As several days of courses passed, students at the main campus gradually realized that these professors were truly talented, nearly every one possessing unique insights.
Of course, the key word was "nearly."
Not every professor was genuinely talented.
After several days, some professors inevitably showed their cracks.
Whether they had obtained their positions through backroom deals or through Leo Akaba's influence, certain branch campus professors clearly failed to earn student recognition in either dueling ability or teaching skill.
In other words, these professors were obviously going to be "demoted."
From the highest-ranking "Branch Professor" down to substitute professor, or even all the way to ordinary teacher.
This had been Crowler's original intention.
The faculty evaluation assessed whether someone was suited for their position, but it didn't mean outright dismissal.
Unless there were issues of character, no professor would actually be fired.
But the professors who had come here generally had their own sense of pride and were reluctant to accept evaluations. That was what had originally caused friction with Crowler.
Now, after several days of teaching, many professors discovered that their colleagues, who normally kept to themselves, had their own clever little tools and techniques behind the scenes. As everyone attended and observed each other's classes, they naturally grew curious about one another and couldn't help sharing their own research and findings.
Under these circumstances, professors who couldn't bring anything to the table, let alone maintain their former bravado, were in a tough spot. Those who could still stand up and teach their ordinary classes with composure after witnessing other professors' brilliance were already quite excellent "teachers."
In such a situation, there was certainly no need to dismiss these people.
"Dimitri, heading out again today?"
Over a week later, inside the Fusion Division, a group of members were tinkering with armor. Seeing Dimitri grab a notebook and prepare to leave, someone called out.
Hearing his friend's voice, Dimitri looked up from his notes and greeted them with a smile. "Yeah, I feel like I've learned so many useful things lately. I want to go ask the professor some more questions."
With that, he lowered his head and left.
"Ha, that Dimitri." A third-year Fusion Division member folded his arms and shook his head. "Who would have thought he'd become this obsessed with studying?"
"Right." Another front-desk student watching Dimitri leave said, "I figured he'd stay fixated on copying the Chief's Deck, but he's really changed a lot these past few days."
"Well, he did earn that professor's recognition!"
Many students nodded with admiration.
At Duel Academy, being praised by a teacher wasn't anything extraordinary.
But being praised or even recognized by a professor was a remarkable achievement.
The reason was simple.
Between professors and teachers, there was a natural "barrier" that could never be crossed: professors generally possessed vast networks and channels, able to obtain cards that ordinary teachers simply couldn't.
And head professors overseeing entire branch campuses, like Crowler as the academy's top administrator, could directly allocate the card resources at their disposal.
For the vast majority of ordinary students, earning a professor's recognition and inheriting their cards was an incredible leap forward.
Dimitri understood this well.
Although Dimitri's family was quite wealthy and he could easily obtain cards other students yearned for, including two copies of Ancient Gear Golem at once, and while he had the resources to build replica Decks, there were still plenty of cards that couldn't be acquired through normal means.
For instance, the Chief's special Fusion cards were completely beyond his reach.
Dimitri was thrilled.
Because over these past few days, he was certain that Professor Viper genuinely appreciated him!
He had been studying under Viper and gradually mastered many things. It truly felt like his efforts were paying off.
Dimitri's steps were light, his stride brisk. He felt more at ease than ever before.
He felt he was walking the right path.
Just like how Chief Hikaru had once earned Professor Crowler's recognition, received the Ancient Gear cards, and then used them to build an ever-growing reputation.
Although Hikaru had many iconic duels, for Duel Academy students, what they could never forget was during that representative duel, when Hikaru Fusion Summoned Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem.
That magnificent giant remained, to this day, the greatest Fusion in Dimitri's eyes. Even after being lost in the mist of the "Sacred Beasts" and witnessing Hikaru's duel against them, his opinion hadn't changed.
In the Fusion Division, he had learned many things. During the Nexus dimension trip, he had even earned the recognition of King of the Swamp on his own, gaining this "versatile Fusion Material."
And now, he had earned the recognition of a branch campus professor. He felt he was walking an absolutely correct path!
"Dimitri, you're here." Professor Viper sat in his temporary office, watching Dimitri knock and enter. He smiled and gestured for him to sit.
Although he had approached Dimitri with an ulterior motive, Viper's instruction was genuinely dedicated. He actually quite liked this student.
"Professor!"
Dimitri excitedly began asking Professor Viper questions. Viper considered each one carefully, thought it through, then gave his answer. Many of his responses gave Dimitri sudden flashes of clarity.
As they talked, the conversation circled back to a problem that plagued Dimitri.
His spirit power was simply too low.
Although he had earned King of the Swamp's support, his baseline spirit power was so low that even with it, he still couldn't improve.
"There is a way." Professor Viper thought for a moment, then said.
"There is?!" Dimitri asked excitedly.
Professor Viper nodded gently. Then he slowly picked up a proposal document from beside him, hesitated briefly, and handed it to Dimitri.
"Dimitri, I've been watching your effort and performance these past days. So you should also understand that the other professors are no slouches either. They all possess genuine expertise." Viper personally held his colleagues in very high regard.
If possible, he truly wanted to sit down with them for an in-depth discussion, to see if they could synthesize everyone's theories into a major academic conference.
But right now, his time was limited.
"Professor Seraph's ritual summoning method and Professor Paladin's roleplay method are both extremely well-suited for you."
Dimitri took Viper's proposal and read the text, his expression growing excited.
"You lack innate spirit talent. But as long as you gain sufficiently powerful spirit support, you can compensate for that weakness. And you personally excel at imitating others. You possess a mirror's talent.
Although others may think that kind of dueling lacks soul, Dimitri, imitation, replication, reflection, that is your soul. So don't pay attention to those voices."
