"I'm telling you, if you miss this duel, you'll regret it. If you miss this duel, you'll have to wait another year."
"Nani? Then I've got to take a peek."
"So what duel is it, exactly?"
"The second-years' Practical Test duel!"
"What's so interesting about the weekly duel test?"
"Kevin versus Aisha!"
"Damn, who could miss that!"
The more lively an academy is, the faster topics among students shift and update.
Last night's Wicked God self-destruction, Stardust Dragon's brilliance, even the artillery fire blooming over the back mountain—at Fusion Academy, all those were already yesterday's news.
This morning, after the Saturday second-year Practical Test roster was leaked by a "mysterious individual," the hottest topic sweeping Fusion Academy was:
The second-years' clash at the peak.
Aisha Carlos versus her self-proclaimed fated rival, Kevin Seth.
To call it the peak duel of the second year might even be a bit modest.
Back during the first-year Academy Festival, Kevin had already battled a senior Cyber Dragon user, Deion Kaiser of the royal line, to a draw.
And Aisha Carlos… she was even more of a heavyweight.
In that same Festival, she pulled off an upset victory, defeating the strongest at the time, Kaima Seth.
Later, in the Capital incident, she even summoned the first of the legendary Egyptian Gods, The Winged Dragon of Ra, and saved Livorden from the Varian Empire's invasion, becoming a Royal Knight and the kingdom's protector.
This duel between the two was not just a second-year pinnacle, but a showdown representing Fusion Academy's highest level at present.
Perhaps foreseeing such a development, Vice Principal Raiden, who preferred to remain unnamed, deliberately let the test roster leak early to stir up the hype.
Such a duel worthy of study must be witnessed by every student.
Especially the more than one hundred new first-years. They needed to see the pinnacle of Fusion Academy firsthand—and know that choosing to study Fusion Summoning at this academy was absolutely the right decision.
In his office, Vice Principal Raiden stroked his white beard. "Everything's ready… now all that's left is…"
The second-year Practical Test duels differed from those of the first-years.
By rule, the second-year tests no longer used restricted regulations. They were full duels: 4000 Life Points, Main Decks with at least 40 cards.
After all, most second-years had already grown past the Axe Raider beatdown environment.
As everyone knew, Axe Raider slugfests were the most time-consuming type of duel. The stronger the Deck, the faster the duel usually ended (except stall decks).
Thus, with the rise in Deck strength, efficiency issues were largely resolved, making restricted rules unnecessary.
Another difference lay in the Duel Arena itself. After a year's growth, the first-years' standard arenas could no longer withstand higher-level duels.
So for the second-years, the arenas used in Practical Tests were upgraded—reinforced, larger, and far more costly.
"Everything's ready… now all that's left is funding."
The devastation of the duel platforms during the Festival was still vivid in Vice Principal Raiden's memory.
Now, if these two went all out, even the reinforced Duel Arena might not survive.
That was why Raiden scheduled Aisha and Kevin's match as the final duel, to ensure the other second-year tests could finish without disruption.
Still, changing the order was only a stopgap. If the arena was destroyed, it would have to be repaired regardless.
Therefore, another figure stood in the Headmaster's office, one who had come specifically to solve the funding issue.
"So you're saying they can fight however they like, and you'll sponsor all the repairs for the Duel Arena afterward?"
"Of course. No matter how many platforms they destroy, the cost is on me. The academy only needs to provide a stage for their full-power battle."
"Well said, well said. As long as the funds are there, sacrificing a few arenas for the students' growth is no problem at all."
The sly old Raiden wore a courteous smile, his beard twitching, his aged wrinkles squeezing together.
"As expected of the Seth family's current head. Truly generous, Kaima Seth."
"Hmph!"
After Reigun Seth's death, Kaima inherited the family head's position and rarely appeared at the academy.
Because of this, her roommate, Irena felt a bit lonely.
But this time, Kaima hurried back after settling family matters for Kevin and Aisha's duel.
Or rather, Kevin and Miles's fated battle. For Kaima knew that Miles would certainly uphold his promise to duel Kevin and take Aisha's place as a substitute.
As a result, the sister, obsessed with her younger brother, spent freely to persuade Vice Principal Raiden, ensuring the two could fight without restraint.
