I'm in Yu-Gi-Oh!, but I'm also in Machine Ascension.

"...You little rascal, whether it's Xyz or the newly developed Synchro, you seem to be practicing very diligently—that guy Kaiba was looking gloomy before, thinking you might have completely given up on playing cards and that he had lost his chance for revenge!"

...

In that instant, accompanied by Katsuya Jonouchi's enthusiastic voice, Yuuka also stared at the boy in front of him with some surprise, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes:

"...Flying back so suddenly without warning is in keeping with your usual style, Jonouchi...Did you even bring the game along this time?!"

But after the brief surprise, Youfeng smiled and nodded: "It really has been a long time since I've seen the game... Thinking back to those happy times we played cards together, it really brings back a lot of memories..."

Soon, amidst Yuuki's exclamation full of admiration, Jonouchi smiled and nodded:

"Hmm...it's not just the game, Kyoko and Mai really want to see you too...oh, and Shizuka too..."

Soon after mentioning several female card-playing partners, Jonouchi also looked at Yuuka with a dark expression: "I don't know where you get such charm, Yuuka..."

Just as Jonouchi was fiddling with his blond hair and making a sarcastic comment, Principal Samejima, who had been equally excited as he watched Jonouchi and Yuuka catching up on the dueling stage, immediately shook his head and said awkwardly:

"...Um...Mr. Jonouchi...we'll continue our reminiscing with Director Yuuka later...Let's say hello to everyone first..."

Along with Principal Samejima's sincere smile, Katsuya Jonouchi immediately nodded and waved to the enthusiastic crowd below:

"Hello everyone—I, Katsuya Jonouchi, will be joining forces with Yuuka to bring you a grand dueling feast!"

Soon, accompanied by Katsuya Jonouchi's impassioned voice, the crowd cheered immediately:

"Mr. Jonouchi!!!"

Amidst the fervent, almost idol-chasing, enthusiasm of the crowd, Yuuka's lips twitched as he watched Katsuya Jonouchi, who seemed to have gone completely overboard with excitement.

"...I don't think I even agreed to participate..."

But seeing Katsuya Jonouchi greeting everyone so enthusiastically, Yuuka shook his head helplessly, then changed the subject:

"But even the club president is participating, so it seems there's a reason we absolutely have to attend this match..."

...

Then, amidst the cheers of the crowd, after bidding farewell to everyone, Jonouchi Katsuya pulled Yuuka along, preparing to leave the dueling arena.

At that moment, the enthusiastic crowd in the audience immediately cheered him on loudly:

"Jonouchi-senpai, use the power of the coin to your fullest extent!"

"Shine your brilliance on the GX competition stage!"

"After all—without you, Senior Yuuki, Mr. Yugi, and President Kaiba, none of us could have displayed our formidable prowess!"

"..."

Soon, amidst the initially excited cheers of the crowd, Katsuya Jonouchi, who had been smiling with squinted eyes, noticed the increasingly "unsettling" tone of the voices and instantly frowned.

"???"

"Are you questioning my abilities?!"

"Damn it! That jellyfish-headed guy, come up here and fight me one-on-one!"

"..."

Then, seeing that Katsuya Jounouchi had rolled up his sleeves and was ready for a "real-life duel," Yuuka helplessly put his arm around the other's shoulder.

Jonouchi: "I @#￥%...!"

Looking at the excited Katsuya Jonouchi on stage, Jaden Yuki in the audience was also stunned when he suddenly saw the target pointed at him. He pointed at himself with a confused expression and said with a slightly aggrieved tone:

"Huh?! I didn't say anything! Why is it me..."

...

Soon, at the moment when the atmosphere of the entire venue reached its climax, GX World instantly became the most watched event among duelists worldwide.

This tournament, at Seto Kaiba's insistence, was conducted according to the rules of the previous Duel City tournament, which was also organized by the Kaiba Group but was completely defeated by Yuuki and lost its chance to compete for the championship.

All duelists who wish to participate in the competition can register without any restrictions. After a series of matches, the first few duelists to achieve enough victories will be able to participate in the final stage based on the order of their registration.

After learning that everyone who had just arrived from overseas was still resting and had not come first like the "energetic" Jonouchi, Yuuka immediately arranged for the "yellow-haired boy" who was so angry that his face was contorted to stay in his teacher's dormitory.

That evening, after returning to his room, You Feng turned on the advanced computer provided by Haima Group and browsed information related to the match.

soon--

On the Duelist forum, familiar names appeared one after another: Seto Kaiba, Yugi Muto, Mai Kujaku, and others, all expressing their high spirits in the news that they would participate in the competition, and ultimately all pointing the finger at themselves.

After he became the center of attention, many duelists gathered on the Duelist Forum even gave this group of legendary duelists, who had once lost to him in the Duel City tournament, the nickname "Avengers".

"Good heavens... Is it really that bad? I've become Thanos?!"

Looking at the heated discussions on the forum, Youfeng shook his head helplessly and muttered a slight complaint.

