The massive stadium was brightly lit, filled with the clamor of voices, like an ocean of boiling waves. The air was thick with tension and excitement, with every inch of space vibrating with lively notes. The audience filled the stands densely, resembling a colorful sea of people when viewed from above.
This was promoted as the Battle of the Century in the league.
At this moment, the arena was graced by the two most talked-about newcomers in the league, both maintaining an unbeaten streak so far. Both had been eyed by different sectors as potential contenders for the top of the league.
But today, the unbeaten legend of one person is destined to be shattered.
"Is this person the so-called Caesar, Marufuji Ryo..."
Ed looked at Caesar on the opposite side, thinking silently.
The figure dressed in black stood with arms crossed. Although there was no expression on his face, he exuded a unique sense of confidence.
Ed had heard some rumors about this person before, suggesting significant changes in him after entering the professional circle compared to his time at the academy. It's likely that he has experienced the harsh realities of society and undergone further transformation.
As a professional duelist, his instincts told him that the person before him radiated a dangerous aura.
Of course, this level of danger couldn't shake his confidence.
Even if it was publicized as the Battle of the Century, even if everyone thought they were equally matched and today would be a crucial battle to determine the rookie king of the league, to Ed, today was no different from any match in his previous thirty-win streak.
It's just another destined victory to claim.
"Ed Phoenix, huh." Marufuji Ryo said indifferently, "I've heard you joined the Duel Academy too. It's a pity, our times at the academy just missed each other."
"Haha, exactly. Then let's make up for the regret of not having met back then, right here on this stage today."
Ed raised his Duel Disc, smiling.
Blazing jets of flame burst from both sides of the arena, heating the atmosphere and serving as the equivalent to a referee's starting gun. Both Duel Discs were activated simultaneously.
"Duel!" x2
[Ed, LP 4000]
[Marufuji Ryo, LP 4000]
"I'm starting first, draw."
Ed glanced at the card he drew and immediately revealed it.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Take Over5', sending the top five cards from my deck to the graveyard."
Marufuji Ryo nodded, thinking that this card was not unfamiliar. At the academy, both Yuki Judai and that member of Yellow Dormitory used it often, and the same card is now being used by the person before him—what a coincidence.
But soon he would realize the coincidence doesn't end there.
Ed smiled mysteriously.
"As I mentioned in previous interviews, today I'll be using the true deck I've been keeping in reserve. Senior Marufuji is probably the first person on the professional stage to face this deck."
"Oh, then I am truly flattered," Marufuji Ryo said, arms crossed, with a dismissive smile on his face.
This means that throughout his thirty-match winning streak in the professional circle, the person had not been using his actual deck but had achieved such dazzling results with merely a playful attitude.
He could not afford to be careless.
"I summon 'Elemental Hero Wingman' in defense mode!"
The revelation of the card elicited gasps throughout the audience.
A Hero Card Deck!
This was Ed Phoenix's deck all along.
However, upon seeing that familiar hero emerge within a green tornado, spreading its white wings, Marufuji Ryo was not surprised.
He simply allowed a slight grin to play at his lips.
Indeed.
The original deck of this guy was from the Hero series.
[Elemental Hero Wingman, Defense Power 1000]
Ed: "I'll set one card face-down, and end my turn."
Ed looked at Marufuji Ryo and smiled.
"It's your turn, Senior Marufuji."
Marufuji Ryo let a confident smile slip from his lips, as well.
Elemental Hero... what a coincidental fate.
At the academy, he had faced Heroes multiple times and regarded the Hero users he had faced as top-notch. Therefore, confronting this deck, he should have an advantage.
And, in truth, this development was entirely within his expectations.
"My turn, draw."
Marufuji Ryo scanned his hand with an impassive expression, then chuckled mysteriously.
"Heroes, huh... very well. Then as you wish, let's use this duel to fulfill the missed opportunity to compete for the throne back at the academy."
Saying so, he swiftly drew out four cards from his hand.
"Cover one monster in the front field, set three cards face-down in the back, and end my turn."
Ed: "?"
The audience: "?"
Even the crowd watching the live broadcast back at Duel Academy had question marks appearing above their heads.
Ah?
Going second with a four card face-down defense? Is this still Caesar?
Where's your Cyber Dragon? Where's your fancy OTK?
Playing like this, does your invincible Saber Dragon (Cyber Dragon) have any soul left?
"Brother..." Sho Marufuji muttered to himself, "It seems as though joining the professional circle made him even more different than before..."
The buddies next to him, although having a vague sense it might be influenced by someone, seemed to not dare mention that taboo name from the academy, and for a moment, none of them spoke...
"No attack... Are you underestimating me?"
Ed frowned.
The Cyber Dragon deck should excel in aggressive attacks when going second. This formation inevitably made him feel underestimated.
"It seems I need to show some skill... My turn, draw card!"
Ed raised his Duel Disc, and a card left his graveyard in a golden light.
"The effect of the Magic Card 'Take Over 5' in the graveyard, during the standby phase, I remove this card from the graveyard, along with cards of the same name from my deck, from the game and draw one card from my deck!"
Ed drew a card.
"Next, activate the Magic Card 'Fusion'!
Fuse 'Elemental Hero Wingman' on the field and 'Elemental Hero Blazing Lady' from my hand!"
Seeing this familiar setup, Sho Marufuji, who was watching on TV, exclaimed: "He's going to summon the Flame Winged People!"
However, he didn't. Winged People and Blazing Lady both merged into the Fusion vortex, but emerging from the swirling light was a brand-new Elemental Hero.
"Come On! Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad, summon!"
It had the wings of Winged People, with black skin full of flame-like patterns. Bathing in descending flames, three sharp claws extended from the back of its hands.
[Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad, Attack Power 2100]
"Did not choose Flame Winged People, but a variant fusion." Mitsuzawa said.
Having already seen Phoenix Lad in the past, Judai was no longer astonished by "the fact that the same materials can fuse into different Heroes," simply fixing his eyes intently on the image of Ed.
"A professional expert with a thirty-match winning streak is also a Hero user."
Judai's eyes seemed to sparkle with light.
"I'd love to duel him myself!"
Facing this set-up, Marufuji Ryo was neither surprised nor taken aback, merely lifted a smile at the corners of his mouth.
"Heh, it's indeed using fusion to launch an attack... But it's also understandable. Fusion is indeed the most powerful weapon of the Elemental Heroes, integrating originally weak Hero forces to achieve various incredible effects..."
Ed frowned: "What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing."
Marufuji Ryo's gaze suddenly turned sinister.
"It's just that at this moment, my face-down card has already been activated!
Trap Card - Hellish Aggregation!
When a Fusion Monster is successfully summoned, sacrifice one of your monsters on the field to take control of that Fusion Monster!"