"1000 points!"
Professor Crowler stood in front of the score display screen, hands clasped tightly in excitement as he stared at the top-ranking student's name and score.
"As expected of Zane Truesdale!"
"A perfect score!?"
"Oh wow…"
Students buzzed around, animated by the numbers lighting up the board. In his third and final year at Duel Academy, Zane Truesdale had wrapped up his academic journey with a flawless score on his graduation exam.
With this result, Professor Crowler formally announced that Zane would represent the graduating class in the Graduation Duel.
Naturally, he could choose his own opponent.
And there was only ever going to be one choice…
Jaden Yuki!
—
A few days later…
"Ughhh! Why!? Why can't I beat Hikaru!?"
"It's because you focused too much on the written exam," said Chazz Princeton, arms folded behind him. "Your deck was totally different from your usual one. You flopped during the duel portion of the exam and didn't get a high score. This outcome was inevitable."
"No, to be fair, Daichi did score higher than me on the written," said Hikaru Amagi, glancing at his grade sheet with a hint of sweat. "I only barely scraped by with another perfect duel score."
The three of them mulled over scores while Syrus Truesdale anxiously watched the stage.
On the Academy's main dueling platform, Jaden and Zane stood facing each other, prepping for the final duel of graduation.
"Why…?" Syrus recalled the moment, just days earlier, when Zane had walked into their dorm, smiling as he declared he wanted his graduation duel to be against his younger brother.
"Why what?" Chazz asked without turning.
"If it's the graduation duel… shouldn't it be the number one versus number one? Why challenge my brother?"
Whoosh—
Just then, a head popped up from beneath a desk, startling the nearby students. Atticus Rhodes emerged with his arms crossed dramatically, earning a weary sigh from Alexis.
"Classic versus unorthodox. Brain versus instinct," he declared theatrically.
"Those two duelists are total opposites," he continued.
"That makes sense," Chazz pondered aloud. "If we charted them by tradition and intuition, Zane would be the pinnacle of conventional dueling, while Jaden's entirely reliant on gut feeling and raw creativity."
"Hikaru's style is still structured, even if unique," Alexis added softly. "In a match where their skills are close, choosing Jaden shows Zane wants to honor his rival's growth."
By then, the duelists were ready.
Hikaru closed his notebook and turned his eyes to the stage, his interest piqued.
This duel, such a central part of the original story—what would it look like in this world?
"Duel!"
"My turn!" Zane declared, swiftly drawing his card. "I activate the Spell Card—Time Capsule. I can banish one card from my Deck face-down. Two turns after activation, when this card is destroyed, that card is added to my hand."
So this is the anime version of Time Capsule, Hikaru noted.
"I banish a card from my Deck face-down," Zane continued.
"A card from the Deck… Could it be Power Bond?" the spectators murmured.
"Next, I Normal Summon—Proto-Cyber Dragon!"
A sleek, gold-striped mechanical dragon landed on the field.
Proto-Cyber Dragon, Level 4, LIGHT, Machine-Type, ATK 1800.
"While on the field, Proto-Cyber Dragon is treated as Cyber Dragon."
"I Set one card face-down. Turn end!"
"One Set card…" Jaden eyed it warily. "Could be Cybernetic Revolution?"
"My turn!"
Everyone held their breath.
How would Jaden duel?
"I Normal Summon—Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow, watching the card hit the field.
Bubbleman—a Jaden exclusive.
A caped Hero resembling a blue-armored diver leapt into position.
Elemental HERO Bubbleman, Level 4, WATER, Warrior-Type, ATK 800.
"When Bubbleman is the only card on my field, I can draw two cards!"
That's Jaden's signature draw engine—too strong!
"Next, I activate the Field Spell—Fusion Gate!"
He slid the card into his Duel Disk, and the arena shimmered into a grid of glowing green circuits.
"A Fusion support card, and he's activating it now?" Chazz narrowed his eyes. "That could help Zane summon Cyber End Dragon!"
"But this is Jaden we're talking about," Bastion smiled. "He's not thinking about that."
"I fuse Bubbleman with Sparkman in my hand—"
"Come on out—Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman!"
A radiant, winged Hero descended in a flash of dazzling light.
Shining Flare Wingman, Level 8, LIGHT, Warrior-Type, ATK 2600.
"For every Elemental HERO in the Graveyard, Shining Flare Wingman gains 300 ATK!"
ATK: 2600 → 3200
"Battle! Go, Shining Flare Wingman—attack Proto-Cyber Dragon!"
Jaden's Hero leapt into the sky, blazing toward the mecha-dragon, but Zane reacted instantly.
"You're too naive, Jaden! I activate my Set card—Trap Card: Attack Reflector Unit!"
"What!?" Jaden gasped.
"Not Cybernetic Revolution!?"
"I Tribute one Cyber Dragon—then Special Summon Cyber Barrier Dragon from my hand or Deck!"
Light refracted wildly as the Proto-Cyber Dragon's body was modified and armored, transforming into a massive shielded beast.
Cyber Barrier Dragon, Level 6, LIGHT, Machine-Type, ATK 800.
"Cyber Barrier Dragon's effect—once per turn, while it's in Attack Position, it negates one of your monster's attacks!"
The cyber-dragon raised its tail, and a mirror-like array of lenses reflected Shining Flare Wingman's charge back at him. The Hero stumbled in confusion, attack canceled midair.
"Just as I thought from Zane!" Jaden grinned. "Then I'll end my turn!"