"My name is Depre Scott," the man on the screen said calmly.
"Perhaps you've heard of me, Duel King."
Kira raised an eyebrow, thinking for a moment before shaking his head.
"Sorry. There are too many duelist I've beaten—I can't remember half their names."
The man wasn't angry, just laughed.
"Understandable. If you stand at the top, why bother with the names of small fry?"
He narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"But I'm different. I once came so close to the top—just one step away from defeating the greatest duelist of that era:
The man called Yugi Muto."
"Hmm?"
Kira looked him over.
Was there really someone who almost beat Yugi Muto?
Thinking hard, he suddenly recalled.
"You're a Card Professor?"
"Hahaha, seems you have heard of me." He smiled proudly. "Yes, I was one of Pegasus's Card Professors—in fact, the strongest.
Depre Scott, challenging you, the Second Duel King."
Kira remembered now. This character was also from the spin-off manga, an important rival in Yugi's growth.
Back then, Dark Yugi (Atem) had defeated several Card Professors, but even the Pharaoh was feeling fatigued from so many consecutive matches. So Yugi volunteered to take over while the Pharaoh rested.
It was then that Yugi fought Depre Scott.
He was likely the strongest Card Professor—Yugi struggled in the first half, even doubting he could win. Depre mocked him, saying the "vessel" should get lost; he wanted to face the true Pharaoh.
In the end, the Pharaoh reappeared, not to duel but to inspire Yugi. Yugi rallied and won.
Story-wise, this was probably the first opponent Yugi truly defeated on his own, a milestone on his path to becoming Duel King without relying on Atem.
He once forced Yugi to the brink, so his strength was real. But Kira thought Depre was a bit overconfident.
Back then, Atem did most of the dueling; Yugi had little experience and no resolve to win, so struggling was normal.
If Depre challenged Yugi now, he'd find out what a true Duel King is.
"The Pegasus Foundation's been thoroughly infiltrated— even an ace like you is a puppet," Kira said coolly. "You really don't want me back at the Academy, huh?"
"Enough talk," Depre said coldly. "Today, only one of us will touch ground. Let's see how the Second Duel King compares to the first."
"Fine, if you insist..."
"Duel!" x2
[Kira, LP 4000]
[Depre, LP 4000]
Aerial duel—both flying jets through the clouds. Silent Magician and Greed Quasar retreated to their decks after the brief clash.
Victory would be decided by cards.
"I'll go first. Draw."
Kira said.
"I activate the Continuous Spell 'Arcane Barrier.'"
The environment around the plane changed—a massive magical barrier appeared.
"Arcane Barrier: each time a Spellcaster is destroyed, place a Spell Counter on this card."
"Spellcasters, huh?"
Depre wasn't surprised; his research showed this Duel King used many decks, and Spellcasters were an early favorite, with Silent Magician as one.
"Normal Summon 'Alchemist of Black Spells.'"
[Alchemist of Black Spells, ATK 1200]
"Alchemist of Black Spells's effect: once per turn, change this card from Attack to Defense Position, and place a Spell Counter on any card that can hold one.
I'll change Alchemist of Black Spells to Defense and place a counter on 'Arcane Barrier.'"
[Alchemist of Black Spells, ATK 1200 → DEF 1800]
The magician swapped positions, forming a hand sign. Black magic surged, a dark beam entering the Continuous Spell—the barrier lit up a spell counter.
[Arcane Barrier, Spell Counters: 0 → 1]
"Next, I activate the Spell 'Spell Power Grasp'—add a Spell Counter to any card that can hold one.
I'll add another to 'Arcane Barrier.'"
Another surge of energy, another counter.
[Arcane Barrier, Spell Counters: 1 → 2]
"After that, I can add another 'Spell Power Grasp' from my deck to my hand."
Kira drew the card from his deck.
Depre: "So, a Spellcaster deck focused on managing counters?"
This was different from what he'd seen Kira use before.
"I'll set one card. Turn end. Your move."
"My turn. Draw."
Depre revealed a card.
"I summon 'Eva Abductor'!" (Manga Card)
[Eva Abductor, ATK 1000]
A small, ugly alien—one of Depre's signature monsters.
"Now let me show you abduction! Using Eva Abductor's special ability:
Abduct!"
Depre discarded a card from his hand.
"By discarding one card, I can take control of one of your monsters!"
Kira: "..."
Typical manga broken card! For a mere Level 3 monster, that's overpowered.
Now he understood why even Yugi struggled back then.
"I discard a card," Depre declared, "and take control of your only monster—'Alchemist of Black Spells'!"