Yugioh [486-491] (Patreon)

Chapter 486: Wagering the Academy

Kurozaki stared a little blankly at the new boss in front of him, feeling for a moment that this was beyond absurd.

A madman.

This guy is definitely a madman.

Of course, he only dared think that in his heart, not say it aloud. He kept his voice carefully lowered. "So, boss, what are we doing now—"

"Oh, you head back first. Remember to sniff around about 'Alchemy Stars.'" Kira said offhandedly. "Give me all the intel you gather."

"Okay, will do."

Kurozaki nodded, then couldn't help asking:

"And you?"

"I won't go back just yet." Kira smiled. "I've got a few loose ends to tie up."

…

….

The moon hid behind thick clouds, stingy with a single drop of light. Wind laced with bone-deep chill threaded through the narrow alleys, groaning like a wounded beast.

The stall owner bolted down the lane for his life, glancing over his shoulder now and then as if fleeing something unspeakably terrifying.

He ran until he was gasping, legs too heavy to take even one step more. He stopped, braced a hand against the wall, and panted hard. Sweat tinged with fear slid down his pale cheeks and dripped to the ground, swallowed at once by the night.

He cautiously peered back the way he came, only to see no one for a long stretch—just darkness pooled in the pitch-black alley.

"Didn't chase me...?"

The taut string in his heart finally loosened. He steadied his breath and slowly turned his head back—

—and almost screamed on the spot at what he saw.

Him.

The man in white, real face hidden behind dark-tinted glass, his coat flaring like a cloak in the icy wind, stood there calm as you please.

Revolver!

"Jasper Abis—that's your name, right?" Kira said evenly. "I just took a quick look at your resume. Quite a dazzling list.

Originally an underground duelist in New York, joined a local dueling gang. After a turf war you drifted through several countries. Participated in sixteen human trafficking cases big and small. Your research into using dark duels for soul enslavement is quite advanced..."

He finished reading the sheet in his hand and looked up at the man before him.

"Truly a talent."

Jasper ground his teeth. "I have no quarrel with you or your Knights of Hanoi. Revolver, why are you hounding me!?"

"Oh? And those you sealed into cards and sold—did you all have deep blood feuds with them?"

"It was just business," Jasper said. "That's how the world works. It's not like I'm the only one doing it."

"True, true. That's how it is."

Kira nodded, unfolding his Duel Disk without hurry.

"So I thought it over carefully. A dark duelist like you with such... specialized skills is worth far more than grabbing some old, weak, and women and children. If I make you into a card, I bet it'd sell nicely. Or I could keep you as a dueling slave in our Knights of Hanoi. That's not bad either."

Kira mimicked his tone with a mocking lilt.

"And by the way, this is just business too. Nothing personal. That's how the world works. It's not like I'm the only one doing it. Don't take it to heart."

"You—"

Jasper exploded.

"Revolver, don't push me too far! You think I'm afraid of you!?"

He snapped his Duel Disk open.

Kira smiled and opened his as well. "I was afraid you wouldn't ask."

…

One minute later.

Kira sauntered forward, deftly removed the deck, and picked up the card that now held a soul—Jasper's face frozen in a hollow, toyed-with stupor.

"Like I said, nothing personal."

He smiled faintly at the Soul Seal Card.

"Don't take it to heart."

Jasper: "..."

….

…

After a very productive weekend, Kira wrapped up and returned to Duel Academy.

No sooner had he gotten back than Jaden was camped outside his dorm room, grabbing him to head back into the Spirit World. Jaden was like someone who'd found an intoxicating RPG—he wanted to be online twenty-four hours a day and rush maps while dueling.

A quiet night passed, and on Monday it was back to regular classes.

Except this day wasn't so regular.

A bombshell of an announcement detonated across Duel Academy—

—the Academy was about to be acquired by the Princeton Group.

The whole school blew up in an instant.

Everyone knew Duel Academy was currently under the KaibaCorp umbrella. KaibaCorp is recognized worldwide as the top dueling corporation. Its robust support and management of Duel Academy had long been widely praised.

But the Princeton Group was a different story. While the Princeton Family was comparably wealthy, they were just that—rich. Their reputation in the dueling world was middling.

Almost every student instinctively opposed the idea—no one wanted the Academy to fall into the hands of a pure capital conglomerate.

Chazz and the other students were likewise stunned, and he contacted his two older brothers.

They replied with a matter-of-fact tone.

"Isn't it obvious?" said his eldest brother, Slade. "Our Princeton Group decided long ago—we'll stand at the very top of politics, business, and the duel world.

And since you, our tail-end little brother, are useless, we'll do it ourselves."

"What?" Chazz blurted. "What are you going to do?"

"We've reached an agreement with the Academy's board. The Academy's ownership will be decided by a duel against a student representative. And the chosen representative is you, my foolish little brother."

Slade laughed.

"Let's decide the Academy's fate with a duel!"

"A duel against my brothers!?" Chazz was shocked.

