Duel Academy Entrance Examination — Practical Test Hall

The entrance exam for Duel Academy was divided into two parts: a written test and a practical duel.

Each accounted for 50% of the total score.

The written test didn't just cover Duel Monsters knowledge—it also included ordinary subjects like math, literature, and social studies. The Academy claimed it was all "for the balanced development of students in morality, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor."

After all, even if it was a Duel Academy, it still had to live up to the "Academy" part of its name.

In regular classes, students studied not only duel theory and card strategy but also standard academic subjects. Fail a subject, and you'd need to take a makeup test. Fail again, and you'd have to pay to retake the class.

The practical test, however, was a different story.

Applicants would bring their own decks and duel directly against the Academy instructors.

Instructor: "I Tribute Saggi the Dark Clown to activate the Trap Card — Crush Card Virus! All monsters in your hand and on your field with 1500 or more ATK are destroyed!"

Minazuki: "Using a Trap to seal away my strongest monsters, huh? But that's fine! This turn, I'll offer Little White Rabbit as tribute to Tribute Summon—Leo Wizard!"

[Leo Wizard ★★★★★ (Level 5)][EARTH][Spellcaster][ATK 1350/DEF 1200]

"Leo Wizard's ATK is only 1350, so it's unaffected by Crush Card Virus!"

Instructor: "What?! A Level 5 Normal Monster with only 1350 ATK? You actually put that in your deck?"

"Go, Leo Wizard! Direct attack!"

[Instructor LP: 800 → 0]

Of course, the instructors weren't using their personal decks. They used test decks specifically designed for exams, with limited power.

After each duel, the instructor would grade the applicant's performance based on how they handled the duel itself.

The instructor picked up the score sheet and jotted something down.

"Minazuki — Practical Score: 30 points."

Minazuki's eyes widened. "Why?! I won against you! Shouldn't that be a perfect 50 points?!"

"No one in their right mind would put a Level 5 Normal Monster like that in their deck. Your deck construction is far too immature."

The written exam was worth 50 points, and the practical exam another 50.

A total score of 70 or higher would place a student in Ra Yellow, representing the elite among freshmen.

Scores below 70 would relegate a student to the most rundown dorm — Slifer Red.

With its cramped four-person bunk rooms, it was a world apart from the European-style private rooms of the Yellow and Blue dorms.

As for the Obelisk Blue Dorm, symbol of the Academy's pinnacle, it was reserved only for outstanding second-year students — or anyone who scored 110 points on the entrance exam.

Why 110 points for a 100-point exam?

"Professor Hakutaku! I wish to challenge your official deck!"

A tall, beautiful girl with long hair and a composed, alluring presence stepped forward during her practical test — immediately sending a ripple of shock through the room.

Challenging an instructor's official deck raised the cap of one's practical score to 70 points.

But this was no small risk — if you challenged a teacher recklessly without showing adequate skill, it would only prove your lack of self-awareness, and your impression score would drop instead.

The professor's expression brightened with mild interest.

"Oh? Interesting. State your number."

"—Applicant No. 32, Alexis Rhodes!"

"Alexis Rhodes?!"

This time, even the spectators — including upperclassmen who'd come to observe — were stunned.

"Alexis Rhodes… Isn't she the sister of Atticus Rhodes, the school's pretty-boy duelist?"

"Wow, so the siblings both look like models. Unreal."

"And not just looks — Atticus Rhodes is one of the Academy's kings! Alongside Zane Truesdale, the Cyber-Style duelist, he's known as one of Duel Academy's 'Twin Pillars'!"

"So his sister's dueling too, huh? Challenging the Professor's official deck right out of the gate… Though, well, given the opponent, that's kind of a weird matchup."

Professor Hakutaku threw open his long coat, revealing several decks tucked neatly inside its inner pockets — his signature decks.

Or rather, his collection of signature decks.

Years ago, he'd been known by another name — "The Store Wrecker."

Seven years ago, he had once dueled Hoshino at the Kame Game Shop.

