Hikaru hadn't expected Rex Raptor to show up here.
But after seeing him, it started to make sense.
It was only natural.
Given Rex Raptor's current strength, he was more than qualified to serve as a proctor.
Rex Raptor was also happy to sit down and chat with Hikaru for a bit, treating it as a break from work.
While he was hospitalized, KaibaCorp had approached him, asking if he'd be interested in appearing as one of the "Twelve-Star Duelists" for the event. Having decided to completely sever ties with his past, Rex Raptor had gladly accepted the offer.
His star level was "Nine".
Extremely high.
According to the GX Tournament rules, during regular stamp acquisition, stamps from the same star level only counted once. So to collect eight stamps, Duelists needed eight different star levels from the Twelve-Star Duelists, or approval from hidden Duelists.
It was a built-in elimination mechanism.
Otherwise, if anyone could just get eight stamps and enter the finals, the finals would drag on for years.
KaibaCorp had reviewed Rex Raptor's duels against Hikaru and Weevil Underwood and evaluated his current strength, assigning him a "Nine-Star" rating.
Because of this high rating, many Duelists who were confident, or perhaps overconfident in their abilities came to challenge him.
As mentioned before, winning wasn't necessary to get a stamp, just recognition.
Yet, in the past two weeks, not a single person had earned Rex Raptor's approval.
The reason was simple.
Too arrogant. Too full of themselves.
Without even mastering the basics, they aimed too high, trying to defeat a "Legendary Duelist" like him just to make a name for themselves. It was laughable.
He didn't mind students being naive, but he had no tolerance for those who challenged him out of sheer ego. That was the thing he hated most.
However, seeing Hikaru brightened his mood considerably, wiping away two weeks' worth of pent-up irritation.
"You saw those GG boards outside, right?" Rex shoved both hands in his pockets, hunching over as he spoke to Hikaru. "The company is going to promote your duels here."
"?"
"Haha, even though some bad rumors are floating around, the company will continue to support you."
He didn't waste time on unnecessary words and went straight to the point.
Not only that, he flipped the switch for the Duel Field, lighting up the entire street. Instantly, promotional messages and GG boards about Hikaru filled the area, startling passersby to the point some nearly tripped.
Whether for profit, future considerations, long-term planning, or simple trust in a talented student who had helped the company in the past, Funglow Corp would back Hikaru, no matter the public opinion.
"I understand."
True trust didn't need repeated assurances. Just those few words were enough to make Hikaru feel grateful toward Rex Raptor.
Even if the GG boards were a bit cringe, he was genuinely touched.
Naturally, Rex didn't bother dueling Hikaru. He simply took Hikaru's badge, stamped it, and handed it back.
He couldn't be bothered with pretentious formality.
As the proctor, his word was final. And Hikaru's dueling skills? Rex had seen enough to know.
Pass!
However.
Bastion and Celina wouldn't have it so easy.
Without showing real skill or conviction that earned his approval, there was no way he'd stamp their badges.
And so;
Hikaru easily collected three stamps within just a few days, each from Duelists of considerable rank.
As for Celina and Bastion Misawa...
Too bad.
Neither of them left a good impression on Rex. After just one duel each, he waved them off and told Hikaru to go do whatever he needed.
"You two brats can't even get your own duels sorted out! Go back and learn your times tables!" he shouted at them impatiently.
In a daze, the two followed Hikaru out of the Duel Field.
Seeing their state, Hikaru figured it would be a while before either of them earned Rex's recognition.
Maybe even winning wouldn't be enough for them to get his stamp.
Even so, it didn't matter.
Tierra still needed time to gather information anyway.
Three stamps in just one week, Hikaru felt no rush.
"Three already? That was fast."
At the Critical Nexus Dimension's starting point...
At first, driven by the principal's tearful sendoff and curiosity about another dimension, most students had enthusiastically set out on adventures here. Yet, after finishing their initial expeditions, many now holed up at the start point, determined not to leave even if it meant failing every subject.
Thus, the starting area still had plenty of student dormitories and rooms in use.
Among them were some special cases.
Those with skills, but no desire to leave.
In a prebuilt fortune-telling tent, Sartorius flipped through tarot cards, murmuring to himself:
"Even starting nearly a week late in this dimension, to catch up to the current top stamp total in such a short time... That's true duelist talent."
Don't ask how the stamps were earned.
What mattered was that they were.
A Duelist's ability wasn't just in dueling. Social skills, understanding of cards, and understanding of spirits, all important factors.
Knock knock knock.
The tent door was tapped.
"Master Sartorius."
Sartorius said nothing, waiting for the speaker to continue.
"The person you designated has arrived at the Volcano Zone."
"Destiny has already informed me," Sartorius said, turning over another tarot card. The Death card appeared before him.
A wide grin spread across his face.
The Wheel of Fortune for Hikaru had already told him everything he needed to know.
"Now then... see for yourself."
The person behind the curtain stepped out slowly, respectfully placing a card on the table.
Sartorius' smile grew even more radiant and satisfied.
"Well done."
It was a purple card.
A Fusion Monster.
The artwork showed a giant with arms outstretched like a saint, while nearby, a small sorcerer lifted their staff, manipulating it with countless purple puppet strings.
El Shaddoll Construct!
After Leo Akaba's failed invasion of the X-Dimension, he had swiftly abandoned most of his bases, cutting his losses to preserve his remaining foothold.
Though how that guy had slipped out from Sartorius' grasp on "destiny" was unknown, it didn't matter.
"As expected..." Sartorius picked up the card.
Leo Akaba had seen El Shaddoll Winda before and was well aware of the dark power sealed in it. Upon divining that Hikaru possessed some strange power, Sartorius immediately thought of exploiting this to counter him.
He had then dispatched all Society of Light members to scour Leo Akaba's remaining bases, relying on his understanding of destiny to locate the card.
And sure enough.
A LIGHT-attribute Shaddoll.
A perfect vessel!
He could even guess Leo Akaba's thought process: since Hikaru relied on DARK Shaddolls, then a LIGHT Shaddoll should be able to counter him.
So Leo had poured vast resources and manpower into acquiring this card.
And now?
Everything, just as destiny foretold.
Leo Akaba's entire effort had become Sartorius' wedding gown, a stepping stone for destroying dimensions!
Such was the guidance of fate.
Next…
Sartorius picked up the Death tarot card.
Black smoke writhed across the card's surface, It was time to see what "Destiny" would reveal next.
...
Bonus