Chapter 69: Can't Laugh Yet—Hold It In!
[Eva: Duel Acknowledged]
[Duelist - Amano Rei]
[Duelist - Kikawayu]
[Duelist - Masa]
[Data Network Access. Duel Field Generated]
[Duel Content - Joint Duel]
[Restriction Conditions - Battle Royale]
Can't laugh. Can't laugh yet.
Better not expose this before Masa.
Wait 40 seconds before laughing.
[Proud duelists, let duel outcomes serve as scales measuring souls!]
[DUEL—!]
According to joint duel battle royale rules, everyone's first turn couldn't conduct battle—only after second turn. Whoever went first could attack earliest.
First-turn advantage was even more massive than 1v1.
So turn order decision rights weren't randomly determined by Eva system.
Rather, all three selected one monster from Main Deck—using ATK to determine turn order.
Highest ATK monster went first, second next, lowest ATK went last.
But monsters selected from deck couldn't be used again this duel.
Amano vaguely remembered the anime using these rules.
Wanting first-turn rights required sacrificing high-ATK monsters from deck.
Could say the game started before battle even began.
Masa, while selecting cards, didn't forget chatting with Kikawayu—clearly wanting to confirm Fusion and Xyz academies' historically established cooperative win-win relationship before battle.
"Kikawayu-san, leave first turn to me. You handle finishing and overkill rewards."
Saying this, Masa selected from his deck what he believed would definitely secure first turn—a high-ATK monster.
Kikawayu and Amano also selected monsters from Main Decks.
All three displayed simultaneously.
Masa's selected monster: [Gagaga Magician Cannon Dragon], 2800 ATK.
Amano's selected monster: [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]—everyone knew its ATK.
Kikawayu's selected monster: [Raviel Lord of Phantasms], 4000 ATK.
So turn order was—
Kikawayu → Amano → Masa
Masa's expression instantly darkened.
Just claimed he'd secure first turn, yet selecting his Main Deck's highest-ATK monster humiliatingly placed him last.
You two—something wrong here?
Masa had also heard about Amano's entrance exam duel. Blue-Eyes White Dragon should be his Main Deck's highest ATK—also his only monster qualifying as battle power.
Abandoning it like this, not using it in the duel?
This Kikawayu guy was even more ridiculous—normal people pulled out 4000 ATK monsters?
Both were incomprehensible monsters!
"Then, my turn—draw!"
Securing first turn, Kikawayu drew cards from his magnificently crimson Duel Disk.
Just one draw action—Fusion Academy's side erupted with screams. Mostly female screams.
"Kyaaaaa, Kikawayu-kun is so handsome!"
"Kikawayu-kun, look this way!"
"Kikawayu, Kikawayu, marry me!"
Spending too long with Kikawayu, Amano almost forgot this guy was a beautiful boy.
However feminine and cute his appearance, his actual gender was male with decent height—completely matching this era's beautiful boy aesthetics.
Especially now becoming Fusion Academy first-year's strongest representative.
So many buffs stacked together—hard not having popularity.
"I Set three cards. Turn end."
First-turn Kikawayu didn't even summon monsters.
Didn't matter—the next two couldn't battle anyway per rules, so Kikawayu's empty field had zero danger.
"My turn, draw!"
Switching to Amano starting his turn drawing cards.
Last second's Fusion Academy cheers abruptly stopped.
Synchro Academy's side... seemed pretty quiet.
Where was his popularity?
"Committee Member, you're the best!"
"Committee Member, you're handsome too!"
"We'll always support you!"
Fortunately his Duel Committee Member status let Class E classmates maintain some presence.
"Brother, do your best!"
How could there be such an especially cute voice, arriving from the spectator seats like an angel?
"I Set one card. Turn end."
"Amano Rei, you?" Masa's brows revealed confusion.
Kikawayu Set cards without summoning monsters because he went first in position one.
You also didn't summon monsters—aren't you too confident?
Not afraid Kikawayu will eliminate you next turn?
At least Masa couldn't be as reckless as Amano.
"My turn, draw."
After the previous two's lightning-speed Set-and-pass turns, Masa decided to properly showcase Xyz Summoning's superiority on this gorgeous central stage.
"I Normal Summon [Geargearman MK-II] in Attack Position!"
[Geargearman MK-II] [3★ EARTH]
[Machine/Effect] [ATK: 1000] [DEF: 500]
Golden mechanical gear monster appeared making peace signs.
"By MK-II's summon effect, I Special Summon one [Geargearman] from my hand!"
[Geargearman] [3★ EARTH]
[Machine/Effect] [ATK: 500] [DEF: 1000]
Silver mechanical gear monster appeared making hammer sign.
Seemingly two powerless monsters—but now two Level 3 monsters present.
Masa's arm swept horizontally, overlaying both Duel Disk cards together.
"I construct an Overlay Network using two Geargearmen—Xyz Summon!"
Xyz Summon method used same-Level field monsters to overlay Extra Deck monsters of matching Rank.
"Rank 3—[Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction]!"
[Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction] [3★ WATER]
[Rock/Xyz/Effect] [ATK: 3000] [DEF: 3000]
[Level 3 monsters x2]
Black card frame with black stars. Xyz Monster overlaid using two Level 3 monsters already reached...
"(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ That's Blue-Eyes White Dragon level!"
From spectator seats, timely arrived an extremely cute, knowledgeable voice from an unidentified Amano Family little girl.
"Just two Level 3 monsters equal Blue-Eyes White Dragon! See? This is Xyz Summoning's infinite possibilities! This is the superior summoning method!"
Compared to the previous two's Set-and-pass, Masa's Xyz Summon truly attracted attention on central stage.
But Amano still felt something wasn't right. This rock normally got summoned from opponent's field, right? Self-restriction preventing Special Summons while on field—basically self-amputation.
But considering first-year Axe King environment, 3000 ATK/3000 DEF wasn't bad. Not everyone in Xyz Academy was Kaiba Chiha.
"I Set two more cards. Turn end!" Finishing his turn, Masa gave Kikawayu another meaningful look.
His own field had 3000 DEF wall even blocking Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The other side—empty field. This situation—even not prioritizing targeting Synchro Academy, which side to attack first was obvious.
"My turn, draw. Then activating my three Set Continuous Trap cards."
Kikawayu's three previous-turn cheap Sets all flipped open.
[Metal Slime]
[Call of the Haunted]
[Monster Box]
"Then activating Continuous Spell [Gate of the Seven Lights]. By activation effect, add [Uria Lord of Searing Flames] to hand!"
Flipping these three cheap Traps naturally aimed at—
"Tributing three Continuous Traps as offerings, awaken divine flames from ancient times—erupt! Uria Lord of Searing Flames!"
Essentially Kikawayu's signature monster now—like a crimson giant dragon, projected through Duel Disk, shaking the sky.
[Uria Lord of Searing Flames] [ATK: 0 → 3000]
"Next is [Uria Lord of Searing Flames]'s effect!"
[Once per turn: Target 1 Set Spell/Trap your opponent controls; destroy it. Cards and effects cannot be activated in response to this effect's activation.]
"Beautiful effect, Kikawayu-kun!" Masa couldn't help praising.
Currently empty-field Amano's only variable—that Set backrow card. Using Uria's effect destroying the Set card would easily deliver crushing blow to Synchro Academy.
[Sakuretsu Armor] destroyed
However, before Masa finished speaking, his own Set card got shattered by scorching flame waves into falling data debris.
Masa: "o_O???"