So ti later.
Surrounded by several vampires, Camula wore a smug expression, half her face split open, letting out a sinister giggle.
[Camula, LP: 2800]
On her field were a Vampire Sorcerer with a 1700 ATK, a Castle of Dark Illusions with 1000 ATK, and a Vampire Genesis with 3200 ATK.
On the other side, Professor Crowler had only an Ancient Gear Golem with 3000 ATK and one set card.
Originally, Vampire Genesis's ATK should have been equal to that of the Ancient Gear Golem, but with Castle of Dark Illusions on the field, all Zombie-Type monsters gained 200 ATK, tipping the scales against Crowler.
[Professor Crowler, LP: 100.]
"Ohohohoho, your Life Points are hanging by a thread. No hand, only a single set card on the field. What could you possibly do?" Camula pressed her hand to her cheek in a noblewoman's laugh, saying, "To be honest, I'd still rather bully those two handso boys beside you~
If you want to swap out, I wouldn't mind letting the others proceed to the castle."
Professor Crowler struggled to stand.
The pain of a Shadow Duel was far worse than he'd imagined, especially the stabbing sensation all over his body, like being pricked with needles.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Crowler clenched his fist and shouted, "They're my most important students. I won't let you lay a finger on them."
"Professor Crowler!" Zane stepped forward in concern.
Hikaru clenched his fists. "You got this, Professor! I always believed in you!"
Crowler turned back to look at his students, smiling. "Besides, I am the actual highest authority at Duel Academy. I absolutely cannot condone Shadow Duels!"
"But you're already severely injured!" Chazz protested.
"Dueling is light," he smiled at Chazz, "Watch use a righteous duel to banish the darkness."
"Tch." Camula clicked her tongue. "Whatever. Your Life Points are hanging by a thread. These fancy speeches should be left to the pretty boys.
Battle. Vampire Genesis, attack! This ends it."
"I activate my set card: Negate Attack! Your attack is stopped, and your Battle Phase forcibly ends!"
"A futile struggle." Camula extended her long tongue like a demon, snarling, "You have no cards in hand, only one monster on the field. What else could you do?"
"I have a way." Crowler raised his hand to the Duel Disk on his chest and said, "There is one thod."
"What?" Chazz asked in shock. "What kind of thod could possibly work now?"
"I see." Zane crossed his arms and nodded slightly as if recalling sothing.
"Ah, I get it too!" Alexis's eyes lit up, and she looked at Hikaru.
"Oooh!" Jaden suddenly grew excited. Syrus and Hassleberry looked at each other, realizing it as well.
"What? What are you all talking about!?" Chazz felt completely left out.
"It's Fusion," Bastion kindly explained. "If he draws that Ancient Gear Fusion card."
"Ancient Gear Fusion?" Camula frowned. "Never heard of it."
Hikaru observed silently.
He had watched the entire duel, and one particular thing caught his eyes.
'No bats flying around spying. Camula is actually playing fair!'
In the original, she used bats to spy on her opponents' decks and hands. He hadn't expected this Camula to have such sportsmanship.
'A sha… truly.'
Hikaru sighed inwardly.
If she hadn't been fair, they'd already be inside the castle.
"Even if you have such a card, can you actually draw it?"
Crowler smiled confidently. "I can. I absolutely can."
The Duel Disk automatically ejected a card. He gently pulled it out and smiled.
During this ti, he learned a lot from his students. He realized his past mistakes, ca to believe in supernatural forces, and this deepened his understanding of his responsibilities.
His previous attitude toward Jaden and the students of other dorms had been too wrong.
It wasn't until he t Hikaru and saw new possibilities through his efforts that he finally understood.
Students shouldn't be suppressed with malice but understood and guided.
This card was a symbol of that new possibility.
"I activate the Spell Card: Ancient Gear Fusion! This card is a Fusion Spell specifically for Ancient Gear monsters!"
