Everyone: "..."
That development truly blindsided everyone.
Even Mokuba, who had the most faith in Kira, thought by the end that Kira had given up on winning. His actions indeed looked like the duel was merely to stimulate the opponent and awaken Rainbow Dragon, with no desire to win.
Who knew he'd pull some inexplicable cards on the opponent's turn, and with a rigged coin under the table, carry Jesse and Rainbow Dragon straight off the stage...
Jesse himself was dumbfounded.
He hadn't even thought about winning beforehand, nor did he think he had much chance to beat the Duel King. But in that last turn, he truly believed he would win.
He'd even awakened Rainbow Dragon, the mood built to a peak, only for a sudden twist to throw out his back...
He couldn't help looking at the card on his Dueling Disk.
From Kira—the Arcana Force 0 - The Fool that he hadn't been able to get rid of to the very end.
Looking back now, there was nothing foolish about it—this was the MVP of the duel.
He even started to worry, could that last bit have pissed Rainbow Dragon back into the tablet?
Didn't seem impossible. After all, Rainbow Dragon is a god-tier monster. It slept for ages, only to wake to this scene. Maybe it would despair at the dark modern dueling environment and go back to sleep...
"Jesse?"
The lost-in-thought Jesse was called back by Kira's voice.
"Ah, sorry... ahaha."
Jesse smiled awkwardly, picked up The Fool from his Disk, and handed it to Kira.
"Mr. Kira's dueling is really... as distinctive as the rumors say, hahaha."
Kira smiled. He knew Jesse was being polite, and the prestigious title of Duel King was doing some work here. If it had been someone else across from him, this might have turned into a fistfight.
"Your dueling was excellent as well," Kira returned the courtesy. "I witnessed the extraordinary bond between you and your Crystals.
"Keep that passion, and your future achievements will be limitless."
"Thank you."
Jesse shook his hand.
Meanwhile, the big eye had reappeared at some point, muttering quietly from the back: "To keep one's passion even after being tormented by such an evil existence... a real talent..."
But as soon as it spoke, the big eye shivered, sensing some killing intent.
It instinctively turned and saw a silver-haired, white-robed, fairy-like, cool enchantress looking at it coldly, twirling her wand with practiced ease.
The eye jolted and ducked its head.
"My mistake. I'll never badmouth my master again."
Only then did Silent Magician smile.
Strangely, she hadn't said a single word the whole time, and her smile was as sweet and beautiful as ever. Yet somehow, the eye instinctively sensed a danger behind that sweetness, like a thousand blades hidden behind the smile.
It suddenly thought, maybe that's how duelists across from Kira feel when they see him smile.
Familiars do resemble their masters...
In any case, the Rainbow Dragon excavation was a success.
Kira himself had little interest in the Crystal Beast deck; in his impression, no matter the version or environment, Crystals were kind of a perennial tier-low.
Of course, there's development potential, and he remembered many future Crystal support cards. But even with buffs, they couldn't keep pace with an environment accelerating into madness, never really escaping low-tier status.
Still, he agreed to cooperate with Pegasus and Industrial Illusions, and would establish a Crystal-specialty research group in his lab.
"Wonderful, thank you Mr. Kira!"
Jesse was delighted.
"Oh right, the Academy told me there'll be an exchange with the main campus next term," Jesse said excitedly. "I'll definitely visit your lab then.
"I look forward to your guidance!"
"Sure."
They shook hands again.
He remembered this, too—Jesse was originally slated to appear next term.
Not just Jesse. Led by visiting teacher Professor Viper, there'd be Volcanic user Axel Brodie, Fossil deck user Jim Crocodile Cook, Crystal Beast user Jesse, and the Gecko Family heir Adrian Gecko—heavy hitters introduced this season.
As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that these transfers, whether allies or enemies, are no pushovers. Each is highly skilled, most could trounce all of the main-campus protagonist crew except Jaden, their power level a whole tier higher.
Some even surpassed Jaden at the time.
This term was nearing its end, and the exchange wasn't far off.
Kira knew many among them had their own agendas. While there were pure students like Jesse, there were also those willing to sacrifice all students for demonic power to revive a loved one (the professor), undercover agents like Axel, and the scion Gecko investigating dark forces...
At the center of it all was Professor Viper, bewitched by Yubel, holding a duel event that siphoned students' life force—the root of it all.
…
…
This term had reached its finale.
A few days ago, the term's big event, the GX Tournament, concluded. Only finals remained.
Jaden was shocked to hear it.
"Huh? The tournament's over?" Jaden blinked. "When was the finals? How did I not know?"
"Right when we went to deal with Mello..." Kira said, not looking up as he flipped through a newly acquired batch of cards.
"I thought you knew."
"I didn't! Damn, I missed the finals—so many duels I didn't fight... Does that mean you didn't place either, Kira?"
Kira chuckled: "I didn't even enter."
"Huh?" Jaden blinked twice. "Wasn't entry mandatory for all students?"
"I told the Chancellor I was busy... Besides, a tournament at that level would feel like bullying elementary schoolers." Kira shrugged.
"Well... for you, yeah, probably."
Jaden propped his chin, listless.
"Damn, I missed so many duels—what a million-LP loss."
Kira smiled.
"Is that so? Then I can introduce a duelist for you to spar with—one I'm sure you'll enjoy."
Jaden's eyes lit up and he rushed over: "Who? A legendary duelist?"
"Not exactly. But... call it a legendary deck," Kira said with a mysterious smile. "Jaden, have you heard of 'Crystal Beasts'?"