The 700-point Attack increase instantly turned what had been a losing position for Flame Wingman into a narrow advantage.
4000 vs. 3900—two monsters boasting near-top-tier Attack clashed in a head-on collision.
"Haaah!!"
Flame Swordsman roared, the flames coiling around his Salamandra Sword blazing even hotter—suddenly, the next moment, Flame Wingman chose to evade. The single wing on his back spread wide, and with incredible agility, he narrowly slipped past Flame Swordsman's fierce strike.
The dragon head on his arm flared with heat, charging up energy. In that same instant, after dodging the blow, Flame Wingman countered with his own attack.
Flame Swordsman tried to raise his sword to block, but that mere 100 Attack difference decided it.
A torrent of fire spewed from the dragon's maw, slipping just beyond Flame Swordsman's guard and striking him squarely in the chest.
BOOM!!!
The explosion was like a magical furnace bursting apart, sending a storm of searing energy in every direction. Seeing this, Professor White at once deployed a defensive magic circle, shielding Class 1-E from the blast.
However, Chuck wasn't so lucky. The explosion blasted him off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground with a cry of pain.
[Chuck, LP: 2300 → 2200]
Before he could even rise, Flame Wingman descended before him again, and Alicia's voice rang out once more.
"Flame Wingman's effect activates again! 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 Attack! Flame Swordsman's original Attack is 1800, so you take 1800 damage—Spark Breaker!!"
"Hraaah!!"
After a brief charge, Flame Wingman swung his flaming arm down again, scorching Chuck directly in the face. Chuck let out another anguished scream.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
[Chuck, LP: 2200 → 400]
From the sidelines, Carl clenched his fists tightly. Though he often looked down on Chuck, Chuck was still a vassal of Prince Autrys. Seeing him humiliated so thoroughly filled Carl with anger as well.
He turned toward Autrys, who was watching with a grim expression but remained silent.
After a second, sensing Carl's gaze, Autrys spoke softly. "This is Chuck's battle. As his comrades, what we must do is watch it through to the end. I won't go picking a fight with Alicia over this. If you lose a duel, you win it back yourself."
Back on the field, Chuck's body was smoking from the flames. Though the damage wasn't lethal—since Flame Wingman wasn't a Spirit—the pain was still excruciating.
It took him several deep breaths before he finally managed to stand, his uniform scorched and his face covered in soot. He looked at Alicia, whose expression remained calm.
"You... really are strong. I can't beat you as I am now. But... I won't give up this duel, and I won't give up on defeating you someday!"
Alicia stared in confusion. Weren't they fighting just to decide who would be class representative? Did that mean even after she won the position, he'd keep challenging her for it?
Deciding it wasn't worth puzzling over, she simply let the thought go.
Chuck gritted his teeth and looked at his last remaining monster, Hayabusa Knight. "My turn ends! Now, both my Hayabusa Knight's and your Flame Wingman's Attack return to normal!"
[Hayabusa Knight, DEF: 700 | ATK: 200 → 1200]
[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, ATK: 4000 → 3300 | Equipped: Favorite HERO]
Alicia glanced at Chuck's field—only Hayabusa Knight remained, with one face-down card behind it. She raised her hand. "My turn! Draw!!"
She looked at the card she drew, but playing it safe, she chose not to summon the monster—Keeper of Dragon Magic—and instead went straight for the win.
"Battle Phase! Flame Wingman, attack Hayabusa Knight! Skyscraper Shoot!!"
Flame Wingman soared once more from the skyscraper's peak, wrapped in crimson fire, slamming down like a fiery comet that obliterated Hayabusa Knight into shards of light.
Then Alicia declared again, "Flame Wingman's 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 Attack! Hayabusa Knight's original Attack is 1000, so you take 1000 damage—Spark Breaker!!"
"AAAAHH!!"
Chuck took the hit full on, his scream echoing across the arena before collapsing to the ground, completely spent.
[Chuck, LP: 400 → 0]
"Chuck!!"
"Chuck!"
"Chuck, are you okay!?"
The students of Class 1-E rushed over to help him up. Though they looked disappointed by his defeat, none of them thought Alicia had won just because she used rare cards like Favorite HERO.
Rare cards might have helped, sure, but that wasn't the real reason she won.
After all, every student at Saint Fusion Academy owned at least one or two rare cards. And Chuck himself had used Flame Swordsrealm, a card no one else had even heard of.
The truth was simple: a rare card was only as powerful as the duelist wielding it.
Alicia could draw out Favorite HERO's full potential because of her skill. In someone else's hands, it might never have shone as brightly.
"Chuck, are you all right?" Professor White stepped forward to check on him.
Chuck clutched his chest, breathing heavily. "Haa... haa... I'm fine, Instructor... just tired!"
White raised an eyebrow, then placed a hand on Chuck's forehead, channeling a bit of magic to examine him. Finding no serious injury, only exhaustion, he nodded.
Then he stood, turning toward the class. "Since Chuck has been defeated, the position of Class 1 Representative officially goes to Alicia!
"Everyone, give her a round of applause!"
With that, he led the applause himself.
A sharp chorus of claps echoed across the courtyard. The students of Class 1-E exchanged a few reluctant glances before accepting the outcome and joining in.
Clap, clap, clap!
Clap, clap, clap!
Clap, clap, clap!
...
Watching her classmates applaud half-heartedly, Alicia didn't feel particularly happy.
Abruptly, then Yuui appeared beside her and spoke softly.
"Now they recognize your strength. And one day, they'll recognize you as a person, too.
"Don't worry. No matter what lies ahead, I'll walk this road with you. Until the day our contract is fulfilled."
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]