"That's right. Of course, you've trained in dueling since childhood, while your brothers are only beginners. So naturally, we'll impose a balancing restriction."

Slade said:

"The deck I'll use will be a super-rare powerhouse built with cards acquired at great expense.

And as an unfavorable restriction, in this duel you're not allowed to use any Effect Monsters—only Normal Monsters!"

In the anime, the restriction for that match was "no monsters with over 500 ATK," but here it's no effects allowed.

Obviously, this restriction is even nastier than the original. In the original, you couldn't use high-ATK monsters, but everyone knows 0-ATK monsters tend to be broken—plenty of low-ATK monsters have powerful effects.

Chazz even used "Chaos Necromancer," whose ATK increases by the number of monsters in your GY, casually pushing over 3000 for lethal. The ATK cap barely mattered.

But banning effects is like dueling under a permanent Skill Drain—difficulty spikes by a tier.

Chazz started. "No monster effects?"

"Correct—and that Kaiba Seto has already agreed to the condition," Slade barked. "Since you refused the family's help, face your brothers with Duel Academy as the wager!"

Chapter 487: Ojama Goes on the Offensive

No Effect Monsters allowed.

Even Chazz couldn't stay as outwardly calm as he looked when he heard that condition.

For starters, if he cut all Effect Monsters, he couldn't even build a complete deck. He did have some vanillas, but most of them were high-ATK Tribute monsters.

Under such a restriction, the obvious idea was high-ATK vanillas backed by powerful Equip and support.

Like 4-star 2000-ATK "Gene-Warped Warwolf" and some high-ATK Tribute monsters. Even without monster effects, with big beaters and strong spells/traps, against his older brother—an amateur—even with a whale-deck there'd be decent odds.

If this were the old Chazz, he'd have chosen that strategy without hesitation.

But now...

As he weighed his options, a figure rose unbidden in his mind—Kira.

He recalled losing to Kira multiple times, each with a different build. It was as if the duel in that guy's eyes was different from theirs. After several matches, Chazz realized his own thinking had been nudged—he was starting to look for new possibilities in dueling.

Strength isn't the only thing that matters.

No, no—that's his duel, his path. Why am I thinking about that guy?

Chazz shook his head, trying to banish Kira from his thoughts.

But soon, as he stared at the spread of vanillas in front of him, he couldn't help thinking—

—If it were Kira, what would he do in this situation?

If it were him, he'd definitely come up with some crazy idea that made you see black.

Because that's the kind of guy he is. Give him a pile of vanillas and he'll conjure a bizarre lineup. He's like he has no ceiling.

Come to think of it, that kind of guy is already the King of Games. As a target Chazz has sworn to chase, he's never felt so far from that target...

Wait. That's it.

Chazz's gaze fell on one card amid the pile, and his eyes lit up.

If it were Kira, this card might—

A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.

Then, as if he'd grasped the joy in this tactic, the corner of his mouth curled up despite himself.

The smile turned... questionable.

…

The next day, Chazz stepped onto the Academy's arena, facing his elder brother.

Most of the faculty and students came to watch this internal Chazz-family duel that would decide the Academy's future.

The students' attitude toward Chazz wasn't friendly. The buyer was his own family's conglomerate, and the Academy's representative just happened to be Chazz himself. Naturally, many suspected he'd throw the match, handing the Academy over to the Princeton Family.

So when he took the stage, there were no cheers—only a chorus of boos.

Chazz didn't care. He stood before Slade and raised his Duel Disk.

"Your mental state looks good," Slade said, arms folded. "Meeting adversity head-on without fear—I should praise that courage, Chazz."

"No need for speeches, brother."

Chazz opened his Duel Disk with a blank face, ignoring both the taunts and the jeers around them.

"This duel isn't just about Duel Academy. It's about me."

"What do you mean?" Slade frowned.

Chazz didn't explain. He lowered his eyes to the deck he'd sleeved up overnight.

A deck built under overwhelming restriction—completely unlike anything he'd run before.

He couldn't help flicking a glance toward the stands, as if looking for Kira. No luck.

Well, of course.

He's already the King of Games—he must have plenty on his plate, and his horizons are nothing like before. A little scuffle like this at the Academy probably isn't even on his radar.

Chazz drew his gaze back and took a step forward.

"Come on, brother!"

"Duel!" x2

[Chazz Chazz, LP 4000]

[Slade, LP 4000]

"I'll take the first move. My turn—draw!"

Chazz did not stand on ceremony with the coin toss.

"I activate the Spell 'Graceful Charity' to draw 3 cards, then discard 2."

He picked two cards to discard, then slid another into his Spell/Trap Zone.

"The Spell 'Enchanting Fitting Room!' I pay 800 Life Points, reveal the top 4 cards of my Deck, and Special Summon any Level 3 or lower Normal Monsters among them. Shuffle the rest back."

[Chazz, LP 4000 → 3200]

"Reveal four!"

He drew four cards in one go. He barely needed to look—he already knew what he'd hit.

Because that damned voice was already chirping in his ears.

"Whoah, big bro, calling us right away?"

