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[Ghost Tetsuhara, LP0]
The final attack had drained the last remnants of his Life Points, and in this dark duel he had initiated, it also marked the end of his life as a duelist. At this moment, even the excruciating pain from the backlash of the shadow game was beyond his perception.
He could no longer feel his body.
Earlier in the duel, Tetsuhara had arrogantly proclaimed that encountering him was the greatest misfortune of his opponent's life. Now, however, it seemed clear who had truly suffered the greater misfortune...
This boy was strong—but unlike any other formidable opponent Tetsuhara had faced before.
How to put it? It felt as though...
...the way this youth viewed dueling was fundamentally different from how everyone else understood it.
For the first time in his life, after finishing a duel, Tetsuhara found himself thinking—
—Dueling is hard...
With his defeat, Tetsuhara collapsed onto the ground. A golden light enveloped his body, dissolving into countless specks that scattered into the air, leaving no trace behind—much like the fate of those defeated in GX's alternate dimension arcs.
Yu Xuan let out a sharp breath.
"Damn... Dark duels really are dangerous. Losing literally turns you into dust—it's horrifying..."
Fortunately, his skills were superior.
Still, this man didn't seem particularly adept at interpreting card text (K-language), which made him wonder how someone so lacking in fundamentals could become a dark duelist. Surviving this long while gambling with his life in every match seemed nothing short of miraculous...
Wait.
Yu Xuan realized he was still thinking with the mindset of his past life.
Perhaps he shouldn't judge too harshly. In this world, raw luck during draws often outweighs technical mastery or deep understanding of K-language. Card interactions might simply be secondary embellishments rather than core mechanics...
Yes, this was indeed a perilous world where complacency could cost you everything. Strength through powerful cards remained the ultimate path forward.
Speaking of which...
Yu Xuan stepped forward and picked up the Duel Disk left behind by the now-deceased Tetsuhara. With its owner gone, the deck had become ownerless property.
In a solemn tone, Yu Xuan declared, "It was a good duel. Rest in peace, my friend. I shall inherit your deck and carry on your will."
He tucked the deck into his pocket.
As he turned to leave, a chill ran down his spine, as if an icy breeze had brushed past him.
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through gaps in the curtains, casting soft rays across the wooden floor. Yu Xuan groggily opened his heavy eyelids, struggling to focus his blurry vision.
Was that... a girl?
Silver hair fluttering gently, one hand gripping a staff and the other covering her mouth, the translucent figure of a young woman partially merged into his body as she lay on the bed. Her bright eyes peeked curiously, studying him intently.
But the moment Yu Xuan opened his eyes, an exclamation mark seemed to appear above her head. She swiftly retreated back into the deck within the Duel Disk leaning against the desk, vanishing without a sound.
Yu Xuan blinked.
"...What?"
After their initial collaboration in last night's battle, Yu Xuan came to understand that the silent girl wasn't intentionally ignoring or rejecting him as her master; she simply *was* silent.
In other words, she was socially withdrawn.
Hmm, perhaps it made sense for a socially awkward player to have a similarly reserved spirit partner. After all, birds of a feather flock together.
Regardless, her assistance during last night's fight was undeniable. This world truly was dangerous for duelists without tools or spirits to rely on.
Moreover, Yu Xuan couldn't shake the feeling—perhaps psychological—that something about his dueling changed when the Silent Magician joined his deck. There was a subtle rhythm to each draw, an almost imperceptible pulse emanating from the cards themselves.
Before, his deck had merely been a tool—a collection of cards bound to a Duel Disk. But last night, for the first time, it felt alive.
Of course, this sensation bordered on mysticism, and it was possible he was overthinking things. Yet the impression lingered.
"At any rate, I need to grow stronger..."
The encounter with a life-or-death duel reinforced the importance of mastering the craft in this world. Carrying a Duel Monsters deck was far more reliable than lugging around an arsenal of weapons.
Reflecting on recent battles, Yu Xuan began forming new insights.
Many anime characters' decks would baffle real-world players. Their card combinations often seemed unwieldy, yet somehow they functioned perfectly within the story. However, if we assume certain top-tier duelists possess the ability to never experience card disadvantage ("bricking"), then these chaotic builds start making sense.
One notable characteristic of such decks is that they contain solutions for nearly every conceivable scenario. Real-world decks prioritize stability and efficiency, but even meta decks occasionally face situations where none of their cards can overcome a specific field state. While rare, such moments exist.
But in this world, there are no second chances. A single loss means death. Thus, decks packed with seemingly nonsensical cards actually aim to ensure "no situation is insurmountable."
Similarly, real-world deck-building emphasizes trimming down to exactly forty cards to minimize inconsistency. Yet in this world, sixty-card decks are standard—and some may exceed that limit.
More cards equate to more possibilities. But this works only under the assumption that the duelist possesses impeccable draw luck.
Only elite duelists can handle such systems. Characters like Yugi and Kaiba seamlessly blend multiple unrelated strategies into one cohesive deck, operating as if they're wielding four or five independent decks simultaneously.
Sometimes, pulling a card not originally in the deck becomes plausible...
However, ordinary duelists mimicking these pros' strategies often end up worsening their performance, creating a bizarre environment where skill disparities widen dramatically.
Thus, Yu Xuan reached another epiphany.
Relying solely on oppressive, niche strategies ("salt") won't take you far in this world. Current opponents can be handled through solid deck-building alone, but expanding versatility and tactics remains essential for future challenges.
Both deck construction and draw luck matter equally—two pillars to uphold.
Recent matches highlighted differences between the anime's card environment and what Yu Xuan was accustomed to. Watching the anime casually hadn't revealed nuances, but experiencing it firsthand brought clarity.
For instance, duelists here rarely offer opportunities for chain activations. Under Yu Xuan's previous understanding of rules, declaring effects required giving opponents time to respond. Chains resolved sequentially, ensuring fairness.
Yet here, duelists immediately proceed with effect resolutions, ignoring potential interruptions unless explicitly challenged. Surprisingly, this doesn't hinder gameplay significantly. Even if an opponent begins resolving an effect, you can still interrupt with your own.
This flexibility prevents scenarios where faster verbal declarations lock out responses. Anime adaptations likely prioritize dramatic tension over strict adherence to rules, maintaining excitement without compromising fairness.
Although unconventional, these deviations rarely impact outcomes meaningfully. They serve primarily as stylistic choices.
Last night's duel also underscored the physical toll of dueling. As Duel Academy's gym teacher once emphasized, stamina plays a crucial role in dueling success. What once seemed amusing to Yu Xuan now resonated deeply. The mental exertion of high-stakes matches left him utterly drained afterward.
Awakening refreshed, his mind rebooted and regained clarity.
Victory yielded significant rewards. Tetsuhara's deck, belonging to a seasoned dark duelist, appeared valuable. Some cards might fetch excellent prices in the market, allowing Yu Xuan to trade up for desired ones.
Most importantly, he acquired the anime-exclusive version of Pot of Greed – "Card of Fate." Its ability to instantly draw five cards, coupled with the hilariously trivial drawback of discarding after five turns, rendered weaker draw spells obsolete.
If only he had three copies...
Other legendary Pot Cards, such as "Fate's Pot" and "Heavenly Pot," stirred envy within him. These artifacts from the DM era represented unparalleled power, though acquiring them proved challenging.
Currently, his greatest hope lay ahead—the prestigious Duel Academy.
Rumors painted it as a haven overflowing with rare cards, offering exclusive acquisition channels. The annual entrance exam awaited in just three days at Kaiba Land.
Success was inevitable.