After confirming Alicia's victory, Kexi brushed the dust off his clothes and went to report the task to the Headmaster. Before leaving, however, he turned to Alicia and said something rather cryptic.
"Alicia, I hope you're mentally prepared. Once you officially enroll, you might soon be receiving one challenge after another!"
That line left Alicia puzzled, while Yuui narrowed his eyes slightly.
As for the other candidates, under gazes filled with either admiration or fear, they gradually returned to their own Duel Tests. Although watching others' Duels was entertaining, they still had to complete their own tests. Even so, the Duel between Alicia and Kexi had given many examinees new strategic ideas.
Meanwhile, Alicia was now sitting in the spectator stands, grinning foolishly while holding the perfect score sheet worth a full hundred credits.
"Hehehe, Yuui-san, we can go to the Academy's Card Shop again to exchange for new cards! What should we get this time?
"How about Elemental HERO Bubbleman? Yuui-san, didn't you say Bubbleman's effect is really strong? Let's get him this time!"
Yuui nodded in agreement. "Sure. Bubbleman does cost 30 credits to redeem—quite expensive; still, he's well worth it! Not only can he be Special Summoned when he's the only card in your hand, but when he's the only card on your field, you can draw two cards from your Deck. It's a card with great recursion potential.
"The only issue is his low Attack and Defense, yet his real value isn't in combat strength—it's his utility!"
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman Level 4│WATER│Warrior│800 ATK / 1200 DEF]
(1) If this is the only card in your hand, you can Special Summon it from your hand.
(2) When this card is Normal, Flip, or Special Summoned and you control no other cards, draw 2 cards.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Alicia nodded rapidly, then asked, "That leaves us with 70 credits. Should we spend 30 of them to get another Polymerization? After all, our Deck is a HERO Deck, and Polymerization is the most essential card, right?"
"Polymerization, huh?" Yuui thought for a moment about their current card setup, then nodded. "We could trade for another Fusion Substitute, then use the remaining 40 credits depending on what we need."
"Still 40 left, huh?" Alicia stared at the perfect score sheet in her hands with mild disappointment. "Sigh! We worked so hard to earn 100 credits… that's like ten Magic Gold Coins… no, actually, about fourteen! Yet spending them is so easy—they're gone in a blink!"
Yuui chuckled. "Heh, whether it's money or credits, as long as it's something with purchasing power, once you start spending, it flows away like water."
"Yeah, Yuui-san, when you say things like that, you sound like some kind of philosopher." Alicia nodded seriously.
"So, what's your plan next?" Yuui looked around at the Duel platforms. "Will you go exchange cards at the shop, or watch other people's Duels here?
"If you're going shopping, there's still plenty of time. Dorm assignments probably won't happen until tonight, and class placements should be tomorrow."
"Hmm?"
Just as Alicia was hesitating between going to buy cards or staying to watch, a thunderous dragon's roar echoed from afar, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of draconic might.
"What was that!!?" Alicia turned toward the source of the aura and saw, atop Duel Platform No.1, a massive jet-black dragon spreading its wings in a dramatic entrance!
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon," Yuui murmured the dragon's name under his breath, then added, "Since that guy's appeared, let's see what's going on. Honestly, I'm curious to know what kind of Duelist could earn that dragon's recognition."
"Yeah!" Alicia agreed, nodding vigorously.
After all, this was said to be one of the three legendary Duel Monster Spirits that once saved the kingdom—the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Getting a glimpse of its power ahead of time might help them prepare for a future encounter.
On the field, the golden-haired boy controlling the dragon—Autrys Bredt—looked across at his opponent, whose field had only one Set card left, and asked, "Do you wish to surrender?"
The boy's Life Points were down to less than 1000, and he had only one card left in his hand. Meanwhile, Autrys still had a full 4000 LP, the legendary Red-Eyes Black Dragon on his field, and one Set card in his back row. No matter how one looked at it, the other boy was standing at the edge of defeat.
