The protagonist of the Yu-Gi-Oh! world might be the same person.

"But he was wearing the red dormitory uniform, so he must be a bad student, right?"

The only time Judai appeared in public was during the nationwide televised duel with Manjoume Inazuma. However, the entire duel lasted less than half an hour and was not rebroadcast, so very few people remember him, and most freshmen don't recognize him.

......

After returning to his original dormitory, Judai did not rush to enter, because he found a young man standing in front of his dormitory door, giving him a warm smile.

Upon seeing this person, Judai raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who are you?"

This man was quite handsome, with short silver-gray hair and a matching silver-gray fitted suit, resembling a dashing and capable young nobleman.

"My name is Edward. I came to this Duel Academy because I wanted to duel with the esteemed Tenth Generation!"

Chapter 126 Heroic Civil War

Judai looked puzzled by his humble and respectful demeanor.

Logically speaking, it's highly unlikely that students from Europe and America would recognize him; this guy in front of him is clearly a seasoned veteran pretending to be young. (However, Judai has never paid attention to this person before, and he doesn't recognize him at all at this moment.)

"A duel...?"

As the saying goes, don’t hit someone with a smiling face.

Since the other party has already lowered their stance so much, why not agree?

Although we don’t know what Edward’s purpose is in testing us like this, since he’s already calling him senior, how can he not teach the junior a lesson?

Jaden readily agreed, "Okay, I accept your challenge!"

"Ah! Thank you so much, senior!"

The seemingly shy Edward skillfully employed etiquette, fully embodying his persona.

......

Arriving at a beachside spot outside the Red Dormitory, Jaden and Edward set up their decks on the Duel Disk that had been prepared beforehand.

"Duel!!" ×2

[Yujo Judai: LP4000]

[Aide: LP4000]

After the duel began, Jaden immediately conceded the first round.

"My turn, draw a card!"

[Aide's hand cards: 5 → 6]

After drawing a card, Edward maintained his warm smile, but inwardly he was thinking: 'So far, I only know that Jaden Yuki has two types of heroes: Elemental HERO and Masked HERO. I originally intended to test him with some junk cards.'

'But Saiō said his fate couldn't be foreseen, and told me to put more effort into testing him. Well then, I'll hold back a little to see what the Tenth Generation is capable of!'

With this in mind, Edward, brimming with inexplicable confidence, finally began his operation.

"I'm going now, senior!"

He immediately played the card he had just drawn: "Activate the spell card [Fusion], fuse [Elemental HERO Winged Warrior] and [Elemental HERO Explosive Lady] from my hand!"

"What?!" Upon hearing the name of the material, Jaden was stunned.

Two heroes with darker tones appeared on Edward's field. Then, the two figures overlapped and were instantly swallowed by the fusion vortex, bursting with dazzling light.

"Appear, [Elemental Hero Phoenix]!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the phoenix spread its wings and descended through the light onto his field, assuming a protective stance.

[Elemental Hero Phoenix: Defense 1200]

[Aide's hand cards: 6 → 3]

"It's the same hero deck as Jaden's?"

"Just who is this junior?"

On the cliff, Tenjouin Asuka and Manjoume Inazuma, who originally came to find Judai, have somehow arrived to watch the duel.

At this point, Edward places two more cards into the Spell & Trap Slots slot, "Last two cards, end turn."

[Aide's hand cards: 3 → 1]

Jaden's lips curled into a smile. "A civil war between heroes...? Interesting!"

"My turn, draw a card!"

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 5 → 6]

"Phoenix people cannot be destroyed by battle, but that doesn't mean they can't fight..."

Jaden then threw out three cards from his hand, saying, "I also activate the Spell Card [Fusion] from my hand, fusing [Elemental HERO Electro] and [Elemental HERO Necromancer] from my hand!"

"Fusion Summon! Appear, [Elemental Hero Darkshield]!"

The technologically advanced Electro Warrior and the demon-like Crimson Warrior merged into a vortex, releasing a dazzling light.

A black-gold warrior then appeared before Jaden, passing through the light.

【Elemental Hero Dark Radiance: Attack Power 2000】

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 6 → 3]

"Hey~, Dark Shining Knight...?!" Edward grinned, saying flippantly, "This card has the ability to attack defense monsters and inflict piercing damage on the opponent, but it changes to defense position after attacking. Are you willing to take that risk in battle, senpai?"

"Of course we'll fight, but I've prepared a way to deal with the risks..."

With that, Jaden revealed another magic card: "Equipment Spell [Fusion Weapon] Activated!"

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 3 → 2]

"This card can only be equipped to Fusion Monsters of Level 6 or lower. The equipped monster gains 1500 ATK and DEF."

As the equipment card took effect, Dark Radiance's right arm transformed into a pair of crimson horns, which arched together like an electromagnetic cannon.

[Elemental Hero Dark Radiance: Attack 2000 → 3500, Defense 1000 → 2500]

"Ugh! My attack power has increased to 3500 points. Phoenix people are no match for me. This is really troublesome..." Ed scratched his head, seemingly very annoyed.

