Chapter 51: Tsidonya City

"Dimensional Exchange Tournament?"

A group of students repeated it in unison.

A few days later, in the principal's office, Hikari and the other Key Holders exchanged glances—they clearly had never heard this term before; only Wan Wan Zhangmu sighed helplessly, closed his eyes, and crossed his arms, pretending to be a master.

"What's that?" Ryo Fujiki, drawn by curiosity, turned to Sanzawa Daichi.

"Uh, even if you ask me that, I… " Sanzawa Daichi's forehead broke into sweat—he, despite his vast knowledge, had no idea about this.

"The Dimensional Exchange Tournament? Why bring this up?" Wan Wan Zhangmu rubbed his chin, puzzled. "It's an annual competition set up by Kaiba Corp to exchange with a certain other dimension."

"Though they call it another dimension, many of Kaiba Corp's scientists prefer to refer to it as the 【Parallel World】."

"Huh, Wan Wan Zhangmu, you know about this?" Judai exclaimed.

"It's Lightning!" Wan Wan Zhangmu's temple twitched as he snapped back angrily.

"So, what exactly is it? Lightning?" Hikari asked.

There were still many things in this world he knew nothing about; since Wan Wan Zhangmu seemed to know, he was happy to ask.

"It was already three or four years ago," Wan Wan Zhangmu said, arms crossed, eyes closed in recollection. "That was when dimensional exploration first hit a wall—no matter which direction they explored, they couldn't find any new dimensions, and progress stalled. Inside a dimensional transit channel, someone accidentally collided with a strange ship."

"Yes, a ship," Wan Wan Zhangmu nodded. "Looking back now, that ship was actually quite beautiful… Anyway, because of that ship, my master finally discovered a new other dimension—a world later named the 【X World】. To be honest, calling it an other dimension is misleading—it's really just a Parallel World, and it has humans!"

"Humans? Humans!?" Ryo Fujiki and Maeda Hayato, who had never been to another dimension, stared in confusion and astonishment. "Isn't that normal?"

"Actually, to this day, it remains the only world we've discovered with humans," Sanzawa Daichi added. "When Wan Wan Zhangmu mentioned this, I remembered the news I'd seen before—it was called the 【Century Discovery】 and 【Third Kind of Contact】, right?"

"My master wasn't interested in that," Wan Wan Zhangmu shrugged. "What drew his attention to that world was hearing… that it had the 【Dark Magician】."

"Dark… Dark Magician!?"

"It's Ryo Fujiki's signature card!" Judai instantly became excited.

Before enrolling, he had met Ryo Fujiki and been given a "Winged Kuriboh"—he revered and was grateful to him, so hearing about the Dark Magician naturally stirred his emotions.

"Honestly, I find it strange too," Wan Wan Zhangmu opened his eyes, frowning. "Even though Ryo Fujiki no longer duels and seems to be switching to card design, he's not gone. So why did my master insist on finding a Dark Magician user?"

"In short, upon hearing that the Dark Magician existed in that world, my master immediately prepared to visit—but they refused to let him go. So my master reached an agreement with them."

"Kaiba Corp built a 【Tsidonya City】 in a vacant other dimension—a transit hub. People from both worlds can go there."

He shook his head. "But my master lost interest in that world, because it didn't seem to be the person he was looking for."

"Exactly," Principal Principal Jiaodao nodded gently. "Although Chairman Kaiba no longer invites that world, Tsidonya City was still built and became a platform for exchange between the two worlds."

"Every year, Tsidonya City hosts the Dimensional Exchange Tournament. Our world has won and lost—but no, to be honest, except when Chairman Kaiba himself appeared, we've mostly lost since then."

Principal Principal Jiaodao shook his head. "Not long ago, the Board Chairman proposed to Kaiba Corp that the exchange tournament be held among young people and students—to see how the 【new generation】 compete."

"We've mostly lost?" Even Ryo Fujiki couldn't help but be astonished.

"So, Principal, why are you bringing this up?" Professor Kuronos asked.

"Hehehe," the principal's face lit up with excitement—even a kind old gentleman couldn't help being thrilled by this. "Our school has been chosen as the representative for this exchange tournament! We'll compete against young duelists from the other dimension!"

"It'll take about twenty days round-trip—a grand event for rookie duelists! If you make a name for yourself here, your future as a professional duelist will have far better prospects!"

"Wow!" The students immediately surged forward, excited.

"Prin, Principal, let me go!"

"Principal, me, me, me!"

"Hmph, Principal, you know I'm Chairman Kaiba's disciple—"

"Hey, that's so cheap, Lightning!"

"Hehehe…" The principal chuckled, dragging it out. After a moment, he said, "Alright, alright, no more arguing. Kaiba Corp said the representatives will be the class presidents from each grade…"

"Ah! Why like this?! I really wanted to go to a place like that!" Asuka's fleeting hope vanished before her eyes.

"Wait—" Hikari interrupted their bickering, frowning hesitantly. "Principal, what about the 【Seven Stars】?"

"Huh!?" "Ah!" The group suddenly snapped back to awareness.

"That's exactly what I was going to say," Principal Principal Jiaodao 's expression turned serious. "First, Hikari, Ryo Fujiki—you two are confirmed to go. Professor Kuronos, you'll be the team leader and accompany them."

"In other words, the three 【Key Holders】."

"Those of you left behind may face even harsher challenges," the principal said, looking at Judai, Sanzawa, Wan Wan Zhangmu, and Asuka. All three, under his gaze, swallowed hard. Judai was the first to step forward, shouting loudly that he would protect the keys.

"Principal—" Ryo Fujiki frowned. "I'd rather stay…"

"No way!" Judai immediately retorted. "You're our school's Ace —Kaiser!"

He patted his chest. "We can't keep relying on you to protect us—leave it to us!"

"Yeah, Kaiser, don't underestimate us," Wan Wan Zhangmu chuckled.

Hikari opened his mouth, words on the tip of his tongue, but couldn't speak them.

In the original story, Judai's later isolation stemmed largely from his genuine trust in his classmates—yet he never imagined the most reliable one, graduate Kaiser Ryo, was physically "banned."

This time, Kaiser Ryo in this world wasn't eliminated by vampire tricks—but now he's leaving again for a tournament.

He wanted Judai to relax, but since he himself was going too, he had to drop it.

"Still, Hikari, Kaiser," Principal Principal Jiaodao continued, "even in Tsidonya City, don't let your guard down. The Seven Stars are elusive, appearing and vanishing without trace—they might still launch a surprise attack even in the other dimension."

Both nodded.

That made sense—if there was a vampire princess as a Seven Star spirit, encountering other Seven Stars in the other dimension was perfectly normal.

"Then it's decided."

"I'll notify the second-year class president. Professor Kuronos, this is up to you."

"Don't worry, Principal!" Professor Kuronos thumped his chest, brimming with confidence.

Thus, Hikari and the two others boarded Kaiba Corp's plane, arrived at Kaiba Corp, saw the massive Blue-Eyes White Dragon statue, and then teleported through the large fixed portal inside Kaiba Corp to the city in the other dimension—Tsidonya City.

Honestly, it looked no different from Hikari's memory of Tsidonya City, except for some other-dimensional styles and decorations, colorful and vivid.

Upon arriving in the city, Hikari immediately, without hesitation, decisively rushed into the local card shop.

"Boss, do you have any card packs from our world? Show me!"

Isn't that exactly why you get a scholarship!

Request recommendations, request monthly tickets~~

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(End of Chapter)