Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Chaos-Brust, three hits in a row!

This time, Camilla's basic attack panel showed no changes, as she herself had been directly blasted into the darkness of the Phantom Gate by the attack of the Ancient Mechanical Chaos Giant. Then, the opened gate slowly closed, and the Phantom Gate and the Ancient Mechanical Chaos Giant vanished together with the end of the duel.

"It really disappeared?! My goodness, does that mean what they said before, 'the soul of the loser will be devoured,' was true?!" After the duel ended, Professor Chronos covered his face in surprise as he looked at Camilla, who had vanished without a trace.

Behind Chronos, unlike the pensive Asuka, Judai was completely unaffected by Camilla's words and excitedly said to Professor Chronos, "What an interesting duel, Professor Chronos! You won so beautifully!"

Amid his excitement, he also felt some curiosity and confusion, and asked, "But Professor Chronos, since you're so strong, why didn't you bring out these powerful cards during my entrance exam?"

Upon hearing Jaden's words, Professor Chronos spun around with the Duel Disk he was wearing, revealing the back of the disk to Jaden. On it were four Chinese characters: "为人师表" (meaning "to be a teacher").

"Nonsense, I am a teacher!"

For a fleeting moment, Jaden looked at Professor Chronos's face—which, if not exactly a carbon copy of, at least looked like a twin brother of Pot of Greed—and suddenly thought he was quite handsome.

Chapter 1128 Young duelist, did you fall into the lake with a gold bicycle or a silver bicycle?

He found a spare set of clothes in Professor Chronos's car and gave them to Sho Marufuji, who had climbed out of the lake. Although the clothes were unusually large on Sho because of the huge height difference between them, they were still better than the clothes that had gotten soaked from the water.

With a blank expression, Ryo handed Marufuji Sho a towel and watched him hurriedly take it and wipe his wet hair. Only then did Marufuji Ryo notice that Asuka had been lost in thought ever since Camus's speech.

Are you thinking about Fubuki?

Asuka glanced at Caesar, then nodded and said, "Yeah, Camilla just said that there's a masked guy in the 'Seven Stars' who looks a lot like me after taking off his mask, so I was wondering if it's possible he might be...."

"But why would Fubuki join the Seven Stars?" Because of the two known members of the Seven Stars—Titan and Camilla—Caesar and the others don't have a good impression of the Seven Stars. "His personality doesn't seem like that of someone who would join such an organization."

“But what if? What if my brother disappeared for some special reason and was forced to join the Seven Stars?” Asuka said, clenching her fist. “Even if there’s only the slightest possibility, I can’t let it slip by. I can’t let go of anyone in the Seven Stars organization who wears a mask!”

Upon hearing Asuka's words, Marufuji Sho recalled the person he had seen earlier. Although he was unsure whether he had actually seen them or was just seeing things, he immediately said to Asuka, "Um, Asuka... no, Tenjouin-san, I saw a member of 'Seven Stars' wearing a mask before."

"Marufuji Sho, you're not thinking about that mercenary named 'Titan' who landed at the Osiris-Red Dormitory, are you?" Professor Chronos, hands on his hips, said after hearing Marufuji Sho's words. "Even if you're nearsighted, you don't really think he looks like Tenjouin-kun, do you?"

"N-no, I'm not that bad. I'm not so bad that I wouldn't recognize the person who kidnapped me..." Although he said it as if he was very angry, he couldn't be tough in front of Professor Chronos. He was as cowardly as could be. "What I want to say is that the person who left on the hang glider, that person seemed to be wearing a mask."

"So you're the one who went to the volcano, Sho?" Upon hearing Marufuji Sho's words, Judai immediately asked, while also lifting the half of the stone disc hanging on his chest, "What about this? Did the other person have this on them?"

"Besides the face under the mask looking somewhat like mine, Camilla also said that the person had a stone disc on their chest just like Jaden's. In other words, if the person riding the hang glider also wears a stone disc, then they must be the person I'm looking for!" Having deduced this, Asuka looked at Marufuji Sho with the same expectant gaze as Jaden.

Judai's gaze was fine, but Asuka also paid attention to him, which made the timid Marufuji Sho somewhat flustered. He tried hard to recall before he could barely say, "My eyesight isn't very good. Although I did see that person wearing something on his chest, I'm not quite sure what it looked like. But I'm sure that he was wearing something dark on his face."

He paused, then looked at Judai and changed the subject, saying, "But big brother, Tenjouin is concerned that the person might be her missing brother, why are you so excited about it too?"

"Hmm? Does that need a reason? Of course it's because Asuka's business is my business." With the idea that "my friend's business is my business," Jaden answered without hesitation.

