Chapter 92: The Old Dormitory
Chapter 92: The Old Dormitory
"Well, many of you may have already heard about it."
In the Duel Club, all the newcomers had been gathered together, and a senior stood at the front, giving a speech.
"Yes, the Duel Club organizes a newcomer duel every year. On the one hand, it helps new members adapt to the competitive environment faster, and on the other hand, it makes it easier for everyone to become partners.
This year's intra-club tournament is tentatively scheduled for two weeks from now, so you still have time to adjust your decks."
Not long after she finished speaking, You Xuan felt that quite a few eyes were focused on him.
They were not friendly gazes.
"Umm... Senior, do we all have to participate?" someone asked.
"Of course! What's the point of joining the Duel Club if you're not willing to duel?"
"Ah~"
Some students cried out in dismay, especially those from the Yellow Dormitory, their expressions as gloomy as if they were at a funeral.
You don't say? Another newcomer exchange duel?
We've already had our fair share of 'exchanges', can we please just skip it this time?
Just the thought of possibly being matched with 'that person' from the Yellow Dormitory again made them shiver.
Speaking of which, they would be stuck on this island with that person for the next three years, and who knows how many more times they would have to duel them.
The future seemed bleak.
"Then there's nothing else for today, you're dismissed." The senior sister smiled, "However, the Duel Club encourages everyone to duel whenever possible. Those present today can also have a simple friendly match to get to know each other."
"Senior sister! I just remembered I left the kettle on when I left, I have to get back quickly!"
"Me too!"
"."
Moments later, more than half the people had run off.
"This year's newcomers are so boring."
The senior sister crossed her arms and pouted.
Then she saw You Xuan walk up to her and smile, "Senior sister, now that there aren't many people left, it looks like the friendly match won't work out. How about we make do and have a duel?"
The senior sister took a sharp intake of breath.
"Oh sorry, junior brother, I just remembered I have laundry out and need to go get it. You guys take your time, haha."
With that, she turned tail and ran.
Not having found anyone to duel, You Xuan shrugged nonchalantly.
No problem, he had actually dueled quite a few times in the Duel Club over the past two days. Most of his opponents were one-timers though, and those who had dueled him once didn't seem too keen on a rematch.
For some reason, it reminded him of when he had first arrived at the Gym.
But his gains were not insignificant. This week, he had earned quite a few DPs and had also found a few interesting cards from the Club's inventory.
One of the more notable cards was this one:
【Abyss Soldier, 4-star, Attack 1800
Effect: Once per turn, discard 1 WATER monster from your hand, then return 1 card on the field to the owner's hand.】
Although it was a rare card, it wasn't very expensive because the WATER attribute was relatively niche and not in high demand among most duelists.
Nevertheless, the card's performance was definitely worth its price, and after some thought, You Xuan decided to get three copies for the time being.
At the same time, a rather enjoyable deck idea began to form in his mind.
After a short walk to unwind in the evening, You Xuan returned to his dormitory early. Ever since he arrived on the island, he had maintained a regular daily routine, insisting on early nights and early mornings. The academy teachers said that duelists needed to maintain a good mental outlook, and poor mental states could even affect their performance.
But soon after returning to the dormitory that night, You Xuan sensed something.
He felt a faint response and got up to look out the window, only to see the Chaos Soldier's sprite floating outside, staring into the distance as if lost in thought.
It was rare for a sprite to react like this. You Xuan opened the window and asked, "What's wrong?"
"."
Chaos Soldier hesitated for a moment and said uncertainly, "I'm not sure, but... I sense another sprite."
"A sprite, on the island?" You Xuan thought for a moment, "Can you sense its location?
Leaving the dormitory, they walked along the coast and ventured into the forest area. The forest was enveloped in a thick layer of darkness, with the faint moonlight filtering through the treetops and casting an eerie glow on the moist earth. The air was filled with the scent of soil and leaves, creating an atmosphere that was both mysterious and intriguing.