"Figures we're the aces—can't do it without us, huh?"

"Let's perk up and go all in!"

Chazz slapped three cards down on the Disk.

"Come out, you trash! Special Summon the Ojama triplets—Ojama Yellow, Ojama Green, and Ojama Black!"

[Ojama Yellow, DEF 1000]

[Ojama Green, DEF 1000]

[Ojama Black, DEF 1000]

The Ojama Brothers, on the scene!

It was Chazz's first time summoning the Ojamas with his own hands. Though forced by the duel's special restrictions, it was still a moment to mark.

Ojama Yellow was moved to tears. "Big bro summoned me! He really summoned me! Boo hoo hoo—"

He started wiping his eyes.

"To flip three Ojamas at once—classic Chazz," Kira said from the stands, chin in hand.

He'd actually come to watch—only the seats were packed, so Chazz hadn't spotted him.

"Those are clearly spirits," Jaden said, excited. "Whoa, when did Chazz find the other two Ojama spirits—"

"I heard Ojama Yellow kept pestering him to go to an old broken well behind the school, and he found the other two Ojamas there," Misawa said from beside him.

"Huh, in a broken well," Jaden marveled. "A card with spirits in it and someone tossed it..."

By now Ojama Yellow had finished crying and straightened up.

"This is big bro's first time summoning me. No way I'm letting him lose face!" Yellow pounded his chest and looked at Chazz. "Leave it to me, big bro!"

Chazz, stone-faced: "I activate the Spell 'White Elephant's Gift.' I send the 'Ojama Yellow' on my field to the GY to draw 2 cards."

Ojama Yellow: "???"

Chapter 488: The Way of the King

"Big bro, you're so heartless!"

Ojama Yellow's eyes welled again.

"Shut it! A lackey should focus on doing a lackey's job!"

Chazz cut him off without mercy, then continued:

"Tribute Ojama Yellow—draw two!"

He drew two more, then spoke in a low voice:

"Per your restriction, there isn't a single Effect Monster in my deck. But Fusion Monsters aren't subject to that rule.

So I activate the Spell 'Polymerization,' fusing the remaining 'Ojama Green' and 'Ojama Black!' Descend in the guise of a knight, you trash—

—Ojama Knight, Fusion Summon!"

Green and Black hopped to the center, struck some calisthenics-like, goofy poses, chanting "Fu-sion!" The moment their palms met, they really did merge—armor like a medieval suit, yet still very Ojama, landed with a flourish.

[Ojama Knight, DEF 2500]

"Heh. I see. Even if your materials are only Normal Monsters, you can still expand your options with Fusion."

Slade chuckled.

"But even so, it's just a 0-ATK piece of trash."

"Ojama Knight can seal two of your Monster Zones," Chazz said. "First, I'll seal two of your zones."

Black and green Ojama silhouettes popped over to Slade's field, grinning. "Sorry to borrow your space—pardon the intrusion~"

Up in the stands, Jaden couldn't help but snort a laugh.

"Chazz's actually using Ojamas now," Jaden said, eyes crinkled. "Kinda feels like Kira."

Kira: "..."

"Next I activate the Spell 'Card of Burial Magic!' I banish 'Polymerization,' 'White Elephant's Gift,' and 'Enchanting Fitting Room' from my GY to draw 2 cards!"

Chazz drew again, then slapped down another card.

"The Continuous Spell 'Heart of the Underdog'! During my Draw Phase, if I draw a Normal Monster, I can reveal it and draw 1 more card."

"Hmph. A deck of only vanillas—this is the best you can do for consistency," Slade said lightly.

Chazz ignored him. "I set three cards. Turn end."

"Then it's my turn—draw!" Slade barked. "Chazz! What I'm using now is the rare powerhouse the family originally prepared for you—built entirely of premium cards.

But you rejected our goodwill again and again. Now witness this deck's strength—and your own stupidity—"

"Hold it!"

Chazz cut in sharply.

"During your Standby Phase, I activate my face-down Trap card 'Ojama Trio'! I Special Summon three Ojama Tokens to your field!"

The trio popped onto Slade's side.

"Pardon the mess~"

"Ahahaha, your field's so soft and comfy—like a big bed, ahahaha..."

The three tokens plopped down without ceremony.

Slade's face twitched. "This is—"

The crowd erupted.

Monster lock!

"Ojama Knight sealed two zones, and the Ojama Tokens occupy the remaining three," Misawa gasped. "Chazz's brother can't Summon anything!"

A powerful Summoning lock right out of the gate!

"Mm. Not bad. Chazz clearly thought through the duel's restrictions and evened the playing field as fast as possible. Using such a shameless tactic... but effective," Kira nodded in approval, then glanced around.

"...But, hey, Chazz's the one dueling. Why are you all staring at me?"

Everyone: "..."

Slade's face twitched again.

Then he scowled. "Is this what you've learned at Duel Academy?"

"What I learned at Duel Academy is to use every means available," Chazz shot back. "Victory isn't only about raw power. Rich tactics and variability—rather than getting lost in your own duel chasing strength, it's better to disrupt the opponent so they can't show their strength."

