Want to play cards? I'll use my King's Deck!

"what?"

Yu Xi had no idea what kind of person this uncle was who started cursing at her right away. Shiliuye Xue frowned and stepped forward to argue, "Director Yamashiro, I don't think we were late. We arrived at the examination hall on time or even early. We shouldn't be criticized by you like this."

"Hmph, you're students, you should show teachers even greater respect. It's already extremely rude of you not to arrive before us; you should be the ones bowing your heads and apologizing, you know that!"

Even when faced with Izayoi Yuki, who was famous on campus, Yamashiro didn't give her any kind of treatment.

This unusual attitude surprised Izayoi Yuki.

Even though she hadn't liked this domineering headmaster before, Yamashiro would still show a fawning and ingratiating expression when she was around her. But the Yamashiro of today was completely different from that impression she remembered.

How is this going?

For some reason, Izayoi Yuki sensed something was amiss.

Then she noticed another anomaly.

"Wait a minute, Director Shancheng. Where's the principal? Why isn't Principal Lin here?"

He should have been present to observe the special admissions assessment.

“Principal Lin has something come up, so I will take full responsibility for the assessment.”

Yamashiro announced this with such arrogance, then stopped talking to Izayoi Yuki and turned to look at Yuki.

The condescending gaze and the arrogant attitude of the man in front of Yamashiro made You Xi somewhat displeased, but he still held back for the time being and asked, "Is there anything you need to tell me, Director Yamashiro?"

"It doesn't look particularly special."

Exhaling two puffs of air from his nostrils, Yamashiro pointed at Yuuki's face and said, "You're Izumi Yuuki, right? Listen up! This school is a prestigious institution with a long history. It's not a place where just anyone can come and study. As the Dean of Students at Kiyosumi High School, I have an obligation to ensure the school is clean and tidy, and I won't give anyone the slightest leeway."

"So don't think that just because you seem to have a connection with the principal you can do whatever you want. That kind of thing won't work here."

Shan Cheng delivered a passionate speech, speaking with great righteousness and awe.

Anyone else might have believed it, but unfortunately, all Youxi could hear in these words was boring self-praise, the hypocrisy hidden beneath the surface, and inexplicable hostility.

Therefore, his attitude cooled down, and he lost all respect for the head of the teaching department.

"Oh really? That's great. But in other words, it means that as long as I can produce results that leave you speechless, you'll have no excuse to stop me from enrolling."

Even when faced with the adults' malicious gazes, Yu Xi showed no fear, revealing a hint of aggression lurking beneath her gentle temperament.

"We'll talk about it after you've done it."

Seeing that he hadn't scared anyone, Yamashiro snorted and pulled back his thick neck. He turned to the group of examiners who were silent about the situation and said, "Time's up, let's begin. The Duel Special Recruit Practical Assessment—Teacher Kno, is in your hands now. Don't forget what I just said."

"Okay, don't worry. I will 'properly' test this student, You Xi."

The man whose name was called adjusted his glasses slightly and stood up from behind the table.

He was tall and slender, dressed in a well-fitting suit, exuding the air of an elite office worker.

"Kno?"

Izayoi Yuki looked puzzled. She had never heard of this teacher's name before, nor had she ever seen him at school. He seemed completely unfamiliar.

Shouldn't this assessment be the responsibility of Mr. Wang Que and the others who teach the dueling class?

"I'm sorry, You Xi, I made you see some unpleasant things. But don't feel any pressure from now on, just show us your true abilities."

Keno extended his hand to Youxi and said with a smile.

"I will."

Yu Xi didn't detect any goodwill in Krona's seemingly gentle words, but out of courtesy, he still shook hands with him.

"Be careful, Izumi."

Once the two separated, taking advantage of Kno's absence, Izayoi Yuki quietly reminded Yuki, "Something's not right about this."

"I know, but now the arrow is on the bowstring, and we have no choice but to release it."

Yuki wasn't entirely unaware of what Izayoi Yuki had noticed. After all, the other party's actions were far too obvious.

However, what he was going to do ultimately remained unchanged.

After assembling the Duel Disk and placing the carefully selected card deck inside, Yuki stood in her designated spot when the assessment time arrived.

Neither side engaged in further casual conversation; upon receiving a signal from those around them, they simultaneously opened their mouths—

"Duel—!!"

【Yu Xi LP: 8000】

【Krono LP: 8000】

"On my turn, I first activate a Continuous Spell from my hand: 'Severed Darkness'."

In the practical assessment, the right to attack first automatically belongs to the examinee. You Xi drew a card without hesitation and put it into the duel disk.

A vibrant green magic card appears in the front row; the card depicts "Super Magic Swordsman - Dark Paladin," who once shone brightly in his duel against Izayoi Yuki.

