A few minutes later, Youyu and Professor Cobra had already arrived at the Academy's Dueling Arena, with onlookers crowding all around them.
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Cobra, LP 4000]
The Card Decks were automatically shuffled and cut. Professor Cobra took his position and narrowed his eyes as he sized up Youyu.
As long as someone is a Duelist—no matter what circle they're from, as long as they're a strong one—there's almost no one who doesn't want to cross blades with him.
The stronger a Duelist is, the more he fantasizes about dragging that lofty figure down from the throne and taking that seat for himself.
And even those who know full well they have no hope, just to verify exactly how far they are from the pinnacle of the field, could never give up a chance to face him.
Professor Cobra was clearly among such strong men.
None of the outside guests who appeared at the start of GX's third year were weak. Even though Professor Cobra only played a single Duel in the anime, he still showed overwhelming pressure in that Duel. As a mid-stage mini-boss, he definitely ranks among the top duelists.
It's just that he comes from a military background; although incredibly strong, he doesn't often show his face on the public stage.
Of course, what Youyu cared about wasn't his strength. This Duel was more about probing this guy's true nature.
The entire mess in that original arc started with Professor Cobra. He forcibly had the students wear bracelets that absorbed Life Energy, using Duels to offer the students' Life Energy to Yubel, who was controlling him. After Yubel's resurrection, she directly hurled the entire Duel Academy into the Other Dimension, leading to all the chaos that followed.
Logically speaking, since Yubel is now quietly staying by Judai's side and hasn't gone anywhere, there shouldn't be a problem with Professor Cobra. But just in case, Youyu still wanted to confirm it personally.
He just couldn't read minds or use Mind Manipulation or anything like that. Only through a Duel could he flawlessly test both the opponent's strength and whether anything weird had been stuffed into his body.
"Then I'll go first. Draw."
Professor Cobra glanced at his hand.
"I activate the Magic Card 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards from my Card Deck.
Next, I Summon 'Venom Serpent' in Defense Position."
A green-skinned two-headed viper slithered out, four crimson eyes staring at Youyu, both heads flicking their tongues at the same time.
[Venom Serpent, DEF 800]
"I set three cards face-down. My turn ends."
"Then it's my turn. Draw."
Seeing the card he drew, Youyu slightly lifted his gaze and spoke lightly.
"Perfect. I've also obtained some new power in this new year, so I'll use you as my test run right here."
He swung his arm, slamming a card straight down.
"Continuous Magic 'Dark Magical Circle'!"
The ultra-rare Black Magic spell appeared in front of Youyu, releasing a dazzling white radiance!
"Huh?" Judai in the crowd exclaimed in surprise. "A card even I've never seen before!"
Professor Cobra was shocked: "This card is…?"
"It once belonged to the Pharaoh who has already returned to the Netherworld, a stone tablet inscribed with top-tier Black Magic. This summer, the International Fantasy Society unearthed the original tablet, and with the cooperation of Kaiba Group, they carded it using top-tier production techniques."
Youyu explained.
"This is one of the cards from the very first batch of completed works."
Many of the spectators around them grew excited.
A card that the legendary Pharaoh used?
"Feels like we're seeing something incredible right from the start!" John Anderson, an outside student, said as his eyes lit up. "The main campus of Duel Academy… definitely worth the trip!"
"Right, right?" Judai next to him leaned in as well, eyes equally shining. "Teacher Youyu is insanely strong! And he always surprises people!"
The two of them had clearly only met a few minutes ago, yet they already looked like shoulder-to-shoulder bros.
"When 'Dark Magical Circle' is activated, its effect resolves by revealing the top three cards of my Card Deck." Youyu drew three cards. "If there is a Magic or Trap Card that mentions 'Dark Magician', or a 'Dark Magician' itself among them, that card can be added to my hand.
The remaining cards are returned to the top of the Card Deck in any order I like."
He pulled out three cards at once, glanced over them, then flipped one face-up for all to see.
"I add 'Apprentice Illusion Magician' to my hand," Youyu said. "Then I return the other two cards to the top of my Card Deck.
Next, 'Apprentice Illusion Magician', effect activate! I discard one card from my hand to Special Summon her from my hand!"
A small, cute Magic Array appeared. A lively girl let out a "hey-yah" as she flew out from it. Dressed in a purple robe, with silver hair and long legs, her outfit and chest size were extremely similar to Dark Magician Girl, except her skin was darker.
[Apprentice Illusion Magician, ATK 2000]
"So cute!"
Gentlemen don't care about skin color; one by one, their eyes were blinded by hearts.
"The Magic Card 'Card of Compensation' that I discarded to the Graveyard—its effect activates, I draw two cards," Youyu said. "Next, 'Apprentice Illusion Magician', her own effect activates!
When she is Summoned or Special Summoned, I add 'Dark Magician' from my Card Deck to my hand."
Professor Cobra slightly frowned. "Dark Magician… so you plan to use the legendary top-tier Mage to counter my 'Venom' Card Deck?"
"I activate the Equip Magic 'Wonder Wand 67775894', equipping it to 'Apprentice Illusion Magician'. Her ATK increases by 500!"
[Apprentice Illusion Magician, ATK 2000 → ATK 2500]
"The follow-up effect of 'Wonder Wand': I send 'Apprentice Illusion Magician' and the wand itself to the Graveyard to draw two cards!"
Youyu swept his arm again, and another card appeared floating before him.
"Ritual Magic 'Chaos Form'!"
"Huh!?"
Quite a few people exclaimed in surprise.
Especially Manjome: "Isn't that… the teacher's card?"
The "teacher" he referred to was, of course, Kaiba.
Up until now, Kaiba Seto was indeed the only one who had used the Ritual Magic called "Chaos Form". The Ritual Monsters it brought forth—whether 'Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon' or 'Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon'—both possessed overwhelming instant-kill power that left opponents utterly shattered.
And now Duel King Youyu had this card as well?
"I use the Level 7 'Dark Magician' in my hand as the Tribute to perform a Ritual Summon!
The Power of Chaos that cleaves heaven and earth, fused here with the arcane secrets of Black Magic—
—Magician of Chaos, Summon!!!"
The Magic Array rotated open, every line of its intricate patterns burning fiercely within a shroud of black flames. Dark Magician transformed into a torrent of magic and merged into it; chaotic Magic Power erupted as the noble dark Mage rode the storm of Magic out!
[Magician of Chaos, ATK 2500]
"As long as 'Magician of Chaos' exists on the field or in the Graveyard, he can be treated as 'Dark Magician'," Youyu said. "So at this moment, the effect of the Continuous Magic 'Dark Magical Circle' activates!
Once per turn, when a 'Dark Magician' is Special Summoned to my field, I can take one card on your field… and banish it from the game!"
"It's a straight banish?" Cobra seemed to find that rather troublesome.
"I'm not done." Youyu continued, "At the very instant that effect triggers, the effect of 'Magician of Chaos' also triggers. Once per turn, when the effect of a Magic or Trap Card is activated, he can destroy one card on the field!
Therefore, I can choose two of your cards on the field: one to banish, and one to destroy!"
Cobra: "!"