Looking at Edward's innocent little eyes, Jaden frowned slightly. This fake performance was really uncomfortable to watch.

Without hesitation, Jaden made his move, shouting, "Take this! Dark Shine Warrior attacks Phoenix Man, Dark Impact!"

Upon receiving the order, Dark Shine immediately raised the fusion weapon, and a jet of black electricity shot out from the muzzle, heading towards Phoenix.

Zizzi——! !

The dark lightning instantly passed through the Phoenix's body and struck Edward.

“Uhhh…”

[Aide: LP4000→1700]

"Dark Shine changes to defensive stance after attacking."

【Elemental Hero Dark Shine: Defense 2500】

Finally, Judai inserts a card from his hand into the Duel Disk, "Set one card face down, end turn."

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 2 → 1]

Edward, clutching his head and looking utterly helpless, said, "Ugh! You've already taken more than half the damage right off the bat. As expected of a senior, ahahaha..."

"How about you take this a little more seriously, junior? Your strength should be more than just this, right?"

Edward wanted to test Jaden, and Jaden was also planning to test him.

"Uh......"

Ed's eyes narrowed, and his smile vanished instantly. He then said, "Since you've seen through me, I'll stop pretending and lay my cards on the table. I am Ed Phoenix, a professional duelist!"

"Oh, so you're a professional duelist. No wonder I felt something was off."

Edward: ......

Wait, what's with your calm expression, bro? Shouldn't you be shocked to hear "professional duelist"?

Jaden seemed to have overheard the other person's thoughts and curled his lip slightly before continuing, "Don't think that professional duelists are so great. I've even beaten legendary duelists. Professional duelists are really nothing special."

"Phew, that was really rude of me..." Edward sighed and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Chapter 127 Edward Begins to Put His Strength In

"My turn, draw a card!"

Ed Phoenix's hand cards: 1 → 2

'As he wishes, put in a little more effort.'

After thinking this through, Edward pointed to a face-down card at his feet and shouted, "Trap Card activated, [Fusion Preparation]! Based on this card's effect, add the Fusion Materials recorded in one Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck to your hand and recycle [Fusion] from the Graveyard."

"I add [Elemental HERO Electro] from my deck and [Fusion] from my graveyard to my hand, and then activate [Fusion] to fuse Electro in my hand with Phoenix on the field!"

A black and gold Electro then appeared on the scene, and then merged with Phoenix into a vortex, radiating brilliant light.

"Appear, Shining Phoenix!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a phoenix-like figure, its dark hue shimmering, descended upon Edward's field through the light.

【Elemental Heroes: Shiny Phoenix - Attack Power 2500】

Manjoume Lightning said with a solemn expression, "So there really is a Shining Phoenix...? This monster can't be destroyed in battle either, and its attack power increases with the number of Elemental HEROes in the graveyard!"

Asuka Tenjouin continued, "There are four [Elemental Heroes] in that newbie's graveyard, so the attack power of the Shiny Phoenix is..."

[Elemental Heroes: Shiny Phoenix - Attack Power 2500 → 3700]

Edward clenched his fist and shouted, "In this way, my hero has surpassed your monster! What do you say, Tenth-senpai?"

"Bring it on, junior!" Judai said fearlessly.

'Hmph, unwavering, huh? It would be boring otherwise...'

Edward then pointed at Darkbringer opposite him and roared, "Go! Flash Phoenix, attack Darkbringer! Flash Phoenix!"

At his command, the Shining Phoenix was enveloped in a dazzling light and charged toward Darkshield.

boom--! !

Dark Radiance was instantly shattered by this attack, and the resulting explosion raised a cloud of dust.

"But at that moment, Dark Shine's effect activates! When Dark Shine is destroyed, destroy one monster on your opponent's field."

As soon as Jaden finished speaking, the smoke and monster fragments floating around him quickly condensed into the soul form of Dark Shine Man, and then crashed into Shining Phoenix Man.

drink--!!

The soul was about to collide with the enemy.

However, at that moment, a face-down card under Edward's feet suddenly opened: "That kind of trick won't work on me, Counter Trap [Heavenly Punishment] activated!"

"Nani?!"

The next second, just as Dark Radiance's soul arrived in front of the Shining Phoenix, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky, instantly obliterating the soul.

boom!

Ed chuckled and continued, "The effect of [Divine Punishment] is to negate the activation of a monster's effect by discarding a card from your hand!"

Ed Phoenix's hand cards: 2 → 1

"Furthermore, the power of the Shiny Phoenix is ​​further enhanced because Bubbleman from the hand is discarded and placed in the graveyard."

[Elemental Heroes: Shiny Phoenix - Attack Power 3700 → 4000]

After that, he hid the remaining card in the back row.

"Set one last card, end the turn."

Ed Phoenix's hand cards: 1 → 0

Upon seeing this, Manjoume Lightning exclaimed, "As expected of a professional duelist, your grasp of the rhythm of the duel is quite impeccable..."

Asuka sensed something was wrong: "But that freshman still seemed quite calm and composed."

"How could that be? Are you saying he's been playing with Judai the whole time, Asuka-san?"

Who knows...?