The duel ended. A long silence followed.
No one knew who started it, but someone stood up from their seat and began to clap. Soon, more and more people in the stands followed suit, rising to their feet and joining in.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
The thunderous applause was a mark of respect and recognition for the two duelists standing at the absolute pinnacle of the academy, and for the magnificent duel they had just delivered.
Having been cut down by a Black Luster Soldier with seventeen thousand attack points, Jaden simply chose to stay down. He lay flat on his back, limbs sprawled across the floor, making no effort to get up.
Yugen walked over and sat down beside him, a small smile on his face. "How do you feel?"
"Ahhh, it felt like I was so close! What a shame, I lost," Jaden sighed deeply. However, he quickly sat up and looked at Yugen with a grin. "Still, being able to feel your burning dueling spirit at the end was really great."
He gave his signature gesture. "I didn't win, but that was a really fun duel," Jaden said, laughing.
"It was," Yugen agreed with a nod.
"Let's have an even happier duel next time," Jaden laughed. "But I'm warning you now, I improve really fast. Next time, I'll be even stronger, and I'll definitely be the one winning."
As he spoke, he offered a fist to Yugen.
"I'll be looking forward to it then." Yugen smiled and lightly bumped his fist against Jaden's.
Around them, the applause grew even more fervent.
"Both of them have already become this strong..."
Bastion watched the two from the sidelines, looking a bit dazed. Since entering Yugen's laboratory, he had been working day and night on research and development, significantly strengthening his Deck. He had felt good about his progress, but comparing himself to those two today, he suddenly felt like he wasn't even in the same league.
Syrus added, "Yugen is amazing, and Bro is amazing too. At this rate, they might both become as incredible as my big brother..."
Everyone around me is so powerful, Syrus thought as he looked around, I'm the only loser here.
"Bastion was right. Yugen and Jaden seem like total opposites at first glance, but they have a strange chemistry. they push each other toward incredible growth."
Alexis leaned against the railing and suddenly looked at Kaiser standing behind her, speaking in a half-joking tone. "Are you starting to feel the pressure from your juniors?"
Zane Truesdale kept his arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips. It wasn't a smile of disdain, but rather the smile of a duelist anticipating a powerful opponent.
He was the Academy's Kaiser, but he never minded the appearance of challengers who threatened his status. In fact, he looked forward to it. Respecting his opponents and never underestimating the possibilities of any duelistthat was Zane's current creed.
"With this, Yugen is officially the Rookie King of the year. The next step... he might just become the new King of this academy," Alexis teased.
Zane's smile widened slightly. "That would be for the best."
...
It wasn't until the duel was over that Professor Crowler's heart finally stopped racing.
It was almost comical, but the person most nervous throughout the entire match was actually this "Professor of Greed."
In truth, Yugen and Jaden didn't care all that much about the title of "School Representative." To Yugen, it was just a source of rewards and benefits; to Jaden, it was just a chance to have fun dueling representatives from other schools. Even if they didn't get the spot, they wouldn't have lost sleep over it.
But Crowler was different. He felt that if a slacker like Jaden Yuki became the representative for the entire academy, it would be the end of the worlda total disaster for the school's reputation.
Consequently, he had spent the entire duel clutching his fast-acting heart medication. Every time Yugen's Life Points dropped, or whenever Jaden launched a counterattack that looked like a finishing blow, the Professor's heart would nearly stop. He almost passed out several times.
Specifically, during the final clash between Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman and Black Luster Soldier, Crowler nearly suffered a breakdown as the two traded blows.
When Black Luster Soldier's blade finally secured the victory, the Professor almost wanted to rush onto the stage and give Yugen a massive bear hug.
Wonderful! My efforts in favoring you weren't in vain, no-ne! You're much more reliable than that fake elite Chazz, no-ne!
Crowler was overjoyed, wishing he could instantly award Yugen every academic credit at his disposal. To the Professor, Yugen had defended the principles of the academy and the final line of the elite.
The Chancellor might not have cared, but Crowler absolutely could not accept sending a student like Jadenwho skipped classes constantly and was at the bottom of even the Slifer Red dormas their representative.
Professor Crowler scrambled onto the stage, grabbing the microphone with impatient excitement to announce the results.
"And so, the winner of the Representative Duel is... Fujiki Yugen!" Crowler shouted. "Next week, Yugen will compete as our Main Campus representative!"
As Crowler's voice rang out, the students and teachers finally remembered.
Oh right, this match wasn't just for fun.
Because everyone had been so immersed in the duel itself, they had gradually forgotten why they were dueling in the first place. It was only now that all eyes converged on Yugen.
So, this year's representative is decided...
Chancellor Sheppard stood up to speak. "A truly magnificent duel. Both of you were impressive. Though Jaden Yuki did not earn the qualification, he demonstrated unquestionable dueling strength and incredible resilience.
Congratulations to Yugen for earning the spot. Next week, Yugen will represent us in a duel against the representative of North Academy.
North Academy is a sister school to our Duel Academy Main Campus. Sending student representatives to duel is our annual form of friendly exchange, meant to deepen the bonds between our institutions.
We're counting on you, Yugen. Be sure to show them the spirit of our Main Campus."
The students were silent.
Sister schools, a duel for friendly exchange...
The first thought that crossed the minds of the Ra Yellow students was: We know exactly how this goes.
When they had first arrived and been assigned to their dorms, they were told there would be a "friendly exchange duel" for the freshmen. The memory of what happened next was still fresh in their minds.
Many eyes turned back to Yugen.
It looks like the 'brotherly love' between our campus and North Academy... is probably going to end this year.
Meanwhile, at the freezing, windswept North Academy.
"Chazz! The Thunder! Thunder! Thunder!"
A group of burly men surrounded the newcomer, Chazz Princeton, shouting at the top of their lungs.
In just a single day, Chazz had used his overwhelming strength to tear through the entire North Academy. He had thrashed the branch school's original "King" and become the academy's undisputed new ruler.
Chazz stood with his arms crossed, surrounded by the crowd, looking quite smug. Finally, he had regained the feeling of superiority he deserved.
This was how it was supposed to be. He had been an elite since childhood, maintaining the number one spot even in the highly competitive Duel Academy Junior High. For some reason, ever since he got to the Main Campus, he felt like he had been nothing but a punching bag.
Now, at North Academy, he had found his proper place. He was born to be king, and he naturally belonged at the pinnacle!
"Congratulations, Chazz," the Principal of North Academy said, walking forward with a smile. "With this, you are the new King of this academy."
Chazz huffed. "That was a given." He waved a hand dismissively, as if he had performed a task beneath his notice.
"Well, then, the final candidate for the match against the Main Campus is decided," the Principal said cheerfully. "You, the new King of North Academy, Chazz 'The Thunder' Princeton, will serve as our representative in this year's inter-campus match!"
"Hmph, a walk in the park..." Chazz replied offhandedly, his ego swelling. Two seconds later, reality hit him. "Wait, what did you say?"
"The match against the Main Campus," the Principal explained with a smile. "Since our representative this year is a first-year, the Main Campus will likely send a first-year as well.
It will most likely be the one who was crowned the Main Campus Rookie King this year..."
The Main Campus Rookie King? That means...
Chazz's smile slowly vanished.
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