Now a third-year, Kaima had seen this all before.
The destructive power of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was beyond doubt. Back in her second-year tests, Kaima had been warned multiple times to hold back, and afterward the academy dared not assign her any serious opponents.
"Fight with everything you've got, Kevin. Let me see how much you've grown."
Through the Headmaster's luxurious floor-to-ceiling window, Kaima gazed at the crowds outside.
Nearly the entire student body had gathered at the second-year Duel Arena to witness the academy's peak duel.
"Place your bets, place your bets! Aisha versus Kevin, odds six to four! Bets open until the duel begins~"
Just like last year, Irena had opened a betting pool. Inwardly, she marveled—who would have thought that in just one semester, Aisha Carlos, once at the bottom of the class, would surpass Kevin in the odds.
"Irena, who are you picking this time?"
This time, the smarter students asked her opinion before betting.
After all, last year's bet on Aisha's duel had seen Irena correctly predict that the then-bottom-ranked Aisha would win, and she'd made a fortune.
"Hehe." Irena flashed her practiced, cute-yet-sly smile. "This time I'm the house. I'm not betting, only charging fees~"
"So sneaky!"
Despite that, in fact, even Irena couldn't say who would win.
In her heart, she felt Aisha and Miles had the greater chance, which was why she set Aisha's odds higher.
However, last night, in the dorms, she'd heard from Kaima—who had finally returned—that Kevin had been preparing for this duel for a long time.
Since the New Year break, he had never stopped preparing for this fated rematch, never allowing himself to relax.
For Kevin knew that if he ever let up, he would never catch up to that figure ahead of him.
And when someone's resolve rises above all else… a man whose eyes see only victory, guiding the infinite potential of the Black Dragon—what kind of power might erupt from that? Even Irena felt fear.
"A duel of destiny… maybe it really is."
The second-year Practical Tests officially began. Though most second-years now had solid Decks and their duels were more entertaining, to the spectators awaiting the final clash, everything beforehand was just an appetizer.
"Effect of Elemental HERO Flame Wingman! You take damage equal to the destroyed monster's ATK!—Shining Flare!!"
[Mizuki's LP: 2000 → 0]
"AAAAH, but I just updated my Deck!"
Shouting a nonsensical defeat line, Mizuki vanished beneath the brilliance of HERO.
"Amazing, Ren-chan. You're much stronger than before."
Her duel flowing like water, Ren easily defeated another second-year, her strength even drawing praise from Aisha.
Back in the day, even with her Elemental HERO Deck and lucky dice rolls, Ren had only been slightly above average as a first-year.
That said, without anyone noticing, everyone had grown stronger, far surpassing their peers.
And all of it was thanks to Miles's arrival. Since he came, everything had gradually begun to change for the better.
"Hehe, it's not just one person secretly working hard! I've been training too, for my duel with Little Ai!"
Back in the Capital's mists, when corrupted by darkness and awakening Evil HERO, Ren had fought Aisha to a draw.
That had been the first time she hadn't lost outright in a head-on duel with Aisha (excluding Miles's substitutions).
So afterward, Ren had abandoned her holiday plans entirely, pestering her brother Edigo to duel again and again to sharpen her skills.
In the Summoning course of the term's opening tests, Ren and Kevin had formed the overachievers' duo. While others slacked off over break, the two each summoned powerful monsters from their own systems, earning high marks.
"Well then, Ren, today I'll be one step ahead of you—claiming victory in the duel of destiny!"
The "someone" Ren hinted at could only be Kevin Seth.
From morning on, he had sat cross-armed, eyes closed, saying nothing. But in truth, he was running endless simulations in his mind of dueling Miles.
Kevin had never skipped a single day of this mental training.
In his countless imagined duels, the image of Miles in his mind had grown ever clearer.
It was as if his rival's very soul was always there, waiting to clash with him again. Through this endless training, Kevin had come to fully understand every possible move Miles might make in their duel.
"For today's victory, I'm 1000% prepared. Be ready, my fated rival!"
"And now, the final duel of the Practical Test: Kevin Seth versus Aisha Yuna Carlos. Will both duelists please take the stage!"
...
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