Zane lay flat on his back in the arena, staring up at the tech-laden dome, his expression dazed.
A surreal feeling washed over him.
Three years—his youth at Duel Academy—just like that. And as for the graduation match—his final duel at the academy—the experience wasn't exactly… great.
"Pair Cycroid…"
Zane murmured to himself.
"Never thought it would be like this."
"My last duel at the academy, the final battle—ending with a bicycle…"
He couldn't help but laugh at himself.
He'd only actually dueled Kira in the final semester, yet somehow it felt like he'd lived in his shadow for three years.
He had no doubt that when he looked back on these days, the first thing to come to mind wouldn't be his reign as Kaiser, how he dominated.
What he'd remember first would definitely be that invincible bicycle…
Kira walked over and sat down beside him.
"You okay?" Kira asked casually.
Zane lay there, turned his head, and smiled lightly.
"Of course. I'm not who I used to be—I don't get crushed that easily," he said with a faint smile. "Victory and defeat are the norm. As a duelist, you need the resolve to chase victory at all costs, and also the courage to face defeat.
Fall into hell—then rise from hell again. I understand now, and realize how naive I once was. If you can't even do that much, you're not qualified to step into the duelist's world, right?"
"I'm glad you've found your direction," Kira said.
"It's thanks to you… thank you."
Zane looked at him seriously.
"Come on, what are you saying? I just dueled seriously," Kira shrugged. "If you got something out of it, all the better."
"Haha, still so modest. But last time and this time, you've been trying to tell me something through our duels, haven't you?"
Zane chuckled softly.
"Cyber Dragon, Power Bond… that's the path I threw away—the marks of my past. I've bid farewell to that self…"
He sat up and looked at Kira intently.
"You wanted to tell me that progress doesn't mean denying everything about your past, but to walk a new path while retaining its essence, right?"
Kira: "…"
"I thought you'd use the Twin Dragon you won from me… but a Power-Bonded bicycle caught me off guard.
Now I get it."
He stared at Kira, making him feel oddly like he was facing a student at a thesis defense.
"You're telling me not to fixate on any specific tactic. Flexibility and adaptability—that's the only true winning formula, right?"
"Uh-huh. Sure," Kira said.
Is there a chance that if I'd summoned Twin Dragon instead of the bike, I couldn't have gotten over your Cyberdark?
Who knows—but as top of the class, Zane's reading comprehension was on point.
As the Duel King, anything he said or did invited overthinking.
At the summit, under the limelight, everyone scrutinized him with a magnifying glass. Many would even deify him—believing every choice had deep meaning.
But not always. Sometimes he did things simply because he wanted to. Sometimes just for fun.
With Zane, he did intend to nudge him through their duel—but only lightly, to let Zane think and speed up his growth a bit.
"A pity—I still lost the final graduation match."
Zane stood, undiscouraged.
He knew he was the challenger; dueling the Duel King, he craved victory, but was mentally prepared for defeat.
"But I won't stop here. I'll become stronger," Zane said firmly.
"Have you decided your path?" Kira asked.
Zane nodded.
"A few clubs have approached me," he said. "I'm entering the pro scene—to become a professional duelist."
"First, I'll hone myself and climb to the top. When I, too, sit at the summit, I'll be back."
Kira smiled and shook his hand.
"Good. I'll be waiting."
Even with the altered timeline, Zane still chose the pro path.
Barring surprises, fate would guide him next term to meet Aster Phoenix on a win streak, as in the original.
That should have been his Waterloo, the start of his fall and the catalyst for Hell Kaiser. But with the changed worldline, who knew now.
…
With the seniors gone, the academy suddenly felt emptier.
Near semester's end, first- and second-years had fewer classes. Even the main campus road saw only sparse foot traffic—quieter than usual.
Time flew; another term was ending. Most students were holed up in study rooms and arenas, prepping for finals.
Third-years had graduated early, but the other two grades had a week to go.
Many were nervous—except Jaden, of course.
He still woke late and slept even later, basically spending entire nights in the Spirit World.
Kira and Jaden's duo bike had become a tricycle after Joey hopped on, and they rode nightly—crossing two more dimensions, trekking toward the Supreme King's realm.
…
"Hey, aren't your finals coming up?" Joey asked one night.
"Yeah," Jaden nodded.
"Uh, then why are you here every day? Won't you flunk?" Joey wondered.
"Kira's here," Jaden said righteously.
"Me? I'm exempt," Kira added. "I get full credits even without exams."
"Damn, that's a thing? I'm jealous…"
Jaden scratched his head.
"So I'm the only one who might fail?"
"Seems like it," Kira said. "Want to take two days off to prep?"
"No need. If I fail, I fail."
Jaden grinned.
"Duel first, study later."
Cards come first.