NOVEL WEB Chapter 225: Skyscraper
The First Seats' Dimensional Journey
Looking back on last year, Hikaru had only just learned of dimensional travel under Jaden's guidance.
It was during that time that Jaden and Hikaru had their destination covertly altered by Professor Banner, arriving instead in the Realm of Warriors. There, Hikaru met Flame Swordsman and Dark Flare Knight, marking the beginning of his Fusion path.
It was the origin of everything.
As the representative of the first-years, Celina was naturally the Red Dorm's delegate this year and had earned the chance to explore another dimension.
Though the titles "first-year representative" and "class representative" were a bit of a stretch. Celina had only received this treatment because she skipped grades to enroll in Duel Academy.
Typically, female students enrolled directly into the Blue Dorm. Celina only became the Slifer Red Dorm's class representative because she personally preferred red. Duel Academy never restricted student uniform colors. Even Chazz had always worn black with no issue.
The Red Dorm's Dimensional Gate had already been replaced with a new model. Thanks to Jaden's excellent performance in cross-dimensional duels last year, the Red Dorm had received more resources than usual.
And ever since Professor Banner's "death" in front of Professor Crowler (as understood by most), Crowler had begun acting as the interim head of Red Dorm in the latter half of the previous year.
However, with his responsibilities as acting principal this year, he had delegated duties like this to other instructors.
"Oh! Is Amagi-san here as the coordinator? That puts my mind at ease." The Red Dorm supervisor visibly relaxed upon seeing Hikaru, tension lifting noticeably.
After all, this was the first dimensional transfer for a new student. Without absolute assurance, no instructor would dare to allow it.
Even Banner had administered a Spirit Compatibility test before sending Hikaru, confirming he had no issues.
"Thank you for your time," Hikaru greeted the teacher, while Celina excitedly took the compatibility test on the side.
Her Spirit Compatibility was high, partly due to long-term isolated training, and partly due to some sort of spiritual enhancement she had undergone. Coupled with her natural talent, she already had a Level 5 rating, which was quite high.
Without Tierra's support, Hikaru himself was only around that level.
Hikaru cooperated with the instructor, going through a physical check. Even though he'd teleported many times before, the full process couldn't be skipped. For the teachers, it was a matter of accountability.
"Amagi-san, you won't be joining the second-year internship later?" the instructor asked while running diagnostics.
"Oh, I'm fine," Hikaru said, flexing his hand slightly. "I recover pretty fast."
In Duel Academy, first-years participated in dimensional travel once a month. Generally, only the class top student and a select group of invited companions or upperclassmen, and instructors were allowed to join. These journeys were for exploring new dimensions and meeting potential partners.
Upon entering the second year, the school no longer strictly limited participation. Instead, there would be regular, large-scale simulated dimensional missions done as class units.
After all, post-graduation, most students would be involved in such tasks in some capacity.
These weren't exploratory missions into unknown dimensions, but internships in corporate-developed dimensions under staff supervision, primarily built by KaibaCorp.
As for the school-wide internship Principal Akaba had in mind, that was something entirely different.
Hikaru understood his reasoning. As principal and elder, he wanted the students to have brighter futures. He especially wanted to rouse the Red Dorm students from their apathy by giving them rare opportunities to participate in events they usually wouldn't even qualify for.
The problem was never him. The problem was always the bad actors who took advantage of him.
After the test concluded, Hikaru and Celina stood before the Dimensional Gate, waiting for it to activate.
A soft red light fell across their bodies. Hikaru and Celina were soon surrounded by a shimmering glow, and their figures slowly pixelated into blocks that merged into the gate.
After a wave of vertigo and distortion, they landed.
They stood on a vast boulevard.
This was the dimension they were originally supposed to arrive in last year, and one Jaden frequently visited afterward.
Anyone who had played Yu-Gi-Oh! would likely have heard of this place:
Skyscraper.
Hikaru glanced around. Towering buildings lined both sides of the street. The city lights gave it a perpetual brilliance, as though it were daytime even in the dark.
Some lights flickered now and then, like power outages, adding to the mysterious ambiance.
In the distance, the lit windows of several buildings formed letters.
Spelled across a row of high-rises: HERO.
This was the city of heroes, Skyscraper.
The Elemental HERO archetype was one of the most beloved in the world. Skyscraper was among the first known dimensions.
However;
Despite being the "Hero" dimension, HERO spirits were actually quite rare here.
Most inhabitants were ordinary Warrior-Type monsters. Many were low-tier or even weak spirits.
According to Jaden, this dimension served as a sanctuary for weaker spirits. Hidden heroes protected them from the shadows.
Because of that, nearly any kind of spirit could potentially be found here.
That's why the academy had deemed this one of the most suitable destinations for first-years. It wasn't too dangerous.
Hikaru had never visited before. Now that he had, he thought it might be a good chance to find a Masked HERO spirit. So he accompanied Celina to this dimension.
Jaden knew this place like the back of his hand. He even claimed he could find Captain Gold's house blindfolded. Before coming, Hikaru had asked for a lot of tips, so he had a decent grasp of the layout.
Time to fulfill his duties as a proper mentor.
"Anyone here?!" Celina shouted boldly, cupping her hands like a megaphone. "Any duelists around?! I'm Celina from Slifer Red, first-year! Any spirits want to come with me?!"
Too blunt.
Hikaru rubbed his temples.
"Something's off, Hikaru." Tierra suddenly appeared, surprising Celina. "There's something wrong with this dimension."
Something wrong?
What could possibly be wrong here?
Hikaru narrowed his eyes. White Crystal energy cloaked him.
"Celina, stay close!"
"Yes, master!" she said, even more excited, sticking to Hikaru like glue.
Still uneasy, Hikaru summoned Flame Swordsman and Dark Flare Knight. Together with Celina, they ran toward a nearby building.
Upon entering, the interior looked nothing like what they had seen from outside.
Broken walls, claw marks everywhere.
In one of the rooms, they found a spirit unconscious on the ground and several others cowering in the corner, clinging to one another in terror.
Upon noticing Hikaru and Celina, the frightened spirits trembled even harder, their fear overwhelming.
'What is going on?'
'Jaden said this dimension was supposed to be peaceful!'
...
Bonus Chapter @800
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