Back then, his unique style was to carefully analyze his opponent's entire dueling approach, then pick a deck from his arsenal that directly countered it.

Even Hoshino had struggled against him in that match.

It was precisely that strategic versatility that made him so valuable. While his raw dueling power might not have been top-tier, his knowledge of deck archetypes and strategies was among the very best.

When Duel Academy was recruiting teachers, Hoshino had immediately thought of him — and of course, she wasn't about to let such talent slip away.

As for his old "Store Wrecker" reputation… well, that was a bit of a dark past. Only Hoshino, Yugi, and a few others even knew about it.

"Come then," Hakutaku said with a grin, "choose whichever deck you wish to face."

Honestly, with his coat flared open like that, facing a girl… from the back, it looked a bit too much like some kind of pervert move.

"Facing an unfamiliar deck, though, the Professor's actual dueling skill isn't… exactly overwhelming," one upperclassman whispered.

That was why the spectators found this match so oddly delicate.

"I activate the Ritual Spell Card — Machine Angel Ritual! From my hand and field, I send two Level 3 monsters, Cyber Tutubon, to the Graveyard as Tributes to perform a Ritual Summon!"

Alexis gracefully sent the two Cyber monsters from her hand and field to the Graveyard.

The cute, ballerina-like Cyber Tutubon fused into the mechanical angelic light of the ritual.

Incidentally, the Duel Disks used nowadays still relied on physical cards.

Even though Kaiba himself had introduced the new AR Duel Disk model three years ago at a press conference, he later shut down production, saying:

"It's too soon to link human consciousness through augmented reality."

Thus, the AR Duel Disk went down in history as the shortest-lived model ever—second only to the original disk-throwing prototypes.

"—Total Level 6, Ritual Summon! Appear—Cyber Angel Benten!"

[Cyber Angel Benten ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][LIGHT][Fairy/Ritual/Effect][ATK 1800/DEF 1500]

The Machine Angel's light descended upon the field.

The crimson fan, lined with ceremonial chains, spun elegantly in the girl's hand.

Through the power of Ritual Magic, Cyber Angel Benten materialized in a flash of dazzling light, her beauty as divine as her strength.

"Oh, a Cyber Angel deck? How fitting—cute and elegant, just like its user~"

Professor Hakutaku chuckled, arms folded, as he hid behind his face-down Defense monster.

"But with only 1800 ATK, your Benten won't be able to break through my Big Shield Gardna!"

[Big Shield Gardna – DEF 2600]

Alexis's lips curved into a confident smile.

"Professor Hakutaku, a woman's cuteness often hides a blade sharper than a rose's thorn~"

She slid another Spell Card into her Duel Disk.

"I activate the Spell Card — Stop Defense! It forces your Defense Position monster into Attack Position!"

Big Shield Gardna lowered his massive shield reluctantly. Compared to his impressive 2600 DEF, his Attack Power was laughably low.

[Big Shield Gardna – ATK 100]

"Now it's over! Go, Cyber Angel Benten — Burning Heavenly Dance!"

The crimson fan erupted in flames as Benten twirled through the air, unleashing a blazing strike that engulfed the hapless defender.

[Hakutaku LP: 4000 → 2300]

Hakutaku whistled appreciatively. "Not bad at all. As expected of Atticus's sister — quite the talent."

"My strength goes far beyond that, Professor~"

Alexis raised her hand, eyes gleaming with determination.

"Cyber Angel Benten's special effect activates!"

"When this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original DEF."

"The original DEF of your Big Shield Gardna is 2600 — which means you take another 2600 damage, Professor!"

"Wha—?! Nani?!!"

[Hakutaku LP: 2300 → 0]

"Ugh… I should've researched that archetype better…"

[Duel Over! Winner: Alexis Rhodes!]

"Impressive as always — Professor Hakutaku has been defeated."

"Even so, to take him down so cleanly… she's probably getting placed in Obelisk Blue as a first-year."

