Chapter 335: Fateful Duel (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

As the duel began, the students made way for the two, and after their duel disks lit up and automatically shuffled, the surrounding buildings and roads began to transform on their own.

Only in dueling could Kaiba Corporation's initiative manifest with such explosive force.

In barely a dozen seconds, Tenjo Hikari and Ai De Phoenix ascended onto a large platform slightly elevated above the other students, making it easier for the surrounding classmates to observe their duel in detail.

Moreover, to ensure all spectators could see the duel without missing any detail, countless transparent screens lit up around the stage, displaying live footage of the two duelists from multiple angles.

"You give me the first turn? Then, my turn, draw."

Tenjo Hikari drew a card.

The fact that Ai De had been possessed by the Light of Annihilation was, even to him, an unimaginable occurrence.

After all, in the original story, Ai De was the true hero representing "Fate," the counterpart to Zhai Wang's dark persona.

Logically, anyone in the world could be possessed by the Light of Annihilation—yet Ai De had never been affected by it at all.

Through his analysis of the original story and this world, Tenjo Hikari roughly deduced that although Ai De was sharp-tongued and opposed You Cheng Shi Dai, deep inside, he was the purest kind of hero—one who desired no turmoil and longed for peace.

So naturally, he would not be corrupted by destructive impulses.

Yet the evidence lay before Tenjo Hikari, leaving him no choice but to believe it.

"Activate the Continuous Magic Card, Flame Sword Domain." Tenjo Hikari glanced at his hand, then inserted a Continuous Magic Card into his duel disk.

"Whoa, it's the Sword Domain!"

"Here it comes!"

The students of this school immediately understood what Tenjo Hikari intended to do; those who hadn't seen the Flame Sword Knight in a long time grew excited.

After all, the Flame Sword Knight was one of Tenjo Hikari's most famous "Representative Cards."

Tenjo Hikari stared at his hand.

Though surprised, he wouldn't remain stunned for long.

The reason was simple: over half a year ago, while waiting for Shi Dai's battle against the Three Phantom Demons, Tenjo Hikari had accidentally discovered that Yin Wan had met an untimely end—then he realized that "the original story's plot" could at best serve as a reference; rigidly following it was impossible.

So ever since, aside from targeting the Fusion Army, he had spent his time discussing the current situation with Wan Wan Zhangmu, doing his best to understand the state of the school and the world.

But Ai De and Shi Dai remained matters Tenjo Hikari had never bothered with.

The reason was simple.

To Tenjo Hikari, they truly had nothing to do with him!

Shi Dai and Ai De each had their own heroic paths, each with their own setbacks and growths—why should he meddle in others' loves, hates, and grudges? That would only invite trouble.

But—

All that assumed they still corresponded.

Now, for reasons unknown, the Light of Fluctuation had somehow infected Ai De—but at least, he hadn't yet descended into madness. So when the opponent was lost, Tenjo Hikari couldn't pretend he didn't exist; he couldn't let Ai De go searching for Shi Dai, wherever he might be.

"Ai De, I'll give it my all."

Ai De nodded.

Countless spectators swallowed hard, watching the duel with eager anticipation.

Although Tenjo Hikari had collected many powerful Fusion Monsters, for some reason, whenever he summoned the "Flame Sword Knight," they felt this was when he was truly serious.

"Activate the effect of the Continuous Magic Card, Flame Sword Domain!" Around Tenjo Hikari, roaring flames slowly ignited, and a blue-robed swordsman, arms crossed, appeared and vanished within the fire dragon.

"Once per turn, you can send one monster from your hand or field to the graveyard to Fusion Summon one 【Flame Sword Knight】!"

Tenjo Hikari sent one monster from his hand to the graveyard: "Come forth, my most loyal swordsman!"

"Ha, my lord, I'm here!" The Flame Sword Knight leapt from the fire dragon and stood upright on the field.

Flame Sword Knight, Level 5, Fire Attribute, Warrior Type, Defense 1600.

"Set one card, end my turn!"

A simple yet nostalgic opening—many second- and third-year students, seeing this scene, couldn't help but smile with nostalgia; though first-year students didn't know what their seniors were recalling, when the legendary swordsman appeared before them, they too couldn't help but be stirred.

"Flame Sword Knight." Seeing Tenjo Hikari summon this monster, Ai De lifted his head slightly and murmured softly.

The school's records show that Tenjo Hikari, in his battles while forging his Fusion Path, favored Fusion Monsters paired with various Flame Sword Knight support cards, allowing this Flame Sword Knight with only 1800 Attack to perform countless functions.

Ai De closed his eyes and pondered.

In some ways, he felt envy—for Tenjo Hikari's pursuit of Fusion was untainted by anything else.

And now, he himself—

"My turn, draw." After drawing, Ai De pulled out two cards from his hand: "Magic Card, Destiny Draw."

"Discard one Destiny Hero card from your hand to activate. Draw two cards."

"Send Destiny Hero Demon Man from your hand to the graveyard, then draw two cards."

After drawing, he pointed to the graveyard: "The effect of the monster Demon Man in the graveyard: banish itself to Special Summon another Demon Man from your deck!"

"Come forth, Destiny Hero Demon Man."

A warrior with wings on his back and bare torso—known as "Fuzzy Pants Hero"—appeared on Ai De's field.

Destiny Hero Demon Man, Level 6, Dark Attribute, Warrior Type, Attack 800.

"Next, I Normal Summon, Destiny Hero Diamond Man!"

A warrior clad in a tattered green cloak, his body covered in diamonds, waved his cloak as he materialized on the field.

Destiny Hero Diamond Man, Level 4, Dark Attribute, Warrior Type, Attack 1400.

"Diamond Man's effect: once per turn, reveal the top card of your deck. If it's a Normal Magic Card, send it to the graveyard. Otherwise, return it to the bottom of your deck."

"If this effect sends a Normal Magic Card to the graveyard, during your next Main Phase, you can activate the effect of that Normal Magic Card from the graveyard."

"Director, Marufuji Ryo once recommended you to me, saying your Fusion would show me something beyond Destiny." Ai De recalled his duel with Kai Sa on the professional stage.

Tenjo Hikari gave a slight nod.

He had no objection to dueling Ai De.

After all, the only way to obtain "Destiny Hero - Phoenix Man," the "Phoenix Chick" among Fusion Monsters, was to duel Ai De.

"But…" Ai De lowered his head, his expression pained, fists clenched, dark aura thickening around him as he spoke, "Lately, I've come to understand more clearly: Fate… truly cannot be changed."

"My next card will be a Normal Magic Card."

Many students, hearing Ai De's declaration, leaned forward, eager to see what his next card would be.

"No way, is it really that easy?"

"Yeah, how many Normal Magic Cards can even fit in one deck?"

"There's no way it's actually a Normal Magic Card…"

Some ordinary students thought Ai De was just bluffing.

But Ai De slowly raised the card, displaying it for everyone to see.

"Normal Magic Card, Greedy Vase!" He sent the card to the graveyard: "The effect of Greedy Vase will apply next turn!"

"It really is a Normal Magic Card!?"

"What luck—"

"No way? Even Greedy Vase!?"

Below the stage, Serina watched the duel, a sudden, inexplicable fear rising within her—just by revealing one card, she felt as if some terrifying demon had locked its gaze upon her, sending chills down her spine!

What's going on with this duel—

She looked around.

There were no suspicious people nearby, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that in the sky, a pair of malevolent eyes was fixed upon this duel!

(End of Chapter)