However, upon hearing Judai's words, Ryo Marufuji, Sho Marufuji, and Professor Chronos all gave him a deep look.

Asuka, on the other hand, wasn't thinking about anything else at the moment. She was just very grateful to Jaden for helping her and said impatiently, "Then we shouldn't delay. Regardless of whether the person using the hang glider is my brother or not, we must find him as soon as possible."

If it's Tenjouin Fubuki, then we must rescue him before he loses a duel with others and dies without a burial place like Camilla because of the Dark Games; if it's not Fubuki but one of the other "Seven Stars," we must also stop him from harming the students on campus.

Judai nodded and said, "That's right, so let's get going!"

As he spoke, he lifted one foot as if to step over something, and made a couple of loose clenching motions with his hands, assuming a bicycle riding posture. Startled, Judai suddenly looked down and said in surprise, "Wait a minute, where's my bicycle!?"

"If that's the case, wouldn't he have already rushed into the lake?" Marufuji Sho pointed to the spot where he climbed out of the lake, where the skid mark on the ground was so clear. He complained, "Rounding it up, bro, you've also helped the principal dig a hole."

“Who uses a bicycle to bait a pond? Isn’t that even more outrageous than Hayato-sensei’s ‘Release a unit of electricity and Buddha will reward you with a pound of fish’?” Judai said, waving his hand dismissively. “Luckily, I have three bicycles prepared for ‘collection, use, and propagation.’ Even if I borrowed No.3’s bicycle and one fell into the lake, I still have one in my dorm.”

Somewhat exasperated by Judai's extravagant spending, Marufuji Sho said, "But we can't just go back to the dorm to get our bikes. How are we going to get to such a far place without them?"

"Um, how about we look forward to the Lake God giving us gold and silver bicycles?"

"There's no such thing!"

Hearing what Kazuto said, Asuka interrupted, "It's okay if you don't have a bicycle, because there aren't many roads for bicycles to travel on when you go to the volcano. You'll still have to walk to climb the mountain."

With unwavering determination in her eyes, Asuka continued, "However, I will definitely find that person!"

"Impressive willpower, Asuka!" Judai praised, giving a thumbs up. "That's the spirit you need! But I won't let you get there first; that person is my first target!"

"Let's see who finds him first. But you've been riding for so long, do you still have enough stamina?"

"If it's not enough, I'll make up for it with my momentum! But Asuka, can you keep up with me?"

"Hmph, don't underestimate me. I work out regularly. Want to touch my muscles?"

As they talked to themselves, Asuka and Judai had already taken their starting positions, and Judai turned his head to look at Marufuji Sho: "The starting signal is yours, Sho!"

"Huh? Oh, okay. Then... three, two, one, start?"

"First place is mine!" "I won't lose to you!"

In an instant, Judai and Asuka suddenly started running, each shouting "Let's go!" and disappeared into the bushes in just a few breaths. Marufuji Sho belatedly realized that he seemed to have been suddenly abandoned by the two of them, and quickly ran up, saying, "Wait, wait for me, Tenjouin-kun, big brother!"

Watching the three leave, Marufuji Ryo sighed, feeling quite emotional.

Since the start of the school year, many of the people he knows have changed. Asuka, who has been obsessed with her brother's disappearance, gradually pulls herself out of the past and focuses on the present. She, who was once called the "Ice Queen" by the middle school students, is gradually awakening her true passionate self.

—But why does it feel like he's acting a little like a hot-blooded idiot?

His younger brother, Marufuji Sho, is the same. Although his performance is still not very good, at least he can communicate normally and equally with a few people, and they can tease each other like friends. Even after witnessing the danger of the Dark Games several times, he still dares to go on adventures with others. In the past, he would have said something like "I have a terminal illness that will kill me if I see a duel" and backed down.

Perhaps I myself have some of those traits too? I thought that after Yusuke, Fubuki and the others disappeared, I would never be able to find any worthy opponents at school again. Even if I challenged the teachers to duels, I couldn't get them to use their full strength. Rinran and the others couldn't improve and couldn't reach higher levels either, stuck in the middle.

However, didn't I also find an interesting duelist, and rediscover some of the joy of dueling and make almost imperceptible progress in team duels with him?

All these changes are because of you, Jaden Yuki.

"Tsk tsk, these students are too impatient these days. They set off in such a hurry, aren't they afraid of being attacked when they're tired? They're too reckless."

Professor Chronos clutched a handkerchief, shaking his head in dissatisfaction. "That lousy student even brought along a student from Tenjouin! What if a top student like that student is also corrupted by him? Looks like I'll have to assign more homework next time!"

