After several days, most of the students within the Critical Point Dimension had successfully received the protection they needed.
It's not that the students suddenly became very powerful and could start counterattacking; overall, when a single or even a small team of students faced an Archfiend, they still had no chance to fight back.
However, under the operations of Kaiba Company and various factions, it was quite easy to gather people at various stations and protect them.
Moreover, it was different from what Tenjo Hikari had guessed.
Aside from a large-scale attack by the Dark World on the first day, the Archfiends of the Dark World seemed to have some internal conflict and did not focus their power on conquering any strongholds in the following period.
This allowed Kaiba Company to contract their front, bringing more students to safer places.
Of course, there were also some situations that Tenjo Hikari found noteworthy, particularly regarding the Light Society.
Under the "Light Power" of the Light Society, students in several places received protection, which led them to choose to join the Light Society.
Frankly, if it were merely out of gratitude, Tenjo Hikari might not think it was a big deal.
But when Tenjo Hikari learned that all the students at a particular station had joined the Light Society, becoming its members, he realized something was definitely off.
Perhaps, the students helped by the Light Society felt a sense of gratitude toward it, lowering their guard and making it easier to brainwash them.
Even so, Tenjo Hikari actually didn't think much of it.
What truly perturbed Tenjo Hikari were the students who still, during this period, didn't stop their reckless behavior, leaving the safe zones to explore on their own.
Tenjo Hikari couldn't save all these students. Over several days, he had already drawn applause and praise from countless students by rescuing those trapped along the main roads. As for those who had their own ideas, who had courage, and didn't heed the academy and Kaiba Company's warnings, Tenjo Hikari couldn't control them.
Among them, there were indeed students who were truly talented and brave, but those who had no abilities yet believed that Kaiba Company was deceiving them, thinking there was no danger outside, could truly make Tenjo Hikari angry.
Nevertheless, when Tenjo Hikari returned to the Initial Point and took a moment to rest, he found that Serena had been doing well there over the past two days.
At that time, he had rushed out directly, only leaving the Flame Sword to guard the station temporarily without much preparation.
Fortunately, Akaba Leo seemed to have indeed placed Serena in the Fusion Department and wasn't planning to forcibly take her back and imprison her. Otherwise, those two days, he really wouldn't have been able to thoroughly ensure Serena's safety.
And over those two days, Serena didn't just wait around; she gathered courage and used her advantage of identity to rally students to guard the station. During this process, she even dueled with a warrior from the Dark World and won the duel smoothly.
Serena was never a girl to sit idly by; she would never just wait for others to protect her. When faced with danger, she would certainly want to be involved.
If that's the case, then so be it.
Tenjo Hikari rested for a day at the station and contacted Kaiba Company.
Although there seemed to be no immediate danger, Kaiba Company wasn't planning to restart the GX Tournament in the short term. They wouldn't hold the competition again until they made sure there was no danger.
Such a situation also happened in the original story.
In the GX Tournament of the original work, someone stole a replica card of "The Winged Dragon of Ra," prompting a halt to the competition until the God's Card was retrieved and the tournament restarted.
This world's GX Tournament was more extensive and well-prepared than in the original—after all, this world had experienced many conflicts with the Other Dimension Spirits and knew well that holding competitions in the Spirit World could always lead to unexpected events; hence there were advance plans.
Currently, the situation was much better than he initially imagined.
No outpost was conquered, nor were students taken as sacrifices on a large scale.
As for the students venturing alone and getting trapped in some corners, Tenjo Hikari could only slowly rescue them according to the map later.
Just as he was thinking this, he noticed his surroundings suddenly brightened significantly.
Tenjo Hikari blinked, took his eyes off his phone, and looked around.
He saw a group of students in pristine uniforms surrounding him tightly.
Tenjo Hikari frowned.
With these people's appearance, some other students gathered their courage and shouted before Tenjo Hikari could speak: "Hey! What are you guys up to, wanting to hassle Tenjo?"
During this period, everyone could see Tenjo Hikari's efforts. Those suspicions and doubts about him were naturally dispelled without needing an answer. In this situation, being the Academy Chief who had saved hundreds of peers, even amidst a crowd, even if Tenjo Hikari hadn't spoken, even if those who shouted didn't know right from wrong, they would instinctively support Tenjo Hikari.
Serena watched them, her eyes sparkling.
She also somewhat desired to gain the same reputation as her mentor.
Over these two days, Serena's reputation had quite improved, but she was still far from reaching Tenjo Hikari's level.
The members of the Light Society didn't heed the words of the surrounding students. Nonetheless, their support brought more students over to check the situation.'
Partly to support Tenjo Hikari, but also…
Spending almost a week cooped up within a small train station, they were bound to feel a little bored.
"Is there something you need?" Tenjo Hikari asked curiously.
"A duel." Gin Ryuusei spoke directly.
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
Now?
Gin Ryuusei… not bad…
What, does Lord Saiou have some interesting dimension intelligence or something else to tempt me into dueling, drawing me into their club?
So persistent.
He hadn't gathered "Duel Energy" in days, and a strong opponent would make for a good recharge.
But surprisingly, after Gin Ryuusei spoke, the members of the Light Society slowly parted down the middle, like the parting of the seas, and from their formation appeared a person in a silver-white suit, silently standing opposite Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari was genuinely surprised this time.
Ed?
Why?
There's no reason for this, right?
If he wants to trouble Judai, why seek a duel with me?
Besides…
The Light Society couldn't command Ed Phoenix, right?
As he was contemplating this, Tierra appeared beside him, gently nudging him with an elbow, and in the next moment, Tenjo Hikari saw an unusual phenomenon: "Wave of Light" glimmering and floating on Ed Phoenix.
Tenjo Hikari's pupils suddenly constricted.
How is this possible!?
In the original, the Wave of Light couldn't possibly reside in Ed Phoenix!
He was, in the original, the complete embodiment of Saiou's good side, the light's good side!
"Lord Saiou has already gained the support of one-third of the students within this dimension," Gin Ryuusei suddenly revealed, "If Lord Saiou wished, he could have students open Dimension Gates or even join the Archfiends at any time."
Tenjo Hikari glanced at him, then ignored him, focusing back on Ed.
Ed looked at his right hand. At this moment, even though he had never been able to see the "shackles" himself, he could perceive his own dire state. Yet, perhaps because of this, he seemed somewhat relieved: "Minister Tenjo, Saiou hopes for me to duel you."
"He said I could only find the answer by dueling you." He didn't seem to hold much hope, merely stating the will of destiny.
"If you accept, after the duel is over…"
He seemed still rational.
Tenjo Hikari keenly noticed this.
Different from normal hosts of the Wave of Light!
"No, there's no need to say more." Tenjo Hikari cut him off, "It's a Minister's duty to solve dilemmas for members and juniors—come on, bring it!"
Without delay, Tenjo Hikari raised his left hand. The Duel Disk on his left hand automatically opened and shuffled the deck.
Ed, on the other hand, took out his Deck, looked at it, and slotted the cards into the Duel Disk.
At the same time—
Gin Ryuusei spoke again: "Tenjo Hikari, as before, if you lose, join us in the Light Society, and you'll become our vice president."
Rose Princess added: "Conversely, if you win, we will assist you in rescuing regular students for free, and then we will…"
"Let's talk about those things after it's over!" Tenjo Hikari shouted.
"Duel!"
"... Duel."
Tenjo Hikari, LP: 4000.
Ed, LP: 4000.