Slade shook his head again and again.

"No, no. You're a man who should be king—who will reign over the duel world! You should walk the upright Way of the King. How can you duel like this, scraping the bottom?"

Chazz thought, No, brother, maybe you don't keep up with the duel world—people scraping the bottom already became king and reign supreme.

Brother, times have changed...

"You disappoint me, Chazz. Then let me wake you up with the Princeton Family's deck power!" Slade snapped. "I activate the Spell 'Double Fusion'!

I pay 500 Life Points, and this turn I can use the effect of 'Polymerization' twice!" (Anime effect)

[Slade, LP 4000 → 3500]

The crowd blinked in surprise.

"His Monster Zones are sealed. Even if he fuses with monsters from his hand, there's no zone to Summon to," Misawa said. "He only has those Ojama Tokens sealing his zones. What could he possibly fuse..."

"Maybe he doesn't really understand dueling and misplayed?" Syrus ventured.

But then the spell card in Slade's hand flared—an actual Fusion vortex opened. The ones howling as an invisible force dragged them in were—his own Ojama Tokens!

Chazz's eyes widened. "Impossible! Fusing with Ojama Tokens—"

"Hahahaha, of course it's possible!" Slade laughed. "The Fusion requirement is any two Normal Monsters!

Watch closely, Chazz. This is what you turned down from the family—top-tier premium cards collected with money's power—

—First of the Dragons! Fusion Summon!!!"

It was like an ancient species stirring—wings unfurling to blot out the arena's lights. Scales shimmered with age and mystery. The ancient body spread its wings—broad enough to span the sky.

[First of the Dragons, ATK 2700]

"A super-rare—First of the Dragons..."

Chazz's expression tightened.

"That's right. Only one can exist on my field. It cannot be destroyed by battle with anything that isn't a Normal Monster, and it's unaffected by monster effects!"

Slade smiled.

"Of course, your deck doesn't have any Effect Monsters anyway, right?"

Chazz: "..."

"I told you—low tactics never stand on the grand stage. The family hoped you'd walk the upright Way of the King... well, that was then."

Slade chuckled.

"Since you've let us down time and again, we don't expect anything from you anymore.

Now, just lie down here and get beaten—be the stepping stone for the family to seize Duel Academy!"

Chapter 489: Chazz's Resolve

Even after summoning that pay-to-win First of the Dragons, Slade didn't go straight to the Battle Phase.

"I didn't use a normal Polymerization just now—it was Double Fusion." Slade smiled. "Chazz, you know this, right? That card lets you use the effect of 'Fusion' twice in a single turn."

Chazz started. "Brother, don't tell me—"

"Correct. I've fully mastered Fusion Summoning. Pulling off multiple Fusions in one turn is no problem!"

Slade declared in a ringing voice:

"I'll personally lead the Princeton Group into the dueling world and take the summit!

Double Fusion's second use—activate! I fuse 'Lord of D.' and 'Divine Dragon Ragnarok' in my hand! Fusion Summon—

—King Dragun!!!"

With the majesty of a golden divine dragon, the king of dragon knights descended amid a howling storm. Faces around the arena changed again.

This was a Fusion from the 'Lord of D.' line Kaiba Seto himself had used—the Lord of D, master over dragons—another rare card!

"Money can be transmuted into power even in a duel!" Slade said. "If someone from the Princeton Family has forgotten that, allow me to help you remember!

While King Dragun is on the field, all Dragons you control cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. And he rules over Dragons with another strong effect. Once per turn, Special Summon 1 Dragon from your hand!"

"Hold it," Chazz cut in. "Two of your Monster Zones are still sealed by Ojama Knight. You can't Summon anything new—"

"Heh, you think I didn't account for that?" Slade chuckled. "Of course I did.

I activate the Quick-Play Spell Forbidden Chalice from my hand. One monster on the field gains 400 ATK until the end of the turn, and its effects are negated.

I'll boost 'Ojama Knight' by 400 and negate its effects!"

[Ojama Knight, ATK 0 → ATK 400]

Four hundred ATK meant nothing to Ojama Knight—but losing the effect was fatal.

"With that, your lock on my zones is lifted," Slade smiled. "I told you—petty tricks can't stand before the Way of the King. The former you should have understood that, Chazz.

Therefore I activate King Dragun's effect! Special Summon a Dragon from my hand!

I Special Summon Luster Dragon!"

A dragon like a creature carved from gemstone swept down to Slade's field. When it spread its wings, its whole body glittered with crystalline light.

[Luster Dragon, ATK 1900]

A 1900-ATK Level 4—top-tier beater among the lower ranks. And more than anything else, pricey.

"We're finished, we're finished," Syrus went pale in the stands. "He's not a novice at all—he's strong! So many powerful Dragons in one turn—"

Misawa exhaled. "So that's the power of money..."

"And Chazz's lock doesn't work at all!" Syrus fretted. "It looked decent, like he learned Kira's tactics, but it got broken instantly."

