Mitsuzawa and Serena could not gain recognition from Dinosaur Lyuzaki in a short time. After staying in this area for some time and waiting for Tenjo Hikari to gather information, they planned to first return to the Forest Area with Tenjo Hikari, then head towards the Rainforest Area.
After all, half a year is enough time for everyone to seek answers, and there is no need to be stubborn in one particular area.
However, just as they were about to leave, they realized they couldn't.
It's not that the equipment from Kaiba Company stopped working again.
Rather, there was some commotion happening at the station's gate.
"White Night Queen attack directly!"
"Gwah—"
A figure flew backward and crashed into the ground.
What's going on?
Tenjo Hikari and his group looked at the fallen student, prepared to help, when a group of people in white uniforms approached.
"It's those guys from Light Society," Mitsuzawa Daichi said with a frown.
"As per the agreement, we're taking your badge!"
"Wait, no—" The student on the ground regained his senses and tried to stop them, but alone, he couldn't resist the strength of three or four peers, and his GX Badge was easily snatched from his chest.
Tenjo Hikari and the others watched but said nothing.
Because this is part of the normal competition process and rules, they had no room to intervene.
That's how the GX Tournament is.
"Damn it, damn it!" The fallen student pounded the ground with his right hand, crying bitterly.
Tenjo Hikari noticed that this student's badge had two stamps, meaning he was quite a capable student.
No—
To be precise, any student who could make it to the Volcanic Zone was likely a confident duelist. Even if they couldn't gain recognition from Dinosaur Lyuzaki, they at least had one stamp, unlike the guys from the Forest Area who clung to Marjoram. These were challengers genuinely facing strong opponents.
Tenjo Hikari glanced around and noticed that many students had resentful expressions, piquing Tenjo Hikari's curiosity.
He had spent the past few days in the lab or accompanying Mitsuzawa and the others in Dinosaur Lyuzaki's pavilion watching duels, so he wasn't very familiar with the situation here.
"What's going on, Shikagawa?" Tenjo Hikari approached a somewhat familiar student and asked.
Seeing that it was Tenjo Hikari, the student initially frowned but soon relaxed.
Those who were relatively familiar with Tenjo Hikari mostly knew what kind of person he was, and they had witnessed his various duels with the Integration Department first-hand, so they didn't think Tenjo Hikari was as the gossipy students described.
After pondering for a moment, the student explained the situation to Tenjo Hikari.
The duelists from Light Society had surrounded the area, blocking the station gate to prevent anyone from leaving. They demanded that anyone attempting to leave duel with them, handing over their badge if they lost. Winners could take their badges and leave.
In this manner, they had collected seven or eight badges over the past two days, but this was particularly infuriating—because stamps of the Same Level were only effective as one. Even if they held seven or eight badges, the stamp grade within them was similar. Yet, they continued blocking the way, aiming to make students fail.
Because of this, some students who couldn't stand Light Society's behavior directly challenged them. Students not only from this academy but from many branch schools also dueled them, resulting in more and more losses, leading to friends seeking "revenge."
The duelists from Light Society didn't refuse anyone.
"Damn, someone I've never heard of, how can they be this strong?"
"Never heard of? Are they from another academy?"
"No...they're from this school."
Is that so?
Tenjo Hikari was surprised.
Are there such experts in this school?
Gin Ryuusei or Rose Princess?
Tenjo Hikari looked towards the gate.
But no—
He saw a completely unfamiliar duelist.
Wearing a pristine Blue Academy uniform, looking listless, with dark circles under the eyes, and strange black tattoos drawn on the right arm.
This is...
"A classmate in the same grade," Mitsuzawa Daichi suddenly spoke, "I have an impression, a student from Blue Academy. Since they're not in my class, I don't know much."
A classmate in the same grade, is there such a skilled expert?
"Ah...it's Tenjo Hikari." Meanwhile, the duelists from Light Society also noticed Tenjo Hikari and the others, "As Lord Saiou foretold, I've been waiting here for a long time, Tenjo Hikari."
"Just as Destiny foretold, I've waited here for your appearance." That duelist struggled to stand, supported by several people.
A command from Saiou?
Well, that figures.
"Who, Tenjo Hikari? He's here too?"
"Wow, look at that badge, he's got the stamp from the Volcanic Zone!"
"As expected of Hikari..."
Surrounding students also noticed Tenjo Hikari.
Some branch school students weren't very familiar with Tenjo Hikari, but after seeing him, they immediately realized there was going to be a good show.
That student picked up a whole bunch of badges: "If you win, I'll return everyone's badges to them."
"Additionally, you don't have a three-star, four-star stamp yet, right? I have them here." He lifted his badge, "If you defeat me, you can instantly collect 5 stamps and do whatever you want in this dimension for the next half year."
Although it didn't have much to do with Tenjo Hikari, Mitsuzawa couldn't help but say, "Hikari, the terms seem acceptable."
Mitsuzawa's thought was, one way or another, Tenjo Hikari's reputation had indeed suffered due to the Fusion Army incident. At such a time, having such an invitation to duel was definitely worthwhile.
Moreover, obtaining a three-star, four-star badge directly would be very worthwhile for Tenjo Hikari, who was destined to participate in the finals.
"Hikari! Hikari, I beg you, help me get my stamp back—" a nearby classmate saw Tenjo Hikari and heard the other's conditions, quickly grabbing Tenjo Hikari's hand.
A student from Yellow Academy.
Tenjo Hikari glanced around.
"Don't worry, even for my own sake, I must defeat the opponent." Tenjo Hikari didn't want to walk back to the Forest Area.
"Oh, battling someone with your fame, just these terms aren't enough." the duelist continued, "If you lose, you must join our Light Society."
"Added an extra condition, huh?"
"In exchange, if I lose, I have a card prepared by Lord Saiou." He held up a card, not showing it, but said, "It's a Fusion Monster that you don't have."
"Looks like Lord Saiou really appreciates you, Hikari," Mitsuzawa teased.
"Hahaha, Mitsuzawa, what's the matter, are you jealous~~ Don't admire me too much. Hahaha." Tenjo Hikari didn't think much of it.
After all, he had also been challenged by Professional Duelist X before, so facing a duel from the Light Society wasn't particularly surprising.
Last time, Saiou had provided the crucial information of "Rabiel."
He's curious about what Saiou has prepared this time.
"Then let's duel—"
The two stood on opposite sides of the station gate, equipped their Duel Disks, and shouted simultaneously.
"Duel!" X2.
Kodama Haruki, LP: 4000.
Tenjo Hikari, LP: 4000.