Who asked him to play Yu-Gi-Oh

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"Jaden Yuki, indeed, he has something special that others don't."

Bastion looked down at Jaden, who was smugly making a V-sign, almost taunting Chazz to the point of a mental breakdown.

"Not relying on analysis, not relying on calculation, but dueling entirely based on passion and impulsive instinct, yet possessing unexpected talent..."

You Xuan thought to himself, Making it sound so complicated, isn't it just divine draws when you get down to it?

Jaden, born with a natural affinity for cards, was inherently better at drawing what he needed than others. In the early anime, his Elemental HERO build looked like it only had seven or eight monster cards—each monster had one and only one copy, absolutely no second ones, and most were even Normal Monsters. The rest of the deck was filled with inexplicable Spells and Traps.

If a seasoned duelist looked at this build, their first reaction would definitely be, "Can this thing actually fight?" But if built on the premise of "always drawing the needed card," then stuffing dozens of support cards that can handle various situations into the deck even seemed somewhat formidable.

"There will definitely be a battle with Jaden in the future. But before that..."

Bastion Misawa stood up from his seat and looked seriously at You Xuan.

"First, let's solve the problems within Ra Yellow. I don't plan on giving up the number one spot so easily."

"Then you'll have to work hard to keep up, Number Two," You Xuan also stood up and said teasingly.

"Of course," Bastion smiled. "I've prepared for today for a long time. I specifically completed my seventh deck, built for this duel."

In fact, from certain angles, You Xuan could see his own shadow in Bastion.

Bastion was currently the only person he had found in the academy who, like himself, carried several decks around for dueling. When he enrolled, he used an experimental deck specifically for enrollment, and then he perennially carried six decks with different attributes and themes, which he called his "Six Styles Decks."

In the original story, to duel Jaden Yuki, who called himself number one, he diligently researched for a month and completed his seventh deck. But now it seemed that honor was being given to You Xuan...

"What a coincidence," You Xuan smiled faintly. "I also spent some time, but just yesterday, my main deck was also completed."

"Oh?" Bastion showed a confident smile tinged with anticipation. "So, am I the first one to personally experience the main deck of Number One? Then I'm truly flattered."

"Likewise, to be able to personally witness the seventh deck that Syrus custom-made for me, I also feel greatly honored."

"Then come on, let's battle," Bastion said, full of fighting spirit. "Today, we decide who is the strongest in Ra Yellow!"

The two went down to the dueling field, and the gazes of the Ra Yellow students quickly focused on them. Currently, both of them were overwhelmingly strong in the early exchange matches. After today, it would be decided who the true big brother was.

"Duel!" x2

[You Xuan, LP 4000]

[Bastion, LP 4000]

"I'll go first, draw!" Bastion took the first turn. "I summon 'Mathematician' in Attack Position!"

A white-bearded old man wearing glasses appeared on his field, holding a thick textbook.

[Mathematician, ATK 1500]

"Mathematician's effect! When Normal Summoned, send 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Deck to the Graveyard!"

One could tell at a glance it was a very powerful effect, able to send any low-level monster from the deck to the graveyard, regardless of type, attribute, or position. And not only that, when Mathematician was destroyed by battle, he could also draw an additional card.

This card was also very versatile in the real card environment back in the day, even once being put on the ban/limited list. However, many competitive players familiar with it might not know that this ferocious thing was originally Bastion's card.

Although Bastion's performance in the anime was quite mediocre, and his main ace monsters were also quite useless in the real card environment, many people didn't know that quite a few powerful low-level and support cards widely used in the competitive environment back then were his.

"Next is the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity'! Draw 3 cards from my Deck, then discard 2 cards from my hand." Bastion quickly refreshed his hand. "Finally, I set one card face-down on the field, and end my turn!"

Having finished his first-turn setup, Bastion narrowed his eyes, sizing up You Xuan.

In his view, You Xuan was actually a rather elusive opponent. Because unlike ninety percent of duelists, You Xuan was also the type to constantly change decks and strategies. And he had also discovered that the other party, like himself, liked to study opponents in advance to find weaknesses.

At least from Bastion's observations so far, the themes, types, and attributes of the decks You Xuan used had no discernible pattern, and his strategies were ever-changing. It wasn't easy to strategically lock him down.

But this point should also be the same for the opponent. Bastion's Six Styles Decks had almost no commonalities between them, and his newly completed seventh deck was making its debut. The opponent shouldn't have an easy time targeting him either.

