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 Duelist 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 Duelist?" 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 Duelist. 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. Card 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.
"Next turn is Yugen's," Daichi Misawa said, frowning. "They ended their first turn so simply. They may not get another chance this easy."
Asuka Tenjoin nodded. Only those who had dueled Yugen personally understood how rare it was to freely act on the first turn without interruption.
Yugen said, "My Turn!, Card Draw. I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed' and draw two cards from my Deck."
He then revealed a monster card.
"Summon 'Ojama Yellow' in Defense Position."
A small yellow creature with thick lips and bright red shorts jumped onto the field.
Even Meikyu Brothers frowned. What was this strange, useless looking monster?
"Ojama?"
Even students familiar with Yugen were surprised. The LV Series were known as weak monsters, but in his hands no one dared underestimate them.
Yugen placed three more cards.
"I set three cards in my Back Row. My turn ends."
Three face downs to start. Asuka Tenjoin and Daichi Misawa both showed expressions that said they had expected this, and the students from Yellow Dormitory watched eagerly.
But the two outsiders had not realized the seriousness of the situation.
"My My Turn!, Card Draw. I first activate this card."
The younger brother revealed a Spell Card.
"Spell Card Sacrificial Doll! I tribute one monster on my field to Special Summon a Level 7 monster from my hand that can normally be Summon. That monster cannot attack this turn."
He smiled at his brother. "Brother, I will borrow your monster."
The older brother laughed. "Between brothers, no need for courtesy."
"Then I tribute 'Launcher Spider' and Special Summon one of our ace monsters!"
A green storm rose into the air.
"Guardian of the wind, descend. Wind Demon God Sanga!"
Wind Demon God Sanga, ATK 2400
Before he could finish his boast, Yugen calmly said, "I activate my face down Trap Card Bottomless Trap Hole. When you Summon a monster with 1500 or more ATK, I Destroy it and banish it."
A massive pit opened. Wind Demon God Sanga fell straight in and vanished.
The younger brother froze in place mid pose.
After a few seconds, he forced a smile. "Impressive. Then I activate the Spell Card 'Dark Designator.' I declare a monster card name. If that monster exists in the opponent's Deck, it is added to their hand."
Judai Yuki blinked. "Declare the opponent's card?"
"In Tag Duel, teammates can also be treated as opponents," Yugen reminded him.
The younger brother laughed. "Exactly. I declare 'Water Demon God Suijin'!"