“A Duel?” Oga Ryo looked like he’d just heard the biggest joke in the world.
He sized Nate up and down, then took in that dated Duel Disk on his arm, and couldn’t hold back a scoffing laugh.
“You?
A bottom-dwelling tail-dragger from Class 10 thinks he’s fit to challenge me?” “Don’t have the nerve?” Nate’s gaze was calm.
“If you don’t, then take your people and roll far away.
Quit being an eyesore here.” The instant the words came out, the crowd around them sucked in a collective breath.
“Holy crap, has Nate lost it?
How does he dare talk to Oga Ryo like that?” “Oga Ryo ranks 397 in the year, a top student, his Deck’s all high-end goods!
Nate’s a perennial bottom-feeder, a piece of trash.
Isn’t this just pure begging for a beating?” “It’s over, it’s over.
He’s really gone and pissed Oga Ryo off now.
Nate’s probably getting carried out sideways today…” “You are done for!” Oga Ryo’s face darkened.
Being publicly challenged by a piece of trash from a bottom class, and in front of this many people no less, sent a surge of fury through him.
He slashed his left arm out, and the latest streamlined Duel Disk snapped open with a click, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.
“Since you’re in such a rush to get thrashed, I will oblige you!
And when I’ve beaten you down to your knees crying on the ground, don’t go expecting your teacher to shield you!” “Duel!” “Duel!” [Nate, LP: 8000] [Oga Ryo, LP: 8000] Both Duel Disks activated at once, the holographic projection system kicking in instantly.
A translucent light screen enveloped the two of them, and the students gathered to watch consciously stepped back, clearing out an open space.
Hiroshi stood outside the field, brows knit tight, a cold sweat gripping his palms.
He admired the backbone Nate was showing right now, but the gap in raw hardware was right there in front of them.
What was the kid supposed to win with?
Among the Class 10 crowd, Kai gritted his teeth.
He knew that the moment he opened his mouth, he’d absolutely become a target for relentless harassment from Oga Ryo’s crew at school from then on.
But after several seconds of intense inner struggle, his face flushed crimson all the same as he bellowed at the top of his lungs.
“Nate!
I believe in you!
Crush this arrogant son of a bitch!!” That one shout brought a faint heat to the eyes of more than a few Class 10 students, and stirred a faint flicker of hope in their hearts.
“Hmph, doesn’t know what’s good for him!
First turn is mine!” The instant the system randomly decided it, Oga Ryo called out at once.
He glanced at his hand, and the corners of his mouth split clear to his ears in a cruel smile.
“Trash, open your eyes wide and watch closely.
This is the gap between a top student and you bottom-tier garbage!
From my hand I activate the Field Spell, [Jurassic World]!” Rumble rumble rumble!
As the card slammed down, the Duel Disk’s holographic projection ran at full power.
The concrete beneath their feet split apart in an instant, countless towering trees thrusting up from the ground, transforming the field into a savage primordial jungle, the deafening roars of beasts faintly audible.
“Next, I activate [Polymerization], fusing the Normal Monster [Sabersaurus] in my hand with the Dinosaur-type monster [Gilasaurus]!” A massive Fusion vortex took shape above Oga Ryo’s head, and the earth began to quake violently.
“Overlord who strides across the ancient world, manifest your absolute power here!
Fusion Summon, come forth, [Transcendosaurus Gigantozowler]!” Boom!
A terrifying dragon, its body vast as a mountain range, clad head to toe in indestructible crystalline armor, stepped out from the light.
Its deafening roar turned into a physical wall of sound, forcing the students watching from the perimeter to stagger back again and again.
[Transcendosaurus Gigantozowler] [Level 12 / Dinosaur / Fusion / Effect] [ATK: 3800] “A Level 12 monster right out of the gate?!” “And an attack as high as 3,800 points!” The students watching from the perimeter couldn’t help crying out one after another.
After all, the higher a monster’s attack, the rarer it was, and any monster over 3,000 attack was beyond price, simply unavailable on the market.
“3,800?” Oga Ryo sneered, then declared with savage arrogance, “Its attack is more than just 3,800!
On the [Jurassic World] field, every Dinosaur-type monster’s ATK and DEF rises by 300!
So [Transcendosaurus Gigantozowler]’s attack breaks past 4,000!” [Transcendosaurus Gigantozowler ATK: 3800 → 4100] “4,100 attack?!” Watching the stat shift, the onlooking students couldn’t help gasping.
“And that’s not all!” Oga Ryo laughed in smug triumph.
“When [Transcendosaurus Gigantozowler] is Special Summoned successfully, I can target one Dinosaur-type monster in my own Graveyard and add it to my hand.
I take [Sabersaurus] back into my hand, then Normal Summon it!” “Come forth, [Sabersaurus]!” Roar!
A massive dinosaur, a sharp horn like a keen blade jutting from the crown of its head, leapt out of the jungle, its heavy steps making the ground tremble.
[Sabersaurus: Level 4 / Dinosaur] [ATK: 1900 → 2200] “I Set one more card, and end my turn!” Oga Ryo crossed his arms arrogantly, chin held high as he looked at Nate.
“Come on, let me see how your junk Deck gets past my backrow at a full 4,100 attack!” More than a few students cast complicated looks at Nate: mocking, regretful, and plain settling in for the show.
Facing two monsters with attack over 2,000, plus a Set card in the backrow, all on the very first turn.
It was an utterly hopeless opening.
Yet faced with Oga Ryo’s taunts, Nate merely gave the monsters on his field a faint glance and said calmly.
“So this is your full strength?
Feels pretty average.
Then again, makes sense.
You’re only ranked 397, so I really shouldn’t get my hopes up about you.” Hearing this, everyone went still.
Wait, no!
What is he saying?
Ranked 397 already counted as a genius-tier figure at the academy.
How was it that coming from his mouth, it sounded like he was worse than even a third-rate duelist?