Chapter 33: The Arrogant Duelist

A few days before the exam, at the landing field of the Academy Island, a boy with a bizarre hairstyle like a windmill jumped down from the plane.

He shook his hair, took a deep breath, and gazed at the towering structure of the Duel Academy, letting out another long sigh.

"I'm back, Duel Academy…"

His name is Wan Wan Zhangmu Zhun.

He is a first-year student at Blue Academy.

"Come on, Wan Wan Zhangmu! The president has been watching you. The exam will cheer for you!" The pilot shouted from the plane. Wan Wan Zhangmu nodded upon hearing it, but offered no reply.

Does my Master really care about me?

He doubted it.

He stepped forward, heading toward the Duel Academy's high tower. Just before reaching it, he stopped, listening to the chattering around him, and couldn't help slipping into memories.

He, Wan Wan Zhangmu Zhun, is the disciple of Kaiba Seto.

By some twist of fate, he obtained a card housing a spirit, and thus came to believe he was "chosen by heaven." He began entering various beginner tournaments, winning constantly since elementary school, and even used his family's connections to meet Kaiba Corporation's president, Kaiba Seto, becoming his disciple.

After that, he smoothly became a student at Obelisk Blue of the Duel Academy.

Yet he grew increasingly doubtful of himself.

Many doubted his true strength, believing he rose through the power of the Wan Wan Zhangmu Group and Kaiba Corporation, borrowing his way up—this only deepened his self-doubt.

Could it be that my victories in so many beginner leagues were secretly aided by my brothers?

Could it be that my Master noticed me only because my deck holds the "Spirit" he so desperately wants?

The weight of doubt tormented him—he swore to make those classmates who looked down on him and didn't believe in him understand: Wan Wan Zhangmu never relied on anyone…

He swore to make others recognize him.

He swore to remain undefeated in the Duel Academy!

Then, on that day, he saw Judai, who possessed the "Winged Kuriboh" spirit—the other "chosen one" who had never entered another dimension yet still earned the spirit's approval.

He lost—in a friendly duel, he was defeated by Yu Jicheng Judai, a mere student from Red Academy, rendering all his preparations useless.

In unbearable pain, he fled the academy, claiming he was training, but in truth, he just hid inside Kaiba Corporation.

Who knew that while he was isolating himself, his Master happened to pass by, saw him, called him a "fool," dragged him into a simulation duel room, kicked him, and forced him to duel a AI using Hero cards endlessly…

"I won't be afraid anymore, Judai!"

He encouraged himself silently—

He was now terrifyingly strong!

"Whoa, Hikari, can I copy your notes?"

"Big brother, that's cheating—I want to see too!"

As Wan Wan Zhangmu stepped toward the classroom, ready to kick the door open and loudly announce his return, he heard the loud chatter inside. He stood frozen at the door, staring as Yu Jicheng Judai, Wan Teng Xiang, and many other students—some unfamiliar, some vaguely remembered—crowded around a desk, chattering excitedly.

"Classmate Tiancheng, which page is this alchemy formula on?"

"Classmate Tiancheng, what does 'mercury secret' mean?"

What the—

Wan Wan Zhangmu was dumbfounded.

It was Winged Kuriboh that noticed him, floating up beside Judai and chirping "Kri-kri!" Judai, hearing its sound, instinctively turned toward the door and saw Wan Wan Zhangmu's return: "Oh! Wan Wan Zhangmu, you're back!?"

"Wan Wan Zhangmu? He's back?" Wan Teng Xiang also turned, politely greeting him.

"What are you all doing?" Wan Wan Zhangmu's grand entrance plan had collapsed. Still holding his breath, he asked involuntarily.

"Aren't we about to take the exam? Ugh, academic subjects are such a hassle," Judai scratched the back of his head. "Especially alchemy—nobody else understands it except Sanze and Hikari."

Exam…

Wan Wan Zhangmu felt a flicker of nervousness.

Unlike Kaiba Seto, the natural genius, he wasn't universally gifted. He had skipped many classes; even with Kaiba Corporation's tutors, he might have missed something. And during this time, he had nearly duelled robots every day—when would he have had time for lessons?

So Tiancheng Hikari is a classmate exceptionally skilled in alchemy?

He had no memory of him at all.

Come to think of it, why does the school even test alchemy?!

He thought it was just an optional interest class!

He didn't understand it at all!

Not just him—in fact, very few students in the entire school understood it.

Even Sanze Sanze Dadi didn't understand alchemy at all. His ability to help others by drawing key points came purely from his exceptional learning ability and strong memory.

This was also one reason Tiancheng Hikari set his goal on the scholarship. Forget Judai and Xiang, who slept through other classes—even Si Ze Haiyang couldn't stay awake during alchemy lessons. Thus, Hikari held a massive advantage in this subject—it was a "score-differentiating" course.

Beyond that, the Duel Academy didn't test literature, math, chemistry, or physics. Their exams were simple: only cards and rules.

After all, it's the Duel Academy.

The former covered card names and effects; the latter, the rules governing cards and duels. In the original story, Professor Chronos once taught these topics, explaining the details of "Field Magic."

The Duel Academy's teachers were eager to dissect every duel detail and explain its "deeper meaning."

In short, if you asked Tiancheng Hikari, who hadn't taken a test in five or six years, to sit for academic exams, he'd have zero confidence—but if he had to ace a Duel Academy exam, he'd be certain of victory.

"What?! Judai lost to that guy?!" After the initial shock, Wan Wan Zhangmu asked about recent events at the academy, only then realizing Judai had lost to Tiancheng Hikari, making Hikari the Duel Academy's representative for the exchange tournament.

He first stared in shock at Tiancheng Hikari—the man who looked like a gentle, kind teacher patiently reviewing alchemy points—then immediately whirled around and glared fiercely at Judai: "How can you be so useless? How could you lose to someone?!"

"Duels have wins and losses—it's normal," Judai scratched his head, confused. "Besides, Hikari is really strong!"

"Nonsense! Only I can beat you!"

"But you lost to me—"

"Shut up! Don't talk back!" Wan Wan Zhangmu slammed his fist on the desk. "Decided! This exam—I'll defeat Tiancheng Hikari for you!"

"Watch my new power!"

On the other side, Tiancheng Hikari was barely holding it together.

Are you acting like a plot-boss?

Please recommend, please vote!





(End of Chapter)