The Class Rep Battle begins, with Class B's rep Lierman facing off against Class E's rep August, whom no one had any expectations for.
Including August herself, she didn't have much confidence either.
"Can I really do this, Miles?"
Now that she was standing on the duel stage under the gaze of the entire academy's students, August began swallowing nervously, a wave of delayed anxiety finally catching up to her.
Until just yesterday, how could August have ever imagined that she would be dueling Class B's rep in a 1v1 match in front of everyone.
"I told you, it's not a 1v1. You're not fighting alone, August!"
Seeing that August was getting nervous at the last moment, Miles' starlight form moved a little closer to encourage her.
"At the critical moment, I'll guide you on how to fight! Let's go, Class Rep!"
"O-Okay."
The duel officially begins. August's Spirit Eyes light up first, indicating she has taken the first turn.
"My turn, draw!"
After drawing her starting card and giving it a glance, August shifted her eyes to the side, looking at Miles' starlight form that only she could see.
"Um… what should I do now, Miles?"
"…."
That left Miles speechless.
Didn't we agree I'd only guide you at the critical moment? You're asking me right at the start… What is this supposed to mean? Don't tell me you can't even play your own Deck.
Regardless, Miles also took a look at August's starting hand.
Well… it really wasn't very playable.
"Then… just end your turn."
"Huh? End it just like that?"
"That's the safest option."
"Alright."
Following Miles' advice, August declared an empty field.
"I end my turn!"
This left all the student spectators in the academy quite confused.
You go first and open with an empty field. You don't summon a monster, and you don't set any cards. What are you waiting for? Waiting to lose?
August's inexplicable move seemed to confirm some people's pre-duel speculation.
This Class E rep was just here to feed the opponent.
Since she couldn't win against Class B anyway, she might as well avoid the fight in this way, preventing the transfer student—her trump card—from exposing more of his strength.
Lierman narrowed his eyes and smiled. "As expected, no fighting spirit at all. Just dueling for the sake of losing."
"No, I still want to activate a card's effect!"
After declaring the end of her turn, August belatedly activated the effect of a monster in her hand.
Of course, this was also a common trait of the Melffy monsters.
"I activate the effect of [Melffy Wally] from my hand!"
[During your End Phase: You can Special Summon this card from your hand.]
"I Special Summon Wally in Defense Position!"
[Melffy Wally] Level 2│EARTH│Beast│0 ATK
The adorable little kangaroo crouched onto August's field during the End Phase, becoming the only monster with even the slightest combat capability.
"Oh?"
August's 'last moment' summon made Lierman open his slightly narrowed eyes again. "So you haven't given up on the duel after all."
"What an arrogant attitude… as expected of Class B's rep."
If Miles were the one in control of the duel, he would have already started firing back verbally.
Unfortunately, August was still an honest kid.
But no problem!
"August, just repeat after me next."
"Uh, okay?"
Miles & August: "You can only act arrogant for now. Just wait until I crush you, piece of trash!"
...What are you making me say?!
Halfway through repeating Miles' words, August suddenly realized something was wrong. She had actually started provoking Class B's rep.
The effect of the fierce comeback was immediate.
"Whoa! The Class E rep actually has such a tough attitude!"
"This just got interesting."
"Nice, this is exactly the kind of bloodbath I want to see!"
At the very least, in terms of entertainment value, Miles had successfully created it.
Even Class 3-E became excited along with it.
"As expected of our Class Rep!"
"Fierce to her own people, even fiercer to outsiders!"
"Crush him! Crush him!"
"What courage." Of course, it also stirred up Class B's rep, Lierman. "But don't compare my strength to those classes you defeated before."
Drawing his starting card, as the strongest of Class B and its representative, Lierman's strength could be considered among the 'strong' even across the entire Xyz Academy.
"I Normal Summon—[Bujin Torifune] in Attack Position!"
[Bujin Torifune] Level 4│LIGHT│Beast-Warrior│1500 ATK
A LIGHT Beast-Warrior monster spread its golden wings and soared onto Lierman's field.
"I activate the effect of [Bujin Torifune]!"
[You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 2 "Bujin" monsters with different Types from your Deck in Defense Position, except "Bujin Torifune".]
The light of the Bujin split into two within its wings, as two different Bujin monsters descended onto Lierman's field at the same time.
[Bujingi Ophidian] Level 4│LIGHT│Winged Beast│1700 ATK
[Bujingi Hare] Level 4│LIGHT│Beast│1700 ATK
With appearances of a serpent and a rabbit, the monsters bearing the name Bujingi were, as the name suggests, weapons used by the Bujin.
Whether serpent or rabbit, in myth they were both among the Ten Sacred Treasures.
"Then we'll split too!" August waved her hand, activating the effect of [Melffy Wally] on her field.
[If your opponent Normal or Special Summons a monster, or if this card is targeted for an attack: You can return this card to the hand, then Special Summon 2 "Melffy" monsters with different names from your Deck, except "Melffy Wally".]
"I return [Melffy Wally] to my hand, and Special Summon a kitten and a puppy from my Deck!"
[Melffy Catty, DEF: 200]
[Melffy Puppy, DEF: 100]
From one monster with no combat power, it became two monsters with no combat power.
If there was any advantage to the Melffy archetype, it would probably be card advantage.
"Splitting up in front of the Bujin… that's practically suicide!"
Lierman gestured, as the Xyz light of the two Bujingi monsters on his field intertwined.
"I overlay two Level 4 monsters, and Xyz Summon!"
From the overlay of the two Bujingi, the mythological Xyz Bujin was truly awakened.
