"And now, the final Practical Test duel: Kevin Seth versus Aisha Yuna Carlos. Will both duelists please step onto the stage!"
As sunset approached, Miss Erin finally called out the names of the two most anticipated duelists of the day.
"Ooooooh!"
"We've been waiting for this!"
"That took forever!"
Even though everyone knew the academy would save their duel for last, some spectators had waited in place all day.
They were afraid that if they left, the best viewing spots would be stolen.
Walking into the Duel Arena under the expectant gaze of the crowd, Aisha felt like she had become the academy's idol, surrounded by a fervor she had never experienced before.
"Aisha-senpai is the strongest!"
"Go, Aisha! Show him what it means to be a Royal Knight!"
Among the first-years, Arnold and Nova cheered the loudest.
One was Aisha's newly-recruited underclassman, the other had just been possessed by Miles yesterday. Both had already reached the level of brainless superfans.
"That man… is Aisha-senpai's fated rival?" Lishia licked her lollipop as her curious gaze fell on Kevin. "He looks pretty strong."
Bathed in the sunset, Kevin's serious expression carried the lonely resolve of a hero meeting his destiny.
"Tch, he's alright. Just a little worse than me." Even Arnold had to admit, with the black trench coat draped over his uniform, Kevin's tall figure looked strikingly cool.
"What matters in a duel is strength! Looks don't mean anything!"
"Kevin versus Aisha… I can't decide who to support. They're both excellent members of our High-Level Spirit Research Society." Nia, the club president, rested her cheek on her hand with a troubled look.
Vice president Rovik adjusted his glasses and calmly analyzed: "The result won't change based on who you cheer for. Better to just hope they put on a spectacular duel, and then use the club fair next week to attract more new members."
"Are you ready, Kevin, Aisha?"
After the two stepped onto the stage, Miss Erin whispered as she withdrew from the arena.
"Vice Principal Raiden said you can go all out. No need to hold back—just fight with everything you've got. In other words, tear the place apart!"
Kevin answered seriously: "No need to remind me. I'll give it my all."
Once Miss Erin had left and could no longer overhear them, Kevin spoke again.
"It's time for Miles to come out, isn't it? Aisha Carlos, you know as well as I do—this duel is the one to settle my fate with him!"
"I know. Miles has been excited about it all morning."
Though Aisha didn't quite understand why Miles kept muttering about "a man's battle for victory," she knew it was rare for him to take a duel so seriously.
It was just like when he first arrived in this world and faced his very first duel—the expulsion match.
And that duel's opponent had been Kevin Seth as well.
"Maybe this is the future fate has guided us toward! Kevin, from the very first duel, it was you I met!"
The Millennium Puzzle shimmered in the sunset. When Miles opened his eyes and locked gazes with Kevin, the moment felt identical to that first time.
The nervousness, the anticipation, the thrill of the unknown—and the determination to resist even against an invincible foe.
Because Kevin had been his very first opponent, Miles had been able to so quickly and clearly grasp how to survive in this world ruled by Duelists.
"Come, Miles! I've waited so long for this moment!"
"Let's begin, Kevin!"
"Duel—!"
The Spirit Eyes flared, and under the evening glow, their shadows stretched long and parallel across the Duel Arena—a romantic image of men fighting with everything they had.
"My turn, draw!"
Miles's Spirit Eyes lit first, signaling he would go first.
Just like their very first duel, Miles had the opening move.
But this time, Aisha's Deck had fully evolved. It was no longer that pile of fodder and D-rank cards.
"—Spell Card, Graceful Charity, activate!"
He opened with an A-rank card: Graceful Charity. This very card had been forged using the skill credits Aisha earned when she summoned the Winged Dragon of Ra in the Summoning Final.
To Miles, this card was even more valuable than the cost-free two-for-one Pot of Greed.
[Graceful Charity – Effect: Draw 3 cards, then discard 2.]
Filtering and Graveyard setup. Though his hand size remained the same afterward, Miles had already planted resources to prepare for the coming battle.
"I Normal Summon a monster in face-down Defense Position, set one card, and end my turn!"
A classic one-set-one ending.
To most onlookers, aside from the opening Graceful Charity, Miles's first-turn moves looked identical to Aisha's back when she dueled Kevin as a first-year.
Yet, though it was the same person making the same play, the feeling was entirely different. Back then she had been a bottom-ranked student. Now, she was a Royal Knight.
Every face-down card Aisha set now looked like it could shatter the heavens.
"My turn, draw! I Normal Summon—Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight!"
[Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1800 ATK / 1600 DEF
The lone Warrior of the Red-Eyes Deck, clad in pitch-black armor gleaming red, Gearfried materialized before Kevin.
"This time, I won't underestimate you again, Miles. From the first turn, I'll burn the Black Flame to its limits!"
He revealed two identical Red-Eyes from his hand.
"I Special Summon Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon by tributing Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand!"
[This card cannot be Normal Summoned. You can Special Summon it by tributing one Red-Eyes monster from your hand or field.]
"I tribute my Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Let the Black Flame's variant blaze beneath this crimson sunset—Special Summon, Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon!"
[Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon] Level 7│DARK│Dragon│2400 ATK / 2000 DEF
Sharper and more violent than its progenitor, the Alternative Black Dragon roared beneath the evening sky.
Back in their very first duel, Kevin hadn't even managed to summon his Red-Eyes and was countered by a mere Axe Raider. This time, he opened with the stronger variant.
"Battle! Gearfried, destroy your set monster!"
The Red-Eyes Iron Knight charged, smashing Miles's face-down monster with a shield strike.
"So that was your set card. Now, Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon, direct attack! Black Flame Wave!"
A torrent of black fire surged toward Miles's empty field.
Miles flipped his effect: "When I take a direct attack, I can banish Clear Kuriboh from my Graveyard to draw one card!"
A card slipped into his hand, crackling with lightning.
"If it's a Monster Card, I can Special Summon it to take the hit instead! Thunder, crash against the sunset—Summon Skull!"
[Summoned Skull] Level 6│DARK│Fiend│2500 ATK / 1200 DEF
One Level higher than Alternative Red-Eyes, the former monarch of single-tribute summons appeared, thunder eclipsing the black flame.
"Counterattack! Lightning Strike!"
[Kevin Seth LP: 4000 → 3900]
The crowd gasped—Kevin, who struck first, was the one countered! In the very first turn, Miles gambled on the top-deck and reversed the battle.
"I saw this coming, Miles."
"Nani?"
"This counterattack—I've rehearsed it countless times in my mind. I've simulated this duel again and again, until I completely saw through your tactics! And now, the flames of Red-Eyes will erupt even fiercer from the Graveyard!"
[When this card is destroyed by battle or an opponent's effect, you can Special Summon 1 Level 7 or lower Red-Eyes monster from your Graveyard, except itself.]
"When Alternative Black Dragon is destroyed, I Special Summon it back from the Graveyard—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"Roooar!!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon – ATK 2400]
The original Black Dragon spread its wings, its fury blending with the lingering fire of the destroyed variant.
"So this is the true pressure Red-Eyes can unleash?"
From the stands, Kaima was stunned. Never before had Kevin's Red-Eyes carried such overwhelming force.
Force so immense it felt like it could rival even Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
"And when Alternative summons the original Red-Eyes, its ATK doubles!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon ATK: 2400 → 4800]
At 4800 ATK, its aura towering beyond even Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, the crowd's awe was no illusion.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]