Chapter 161

"1000 points!"

Professor Chronos stood before the score summary screen, staring at the name and score of the top-ranked student, unable to contain his excitement as he clasped his hands together.

"No surprise it's Kaiser!"

"He got a perfect score!!"

"Oh wow…"

The students stared excitedly at the leaderboard, buzzing with chatter.

In their third year at the Duel Academy, Marufuji Ryo concluded his flawless school life with a perfect score on this graduation exam.

Based on this final result, Chronos solemnly informed Marufuji Ryo that he would represent the students and showcase his duel in the graduation duel.

Of course, his opponent would be chosen by himself.

And the outcome—naturally—was only one possibility: …

Yusei Fudo!

Several days later.

"Aaaah, why, why can't I surpass Hikari yet?"

"Because you're too focused on written exams," Wan Wan Zhangmu said casually, arms crossed behind him. "Your deck's different from your usual one—you failed the promotion exam and didn't get the top score. Isn't that obvious?"

"No, at least Da Di really did score higher than me on the written test," Tiancheng Guang said, glancing at his score sheet, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.

He was this close—so close—to losing his rank as top student in the year to San Ze.

Luckily, his duel score was perfect again; otherwise, it would've been a real mess.

The three were discussing scores, while Marufuji Xiang stared nervously at the stage.

On the school's duel arena, Yusei and Marufuji Ryo had finished their preparations—they were about to face off in the final graduation duel.

"Why…" he recalled the scene a few days ago when Marufuji Ryo had suddenly walked into their dorm, smiling and saying he'd duel his big brother in the graduation duel.

"Why what?" Wan Wan Zhangmu asked offhandedly.

"If it's a graduation duel, shouldn't it be first place versus first place? Why choose Big Brother?"

Shhh—

At that moment, a figure crawled out from under the table, startling everyone nearby and making Asuka roll her eyes in exasperation.

"Traditionalists and individualists.

Brain types and feeling types."

Chui Xue crossed his arms, posing dramatically, leaving those around him speechless, then continued: "Those two are completely opposite duelists."

"I see," Wan Wan Zhangmu mused. "If we plot tradition and academy style as two axes, Kaiser is clearly the most academic, the most cerebral. And the most individualistic, self-driven duelist? Obviously Yusei."

"In contrast, Tiancheng is highly individualistic—but his dueling style is undeniably traditional."

"So," Asuka whispered, "in a match where their strengths are nearly equal, choosing Yusei to witness his growth holds deeper meaning for Ryo."

At that moment, both duelists had finished their preparations.

Tiancheng Guang now closed his book and turned his gaze seriously toward the stage.

How would the classic duel from the original story unfold in this world?

"Duel!" 2!

"My turn!" Marufuji Ryo swiftly drew a card and activated it: "Activate Spell Card, Time Capsule. This card can banish one card from your deck face-down. On the second turn after activation, this card is destroyed, and the banished card is added to your hand."

It's the original version of Time Capsule.

Tiancheng Guang saw the effect, different from his memory, and felt no surprise.

"I banish one card from my deck face-down."

"One card from the deck…"

"Could it be Power Bond?"

Friends around them speculated.

"Next, I normal summon, Cyber Long Sanxing!"

A mechanical dragon with golden markings appeared on his field.

Cyber Long Sanxing, Level 4, Light Attribute, Machine Type, ATK 1800.

"While Cyber Long Sanxing is on the field, its name is treated as 【Cyber Dragon】!"

"I set one card, end turn!"

"One face-down card…?"

Yusei stared at the card, thinking it might be 【Cyber Revolution】.

"My turn!"

Friends involuntarily swallowed.

How would Yusei duel?

"Normal summon, Elemental Hero Bubbleman!" He quickly summoned a monster.

Wow…

Tiancheng Guang looked at the card and raised an eyebrow.

Bubbleman—Yusei's exclusive version!

A hero resembling Batman, with a water gun attached to his right arm, appeared on his field.

Elemental Hero Bubbleman, Level 4, Water Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 800.

"When Elemental Hero Bubbleman is summoned, since I have no other cards on my field, I draw two cards!"

This was Yusei's signature Greedy Guy! So powerful!

In the original, many cards were later updated to match their OCG effects—but Bubbleman was an exception. Even after its OCG release, anime Yusei could still use it to draw freely. It remained an eternal draw engine in his deck.

"Next, I activate the Field Spell, Fusion Gate!"

He inserted the Field Spell into his dueling pad. The entire arena transformed, flooded with countless green lines, making everything feel surreal.

"A fusion support card? Activated now?" Wan Wan Zhangmu stared in surprise. "Isn't that meant to help Kaiser fuse Cyber End Dragon?"

"But he's Yusei—he doesn't think like that," San Ze chuckled.

"I fuse the Bubbleman on my field with the Lightning Man in my hand—"

"Come forth, Elemental Hero Flashman!"

A radiant, white hero appeared in brilliant light.

Elemental Hero Flashman, Level 8, Light Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 2600.

"Flashman's effect: For each Elemental Hero card I banish, his ATK increases by 300!"

Elemental Hero Flashman ATK: 2600 → 3200.

"Attack! Go, Flashman!" Yusei excitedly commanded, "Attack Cyber Dragon!"

The hero, bearing the sun on his back, leapt forward toward the mechanical dragon—when Kaiser Liang flipped his face-down card: "Naive, Yusei!

I activate my face-down card, Trap Card, Attack Reflection Device!"

"What?!" Yusei gasped.

"It's not Cyber Revolution?!"

"Sacrifice one 【Cyber Dragon】 on your field! Special Summon one Cyber Barrier Dragon from your hand or deck!"

Kaiser Liang unleashed a tactic Yusei had never seen: lights, mirrors, and machinery erupted around Cyber Long Sanxing, violently transforming it—soon, it became a massive, heavily armored mechanical dragon!

Cyber Barrier Dragon, Level 6, Light Attribute, Machine Type, ATK 800.

"Keep attacking!" Seeing its ATK was only 800, Yusei shouted without hesitation. Kaiser Liang responded instantly: "Cyber Barrier Dragon's effect: Once per turn, when it's in attack position, it can negate the attack of one opponent monster!"

Cyber Barrier Dragon raised its tail, aiming at the charging Flashman. Its mirrored surfaces reflected Flashman's own image, causing him to freeze—confused, uncertain—then halt his attack entirely.

"No surprise it's Kaiser!" Yusei shouted excitedly.

"I'll end my turn then!"

Chapter One, today's bonus chapter, today's bonus chapter

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(End of Chapter)