A very simple and unadorned start, even making Professor Cronos's mind briefly flash with the thought, "Is that it?".
Honestly, Cronos felt that asking him to go all out to test such a student was a bit excessive. In Cronos's view, no matter how gifted, he was just a fifteen-year-old child after all. And Cronos himself had already attained the status of a professor in the field.
Moreover, looking at Yuki Judai, he just seemed like a silly kid with a not-so-bright mind. If it weren't for the special attention from Youyu, Cronos might not have believed it at all...
Shouldn't a student of the Duel King be the silent, ruthless type with top grades and meticulous thinking?
If someone said Marufuji Ryo from the academy was Youyu's student, Cronos would find it more acceptable.
"Then let me see what extraordinary abilities you have." Cronos muttered to himself, "My turn, draw a card, Norne!"
Cronos also kept his promise not to hold back. He first activated the Continuous Magic "Ancient Gear Castle", which could increase the attack power of "Ancient Gear" monsters on the field by 300 points.
Then he Normal Summoned an "Ancient Gear Wyvern", and based on its effect, he could add an "Ancient Gear" card from the deck to the hand.
Cronos chose to add the Level 4 monster "Ancient Gear Box" to his hand. Then, according to the box's effect, if the box is added to the hand by means other than drawing, another Machine-Type Earth Attribute monster with attack or defense 500 or less can be added from the deck to the hand.
He chose the monster with 500 defense, "Ancient Gear Frame".
Next, Cronos activated the Magic Card "Double Summon", and once again Normal Summoned "Ancient Gear Frame". By activating "Ancient Gear Frame's" effect, he discarded a card to add "Ancient Gear Golem" from the deck to the hand.
Professor Cronos quickly amassed a large amount of resources with two fairly strong monsters on the field. This maneuver drew exclamations from the observing students.
"Who is that kid?" Tenjouin Asuka asked quietly from a high vantage point, "Professor Cronos is actually taking him on personally, and it seems seriously too."
Beside her, Marufuji Ryo only slightly furrowed his brows, fixing his unblinking gaze on Yuki Judai.
He's finally here!
Marufuji Ryo clearly recalled witnessing the jellyfish-headed boy draw cards as effortlessly as eating and drinking in the Cyber Style Dojo many years ago!
After so many years, he must have become even stronger, right?
The monsters of Cronos have the boosting effect of "Ancient Gear Castle", raising their attack power by 300.
[Ancient Gear Wyvern, Attack Power 2000]
[Ancient Gear Frame, Attack Power 1900]
"First, 'Ancient Gear Frame' attacks!" Cronos waved his hand, "Attack 'Elemental Hero Solidman'! And 'Ancient Gear Frame' prevents your opponent from activating Magic or Trap Cards during attacks!"
"Huh? It has such an effect?"
Solidman was easily destroyed, and with a smirk, Cronos continued, "Next is 'Ancient Gear Wyvern', continuing to attack 'Elemental Hero Wildman'!
'Ancient Gear Wyvern' prevents Monster Effects during its attack!"
If Monster Effects can't be activated... does that mean Trap Cards can be used?
Judai's mind raced, and he immediately waved his hand, "Activate Set Card! Trap Card 'Evil God's Catastrophe'! When the opponent declares an attack, destroy all monsters on the field!" (Anime Effect)
"Nani?" Cronos's eyelid twitched.
The trap flipped over, and the explosive vortex swept the entire field like a dark tsunami, reducing the two Ancient Gear monsters to debris.
But Cronos quickly noticed that Judai's Elemental Hero still stood tall, "Why are your monsters unharmed, Norne?"
"'Elemental Hero Wildman', he is unaffected by Trap Card effects." Judai smiled, "So 'Evil God's Catastrophe' cannot destroy Wildman, Professor."
"Well done." In the audience, Mitsuzawa Daichi, acting as commentator, remarked, "The Trap Card and his own monster's effect perfectly align, which means only the Professor's monsters were destroyed!"
"A decent counter." Cronos chuckled softly, "But do you think I wouldn't have anticipated such a simple trap?"
"Huh?" Judai blinked his innocent eyes.
"'Ancient Gear Frame's' effect activates at the moment it's destroyed!" Cronos declared, "When 'Ancient Gear Frame' is destroyed, 'Ancient Gear Golem' can be Special Summoned from the hand ignoring summon conditions, Norne!"
The observing examinees in the examination hall erupted in an uproar.
"Ancient... Gear Golem?" Mitsuzawa Daichi exclaimed, "Isn't that the legendary Rare Card... the Professor plans to summon such a monster in the first round!?"
"Yuki Judai, he seems to be just a pitiful worm." A confident Manjome Jun arrogantly lounged at his seat, "Looks like he's going to be wiped out soon."
"Could it be that Professor Cronos is... really serious?" Tenjouin Asuka's gaze was fixed on the boy's silhouette in the dueling arena, "That kid seems to be in trouble. Though it was a beautiful tactic, Professor still saw through it. As expected, the professor is better...
"That's not necessarily true." The previously silent Marufuji Ryo suddenly spoke up.
Asuka looked at Marufuji Ryo, somewhat surprised.
She realized that this academy's Caesar... seemed to have some hope for the jellyfish-headed boy below?
Steam spouted as a huge mechanical shell emitted the sound of a functioning furnace. A metallic giant with its mechanical skeleton supported a colossal frame, projecting the image of a floor being crushed underfoot, exuding an intense sense of power.
"Oh, oh, oh! A monster like this was summoned during the Battle Phase!" Judai's eyes sparkled, "As expected of the professor! Super impressive!"
Cronos nodded with a smile.
Humans are vain creatures, and the professor's heart welled up with satisfaction after being praised, slightly changing his impression of the jellyfish-headed boy.
However...
"If the professor is so strong," Judai grinned, "then you must have anticipated this move too, right?"
Cronos: "?"
"Trap Card - Torrential Tribute!" Judai waved, "When a monster is summoned, destroy all monsters on the field!"
Cronos: "!"
WTF, is there another surprise?
The trap flipped, an unbounded blue torrent roared in, and the gigantic Ancient Gear Golem hadn't even steadied itself before being overwhelmed, its rusting parts clattering apart, washed away with the water flow...
"Mamma mia! My Ancient Gear Golem!" Cronos was dumbfounded.
How is there another trap in succession?
"Of course, 'Elemental Hero Wildman' isn't affected by Trap Card effects, so 'Torrential Tribute' also won't destroy him." Judai beamed a sunlit smile, "But since you're the professor, you surely knew that, right?"
Cronos: "..."
He had a hunch.
Perhaps he truly underestimated the difficulty of this duel.