The next day, when Yugen returned to the Dueling Dojo, everything felt different.
It's not just about the change in himself. Certainly, after returning as the champion, he could clearly feel that everyone looked at him differently. As soon as he entered, someone yelled something, and then everyone rushed up to worship the big shot...
...it's not only about this aspect.
Upon arriving at the battle arena, Yugen immediately noticed that the atmosphere here was completely different from his first visit.
When he first came here, the duels gave him the feeling of the early Axe King environment. It wasn't entirely you hit me, I hit you, but the main offense and defense were focused on both sides constantly trying to summon stronger monsters to suppress their opponents.
But looking at today's entrance...
Apprentice A: "I attack first, draw a card! I set four cards, end turn!"
Apprentice B: "What! Starting with four face-down cards! But don't be too proud! Watch my turn, draw a card! I set five cards, end turn!"
"..."
Similar scenes appeared simultaneously in several different combat arenas.
Just a week ago, when Yugen first came, the dojo ridiculed duels for not attacking first as improper card deck configurations.
Suddenly, it seemed to have become the norm.
The current duel style had become rather peculiar. Often, one side would have three face-down cards and pass, then the opponent would reciprocate with three to four face-down cards and pass.
Then both sides would start staring at each other, often only occasionally summoning a monster after a few turns, which would naturally fall directly into the pit and be taken down by the opponent, and both sides continued to stare at each other...
It was almost like the mutual imprisonment situation. The concept was, "I'm not playing this game today, and neither should you."
Yugen: "..."
It was clear these brothers had fallen into some kind of strange misconception.
Pit BEAT remains a long-standing classic construction idea in Yu-Gi-Oh! card deck building, but it's not just about having pits.
The essence of this construction, the so-called "pit," is actually resistance, committing a large number of cards with the ability to disrupt opponent operations and their stoppage capabilities. But it's only a defense strategy. Beyond defense, one needs to rely on monster attacks (Beatdown) to claim victory.
To put it simply, there needs to be a balance of offense and defense.
So, this construction idea actually requires pursuing a compact monster axis with strong attack, sustainability, and stability while still freeing up card spaces. Only then can more pits be included to disrupt enemy actions.
Even for heavy pits, their essence still lies in resource exchange to create advantages. Using pits just for the sake of pits lacks reasonability and combat power.
That's why, though everyone knows pits are powerful, not all card decks in the competitive realm will max out Underworld. Many decks function poorly with pits, or their central systems don't allow freeing up unrelated slots.
There's quite the cunning in card deck construction. Although early card decks are destined to be eliminated, many competitive ideas remain unchanged forever. Many construction principles apply even today in high-speed extremes.
Of course, it seemed the dojo brothers hadn't realized anything amiss. They only saw Yugen's deadly pits and his championship, so Red Pit is awesome.
In just one week, the dojo's atmosphere changed from Mortal World to Underworld sneakily.
Yugen self-reflected.
Could this really be his fault?
"Oh, Yugen!"
An apprentice remembered something, prompting him.
"Master said, if you come, go find him."
"Okay, got it."
Yugen responded, simultaneously feeling a sense of foreboding. This sounded like a teacher saying come to the office after school?
Could it be the old man was displeased with the dojo's sudden Underworld rampage, getting back at society?
But he considered it's not really his teaching...
...At least not directly.
Carrying doubts, he walked through the main hall to the back. Master Takeuchi was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed as if meditating. He lightly opened his eyes upon hearing movement, revealing a gratified smile.
"You're here."
"I'm here."
Seeing the master in a good mood, it was probably good news. Yugen relaxed and sat down beside him.
"Congratulations on winning the championship," said Master Takeuchi.
"Master's training was excellent," Yugen replied at the right moment.
But Master Takeuchi smilingly shook his head: "Ha, boy, you're quite polite. But we both know, your current level isn't something I taught."
Pausing, he raised his eyelids and carefully examined Yugen.
"You've changed, I can feel it," he said gently, "I don't know what adventure you've had, but I know you're no longer like us ordinary Duelists.
It's subtle, but sometimes you can just sense it. When you see a Duelist, see them step onto the field, their aura, their dueling stance... you naturally know they're different."
This statement intrigued Yugen.
He had heard of warriors and assassins recognizing peers among crowds, possibly sensing an aura like killing intent... but could card players do the same?
Then what would it be called? Card aura?
But he mused as a transmigrator, in the previous life only an amateur hobbyist, not a professional, without hacks nor Back Spirits in this world filled with external assistance, could they even perceive his distinct aura?
"I wasn't actually the dojo's first-generation master," the master began a nostalgic recollection, "Before me... he was the truly powerful Duelist.
His entire life was committed to promoting the dojo's principles, nurturing outstanding Duelists among the younger generation, and finding someone capable enough to entrust the school's inheritance.
But...
He sighed.
"One particular duel... I don't know the opponent's specifics; the master wouldn't mention it to anyone. I only know he seemed to have lost that battle.
Afterward, he fell ill, was hospitalized. All doctors couldn't figure out the problem, only noticed his health deteriorating...
...until he completely slipped into a coma, never waking up since."
Yugen couldn't help but frown slightly listening to this.
This felt a bit like the legendary Dark Duel.
At this point, you might ask, can playing cards really be deadly?
This leads to the Yu-Gi-Oh World characteristic. Dark Duels are omnipotent, playing cards can be lethal, capture souls, manipulate minds, turn losers into puppets with any form.
This is why even in the Extraordinary Realm, card skills reign supreme.
Only, if it indeed was a Dark Duel, hearing he lingered before the coma after losing raises suspicions about the Dark Duelist's esteemed level, sounding a bit off...
"Before master's coma, he passed the master position to me, along with the Rare Card symbolizing our school inheritance.
But I clearly knew, lacking the talent, unqualified for that power. So I sealed the card deck, like the previous master, seeking a qualified young person to inherit it...
Master Takeuchi sighed deeply, slowly turning around, looking at Yugen.
"...until today."