The cold blast from the air conditioner above gnawed at the back of my neck, making every hair stand on end. I rubbed my arms in frustration, my skin prickling with goosebumps. "This air conditioner is too cold for me, it's aggravating me," I muttered, lips twisting into a scowl. The sterile, overly lit tournament waiting room was designed to make people uncomfortable. That, or maybe it was just my increasingly foul mood.
I paced the room like a trapped animal, my footsteps marking an invisible path from one wall to the other. My mind spiraled.
"I can't wait anymore," I thought, clenching and unclenching my fists. "I got a bye in the first round, and after this body's father drove me here like I was being sent off to summer camp, all I've been doing is waiting. Just me, the AC, and an army of 12-year-olds talking strategy like they're prepping for the next world war."
A sudden booming voice crackled from the loudspeaker above, almost causing me to flinch. "The Second round is starting! All participants go to your second round games!"
My body tensed, then relaxed with a long sigh.
"Well, looks like it's about fucking time," I muttered under my breath. "I've been waiting forever for that damn announcement."
The duel arena came into view as I stepped through the hallway and into the main coliseum. It was massive, surrounded by bleachers full of cheering fans, parents, and cosplayers waving signs. Lights beamed down from above, giving the stadium an almost divine glow. I swallowed hard, the enormity of it all pressing on my chest.
I moved slowly toward my designated platform. As I stepped onto the arena floor, the mechanical lift beneath my feet hissed to life. I instinctively gripped the rail as the platform rose, lifting me several feet into the air.
"This arena reminds me of the one from the first episode of Yu-Gi-Oh!" I thought, peering over the edge at the dizzying drop. "They really should've put in more safety rails. If anyone falls from here, it's game over in more ways than one."
On the opposite end of the arena, my opponent arrived—young, confident, and already smirking. A black teenager, maybe sixteen or seventeen, his posture screamed arrogance. He adjusted his dark blue glasses and pulled up the hood of his white hoodie.
The loudspeaker crackled again, louder than necessary. I winced, my eye twitching from the sudden burst of sound.
"Welcome to Round Two of the Local Championship!" the announcer bellowed. "First up, we have the local teenage genius known as Devin!"
Devin raised his hand in acknowledgment, basking in the crowd's minor cheers.
"And facing him, an unknown underdog—Connor, the cousin of the Duel Monsters United States Champion!"
My eyebrows shot up.
"Cousin? Since when? I don't even know who I'm 'related' to in this world," I thought, feeling a sudden anxiety knot up in my stomach. "Maybe I can find out later and use that connection. Could be useful."
"Let the duel begin between Devin and Connor!" the announcer declared.
Devin wasted no time. "I'll start my turn with the spell card known as Pot of Greed, which allows me to draw two cards."
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.
"Everyone knows what Pot of Greed does at this point," I said flatly.
Devin pushed his glasses up with a smug grin. "Not everyone knows, especially the audience."
I glanced toward the stands, expecting disbelief. Instead, a surprising number of people were murmuring and nodding like they'd just had a life-changing revelation.
"God fucking dammit," I thought. "The bar is in hell."
Devin continued his turn. "Next, I play Tremendous Fire! You take 1000 damage, and I lose 500 life points."
My life point counter flashed as it dropped from 4000 to 3000. I gritted my teeth.
"I follow that up with Goblin Thief! You lose another 500, and I gain 500."
My counter dropped again, now sitting at a measly 2500. My face twisted in annoyance.
"You're not doing so well, and it's not even your turn yet," Devin sneered. "The light is on my side today."
"What the hell is he talking about?" I thought. "Please don't be some heart-of-the-cards crap."
Devin's grin widened. "I summon my ace monster, Sengenjin, with 2750 attack points! You're done for!"
The hulking beast appeared on his field, snarling.
"The light is messing with you today," Devin said. "I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn."
I drew my next card.
"What's this 'light' you keep talking about?" I asked.
Devin's tone turned noble, irritatingly self-righteous. "It's about fighting for something you care for. Me? I've got a tournament to win. You? Not much, I guess. Might as well give up."
"I'm going to make you earn your win, then," I said through gritted teeth. "I activate Graceful Charity! I draw three cards and discard two."
My face remained unreadable, but inside I was screaming with joy.
"Lucky me I got that in my starting hand."
"I play The Enchanted Fitting Room! I reveal the top four cards of my deck and summon any level 3 or lower normal monsters I find!"
A hush fell over the crowd. I revealed Sonic Duck and Mad Lobster. The monsters appeared on my field in bursts of light.
"They're whispering," I thought. "Really? This isn't even a power play. Two low-level monsters?"
My life points dropped to 1700 due to the spell's cost.
Devin scoffed. "What are you going to do with those weaklings? Sengenjin will crush them."
I smirked. My voice dipped lower. "You're not wrong… but you're not keeping him for long."
Devin's eyes narrowed. "What're you talking about? Dark Hole?"
"Nope. I play Creature Seizure! We each give the other one of our monsters."
His smugness faltered. "Seriously?"
"I give you Sonic Duck. I'll take Sengenjin."
The crowd erupted.
"Wow! What a turn of events!" the announcer yelled. "Connor has turned the tables!"
"Next, I play Pot of Greed! You already know what it does."
I drew two cards and suppressed a grin. "I set one monster face-down and one card in my back row. Now, Sengenjin—attack Sonic Duck!"
The monster charged. Devin didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled.
"Nice try. You've triggered my trap—Magic Cylinder!"
My eyes widened as the giant tubes appeared, redirecting Sengenjin's attack straight at me. My life points plummeted to zero in a flash of light.
Devin raised his fist in victory. "You thought you had me. But no one's stopping me from winning this tournament—for my brother!"
I stood stunned, mouth ajar, body rigid.