"But you don't have the materials to Fusion Summon—"
"Hehehe," Crowler wagged his finger in front of her, "Such foolishness. Fitting for a relic of the Middle Ages.
As Hikaru says, Fusion is the noblest form of summoning!
Ancient Gear Fusion allows to use monsters from the Deck as materials when fusing an Ancient Gear Golem on the field!"
"What!?"
"You're amazing, Professor!" Jaden cheered.
"Watch closely, everyone. With a noble duel, defeat the darkness!"
"I Fusion Summon! Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"
RUMBLE.
The giant chanical warrior rose from the ground, its mighty steel arms seemingly able to crush any foe!
"ATK, 4400!!?" Camula stared at the monster in shock and stumbled back.
"Battle! Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, attack the Castle of Dark Illusions!
Ultimate Crush!"
"Aaaaaghhh—!"
[Camula LP: 2800 → 0]
"Hehehe, now you see the strength of Duel Academy's highest authority!" Crowler stood proudly, fists on hips.
"But isn't the highest authority the principal?" Syrus asked, missing the mood.
"Uh... we can talk about that later." Jaden looked skyward.
On the other side, Camula staggered up with the help of a few vampire maids. She looked at Crowler, huffed in frustration, and said, "Fine, not a looker, but your words were stylish enough. You may be worthy of eting the young lady."
"Huh?" Crowler asked. "Wait, isn't this over? Aren't you one of the Shadow Riders?"
"Professor, she never said that." Bastion wiped sweat from his brow.
"Mamma Mia! Then all that damage I took—Ughh!" Crowler scread, clutching his face.
His spirit compatibility was low, aning he couldn't enter other dinsions alone. The damage from a Shadow Duel hit him far harder than the chosen students, and just standing was difficult now!
One more duel, and he'd probably faint halfway through!
Still, he had to stand.
"Professor Crowler!" Zane quickly moved to his side, supporting him. "Please wait. Your body can't endure another duel."
"But..."
"Let handle it," Zane said solemnly. "The fledglings must eventually leave the eagle's nest. You're our role model. We'll defeat the darkness and bring light to the academy."
"That's right, Professor." Hikaru nodded gently at his side. "Leave it to us."
Looking at Hikaru, Crowler smiled warmly. "You're right."
He trusted Hikaru. After all, he had survived in the other dinsion and even defeated the darkness alone. In Crowler's eyes, Hikaru was among the most outstanding first-year students, just like Zane.
"Geez... why didn't you just say that sooner?" Camula muttered, annoyed. "Made take a punch for nothing."
"Hey, don't forget to wake up my students!" Crowler yelled as she turned.
"Yeah, yeah," she replied, uninterested. She waved over a maid and ordered her to handle it.
"When you et the young lady, show so respect!" She led the remaining students onto the red carpet, walking into the manor.
All the curtains on the mansion's windows were tightly shut.
"Whoa…"
As everyone looked around in awe, soft breathing and gentle footsteps echoed.
A beautiful girl with bat wings on her back, burgundy eyes, and dull golden hair descended slowly from the second floor of the manor, holding a parasol.
"Ah…" Chazz, Syrus, and the others stared in a daze, making Alexis's forehead twitch in irritation.
"So you've arrived?" the girl yawned as if she'd just awakened.
"Then, hand over the key."
"There's no way we're handing it over!" Zane retorted.
"Hmm..." She tilted her head in thought. "You're going to lose anyway."
"We haven't even dueled yet! How do you know we'll lose!?" Jaden shouted.
"Is that so?" Her eyes glead red as a large bat flew in, landing beside her and transforming into a tall, silver-haired female vampire who knelt before her.
"Gathering them one by one is too slow."
"You an…" Hikaru realized her intent and imdiately stepped forward to take position.
"In that case, Tag Duel it is."
She gently closed her parasol, pressed a hidden switch, and it transford into a Duel Disk shaped like bat wings.
"Let's end this quickly."
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