Daidouji raised an eyebrow and tilted his head in thought. After a moment, he smiled again.
"No student has ever done that before. Someone like you is truly one of a kind at Duel Academy. But if you show the results you have already achieved, even the research division would be shocked. I see no reason they would refuse."
Duel Academy did have postgraduate programs. After graduating from the higher division of Duel Academy, students could continue their studies and possibly stay on as faculty members. Research and development required resources, funding, and often manpower.
Although Yugen could predict the potential of many cards thanks to his prior knowledge, he was still new to card creation and had limited personal energy. If he had his own laboratory with funding and resources from Duel Academy, he could save money and effort while greatly increasing efficiency.
When Yugen left the alchemy lab, Daidouji continued stroking the cat and watched his back for a long time until he disappeared from sight. Only then did he smile faintly.
"The younger generation is truly impressive. Don't you think so, Pharaoh Atem?"
Pharaoh Atem replied with a soft meow.
It was not until two days before the team Duel that Yugen finally synchronized Deck lists with Judai Yuki. He handed over a card.
"Judai Yuki, put this in."
Judai Yuki looked at it and immediately showed a puzzled expression. The card made no obvious sense to him.
"But this does not seem to work well with my Heroes," Judai Yuki said hesitantly.
Yugen narrowed his eyes. As if you would ever brick anyway.
Seeing that Judai Yuki was reluctant, he patiently explained his tactical setup and reasoning. At first, Judai Yuki nodded with a confused look, but as he listened further, his expression grew more excited and his eyes began to shine.
"Wait, you can Duel like that?" Judai Yuki said eagerly. "That sounds really fun!"
"Right?" Yugen replied with a grin.
As expected, Judai Yuki was the type who thought in terms of playing cards. As long as he could feel the joy of Duel, especially in a new way he had never tried before, he would gladly cooperate.
"Got it!" Judai Yuki happily accepted the card. "Then when the time comes, let's work together perfectly and shock them all. Just imagining their stunned faces sounds great."
"Exactly," Yugen said with a smile. "Oh, and one more thing. After the Duel, do not forget that."
"Forget what?"
"Your catchphrase," Yugen said. "'That was a really fun Duel.' I am sure after it is over, they will also understand the joy of Duel."
"Oh, that," Judai Yuki laughed. "Of course I will not forget."
"Yes," Yugen nodded. "You should always play Duel with a smile."
"Exactly."
Judai Yuki looked at him with growing approval. "I always thought we might get along better than expected. My intuition is usually spot on."
"Seems like it."
The setting sun painted the sky in deep orange and red, like flames dancing along the horizon. The two of them sat side by side on the hillside, their shadows stretched long by the fading light.
The day of the Tag Duel arrived.
Although it was called a Penalty Duel, quite a few people at Duel Academy were interested after the news spread. Many students who had nothing to do came to watch, and teachers and academy officials also gathered around the arena.
Judai Yuki and Yugen were already somewhat famous among the freshmen. Especially those who had personally been defeated by them had no reason to miss today's Duel, whether to study or just for fun.
Only Professor Chronos de Medici, who had proposed this card match in the first place, looked extremely unhappy.
The perennial bottom ranked Sho Marufuji, whom he had planned to send away together with Judai Yuki, had been replaced. Watching Yugen and Judai Yuki step onto the stage, Professor Chronos de Medici kept a bitter expression the entire time.
At this rate, even if they lost, it would be hard to expel them. Then what was the point of going through all this trouble to organize this Duel and even invite such important guests?
In the stands, Manjoume watched the two walk out and clenched his fists without realizing it. Veins stood out on his forehead.
Damn it, both opponents he had to defeat were on stage at once.
"Damn Professor Chronos de Medici, this was supposed to be my Duel," Manjoume gritted his teeth. "That one and this one, they are both opponents I should be the one to defeat."
Beside him, Lackey B looked confused. "Huh? But boss, you cannot beat either of them alone. If they team up, would that not be even more of a crushing loss... mmph."
Before he could finish, Lackey A quickly covered his mouth. It was too late. Manjoume, clearly struck where it hurt, shot them a vicious glare.
"Hmph."
He kept a cold face as he stared at the field.
Just wait. One day, he, Jun Manjoume, would press all of them down beneath him. At that time, he would become the new king of this Duel Academy.
"All right, it looks like the students are ready," Principal Samejima said, rubbing his hands eagerly. "Professor Chronos de Medici, please invite the Duelists you mentioned."
"Ahem, of course."
Professor Chronos de Medici picked up the microphone.
"This time I have specially invited experts in Tag Duel. Take a look!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two bald heads appeared in the crowd.
One on the left and one on the right, they flipped onto the stage with a series of acrobatic somersaults, then stood back to back. On one forehead was written "Maze," and on the other "Palace."
"We are the wandering guardians, Meikyu Brothers!" the two crossed their arms confidently. "We hold no grudge against you. We only fight with our full strength."
"Defeat us, and the path ahead will open!"
The entire arena erupted.
"Are those... Legendary Duelists?" a student exclaimed, standing up.
"That's right. Meikyu Brothers once fought the Duel King Yugi Muto," Professor Chronos de Medici introduced. "Experts in Tag Duel!"
The whole venue was stunned. Even if it was a Penalty Duel, the opponents were actually Legendary Duelists. That was far beyond what they expected.
"I have heard of them," Asuka Tenjoin said. "They say even the Duel King was pushed into a tough battle."
"Indeed. To arrange opponents like this..." Daichi Misawa frowned as he looked at Yugen and Judai Yuki below.
However, he had also gathered information. He knew that Yugen had defeated a legendary Duelist even before coming to Duel Academy.
"If they can surpass legends, let us see it with our own eyes," Daichi Misawa muttered.
Meanwhile, Judai Yuki's eyes shone. "The real ones! They are actually here! We get to have a legendary Duel!"
"Haha, it is not that exaggerated," Yugen said with a smile.
The value of having fought the Duel King depended on perspective. Back when Meikyu Brothers faced Yugi Muto at Duelist Kingdom, they had to run through a maze during the Duel. The rules were completely different from now, so it was not necessarily that meaningful.
"Do not get too excited. Remember our tactics," Yugen reminded him.
Judai Yuki nodded quickly. "Got it, got it."
All four stood in position. Professor Chronos de Medici stepped to the center with the microphone.
"Each team shares 8000 LP. The field and the Graveyard are shared. Neither side can attack on their first turn. If both sides are ready..."
He chopped his arm down.
"Tag Duel, begin!"
He quickly jumped off the stage afterward.
"Duel!" x4
Yugen x Judai Yuki, LP 8000 Meikyu Brothers, LP 8000
"I will go first. Draw."
The older brother of Meikyu Brothers took the first move.
"Summon 'Launcher Spider.' My turn ends."
Launcher Spider, ATK 2200
It was exactly the same opening they had used in the animation.
Judai Yuki stared. "A 2200 ATK monster right away!"
In the stands, Daichi Misawa raised an eyebrow.
"Launcher Spider has high ATK for a Level 4, but when it attacks, it must flip a coin. If it fails, its controller's LP is halved before the attack continues. It carries significant risk."
"As an opening wall, it is decent. However..." he paused.
"However?" Asuka Tenjoin asked.