Professor Huashan succinctly explained the activities for the Yellow Dormitory's newcomers' event.
In simple terms, it's an internal dormitory exchange match.
People in this world often say that a duel is not just about winning or losing; it is also a way for duelists to connect with each other. A duel is a clash of spirits, so through dueling, you can understand each other.
Obviously, this is the philosophy that Dormitory Leader Huashan adheres to. He believes that rather than the traditional approach of everyone giving a brief introduction that nobody remembers, playing cards is a more effective way for everyone to get acquainted quickly.
The new student list for the dormitory naturally had been handed over to the dormitory leader early on. Therefore, Professor Huashan had already arranged the battle list and set up matches between students for exchanges and confrontations.
"The competition period is during the first two weeks of enrollment. Of course, there are too many newcomers to ensure everyone plays a match, and it's not necessary to focus only on winning. But as a special incentive..."
Dormitory Leader Huashan gave a mysterious smile and waved his hand.
"In this dorm exchange battle, for every match you win, you will receive an extra credit reward beyond regular studies at the academy!"
The new students' eyes brightened immediately.
Everyone knows that credits at Duel Academy are not just credits; they can be exchanged for "DP points" which are used for all kinds of transactions within the academy, including meals and shopping.
Of course, this also includes buying cards.
No wonder it's Duel Academy, where playing cards is the activity on the first day.
Isn't that a reason to win?
All the new students were fired up.
Of course, while playing cards is essential, so is eating. It is said that Dormitory Leader Huashan personally joined the kitchen team today to prepare a variety of exquisite dishes for the newcomers.
Including but not limited to curry beef, curry chicken rice, curry fish fillet, curry tofu...
The new students: "..."
Although the taste is indeed quite good, it also deeply conveys the dormitory leader's extraordinary love for curry.
After eating and drinking to their fill, before the banquet had ended, a broad-browed, big-eyed new student in a yellow uniform approached Yugen.
"Fujiki Yugen?"
Yugen paused and looked him up and down.
"Yamamoto... Yuichi?" Yugen asked tentatively.
That was the name of the freshman paired against him in the first round from the dormitory leader's announced battle list.
"That's right."
The boy smirked and said.
"I saw the list; it seems you are number one this year. I am number five... well, I didn't do well in the written test because I stayed up too late the night before.
But it's okay, if we talk about actual combat, I'm definitely number one."
He lifted his arm, indicating the Duel Disc he had already equipped.
"Although it was randomly assigned, I'm quite satisfied with this exchange list. After all, we have to battle eventually, why not start with the strongest. How about it? A little exercise after a meal?"
"Hmm, okay." Yugen dusted off his clothes and stood up.
They had to duel eventually, so the sooner it's over, the better.
Having just finished dinner, of course, the new students hadn't left yet. Soon, someone noticed the duel challenge over here.
"Huh? Are they dueling already? So soon?"
"Looks like it's the duel between the first and fifth ranked this year. Right off the bat, it's ace against ace?"
The students rushed out in droves, gathering around the open space outside the dormitory to watch.
"By the way, did you see the entrance exam of the top-ranked student?"
"I didn't. Why, was there something special about it?"
"It's not about being special or not, it's just... really unique..." the student scratching his head continued, "I don't know how to describe it, but you'll see for yourself..."
Mitsuzawa Earth also stood silently, arms crossed, squinting as he observed Yugen.
Many other students hadn't noticed, but Mitsuzawa had seen Yugen's entrance exam duel. He was intrigued by this number one who overtook him and did some special research.
He was then surprised to discover that this person had actually defeated the legendary Ryuzaki Kyoryu before enrolling!
"A duel with the number one...," Mitsuzawa thought with interest as he crossed his arms and smiled, "let me see it well."
"..."
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP 4000]
[Yuichi, LP 4000]
"I've got the first move, draw!"
Yamamoto Yuichi seized the first move.
"I summon 'Hell Dragon' in attack mode!"
