When Tenjo Hikari saw Wendigo compared to the original Midrash, he wasn't as excited.
It wasn't just because of the card's strength.
He admitted that Wendigo's card effect... was a little low, and the number of effects compared to Midrash was indeed slightly less. But its 2800 defense power and the ability to provide other monsters with immunity from being destroyed in battle by special summoned monsters added decent resistance to Midrash.
The reason for his lack of excitement was because the times had changed.
Now Tenjo Hikari's deck is packed with combinations "waiting to be merged"—Dragon Breaker, Dragunity, ABC, Ultimate Flame, and the recently acquired "Armityle the Chaos Phantasm"—a variety of systems and monsters filling Hikari's list.
Using Yugi's words, it's like initially there was only one side quest besides the main quest, so it was easy to handle, but now suddenly there are more than ten side quests, each with seemingly good results. In such a scenario, with unchanged time and energy acquisition, Tenjo Hikari can only choose a few paths to try.
Luckily, the times had also changed. When he first received the Midrash card, Tenjo Hikari had no choice and no opportunity, only able to rely on luck to complete Midrash.
It's different now, Tenjo Hikari knows that participating in Darkness Duels, dueling with DT Decks, and creating DT World cards can all charge Shaddoll cards.
Since it's clear, things are simple for Tenjo Hikari.
He can complete "Gem-Knight" while charging Wendigo.
Also, unlike before, because of Kaiba Company's "Tuner Monster Pilot" at Duel Academy, many classmates gained DT series cards.
Cards like Dragunity Jurrac couldn't sync, but in terms of "numbers," they were significantly higher than market cards, so Tenjo Hikari also had "targets" to brush.
In half a month, relying on much higher Spirit Power and Alchemy, Tenjo Hikari took a much shorter time compared to Midrash to basically complete this card, the efficiency multiplied exponentially.
The Integration Department almost "vanished" after adjusting the card package incident, although they still often tried to recruit new members. Apart from promoting Shou for recruiting purposes, they had almost no action.
Which was a good thing; as long as they didn't mess around, their reputation could recover.
After all, they made mistakes by acting; if they didn't act, they wouldn't.
Students have their matters and studies, and if they don't actively step out, they'll naturally be gradually forgotten. Recently, many first-year students had completely forgotten that Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Department wasn't the original Fusion Department, believing Tenjo Hikari has always been the Fusion Department's representative.
In this calm atmosphere, today's Fusion Department held a special celebration.
"Congratulations!"
Tenjo Hikari held a gift flower, pulled it, and shouted.
"Congratulations, Serena!"
"Well done, Serena!"
The usually stern girl with little expression had a flushed face today, looking a bit shy and uneasy under everyone's celebration in the Fusion Department, Judai laughed heartily, pushing a plate of tempura before her to celebrate: "Didn't expect Serena could complete that exam? I was so worried for you when I watched."
"It's because of the mentor and Mitsuzawa teacher's good teaching..." Serena, rarely, seemed a little tongue-tied.
"Serena, we just tutored you, the real one capable of achieving this was you yourself," Mitsuzawa Daichi shook his head.
Serena lived in Duel Academy's girls' dormitory, usually staying in the Fusion Department. But this didn't mean she could always stay here or had nothing to do.
After all, Tenjo Hikari and the others still had classes, occasionally traveling to Other Dimensions, while Serena spent her remaining time receiving tutoring and tests at the academy.
As known exam experts, Tenjo Hikari and Mitsuzawa Daichi occasionally helped Serena review outside duels, sometimes with Manjome's help, while Judai was merely part of the atmosphere.
Cronos negotiated with Kaiba Company, if Serena passes Duel Academy's exams and skips to Duel Academy first-year in ascension exams, she wouldn't need to return to junior division, allowing her to remain on Academy Island longer.
Just yesterday, Serena, the "illiterate," took the exam, and with Judai's anxiety, barely passed, earning a decent score.
Next semester, she would skip grades, joining freshmen to become Duel Academy's first-year student, completely becoming Tenjo Hikari and friends' junior.
"Indeed, Serena," Tenjo Hikari nodded, filled with emotion, "I didn't expect you to learn theoretically two years' worth in six months... This is your effort, not just due to our words."
Upon hearing Tenjo Hikari's words refraining from taking credit, Serena instead clenched her fist, regaining her usual momentum: "No, it's because of the mentor's good teaching! Whenever I think about pursuing fusion's ultimate, I'm filled with motivation every day!!"
She became fired up.
"Oh oh oh! Awesome!" Judai got excited too, "At times like these, shouldn't there be a duel—"
He glanced around.
"Caesar isn't here?"
Upon hearing Judai's words, Tenjouin Fubuki emerged from behind a pile of gifts, saying, "As for Ryo, recently he's finished procedures, seems he'll participate in a professional competition before graduation for a warm-up?"
"So soon?" The classmates were surprised.
"Hey hey hey, participating in a professional competition before graduating!?" Kagurazaka leaned back almost falling, fortunately supported by a nearby classmate.
"Amazing, Caesar!!" Judai exclaimed.
"Yes, a very powerful corporation appreciates Ryo greatly, deciding to invest in him, letting him endorse their products," Fubuki set the gifts down, touching his chin, tilting his head, "Heard it's a corporation involved in Dimensional Competition... "
"Due to the whole year, the performance by Ryo, Hikari, and Manjome, the dueling realm's attention on our academy increased greatly. Talents like Ryo got noticed immediately.
Heard subsequently many corporations and Professional Duelists will visit our academy for assessment, hmm."
"Heard it's Kaiba Company leading this? With Mr. Mokuba personally planning the exchange opportunities."
"Deserving Caesar Ryo, easily accomplished what others couldn't."
"Also have to look at our Brother Hikari; fusion's slogan probably spread to Other Dimensions!"
"Manjome isn't bad either."
"Hey, you kid, what do you mean 'Manjome isn't bad'?" Manjome instantly turned around, pointing at a joking member.
Fusion Department members hearing Fubuki's words weren't surprised at all.
It's just normal.
"Oh, by the way..." Fubuki suddenly recalled, "Any of you want to duel Caesar? Graduation duel."
"As third-year students, everyone should have the chance to apply at the end, challenge him, ultimately determined by his choice of opponent. Probably as an academic conclusion and expression? Or also seniors' expectations for juniors' future?" Fubuki couldn't help but laugh twice. "Haha, if I hadn't disappeared for a year, maybe I could've dueled cute juniors too!"
Graduation duel!?
Upon hearing this, Judai was stunned for a moment.
Graduation...
For a moment, he found himself a bit dazed.
He was somewhat absent-minded, sitting back in his seat.
The past half year, although Caesar often ran around for post-graduation matters, there were many times he could duel with Caesar in the Fusion Department, refining his skills and exchanging insights.
Despite the age difference, they are incredibly close friends.
Yet he never considered this point: separation.
"Judai," Tenjo Hikari raised his hand, unable to resist saying, "There's still over a month... until then, think about it."
He had no inclination towards dueling Caesar in graduation duels, knowing Judai surely wished to duel Caesar in the end, hence he wouldn't seize the opportunity.
"Perhaps let's think about the corporation and Professional Duelist matters Senior Tenjouin mentioned?"
"Huh!? Oh—right!"
He regained excitement after brief confusion.
Even Serena, who dislikes thinking and easily becomes headstrong, couldn't help but softly reflect.
Senior Judai sure loves dueling too much.