After glancing at Professor Chronos, Ryo Marufuji asked, "They've already left. Do you need any help, Professor Chronos?"

"Huh!? Uh... I don't understand what you're saying, Marufuji-kun." Professor Chronos showed a visibly flustered expression upon hearing Marufuji Ryo's words, then stubbornly insisted, "I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? There's nothing I need help with, I—"

"But teacher, you haven't taken a single step since the duel ended, have you?"

Professor Chronos, who was about to continue arguing, paused for a moment after hearing Marufuji Ryo's words, then smiled wryly and said helplessly, "As expected of my proud student, Marufuji's observation skills are as sharp as ever."

Having already been exposed, Professor Chronos stopped trying to maintain his composure and was about to sit down on the ground without any regard for elegance. Marufuji Ryo quickly helped him up, went to the parked car, opened the door, and helped Professor Chronos sit down.

"...The Dark Game. As a professor, I cannot admit that dueling is dark, but I also cannot deny its real existence."

Having been holding a handkerchief in his hand to brace his fingers and clench his fist to endure the pain, Professor Chronos's face twisted in pain as he was now completely exposed. "As my fundamental score drops, I feel not only extreme pain, but also a vague sense of exhaustion, as if my soul is being ripped away."

"And I can't say something like that, that such a dangerous duel will never happen again."

"As a teacher, I should be standing in front of other students to protect them from harm and threats, but I can't stop them from protecting others. As a teacher, I feel utterly inadequate..."

Listening to Professor Chronos's words, Ryo Marufuji didn't know how to comfort him. Although he was hailed as a dueling genius, he was aware that he had low emotional intelligence and was not good at speaking and communicating. In his three years at school, he only had two friends, Yusuke Fujiwara and Fubuki Tenjōin, who had both disappeared. He couldn't even get along with his younger brother.

Suddenly, Professor Chronos grabbed Ryo Marufuji's wrist. A slight, uncontrollable tremor ran through Chronos's hand, a tremor that was both from the pain in his body and from his self-reproach.

"Marufuji-kun, promise me you will never fall into darkness. Dark games, dark duels, those things should never shroud you. I am powerless to drive this darkness away for you, but I want you to remember my words as your teacher today."

"Duel should be a battle of light; darkness can never prevail over light. Whatever lies ahead on your path, let your heart, which firmly believes that duels can bring hope and courage, never waver!"

Seeing the hopeful look in Professor Chronos's eyes, Marufuji nodded: "I understand, Professor Chronos."

"That's good, that's good." Chronos smiled and nodded, leaning back in the driver's seat. "Sorry, I lost quite a few Life Points in the duel. I might need to take a short rest."

Four of the "Seven Stars" have landed on the island. With Camilla already defeated and Titan still fighting Manjoume in the Red Dormitory, only two of the "Seven Stars" remain on the island, and both are being pursued. Therefore, this lakeside is safe for the time being, and Marufuji Ryo leaves Professor Chronos here for the time being.

Following Professor Chronos's wishes, Ryo Marufuji did not immediately call Ms. Megumi Ayukawa at the school clinic, because Professor Chronos said that would damage his dignified image. However, Ryo was still worried about Professor Chronos's body, which was already "loose" after the Dark Game, so he made a call after leaving the lakeside.

As for who Professor Chronos might suspect of betraying him, Ryo Marufuji doesn't think Professor Chronos will suspect him.

Judai's side has two key guardians, Asuka and Judai, and Judai is a duelist whose strength is enough for him to acknowledge. So after leaving the lakeside, Marufuji Ryo went in another direction. According to the message sent by Daitokuji-sensei, that was the direction that the four arithmetic students from the Yellow dormitory went to chase after another "Seven Stars". Their destination was the back mountain of the academy. Marufuji Ryo chose to go and support that side.

However, before Marufuji Ryo found the non-existent "four arithmetic operations", Maeda Hayato and Misawa Daichi, riding a tandem bicycle, had already successfully reached their destination, the empty and undeveloped back mountain of Duel Academy.

“I have seen introductions to various parts of the school in the freshman handbook and have carefully memorized the map of the entire island. So in my memory, the area behind the school should be a large open space that was reserved when the college was built but was not used and has been developed.”

Leaning the tandem bicycle against a tree by the roadside, Misawa rested his chin on his hand and said, wondering if his memory had deteriorated.

"Although I don't really like going out for exercise, I do come to the back hill occasionally to sketch and practice painting. So, Wu Zhe, you're not mistaken. At least in my memory, as someone who has been a repeat student for more than a year, the back hill is also an empty space."