What followed were the cards that had been put into play after discussions and consideration with the two girls.

"As long as this card is on the field, if I successfully Normal Summon or Special Summon a Normal Monster other than a Token, I can draw 1 card once per turn. Then, my Normal Spell: 'Rough Man's Expectation'!"

"If you control no monsters, Special Summon the Normal Monster 'Gazelle the Beast King' from your Deck according to its effect."

"Gazelle, the Beast King, Level 4 / Earth / Beast" "ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1200"

As light and shadow shifted, a moonlit beast, seemingly existing only in fantasy, leaped out of the car and roared incessantly.

"Because of the effect of 'Severed Darkness,' I draw 1 card. I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion,' fusing 'Baphomet' from my hand with 'Mythical Beast King' on the field! Fusion Summon—"

"Show yourself, 'Winged Mythical Beast Chimera'!!"

Chapter 41 Ancient Machinery!

A spiral fusion effect bloomed in the air in front of Yuki, and the souls of beasts and demons merged into one in Yuki's declaration, transforming into monsters that only exist in fantasy stories.

With its wings flapping and its snake-like tail thrashing wildly, the two-headed monster roared and howled angrily at Keno.

"Winged Beast Chimera, Level 6/Wind/Beast/Fusion" "ATK: 2100/DEF: 1800"

Brush brush.

The moment the "Winged Beasts" appeared, the teachers who weren't involved in the actual battles lowered their heads and started taking notes on paper.

The bald, mountain-town director sneered and muttered disdainfully, "Hmph, summoning a fusion monster right from the start? Looks like you've got some skills. But this level of fusion isn't enough. You have to remember, the opponent you're facing is..."

"I'll set two more cards face down, then the turn ends."

After placing all his cards face down, Yu Xi announced the turn rotation, and then it was the turn of the practical examiner named Keno.

"My turn."

Kno adjusted his glasses and leisurely pulled out the card. His demeanor was that of an elegant gentleman from some ancient family.

After drawing the card, he opened the side slot of the Duel Disk in the same rhythm and placed a card inside—

"In the first main phase, I will first activate the area spell: 'Gear Street'."

"Boom!"

As Kno spoke, the earth suddenly trembled.

Various buildings made of gears and steel rose from the ground, surrounding the crowd. In an instant, Yu Xi felt as if she had been transported back to the world of steampunk civilization.

"Gear Street, I remember this card is..."

Compared to this sudden and bizarre encounter, the card name mentioned by Kno was more likely to evoke Yuki's memories.

The next card Kno used further confirmed his idea.

"Then comes the usual magic: 'Ancient Mechanical Projectile'."

"If you control no monsters, you can target 1 face-up card you control; destroy that card, and Special Summon 1 'Ancient Gear' monster from your Deck, ignoring its conditions. The one to destroy, of course, is 'Gear Town.'"

Cities had just begun to spring up on the land when the end of the world was nigh.

Vast stretches of steel buildings collapsed, and from the ruins rose a terrifying, cast-iron giant—

"Appear, ancient weapon that ravages the world, Special Summon 'Ancient Mechanical Titan'!"

"Ancient Mechanical Giant, Level 8/Earth/Mechanical" "ATK: 3000/DEF: 3000"

"Impossible, it's actually an 'Ancient Mechanical Giant'!?"

Before Yuki could say anything, Izayoi Yuki asked a question first when she saw the steel giant with power comparable to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

The "Ancient Machines" series is as well-known as the Cybernetic series in the realm of Machine-type card duels. Many duelists have studied under it, and there are several renowned masters among them.

But that's not the focus right now.

The key point is that this isn't a deck that teachers at Kiyosumi High School could use. Furthermore, this isn't a deck suitable for use in duel exams.

"—Director Shancheng, who exactly is this Mr. Kenuo? He's not from our school, is he?"

The stern, questioning gaze shot straight at the head of student affairs, who chuckled smugly, "Heh heh heh, finally figured it out? Too bad it's too late."

"That's right! Teacher Keno is not from our school. This top student comes from Morning Light Duel Academy."

Although he's still a student teacher, becoming a full-fledged teacher is only a matter of time. Asking him to deal with a mere brat is a complete waste of his talent. However, this way, that kid surnamed Quan is finished; he won't have the slightest chance. The duel might even be over before it begins.

At the end, Yamashiro let out another gloating laugh. Hearing this laughter, Izayoi Yuki's face darkened.

Being a teacher at the Duel Academy isn't easy.

That requires solid theoretical knowledge and considerable dueling skills; otherwise, one will only be ridiculed and looked down upon by the students. Those who can establish themselves there are, if not comparable to, professional duelists, and not far off.

Of course, different dueling academies have different requirements and standards, so generalizations cannot be made.