Yet, to enter Saint Fusion Academy and change his fate, the boy chose to fight on—even against the legendary dragon.
He looked down at the last card in his hand, then glared at Autrys and snorted, "Hmph, talk after you beat me!"
"Very well!" Seeing his opponent's stubbornness, Autrys didn't bother to persuade him further. "Red-Eyes Black Dragon, attack directly and reduce everything before you to ashes—Inferno Fire Blast!!"
Black and red light gathered in the dragon's mouth, forming a blazing orb of dark flame.
With a roar, the orb of black fire shot toward the boy.
Seeing this, the boy quickly shouted, "I've been waiting for this moment! Activate the Trap Card, Battle Instinct! When your opponent declares a direct attack and you control no monsters, you can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Beast monster from your hand in face-up Attack Position.
"I Special Summon my Level 1 monster—Handigallop!"
A small tan horse, fitted with a cluster of rocket boosters, galloped onto the field.
[Handigallop, ATK 0]
"Handigallop's effect! Its Attack increases by the difference in our Life Points!" The boy glared at Autrys. "Your LP is 4000, mine is 800—that's a difference of 3200!
"So, Handigallop's Attack becomes 3200!!"
Neigh!!
The little horse neighed excitedly as its aura flared, surging to a level surpassing even the Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
[Handigallop, ATK: 0 → 3200]
The spectators gasped at the sight of that number.
"You're kidding! A Level 1 monster reaching over 3000 Attack? Who is that guy? To pull this off against His Highness Autrys!"
"No idea. Seems like just a commoner."
"Incredible! 3200 Attack from a Level 1 monster—I can't even imagine that!"
"There sure are a lot of geniuses this year! To push a Level 1 monster that high—Saint Fusion Academy's future looks bright!"
"Hey, do you think that boy can win, like that Nameless One earlier?"
"Well... His opponent is still the Prince. Hard to say."
The clamor from the crowd didn't disturb Autrys's focus. He waved his hand and said, "Since a new monster appeared on your field, a battle replay occurs. The battle continues! I'll have Red-Eyes Black Dragon attack your Handigallop!"
"What!?" the boy exclaimed in shock. "You're attacking my stronger monster? Are you trying to self-destruct?"
"'Weaker monster'? Are you talking about Red-Eyes Black Dragon?" Autrys frowned and raised his voice. "Don't get cocky. Your monster's Attack is only raised by its own effect—all I need to do is negate it!
"Activate Continuous Trap—Fiendish Chain! I target one Effect Monster on the field, and I choose your Handigallop!"
As his words fell, three dark green chains burst from the ground, binding the horse tightly. Its energy immediately vanished, leaving it lifeless and still.
[Handigallop, ATK: 3200 → 0]
"Wha... what happened!?" The boy stared at his monster's Attack reverting to zero, completely confused.
Autrys explained coolly, "Fiendish Chain's effect: as long as this card remains in the Spell & Trap Zone, the targeted monster cannot attack and its effects are negated.
Your Handigallop's Attack was increased by its own effect, so once it's negated, it's nothing more than a 0-Attack monster."
"So... so there was such a card!" The boy looked despairingly at the chains binding his monster, as if those shackles bound his own soul as well.
Autrys's gaze remained calm. "Your monster's effect was impressive, yet you still can't harness its full power. That's why you've lost."
With that, Autrys issued his final command.
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon, end this Duel—Inferno Fire Blast!!"
Roar!!
The black flame burst forth once more. This time, the nameless boy had no means of resistance.
Boom!!
The jet-black flames consumed the horse, reducing it to ashes, and the boy's Life Points hit zero.
Thus, the Duel concluded with a perfect victory for Autrys.
In the stands, Alicia stared in awe at the destructive power of Inferno Fire Blast. Even though Red-Eyes Black Dragon only had 2400 Attack, she somehow felt that strike was far more powerful than Yuui-san's Elemental HERO Flame Wingman when boosted by the Field Spell Skyscraper.
Could this be... the difference that defines a true legendary dragon?
...
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