Minotaur trap!?
Yugen frowned upon seeing this.
The real card of [Mirror Gate] has been changed so that it can only be activated when an "Elemental HERO" on your field is attacked, and you can only gain control of the opponent's monster during that turn.
But now, looking at Judai's anime-limited edition trap card, it seems like it can permanently take the opponent's monster...
It seems unexpectedly useful. Yugen quietly took notes, deciding to get one for himself if he had the chance.
There's never too much of this kind of red pit stuff.
"Damn it, who says I don't have traps!" Manjome muttered, "Then activate face-down card! Trap Card 'Chthonian Blast'!
When a monster on my field is destroyed, destroy the monster on the field with the lowest ATK, and both players take damage equal to half of that ATK!"
"Currently, there's only Flame Wingman on the field, so destroy Flame Wingman!"
Judai: "Ah, my Flame Wingman."
Poor Flame Wingman was caught in this red pit vortex, successively experiencing being stolen, then stolen back, and before he could even stand firm, he was sent to the graveyard again. A legendary life in the underworld.
Flame Wingman: Heaven knows what I've experienced in this duel.
[Manjome, LP 450]
[Judai, LP 850]
At this stage, both players' LP were like dying candles in the wind. Judai had no cards in hand, but Manjome still had two cards.
"Set two cards, end turn!"
Manjome still had confidence.
His two backrow cards were Bottomless Trap Hole and Magic Cylinder. Summoning a monster with 1500 or more ATK could directly send it to the Different Dimension, and even if they attacked with a monster with 1500 or less ATK, they could be directly blasted by Magic Cylinder.
And his opponent currently had an empty hand and field. It was impossible for a single card to get through his invincible backrow.
Could it be that you can just draw a card and OTK me?
Judai: "My turn, draw! I summon 'Elemental HERO Wildheart'!"
Manjome still sneered.
Heh, as expected, a miscellaneous card. Watch me use my invincible Bottomless directly.
What the heck, Wildheart!?
Manjome's eyes widened instantly, recalling the effect of this Elemental HERO.
«This card is unaffected by Trap Card effects.»
Manjome coughed up blood.
Empty hand and field, such a thick deck, and he just drew this on his first draw?
Did you pull this damn thing out of your sleeve after eating your mom's cooking???
"Go, Wildheart!" Judai happily swung his fist, "Direct attack on Manjome!"
With one slash, Manjome's LP hit zero, and his smile and joy vanished together.
When he collapsed on his back, lying on the cold Duel Board, he deeply realized a philosophical truth.
In this world, there is only one thing that, like the underworld, makes people feel hopeless.
That is drawing the exact right card at the right time (top decking).
"Won!"
Judai happily struck a pose.
"What a fun duel!"
Manjome: "."