# Chapter 27: Maiami Championship
A few days later, Reiji Akaba sent someone to the hotel where the group was staying to inform them about the championship's opening ceremony and the drawing ceremony.
It's worth mentioning that the Leo Duel School trio, who had tirelessly pursued Yuto and Shun, seemed to have had their memories altered by Reiji Akaba. Now, they were on very friendly terms with Yūga Hōzumi's group, calling them "Brother" with every other word.
The trio arrived at the Duel Field. Looking at the bustling assembly hall, Yuto couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so lively. Back in the day, even in Heartland City, only the exchange meetings between the four great academies had this kind of grandeur."
"If it weren't for those invaders," Shun Kurosaki said through gritted teeth.
"Don't be like that. We're guests, after all. Since our host has graciously invited us, let's just enjoy the celebration. The debt the Fusion Dimension owes us is one we'll collect with our own hands sooner or later," Yūga Hōzumi said, simultaneously taking a card from the card holder on his waist and handing it to Yuto.
"About that bracelet that teleports you away... take this card."
"Number 70?" Yuto asked curiously before taking the card. "Is this the new power you've obtained?"
"That's right. Be mentally prepared before you pick it up. It's a bit..." Before Yūga Hōzumi could finish, Yuto had already taken the card. "Painful..."
Black electric currents instantly spread from the card in Yuto's hand throughout his body. With a muffled groan, Yuto fell to one knee, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Just as Yuto was about to collapse and Yūga Hōzumi was preparing to intervene, a faint dragon's roar echoed from the Duel Disk on Yuto's waist. Only then did the black electric glow surrounding Yuto slowly fade.
"Is the price for this power really that high?" Yuto wiped the sweat from his face and looked at Yūga Hōzumi.
"Don't worry about me. I don't have such a strong reaction when I use this power anymore," Yūga Hōzumi finished. At that moment, a staff member approached to remind the trio that it was time for their entrance.
"Next up, the elite squad from the Leo Duel School! Veteran Xyz Summon users! Yūga Hōzumi! Yuto! Shun!" the announcer enthusiastically introduced.
Amidst the audience's cheers, the trio entered the arena. Unlike Shun Kurosaki's signature stoic expression, Yūga Hōzumi was actually in the mood to wave to the crowd.
"It's... the people from that day?" Yuya Sakaki, who was already in the arena, was startled when he saw the trio enter. "Wasn't the Leo Duel School hunting them? Why are they representing the LDS?"
Yuzu Hiiragi, standing nearby, also noticed the three. Her mind was instantly filled with the events of that day. She wanted to find them and ask for an explanation, but the tournament was about to begin, and their waiting area was far from hers, so she had to let it go.
Only Sora Shiun'in, beside them, licked his lollipop, his expression inscrutable.
…
After Yuya Sakaki gave a speech as the duelist representative, the announcer declared the Maiami Championship officially open.
The announcer signaled for the duelists to insert their invitation cards into their Duel Disks. The Leo Duel School's system would then automatically assign them their opponents.
After Yūga Hōzumi and the others complied, their opponents' photos appeared on their Duel Disks.
Yuto's opponent was Yuzu Hiiragi, Shun's was some unknown scrub, and Yūga Hōzumi's was Sora Shiun'in.
After receiving his matchup, Yūga Hōzumi glanced at Reiji Akaba, seated on the VIP viewing platform, and muttered to himself, "He really loves to stir things up just to watch the show, doesn't he? Well, I'll accept this gift."
"Yuto's opponent... is that the girl who looks so much like Ruri?" Shun Kurosaki asked.
"Yes. And it seems our match is the opening one," Yuto said, getting up to head to the field.
"Hey, don't go easy on her. This is our first battle, after all," Yūga Hōzumi cautioned. The main reason was that Yuto had a history of this; ever since they were kids, he had never gone all out in his duels against Ruri. If he lost to Yuzu Hiiragi, who looked so much like her, he would lose face in front of Reiji Akaba.
Meanwhile, in the Yusho Duel School's waiting area, after finding out who Yuzu's next opponent was, Yuya couldn't help but warn her, "Yuzu, be careful in your duel. Those guys are dangerous."
"But, I don't get the feeling that they're bad people," Yuzu said.
"Don't worry, Yuzu will be fine," Sora said.
"But..." Yuya wanted to say more, but Yuzu had already stood up and left the waiting area.
A moment later, Yuto and Yuzu stood facing each other in the arena.
Looking at the face so similar to Yuya's, Yuzu couldn't help but ask, "Who are you people?"
"We are just a group of wanderers who have lost their home," Yuto replied. "And this is not a battlefield you should be stepping into."
"Battlefield?" Yuzu was confused, but before she could ask more, the Announcer Uncle's voice boomed:
"Duelists gathered in the Battle Hall! You will race across the land and soar through the sky alongside your monsters, chasing each other across the field! Behold, this is the ultimate evolution of dueling: Action Duel!"
From the giant sphere of light above their heads, a card slowly descended.
"Action Field, activate! Bridge Labyrinth!"
Layer upon layer of bridges rose from beneath their feet, endlessly crisscrossing to form a complex labyrinth.
"It seems Reiji Akaba didn't explain the purpose of this tournament, did he? Well, if you have questions, you can ask them after the duel," Yuto said, activating his Duel Disk.
"I'll take the first turn!" Yuto declared.
"I summon The Phantom Knights of Dusty Robe in Attack Position!"
"Next, since I control a 'Phantom Knights' monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand."
"I Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots!"
"Two Level 3 monsters..." Yuzu murmured from the other side of the Bridge Labyrinth, observing Yuto's field.
"I overlay the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Dusty Robe and The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots!"
A purple vortex appeared before Yuto, and the two monsters flew into it, one after another.
"O, souls of knights who fell on the battlefield, awaken from your long slumber and become the light that cleaves the darkness!"
"Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 3, The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!"
The neigh of a warhorse echoed from the vortex as a phantom knight wielding a greatsword galloped out.
The Phantom Knights of Break Sword ATK: 2000
"I set two cards and end my turn," Yuto said.
"I may not think you're bad people, but since you're my opponent, I'll give it my all! My turn! I draw!" Yuzu declared, drawing a card.
"I drew it!" she thought, her heart leaping with joy.
"I activate the Spell Card, Fusion!"
"I fuse Melodious Diva Aria and Melodious Princess Franziska from my hand!"
"O, shimmering honor, O, melody of twilight, unite under the conductor's baton!"
Yuzu pressed her hands together in front of her chest.
"Fusion Summon! Let a passionate song resound on the stage! Come forth, Level 7, Melodious Bloom Diva Prima!"
(end of chapter)