The duel ended, lasting for a long while.
Someone unknown led by example, stood up from their seat, and began to applause.
Then more and more people in the stands stood up, joining in.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
This was to show respect and recognition for the two duelists who represented the pinnacle of the academy and the spectacular duel they delivered.
Defeated by a single strike from the Chaos Warrior with an Attack Power of 17,000, Judai simply lay flat, sprawled on the ground, refusing to get up.
Yugen walked over to his side, sat down, and chuckled.
"How was it?"
"Ahhh, it felt like I was just a little bit short, such a pity, I lost."
Judai sighed long and hard, but soon sat up, smiling as he looked at Yugen.
"But, being able to feel Yugen's fiery fighting spirit at the end was really great."
Saying that, he made a classic gesture.
"Even though I didn't win, it was still an interesting duel." Judai said with a laugh.
"Yeah." Yugen laughed as well.
"Let's have an even more enjoyable duel next time." Judai laughed, "But I'll say it in advance, I'm improving quickly. Next time I'll be stronger, and I'll definitely win."
He said this while reaching out a fist towards Yugen.
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Yugen laughed as well, gently bumping his fist with Judai's.
The applause around them grew even more enthusiastic.
"These two are already so strong..."
Mitsuzawa looked at the two in the arena, somewhat lost in thought.
Ever since joining Yugen's lab, he had been tirelessly researching and developing, to the point where his card deck had improved quite a bit. He originally felt quite good about his progress, but compared to these two today, he suddenly felt that it didn't seem enough.
Marufuji Sho: "Yugen is amazing, and so is big brother. At this rate, they might both become as strong as brother..."
Everyone around is so amazing, and as Sho looked around, he felt like the only useless one was himself...
"Mitsuzawa was right. Yugen and Judai, at first glance they seem like two completely different people, but between them occurs a wonderful chemical reaction, promoting each other's incredible progress."
Asuka leaned against the railing, suddenly turning to look at Caesar behind her, half-jokingly saying.
"Do you feel any pressure from the juniors?"
Marufuji Ryo crossed his arms, showing a slight smile.
It wasn't scorn, but rather a smile an expectant duelist wears for a strong opponent.
He was the academy's Caesar, but he never minded challengers threatening his position. Or rather, he looked forward to it.
Respect the opponent, never underestimate the potential of any duelist, that is Marufuji Ryo's current creed.
"In that case, Yugen has truly been confirmed as this year's newcomer king. The next step might just be becoming the academy's new king," Asuka teased.
Marufuji Ryo smiled.
"That would be great."
"..."
It wasn't until the duel ended that Professor Chronos finally relaxed his tense nerves.
Interestingly enough, the most nervous person throughout this duel was probably this very Professor Strong Desire.
In fact, neither Yugen nor Judai were particularly concerned about being the representative of the academy. For them, one would get many benefits and rewards from winning, and the other just felt winning would bring the joy of playing against representatives from other schools. But even if they didn't get the slot, they didn't care much.
But Professor Chronos was different. He thought if Yuki Judai, this poor student, were to represent the entire academy, it would be doomsday, a disaster for the whole academy.
So he watched the entire duel almost on edge, clutching his heart medications. Every time Yugen's LP dropped or Judai executed a spectacular counterattack looking like a finishing move, the professor had several near-heart attack moments, nearly passing out several times.
Particularly in the last round, with the showdown between the Shining Flame Winged People and the Chaos Warrior, during their back-and-forth attacks and defenses, the professor almost fainted.
When the Chaos Warrior finally decided the match with one strike, the professor almost wanted to rush on stage and give Yugen a warm bear hug.
So great! Teacher's usual care wasn't in vain, oh Nonne!
Way more reliable than that phony elite Chazz Princeton, oh Nonne!
Professor Chronos was overjoyed and was almost tempted to award Yugen all possible credits at once. For the professor, Yugen had defended the academy's principles and the last baseline of Elite Academy.
The principal might not care, but if they were truly going to send a student like Judai, who skips class all day and is at the bottom even in the Red Dormitory, to represent them, he absolutely could not accept it.
So after the duel, Professor Chronos hurried on stage, impatiently grabbed the microphone, and announced.
"Therefore, the winner of the representative duel is, Fujiki Yugen!"
Professor Chronos announced loudly.
"Next week Yugen will fight as our main campus representative!"
As Professor Chronos finished speaking, the teachers and students remembered.
Oh right, this wasn't just a casual game.
Being too engrossed in the duel itself, many gradually forgot why they were playing in the first place.
Come to think of it, it was mentioned before that the winner was to represent the academy in an upcoming match...
With this, all eyes focused on Yugen.
So, it's decided that this year's representative is...
At this moment, Principal Jiaodao also stood up and spoke: "A very wonderful duel, impressively remarkable, both of you. Although Yuki Judai didn't qualify, he showed us his undeniable dueling skills and formidable resilience.
Congratulations to Yugen for obtaining the representative slot. Next week, Yugen will act as the representative and participate in the duel against the representative of Northern Academy.
Northern Academy is our Duel Academy's brother institution. Sending student representatives for dueling is our annual way of friendly exchanges, to deepen the bond between brother schools.
We will rely on Yugen to exhibit the spirit of our main campus."
Students: "..."
Brother schools, promoting friendly exchanges through duels...
The first reaction from the students of the Yellow Dormitory was, this sounds familiar to us.
When we first came to the academy and were assigned dorms, they said there would be dormitory newcomer friendly exchange duel competitions, we remember vividly...
Many people's gazes focused on Yugen again.
It seems the brotherhood between our main campus and Northern Academy will end this year...
...
...
At this moment.
In the bitterly cold Northern Academy.
"Chazz Lightning! Lightning! Lightning..."
A bunch of large men surrounded the new Chazz Princeton in the middle, loudly chanting.
Just today, the newly arrived Chazz Princeton, relying on his astounding strength, stormed through the entire Northern Academy, violently defeated the original king of the branch school, and became the recognized new king of the academy.
Chazz stood with arms crossed, surrounded by people, quite pleased with himself.
Finally, he regained a bit of his deserved feeling.
That's right. From childhood, Chazz Princeton had been elite; even in the middle school department of a master-filled Duel Academy, he maintained the top position. Somehow, ever since reaching the main campus, he felt beaten continuously...
Now, in this Northern Academy, he regained his rightful position.
Born to be king, naturally, he should stand at the peak!
"Congratulations, Chazz Princeton."
The principal of Northern Academy stepped forward, smiling.
"With this, you are the new king of this academy."
Chazz snorted: "Of course."
With a sweeping gesture, as if just accomplishing a trivial matter.
"Then, with this, the final candidate to compete against the main campus has been decided." The principal laughed, "You, the new king of the Northern Academy, Chazz Lightning, will represent our Northern Academy to participate in this year's competition against the main campus!"
"Hmph, it's nothing..."
In his inflated confidence, Chazz responded without thinking, but quickly realized something was off.
"Wait, what did you say?"
"The competition against the main campus." The principal smiled, "Since we're sending a first-year as a representative, then the main campus should also be a first-year.
It should mostly be this year's newcomer king of the main campus..."
The newcomer king of the main campus, which means...
Chazz's smile gradually vanished.