The first turn began with Jaden.
"My turn, draw!"
Jaden drew a card and looked down carefully at the six cards in his hand.
Although he still dueled by instinct, he had been honed by now and would no longer play the first card he saw. Moreover, before the duel officially began, there was something he wanted to say.
He looked at his hand and sighed. "It feels like only yesterday when I think back to our first Tag Duel."
That Tag Duel, one that seemed like fate, guiding him and Hikaru toward their respective "paths", replayed before his eyes like a videotape.
"Why are you suddenly getting sentimental, Jaden? That's not like you," Hikaru said. "Didn't you say you're super strong now? Being sentimental doesn't seem super strong."
"Ah, hahahaha." Jaden scratched the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly, then grew serious, shedding his usual demeanor. "No, perhaps... this is who I am now."
Hikaru heard this and opened his mouth, but said nothing.
"However, no matter what, one thing is certain.
I am super strong now!"
Excitement spread across his face. "If you're not careful, you'll lose in an instant!"
"What are you two going on about? Are you dueling or not?!" Chazz's second brother shouted.
"These two students are just getting sentimental," Mei said.
"Hmph, it seems this kid has encountered the labyrinth of his own heart," Kyuu added.
Chazz's brows furrowed tightly. Listening to Jaden's words, he had a strange and unsettling feeling that something was about to happen.
He could only hope it was his imagination.
"Alright, I'll go first." Jaden knew a couple of sentimental remarks were enough; no need to dwell on it mid-duel. He immediately revealed his ace. "Normal Summon -- Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
The classic blue hero appeared with a flourish, cape swirling.
Although the deck had changed a lot, one thing never would.
That was summoning Bubbleman on an empty field!
"A HERO deck?"
"A pretty common deck."
A HERO deck?
Serena was a little surprised.
Even in her dimension, such an old archetype existed. She hadn't expected Hikaru's partner to use this deck.
"When Bubbleman is summoned while I control no other cards, I draw two cards." He drew two cards, then revealed a card from his hand. "Next, I activate the Spell Card -- EN Shuffle!"
"Return one Elemental HERO or Neo-Spacian monster from my field to the Deck, and Special Summon one Elemental HERO or Neo-Spacian with a different name from my Deck.
I return Bubbleman to the Deck and Special Summon, Elemental HERO Stratos!"
The classic Stratos appeared with a flourish, wings spinning with fierce winds.
Elemental HERO Stratos -- Level 4, WIND, Warrior, ATK 1800
"When Stratos is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one 'HERO' card from my Deck to my hand. I add Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier."
Not bad, Hikaru nodded beside him.
This special Bubbleman opening by Jaden was much more comfortable than using A Hero Lives, which halves your LP to summon Stratos.
After getting Liquid Soldier, Jaden chuckled, holding up his Fusion card. "This HERO will send shivers down everyone's spine."
Along with his declaration, white cold air permeated the entire duel field. The audience unconsciously pulled at their clothes.
Stratos on the field and Liquid Soldier in Jaden's hand began to combine. Finally, they transformed into a pure white hero, like frost.
"Fusion Summon!"
"Level 8 -- Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!"
Elemental HERO Absolute Zero -- Level 8, WATER, Warrior, ATK 2500
"Ohh!"
"What a cool monster."
After Absolute Zero appeared, even some people who weren't particularly interested in HEROes were won over by its appearance.
"When Liquid Soldier is sent to the GY as Fusion Material for a HERO monster, I draw two cards, then discard one."
Jaden drew two cards, looked them over, and sent one to the Graveyard.
"Spell Card, Neos Fusion! Send Fusion Materials from my Deck to the GY, and Special Summon one Fusion Monster that lists exactly two specific monsters including 'Neos' as material from my Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions. After this card resolves, I cannot Special Summon for the rest of this turn.
I send Elemental HERO Neos and Elemental HERO Shadow Mist from my Deck to the GY.
Special Summon -- Elemental HERO Brave Neos!"
Neos spun through the air, leaping from Jaden's Deck. Then he struck a heroic pose, looking quite imposing.
Elemental HERO Brave Neos -- Level 7, LIGHT, Warrior, ATK 2500
"Brave Neos gains 100 ATK for each Neo-Spacian and HERO monster in my GY. In my Graveyard," Jaden held up several cards.
Stratos, Liquid Soldier, Neos, Shadow Mist, and the discarded HERO, five cards total.
Elemental HERO Brave Neos -- ATK: 2500 -> 3000
"Not only that, Shadow Mist's effect: when sent to the GY, I add one 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand, except Shadow Mist. I add Elemental HERO Solid Soldier."