But in that very instant, several messages popped up on Youfeng's phone:

[Yuki Judai]: Yuuki-kun, you have to explain what happened during the day to Mr. Jonouchi. Mr. Jonouchi is one of the duelists I greatly admire!

[Yugi Muto]: Yuuki! I hope we can have another great match at this year's GX tournament, just like before!

[Peacock Dance]: Well then, let's have another clean and decisive battle, Yuuki! As a memory of our friendship, remember to bring that [Feather Duster]...

Seto Kaiba: The power of my brand-new Blue-Eyes White Dragon will never be defeated by you again, Yuuki.

...

After seeing these messages, Youfeng quickly shook his head helplessly and muttered a slight complaint:

"...Did you guys plan this all in advance? Your tactics are so synchronized... Now I'm really the final boss, Thanos confirmed, right?"

After a slight sigh, he shut down the computer and then took out the shiny black-covered [Xyz] card pack that the system had issued upon his victory in the previous duel. He lightly tapped the gear-shaped switch on the card's mecha-like patterned surface.

In an instant, a dense, bright black light swept across Youfeng's face, and within it, the most representative [Hope] card instantly appeared before him:

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained a Tier 4 Xyz Monster card—No. 39 Hope the Emperor!]

[No. 39 Hopeful Kings]

[Race: Warrior]

[Attribute: light]

[Class: 4]

[Attack power: 2500]

[Defense: 2000]

Then, with the appearance of this most basic and original form of the powerful R4 [Xyz] monster card, [Hope], Yufeng immediately began to fan out the heavy card pack in front of him in his palm.

After experiencing several lower-level monsters from the Hope family, as well as more Xyz monster cards from the Hope series, primarily [Shining No. 39 Hope-Hope-Lightning-Hope], a unique Rank 12 Xyz monster card suddenly appeared before Yu Feng's eyes:

[Congratulations, host, you have successfully obtained the Tier 12 Hope Xyz Monster Card No. 99, Hope the Emperor - Hope Dragner!]

【No. 99 Hopeful Real Madrid - Hopdragna】

[Race: Warrior]

[Attribute: light]

[Class: 12]

[Attack power: 3000]

[Defense: 3000]

"...This card...I remember it can be used to perform a lot of really cool maneuvers..."

"Is someone who plays with Hope coming into the store?"

As Yuufu smiled slightly at the monster cards in his hand, he immediately began to reconstruct the new [Hope] deck. After combining his own ideas to completely sort out a brand new deck construction, he glanced at his phone and finally opened the "Tactics" from Seto Kaiba, confidently smiling as he said:

"Then, let's use Hope to fight Kaiba in our second match!"

116. Seto Kaiba: An absolute defeat... A guy playing with Hope came into the store?!

Soon, with the successful opening of the GX World Championship, the island where the Duel Academy was located, which had been quiet for a long time, was immediately crowded with people from all over the world.

After receiving the chips from the registration desk, they immediately began engaging in real-time 1v1 battles throughout the island.

"...Hmm, it's quite rare. In this tournament, the former Duel King...and Yuuka, who disappeared after winning the championship, have both returned to the competition!"

"Although I won't be able to make it to the finals, the thought of dueling with these legendary duelists in the same place... is truly exhilarating!"

"Then come on, this is the only chance to chase the King of Duels—Duel!"

"..."

Amidst the fierce duels taking place among the duelists scattered throughout the island, the victors were quickly eliminated, and the defeated duelists were efficiently transported away from the Duel Academy by helicopters using the Kaiba Group.

finally--

After a day of competition, the first group of winners quickly emerged, having accumulated enough chips to register for the final stage.

This time, although it followed the format of the Duel City tournament that Yuufu had participated in before, the chips were just souvenirs printed with portraits of various legendary duelists, instead of using chips to randomly determine the venue as in the previous Duel City tournament.

This competition will be held in various dueling arenas within the Duel Academy, depending on the different stages of the finals.

...

"Senior Youfeng, I've already got my ticket to the finals!"

Soon, accompanied by the excited voice of the "jellyfish-headed" boy, Yuuki Jaden, Yuuki immediately smiled and nodded.

As invited players for this GX tournament, Yuuki, Seto Kaiba, and others were directly seeded and entered the finals without having to compete with ordinary duelists. So, while everyone was rushing to fight duels, Yuuki was enjoying a leisurely and comfortable rest at the "Seaside Villa" of Osiris Red on the secluded coast.

After receiving the finalists' list, You Feng leisurely stretched and walked out wearing baggy beach shorts.

He patted Yuki Judai on the shoulder as he excitedly came to share the good news.

At that moment, seeing Yuuka wearing only beach shorts, the long-haired, brown-haired girl Tenjouin Asuka, who had come with Yuuka Judai, immediately turned her head away shyly at Yuuka's surging posture.

Then, with his hands in his pockets, Jun Manjou also looked at Yuuka with excitement:

"Um... Senior Yufeng, I've also secured a spot in the finals... Now, all that's left is to wait for the draw tonight..."