https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-380-Playing-Cards-to-Conquer-the-World/12557530/
Chapter 381: The Quarter-Finals Commence
Chapter 381: The Quarter-Finals Commence
As night fell, the horizon was shrouded in a faint purple haze, lending an air of mystery to the skyline.
A massive, enigmatic silhouette loomed like a mist rolling in from the sea, slowly approaching the coast. The ocean seemed to part under the pressure of the enormous vessel, forming slender wakes that extended to the distant horizon. The symphony of the waves lapping against the metal hull blended with the mechanical hum, creating a deep, resonant harmony.
"Wow, amazing!"
As the ship with the KC logo docked, Judai couldn't help but stare, his eyes wide with wonder.
"It's huge and powerful; it looks like a battleship!"
"This is the new stage for the Duel City tournament—the Duel Ship!"
Kaiba took the lead and boarded the ship, his expression confident and determined. Lazar, ever the loyal follower, stood stoically behind him, his arms crossed.
One by one, the group boarded, and the ship set sail.
After the top eight duelists were decided in the first Duel City tournament, Kaiba had arrived in a zeppelin, and it seemed there was even a jet hidden within—a grand display of his wealth and power.
"I see," You Xuan murmured, finally understanding Kaiba's intentions.
Regardless, it was a wise decision to bring these dangerous individuals away from the city. Should tensions rise and Pokemon battles ensue, at least the general public would be spared from the crossfire.
During the previous Duel City tournament, the Snake God had barely made an appearance before a storm caused a disaster that halted the event. No one knew what would happen if a full-blown battle erupted.
Kaiba, ever the gracious host, had arranged a top-notch banquet for the duelists aboard the ship. The dining room was located on the top deck, gleaming with opulence.
A long table, stretching dozens of meters, dominated the center of the room, adorned with pristine white linen and silver table settings. Crystal-clear wine glasses and silverware added to the elegant atmosphere. The table was laden with a delectable array of dishes, and soft classical music filled the air.
Participants were allowed to bring along one or two relatives or friends, but You Xuan had no one particular in mind, so he didn't pay much attention to this rule.
However, Hibiki Akaba had brought a relative.
"Eh?"
Judai's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted a black-haired woman with long straight hair, wearing a white shirt and high-waisted jeans. She was none other than a teacher from the Obelisk Blue dormitory of the Duel Academy. Though Judai had spent most of her class asleep, he recognized her instantly.
"Teacher? Why are you here to participate in the tournament as well?" Judai asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and astonishment.
With a smile, the teacher introduced herself: "Judai, you've attended my classes for an entire semester, but I suppose you don't remember my name?"
Judai scratched his head sheepishly, "Ahaha, you've got me there, teacher."
"My name is Midori Hibiki," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't forget it this time."
"Midori Hibiki... Hibiki... Eh?" Judai's eyes widened in shock as he made the connection.
"Then, are you and Mr. Hibiki...?"
"She's my older sister," Hibiki Akaba clarified with a smile. "Judai, you're quite an impressive duelist, aren't you?"
"He's certainly a capable duelist," You Xuan agreed. "But as a student..."
Midori shot Judai a half-smile and crossed her arms. "Even among the students of Duel Academy, it's rare to see someone fail so many subjects in a single semester."
Judai could only laugh awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the gentle ribbing.
"Judai may be lacking in theory, but his dueling skills are top-notch," Midori conceded. "While practical skills are more important, one shouldn't neglect the fundamentals entirely."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Hibiki glared at him.
Judai witnessed their interaction with a longing look in his eyes. "That's so nice," he blurted out.
"What is?" Hibiki Red asked, turning to him.
"Oh, it's just that seeing Mr. Hibiki and Teacher Hibiki made me think that having siblings must be great. I didn't have many friends when I was little, so I often wished I had a brother."
"Is that so?"
Hibiki Red closed his eyes and smiled. "Then, since we're on the topic, Judai, if you'd like, I can be your older brother too."
"Are you serious?!?" Judai exclaimed, thrilled.
"Now, now, you didn't even ask for my opinion, big sister," Midori chimed in.
"Big Sister Midori!" Judai quickly corrected himself.
"Alright, alright," Midori laughed good-naturedly, "but don't expect me to help you pass your classes next semester just because you called me that a couple of times."
". . ."
After the feast, the participants were shown to their respective rooms to rest briefly before being summoned again to the top deck of the ship.
The dueling arena had already been set up. Against the wall was a White Dragon lottery machine, a chibi-style machine in the likeness of the Ultimate Blue-Eyes White Dragon, with its central mouth agape inside a spherical glass enclosure, while the other two mouths faced downward.
The eccentric CEO had even gone so far as to create a custom lottery machine for the occasion. But if there was anything more extravagant than that, it was the fact that Kaiba had turned this lottery machine into an actual card.
[Magic Card - Bingo Machine - Charge! Charge!]
[Effect: Select 3 cards from your deck: "Blue-Eyes" monsters, or cards that specifically list "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" or "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon" in their text, reveal them to your opponent, and have them randomly pick 1 for you to add to your hand. Send the rest to the Graveyard.]
In essence, it was a lottery card.
Once again, it proved that in the world of Duel Monsters, anything could be made into a card, encapsulating virtually anything one could see or imagine into a rectangular piece of cardboard.
"Greetings, duelists. I am the judge for this Duel City tournament hosted by the Kaiba Corporation. You may call me Isono."
A man in a black suit and dark sunglasses stepped onto the stage, his expression stern and unsmiling.
The legendary judge, Isono, had followed Kaiba through countless battles, facing all sorts of situations with an unwavering calmness. He was a figure of legend in his own right.
"We will now use this lottery machine to randomly determine the order of duels. Please wait a moment."
The Ultimate Dragon machine sprang to life, and golden balls embossed with the participants' numbers tumbled chaotically within the glass enclosure. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the outcome.
"Who will I face in the first round?"
Judai wore a look of eager anticipation.
"I'm excited to duel any of them!"
Two small balls dropped from the mouths of the Ultimate Dragon, each bearing the numbers of the duelists for the first match.
"Number one, Judai Yuki!"
Judge Isono held the two balls in his hand and announced, "And his opponent is number three, Rei Mackenzie!"
(End of Chapter)
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