Although it wasn't quite the same build, it had to be said that Jaden's current cards, compared to Hikaru's HERO deck before coming to this world, didn't seem to lack any core cards.
Even Shadow Mist was here.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
After setting his cards, Jaden smiled at Hikaru, as if asking, am I strong now?
"So strong! Two high-level monsters appeared so easily!" exclaimed a spectator.
"Hmph, as expected, Jun couldn't just find some random student to fill the slot. Can't underestimate him." Chazz's second brother also put away his earlier complacency.
"Heh, is that all?"
"One at 2500, one at 3000. In the past, they would indeed have been considered an impenetrable wall. But now, for us, they're nothing."
The Paradox Brothers spoke with a hint of provocation.
Hikaru glanced at Jaden's set cards, slightly surprised. Then he checked the Graveyard and was even more surprised.
What is this card?
He'd never seen it.
He quickly scanned the card effects. By then, it was the Paradox Brothers' turn.
"My turn, draw!"
Mei drew a card and sneered. "I activate the Normal Spell, Planet Pathfinder."
Oh.
Hikaru saw this card and nodded slightly.
If he could play this card, he would definitely include several copies in his deck. Whether it was to search for Dreamland or a Fusion-related Field Spell, it would be an excellent choice.
"Planet Pathfinder's effect: add one Field Spell from my Deck to my hand."
"A Field Spell?" Jaden was quite surprised. "I've never heard of the Gate Guardian series having a Field Spell."
"Hehehe, this is precisely the power we brothers gained through our training."
In reality, it was a brand-new card that the two had acquired at great expense, collaborating with various companies and collecting from multiple dimensions to strengthen their deck.
"I add Labyrinth Wall Shadow to my hand!"
The two brothers exchanged a glance and nodded. Then Mei raised the card and shouted: "Witness it! The labyrinth formed by the confusion and bewilderment within your hearts!
Activate the Field Spell, Labyrinth Wall Shadow!"
Boom, boom, boom!
As he activated it, countless walls emerged on the duel field, gradually enveloping the entire area.
Soon, Hikaru found that towering labyrinth walls had risen all around him, completely obscuring Jaden from view. Only Kyuu remained in front of him, grinning.
Hikaru frowned slightly and called out, but Jaden didn't respond.
It seemed this "Labyrinth" had directly cut off their communication.
There was truly a lot to learn about Tag Dueling. In this world, the Paradox Brothers were indeed famous Tag Duelists, capable of even this.
The spectators had broadcasting devices provided by KaibaCorp, allowing them to see whichever duelist each camera was tracking.
Serena and Lulu saw that Hikaru only tried briefly to make contact before calmly giving up, so they weren't too worried.
Other spectators, however, were surprised and delighted by this novel duel.
"It's different from previous duels!"
"The effect of Labyrinth Wall Shadow: once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can target one of Sanga of the Thunder, Kazejin, or Suijin from your hand, Deck, or banished zone, and place it in your Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.
I place Sanga of the Thunder from my Deck in my Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell."
A giant creature with the character for "Thunder" floated above the Labyrinth, scrutinizing those within.
"Oh! He's pulling Sanga of the Thunder straight from the Deck like that? What a brand-new tactic!" Jaden said, visibly excited.
Listening to the sound, Hikaru deduced that only the voices of the duelists during their turn could be transmitted beyond the Labyrinth walls.
I see.
Because the Paradox Brothers were twin duelists who thought as one, they were better at coordination than partners with differing personalities, like the Amazoness sisters.
So even without voice transmission, they could still anticipate what the other wanted to do, and didn't need to worry about the communication block.
Meanwhile, their opponents' voices couldn't reach each other through the Labyrinth, meaning there might be moments where Hikaru and Jaden's cooperation wasn't perfect.
Was that roughly the gist?
"Hehehe, it's not over yet, Jaden." Although Mei had lost to Jaden before, he didn't hold a grudge.
He simply wanted to prove himself. "This card can be Normal Summoned without Tributing.
Normal Summon, Labyrinth Heavy Tank!"
"!?"
A small blue tank with a spinning drill sped out from the depths of the Labyrinth.
The moment Jaden saw this monster, he exclaimed.
Labyrinth Heavy Tank -- Level 7, DARK, Machine, ATK 2400
"Oh, isn't this your favorite Labyrinth Heavy Tank? This card can even evolve." Tierra's eyes lit up. "We should hurry and try it out, right?"
She was getting excited.
"A Level 7 Labyrinth Heavy Tank that can be Normal Summoned without Tributing? That feels way more convenient than the Fusion version!"
Jaden was clearly familiar with this monster as well.
