Compared to the regular, more common duels, there are many things in the professional arena that ordinary people cannot experience at all.
Firstly, there's the "appearance".
As a Professional Duelist, "Duelist" is not just an identity but also a job. They need to endorse their company and brand as professional duelists, and naturally, some corresponding actions are required.
For example, this time.
Because the recent Friendship Cup, which spanned across dimensions, attracted the attention of the masses, almost all the "traffic" was taken away, and the professional arena urgently needed an event that could attract eyeballs. Therefore, the duel this time was executed to perfection in terms of venue, logistics, and lighting.
The commentary team consisted of three people, including a professional commentator, a card designer, and a retired duelist.
The entire venue could accommodate tens of thousands of people, and countless people spent a fortune to buy tickets to witness the duel up close.
And before the duel, the entrance of the two duelists was carefully designed as well.
Marufuji Ryo's entrance was filled with a technological, futuristic vibe. Amidst the blue flames and clanging mechanical sounds, like a Dimensional Teleportation, Marufuji Ryo's figure transformed from "data" into a physical form and appeared on the arena.
"Caesar Ryo-sama~~"
"Caesar~~~"
Countless girls who were there to support Caesar Ryo excitedly shouted his nickname.
"Wow... As expected of Caesar, so popular." The students of Duel Academy, who were watching this duel, discussed enthusiastically, and Judai was even cheering for Caesar from afar with excitement.
And after his entrance, amidst a calming storm, a figure fell from the sky like a meteor, then emitted a dazzling light. A figure landed on one knee, one hand pressing on the ground, and then slowly stood up like a Marvel hero.
"Wow!!!"
"Ed!!!"
Ed Phoenix, young, wealthy, and handsome, had many female fans, but unlike Marufuji Ryo.
Among his fan base, there were some older women, quite old indeed.
He seemed to have a special appeal to aunties.
Then came the commentary and the opening words of the two duelists.
Since it was heard that Ed would join the Fusion Department after enrollment, Marufuji Ryo had a good impression of Ed and wasn't condescending. In their conversation, he merely lamented that he couldn't return to the Fusion Department after graduation, but strongly recommended Ed to spend his school life in the Fusion Department, which would surely become an unforgettable time in his school days.
"Even now, I occasionally still think of everyone in the Fusion Department."
"Is that so? Then I'm really looking forward to it." Ed responded with a smile, not dampening Caesar Ryo's spirits.
He also wanted to experience student life.
He had watched the entire Friendship Cup of the S Dimension, and he had to admit, the performance of Tenjo Hikari and others was truly astonishing.
As a senior to Tenjo Hikari and others, the unquestionable "Caesar" of Duel Academy, Ed was very curious about how strong this duelist actually was.
Before coming to the arena, he went to Saiou.
Saiou seemed much calmer than before. As someone familiar with Saiou, he could tell that the "anxiety" in Saiou's heart had significantly lessened.
Originally, Saiou foresaw his destiny to destroy the world, and as time passed, and with the expansion of dimensional exploration, he found that the "radiance" was growing larger, and his destiny of destroying the world was becoming more stable, even—seemingly extending to other dimensions!
However, previously, due to his carelessness, or perhaps it was truly the arrangement of "Destiny", he mistakenly joined Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Department and dueled with Marufuji Shou, the "representative" of the Integration Department, and won, thus creating a conflict between Saiou and Akaba Leo.
The dimensional exploration organization under Saiou—Light Society—was attacked by Akaba Leo's Fusion Army.
Although it was just a minor friction, Saiou later happily told Ed that his destructive future seemed to have shrunk.
The "light" on him seemed to have weakened.
But—
That's all there was to it.
Ed knew very well that as long as Saiou could still foresee the future, he would still be within a destined crisis.
And this time, Saiou's divination for him was…
To duel according to his own intentions.
Is that so…
Duel according to his own will!
"The first move is yours, senior," Ed placed his Deck into the Duel Disk and calmly said to Caesar Ryo.
"My first move?" Caesar Ryo looked at his opponent and shook his head, "The Deck you're going to use today is your true Deck, isn't it? The one you don't usually use in the professional arena.
But—
I've heard that you once used this Deck when dueling Shou on Duel Academy Island."
Ed nodded lightly.
Come to think of it, the representative of the Integration Department, Marufuji Shou, was indeed this person's younger brother.
The momentum was totally different.
"If that's the case, then you should go first—" Marufuji Ryo conceded.
"Senior," Ed crossed his arms and slowly said, "Even though you were my senior in school, as a professional duelist senior, I want to remind you that sometimes, as a duelist, you shouldn't consider your opponent too much.
Because your opponent might only wish for your destruction."
"What a cocky brag this guy is talking!" Watching Ed make such a declaration, Marufuji Shou grumbled in dissatisfaction from faraway Duel Academy.
"But—Shou, didn't he also beat you?" Judai pointed out from the side, touching the sore spot.
"It was just a win against me! My brother is ten, no, a hundred times stronger than me!" Marufuji Shou was very dissatisfied with Ed's words to Marufuji Ryo, because it sounded like he was "teaching" Marufuji Ryo!
"... I see." Mitsuzawa Daichi took a deep breath, "So, in Ed Phoenix's view, does he think he's actually traveled farther on the path of dueling than Caesar? Should I call it confidence or… arrogance."
"Ed Phoenix…" Manjome watched the live broadcast intently.
What kind of power does this newcomer have to be so confident?
"I see… I understand." Marufuji Ryo recalled what Tenjo Hikari had told him earlier, taking a deep breath.
"Then. Let's duel!"
"Duel!"
Cyber Dragon Master, Caesar Ryo LP: 4000.
[Hero] Duelist, Ed LP: 4000.
"My turn! Draw—! I Normal Summon, Cyber Dragon Core!"
Buzz—
A Mechanical Dragon with red "veins" glowing with red lights appeared on Caesar's field.
Cyber Dragon Core, LV 2, Light Attribute, Machine-Type, ATK 400.
"Cyber Dragon Core is treated as [Cyber Dragon] while on the field or in the Graveyard!"
"In addition—when Cyber Dragon Core is successfully summoned, its effect activates. From the Deck, add a [Cyber] Spell·Trap Card or [Cybernetic] Spell and Trap Card to the hand!
I add Cybernetic Revolution from the Deck to the hand!"
Oh—
Tenjo Hikari's eyes lit up.
Cyber Dragon Core!
Caesar even collected this card!
"Set a card, end turn!"
"Beautiful! Not only did he add Cybernetic Revolution which can directly Special Summon Cyber End Dragon to his hand, but even Cyber Dragon Core itself can be treated as a Cyber Dragon!" Mitsuzawa Daichi immediately grasped Caesar's strategy.
"Amazing, with just one card, my brother accomplished what he couldn't before!"
Marufuji Shou shouted excitedly.
"Hmm… excellent strategy, but senior… before my [Destiny], it's really too weak."
"!?" Caesar was startled upon hearing this.
"My turn—draw!"
"Normal Summon, Destiny Hero - Drilldark!" He drew a card from his hand and showed it directly to the opponent.
"Destiny!?"
"Hero??"
"What is that!?"
"What card is that!"
"A card never heard of before!"