Professor Viper offered encouragement.
"Everyone has their own gifts. Kings have a king's talent, chefs have a chef's talent. Your ability lies here, so there's no need to feel ashamed. If anything, this ability to replicate others is something to be proud of, an innate gift."
"Professor!" Dimitri's eyes welled with tears of emotion.
Hikaru had said similar things to him before, but hearing it from a different person felt entirely different.
Although Hikaru did look out for him, Hikaru was ultimately a peer. And while Dimitri was already among the more capable students of his age group, he still worried. Worried that classmates were talking behind his back, saying he could only copy, that he had no original ideas.
But now, an elder, a professor, face to face, was validating his tactics and dueling. It genuinely moved him.
"You needn't worry too much." Viper looked at him and said. "The professors' courses are all extremely beneficial, and the demon ritual and roleplay methods are especially suited to you.
I've prepared materials and roleplay equipment for you. Based on your needs, try reaching out to some card spirits. This way, you can improve your spirit power more rapidly."
"But don't forget, danger comes with it."
"Don't worry, Professor, I understand!"
Dimitri was so excited that his movements had stiffened and his speech stumbled, visibly overwhelmed with emotion.
Professor Viper stood, gently patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck."
"Yes, sir!"
Dimitri took Viper's materials and excitedly ran back to his dormitory.
Professor Viper had designed a gradual growth plan for him: use roleplay to increase his connection potential with spirits, then employ ritual summoning to call upon them.
He opened to the first page of the plan.
A Level 2 Fiend: Kahkki, Guerilla of Dark World.
Dimitri read the description beneath the spirit and recognized it as a relatively low-level fiend. He had even encountered it in the Nexus dimension. It was indeed not that strong, a spirit he had a chance of defeating.
If he grew steadily this way, he should have the chance to complete the entire development plan this semester, before Professor Viper left!
He thought excitedly.
When that time came, he would tell the Chief and Acting Principal Crowler that Professor Viper was absolutely a qualified, excellent professor. Without question!
He couldn't wait to prove it.
So he flipped through the plan, scanning the later pages. Spirits available at different stages and growth levels were all listed. Some were relatively easy, others more complex, requiring elaborate rituals.
He turned the pages slowly, reaching the very last one, and froze.
The highest-level spirit. The apex fiend among apex fiends?
Wait...
How was the summoning method this simple?!
He stared at the name written there.
Yubel...
The supreme fiend?!
He swallowed hard.
No cost, no sacrifice. Just call its name, and you could attempt to summon it?!
Dimitri's right hand trembled slightly.
He reached out, wanting to touch the page.
But then he saw the note Professor Viper had left above it.
[EXTREMELY DANGEROUS].
He quickly shook his head clear.
No, he should follow the professor's method, proceed step by step, and only attempt the last one at the very end!
No rushing. No rushing!
He took a deep breath.
He couldn't let himself get anxious...
Meanwhile, Hikaru finished hammering together some items with a clatter and exhaled in relief.
One thing could be confirmed: Professor Paladin genuinely seemed to be a pure scholar. Professor Crowler had discussed things with him at length, and Hikaru and Jesse, the two students who had experienced the roleplay duel firsthand, had participated in a couple of discussions as well. In the end, Crowler decided to gradually promote Professor Paladin's course.
The process would take roughly three to four years. After all, Professor Paladin was just one person, and his theories and knowledge needed to be slowly disseminated to other teachers before they could be applied in instruction.
But in the meantime, Hikaru could try replicating it on his own.
After all, he had money, a venue, and spirits. In particular, he had an incredibly talented Witchcrafter Genni. When it came to making roleplay costumes, no person or spirit held more authority.
Moreover, with Genni and Magistery Alchemist's assistance, Hikaru could go even further, refining the "roleplay costumes" so they functioned almost like "the real thing" during duels, letting participants feel the fluctuations and shifts in spirit power, gaining more intuitive insights while dueling.
However, Genni had just been freed from overtime hell. Hikaru wasn't about to make it produce everything immediately. Besides, he needed time to survey the club members' preferences and tendencies, so there was no rush to start crafting. He would focus on preparing base materials and accessories first.
With this approach, Hikaru had already prepared a massive pile of materials, ready to hand off to the Fusion Division members so they could assemble and customize things according to their own tastes.
After finishing all of this, Hikaru stretched and looked at the Dimension Gate.
It was about time to visit some other dimensions.
Hikaru took out the Emerald Tablet and flipped through it.
First the Gladiator Beast dimension, first the Gladiator Beasts...
Huh?
Hikaru suddenly noticed a card.
Oh!
He couldn't help smacking his own forehead.
"So this place existed too! I almost forgot!"
Hikaru quickly put away the Gladiator Beast address.
He could travel twice a month, so the Gladiator Beasts could wait until next week.
Now, Hikaru had successfully reached the domain of the magicians. So for "related matters," he was finally qualified to learn about and explore them.
Therefore...
Hikaru placed a card beside the Dimension Gate. The massive gate began to slowly darken.
Hikaru stepped forward. His figure gradually became ethereal. After a shift between worlds, he found himself beneath an enormous ancient tree.
The sky was dim.
A blood-red moon hung high overhead.
The entire world seemed impossibly dark.
"Caw... caw..."
Crows seemed to fly past.
Hikaru sniffed slightly. A foul, rotting stench flooded his nostrils, making him frown.
Whoosh...
Countless "birds" swept across the sky, briefly obscuring the blood moon. But as the crimson light fell upon them, their true forms were finally revealed...
Bats!
Countless bats!
This was...
The world of the undead. The stronghold of blood demons!
The Vampire Empire!