"Very well! I, Chronos de Medici—the head instructor in charge of practical dueling at Duel Academy—will now explain the special rules for this Academy Exchange Duel!"
Facing the camera with a microphone in hand, Chronos spoke as he looked at the three duelists already standing on the duel stage, fully prepared: Yuuya Sakaki, Jaden Yuki, and Jun Manjoume.
"This year's Academy Exchange Duel is between the first-year representative of the Northern Branch, Jun Manjoume, and our main Duel Academy campus's freshman representatives, Jaden Yuki and Yuuya Sakaki. As such, the duel rules have been modified accordingly."
"For the main campus team, the two duelists will share a total of 6000 Life Points. In addition, they will share five Monster Zones, five Spell/Trap Zones, a single Field Spell Zone, and one shared Graveyard."
"And here's a special point: the representative Sakaki Yuuya can summon monsters and activate card effects as normal—but he cannot conduct his own Battle Phase! In other words, he can only counterattack reactively and is not allowed to launch direct attacks proactively!"
"Hisss—!"
Upon hearing this restriction, the clueless audience collectively gasped, but they soon realized that this rule served as a form of "fairness" for Jun Manjoume, who was fighting one against two.
"As for the Northern Branch representative, Jun Manjoume, he will fight alone with 6000 Life Points, and during each of his Draw Phases—including the very first one—he will draw 2 cards instead of 1!"
"Hmm."
It's main campus versus branch campus—anyone chosen as a school representative is no weakling. And since it's a 1v2, it makes sense to adjust the draw phase for the side with fewer players. (In standard 1v2 duels, the solo player is usually stronger and draws 2 cards per turn to keep up.)
"However, to account for starting hand advantage and the idea of 'card economy,' we've decided to let the main campus team go first. That way, we avoid having the solo duelist immediately overwhelmed by a first-turn setup."
Turn order: Jaden → Manjoume → Yuuya → Manjoume → Jaden → Manjoume...
"Since everyone agrees to these 'special rules,' I now declare the Academy Exchange Duel between the Main Campus and the Northern Branch… officially begins!"
"Duel!"
Jaden & Yuuya: 6000 LP
Manjoume: 6000 LP
"I'll take the first turn—draw!"
As he drew his card, Jaden recalled what he saw earlier in the restroom before entering the dueling arena—a pitiful and heartbreaking scene.
'Jun Manjoume... The you of now is someone I truly respect! So I'll respond with the best I have to offer!'
"From my hand, I activate the Spell Card Polymerization! I fuse Elemental HERO Burstinatrix and Elemental HERO Avian from my hand!"
"My beloved Hero of Justice—Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!"
As a tribute to Manjoume, Jaden opened strong with his iconic Fusion summon, calling forth his most cherished flying hero, Flame Wingman, as the first monster to hit the field in this exchange duel.
"Then, I set all remaining cards in my hand facedown! Turn end!"
It was a solid first turn: unable to attack as per rule, Jaden summoned the 2100 ATK Flame Wingman to hold the field, backed by three set cards in the back row—a veritable wall of defense.
As Jaden ended his turn, the turn passed to Manjoume. But he didn't immediately begin his draw. Instead, he looked around at the teachers, students, the TV crew, and especially the two older brothers sitting at the far end of the audience section.
"All of you… remember this moment!"
"To those who thought the Academy would be more peaceful without me—to those who said my expulsion was my fault!"
"For those of you who don't know—then listen closely!"
"From the depths of hell, a King has returned—alone and in solitude—reborn!"
"Ten!"
Branch students: "Hundred! Thousand!"
"Manjoume... Thunder!"
Branch students: "Manjoume Thunder!! Thunder——!"
As the rhythmic, almost brainwashing chants from the branch campus side rang out, everyone on the main campus side kept a calm face—but deep inside, they were all surprised. And at the same time, they acknowledged that Manjoume truly deserved such glory.
The "King" who climbed out of hell's abyss alone and returned to life—he deserves this kind of honor!
"Jaden! Yuuya! This exchange duel... no! This is my battle of revenge! Now you two will taste the pain I've endured!!"
"My turn—draw!"
Finally starting his turn, Manjoume drew his card. In an instant, he regained the calm demeanor he had at the beginning. After scanning his starting hand, a clear strategy immediately formed in his mind.
"Spell Card Graceful Charity! Draw three cards from my deck, then discard two from my hand."
After some draw power and setting up his Graveyard, Manjoume immediately followed up with his next card, placing a monster onto the field.
"I summon Masked Dragon in Attack Position!"
Its outer body was a pale yellow, while the inner side—harder to see—was red. It had a curved, long neck, and its face looked like a comically blank mask. A twin-winged dragon.
(Masked Dragon, Level 3, ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1100)
"Masked Dragon, attack Jaden's Flame Wingman!"
"Nani?!"
A 1400-ATK Masked Dragon charging straight into a 2100-ATK Flame Wingman? Was this a death wish? A brainless move?
As most of the audience looked on in confusion—some even with an expression of disbelief—Masked Dragon coiled its long neck back, then suddenly extended it, jaws wide open, spewing a stream of dragon flames straight at the airborne hero.
"I don't know what you're up to, but… Flame Wingman! Counterattack!"
Following his master Jaden's command, Flame Wingman raised his dragon-headed right arm and launched a blast of fiery breath right at the incoming flames!
The crimson fire easily overwhelmed the orange flame breath and exploded directly onto Masked Dragon, destroying it in a blazing impact!
Seeing the Masked Dragon sent to the Graveyard from battle, Jaden couldn't help but give a concerned reminder:
"Manjoume, you do know what happens when you battle with Flame Wingman, right? As long as the destroyed monster isn't Flame Wingman, after calculating regular battle damage, you'll also be hit with Flame Wingman's effect damage!"
Manjoume didn't say a word. Flame Wingman flapped his wings and flew up to Manjoume, then—without hesitation—raised his dragon arm and blasted fire right into Manjoume's face.
"When Flame Wingman destroys a monster in battle after it's sent to the Graveyard, he inflicts damage to the opponent equal to that monster's ATK!"
Masked Dragon had 1400 ATK. The regular battle damage was 700. Then came the effect damage of 1400 from Flame Wingman—a total of 2100 Life Points lost.
In other words, Manjoume had just taken a Flame Wingman-level hit to his Life Points on the very first turn!