# Chapter 49: Maiami Grand Melee Commences
The next day, after Yūga Hōzumi and Shun arrived at the Competition Venue, the second stage of the melee was about to begin.
Among the duelists who successfully advanced to the second stage were Yūga Hōzumi and his two companions, Yuya, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka—all familiar faces. Sawatari Shingo, too, joined the ranks, having replaced Yuto due to his 'illness' and thanks to his councilman father. Among the remaining participants, Yūga Hōzumi noticed one particular figure.
Dennis McField, whose public identity was a foreign exchange student from the Leo Duel School's Broadway branch and an Entertainment Duelist, was, in reality, a spy from the Fusion Dimension.
Dennis sensed Yūga Hōzumi's gaze from behind him, turned, and smiled faintly in a gesture of friendliness.
"Hello, everyone, I'm Dennis from Broadway," Dennis said warmly. "Your duels were spectacular; your Xyz Summons were absolutely magnificent!"
"You flatter us," Yūga Hōzumi said coolly. "You're not bad yourself. However, as an Entertainment Duelist, don't you think a simple Xyz Summon might be too monotonous? The audience will get bored of seeing it too much. Haven't you considered adding more flair?"
"For example..." Yūga Hōzumi smiled mysteriously, slowly uttering one word: "Fusion."
Dennis's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly recovered, scratching the back of his head and chuckling. "Is that a suggestion from an audience member? I'll definitely consider it! But I'm already struggling with just Xyz Summons; wouldn't trying to learn Fusion Summoning too be counterproductive?"
Dennis pretended to be deeply troubled.
"How can an Entertainment Duelist shrink back from something like this? How can you make the audience smile if you do? I have high hopes for you, Ganbatte!" Yūga Hōzumi said, vigorously patting Dennis on the shoulder in encouragement.
"Th-Thank you," Dennis stammered, his heart crying out in misery from the patting, but to avoid suspicion, he could only force a strained smile.
Just then, as fireworks burst across the sky, the Announcer Uncle's appearance signaled the imminent start of the competition.
"After a week of intense competition, 16 contestants have emerged victorious! The Maiami Championship will now enter its next stage!" the Announcer Uncle exclaimed with passion. "The Maiami Grand Melee!"
"In the upcoming competition, thanks to Leo Duel School's Solid Vision system, the entire Maiami City will become the duelists' stage!"
"And the ultimate victor will be decided by this!" The Announcer Uncle held up two cards. "By Pendulum Cards distributed by Leo Duel School throughout the city in advance."
"Once each duelist has obtained two Pendulum Cards, they can begin dueling other duelists, using the Pendulum Cards as support. After sunset, the duelist who has collected the most Pendulum Cards will be the final champion of this tournament!"
"Now then! Action Field: Miracle Quartet, activate!" The Announcer Uncle pressed the button in front of him, and the Solid Vision systems across Maiami City simultaneously began to operate.
"Volcano, Ice Plain, Tropical Jungle, Ancient Ruins—each area boasts unique Action Cards! Duelists! Today, Maiami City belongs to you! Run and chase each other throughout the city! The Maiami Grand Melee! Let the games begin!"
As the Announcer Uncle gave the command, the gates of the Competition Venue swung open, and the duelists streamed out, eager to be first, fearing to fall even half a step behind the others.
Except for Yūga Hōzumi and Shun.
Only after everyone else had run out of the Competition Venue did Yūga Hōzumi and Shun unhurriedly stroll out.
Their leisurely, almost vacation-like expressions made the Announcer in the Competition Venue sweat, prompting him to say, "Although Duelists Yūga Hōzumi and Shun are incredibly strong, if they're this relaxed, the Pendulum Cards with excellent Scales and effects might all be picked up by other duelists!"
Yūga Hōzumi and Shun paid no attention to the Announcer Uncle's words. After exiting the Competition Venue, they casually walked towards the Ancient Ruins area.
"Was there something wrong with that guy just now?" Shun Kurosaki couldn't help but ask on the way.
"Indeed," Yūga Hōzumi nodded. "Although he concealed it well, I could smell the stench of the Fusion Dogs on him."
"Find an opportunity?" Shun Kurosaki made a cutting gesture across his throat.
"Don't be ridiculous. That guy hasn't been exposed yet, and there are cameras everywhere during this competition. Do you want to cause a commotion?"
"So we're just going to let him flaunt himself in front of us?" Shun Kurosaki frowned.
"Don't worry, he won't get away," Yūga Hōzumi said, opening the screen at the center of his Duel Disk and pulling up a map of Maiami City. On the map, a small red dot slowly pulsed and moved in the southern part of Maiami City.
"In the Volcano area, huh? He's pretty fast," Yūga Hōzumi chuckled.
"But we don't need to worry about him for now. We'll just go and wait in the Ancient Ruins area," Yūga Hōzumi told Shun Kurosaki after casually picking up a Pendulum Card of unknown significance.
Upon arriving at the Ancient Ruins area, Yūga Hōzumi found a random temple to sit down in, closing his eyes to rest and waiting for the Dog Walking Group to arrive.
...
Inside the Competition Venue, the Announcer Uncle turned on the giant screen in the center of the venue. "An hour has passed since the competition began, and most of the duelists have already acquired two Pendulum Cards and found their respective opponents!"
"First up is Duelist Yuya Sakaki from Yusho Duel School! He encountered two duelists from Liangshanpao Academy in the Volcano area! Facing their aggressive offense, and with the timely intervention and assistance of Dennis from Leo Duel School's Broadway branch, Duelist Yuya Sakaki splendidly won the duel!"
"Next is Duelist Yuzu Hiiragi from Yusho Duel School! During her duel, she and her opponent intruded upon a duel involving Gongenzaka from Gongenzaka Dojo, turning it into a 2v2 Tag Duel. Through excellent teamwork, Duelist Yuzu and Duelist Gongenzaka beautifully secured their first victory."
"Now, let's turn our cameras to the favorites to win this tournament: Duelist Yūga Hōzumi and Duelist Shun Kurosaki from Leo Duel School!"
Yūga Hōzumi's handsome profile appeared on the screen, drawing screams from the female audience members present.
"Duelist Yūga Hōzumi seems to be... sleeping?" As the camera pulled back, the announcer paused in surprise.
On the screen, Yūga Hōzumi was sitting on the ground, leaning against a pillar of the temple with his eyes closed. Shun Kurosaki was similarly resting his eyes not far away.
"Hey, you two favorites, be a little more serious! Your ranking is already at the bottom!" the announcer couldn't help but shout.
Unfortunately, Yūga Hōzumi and Shun, far away, couldn't hear the shouts from inside the Competition Venue at all, nor did they show any intention of moving.
But just as the announcer decided to change the view, three men clad in armor slowly approached from not far away.
"It's members of the Knight Academy's knightly order! Will they start a fight?"
As the three men's footsteps drew closer, Yūga Hōzumi and Shun simultaneously opened their eyes.
"Scram. Go back where you came from. We don't have time to waste on you," Yūga Hōzumi said coldly, looking at the three men who clearly meant trouble.
"Weren't you quite formidable when you injured us before?" the man in the lead snarled, looking at Shun Kurosaki.
"I'll leave these three to you. No problem, right?" Yūga Hōzumi said to Shun Kurosaki, seeing that talk was useless.
...
(end of chapter)