Misawa said nothing, but agreed in his heart.

Yeah. If our King of Games were down there, the opponent would already be rolling up their sleeves...

"First of the Dragons—attack 'Ojama Knight'!"

Ojama Knight yelped and raised his shield, trying his best to block. But against First of the Dragons he was powerless; the colossal ancient dragon swatted him aside, shield and all, smashing a crater in the floor.

"Ojama Knight was in Defense Position," Chazz said evenly. "Even if it's destroyed, I won't take damage."

"Yes—but how will you deal with what comes next?"

Slade raised his hand, smiling.

"King Dragun, direct attack!"

King Dragun swooped straight for Chazz. He crossed his arms to guard, grunting as the charge blasted him backward.

[Chazz, LP 3200 → LP 800]

"One last blow. What a short duel after all, Chazz," Slade laughed. "But if you betray the family and even forget your own path, this outcome is only natural.

Duel Academy will be securely taken by the Princeton Group!"

He stepped forward and swept his arm down.

"Finish it—Luster Dragon, direct attack!"

The sapphires studding the dragon's body seemed to gleam brighter as energy flooded its maw. A beam shone out like a lance of faceted light, firing at Chazz!

"Chazz!" someone in the stands cried out.

If this hit, the Academy would immediately belong to the Princeton Group. What they'd turn it into afterward—no one knew.

"I activate my set card!" Chazz shouted. "Trap Card—Chaos Barrier Field!

During the same Battle Phase, when a second direct attack is declared, the attacking monster battles the first monster that made a direct attack to calculate battle damage!"

"NANI!?"

Slade's face changed.

The second direct attacker battling the first one—that means—

He watched in shock as his Luster Dragon, which had been locked onto his little brother, suddenly wheeled about and fired at King Dragun instead!

King Dragun, the commander of dragons, would not tolerate a mere lowly underling challenging his authority. Without thinking, he swatted the blast aside and countered.

The sapphire beam was shattered like dry twigs; Luster Dragon screamed as its body was pierced, then burst into a rain of sparkling gem-dust.

[Slade, LP 3500 → LP 3000]

"Oh, slick counter! Keep that momentum, Chazz!" Jaden was first to cheer.

"It's Chazz Thunder!"

Wiping the sweat on his brow, Chazz still found the time to remind him:

"It's Mr. THUNDER!"

Jaden laughed. "Okay, okay—Mr. Thunder it is. Mr. Thunder!"

Having eaten a small loss, Slade straightened and gave a dry chuckle. "Seems I underestimated you a little. But it changes nothing. You've only delayed the inevitable by a single turn."

He waved a hand.

"I set a card. Turn end."

Chazz knew he wasn't wrong. Honestly, his brother's dueling skill had surprised him—and most of Chazz's usual decks were off-limits right now. Things were grim.

But even so...

He looked down at his deck. Kira's face rose unbidden in his mind again.

That ever-sunny, gentle smile that somehow made you want to punch him.

Yeah, that guy's already the King of Games.

If it were him, a restriction like this would mean nothing at all.

He'd probably have ten-plus ways to win easily—and make the opponent lose sleep for a week from sheer salt.

If that's the case, then what right do I have, with him as my target, to talk about giving up?

The fire rekindled in Chazz's eyes.

"My turn—draw!"

Chapter 490: Disruption in Dire Straits

"My turn—draw!"

Chazz drew, then immediately revealed the card.

"I drew 'Soul Tiger!' With the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Heart of the Underdog'—when I draw a Normal Monster during my Draw Phase, I can reveal it to draw 1 more card!"

He revealed, drew again, and revealed right away:

"Normal Monster 'Vorse Raider!' Draw 1!"

"Normal Monster 'Dark Blade!' Draw 1!"

Heart of the Underdog chained, and Chazz kept drawing in succession. But after the fourth card, he stopped revealing—apparently he hadn't drawn another Normal.

"Then I activate the Spell 'Allure of Darkness,'" Chazz said. "Draw 2 cards, then banish 1 DARK monster from my hand. Otherwise, send my entire hand to the GY."

He drew two, then flipped one of the vanillas he'd shown earlier.

"I banish 'Dark Blade'!"

He swept his hand again.

"I activate the Trap 'Common Charity.' Draw 2 cards, then banish 1 Normal Monster from my hand."

Chazz drew two.

"I banish 'Soul Tiger!' And then the Spell 'Tri-Wight'—Special Summon 3 Level 2 or lower Normal Monsters from my GY.

Return to the field, you Ojama trash!"

[Ojama Yellow, DEF 1000]

[Ojama Black, DEF 1000]

[Ojama Green, DEF 1000]

Ojama Yellow: "I knew big bro couldn't live without us!"

Ojama Black: "Full HP rez!"

Ojama Green: "Witness the power of brotherly unity!"

"I activate 'Polymerization!'" Chazz called. "Fuse the three Ojamas on my field! Evolve into your mightiest form, you trash—

—Ojama King, Fusion Summon!"

