Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

(Professor Kronos LP: 4000)

And so, with both sides shouting their slogans simultaneously, the duel officially began.

"My turn, draw a card!"

Hayato, who went first, drew a card from his deck.

After looking at his hand, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

A perfect hand... this hand is a sure win!

"Professor Chronos... I'm going!" Hayato, brimming with confidence, wiped his nose and shouted to Professor Chronos opposite him.

"Hmph! Go ahead and start your scheme!" Professor Kunonos held up his custom-made duel disk in one hand, his face full of indifference.

He didn't seem to care too much about this duel.

"Oh! I activate the Spell Card [Fusion]! I send [Giant Koala] and [Death Kangaroo] from my hand to the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!"

Hayato sends all three of his cards to the graveyard, then slams a card from his Extra Deck onto the Duel Disk: "Come forth! My ace monster! Fusion Summon—[Lord of OZ] (ATK: 4200)!"

The giant blue koala and the kangaroo boxer were absorbed into the merging vortex and became one.

After that, the King of the Koalas, who combined the characteristics of both, became a large monster with extremely high attack power. He raised his arm and came before everyone like a king.

"...[Lord of OZ]! It's Hayato's ace monster!"

"Attack power 4200... In that case, Professor Chronos won't be able to do anything to Hayato, right?"

"Alas... It's a pity that we're attacking first and can't launch an attack. Otherwise, Professor Chronos could have been eliminated with this punch."

Looking at this majestic monster, everyone couldn't help but sigh in amazement.

Hayato's luck is pretty good! He got these key cards in the first round. It seems even God is on his side!

Judging by attack power alone, this monster could even crush the Titans.

"...It's not over yet! My turn isn't over!"

Having summoned his ace monster, Hayato still hadn't given up on his strategy. Looking at Professor Chronos, whose expression remained unchanged, his eyes narrowed, and he took out another card from his hand and inserted it into the back row of his Duel Disk: "Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Sunrise at Ayers Rock'!"

“…Sunrise at Ayers Rock?” Professor Chronos raised an eyebrow as he looked at the card Hayato pulled out.

“That’s right… The scenery on this card is exactly what I saw a year ago when I was facing the prospect of repeating a grade. I made my dad agree to let me travel to Australia on the condition that I give up dueling!” Holding the magic card in his hand, Hayato continued, “At that time, I originally planned to just throw my deck away in the center of that world… But just as I was struggling with this decision, I suddenly saw the magnificent sight of the sunrise rising from Ayers Rock!”

"That's when I realized... I love dueling the most!"

Everyone: "Hayato..."

"I don't care what form it takes, I want to keep dueling!" Holding the card in his hand, Hayato began to explain its effect: "The effect of [Sunrise at Ayers Rock] is... You can target 1 Beast-Type monster in your Graveyard, Special Summon that Beast-Type monster, and then reduce the ATK of monsters your opponent controls by 200 for each Beast-Type, Winged Beast-Type, or Plant-Type monster in your Graveyard until the end of this turn."

Since Professor Chronos had no monsters on his field, only the revival effect of [Sunrise at Ayers Rock] was applied; the subsequent debuffs simply disappeared.

However, that alone is enough.

"...The object I chose to resurrect is the [Giant Koala] that was just sent to the graveyard as fusion material!"

[Giant Koala] is a Level 7 Beast-Type monster. Normally, to summon it to the field, you need to Tribute two monsters for a Tribute Summon, or use a Spell Card like [Ancient Rules] for a Special Summon.

Hayato's move essentially allowed the resources in the cemetery to be recycled and reused while skipping the liberation phase.

Although his actions were just the most common basic things in Yusei's eyes, they were not particularly sophisticated.

However, for Hayato himself, it was a rare opportunity for growth and change.

Once upon a time, he was a failed student who spent all his time in bed, living a life of idleness and complacency, having failed to make any plans for his future. He spent his days eating and sleeping, living like a pig.

Yet at this moment, he mustered his courage and bared his defiant fangs at Professor Chronos, whom he had once feared…

The changes he made before and after are proof of his growth.

"Like the sun I saw that day, I will never give up my duel..." Looking directly at Professor Chronos opposite him, Hayato spoke again: "No matter what happens, I will always walk this path!"

"I've laid a trap... Turn over!"

Having declared his resolve, Hayato waved his hand, ending his turn and handing the initiative over to Professor Chronos.

"My turn, draw!" Professor Chronos drew a new card from his deck, composed himself, and slowly said, "...Maeda-kun, to be honest, I'm quite surprised."

"It's hard to imagine what kind of mindset you had when you were a struggling student a year ago, and how you worked so hard to get to where you are now."

"If I could, I'd really like to do nothing, just accept your attack directly, and then lose the duel!"

"Professor Kunonos..."

“But!” Chronos’s tone shifted, his eyebrows arching. “Just like I said before, we can’t hold back in the advancement exam! Even if it’s just to acknowledge your determination, I have to give it my all!”

After saying this, Professor Chronos raised his arm and held a green-bordered magic card high above his head: "...Originally, I didn't intend to use this monster on my students...but now I've changed my mind!"

