Chapter 308: Competition

"Ah, now that you mention it, I think I've heard of it too."

Marufuji Sho thought while holding his chin.

"I saw the promotion, saying this year's Duel City tournament will be different from previous years."

"Different?" Hayato-san asked curiously, poking his head out.

Hayato-san was a bit of a slacker; as an Osiris Red repeater who was always on the verge of dropping out, he basically slept in the dorm all day and was semi-isolated from the outside world.

Although he had cheered up quite a bit since Judai arrived, he was still a homebody and didn't care much about outside news.

"You guys don't even know this? That's the biggest grand event that Kaiba Corporation has been promoting with all its might recently."

Marufuji Sho quickly took out his device and pulled up the promotional poster after some operation.

Fujiki You Xuan also leaned over to take a look.

Well, no surprise at all; the poster featured a huge White Dragon. President Kaiba stood there in his usual cocky pose, and although the text below invited duelists from all walks of life to participate, the stance looked more like he was preparing to pick a fight than inviting them.

"Duel City was held in previous years too, right?" Judai asked curiously.

"That's right, but everyone has known for years that, except for the first one held in New Domino City, the level of subsequent tournaments has actually declined."

Marufuji Sho introduced.

"But actually, this is inevitable. Every year's Duel City tournament is still a high-standard event, and the participants are duelists with considerable strength, and there is no lack of top players from the professional circle..."

Top players from the professional circle, huh...

Fujiki You Xuan didn't have much of a feeling about this statement before, but having just dueled a guy claiming to be the eighth-ranked professional, although it might be disrespectful to the profession to say so, that guy started to make him feel that the professional level was just so-so...

Now, saying the professional circle is full of experts feels a bit like the feeling when people mention that every Jonin in the Hidden Leaf is an expert. It doesn't seem weak, but it doesn't seem strong either, with the illusion that the strength of the entire professional circle is concentrated on Edo.

Edo Phoenix might really be the only face of the GX professional circle; if the newcomer Kaiser who joined the league later counts, then maybe there are two.

Other than that, most of the professionals appearing throughout the anime were background characters, and in the Society of Light arc, they couldn't even beat the elite students of Duel Academy, so it's hard to say how strong they really were.

"However, the evaluation standard for signing up for the tournament in previous years was only the duelist rank assessed within the Kaiba Corporation system," Marufuji Sho explained. "As long as the duelist rank meets the requirements, anyone can sign up."

"Of course, generally speaking, duelists with high ranks aren't bad, but they still can't compare to the first one..."

Judai nodded: "That's only natural."

The recording of the first Duel City tournament is still a priceless collector's item. It can't be said that the Duel Realm is getting worse with each generation; it's just that the first generation was a battle of gods.

Yugi Wu Teng is the most valuable champion in the history of the tournament, and is recognized by the entire Duel Realm as the King of Games, a title he earned during Duel City. And the opponents he defeated in that tournament were also extraordinary.

Later generations reviewed it, and the top four of the first Duel City were all gods, not to mention the participation of legendary monsters like the Three Phantom Gods.

Yugi Wu Teng, who commanded Slifer the Sky Dragon; Kaiba Seto, who wielded Obelisk the Tormentor; Malik, the heir of the Gravekeepers who held The Winged Dragon of Ra...

And the legendary gambling king Jonouchi, who started with nothing and relied entirely on dice for victory.

Seems like something strange got mixed in...

In short, reviewing it now, many people believe that the top four of that year—no, even players like Ishizu and Bakura who were eliminated in the top eight—might all be championship-level players in later tournaments.

It can only be said that the first-generation arena was truly a battle of gods.

"However, there are no duelists now who can compare to so many legends from that time, right?" Judai asked strangely.

"Yes. But this time, even Kaiba Seto himself clearly stated that he would participate!" Marufuji Sho said excitedly. "This is the first time in so many years!"

"Do you know how many years it's been since anyone saw Kaiba Seto appear in a public tournament?"

"So amazing?"

Judai's eyes lit up.

"Doesn't that mean as long as I participate in the tournament, I have a chance to duel President Kaiba?"

"Uh, but I haven't finished yet; the threshold for this year's tournament is much higher than before," Marufuji Sho said. "In addition to needing to meet the duelist rank assessment required by Kaiba Corporation as in the past, this time there is also a team led by Kaiba Seto himself responsible for qualification review."

"It is said that even some legendary duelists failed the review..."

The images of the Paradox Brothers immediately appeared in Fujiki You Xuan's mind.

I wonder if those two could pass the review in the President's eyes...

"I think Big Brother, as a student of Osiris Red at Duel Academy, would probably be eliminated before his file even reached the review team," Marufuji Sho said with a sweat.

"Eh?" Judai was disappointed. "Damn... then why can Fujiki You Xuan go?"

Hayato whispered: "Fujiki You Xuan-kun is different. If someone told me he was on the review team now, I'd believe it..."

Judai's eyes lit up: "Really? Then is there any chance Fujiki You Xuan could give me a spot..."

"You're overthinking it; what kind of review team would I be on? I'm just invited to participate."

Fujiki You Xuan paused and smiled.

"However, if it's just wanting a spot... maybe it's not impossible."

Judai whistled excitedly, then gave him a bear hug.

"Super~ thanks!" Judai was very happy. "I'll remember it for a lifetime!"

"Too exaggerated... and I only said I'd make a call to ask; I don't know if it'll work yet..."

"Ahahaha, anyway, super thanks~"

"..."

They walked and talked, their shadows cast very, very long on the ground by the sunlight.

On the same day, Duel Academy Principal's office.

"Any plans for the holiday, Ryo?"

Principal Samejima sat in his chair and asked his closing disciple, who was also the orthodox successor of the Cyber style, Marufuji Ryo, with a smile.

"Nothing for now, Master," Marufuji Ryo smiled. "I'll find opportunities to duel experts outside the school to temper my skills and seek breakthroughs."

"Hmm. If that's the case, then I happen to have a good opportunity here."

Principal Samejima smiled and handed over a promotional poster.

Marufuji Ryo took it and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Duel City GX?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 309 =====