"Hehe, not only that, the effect of Labyrinth Heavy Tank: during your Main Phase, you can target one of the three Gate Guardian components from your hand, Deck, or banished zone, and place it on your field as a Continuous Spell.
I choose, Suijin!"
A monster with a massive chin and the character for "Water" on its head stomped through the Labyrinth with a rumble, appearing before everyone.
"Not only that, when Labyrinth Wall Shadow is on the field, after Labyrinth Heavy Tank places a Gate Guardian component, it can also destroy one monster on the opponent's field!"
"Vanish, Neos!"
"No way, Neos Fusion in the Graveyard can be banished to prevent the destruction of a Fusion Monster that used Neos as Fusion Material!"
"Oh, it has that effect too," Mei was mildly surprised.
"It's not over yet!" Seeing the opponent had finished, Jaden immediately activated a Set Card.
"I don't know why you're using the Gate Guardian pieces as Continuous Spells, but as long as I destroy them, it's fine!"
Jaden decisively activated his Set Card. "Quick-Play Spell, Mask Change!"
"What, Mask Change!?"
"That's right! The effect of Mask Change: target one HERO monster on the field, confirm that monster's Attribute, and send it to the Graveyard. Then Special Summon one Masked HERO with the same Attribute from my Extra Deck!
I send Elemental HERO Absolute Zero from the field to the Graveyard and Special Summon from my Extra Deck.
Masked HERO Acid!"
Here it comes!
Hikaru's eyes lit up at the sight.
Old, but classic!
Ice swept through the entire Labyrinth, and strange acid gradually coated the walls, which began to melt as if everything was dissolving.
This was the entrance of that Masked HERO!
Masked HERO Acid -- Level 8, WATER, Warrior, ATK 2600
"The effect of Masked HERO Acid: when this card is Special Summoned, destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on your opponent's field, and all monsters your opponent controls lose 300 ATK.
And then, the effect of Elemental HERO Absolute Zero: when this card leaves the field, destroy all monsters your opponent controls!"
"What!?"
"Doesn't that mean it destroys everything on the field!?"
"H-how powerful!?"
At this point, the onlookers finally realized that Hikaru's teammate was definitely not someone Chazz had just grabbed at random.
In fact, since Chazz dared to pair him with Hikaru, how could this student be a weakling?
He had simply been keeping a low profile!
Chazz's second brother took a sharp breath at the sight.
The Labyrinth began to dissipate. All cards on the field either dissolved or froze, a sorry sight.
Just as he was worrying for the Paradox Brothers, he noticed that the brothers showed no sign of alarm, and were instead chuckling.
"Destroying both Spells and monsters at the same time? Jaden, it seems you've grown much stronger since that dormitory duel, but don't think we've been standing still." The Paradox Brothers suddenly reached out and crossed their arms simultaneously. "We brothers are invincible!"
"Kid Jaden, this tactic of yours isn't like your usual style!"
"It seems you're still trapped in the labyrinth of your own heart, just like now!"
"Field Spell -- Labyrinth Wall Shadow!"
What!?
A second one!
Jaden hadn't expected this at all.
Even Hikaru was startled.
What a draw!
"The effect of Labyrinth Wall Shadow has no once-per-turn restriction. Therefore, the effect of the second copy can still be activated.
I place the last Kazejin from my Deck as a Continuous Spell on my field." As Mei explained, the Labyrinth rose again, and a towering wall appeared once more between Hikaru and Jaden.
"He gathered all three?"
"But two are in the Graveyard, so he can't Special Summon Gate Guardian, right?"
"Besides, Kazejin is a Continuous Spell right now, it shouldn't be usable, right?"
As legendary duelists, the audience was mostly familiar with the Paradox Brothers' cards.
"You..."
"Hehehe, naive!"
The Paradox Brothers shouted simultaneously. "I banish Sanga of the Thunder and Suijin from the Graveyard, and Kazejin from the field!
Special Summon from the Extra Deck!"
The two assumed mirrored poses.
"Gate Guardian Combined!"
Three Gate Guardian components flew up from the Graveyard and field. Thunder became the head, Water became the limbs, and Wind was the connecting point in the middle.
The three monsters combined, roaring simultaneously with extraordinary power, making Hikaru and Jaden in the distant Labyrinth feel as if they were facing a judge.
Thunder, storms, and currents, multiple elements swirled through the Labyrinth, making their clothes flutter in the gale. Both duelists had to shield themselves with their arms.
Gate Guardian Combined -- Level 12, DARK, Warrior, ATK 3750
Hikaru frowned.
This monster was going to be troublesome.