An imposing black dragon appeared on his field, swinging its long tail and letting out a long, resonant dragon's roar.
[Hell Dragon, Attack Power 2000]
The watching students gasped with obvious surprise: "Starting off with a monster with 2000 attack power!"
"Then I set two cards on the field and end my turn," he said.
Yamamoto Yuichi was quite confident in his opening hand.
A four-star monster with 2000 attack power is a rare card, and summoning such a powerful monster right off the bat is usually very good. Not to mention one of the two set cards in his back row is the powerful Trap "Bottomless Trap Hole," which destroys and removes from play any monster with 1500 or more attack power when summoned.
This opening move was already enough to give him the upper hand in a duel against most students.
"My turn, draw." It was Yugen's turn, "Magic Card Angel's Charity, draw three cards from the deck and discard two cards from your hand."
Using this exchange match opportunity, he was testing a deck configuration he recently bought from the academy but hadn't used much.
"Activate Field Spell 'Giant Machine City!'"
The Magic Card slid into the additional slot of the Duel Disc with a click, and the field was immediately transformed by a surging wave as interwoven flyovers rose up, occupying the entire dueling area.
"Machines?" Yamamoto Yuichi chuckled, "A pretty ordinary deck."
Yugen continued, "Normal Summon 'Blender Man' in defense position."
A unique animation summoning technique can summon a monster in a face-up defense position. A personified blending truck jumped onto his field, its wheels whirling like fists, its mixer buzzing, and its headlights resembling two big cute eyes.
[Blender Man, Defense Power 2200]
Yuichi furrowed his brow.
Defense Power 2200, but Attack Power is only 0, so "Bottomless Trap Hole" can't activate...
"Blender Man, activate its effect. Sacrifice a Mechanical Race monster on your field to Special Summon a non-Wind Attribute 'Machine' monster from your deck.
Blender Man itself is Mechanical Race, so I sacrifice 'Blender Man'!"
The mixing tank at the back of the machine whirred, creating a green whirlwind that swallowed it whole. The blending truck then transformed into golden light, forming a summoning vortex.
"Special Summon this card from the deck—
—Submarine Robot, Summon!"
[Submarine Robot, Attack Power 800]
Unintentionally, Yuichi glanced at the back row. With only 800 attack power, "Bottomless Trap Hole" still couldn't activate...
"Ha, summoning such a miscellaneous monster is useless?"
At this moment, Yuichi was evidently unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
"Battle, Submarine Robot's attack," Yugen commanded.
Yuichi was startled: "A direct attack?"
"Submarine Robot can direct attacks regardless of monsters on the field!"
"Tch, a clever trick," Yuichi scoffed, "But even so, it's only a mere eight hundred points of damage..."
"At this moment, Field Spell 'Giant Machine City's effect activates!" Yugen announced, "'Machine' monsters, during battle damage calculation, can send a 'Machine' monster from your deck to the graveyard.
The monster in battle switches its original attack and defense for the damage calculation!"
"What?" Yuichi's expression changed.
Switching attack power means...
"I'll send 'Kite Robot' from the deck to the graveyard to switch Submarine Robot's attack and defense!"
[Submarine Robot, Attack Power 800 → Attack Power 1800]
"Oof, eighteen hundred attack power..."
The small submarine soared into the air, a torpedo shot swiftly tearing through the sky and exploding with a boom on Yuichi, who staggered back two steps, grimacing under the simulated impact of the holographic image.
[Yuichi, LP 4000 → LP 2200]
"Darn." Yuichi wiped his mouth, snorting, "Quite something..."
"Submarine Robot's other effect. After battling, it can change to defense position.
And the 'Giant Machine City' effect ends, its defense power returns to normal."
The small submarine fired a sneaky shot and retreated, crouching in defense, presenting its rear to the enemy.
[Submarine Robot, Defense Power 1800]
"Next, I set three cards on the field and end my turn."