The Duel Academy island was a magical place, as it had been mentioned in the original story that there were multiple occurrences of portals to the sprite world appearing on the island—and each time, it led to a different dimension. Sprites from all walks of life would also frequently pop out of nowhere, including the beloved Black Magician Girl, who was a favorite among the duelists.
It had also been mentioned in the anime that the location of the Duel Academy itself was one of the places in this dimension that had the closest connection to the sprite world, which to some extent explained why there were so many extraordinary encounters within the small academy over the three-year period. So, it wouldn't be unusual to encounter any sprites here.
The rustling of leaves under their feet created a soft, crackling sound that cut through the stillness of the night, sounding like whispers from the depths of the forest. The twisted shadows of the trees loomed in the darkness, as if every shadow was about to reach out with tendrils and pull unsuspecting passersby into the abyss.
As You Xuan ventured further, he soon arrived at an old building.
It seemed to be an old, long-abandoned dormitory. The exterior walls were weathered and peeling, revealing the dull gray bricks underneath that spoke of the building's long history. The windows were devoid of glass, leaving only spiderweb-filled empty frames that swayed in the wind, emitting a harsh, grating sound.
"Is this the abandoned dormitory?"
You Xuan realized what this place was. Rumors had it that quite a few students had gone missing in this place, including the so-called "King of Obelisk Blue," Fubuki, who was also Asuka's brother and was once known as one of the two aces of Duel Academy, alongside Kaizar.
Of course, in terms of the anime's portrayal, Fubuki's reputation as a "losing legend" was quite literal, as he was given quite a few dueling scenes but somehow never managed to win a single one. So, the true extent of his dueling prowess, comparable to that of Kaizar, remained questionable.
Just then, You Xuan heard a rustling sound coming from the other end of the abandoned dormitory.
It sounded like someone was approaching.
Sho Marufuji said, "Big brother, it's so dark and scary here. Let's go back."
"Don't be silly!" Judai exclaimed enthusiastically. "We can't back down now when things get a little tough! We're here to explore!"
Hayato Kousaka chimed in, "Actually, it was Judai who insisted on dragging us along on this adventure."
As they spoke, the sound of a twig snapping underfoot could be heard from behind them.
Sho and Hayato clung to each other and screamed, "Yikes! It's here! A ghost!!!"
A flashlight beam was quickly shone in their direction. You Xuan raised his arm to block the light and said calmly, "It's just me, don't be afraid."
The two boys calmed down upon recognizing him.
Judai said, "Oh, it's you."
"Yeah, it's the guy from the Yellow Dormitory."
Hayato had obviously watched some of You Xuan's duels and had also heard about his infamous reputation. Hearing this, his expression became somewhat complicated.
"Well, if it's You Xuan, there's nothing to be afraid of." Hayato wiped the sweat off the back of his head and laughed awkwardly, "After all, even ghosts would be scared of You Xuan, right?"
You Xuan feigned modesty, "That's an overstatement."
He had originally thought that Hayato was a straightforward and honest person, but it seemed that he, too, had jumped on the bandwagon of spreading negative rumors about him.
While it was true that some people lost their smiles after dueling with him, You Xuan believed that overall, his duels brought more joy than sorrow. Even those whom he had defeated seemed to be particularly happy when they joined the crowd to watch his subsequent duels. So, on the whole, his duels created more happiness. The malicious rumors circulating in the academy were simply unfounded.
"But what are you guys doing here?" You Xuan asked, sizing them up.
"Exploring!" Judai proudly put his hands on his hips and explained, "Professor Fudo told us about this place, and it sounded so interesting!"
You Xuan nodded in understanding.
So that was it. This was the night in the GX storyline when Judai and his friends encountered the deceptive "Dark Duelist," Titan.
It was also the first time in the GX story that the concept of a "Dark Duel" was truly introduced.
(End of Chapter)
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