Chapter 193: School Festival
Chapter 193: School Festival
In a distant, unknown location, cold iron walls seemed to freeze the endless darkness, devouring every ray of light that attempted to penetrate it. Under the cold light, the four walls and ceiling of the room looked exceptionally dull, with only the sharp edges casting a faint glow in the darkness.
Three pairs of cold eyes lit up in the darkness.
"It's about time," said one of the shadows.
"Are these instructions from Father, Alpha?" asked the shadow beside him in a low voice.
The shadow addressed as Alpha nodded, "In just two days, our target is the Duel Academy."
"So we're finally taking action," said the third, taller shadow. "But the target is the Duel Academy? Hmph, it's not very interesting for me to come out of hiding only to face a bunch of students as opponents."
"Then, Gamma, what kind of opponent would satisfy you?" asked the shadow beside him.
"Of course, it would be the legendary Duel King, that despicable Yugi Mutou," Gamma replied proudly.
The other two immediately gave him a strange look, as if he had said something foolish.
But the tall, dark figure known as Gamma remained unabashed, "My existence is to challenge the pinnacle of dueling. If I don't face the strongest, it's meaningless! That despicable Yugi, wherever he's hiding these days, will have to face me eventually."
The other two chose to ignore the rambling giant.
"Beta, this is the first task that Father has directly assigned to us," Alpha said gravely. "This mission is of utmost importance. We have two objectives, which you should be aware of."
"Of course," Beta nodded. "I've received the data."
But then he paused, a puzzled look on his face.
"I understand the primary target. But the secondary target, that duelist named 'Fujiki You Xuan,' is just a first-year student at the Duel Academy, isn't he?"
"Don't underestimate him just because he's a student. Father must have seen something extraordinary in him. We don't need to understand Father's motives; we just need to follow his instructions," Alpha replied.
Alpha paused for a moment before continuing solemnly, "Also, be cautious if you encounter the previous target. Data indicates that this person has a unique dueling style. He excels at disrupting his opponents' mental state, interfering with their brains, and causing them to underperform or even act abnormally during a duel."
Gamma, the bulky figure, suddenly interjected, "Hmph, those are just petty tricks. What use are mind-disrupting and brain-interfering tactics against me? I don't even need a brain to duel!"
The other two looked at him with newfound interest, "Oh? Do you have a plan to counter him, then?"
Gamma puffed out his chest, "If I don't have a brain, how will he disrupt or affect me? Dueling only requires 99% power and 1% thought. With enough power, any devious tricks can be crushed."
The other two chose to ignore him once again.
"I still don't understand why Father insists on sending this defective product out with us," Beta said.
"Cough, we don't need to understand Father's motives. He has his reasons," Alpha replied, sounding less confident.
At that moment, Gamma was standing beside them with his arms crossed, letting out a loud "Hahaha," filled with derision.
".I suppose so," Alpha said, his confidence fading.
The School Festival was one of the most important events of the new academic year at the Duel Academy.
When You Xuan first heard the term, it sounded unfamiliar, and he instinctively felt that it was probably an activity closely related to the theme of duel culture.
From early in the morning, students in their tricolor uniforms had packed the venue, creating a bustling crowd. Aside from the enticing food, the surrounding stalls displayed a myriad of goods, including handcrafted Black Magic Guide trinkets, chibi Black Magic Girl charms, and intricate Blue-Eyes White Dragon models.
You Xuan wandered through the festive crowd and soon spotted a familiar face.
Mizuki Izawa seemed to be imparting some knowledge to a fellow student from the Yellow Dormitory.
As You Xuan drew closer, he recognized the other person as well.
His name was something like... Sakuramachi?
Yes, that was it—the Sakuramachi who had stolen the game deck replicas in the anime.
Mizuki spoke highly of this person, praising his innate talent for mimicking other duelists' tactics and even their personalities. Sakuramachi could effortlessly adapt to any deck, a skill that Mizuki attributed to his unique gift.
You Xuan had to agree. The game deck that Yugi used was a complex amalgamation of various systems, and only a highly skilled player could hope to master it. Yet, Sakuramachi had managed to steal Yugi's deck and use it skillfully, never stumbling or hesitating during his duels. It was clear that he possessed an extraordinary talent.
If there was one flaw in this person, it would be that he always seemed to lose.
It was quite mysterious. While Sakuramachi could use any deck without hesitation, his skill seemed to be limited to that. He had even lost while using a powerful deck like Insector Haga's Ancient Gear, and his defeat at the hands of Shoumaru Fuji, was a puzzle that continued to baffle the dueling world.
". So, as I was saying, Sakuramachi, it's pointless for me to share my deck with you," Mizuki said with a pained expression.
"The strength of a duelist's deck lies in the time and effort they put into selecting and building it. You have exceptional imitation and learning abilities, but when it comes to actual duels, you become hesitant and constrained. Doesn't that prove my point?"
Unaware of You Xuan's presence nearby, Mizuki continued, using him as an example.
"Look at You Xuan, for instance. His strength is undeniable, even if it pains me to admit it. He is far superior to me, the top-ranked student in the Yellow Dormitory.
His strength lies in his willingness to forge his own path, never following in the footsteps of others. Even I cannot hope to match his achievements."
You Xuan remained silent, feeling a sense of guilt at Mizuki's assessment of him. While it was true that he crafted his own decks, many of his ideas and strategies were built upon the wisdom and experiences of countless duelists who had come before him.
To outsiders, it may seem like he was constantly exploring hidden paths unknown to others, but in reality, he was traversing well-trodden highways, following in the footsteps of countless duelists who had gone before him.
"I understand now!" Sakuramachi exclaimed, nodding vigorously.
"So, compared to You Xuan's deck, which does seem stronger and more unique, even you, Mizuki, share the same opinion.
Well, now I know the path I must take. Thank you for your guidance, Mizuki!"
Mizuki: "No, what I meant was—"
Before Mizuki could finish his sentence, Sakuramachi had already turned and disappeared into the crowd, seemingly more interested in refining his deck than participating in the rest of the School Festival.
Mizuki: "..."
It seemed like there had been another misunderstanding.
Oh well, let him be, Mizuki thought.
(End of Chapter)
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