"The absolute Bujin who slew the eight-headed serpent! Susanoo, descend in raging might! [Bujintei Susanowo]!!"
[Bujintei Susanowo] Rank 4│LIGHT│Beast-Warrior│2400 ATK
[2 Level 4 "Bujin" monsters]
Amid thunderous roars, the gigantic Bujin holding twin divine blades descended.
In myth, Susanoo slew the Yamata no Orochi. Having cut down the eight-headed serpent, that effect was inherited by the card as well.
[This card can attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each.]
With its built-in multi-attack effect, no matter how many small animals split onto the field, Susanoo could cut them all down.
"When a Bujin Xyz Monster is Xyz Summoned, I equip [Bujin Torifune] from the Graveyard to it!"
[If this card is in your Graveyard, when a "Bujin" Xyz Monster is Xyz Summoned: You can equip this card to it. Monsters destroyed by battle with the equipped monster are banished instead of being sent to the Graveyard.]
Lierman continued, "Then I detach [Bujingi Hare] as Xyz Material to activate Susanowo's effect."
[Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; add 1 "Bujin" monster from your Deck to your hand, or send it to the Graveyard.]
"Draw your blade, Susanoo! I select [Bujingi Ibis] from my Deck and send it to the Graveyard!"
Ame-no-Ohabari, the sword used by Izanagi to slay Kagutsuchi in myth.
[During your Main Phase 1: You can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard, then target 1 "Bujin" monster you control; this turn, if it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.]
"By the name of the Bujingi, I grant [Bujintei Susanowo] piercing damage!"
With multiple divine artifact effects stacked upon it, Susanowo could attack all monsters during the Battle Phase, pierce Defense, and banish monsters it destroyed.
"So this is the strength of Class B's rep… impressive." Among Class E, Tyles couldn't help but admire.
"What's there to admire?" Nite knocked the big idiot beside her. "The Class Rep might get wiped out in a blink."
After all, facing Susanowo with multi-attack and piercing damage, what August had on the field were just two small animals with no combat power at all.
"Swing the Ten-Fist Sword and carve out victory! Susanowo!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Lierman flung his hand forward and declared entry into the Battle Phase.
Receiving the attack command, Susanowo swung its legendary divine weapon, slashing toward the small animals on August's field with thunder-breaking force.
Miles said, "You're that merciless even toward cute little animals, huh? Perfect timing though. August, activate your effect!"
"Okay!" August responded, activating her effect the moment the Ten-Fist Sword locked onto the kitten.
[If your opponent Normal or Special Summons a monster(s) (except during the Damage Step), or if an opponent's monster targets this card for an attack: You can return this card to the hand, then you can add 1 Beast monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Melffy Catty".]
A shared trait of the Melffy monsters: when the opponent summons or attacks, they can return to the hand and trigger additional effects.
"I return the kitten to my hand, then add [Melffy Fenny] from my Deck to my hand!"
As the kitten fled from the battlefield, only a single puppy remained on August's field, facing the terrifying Ten-Fist Sword within the thunder.
But the puppy also didn't want to die.
"I activate [Melffy Puppy]'s effect! When attacked, it returns to my hand, then Special Summons [Melffy Pony] from my Deck!"
[Melffy Pony, ATK: 400]
The kitten ran away, the puppy ran away too, and in the end, only the poor pony—dragged out from the Deck—was left to take the hit.
[Melffy Pony] is destroyed.
Miles: "Ah, your little horse is dead."
August: "What are you saying-Ahhhhhh!"
The overwhelming force of Susanowo's Ten-Fist Sword blasted August away, cleaving off half of her Life Points in the process.
[August, LP: 4000 → 2000]
There was also some good news. Since August's field had dwindled to only one pony after all the small animals ran away, she didn't have to worry about Susanowo striking a second time.
"A Deck of trash animals that keep running away, huh."
Failing to finish her off, Lierman's expression remained calm. "That really suits your Class E monsters."
With the massive [Bujintei Susanowo] dominating the field, Lierman was full of confidence. Without setting any cards, he directly declared the end of his turn.
"Running away… you're not wrong. The old me, and Class E were indeed constantly running away.
"But today is different."
The turn shifted. August pressed her fingertip onto the Deck of her Spirit Eyes.
"Even against Class B's rep, I won't run!"
Miles: "That's right, you've done well, August. Now let them see! Cute monsters aren't always easy to deal with!"
Throwing a card toward the sky, August's newly awakened power.
"Come out, I Normal Summon—[Purrely]!"
[Purrely] Level 1│LIGHT│Fairy│100 ATK
The cute little Purrely jumped out from the card, its fluffy paws patting on August's Deck as it flipped over three cards in succession.
"Purrely's effect—when this card is Normal or Special Summoned, reveal the top three cards of the Deck, and add 1 "Purrely" Spell/Trap among them to the hand!"
The well-behaved Purrely placed the selected card into August's hand with its tiny paws, then returned to the field, ready for action.
"Show everyone your evolved form! I reveal the Quick-Play Spell [Purrely Happy Memory] from my hand, and activate [Purrely]'s effect!"
[Once per turn: You can reveal 1 "Purrely" Quick-Play Spell in your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 Xyz Monster that mentions it from your Extra Deck, by using this face-up card you control as material, and if you do, attach the revealed card to the Summoned monster as additional material. (This is treated as an Xyz Summon.)]
Different Quick-Play Spells correspond to different evolutions; this is the unique fighting style of Purrely.
And the evolution corresponding to [Purrely Happy Memory] is…
"Evolve and bloom.
"Xyz Summon! [Epurrely Happiness]!!"
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