Duel Academy.
The sunset cast golden rays over the boundless sea, painting a magnificent picture in blue and red-gold. The helicopter drifted through the brilliant skyline, approaching the carefully paved helipad on the coast.
The helicopter landed. Chancellor Sheppard stepped out, the sunset gleaming off his shiny bald head, the hem of his uniform whipping in the rotor’s wind.
Imdiately, a sweat-soaked, greedy face ca rushing up.
"Chancellor! Chancellor, sothing huge happened, noné!"
Crowler ran up, hands on his knees, panting hard—he’d clearly sprinted all the way to et the Chancellor.
Everyone knew Chancellor Sheppard was always out on business trips—whenever sothing happened at the Academy, he was away. He’d just finished so urgent business, only to be intercepted by Crowler right off the chopper.
"So flustered—this isn’t like you, Professor Crowler."
Sheppard smiled calmly, every bit the master.
"What happened?"
"It’s—it’s Duel City! The finals of Duel City happened today, noné!" Crowler struggled to catch his breath.
"Oh, the finals." Sheppard mused. "I rember I sent Zane to participate. I wonder how he did..."
"Zane-kun?" Crowler blinked. "Co to think of it, he made top eight, noné."
"Oh, top eight?" Sheppard’s eyes lit up, nodding in approval. "Not bad, not bad—Zane did well."
Sheppard knew his students well. Though Zane was unbeatable at the Academy, he was still just a student. To reach top eight in a tournant full of legends was impressive.
As his ntor, Sheppard was quite pleased with his protégé.
And Zane hadn’t even graduated yet, hadn’t experienced the pro dueling world—he still had lots of room to grow. The future was bright.
Sheppard was delighted, determined to reward his student when he got back.
"Yes, Truesdale did well, but that’s not the point." Crowler shook his head quickly. "More importantly—the champion! The Duel King, noné! The Academy has an enrolled Duel King! Mamma mia! This is unprecedented—"
The professor’s rambling left Sheppard confused: "Slow down—what happened? What King?"
"The Duel King! Kaiba personally entered this year’s Duel City, saying he’d challenge for the Duel King title again.
And our student won!"
Crowler shouted.
"Fujiki Kira—Kira-kun won, noné!"
Sheppard blinked, as if he hadn’t understood.
"You’re saying Kira beat Kaiba?"
"Not just that—he won the whole championship, noné! Kira-kun is now the Duel King!"
Sheppard’s eyes went wide, his expression frozen for several seconds, then his mouth dropped open, almost joining Crowler in shouting—
Mamma mia!
Our Academy actually... produced a currently enrolled Duel King?
...
At this mont, the once-quiet dojo was in an uproar.
Master Takeuchi had watched the entire final with his students, nearly needing heart dicine several tis.
When it was finally over, and the invincible Divine Serpent Geh was devoured by the Lava Golem, Master Takeuchi nearly fainted.
Six months ago, he’d sensed this kid was extraordinary—he’d thought Kira would at best beco a pro after graduation, maybe a star rookie, bringing so fa to the dojo.
Who could have imagined?
Duel King!
A title only Yugi Muto had held before, symbolizing the strongest duelist in the world.
In this world where dueling was everything, it ant reaching the very top.
He would beco the one admired by millions, reigning supre.
The disciples, after their initial shock, broke into wild celebration.
Especially Satou Kouji, who now walked with his head held high, as if he himself had transford.
He wanted to tell everyone—I’ve been beaten by the Duel King!
By rounding up, didn’t that make him a legendary duelist too?
As the saying goes, when one rises, all rise. Kira had started here—so his success brought pride to all. And now, nearly everyone could boast, "I’ve been beaten by the Duel King."
But so felt conflicted.
Back then, Kira’s "Hand Destruction" deck had thrown the whole dojo into existential crisis. They’d thought it was a shortcut, a cheap trick—powerful for a while, but ultimately limited, useless against true masters.
And then, they watched as Kira stord into Duel Academy, crushed pros, destroyed legends, and now stood atop the world—a new Duel King.
Suddenly, the future of dueling seed ominous.
...
"Congrats."
Mokuba jumped onto the stage and patted Kira on the shoulder.
"So you’re the new Duel King—at least for now." He grinned. "But even though you won this ti, my brother won’t give up."
"Mokuba," Kaiba interrupted.
Mokuba stuck out his tongue, saying no more.
"Anyway, seriously, you need to be careful."
He turned to Kira.
"Duel King is the highest honor, but it’s not just about status and opportunities—it also brings challenges," Mokuba said. "Ever since Yugi, there hasn’t been a new Duel King in years, so this will draw a lot of attention.
Even Yugi, after becoming Duel King, faced constant challenges. That’s how he made his na."
Kira nodded. "I understand."
After Yugi beca Duel King, challengers ca every day trying to claim the title. In movies and spin-offs, crowds would gather at his school or his family’s card shop, trying to defeat him.
Everyone knew Yugi was number one, but there were always overconfident challengers.
After winning, Yugi spent years defending his title, battling opponents from all over the world, and finally convinced everyone.
Kira’s victory was just the first step.
From now on, more challenges awaited.
"Yeah, I know."
Kira just nodded.
Then, he gave his trademark, sunny smile.
"...Let them co."
Seeing that warm smile, Mokuba, for so reason, suddenly felt...
A bit of sympathy for all those future challengers.
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