The Duel Arena, having fulfilled its final mission, now had a massive hole at the center… crushed open by Winged Kuriboh's divine punch.
Lying spread-eagled in the middle of the crater, Kaima stared at the sky and murmured:
"Did I... actually lose?"
"Yep, you lost. And you lost gloriously~."
Perched at the edge of the broken crater, Irena, wearing her witch hat, was the first to rush in—to mock him.
She grinned as she added, "You ran your mouth with all that bravado before the Duel, but what a brutal ending. The proud heir of the Seth family, throwing himself into the flames to avenge his brother... and getting roasted too. I already have the headline for tomorrow's school paper."
Fusion Academy did have a student-run newspaper, though it was mostly for fun.
And pressured by noble families, there's no way they'd dare report the duke's crushing defeat.
Not that it needed reporting—the entire school had witnessed this epic Duel.
Still standing on the Duel Arena was the true victor of the Class Year Challenge.
Aisha Yuna Carlos had defeated the strongest at Fusion Academy: the White Dragon Tamer, Kaima Seth.
She had once been the weakest girl in school, nearly expelled for low skill credits and lack of power.
Despite that, from that lowest point, she clawed her way up, starting from nothing.
In just half a year, she rose step by step. And today, with one divine punch from Winged Kuriboh, she claimed the top of the Academy.
Cheers louder than any from the previous two Duels erupted instantly.
Especially from Fusion Academy students, who more than anyone knew what her victory truly meant.
"This is so inspiring!"
"She actually beat Kaima Seth?!"
"Aisha Carlos is now the strongest in the Academy!"
Thunderous cheers erupted across the school plaza—all for Aisha Carlos.
Only one person stood in stark contrast to the joy around them. Reigun Seth—the duke's face had gone green.
Kevin's previous loss during the Practical Test could have been brushed off as luck.
However, Kaima's defeat during the Academy Festival left no room for excuses… The Seth family had lost thoroughly. Defeated by the final Duelist of a fading noble house.
"Hmph."
Not bothering to stay and ruin the mood, the Lion of the State left without another word, ignoring the festive atmosphere.
Aisha shouted, "We did it, Mr. Miles. Everyone says you're the strongest in the Academy now!"
"The strongest, huh? Not bad... but it's only the beginning."
Thinking back over the last half-year, Miles felt the time had flown by.
From becoming the spirit behind the weakest girl, Aisha Carlos, to meeting the Pharaoh, acquiring Dystopia, confronting Hamon, and finally defeating Kaima Seth.
Aisha said, "Even after becoming the strongest in the Academy... It's still just the beginning?"
"That's right."
After all, Miles had never forgotten the promise he made when he crossed into this world.
"Becoming the Duel King is still far away. This is just a first step."
After Aisha and Miles's hard-fought victory, the Fusion Academy Festival's Class Year Challenge officially came to a close.
The final tally was two draws and one win—first-years narrowly claimed victory over the second-years, a historic first.
According to festival tradition, the victorious first-years would each receive a "Challenge☆Complete" badge as an honor.
Of course, the real prize wasn't the badge.
Winning the challenge came with a random draw for one A-rank Spell Card—that was the true reason every first-year gave it their all.
Even though the card was drawn at random, A-rank Spell Cards were worth 400 Magic Points—or skill credits.
"I knew you could do it, Aisha! Of course, Irene and Kevin did amazing, too. You were all brilliant!"
Miss Erin beamed with pride on the podium. As the first-year homeroom teacher, their success was her pride too.
Proudly wearing the golden "Challenge☆Complete" badge Miss Erin pinned to her chest, Aisha took a deep breath and nervously stepped up to the prize wheel.
The spinning wheel was a special magic tool that required no magic input. Just pull the lever, and the crystal screen would cycle through various A-rank Spell Cards.
Fully randomized. Fiona guaranteed there was no rigging.
"I wonder what kind of card it'll be. I'm so nervous, Mr. Miles. Even among A-rank cards, some are good, some are junk."
This might be her only shot at an A-rank card. If she pulled a dud, she'd feel like she failed Miles after all his effort.
"Maybe you should do it instead, Mr. Miles! That way, I won't get blamed!"
"I refuse."
"Why?!"
"Because it's your Deck."
"You're being weirdly principled! Your luck's clearly better!"
"More than luck, you should trust your bond with your Deck. Be bold, Aisha."
"Ugh… Fine... I'm going for it!"
She yanked the lever, and the crystal screen began flashing through A-rank Spell Card images. Aisha silently prayed.
"Please, let it be something useful!"
Among the cards, she even caught a glimpse of [Rage with Eyes of Blue], a card Kaima once used.
It confirmed that archetype-specific cards from other series could be drawn too.
That would be a nightmare. If she pulled a card she couldn't even use, it would waste 400 Magic Points… Aisha might vomit blood on the spot.
After a few agonizing seconds, the crystal slowed and landed on a card faintly marked with angel wings.
For A-rank cards with angels—
"Could it be... is it Graceful Charity?! Mr. Miles, I'm saved! Jackpot!!"
Among the most practical A-rank cards, the draw-3-discard-2 [Graceful Charity] was top-tier.
At the last second, the screen fully revealed the card's image.
It did have angel wings—but it was...
[Transcendent Wings]
"What the heck... where's my Graceful Charity?!"
...
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