Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh! Chapter 178: The Perfect Duel - Novel Cool

Chapter 178: The Perfect Duel

Chapter 178: The Perfect Duel

The duel had come to an end.

After being thoroughly trounced by his own family's powerful monsters, Tenma Tsukiyuki staggered backward, his life points reduced to zero. He knelt on the ground, head hung low, and remained in that position for a long while.

With his head lowered, he looked like he had withdrawn into himself.

Mitsuishi and Asuka also wore complicated expressions. Glancing at You Xuan and then at Tsukiyuki, they didn't know what to say for a moment.

He had won again.

And You Xuan's peculiar new strategies seemed to have multiplied.

Looking at Tsukiyuki, who remained seated for a good while, they even began to worry if a legendary duelist would lose his dream today.

Was it true that no one could stand in the way of the Reporter Warrior anymore?

Asuka unconsciously placed her hand on her deck, thinking of the newest card she had crafted under You Xuan's guidance, "Electronic Angel - Nasatemi."

Suddenly, she felt a hint of familiarity in You Xuan's tactics today.

She refused to believe that You Xuan's personal peculiar preferences didn't play a part in this.

At that moment, a voice came from the direction of the Mirage Society building.

"I told you so."

The group looked in unison and saw another "Tenma Tsukiyuki" standing at the entrance, as if they were carved from the same mold. If they hadn't stood side by side for comparison, there would be no way to tell them apart.

Needless to say, this was naturally Tenma Yakou, Tsukiyuki's younger brother.

Tsukiyuki stood up and looked at his younger brother. "Yakou."

"I told you he was strong, big brother. I'm afraid you're no match for him," Yakou said, his hands clasped behind his back as he smiled. "Of course, I know that even if I say so, you would still have to try."

Tsukiyuki shrugged, remaining silent.

He turned to face You Xuan, as if adjusting and calming his emotions, and then smiled lightly. "It was a good duel. I learned a lot."

What else could he say? That the way you played was wrong?

But the cards they used were all their father's. Bekkas himself was a deep tauren enthusiast, so he couldn't deny his father's taste, could he?

"On the contrary, I'm the one who learned a lot," You Xuan smiled and shook his hand again.

Yakou also greeted him and said, "It hasn't been long since we last met, and you seem to have become even stronger. You've quickly mastered the power of Necromancy."

No, he even felt that this statement was a bit of an understatement.

Because he felt that Necromancy in Bekkas's hands didn't seem as smooth as it did today. Of course, it might also be because Bekkas had already retired from the dueling world and didn't play as often.

"I lost," Tsukiyuki said, glancing at Yakou.

"What you said is true. Dueling with him... with You Xuan, does feel a bit special," he admitted, looking at You Xuan.

"Now that I think about it, perhaps you are this type of duelist as well."

You Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Bekkas gave me the same evaluation many years ago. But that was a long time ago, when I was still learning to duel."

Tenma Tsukiyuki's face took on a nostalgic hue.

"Yakou and I are both orphans adopted by Mr. Bekkas. He adopted many children like us and nurtured us as his successors.

I was one of the first children to show promise, displaying an extraordinary talent for dueling that far surpassed my peers.

But after personally observing one of my duels, Mr. Bekkas gave me that evaluation."

He turned to face You Xuan and spoke earnestly.

"'Your duel is almost perfect. Every move from the first card is a meticulous calculation designed to lead to victory, like a top-notch chess player.'

It is for this reason that Mr. Bekkas bestowed upon me this title, 'Perfect Duelist.'"

Mitsuishi and Asuka also drew closer, hanging on to every word of the dueling legend.

"But Mr. Bekkas' idea of perfection was simply the limit that I had personally reached at the time. Compared to my younger brother, Yakou, I find it difficult to improve further."

Tsukiyuki closed his eyes and smiled gently.

"And if I may say so, when it comes to deck construction, dueling calculations, and control... You Xuan, you are the one who deserves the title of 'Perfect Duelist.'"

I believe that it's precisely because you can anticipate several moves ahead and foresee the path to victory that your duels give off such an effortless and casual impression."

You Xuan: "..."

"Now that you mention it," Mitsuishi suddenly realized something, "that's quite true. When compared to that other duelist, Jaden Yuki, the two of you are complete opposites."

"Oh?" Moonwalk's interest was piqued, "Is he also a student at your Duel Academy?"

"Yes, he's quite an unusual guy as well. But he's the polar opposite of You Xuan," Mitsuishi thought for a moment, "How should I put it? If I were to describe You Xuan, he always remains calm and composed, excels in unconventional tactics, and relies more on strategic thinking to win. As for Jaden Yuki..."

He paused, struggling to find the right words.

Asuka smiled, "Are you trying to say that he doesn't use his brain at all?"

"Haha, there's a bit of that," Mitsuishi laughed, "Jaden is the most passionately enthusiastic duelist I've ever met. He always seems fired up, and now that I think about it, he's pretty much You Xuan's opposite.

He doesn't overthink his duels and rarely plans meticulously. But he has this incredible drawing ability, and no matter the situation, he always seems to have a breakthrough move up his sleeve. He's also ridiculously strong."

"I see, so he's a duelist who relies solely on his 'heart' during duels."

Moonwalk's interest was piqued.

"To have two such rare duelists in the same year, it seems this year's batch of students from Duel Academy is truly formidable."

"Now that you mention it, Jaden does seem to have a unique talent," Asuka agreed, "It's as if everyone around him can't help but get fired up as well."

"Indeed. Even Osiris Red, that Scorpion guy who had wanted to give up, seems to have rekindled his passion for dueling because of Jaden," Mitsuishi added.

As they spoke, they realized that Jaden and You Xuan were polar opposites in this regard as well.

One could ignite the dueling passion in everyone around him, while the other could make everyone lose their desire to duel.

Mitsuishi suddenly felt like he understood the strange chemistry between the two of them when they teamed up.

Perhaps this was what they called "complementary" strengths.

Each possessed what the other lacked, and when they came together, they achieved remarkable results.

As for You Xuan, he was deep in thought.

"Dueling with Jaden..."

Given this theory, he wondered if dueling with Jaden would help him gain a deeper understanding of dueling.

The reason he hadn't dueled Jaden yet was that he wanted to save this important milestone for later, as a way to test the results of his divine drawing practice.

In fact, Jaden wasn't that strong in the beginning. During the first semester, he lost a duel to Caesar, the top student from the Yellow Dorm. And in that duel, Caesar probably hadn't even given his all.

It wasn't until the end of the first year that Jaden caught up with Caesar, managing to barely tie with him in their graduation duel.

So, for You Xuan, the real trial wasn't about Jaden's current strength, but the extraordinary 'momentum' he possessed.

Being able to duel while carrying such a level of momentum would be the ultimate test of his own cultivation.

However, this opportunity should be coming soon.

In about a month, the annual freshman challenge between Duel Academy and its Northern Branch should take place.

During this event, first-year students from the academy would be chosen to participate.

In the anime's original storyline, the top student from the Yellow Dorm, Daichi Misawa, dueled Jaden for the chance to represent the academy. This time, You Xuan guessed that he would likely be the one nominated to replace Misawa in that duel.

(End of Chapter)

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