A minute later, at the request of the crowd, Kira, the student’s hope, put on his Duel Disk and stepped onto the dueling platform, facing off against the professional player, Maitre’ D.
Of course, if the only concern was not to embarrass the academy, Kira might not have been the students’ only choice. At the very least, Zane Truesdale, known as the Academy Kaiser, also had a sizable fanbase.
Although Kira was already widely recognized as this year’s rookie king, some fans still insisted that Zane was the true number one at the academy, representing the very peak of Duel Academy.
And though Kira was strong, he was, after all, just a first-year student. Until he and Zane had a direct showdown, not everyone believed he could surpass him.
But if strength wasn’t the only consideration, then there was little hesitation—more than eighty percent of the students felt Kira was the right choice.
For one simple reason: he was fun.
As Jaden always said, dueling should be enjoyable. And everyone agreed that Kira’s duels were the most fun. It just wouldn’t be right not to let a pro player share in that fun for once. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novelꞁire.net
If Kira performed normally and let the pro experience the joy everyone else had felt, everyone would be happy. If, by chance, the pro—reputedly the eighth-best in the profession—performed exceptionally and suppressed Kira, that would be a major feat and worth celebrating as well.
No matter how you looked at it, Kira was the most interesting choice.
And so, the event unfolded as such—Kira stood opposite the professional duelist.
"Since everyone has unanimously chosen you, I assume you must be special," Maitre’ D said, already drawing his opening five cards with a smile. "Of course, you’re still young.
No matter how good the raw material, without time to mature it can never reach its full value. So there’s no need to feel nervous or pressured—just play your best.
Today, we’re here mainly to demonstrate and teach. Winning or losing doesn’t matter."
"Thank you, Mr, Professional," Kira replied, drawing his opening hand and activating his Duel Disk. "Please take care of me."
[Maitre’ Dr, LP 4000]
"I’ll go first. Draw!"
Maitre’ D drew his card, then elegantly pinched a card from his hand between two fingers.
"I summon ’Bacchus the Dizzy Deity,’ in Attack Position!"
A Greek-styled elderly man appeared, his face buried beneath a huge, bushy beard like a fluffy flame. In one hand was a simple yet elegant golden wine cup, in the other a bunch of grapes.
[Bacchus the Dizzy Deity – ATK 1600]
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." Maitre’ D smiled. "Alright, student. Show me your duel."
He swirled a glass of red wine he’d somehow produced, remaining calm and collected.
Every movement radiated elegance.
"Alright, Mr. Professional. My turn, draw."
Kira drew and, after adding to his hand, immediately picked out a card.
"First, I’ll set a card to the field."
A set card appeared on his back row, shimmering with golden light.
Then he revealed a Spell from his hand.
"I activate the Spell Card ’Card Destruction.’ Both players discard all cards in hand, then draw the same number."
"Oh? Swapping out your hand right away?" Maitre’ D chuckled. "Didn’t draw what you wanted, did you? That’s a deck-building issue, you know. You can’t always rely on hand exchanges to solve your problems."
"You’re right, Mr. Professional."
Kira grinned without arguing, discarding his four cards to the Graveyard and drawing four new ones.
"And among the cards sent to the Graveyard by ’Card Destruction’ was ’Learning Elf.’ When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can draw another card from my deck."
He glanced at his fresh draws, thought for a bit, then picked another card.
"I set a monster face-down in Defense Position."
A set monster appeared on his field. He then played out three more cards.
"Then I set three more cards. Turn end."
One monster set, four back row cards. Students familiar with this layout started getting excited.
It was here—the signature "T-formation" of Kira!
Maitre’ D swirled his wine glass again, still calm and elegant.
"Well, there are duelists like that, I suppose. Focusing on defense over offense—still young, after all. The professional world is harsh. If you can’t seize the initiative and attack, the goddess of victory won’t favor you."
Maitre’ D put down his wine glass—though it seemed more like a prop than a real drink.
"Let me show you how a professional does it. My turn, draw!" Maitre’ D declared. "At this moment, Bacchus the Dizzy Deity’s effect activates.
During each of my Standby Phases, his ATK increases by 300."
[Bacchus the Dizzy Deity – ATK 1600 → 1900]
"Next, from my hand, I activate the Spell Card ’Graceful Charity.’ I draw three cards, then discard two."
"At this moment, I activate a set card." Kira snapped his fingers. "Continuous Trap—’Skull Invitation.’"
A demonic apparition appeared above his field, ghostly and sinister, radiating an ominous aura.
"’Skull Invitation’—whenever a card is sent to the Graveyard, each player takes 300 damage for each of their own cards sent."
"Hmm?" Maitre’ D frowned.
It was a card once used by the legendary duelist Marik.
Marik, the original king of shady dueling. Many sinister cards and tactics originated with him, later developed and popularized by real-life players into mature decks.
When it comes to shady tactics, calling Marik a grandmaster is no exaggeration.
"Tch, so if I send cards to the Graveyard, I have to take damage? But it’s only 300 per card..."
At this point, Maitre’ D didn’t take it seriously, drawing three cards from his deck.
"By ’Graceful Charity,’ I send two cards from my hand to the Graveyard."
"By ’Skull Invitation,’ those two plus ’Graceful Charity’ itself—three cards, for a total of 900 damage."
[Maitre’ D, LP 4000 → LP 3100]
"Heh, only 900 damage."
Though he said that, he started to feel a bit uneasy.
Especially looking at the ghostly demonic projection on Kira’s field, the black aura swirling around his set cards—everything about this setup was starting to make him uncomfortable.
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