"Uwaaaa!"
Principal Jiaodao— or rather, in the context of this dojo, should be called Jiaodao Master—stumbled back a few steps, half-kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath.
[Jiaodao, LP 0]
Marufuji Ryo finished the duel, put away his Duel Disc, and walked forward calmly, as if it was a mere trivial task.
"Why, Ryo?" Jiaodao lifted his head and asked, "Can you no longer hear the voice of the Electronic Ultimate Dragon?"
"Have you forgotten the feelings of those years?"
Jiaodao supported himself on his knee to stand up, seemingly trying hard to help him recall.
"This place, this dojo, isn't it a special place of significance for you?"
"Electronic School, where you once sweated with so many colleagues, progressed together, and became stronger together. But ever since you obtained the Electronic Ultimate Dragon at the age of nine, what remained of the so-called Electronic School is just a name."
"Ah, I remember."
Marufuji Ryo nodded, respectfully addressing the Master.
"That was the ultimate dream of my nine-year-old self. To be recognized by the Electronic Ultimate Dragon, to become the successor of the school..."
"Exactly! So many apprentices, so many who dreamed of inheriting the Electronic Style's secret technique, but in the end, only you at nine won it all."
Jiaodao said.
The scenes of the past are still fresh in his memory.
He still remembers dueling with the nine-year-old Marufuji Ryo, witnessing his card deck, and admiring his dueling skills.
"Respect your opponent, as if viewing yourself through their soul, and duel with this perspective. You are excellent."
At that time, Jiaodao said approvingly and handed the Electronic Ultimate Dragon card to Marufuji Ryo.
He still remembers the spark of hope in that child's eyes when he saw the card.
"I hope you don't forget this day." Jiaodao smiled, patting the boy's head. "And never forget this sentiment."
"Hmm!" The nine-year-old boy nodded vigorously.
And now, the image of the boy in his memory has been replaced by the indifferent young man before him, seemingly extinguishing all the fiery passion in those eyes.
"Of course I can hear it."
Marufuji Ryo said calmly.
"I can hear the voice of the Electronic Ultimate Dragon."
"Then why...!?"
"Because there's no need," Marufuji Ryo said blandly, "I've always heard it, but now I've chosen not to care.
Because my soul yearns for victory, at any cost."
"But your dueling has already deviated from the path of our Electronic School back then..."
Marufuji Ryo shook his head, "But I won, and you lost, Master. Doesn't this prove that the path I've found now is more correct?"
Jiaodao was momentarily speechless.
After a pause, he finally spoke.
"Is winning and losing...the essence of a duel?"
"Of course, Master," Marufuji Ryo said softly. "It's always been like that. I was just too slow to realize it before.
The world of dueling is cruel, with only one winner. If you don't have the determination to win at any cost, you're just handing victory, even everything, to others."
He shook his head, unwilling to say more.
"Then as promised, Teacher, I've won. I've come here today to take the ultimate secret technique of the Electronic Style."
Jiaodao Master's expression changed slightly.
"The ultimate secret technique of the Electronic Style was given to you years ago."
"You know what I mean, Master," Marufuji Ryo said. "The Electronic Ultimate Dragon I've inherited is only the symbol of the 'Surface Electronic Stream', but it can't represent the entirety of the Electronic Stream."
"You want that?" Jiaodao Master shook his head, "No, absolutely not. You cannot..."
But Marufuji Ryo had already walked past him, heading to the back of the hall. He reached out and tore away the curtain that originally hung on the wall, revealing a hidden recess behind it.
A delicate small box was placed there.
All these years, it's been in this place, in the main hall of the Electronic Style Dojo, hidden behind that curtain representing the Surface Electronic Stream, as if symbolizing it as the opposite side of the Termination Dragon.
"No!"
Jiaodao said.
"The Inner Electronic Stream is forbidden power, it's too dangerous. This is the forbidden force sealed away by the founder of the Electronic School, never to be inherited by anyone..."
"No, Master. Power is just power, whether Surface Electronic Stream or Inner Electronic Stream, both only exist as tools for victory."
Marufuji Ryo said seriously.
"Only with this complete Electronic Stream."
"The past me was too naïve, unable to grasp this layer, lacking the qualification to inherit this power."
"But now I understand. As a successor of the Electronic Stream, light or darkness, I must master all power. As long as it can lead to victory, and elevate the Electronic Stream to higher peaks, it doesn't matter."
Jiaodao remained silent for a while, seemingly speechless.
After a while, he let out a long sigh.
Principal Jiaodao deeply felt that he had grown old.
He could do nothing.
Unable to argue with his former student, powerless to stop him from taking this dangerous card deck, and treading a new path diverging from the school's traditions.
The future belongs to the young, perhaps indeed his ways are outdated.
Jiaodao took a deep breath and stood up, "Ryo, you're already a third-year student. You're about to graduate, aren't you?"
"Yes, Master," Marufuji Ryo nodded.
Though he no longer agrees with Jiaodao's educational methods from the past, it's merely a difference in ideology.
Though they've contended for this, even just now engaged fiercely through a duel to claim the forbidden card deck via dueling, it's merely a difference in the future direction.
Jiaodao is, after all, the mentor who introduced him to the field, who once opened the door to the Electronic School for him, gifted him the Electronic Ultimate Dragon card, impacting Marufuji Ryo's life greatly. He still respects his teacher.
"How quickly these three years have passed."
Jiaodao sighed.
"Indeed." Marufuji Ryo nodded, "Three years have gone by, and it's almost time to graduate. Thinking back, my progress during these three years has been quite limited.
Always complacent with the status quo, dominating the small world of the Academy, unable to see a broader world."
"Also..."
Jiaodao is of course aware of the stimulus the student faced in this third year.
"Well, your grades are still excellent, first in all subjects. This year the Academy's outstanding graduate representative is none other than you.
According to traditions, the graduate representative will have a graduation duel, and you can choose any current student as your opponent. But, I guess you've already decided?"
"Yes, indeed."
Marufuji Ryo looked outside. Beyond the hall's doors, atop the snowy mountain, snowflakes danced wildly in the fierce wind.
"...I decided long ago."