"The last Duel before lunch break, let's see."
Since it was an outdoor match, there was no need to hold back. Naturally, horoom teacher Erin had a cigarette in her mouth as she scanned the list in her hand.
Then her sowhat lazy eyes opened slightly.
"The last Duel before lunch: Kevin Seth vs. Aisha Yuna Carlos."
"OHHHHHHH!"
Cheers erupted from around the field.
Just when the other students had thought they wouldn't get to see these two duel this morning, their waning enthusiasm was instantly reignited.
Taking a deep breath, Aisha forcibly cald herself, slowing her heartbeat. "It's finally our turn."
"Our?" Irene said, puzzled.
"Ah, I an, it's my turn… just . I was too nervous just now, hahaha."
Nearly slipping up, Aisha quickly used her dramatic flair to correct herself.
"Aisha, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine! I'm going in!"
After one last check of her Deck, Aisha jogged onto the Duel field.
Seeing her enter, the upperclassn nearby began to murmur.
"That's the bottom-ranked first-year girl, huh? She's actually kinda cute."
"Too bad. If she loses this one, she's out."
"So do you think she can win?"
"If she could win, she wouldn't be at the bottom. I heard she couldn't even summon a Duel Monster during the midterms."
"Yikes. I guess being cute doesn't an you have good luck."
anwhile, inside the Duel field, Kevin Seth was already in position, waiting for Aisha.
"Go for it, Lord Kevin!"
"You're the coolest, strongest Duelist!"
"Just win like always!"
Maybe it was due to Irena's speech yesterday, but Kevin's fangirls were extra fired up today.
Yet Irena, the so-called instigator, was smiling while secretly hiding in the shadows, seemingly talking to soone.
"That's the Duelist you said could beat Kevin?"
"What's this? You, Kaima, who never cared about your brother's Duels, suddenly showing interest?"
"I'm only interested in your judgnt."
"Well, who knows?" Irena said. "Calling it judgnt might just be wishful thinking on my part..."
After watching the morning's practical Duels through Aisha's eyes, Miles had concluded two key points about Duels on the Spirit Continent.
First, unlike the Duel Disks in Yu-Gi-Oh! ani, there were no such devices or large-scale Duel arenas here.
Duelists born with Spirit Eyes and natural magic could simply throw out the cards they intended to summon or activate, and the cards would respond to their intent.
In essence, the entire land of the Spirit Continent served as the Duelists' Duel Disk.
As a result, Duels here looked less like card gas and more like summoner battles using cards.
This more physical, monster-brawling style also made it simpler and rougher compared to the intricate timing rules of Yu-Gi-Oh! that Miles knew.
The second key point was the special rules of the practical tests.
To speed up the weekly practical Duels, both Duelists were given only 2000 LP and Decks limited to 20 cards.
Moreover, this rapid Duel format favored Aisha's Deck.
With the number of Spell/Trap Cards unchanged, reducing the Deck from 40 to 20 cards significantly increased the Spells/Traps density.
"You actually have the guts to stand before , Aisha Yuna Carlos." Kevin's gaze was cold and taunting.
"Cut the crap. Today it's either you or !" Aisha snapped, slamming the Millennium Puzzle. "You're up, Mr. Miles!"
"Heh, bring it on."
—Soul Exchange!
After a day's gap, Miles once again took control of Aisha's body.
The lightness of the girl's body gave Miles that sa surreal, dreamlike feeling.
Among girls her age, Aisha was petite. Her body really was light—perhaps too light.
The first ti they swapped souls, Miles was sitting in class and hadn't fully registered the sensation.
But, standing now in the Duel field, the difference was striking. The chest area felt a little too light.
Shaking his head, Miles imdiately discarded the distraction. He couldn't let stray thoughts ruin his focus.
"To beco the world's best, won really are a hindrance."
Aisha said, "Mr. Miles, that's incredibly rude."
"Sorry, I just rembered a famous quote. Wasn't aid at you, Aisha."
Before the Duel began, Miles retrieved the Deck from the card case strapped to Aisha's thigh.
Why the thigh?
According to Aisha, it was the latest trend among girls at Fusion Academy.
Strapping it to the thigh made it convenient, unobtrusive, and allowed them to show off their stylish card cases like accessories.
If Miles had to describe this trend—he wasn't sure about convenient, but it was definitely suggestive.
As for the boys, they wore their cases clipped to their waists like normal.
Kevin Seth also drew out his Deck across from him.
"Spirit Eyes, Deck loading!"
Next, both Duelists placed their Decks into the symbolic Spirit Eyes.
Before the match, the Spirit Eyes would manifest on both Duelists' wrists to store and read the cards for the Duel.
With a cigarette still between her lips, Miss Erin announced, "Then, the practical test: Kevin Seth VS Aisha Yuna Carlos—begins now!"
[Kevin, LP: 2000]
[Aisha, LP: 2000]
"Duel—!"
As the Duel began, Aisha's Spirit Eyes lit up first, signaling she would take the first turn.
"My turn, draw!"
Under the first-turn draw rules, she started with 5 cards, drew 1 more, and began with 6.
Controlling Aisha's body, Miles scanned the hand and smiled.
'Nice. The 20-card rule really boosts Spell/Trap card access.'
A great opening hand. Practically perfect.
Even in another world, Miles's luck in card gas hadn't faded.
"I summon a monster in face-down Defense Position, then set a card in the Spell/Trap Zone. Turn end!"
He placed a monster card sideways, indicating Defense Position. The back of the card was face-down to mislead the opponent.
With a smooth motion, he threw out two cards. Empowered by magic, the card backs floated onto the front and rear zones of the field.
"So strange... Is that really Aisha?"
Just from the opening play, Irene sensed sothing was off.
"This is the first ti I've seen her Duel with such style and confidence. It feels like she's soone else."
***
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