Chapter 56: Signs of Awakening
"Tear through the darkness, massive phantom! Fusion Summon! [Vision HERO Trinity]!"
[Vision HERO Trinity]
[ATK: 2500 × 2 → 5000]
The previous duel had attracted everyone's attention with Uria's 4000 ATK, but in the very next match—Finesse's entrance duel—the HERO Fusion had already surpassed it.
The legacy Amano left behind as a guardian spirit, [Vision HERO Trinity], had become the young miss's ace card.
5000 ATK in a 4000 Life Point environment, combined with entrance test deck strength, was way too overpowered.
As expected, Finesse also easily crushed through Fusion Academy's entrance exam.
Except without Kikawayu's getting-hit-on segment.
Actually, purely in looks, Finesse didn't lose to Kikawayu. But Finesse's displayed full name during duels was [Finesse Wein]—that Wein suffix was too intimidating.
Anyone with eyes knew she was that illegitimate Wein daughter who'd been the hot topic for years before suddenly being brought back into the family.
No matter how cute, normal people found it hard to muster courage to add her on VSN.
Of course, another beauty receiving similar treatment—too intimidating to approach—was Nanki'in Sakuya.
"I use my Level 3 Tuner monster with the Level 4 [Shiranui Samurai] to Synchro Summon!"
"Profound and tranquil, spectral flames become divine! Unsheathe, demonic blade of the twilight hour!"
"Synchro Summon—[Shiranui Shogunsaga]!"
[Shiranui Shogunsaga] [7★ FIRE]
[Zombie/Synchro] [ATK: 2100] [DEF: 0]
[Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
The girl wielding a burning katana walked slowly out from the layered light rings of the Synchro Summon.
This was Amano's first time watching a Synchro Summon this close at the Duel Academy.
Different from other card colors, the white-bordered Synchro Monster card was placed on Nanki'in Sakuya's katana-transforming Duel Disk.
When dueling Amano last month, Nanki'in Sakuya hadn't yet passed the Nanki'in Family's trial, so her deck lacked Shiranui's most important "Tuner" monster.
Now, that [Shiranui Style Swallow's Slash] card should be the best proof Sakuya had become the Nanki'in Family's legitimate heir.
What ghost would dare approach her now?
The sole heir of an old-guard yakuza family—casually approaching her would be like asking for an early death.
Seeing the Synchro Summon, even Eve couldn't help jumping out from the deck.
Eve: "Ever since arriving in the mid-level district, my body's felt this filling sensation—my power seems to be gradually recovering!"
Amano: "Stop. Even if you're a spirit, arbitrarily modifying your own card attributes would make you a fake card."
"That's not it!" Watching the Synchro radiance rising and falling across the exam field, Eve's expression became unprecedentedly serious. "Amano, do you think I used to..."
Amano: "You used to?"
Eve had mentioned to Amano when first appearing in spirit form that she couldn't remember anything from before.
Unfortunately, though Amano had watched Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, he wasn't interested in other cards' lore stories. Combined with the eighteen-year gap after reincarnation, he had even less impression.
Could Eve's memories be recovering?
"Amano, do you think I used to have big breasts?"
"..."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Even though Amano wasn't familiar with card lore, he could answer with such certainty.
This—was called trust.
Nanki'in Sakuya: "Amano, what did you think of my Synchro Summon?"
Approaching the yakuza young miss was dangerous, but being approached by Nanki'in Sakuya should lower the danger coefficient.
Easily passing Synchro Academy's entrance exam, Sakuya sheathed her Duel Disk like a blade, then immediately turned to talk with Amano, who was waiting in line for his number to be called.
What's this guy's deal?
Just a moment ago he seemed pretty close with that super-beautiful girl called Kikawayu, and now the Nanki'in Family's young miss was approaching him.
This must be the legendary scumbag!
When Nanki'in Sakuya spoke, her expression remained characteristically blank—or maybe you could call it cool-faced moe.
"The current me probably wouldn't lose to you anymore. Well, I'd like to say that, but I really didn't expect you'd transfer to Synchro Academy."
Amano's HERO Fusions had left a deep impression on Sakuya. Blue-Eyes White Dragon too, of course.
As another duelist who used Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Kaiba Chiaki was already Fusion Academy's strongest.
From Sakuya's perspective, she couldn't understand why Amano would come play Synchro.
"Since we're both Synchro Academy students, I'll take back what I said yesterday. Let's get along from now on, Amano-kun."
"Aaaah!" Finesse shrieked, interrupting. "What 'get along'? Amano joining Synchro Academy is purely an accidental mix-up, not to get along with you. Don't flatter yourself, Sakuya!"
Sakuya's eyes narrowed slightly. "Finesse, you've changed too."
The Wein illegitimate daughter who used to imitate her to avoid being scorned by high society seemed to have gradually found her true self. Was this also because of Amano Rei?
Surrounding students expressed massive shock.
Why did it seem like even the Wein Family's young miss had joined the "battle"?
This really was the legendary scumbag!
What virtue and ability did this guy have to be surrounded by three super-ultra-class beautiful girls?
Looks-wise, he's only slightly more handsome than us.
But in the end, this world still spoke through card game skills.
Don't get too cocky, punk!
Feeling constantly surrounded by heated stares, Amano finally heard the examiner call his name.
"Do your best, Brother!"
Shio struck a fighting pose, lightly punching Amano's arm with her small fist.
"Even if it's Synchro Academy's exam, I believe Brother can definitely handle it easily!"
Wait, you even have a little sister this cute?
You bastard, you really deserve to die!
Yanagiji, the upperclassman responsible for Amano's Synchro entrance exam, had also witnessed this entire scene.
Though they'd likely soon become fellow students at the same academy, the envy, jealousy, and resentment were incredibly real.
Looked like he'd need to get slightly serious. Sorry, underclassman—this upperclassman's bringing out his real skills.
However, before Yanagiji could step forward, he suddenly felt someone tap his back.
Yanagiji turned around but found nobody there.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!"
"Why can I hear you but not see you?"
"Down here!"
Yanagiji was quite tall, nearly 190 centimeters.
Lowering his head, he finally discovered Kaiba Chiha, face full of displeasure, looking up at him.
"K-Kaiba Chiha-senpai!" Though short, Kaiba Chiha was on the academy celebrity rankings—Yanagiji naturally recognized her.
Kaiba Chiha didn't waste words with him, getting straight to the point. "Let me take this duel. You step aside."
However, Yanagiji showed no fear toward this threat from someone of higher status. Instead, his expression grew serious.
"I recall Kaiba-senpai—you're from Xyz Academy, right? This is Synchro Academy's exam. You casually interfering—what do you take me for?"
Yanagiji really had planned to get serious and give Amano a bitter taste during the entrance exam.
But that was merely minor hazing aimed at his own academy's underclassman.
Concerning honor between different academies, Yanagiji couldn't let someone from another academy bully their underclassman.
"Even if Kaiba-senpai's ranking is high, aren't you underestimating me a bit?"
"Ugh, what a pain."
Kaiba Chiha let out a long sigh, pulling a black card from her pocket.
"There's 500,000 in here. Take it."
"Hey, good eye you got there~"
Yanagiji half-crouched to keep his height roughly level with Kaiba Chiha's, extending both hands to respectfully receive the black card from her.
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces