The next day, Yugen woke up early.
He packed his luggage that was already sorted, various models of Duel Discs, completed decks, and a spare deck that had expanded to over a hundred cards for backup...
He boarded the special flight sent by Duel Academy for new students, flew to the legendary new sanctum where Duel Academy was located.
He had to admit, President Kaiba's investment in the academy was extravagant; the island's size was significant. In the second season, Judai got lost on the Academy Island for days trying to find the school after returning with his Neo deck. Throughout the series, the island hid ancient ruins, secret laboratories, and various other facilities.
So even though it's a school, it seems to be about the size of a small town.
As the plane approached, Yugen peeked out the window, surveying the island from above, noticing the lush green forest and the massive volcano crater in the back, feeling like he had seen it somewhere before...
A spark of realization hit Yugen's mind.
Wait a minute, this aerial view... why does it look a little like "Flame King's Sanctuary"?
Flame King's Sanctuary is a core Field Spell Card from the Flame King deck, but it shouldn't exist in the GX anime.
Yugen hadn't noticed it before, but now upon personally approaching Duel Academy Island, he discovered for the first time that the island's shape resembled the card art about ninety to a hundred percent.
It must be a coincidence... right?
At nine in the morning, the new students gathered in the auditorium for the opening ceremony, listening to Principal Jiaodao's speech.
"Welcome, elites of dueling."
Principal Jiaodao stood on the podium, smiling into the microphone.
"You have all opened the narrow door with your prowess..."
"Snore~ Snore~"
Snoring from the front row attracted sideway glances from the surrounding students.
Even without looking, Yugen could guess it was Yuki Judai, who had fallen asleep during the principal's second sentence.
But honestly, Yugen admired Judai's talent. Everyone was standing before the podium during the student speech session, and Judai stood quite forward.
Facing the pressure from the school leadership directly, ignoring the loud noise from the speakers, he could sleep standing up. That alone was Judai's unique skill.
Thud.
It seemed Judai missed his cue, tilting his body and falling down, causing quite a commotion.
Professor Chronos from the back couldn't bear it: "The principal is speaking, Nonne! Are you calcium deficient, Nonne?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry." Judai sat up, grinning, scratching his head, "Made a little mistake..."
Chronos got so angry his old face turned from Pot of Greed to Pot of Rage—instantly flushed red.
What special mistake? Sleeping during the principal's speech, caught red-handed, and the first response isn't to reflect but to regret getting caught?
Just when he was about to lash out, Principal Jiaodao cheerfully spoke again: "Well, it's the first day, no need to get upset, Professor Chronos. The students are weary from travel; some fatigue is understandable."
Chronos begrudgingly swallowed his fury for the time being.
After that, although Judai stood up and continued to doze off, Chronos' gaze almost never moved away from him for the second half.
Yugen suddenly somewhat understood why the professor was so annoyed by Judai initially.
He's influential, skips lectures, doesn't do assignments but is outstanding at dueling, easily making other students idolize him...
Chronos' methods might have been extreme, but the motive was not entirely unwarranted.
After the opening ceremony, the newcomers followed academy guides to receive their uniforms, student identification and other items. Senior volunteers led the new students through a series of procedures, then took them to their respective dormitories.
Yugen unsurprisingly received the Ra's Dorm uniform and student card.
He pondered whether President Kaiba might be petty enough to assign him to the Red Dorm for excelling against an AI with Blue-Eyes, recalling how City Blade from Duel City once intimidated Kaiba with a Blue-Eyes and became a persistent annoyance being labeled as "Mortal Bone" ever since...
But reality showed the president was not so trivial as to care about such matters.
With the undisputed top admission score, Yugen was naturally assigned to Ra's Dorm and became a promising candidate for rapid promotion to Obelisk Blue.
If dorm level was just a title, Yugen didn't care, even if at the bottom. But higher-ranked dorms not only had purchase priority but also better cafeterias, chefs, and single-room accommodations with excellent facilities, providing a much more comfortable stay.
In comparison, Osiris Red Dorm was small and old, its cafeteria generally disliked by everyone except the oddly exceptional Judai, making living there quite painful.
Ra's Dorm, while not as luxurious as Obelisk Blue, at least offered single rooms with decent facilities. Yugen was quite satisfied when he saw his room.
He moved his luggage in first; the first day swiftly passed between cleaning and organizing.
Dinner on the first day was a time for new students to meet, also to acquaint themselves with their dorm leader.
Yugen recalled that, in the original, the Osiris Red Dorm leader was Teacher Dade Temple—appearing clueless but actually a hidden Dark Duelist, the academy's strongest.
Obelisk Blue's dorm leader was Chronos, notorious and highly present.
But the leader of Ra's Dorm... Who was it again?
"..."
"Wahaha——"
During the freshers' banquet, all students stared in awe at the man wearing a paper bag with the word "Kari" on his chest, striking a pose resembling Action Superman from Crayon Shin-chan and laughing maniacally.
"I am Curry Demon, your dorm leader!"
"Submit to the power of curry!"
The freshmen: "???"
This guy... is our dorm leader?
The freshmen exchanged puzzled looks, each seeing bewilderment and deep concern for the future in the eyes of their dorm allocation...
Yugen: "..."
Now he remembered.
The leader of Ra's Dorm was Professor Huashan, an avid curry enthusiast.
He even used a curry-themed deck... well, an anime-exclusive deck that never got a real card adaptation.
"Ahem, my name is Huashan, and I am your dorm leader. Firstly, representing Ra's Dorm, I welcome each of you. As newbies assigned to Ra's Dorm, each of you is elite among elites.
Normally, we'd let each newcomer introduce themselves or showcase a small talent.
But! Here at Duel Academy, everything is determined by dueling! This is what I am about to say, and it will also be your first test upon entering——"
With a grand gesture, his curry cloak fluttered upwards.
"Let's duel!"