With a triple Ojama Fusion, the big-headed clown-lord slammed down, striking a bodybuilder pose in front of Chazz.

[Ojama King, DEF 3000]

"While Ojama King is on the field, it can seal up to 3 of your Monster Zones," Chazz said. "I'll seal the remaining two zones on your field!"

"Great, 3000 DEF won't be easy to break!" Syrus blurted.

"I set two cards. Turn end," Chazz said.

"My turn—draw!"

Slade snorted.

"Backed into a corner, so you had to use a loser's Fusion to cling to life? It won't work!

I activate the Equip Spell 'Big Bang Shot'! Equip to 'First of the Dragons'—the equipped monster gains 400 ATK and inflicts piercing damage!"

[First of the Dragons, ATK 2700 → ATK 3100]

"Higher than Ojama King's DEF!" Students around the arena tensed.

"This ends now!" Slade barked. "First of the Dragons—clear that eyesore!"

Ojama King was Chazz's last bulwark. If it fell here, he'd have nothing left to defend with. Many in the crowd gasped again—

—but sharp light flashed in Chazz's eyes. "I was waiting for this!"

Slade flinched. "Nani?"

"I activate the Trap 'D2 Shield!' One face-up Defense Position monster I control doubles its original DEF.

Of course I choose—Ojama King!"

Ojama King bellowed. His already-massive frame seemed to swell again, like an immovable mountain.

[Ojama King, DEF 3000 → DEF 6000]

"Six thousand DEF!?" Slade blanched.

That meant First of the Dragons wouldn't just fail to break through—he'd take 2900 in massive rebound damage!

As the students cried out, many glanced, without thinking, at Kira.

Doubling DEF with D2 Shield for a counter-blow—wasn't that the same trick that got Chazz killed during the Academy's duel back then?

Looks like Chazz learned from that loss and put the King of Games's tech to use...

Hey, borrowing from the King of Games isn't shameful.

"Ugh!"

[Slade, LP 3000 → LP 100]

No one expected Chazz to flip the script from such a disadvantage—he fell just 100 short of a full comeback.

Slade broke into a cold sweat. Who would have thought that from an overwhelming advantage, with his opponent barely able to respond, he'd almost get dumped in the gutter?

He looked at Chazz again, a touch of fear in his eyes.

"Is this what you learned at Duel Academy?"

Chazz said nothing.

"Tch. I don't have a monster that can break Ojama King's DEF right now," Slade said flatly. "I end my turn."

"My turn—draw!"

Chazz drew, and his eyes brightened—just a shade.

As if something he'd been waiting for had arrived.

He immediately revealed the card in his hand.

"I drew... 'Sealmaster Meisei.' With the effect of 'Heart of the Underdog,' I reveal a Normal Monster I drew and draw 1 more."

He drew again.

"Then I Normal Summon 'Sealmaster Meisei!'"

[Sealmaster Meisei, ATK 1100]

"Heh, a low-level vanilla," Slade said dismissively. "A wall to keep stalling?"

"Even a little vanilla has its use! That's what I learned at Duel Academy," Chazz said, voice ringing. "If you only have eyes for the top, you'll never reach the summit!"

Slade hesitated. "Chazz..."

"Now, watch closely, brother. The possibilities even a low-level has!

I activate my set card—the Continuous Spell 'Talisman of Trap Sealing!'"

As Chazz spoke, the card flipped. The Sealmaster chanted a string of syllables; a sigil pulsed and spread, wrapping the arena in a sealing field.

"This card can only be used in tandem with 'Sealmaster Meisei,'" Chazz said. "While it's on the field, neither player can activate Trap Cards, and all Trap effects are negated!"

Slade's face tightened.

If that card resolved, every Trap he'd set would be dead.

Sealmaster Meisei had 1100 ATK, and he still had one Ojama Token with 1000 DEF. When a Token is destroyed by battle, he'd take 300 damage—and he only had 100 LP left...

Another gutter-dump death. It'd be too ridiculous.

"In that case, before your Spell resolves, I chain my set Trap—'Altar for Tribute,'" Slade said. "I Tribute my 'King Dragun' to gain Life Points equal to its ATK—2400."

[Slade, LP 100 → LP 2500]

His LP was back in the safe zone—no Token cheese.

"I'm not done," Chazz continued. "Next—another Continuous Spell: 'Level Limit - Area B!'

All Level 4 or higher monsters on the field switch to Defense Position!"

Slade's face tightened again.

"I see—after a Trap lock, an attack lock." He nodded once.

This was finally getting tricky.

But Chazz still wasn't done.

"And lastly—Field Spell—

—Secret Village of the Spellcasters!!!"

"Hm?"

Even Kira in the stands smiled, interest piqued.

"Well, well, this thing. Now it's getting fun."

Secret Village of the Spellcasters—an infamous shut-in's dream. More than a few duelists had flipped a table over this one back in the day.

"While I control a Spellcaster and my opponent does not," Chazz said coolly, "my opponent cannot activate Spell Cards!"