My first duel in this world… and I just got sent packing.
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, the bitter taste of defeat already clawing at my throat.
The crowd roared for Devin.
I turned away, hiding the red flush of embarrassment growing on my face. My grip on the railing tightened, jaw clenched.
"Sorry about that folks! Some of our players may swear, and since this is live, not much I can do about that," the announcer said with a sheepish chuckle that echoed throughout the arena.
I winced. My father, seated somewhere in the bleachers, was shaking his head in disappointment. I didn't even need to see him to know it.
God fucking dammit, I thought, clenching my fists at my sides. I'm not used to being a brat who has to censor himself.
Then, an idea struck me like lightning. My eyes widened.
"Wait a minute..." I whispered. "Because of the anime-style duel rules in this world, all spells are treated as quick-play cards."
My opponent, Devin, was already basking in his apparent victory, his posture relaxed, confidence radiating from him like cheap cologne.
"Not so fast," I said, holding up my next card. "I activate my spell card—Creature Swap! I'm giving you back your Sengenjin, but I get to pick one of your monsters in return."
Devin's smirk faded. "Such a shame you chained your spell to stop my attack," he said with a faint grimace. "Without Sengenjin on your field, my trap doesn't activate. Looks like your little twist just saved your life—for now."
He sneered again. "But let's be honest. No one can beat me in this game. You're going to fall just like the rest."
I didn't respond. I simply set one card face-down in my back row.
This is it, I thought, eyes narrowing. The only hope I have is if he targets the wrong card with removal. If he goes for my bluff—Amulet of Ambition—then my actual trump, Wall of Disruption, survives. Please pick wrong, you overconfident jerk.
Devin straightened his cards and began his turn. "Well, I admit it—you've lasted longer than I thought. Not bad for a brat."
"I am not a brat," I replied stiffly, folding my arms across my chest with a glare.
His grin widened.
"I summon Summoned Skull! With 2500 attack points, and with the spell card I just drew, this duel's over. First, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon! I'll target your face-down card—the one you set after the battle phase."
My face went pale for a brief moment. A bead of sweat trailed down my temple.
No... I thought, clenching my teeth. That was so damn close. If he picked the other one, I'd be done for.
He let out a dry laugh. "Such a shame. Your last hope of winning just got blown to the graveyard. Better luck next time, kid."
I raised an eyebrow, calm returning to my expression. "I activate Amulet of Ambition's effect. I can return it to the top of my deck."
Devin rolled his eyes. "Adding it back won't change anything. I still win."
He slammed another card down. "I play Axe of Despair! Sengenjin now has 3750 attack points!"
He raised a hand theatrically. "Now, Sengenjin, attack Mad Lobster for game!"
A thunderous roar echoed as the beast lunged forward. The air crackled with energy.
Devin laughed in triumph—until he saw my life point counter tick down… and stop at 1250.
His smug grin faded. "What? Your life points should be zero!"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You really should count your chickens after they hatch, not before."
I pointed toward the trap card on my field, flipping it up. "Wall of Disruption. When you attack, all your monsters lose 800 attack points for every monster you control. That's 1600 points off. Sengenjin dropped to 2150—barely enough to wipe out Mad Lobster but not me."
Devin's lips parted in disbelief. "No... I had the perfect play!"
He slammed a fist on the console. "Fine. I end my turn. But there's no way you have enough firepower to wipe out my life points before I come back stronger next turn."
I drew a card, a slow smile growing on my face. "You won't get another turn."
His eyes narrowed.
"I summon my ace—Jerry Beans Man! And guess what? I equip him with the Amulet of Ambition you were so kind to help me return."
Devin's confidence began to falter.
"Next, I flip summon Hunter Dragon!" I declared. "Now, Hunter Dragon—attack Summoned Skull!"
Flames burst from the dragon's mouth, engulfing the demon. Devin's life points dropped to 1850.
He reeled. "My monster was stronger! How—?!"
"Amulet of Ambition," I reminded him. "It gives my monster 500 extra attack points for every level of difference between my monster and yours."
His jaw slackened. "Summoned Skull is level 6... That's 3 levels difference. 1500 attack points—Jerry Beans Man goes from 1750 to 3250?!"
I smiled. "Try 2500 difference in this case. Your Sengenjin is level 7. Jerry Beans Man now has 4250 attack points."
I pointed dramatically. "Jerry Beans Man—attack Sengenjin!"
The tiny green humanoid shot forward with surprising speed, knocking the massive warrior off his feet with a devastating blow. Sengenjin exploded into shards.
Devin's life point counter plunged to 2100.
His face went pale. "That's not possible... you must be cheating!"
"Nope. Just playing smart."
I looked at my final monster. "Sonic Duck, finish this."
The duck charged forward, wings glowing, as it slammed into Devin with a final strike. His life points hit zero. The crowd gasped. Then the arena burst into cheers.
"The light... it failed me," Devin muttered, eyes glazed. "Fighting for others... it's not enough to win."
I turned away, shaking my head.
"Life's unfair," I said quietly. "It's what you do with it that counts."
The announcer's voice thundered across the stadium. "Well, it looks like the underdog beat the giant! And I doubt Devin's career can recover from that crushing loss!"
The crowd roared again.
"Connor advances to the next round!"
I stood tall, trying not to show how badly my knees were shaking from adrenaline. My breathing slowed as I stared up at the crowd. Faces. Cheers. Flashing lights. The absurdity of it all. I was just a history teacher yesterday.
"Connor's next opponent will be Matt—a returning competitor from the Duelist Kingdom tournament!" the announcer said.
My head snapped to the side. "Great," I muttered. "With my luck, it's going to be another fucking creep."
I looked up at the screen showing Matt's face.
And then I groaned.
"Oh god... He's wearing a cape."