The freshmen waiting to see a trainwreck nearly popped their eyes out.
The smarter ones immediately connected it with what they’d seen last night: “That rainbow glow, was that summoned by her?
D*mn…
after all, she is from the Mutou family…”
“You idiots!”
Hearing this, Jounochi Mai could no longer contain herself.
She shouted angrily: “When Elsie was weak and helpless, you mocked her along with the Mutou family.
Now that she’s summoned a powerful duel spirit through her own effort, you start whining about the Mutou family again.
You’re all the same, talk big, but do nothing yourselves!
Is that the attitude of true duelists?!”
She couldn’t stand it.
Elsie’s frail, clumsy appearance hid just how much effort she’d put in, failing to summon duel spirits again and again, smiling outwardly, but secretly crying.
114,514 summons…
it sounded ridiculous, but it contained endless sweat and tears, only her closest friend Mai knew the truth.
Despite all the pressure, Elsie had been training quietly, now summoning a duel spirit, yet these people casually dismissed it with a flippant “Mutou family” remark, as if it were natural.
The freshmen were startled.
Just as they were about to argue back, another voice rang out:
“Indeed.
You’re so mediocre, unaware of it, throwing away all the sweat and focus that is your only support.
Only daring to criticize the strong in secret to cover your own laziness…
you make me sick.”
The ones called out almost jumped in anger, ready to retort, but seeing the speaker, they quickly shut their mouths, embarrassed.
Because the newcomer was none other than Kaiba Hanatsuki, the second daughter of the Kaiba family and the biological younger sister of Kaiba Ayatsuki, Kaiba Hanatsuki herself.
The Mutou family had fallen, Mai wasn’t a big figure, but the second daughter of the Kaiba family wasn’t someone they could offend.
Seeing Hanatsuki approach gracefully, they all fell silent.
“Second daughter of the Kaiba family?”
Yugi, just exiting the scanner, had a “you’ve got to be kidding me” expression.
The image of the feminized Mokuba in his mind was instantly shattered.
The fair-haired little girl in front of him…
looked exactly like a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
No, a Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon…
or maybe the anthropomorphized toon version of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
“<Hmm…
after all, she is the Second Young Miss.
By the way, I wonder if the eldest daughter of the Kaiba family happens to be good at hugging and squatting defense.”
The sight in front of him was just too much; Yugi couldn’t help but mentally roast the situation.
Of course, none of this could be heard by Kaiba Hanatsuki herself.
She had already walked up to Elsie and looked down at her.
“I didn’t mean to bully the weak, but summoning such a powerful duel spirit changes things.
Little girl, you challenged my sister to a duel last night, didn’t you?”
“Uh…” Elsie was still a bit dazed, instinctively nodding.
“Ah…”
“What a shame.
My sister is quite busy; she can’t duel just anyone.
But I’ll step in and teach you what true strength and invincibility are.” Hanatsuki said, snapping her duel disk open.
She glanced at the examiner.
“Since we’re judging based on duel performance, this should be fine, right?”
The examiner remained silent but nodded slightly, giving tacit approval.
After all, Kaiba Hanatsuki was highly regarded at the academy, and her sister was a recognized genius, there was no need to antagonize such a promising freshman.
By the time Elsie fully processed the situation, a hint of anger appeared on her face.
“I’m not a little girl!
Height, build, age, I’m clearly older than you, little girl!”
“Is that the point?!” Yugi couldn’t help but mutter.
Sure, Hanatsuki was slightly shorter and flatter than Elsie, but just judging by her aura, she was not someone this so-called “useless” girl could compete with.
“What did you just say?!” As expected, Hanatsuki immediately bristled, her pale-gold hair rising as if blown by the wind.
“Unforgivable!
How dare you speak such forbidden words in my presence!”
Behind her, the spectral image of Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon began to manifest, radiating an overwhelming aura that dominated the battlefield.
“I only intended a small lesson to make you back down, but now I’ve decided, there will be no mercy!”
As the Blue-Eyes spirit roared, the other freshmen’s duel spirits also appeared overhead, ready to aid their duelists.
Most were weak, the likes of Blackland Fire Dragon and Leo Wizard.
Only Jounochi Mai’s Red-Eyes Black Dragon duel spirit stood proudly, unafraid of Blue-Eyes’ dominance, roaring back in defiance.
“Hmm…
I could also see an Ojama…
Could that guy be from the Manjoume family?”
Yugi surveyed the surrounding freshmen while stepping toward Elsie, who was about to be overwhelmed.
Even as a spirit himself, he felt he ought to protect this incompetent summoner a little.
Oddly enough, as soon as he stood there, all the duel spirits went silent.
Blue-Eyes, Red-Eyes, whatever it was, their terrifying presence instantly dissipated, revealing them as mere illusions.
“Hey.” Yugi snapped his fingers at the relieved Elsie.
“Duel.
Show me what you’ve got.”
“Y- Yes!” Though Elsie’s spirit power was weak and she couldn’t use most family cards, she was determined to perform well now that Mr.
Yugi had given her encouragement.
“Come on, little girl!” She squared her shoulders and marched toward Hanatsuki, with Yugi naturally following, ready to give pointers.
After all, he had already modified Elsie’s deck; most people wouldn’t be able to handle his…
unconventional strategies.
“Hmph, you do have a bit of backbone, I suppose, but…” Kaiba Hanatsuki first let out a haughty sound befitting a president, then continued flaring up, “You’re the little girl here, idiot!
I’m a bona fide 19 years old!”
“Eh?!” Elsie, only 18, stared in surprise, her eyes drifting downward…
unfortunately landing on Hanatsuki’s unyielding chest.
“Kisama———!”
Hanatsuki nearly exploded, wishing she could instantly transform into two stacked four-star monsters.
But, after all, this was the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, even if they had a murder grudge, it had to be resolved through dueling.
So, as they glared and argued, both quickly shuffled their decks via duel disks and linked their mental energies to each other’s.
In an instant, high-tech colored numbers lit up on both duel disks, vibrating with a hum.
The duel had officially begun.
“Duel———-!”