"Maeda-kun, watch closely... this is my full power!" Professor Chronos said, flipping a card over to show everyone present: "Spell Card—[Power Combination] Activated!"

"A combination of powers?! Isn't this...???"

"That's right! This card is a Fusion Spell Card for Machine-Type monsters! The monster that is Fusion Summoned using this card will have its ATK doubled... However, as a price for doubling its ATK, I will take damage equal to the original ATK of that Fusion Monster at the end of the turn."

"...I will send the [Ancient Mechanical Giant], [Ancient Mechanical Soldier], and [Ancient Mechanical Engineer] from my hand to the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!!!"

With his arm raised high, Professor Chronos shouted, "Mechanical constructs that have inherited ancient souls! Unite that power and become the ultimate absolute existence!"

"Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 10 - Ancient Machine Ultimate Titan!"

-

【Ancient Mechanical Ultimate Titan】

(Mechanical/Earth/10-star/Attack: 4400/Defense: 3400)

Fusion/Effect: "Ancient Gear Giant" + 2 "Ancient Gear" monsters

This card cannot be Special Summoned without a Fusion Summon.

①: If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step.

②: If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict battle damage equal to the difference between its ATK and its DEF.

③: If this card is destroyed, you can target 1 "Ancient Gear Giant" in your Graveyard; Special Summon that monster regardless of its Summoning conditions.

-

A deafening roar echoed throughout the entire duel arena.

As Professor Chronos finished speaking, the ultimate war weapon, a centaur-shaped creature wreathed in azure lightning, emerged from the power-integrated heavy factory, raising clouds of dust.

Its enormous size almost exceeded the limits of the venue, barely reaching the top of the ceiling.

Even the once majestic Lord of OZ couldn't help but feel a sense of fear upon seeing this monster...

"...According to the effect of the Spell Card [Power Fusion], the attack power of the Fusion Summoned [Ancient Gear Ultimate Giant] will be doubled!"

(【Ancient Machine Ultimate Titan】Attack Power: 4400→8800)

With a calm yet ruthless tone, Professor Chronos's eyes narrowed, and he immediately entered his battle mode: "Here we go! Here we go! [Ancient Machine Ultimate Titan] Attacks [Lord of OZ]! Ultimate Destruction Fist!!!"

Instead of choosing the Giant Koala, which had lower attack power, Professor Chronos turned his attention to Hayato's culmination of the past year's growth—the Lord of OZ.

Despite the monster's 4200 attack power, in the eyes of the ancient Machine Ultimate Titan, there was no fundamental difference between the two.

Just as Professor Chronos had said earlier, as a teacher, he had no intention of holding back against Hayato in this duel.

After Hayato showed his full strength, it's now his turn to respond in kind!

"...Hayato!!!" Seeing that Hayato seemed about to be defeated, Jaden Yuki couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Ambush and fire..."

"Maeda... what a pity! When [Ancient Machine Ultimate Giant] attacks, the opponent cannot activate Spell & Trap Cards!"

"What...?!"

Taking in Hayato Maeda's shocked expression, Professor Chronos pulled out another card from his hand: "Then, at this moment when the monsters are battling, I will activate this Quick-Play Spell Card in my hand!"

"That's... the restriction lifted?!"

"That's right! This card's effect is to double the attack of all Machine-Type monsters you control until the end of the turn. In return, these monsters will be destroyed during the End Phase!"

Even though victory was within reach, Professor Chronos still didn't stop his actions.

On top of the original doubling, he added another buff to the [Ancient Mechanical Ultimate Titan], doubling its already skyrocketing attack power once again!

(【Ancient Machine Ultimate Titan】Attack Power: 8800→17600)

"1...17600?!"

Stunned by the enormous number, Hayato stood there speechless, his expression freezing for a moment.

17600 minus 4200 equals a massive 13400 points of damage...

"By the way, defense position is meaningless. The Ancient Machine Ultimate Titan has the effect of penetrating defense, which can deal damage to the opponent if the attack power exceeds the defense power!"

Professor Chronos, having delivered the final blow, simply lowered his arm.

At the same time, a powerful punch from the Ancient Machine Ultimate Titan also landed on the head of the Lord of OZ.

"……it's over."

As this thought arose in everyone's minds, Hayato's life points also dropped to 0 after the Lord of OZ was blasted into pieces.

(Hayato Maeda's LP: 4000→0)

"Waaaah..." After losing the duel and realizing that his future was gradually slipping away, Hayato's tears involuntarily streamed down his face.

"Classmate, you lost the advancement exam the day before yesterday..."

"Professor Chronos... thank you..." Hayato bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude for the professor's dedication.

"However, the duel was incredibly exciting, and I witnessed your determination!"

Having won the duel, and standing before the dejected Hayato, Professor Chronos continued, "Therefore... as the de facto head of the Duel Academy, I will... recommend you to the International Fantasy Club!"

To Hayato's surprise, Professor Chronos said something completely different.

"...Professor Chronos?"

"Maeda-kun, go ahead... You're my pride!" After patting Hayato on the shoulder and giving him an affirming look, Professor Chronos turned around and left without looking back.

There was no harsh sarcasm, nor any boastful remarks from the victor.