Slade's expression stalled.

No Spells—wait...

"Sealmaster Meisei is a Spellcaster," Chazz said with a thin smile. "And if I'm not mistaken, at least 70 percent—no, at least eighty percent—of your deck is Dragons.

I'm guessing you don't have any Spellcasters, do you?"

Slade's pupils shrank. You didn't need to be a master duelist to grasp his situation now.

This setup—

Both Spells and Traps were sealed, and the Spell lock was one-sided—Chazz's own Spells still worked. Including the attack lock...

He couldn't attack, and he couldn't use Spells or Traps to clear the backrow.

Wasn't this just waiting to die!?

"All right. I end my turn, brother."

Only now did the string in Chazz's heart loosen a little.

Staring at the completed formation—this lock that oozed security—he exhaled, and suddenly he kind of understood.

He understood why Kira's duels always looked so effortless, so assured, as if everything was in his grasp.

Honestly, if I hid in an ironclad shell like this all day, I'd look assured too.

Your opponent can't even play cards—what's there to be afraid of?

"Uh... my turn."

Slade drew.

He checked his hand again and again, then his set backrow. He stared at Chazz's Meisei-seal array, thought a long while, and finally seemed certain he really had nothing he could do.

He could only end his turn.

"Then my turn—draw!" Chazz said. "I Summon 'Vorse Raider.' Of course, because of 'Level Limit - Area B,' Level 4 or higher monsters switch to Defense Position."

[Vorse Raider, DEF 1200]

"Then I activate 'White Elephant's Gift,' sending 'Vorse Raider' to the GY to draw 2 cards."

Chazz drew two.

"Turn end."

"My turn—draw."

Slade stewed for a while, then scowled.

"...Turn end."

He really had nothing.

"Then me!" Chazz drew. "I drew another Normal Monster, so by 'Heart of the Underdog' I draw 1."

He drew again.

Then he lifted his eyes and ran them over Slade's field, calculating quickly.

Just a bit more...

"I set a card. Turn end."

"My turn..."

Slade drew and glanced at the card.

Quick-Play Spell—Mystical Space Typhoon.

In theory, blowing away any one of the opponent's backrow would crack this disgusting lock. But with Secret Village up, and no Spellcaster on his side, he couldn't activate Spells at all...

"Turn end," he muttered.

He was already starting to regret imposing "no Effect Monsters."

Without that pointless condition, Chazz's temperament would never have chosen such a drawn-out shut-in strategy. This was death by a dull knife—pure misery. Without the restriction, Chazz's usual decks would have thrown down flashy finishers and ended this ages ago.

Why sit here and suffer?

Come to think of it—who did he learn this twisted playstyle from...

"I drew another Normal Monster—draw 1 more!"

"My turn—draw!"

The corner of Chazz's mouth slid up.

"Finally."

A chill ran through Slade's chest.

What now?

"Quick-Play Spell—'De-Fusion.' I break down my 'Ojama King.'

Come back—Ojama Brothers!"

[Ojama Yellow, DEF 1000]

[Ojama Black, DEF 1000]

[Ojama Green, DEF 1000]

"Watch closely, brother! This is the potential of the underlings!

I activate the Spell—"

He raised the fresh card he'd just drawn.

"Ojama Delta Thunder!!"

An anime-original upgrade over 'Ojama Delta Hurricane!!'—the Brothers' true ultimate!

"Only when Ojama Yellow, Black, and Green are all on the field can this be activated. Send 1 'Ojama Delta Hurricane!!' from your Deck to the GY; destroy all cards your opponent controls!" Chazz shouted. "And when this effect begins to resolve, for each card in your opponent's hand and on their field, inflict 500 damage!"

Slade's face drained. "Five hundred per... damn!"

"You have 3 cards in hand, and on the field—First of the Dragons, an Ojama Token, and Big Bang Shot," Chazz recited. "So—destroy all cards you control, and you take 3000 damage.

Go, you trash!"

The Ojama Brothers yelled as one, leaping. Their three butts smacked together, spinning into a wheel of fire and wind!

Secret Art—Ojama Delta Thunder!!!

Storm and lightning swallowed the field. First of the Dragons and the half the arena it stood on vanished in the blast. Slade groaned and dropped to one knee, cards scattering.

[Slade, LP 2500 → LP 0]

Chapter 491: A King's Measure

Chazz won.

Professor Crowler was the first who couldn't hold back—he jumped onto the arena, snatched up the mic, and blurted, "The winner, representing Duel Academy—Chazz Princeton!"

At his words, the entire student body erupted.

Though Professor Crowler often butted heads with the students, on this matter—who owned Duel Academy—he was firmly on their side.

You could even say the elitist, greedy professor found the idea of the Academy falling into the Princeton Group's hands more unacceptable than anyone.

The cheers shook the rafters, as if they might lift the roof. All the earlier doubt surrounding Chazz dissolved into praise—and thunderous applause.

Someone started chanting his name.

"Chazz! Chazz! Chazz—"

"No!"

