Daitokuji is the instructor for the Alchemy course at Duel Academy and also the dormitory head of Osiris Red. Speaking of which, he's one of Yuki Judai's favorite teachers at the school besides Youyu.
However, on the day Tragoedia personally attacked the academy, and the Phantasm Seal was released, this teacher vanished.
Worried about the teacher's safety, Judai's soul of recklessness was ignited again, and he ran out in the middle of the night to search everywhere in the academy's deep mountain forest.
The clues inexplicably led him back to the forbidden place he once broke into — the abandoned dormitory in the academy's woods. There, he found the teacher he had been longing for, Teacher Daitokuji.
Though it was from an adversarial standpoint.
What appeared before Judai was no longer the usual amiable teacher Daitokuji who was always smiling. Now, Judai faced the last member of the "Seven Stars," the most powerful Dark Duelist in the organization, known as AMUNAERU.
"Who the heck are you?" Judai demanded, "Where did you take Teacher Daitokuji?"
Because Daitokuji was wearing a bizarre long robe, with his face wrapped like a mummy, Judai didn't recognize him.
Yubel did recognize him, but she also sensed that this teacher meant no harm and genuinely liked her beloved Judai, so she kept quiet, letting things take their course.
"The things that exist in the Upper Realm also exist in the Lower Realm, and the things in the Lower Realm exist in the Upper Realm."
Reciting some strange lines, Daitokuji pulled out a peculiar thick book from his oversized robe, with a golden eye printed on the cover like the symbol of the Millennium Item.
"This 'Dark Millennium Book' records the truth of the world and is the ultimate tool held by the most powerful Alchemist," he said. "If you want to understand the truth, defeat me under the gaze of this book and complete this Alchemist's trial, Yuki Judai!"
Honestly, Judai didn't quite understand the string of fortune-teller-like remarks. Millennium or not, he didn't get it.
But one thing he did understand —
——Finally, there are cards to play!
The jellyfish-head enthusiasm was instantly boosted.
"Judai, win this match." The ghostly form of Yubel hovered behind him. "I have a feeling the contents of that book aren't simple."
Although she didn't quite get Alchemy either, it didn't stop her from keenly sensing the book's extraordinariness.
Better grab it first anyway!
Then the duel began, with Daitokuji's turn first.
Teacher Daitokuji confidently expressed that the Alchemist's duel was unlike any he had seen, and when facing him, one first had to discard all common sense about dueling.
To be fair, in some ways, what he said turned out to be true.
He started by playing the Continuous Magic "Alchemic Kettle - Chaos Distill," simply put, summoning a big boiler. An anime-exclusive card, the effect is straightforward: while this big boiler is on the field, all cards sent to the graveyard by the player are banished from the game.
Judai was a bit surprised by this.
He remembered that one of Youyu sensei's strongest Masked Heroes — Masked Hero Dark Claw — was so powerful without friends because it could "banish all cards sent to the opponent's graveyard from the game."
Did this guy really start by playing a card that banishes his own graveyard cards?
Reverse Dark Claw, are you kidding!
"I told you, an Alchemist's duel requires discarding all common sense,"
Daitokuji chuckled softly, filled with a sense of grandeur, and then he swiftly revealed two Magic Cards.
"Magic Card 'Steel Lamp,' Magic Card 'Bronze Scale.'" (Anime cards)
Steel Lamp, when "Alchemic Kettle - Chaos Distill" is present on the field, special summons "Alchemy Beast - Salamandra the Steel" from the deck.
[Alchemy Beast - Salamandra the Steel, Defense 500]
[Alchemy Beast - Ouroboros the Bronze, Defense 500]
Judai was a bit taken aback.
He could see that the "Alchemy Beast" his opponent was playing seemed to be summonable only when the "Alchemic Kettle" was on the field?
What if the kettle suddenly vanished, wouldn't he be unable to summon monsters?
The system requires this Alchemy Furnace to summon beasts, and Alchemy Beasts can't be normally summoned but must be special summoned via Magic Card effects. This whole setup, the entire deck, is practically a bridge to card-stuckness, card loss, and monotony in activation.
It truly confirmed the teacher's first remark — an Alchemist's duel requires discarding all dueling common sense.
Because without discarding common sense, with this deck, you might think of surrendering just upon drawing your starting hand...
Daitokuji then ended the turn with three Set Cards in the back row.
His mouth under the mask wore a smile, filled with anticipation as he watched Judai.
For Daitokuji, this duel wasn't merely a card game, but a trial, one that determined the successor to the supreme Alchemist technique.
Yuki Judai was his chosen ideal successor. In Daitokuji's view, Yuki Judai is a fusion genius — and "fusion" in Duel Monsters is essentially connected to the principles of Alchemy.
Taking two initially weak monsters and combining them to create a new creation never seen before, gestating powerful strength...
...isn't it just like the miracle-making Alchemy! (As in conjuring cards from thin air)
He considered Judai a self-taught alchemical genius, a rarity in ten thousand years.
Come on, Yuki Judai!
Let me witness your fusion, your potential!
Unleash your invincible Fusion Hero and attack!
So Judai, without a word, countered with a Heavy Storm.
Daitokuji: "..."
Heavy Storm, a Magic Card, destroys all Magic Trap Cards on the field.
At this moment, Teacher Daitokuji's back row was packed with four cards, one Continuous Magic and three Set Cards, all blown away at once, creating an avalanche of card loss!
But it's not a problem, Teacher Daitokuji, full of assurance: "Counter Trap - The Huge Revolution is Over! When two or more cards on the field are to be destroyed by a monster effect, magic, or trap card, the activation is negated and banished from the game!"
A rising tornado was effortlessly shredded to pieces. Judai raised his arm to shield his face, chuckled: "You can't get away with it that easily, huh."
With utmost confidence, Daitokuji: "An Alchemist always considers every possible scenario, always prepared in advance."
"Then I activate the Magic Card 'Magic Book in the Jar,' both players draw three cards from the deck," Judai continued, "The moment you draw your cards, I activate the Quick-Play Magic 'The Cost of Desire'!
When the opponent draws a card outside their Draw Phase, special summon two level 4 or lower monsters from my hand!
Special Summon 'Elemental Hero Featherman' and 'Elemental Hero Airman'!"
[Elemental Hero Featherman, Attack 1000]
[Elemental Hero Airman, Attack 1800]
"Airman's effect, when summoned, destroy one Magic Trap Card for every Elemental Hero on my field except Airman." Judai waved his hand, "Destroy 'Alchemic Kettle - Chaos Distill'!"
A "井" shaped vein popped on Daitokuji's forehead.
He almost wanted to ask, Judai, where's your fusion?
I came to this duel today wanting to see your fusion card conjuring, why keep blowing up my furnace?
But it still doesn't matter!
"Activate Set Card, Trap 'Memory Loss'!" Daitokuji stated, "When the opponent's attack position monster activates an effect, negate the effect and turn the monster into defense position!"
[Elemental Hero Airman, Defense 300]
Seeing the invincible Airman switch from attack to defense, Judai was surprised: "Eh~ Even Airman's effect won't work?"
Daitokuji continued to sneer: "I said, an Alchemist considers all possibilities. The 'Alchemic Kettle's protection is foolproof, stop targeting it."
Come on! Quickly unleash your invincible Fusion Summon and attack!
"Quick-Play Magic 'Cosmic Cyclone,'" Judai announced, "Pay 1000 Life Points, banish 'Alchemic Kettle - Chaos Distill' from the game."
[Judai, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
A cosmic cyclone, the giant alchemical furnace vanished as if evaporating on the spot, disappearing without a trace.
Daitokuji: "......"