However, after research, Bastion still found an angle to approach from.

Thinking of this, the corners of Bastion's mouth turned up in a confident smile.

This duel, he must win!

"My turn, draw," You Xuan said. "I'll also start by using a 'Graceful Charity.' Draw 3 cards from my Deck, then discard 2 cards from my hand. Next, activate the Spell Card 'The Cheerful Coffin'."

Bastion narrowed his eyes.

Here it comes!

After carefully observing and creating statistical charts of the various cards and tactics You Xuan had used, Bastion noticed that the opponent had similar card choices even in distinctly different decks.

One of a higher frequency was hand destruction.

"Pay 1000 Life Points, randomly discard one card from your opponent's hand, then your opponent chooses another card from their hand to discard."

[You Xuan, LP 4000 → LP 3000]

"Not so easy."

Bastion suddenly revealed a card from his hand.

"Monster effect of 'Gemini Imps' from my hand! When your opponent activates a card that includes an effect to 'discard card(s) from my hand,' send this card from your hand to the Graveyard; negate that activation and destroy it! And, after that, I draw 1 card from my Deck!"

The usually all-powerful Cheerful Coffin was thwarted for the first time, crashing head-on into the Gemini Imps materialized on Bastion's field, getting thoroughly beaten, and retreating in dejection without success.

"Therefore, The Cheerful Coffin's effect is negated, and I draw 1 card!" Bastion smiled.

"I see, you've researched countermeasures against 'hand destruction,' well done, Number Two," You Xuan chuckled lightly.

"Because it's a duel against Number One, naturally I must be more than cautious," Bastion said confidently, arms crossed. "For this duel, I've made thorough preparations!"

You Xuan drew three more cards.

"Set one monster card face-down in the front row, set two cards face-down in the back row, turn end."

Bastion frowned slightly.

Three more set cards on the field instantly. But he's not attacking?

This way, there was still no way to see what You Xuan's so-called "main deck" was.

"Is it still a disruption-type deck focused on defense and counterattacks?"

Thinking of this, Bastion couldn't help but smile even more.

"If that's the case, then I've got this duel even more wrapped up!"

You Xuan smiled slightly. "You'll know when you try."

"Then I won't be polite," Bastion raised his voice. "My turn, draw!"

"I activate the Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand'!" Bastion declared. "Equip it to a Spellcaster-Type monster. The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. I equip 'Wonder Wand' to the Spellcaster-Type 'Mathematician'!"

[Mathematician, ATK 1500 → ATK 2000]

"Next, watch closely, Number One. My seventh deck, designed to defeat you, its first kill-combo!"

Bastion revealed another card from his hand.

"I Tribute Summon 'Gadget Soldier'!" Bastion said. "This card can be Normal Summoned without Tributing. However, when Summoned by this effect, its original ATK and DEF are halved!"

[Gadget Soldier, ATK 2800 → ATK 1400]

"Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Shooting Star Bow - Ceal' from my hand, equipping it to 'Gadget Soldier'!" Bastion declared. "The equipped monster loses 1000 ATK, and it can attack your opponent directly!"

[Gadget Soldier, ATK 1400 → ATK 400]

This series of plays left the surrounding students quite puzzled.

Reducing the ATK of Gadget Soldier, which was already only 1400, by another thousand. Even if it could attack directly, what good would that do?

"Perhaps he has 'Axe of Despair' in hand."

Alexis Rhodes, in the stands, suddenly heard a voice from behind her. She turned around to the voice: "Zane?"

Appearing behind her was none other than the Kaiser of Duel Academy, Zane Truesdale.

"You also came to watch the new students' assessment?"

"Mm, a few of this year's new students are somewhat interesting," Zane nodded and said.

"Indeed, 'Axe of Despair' would negate Gadget Soldier's own effect and grant an additional 1000 ATK boost, perfectly offsetting the drawback of Shooting Star Bow - Ceal," Alexis mused. "If it's this combo, Bastion would get a Gadget Soldier with 2800 ATK that can also attack directly!"

But at this moment, Bastion Misawa on the field chuckled lightly. "You must be thinking, do I have 'Axe of Despair' in my hand, right?"

You Xuan: "..."

"The Axe of Despair combination can give me a Gadget Soldier that can attack directly, a truly powerful combination. However, my duel goes further than that! What I'm doing is not just to inflict massive damage to you; I intend to win this duel within this turn!"

This declaration shocked the entire audience.

The duel had only just begun, how could he be so confident?