Chazz stood at center stage, as if a spotlight fixed him in place. He raised his right hand high and, hamming it up, jabbed a finger at the sky.

"My name is—one!"

"Ten!" someone echoed.

"Hundred!"

"Thousand!"

"THUNDER!"

"Thunder! Thunder! Chazz Thunder—!"

The chaotic noise became uniform under his lead, the arena's roar gathering into one. The black-clad boy stood at the heart of that wave, arm raised. For all the chuuni, there was a faint aura of a king about him.

Sitting in the stands, Kira leaned his cheek on his fist and smiled.

That Chazz—he really does look a bit more grown up.

Though that chuuni streak hasn't improved—in fact, it might have gotten worse.

For no particular reason, Kira suddenly felt that the President might like this kid...

"Big bro!"

The second brother, Jagger, hurried onto the stage to help the fallen eldest.

"This won't stand," he said gravely. "We can't just let it go. When we get back we'll—"

But before he could finish, Slade waved him off.

"No need."

Jagger blinked. "So we just drop it?"

Slade smiled and turned back to the arena. Their tail-end little brother stood there, arm raised, accepting the students' cheers like a victor.

"Haven't you noticed? Chazz's grown."

Only then did Jagger seem to get it, as if he suddenly understood his brother's thinking.

If big brother had won, Duel Academy would have become the Princeton Group's property per his agreement with President Kaiba. But as things stood—even though he lost—Chazz proved himself to the Academy and established his prestige...

Was that what big brother planned from the start?

At that thought, he couldn't help looking at Slade with newfound respect.

"Let's go," Slade smiled. "It's over. Don't bring it up again."

"Yes, big brother."

The two elder Princeton Family took one last long look at their kid brother, then turned and left.

Kira later heard from Mokuba that the duel's result and a report landed on President Kaiba's desk that very night. The President didn't even glance at it.

"Boring."

That's what Kaiba Seto told the subordinate who brought the report.

"My Duel Academy students are supposed to win. What about that needs reporting?"

Who knows if the President had heard Chazz's name—but he seemed confident in this student he'd never met. That's why he'd agreed to the Princeton Group's acquisition proposal without hesitation.

Or maybe he figured that if the Academy's students couldn't handle a scene like this—or worse, would throw a match on purpose—then such an Academy wasn't worth investing in anyway. If it got bought, so be it.

In any case, the outcome was clear: Chazz hadn't disappointed anyone.

"Not bad at all, Chazz!"

Jaden lunged in for a bear hug.

"You've gotten so strong without me noticing, hahaha! I kinda wanna duel you again now—"

"Gross. Get off me!"

Chazz grimaced.

"Don't be like that—we're all bros," Jaden grinned.

Chazz shoved him away, turned—and saw Kira in the back. Only then did it hit him that when he was sleeving up, he'd focused entirely on beating his brother and hadn't thought much else.

But looking back after the win—his tactic really did look like he'd copied Kira's homework. Not only was the style similar, certain parts had like a 90% plagiarism rate...

With the duel over and the crisis past, facing the original, he suddenly realized it; color crept up Chazz's cheeks on instinct.

"D-don't get the wrong idea."

He crossed his arms and looked aside, muttering:

"I didn't mean to copy you. I just... just happened to pick up those cards. Yeah. That's all!"

Everyone: "..."

Hearing that, even those who hadn't thought much about it fell silent.

Kira was easygoing. He just smiled. "No worries—I get it. At worst, what duelists do is 'borrow,' to broaden ideas."

That only made Chazz feel more awkward.

But Kira went on: "Dueling is something all duelists build together. Someone has to blaze new trails and explore new tactics.

And every new path needs generations of duelists to test, refine, and carry it forward.

Yugi Muto, Kaiba Seto—every card and system they've used has since been developed into countless possibilities. That's the direction of progress.

I'd bet that if they saw later duelists build new skyscrapers on their foundations, they'd only feel pleased and proud."

At those words, everyone nodded. Their respect for Kira climbed another rung.

So this is the King's measure?

Truly a man at the summit of the dueling world.

Kira wasn't just spouting pretty words—he meant it.

And saying Chazz copied him felt a bit unfair, too. With the Ojamas, Chazz was the original pioneer before the worldline shifted; if anything, Kira had copied from him.

As with most of his decks. People liked to say his thinking was out of the box, his talent uncanny, to create so many strange builds—but he never took the credit. He knew he'd just played a few more years in his past life, surfed the net a few more years, and stood on giants' shoulders.

He couldn't exactly explain transmigration, though—so even when he tried to be modest, no one believed him. They only thought: truly the King's measure—so talented, so accomplished, and still so humble. Nothing to do but admire...

"By the way, you said you picked up the Ojama brothers in a well behind the school?" Kira asked.

"Yeah. Lyman told me there were rumors of an evil spirit back there. Ojama Yellow led me to it."

Chazz thought.

Jaden muttered, "Speaking of which... we haven't seen Professor Lyman in a while. He hasn't been back to the Red dorm for days—did something happen?"