"1000 points!"
Professor Crowler stood before the score screen, his hands clasped in excitement as he gazed at the name and score of the top-ranking student.
"As expected of Kaiser!"
"A perfect score!!"
"Whooooa—!!!"
The students chattered excitedly as they stared at the leaderboard.
In his third year at Duel Academy, Zane concluded his perfect academic life with a flawless score in the graduation exam.
Based on this result, Professor Crowler solemnly informed Zane that he would represent the students in the graduation duel and showcase his skills.
Of course, the opponent would be of his own choosing.
And naturally, there could only be one result—
Jaden Yuki!
Several days later—
"AAAH, why, why didn't I surpass Hikaru again?"
"Because you were too focused on the written exam," Chazz said casually from behind, arms crossed. "You used a different Deck than usual, so you messed up in the promotion duel and didn't get a perfect score. Isn't that obvious?"
"No, at the very least, Bastion did beat me on the written part," Hikaru said, glancing at his report card with a cold sweat.
Just a little more, seriously just a little more, and his first-place ranking would have been taken by Bastion.
Fortunately, he scored a perfect mark in the duel portion again—otherwise, things might've gotten tricky.
As the three discussed their grades, Syrus nervously watched the field.
In the school duel arena, Jaden and Zane were already making their preparations for the final graduation duel.
"Why…"
He recalled the scene from a few days ago, when Zane had suddenly walked into their dorm and smilingly declared that he wanted to duel Jaden in the graduation match.
"Why what?" Chazz asked offhandedly.
"Shouldn't a graduation duel be first vs. first? Why did he choose Jaden instead?"
Fwoosh—
Just as he asked that, a figure crawled out from under the table, startling the surrounding students and prompting Alexis to give a helpless expression.
"A classic vs. a free spirit.
"A tactician vs. a feeler."
Atticus stood up, arms folded, striking a pose that left everyone around speechless before continuing, "Those two are completely opposite duelists."
"I see," Chazz mused. "If the axes were classic vs. academy-style, the most academic, most tactical would obviously be Kaiser. And the one who relies most on instinct and personal style is clearly Jaden.
"In contrast, while Hikaru is also unique, his dueling is firmly within traditional bounds."
"So, in a situation where their skills are close, choosing Jaden and witnessing his growth means more to Zane," Alexis muttered.
By now, both duelists had completed their preparations.
Hikaru also closed his book and looked up at the stage earnestly.
What would this classic matchup from the canon look like in this world?
"Duel!"
"My turn!" Zane swiftly drew a card. "I activate the Spell Card, Different Dimension Capsule. This lets me banish one card from my Deck face-down. On my second Standby Phase after activation, this card is destroyed, and the banished card is added to my hand."
The original version of Different Dimension Capsule.
Hikaru noticed the difference from his own memory, but wasn't surprised since the effect didn't differ.
"I banish one card from my Deck face-down."
"One card from the Deck—"
"Could it be Power Bond?"
Their friends began to speculate.
"Next, I Normal Summon Cyber Dragon Drei!"
A mechanical dragon adorned in golden lines appeared on his field.
[Cyber Dragon Drei] Level 4│LIGHT│Machine│1800 ATK
"While Cyber Dragon Drei is on the field, its name becomes Cyber Dragon!"
"I Set one card and end my turn!"
"Just one Set card..."
Jaden eyed the face-down card. 'Could it be Cybernetic Revolution?'
"My turn!"
The onlookers swallowed their saliva in anticipation.
How would Jaden duel?
"I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
He quickly placed a monster on the field.
'Wow…'
Hikaru raised his eyebrow.
Bubbleman—Jaden's exclusive card!
A hero resembling Batman, with a water gun attached to his right hand, appeared.
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman] Level 4│WATER│Warrior│800 ATK
"When Elemental HERO Bubbleman is summoned and I control no other cards, I can draw two cards!"
This is Jaden's signature draw engine! Too strong!
In the original, many cards were later updated to match their OCG effects, but Bubbleman remained an exception. Even with an OCG version, anime Jaden could still draw freely with it. Truly an eternal support in his Deck.
"Next, I activate the Field Spell, Fusion Gate!"
He slotted the card into the Duel Disk, and the field transformed, glowing with countless green lines that gave everything an illusory appearance.
"A Fusion support card? He's using it now?" Chazz said in surprise. "This could help Kaiser summon Cyber End Dragon!"
"But he's Jaden. He wouldn't think like that," Bastion said with a smile.
"I fuse the Bubbleman on my field with Sparkman from my hand—come forth, Elemental HERO The Shining!"
A radiant, white-clad hero made a grand entrance.
[Elemental HERO The Shining] Level 8│LIGHT│Warrior│2600 ATK
"The Shining's effect—its Attack increases by 300 for each banished Elemental HERO card!"
[Elemental HERO The Shining, ATK: 2600 → 3200]
"Battle! Go, The Shining! Attack Cyber Dragon!" Jaden yelled excitedly.
The hero bathed in sunlight leapt forward, charging at the mechanical dragon. Just then, Zane flipped his Set card:
"Naive, Jaden!
"I activate the Trap Card—Attack Reflector Unit!"
"What!!?" Jaden was shocked.
"It wasn't Cybernetic Revolution!?"
"I Tribute one Cyber Dragon on my field to Special Summon Cyber Barrier Dragon from my hand or Deck!"
Zane used a tactic Jaden had never seen before. Lights, lenses, and mechanical parts swarmed Cyber Dragon Drei, rapidly transforming it into a heavily armored mech-dragon.
[Cyber Barrier Dragon] Level 6│LIGHT│Machine│800 ATK
"Ugh—keep attacking!" Seeing it only had 800 Attack, Jaden didn't hesitate.
Zane said immediately, "Cyber Barrier Dragon's effect—when it's in Attack Position, once per turn, it can negate an opponent's attack!"
Cyber Barrier Dragon raised its tail, reflecting the image of The Shining with its mirrors. The hero hesitated in confusion and abruptly halted its charge.
"As expected of Kaiser!" Jaden shouted, pumped.
"Then, I end my turn!"