The first Duel ended amidst the cheers of the crowd.
The victor was Duelist #31.
Though #23 had mastered Synchro Summoning and fought with everything he had, unfortunately, his opponent had his own strategies. With clever Trap-Monster combos, he secured a brilliant victory.
Still, even though #23 lost, he was not forgotten. Almost imdiately after the match, countless companies tried to contact him, flooding KaibaCorp's service lines.
Zane Truesdale, the first to use an Xyz Monster, had already beco the face and symbol of one corporation, treated with greater prestige than even its executives. He was impossible to poach.
So the Duelist who beca the "first to use Synchro Summoning", of course they wouldn't let that chance slip by. They scrambled to sign him as a representative.
Even if "Synchro Summoning" only worked inside the Critical Nexus Dinsion, it was still a massive selling point!
The crowd's passion burned higher than ever, and the Duelists' spirits followed. Soon, the next Duel began on schedule.
Hikaru Amaki kept watching, one match after another.
Knowing your enemy was crucial. Even if he didn't directly face them, he needed to grasp each Duelist's style. That way, he wouldn't be blindsided by an unfamiliar card.
With each round, unique strategies and powerful tactics ca to light.
It wasn't just Duel Academy students. So young Pro Duelists also took the stage, demonstrating their own mastery, stepping into the spotlight as symbols of the next generation.
More unusual Duelists appeared: special forces soldiers, loners, even obscure challengers Seto Kaiba had dug up from remote corners. Each was formidable, each had their own cheering supporters, humans and Spirits alike.
"A Gravekeeper Duelist… no way! I thought they never left their clan!" Bastion Misawa stared wide-eyed at the broadcast.
"I heard the boss himself went to recruit him. Must've been a lot of effort." Chazz Princeton muttered uncertainly.
This Duelist clearly wasn't a Pro or student. Kaiba had personally brought him from the Gravekeeper clan. He looked about the sa age as them.
In any case, Hikaru didn't know him.
And…
He was running a Gravekeeper Deck.
"Duel over! Winner: Duelist #13!"
Bastion clenched his fist in triumph and marched back toward the standby hall. The defeated Duelist, like #23 before him, was escorted to another waiting room by KaibaCorp, likely for a revival match later.
Bastion inhaled deeply as he entered, just about to share the good news with friends when the Blue-Eyes lottery machine began spinning, dropping a number ball.
"Number 19."
The room froze. His friends, who had been ready to greet him, turned instead toward soone sitting further back.
Almost every Duelist fell silent, gazing at him;
The [Top Contender for Champion].
Hikaru Amaki heard his number and slowly stood. Beside him, Tierra yawned, appearing with a drawl: "Finally, your turn."
Hikaru nodded lightly.
"Heh, so it begins at last, Hikaru Amaki." Soone whispered his na.
Everyone awaited his opponent.
Whirr
"Number 36."
Several sighed in relief. Others groaned with disappointnt.
"Eh… 36? I'm 37!" Jesse scratched his head in frustration. He'd really wanted to Duel Hikaru.
Back during their eting in the S-Dinsion, when he befriended Jaden, he had already wanted to test himself against Hikaru.
The chosen Duelist quietly picked up his badge, raising a brow.
Though he had worried about facing Hikaru, after all, it might an early elimination, now that fate had chosen him, there was no room for fear.
He would eliminate Hikaru first!
Bastion didn't dwell on losing the spotlight. Instead, he grinned and gave Hikaru a thumbs-up.
Hikaru smiled, waved to his friends, and followed KaibaCorp's staff toward his entrance tunnel, as his opponent headed to the other.
"A new match is about to begin. Please wait patiently, this one will surely be even more exciting!"
As the announcent rang out, white mist filled the air. Two figures erged from separate gates.
Interest spiked imdiately.
Chazz had once entered with such flashy theatrics. Everyone knew this ant another "notable" Duelist.
As the mist cleared, they saw them.
"Duelist #36, Pro Duelist 'Phantom', Chen Lue!"
"Duelist #19, the Absolute Fusionist, Hikaru Amaki!"
'Hikaru Amaki!?'
Suddenly, the arena and the broadcast audience fell into stunned silence.
So who didn't recognize the na cheered anyway, only to turn to neighbors and ask: Who was Hikaru Amaki?
Very quickly, his deeds and past exploits spread.
So felt unease. So felt dread.
But…
The students and Spirits were already cheering!
"It's Hikaru!"
"Amaki-senpai is here! Cheer for him!"
"That human called Hikari, this Duel will be fun!"
"Master, go for it!"
Ordinary students, Fusion Club mbers, Spirits like Serena who had heard of Hikaru, all shouted for him.
Scanning the crowd, Hikaru spotted a group in suits cheering for him. Beside them, Rex Raptor stood with one hand in his pocket, waving casually with the other.
Hikaru laughed, throwing back a fist in return.
The students no longer doubted him.
The only skeptics left were the uninford masses.
Not that Hikaru minded.
"Quite the popularity you've got," Chen Lue remarked coolly. "But I won't hand you the win."
"Hah, I was about to say the sa."
"Then."
"Duel!" they shouted together.
Duel Academy Main Campus Ace, Absolute Fusionist, Hikaru Amagi [LP: 4000]
Pro Duelist 'Phantom' Chen Lue [LP: 4000]
Boom!
Fireworks burst as Hikaru drew five cards from his Deck.
Glancing down, then at the hovering drones filming him, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Well then… ti to remind them who I am."
He raised his hand toward the caras, waving slightly.
"I am Hikaru Amaki of Duel Academy's Main Campus, spokesperson of Funglow Corp, Fusion Duelist!"
"Fusion is the noblest Summoning thod!"
...
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