"She's so pretty and so strong… she's basically guaranteed to be this year's Academy Goddess."

As the spectators gushed over Alexis's beauty and talent, a sudden scream echoed from the other side of the testing hall.

"MAMAMIAAA!! My Ancient Gear Golem! What have you done!?"

[Ancient Gear Golem – ATK 3000]

Professor Vellian Crowler had just summoned his ace monster — only to see it instantly fall into a trap.

A petite, golden-haired girl stood across from him, her bright blue eyes sparkling mischievously. She stomped her tiny foot, activating the card already waiting beneath her opponent's monster.

"Trap Card, activate — Adorable Pay-to-Win Trap!"

[Adorable Pay-to-Win Trap — Effect: When a Level 5 or higher monster is Normal or Special Summoned, return 1 "Lily" monster you control to the hand; inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK.]

"I return Heroic Spirits – Da Vinci Lily from my field to my hand, and activate Pay-to-Win Trap! Go!"

With a swirl of twinkling light, the little Da Vinci swung her wand — shaped like a Saint Quartz crystal — flashing a sly, merchant-like grin.

"Hehehe~ Any SSR-tier monster that hits the field must pay the Saint Quartz tax!"

"I-I've never heard of paying taxes to summon a monster! You're telling me I'll take damage equal to Ancient Gear Golem's ATK — that's 3000 damage!!"

"Oh, don't worry, Professor."

The girl — Akasha — smiled sweetly and made a little "money" gesture with her fingers.

"I'll give you a special 20% discount for this limited-time event! Chain Energy Boost to Pay-to-Win Trap!"

[Energy Boost – Trap Card Effect: Discard 1 card; target 1 face-up monster on the field; that monster gains 1500 ATK until the end of this turn.]

"I discard a card and target your Ancient Gear Golem! Its ATK increases by 1500!"

The surrounding students gasped in realization.

"She used the chain mechanic perfectly! The second card resolves first — which means Energy Boost applies before Pay-to-Win Trap calculates the damage!"

[Ancient Gear Golem – ATK: 3000 → 4500]

"Then… that means the Professor will take 4500 damage!!"

Crowler froze, unable to look at the shining wave of Saint Quartz energy rushing toward him.

"W-wait-a-second-o! I'm-a professor, I can't-a lose to a studentooo!"

Akasha winked, putting a finger to her lips.

"Ciao~ Professor Crowler."

[Crowler LP: 4000 → 0]

"Orz… Mamma miaaaa! It's all over! My reputation—ruined, finito!"

Crowler collapsed to his knees, utterly defeated. His authority as a Duel Professor shattered in an instant.

"Professor Crowler was one-shotted…?!"

"Unlike Hakutaku, Crowler's an actual top-tier duelist! How did a new student take him out like that?"

"For someone that skilled, she must be a prodigy — or some kind of dueling demon!"

"Who is that adorable blonde girl? She looks foreign, doesn't she?"

"Her dueling strength is on par with Alexis! Two goddess-tier duelists in the same year — this Academy's gonna be wild!"

"I wonder who's stronger between the two…"

Akasha put away her Duel Disk and puffed out her cheeks in a sulk, scanning the crowd.

"(｀´) Honestly! Hoshino-nee promised she'd come watch my entrance duel — where is she?"

A gentle voice called out to her from the side.

"Hello, my name's Alexis Rhodes. You were amazing — may I ask who you are?"

The sheer dominance Akasha had shown against Crowler had naturally caught Alexis's attention.

Before entering the Academy, Alexis had never met another girl her age who could duel at her level. But now, it seemed Duel Academy truly was a nest of hidden dragons.

"Me?" Akasha blinked in surprise at the beautiful girl addressing her, then smiled politely.

"My name's Kashar Hawkins — but you can call me Akasha~"

"—We're late! We're late!" ×2

Before the two girls could continue, the doors burst open.

Jaden and Hoshino came running in at the exact same moment, shouting in perfect sync.