"I activate the Spell Card 'Machine Duplication' from my hand! Target 1 Machine-Type monster I control with 500 or less ATK; Special Summon up to 2 monsters with the same name from my Deck! The monster I choose is my on-field 'Gadget Soldier' whose ATK has become 400!"

Onlooking students: "!!!"

There's such a play!?

"The purpose of Shooting Star Bow - Ceal wasn't for direct attacks, but to lower Gadget Soldier's ATK to 500 or less!" Alexis couldn't help but exclaim.

At this time, Bastion's Gadget Soldier on the field had already been targeted by Machine Duplication, splitting into three, and two other heavy mechs materialized and landed on the field!

[Gadget Soldier, ATK 2800]x2

A student in the crowd exclaimed, "Using such a method to summon three 7-star monsters at once!"

Professor Crowler, from a higher vantage point, nodded repeatedly. "As expected of the elite among the new students, non non. Syrus is much more capable than that Chazz, non non."

Even his earlier frustration from Chazz, whom he had deliberately supported, being beaten by Jaden to the point where a slacker was about to be promoted to Ra Yellow, had lessened considerably.

Alexis: "However, can it really go so smoothly? That You Xuan's dueling is..."

Her gaze had unconsciously shifted to You Xuan's set cards in the backrow.

Having experienced it firsthand, she knew from experience that one absolutely couldn't easily ignore any of this guy's backrow cards.

Sure enough, You Xuan's backrow was already flipped with a wave of his hand: "Activate Trap Card, 'Torrential Tribute'! When a monster(s) is Summoned: Destroy all monsters on the field!"

"As expected," Alexis said.

She knew it; that You Xuan would never let things go so simply.

The duel had just begun, yet the offense and defense were already so thrilling, causing the surrounding students to hold their breath. Bastion's brilliant chain had pulled out an OTK lineup in a single turn, but after this exchange, it conversely turned into his resources being wiped out by just one card, putting him at an absolute disadvantage.

But Bastion remained unhurried, instead revealing a confident smile. "Indeed. Statistical data shows that hand destruction and trap interference are methods you heavily invest in across various decks. However, this was also anticipated! Watch, Number One, this is the answer I present!"

He raised his hand, and the moment his set card in the backrow flipped, it seemed to release endless pressure upon the entire field.

"Continuous Trap - Royal Decree! As long as this card remains on the field, all other Trap effects on the field are negated!"

Torrential Tribute's trap effect was immediately negated, and the raging torrent, bound by the trap, dissipated into an illusion.

"It's actually Royal Decree," Zane Truesdale mused for a moment and said, "Indeed, for decks that heavily rely on traps, the suppressive power of this card is a devastating blow. It seems that Syrus really did his homework and preparation. This way, his opponent seems to be at a disadvantage. Traps are completely sealed, and there are still Gadget Soldiers on the field. Regardless of whether he can survive this turn, even if he manages to endure this wave of attacks, it will be almost impossible to break through such a lineup next turn."

"That is indeed the case. However..." Alexis crossed her arms, leaned against the railing, and smiled faintly. "Underestimating that guy will cost you."

"Oh?" Zane glanced at Alexis. "I heard you dueled him. Did you gain any insights?"

"Mm."

Speaking of which, Alexis's mind briefly flashed back to the overwhelming power of that five-part combined mech, the sense of helplessness when she had exhausted all her efforts and was still powerless.

"I think, making people feel that he 'particularly favors trap disruption' might itself be part of his strategy," Alexis said.

"What do you mean?"

"He deliberately cultivates such an image of himself, so that anyone who sees it once will remember this most prominent characteristic of his. This way, even if someone intentionally analyzes and targets him, they will undoubtedly start from his most prominent characteristic. If someone is hiding in the shadows collecting intelligence to specifically research him, it should have been a disadvantage for him, with the enemy in the dark and him in the light. But if he deliberately uses this persona he cultivated as bait..."

"...Then how the enemy will choose to target him becomes predictable, conversely turning it into his advantage," Zane understood, but frowned, seemingly skeptical. "But if that's true, this new student's scheming is far too deep. Moreover, this must be based on the premise that even if he doesn't use his usual relied-upon tactics, he can skillfully master various versatile tactics to counter. Are you sure he's that kind of duelist?"

"I think he might be. He's very strong," Alexis said seriously.

Zane smiled. "For a classmate you've only met once, you have surprising confidence in him."

Alexis: "N-Not at all! It's just because I dueled him once, so I understand!"