Sliding Jade's Deck into her Duel Disk, Morgan's Duel Disk unfolded—she was ready.
Seeing Morgan dueling again, the boys who had lost their "confession duels" gathered to watch. Only by seeing others fail as they had could they soothe their wounded pride. At the same time, they learned much by watching Morgan duel.
Isla was both nervous and excited. She had a rough idea of Hakun's strength and knew this duel would be spectacular.
Hearing Morgan call it a teaching match, Jade straightened, eyes locked onto Morgan, determined not to miss a thing.
Not far away, Hannah spied on it all. She had meant to monitor Morgan, uncover flaws, and learn more. But all day, Morgan had been busy with confession duels. Just when Hannah thought Morgan would finally rest, another chuunibyou appeared, dragging her into another duel.
…How could a little girl be more popular than her?
Annoyed, Hannah had to admit Morgan's duels had real value. These challengers weren't just confessing—they were learning.
Her gaze returned to the duel just as Charles emerged from the school building. Seeing the crowd, he frowned and hurried over.
"Students, what's going on here?"
If trouble broke out on the first day, the Director of General Affairs would be responsible.
That said, the crowd wasn't rowdy. They didn't seem like troublemakers.
A student, recognizing the Director, straightened nervously. "We're having confession duels, sir!"
'Confession duels?'
Charles knew of them—a unique way duelists expressed love. The Senior Division didn't forbid romance, so such things happened. Still, he had never seen one watched by such a large crowd.
And something else caught his ear.
"You said 'we'? You mean you're one of them, too?"
The student nodded without hesitation. "Most of us here are."
'Most?!'
Charles was stunned. Had this place become a matchmaking corner without his knowledge?
Romance was allowed, but this was absurd.
Compelled, Charles asked blankly, "So… did you succeed?"
The student looked down sheepishly. "No… Morgan's just too strong."
'Morgan?'
Charles blinked. Of course… if it was her, losing made sense. Even he had lost to her.
Another student chimed in, "Exactly! Morgan's too strong—I couldn't last three turns."
He said it so casually, as though it were normal.
Charles gaped. "You're all confessing… to the same person?"
"Yeah. Almost everyone here is here for Morgan—including the guy dueling her now."
"…"
He was shaken to the core. For the first time since turning thirty, he felt out of touch. What the students saw as ordinary felt alien to him.
His gaze fell on Morgan. What was it about her that drew so many?
"Don't be surprised, sir. This is nothing. Back in Middle Division, even more people tried—and she beat them all, too."
The two students exchanged looks, a spark of camaraderie passing between them.
Sometimes, failing together turned rivals into brothers.
Charles sighed, curiosity stirring. His eyes turned to the duel.
Now, Morgan and Hakun's Duel Disks were active, Life Points glowing. Both drew five cards.
"Duel!"
Under the crowd's watchful eyes, the match began.
Morgan used Floowandereeze. She didn't fight for the first turn—sometimes going first exposed too much of a Deck. Hakun, however, seized it instantly, aiming to secure an advantage.
"My turn, draw!"
Seeing his draw, excitement surged. His hand was perfect. This turn, he would crush Morgan under pressure.
"I activate [Thunder Dragon]'s effect from my hand!"
"Discard this card; add up to 2 [Thunder Dragon] from your Deck to your hand."
He discarded Thunder Dragon, then added the remaining two copies to hand.
Morgan's eyes grew serious. So this refined boy used a violent Deck—Thunder Dragon. Aggressive and oppressive, no wonder he wanted the first turn.
Even so, Morgan wasn't worried. If nothing else, she had plenty of board wipes.
"Next, I Normal Summon [Aloof Lupine]!"
A gray wolf appeared, sharp-eyed with a lion's mane around its neck, exuding solitary pride.
[Aloof Lupine] Level 4│EARTH│Beast│1700 ATK / 300 DEF
Morgan immediately knew his plan. Thunder Dragons' effects revolved around banishing—being banished triggered their effects, summoning monsters, or searching cards.
And Aloof Lupine, banishing one from hand and one from Deck, was a perfect starter.
"Activate [Aloof Lupine]'s effect! When this card is Normal Summoned: banish 1 monster from your hand, then banish 1 with the same Type from your Deck."
"I banish [Thunder Dragon] from my hand, and [Thunder Dragonroar] from my Deck!"
Hakun banished the cards, then triggered Roar's effect.
"I activate [Thunder Dragonroar]'s effect! If banished or sent from field to Graveyard: Special Summon 1 'Thunder Dragon' monster from your Deck in Defense Position!"
"I Special Summon [Thunder Dragondark] in Defense Position!"
A surge of violet lightning split the air, a purple dragon roaring onto the field.
[Thunder Dragondark] Level 5│DARK│Thunder│1600 ATK / 1500 DEF
Charles's eyes widened. Thunder Dragons. A brutal Deck—few could handle it. Yet this unremarkable boy wielded it masterfully. Appearances truly deceived.
Against Thunder Dragons, losing the first turn was already a setback.
If it were him, Charles would have interrupted here. Letting them summon their Fusion monsters was dangerous. Each had effects replacing destruction with banishing from Graveyard—it made them hard to remove.
Not far away, Hannah studied Hakun. The Shadow Duelists had a Thunder Dragon Deck, but she didn't know who held it. Could Hakun be one of the boss's plants?
And to face Morgan immediately—how bold. Even veteran Shadow Duelists had fallen to her.
Meanwhile, Hakun pressed on.
"Since I activated a [Thunder Dragon] effect this turn, I Tribute [Thunder Dragondark]!"
"From my Extra Deck, I Special Summon [Thunder Dragon Colossus]!"
Dark clouds gathered, lightning splitting the sky. A massive dragon's form flickered in the storm until its head, spitting thunder, emerged.
[Thunder Dragon Colossus] Level 8│DARK│Thunder│2600 ATK / 2400 DEF
'So this is Thunder Dragons…'
Isla stared, eyes reflecting the storm. She had seen the Deck in card encyclopedias, but never in real life. Colossus had a terrifying ability: while it was on the field, the opponent couldn't add cards to hand except by drawing.
No searching.
That crippled most duelists. How would Morgan respond?
Isla's brows furrowed.
"Then, I activate [Thunder Dragondark]'s effect! If sent from field to Graveyard: add 1 'Thunder Dragon' card from your Deck to your hand."
"I add [Thunder Dragonhawk] to my hand!"
Another search. And Thunder Dragons all had hand effects. No wonder Colossus's summoning condition was tied to them.
"I activate [Thunder Dragonhawk]'s effect from my hand!"
"Discard this card; Special Summon 1 of your banished 'Thunder Dragon' monsters!"
"I Special Summon [Thunder Dragonroar] in Attack Position!"
Now Hakun had three monsters. Using Hawk's effect also stocked his Graveyard, preparing Colossus's protection.
Satisfied, he smiled.
"I Set 1 card and end my turn."
Morgan studied the board. For a pure Thunder Dragon Deck, it was solid.
But young Thunder Dragon players still didn't understand the terror of bird players.
Morgan smiled softly. "My turn, draw!"
...
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