"It's not 50% off, it's Misawa, Misawa Daichi, thank you." After correcting his name, Misawa looked ahead at them, "But here at the back of the mountain..."

"When exactly did it happen...?"

"Wow, there's an extra arena now!" x2

Completely absorbed in the arena before them, Misawa and Maeda were oblivious to the danger gradually approaching from the jungle on either side of them.

Chapter 1129 The Last King of the Amazons

Seemingly sensing something, the chubby-looking Maeda Hayato, though seemingly clumsy, moved with surprising speed, nudging Misawa Daichi beside him and shouting, "Watch out!"

Before Misawa could say anything after being pushed away, just as Maeda Hayato pushed Misawa Daichi away and used the recoil to lean back and avoid his original position, a wooden arrow shot out with a "whoosh" and hit the ground where the two had just stood. The tail feathers that did not sink into the ground along with the arrowhead continued to tremble.

Gratefully looking at Hayato Morita, Misawa turned to look in the direction the arrow had come from and found a dense, empty forest. The bushes swayed intermittently, not as if the wind was blowing, but as if something was moving through the forest.

"Who are you? Show yourself! Stop sneaking around like that! What kind of man are you?!" Misawa shouted sternly, showing no fear of the ambushing attackers who were hiding.

Misawa was very happy to be chosen as the key guardian of the "Seven Essence Seals," as it was undoubtedly a recognition of his talent. This made Misawa Daichi, who had been in school for several months but had not yet been promoted to the Obelisk-Blue dormitory and was quite bothered by this, somewhat pleased.

However, in Misawa's mind, since the Seven Stars were coming to the Duel Academy to challenge and seize the key, they should have lined up one by one and come in order, instead of rushing to the Duel Academy Island in a swarm like this and running around in all directions, requiring the key guardians to scatter and chase them.

Although Misawa is both arrogant and insecure, lacking in self-recognition, he doesn't actually care too much about dueling in front of everyone. The recognition he needs isn't vanity, but rather "being valued." In another timeline, he even engages in a bizarre act of deliberately losing duels to others in order to be brainwashed, due to his low profile and lack of recognition.

The difference between actively seeking out and challenging "Seven Stars" and passively waiting for "Seven Stars" to challenge them is that the latter is clearly more important. Misawa was already dissatisfied because he took the initiative to seek out "Seven Stars" for a duel, and now that they had been ambushed, he was even more annoyed. Did they think he was a weakling who was not even worthy of dueling with them?

"You coward who lurks in the shadows, hiding in the dark while everyone else is drawn to the clear clash of duelists' blades, you will surely suffer the humiliation of the Misawa land!"

With a desire to vent his frustrations, Misawa snapped. But he hadn't expected that as soon as he finished speaking, the bushes would start moving again, but this time it wasn't just one or two trees that moved; almost the entire forest was in motion.

For a moment, even though Maeda Hayato behind Misawa was forcing himself to be brave, he instinctively took several steps back. This was understandable, after all, no one knew how many people might be hiding in what seemed to be an empty forest. Even the famous American five-star general MacArthur said, "If I had to face the enemy in the forest without Agent Orange, I would have no choice but to run away."

That is, Misawa, although he was also a little frightened by the unusually loud commotion, still stood in place quite bravely.

One by one, "humans" emerged from the woods, dressed in simple clothing reminiscent of primitive tribes. Without exception, all of them were women. The "simple" clothing instantly transformed into "revealing" attire. Maeda Hayato's face immediately turned red, while Misawa remained unmoved, maintaining his tough-guy expression.

"All women? Could they be a primitive tribe in the Amazon rainforest, a matriarchal society as rumored?" Misawa frowned as he looked at the dangerous primitive people in front of him, who were armed with spears, swords, and bows and arrows. He speculated, "But the Amazon rainforest and Duel Academy Island are separated by an ocean. Why are they here?"

“Although we are indeed from the ‘Amazon’, and these children did come to this island from another continent with me, it’s difficult to explain the specifics to you.”

Among the women of the primitive tribe, the tallest and most mature-looking woman stepped forward, riding a tiger. She walked slowly along the path cleared by the others on either side, and came to a short distance in front of Misawa and Maeda before dismounting from the tiger.

However, even standing directly on the ground, this woman's height is still an extremely exaggerated nearly 1.9 meters, almost as tall as Hayato Kobayashi.

“This group… I remember now, Shizawa!” Looking at the tall woman and the tiger beside her, as well as the subtle feeling emanating from her, Maeda Hayato immediately recognized her and pointed at her, saying, “Watch out! She’s the ‘Seven Stars’ I saw in the Red-Dormitory!”