Jiang He harbored no doubts regarding the luck of a chosen top-decker or the bond he shared with the spirits in his deck.
In the distance, Chazz Princeton's expression was ghastly as he was forced to end his turn.
When it was Jaden Yuki's turn to draw, the boy immediately slammed the card he had just drawn onto his Duel Disk.
Amidst a faint flicker of electric arcs, he summoned [Elemental HERO Sparkman] with 1600 attack points!
That was 600 points higher than Chazz's remaining 1000 LP.
"HoHow is this possible!" Chazz stammered, staring at the scene in disbelief.
With a single surge of electricity, his remaining 1000 LP was wiped out instantly.
"Mamma mia! Even with all those rare cards, that Slifer Red slacker still won...!" Professor Vellian Crowler's face lengthened in sheer disappointment.
He had spent a good chunk of his savings to buy those rare cards!
However, Crowler quickly found a way to console himself.
"At least Bastion Misawa from Ra Yellow also received some rare cards. If he can defeat that slacker boy Jiang He, then all is not lost...!"
Besides, dealing with that specific slacker was far more important to him!
"Is this what he meant by... clutching his health?"
Seeing the result of the duel, Alexis Rhodes glanced at Jiang He with a strange look in her eyes.
She suddenly felt like she understood the rough meaning behind that odd term he had used...
"That was amazing, big brother!" Nearby, Syrus Truesdale welcomed Jaden back with a cheer.
Jiang He gave Jaden a nod of acknowledgement as the energetic boy returned, scratching his head and laughing.
"Now, for the next six groups of the practical dueling class. When your name is called, please step forward from the spectator area."
Meanwhile, the distinct voice of the golden-haired, mushroom-headed professor rang out from the center of the field once more.
"Shinobu Kocho of Obelisk Blue second year, against..."
"And for the final pair, Bastion Misawa of Ra Yellow against Jiang He of Slifer Red!"
As soon as Crowler announced those names, the crowd of Duel Academy students erupted in surprise.
"Another cross-dormitory duel in practical class?"
"Jiang He from Slifer Red... isn't he that lucky guy from the rumors? The one who drew all five pieces of Exodia in his opening hand during the entrance exam?"
"He does have a decent record for beating Professor Crowler, and he performed well in the theory lessons, but is this arrangement really okay...?"
The students in the stands whispered among themselves. Some even covered their mouths and snickered, treating the match like a joke.
"These guys...!" Alexis frowned as she caught snippets of the conversation around her.
She wasn't pleased at all.
Her two friends, Junko and Momoe, were also scowling. Setting everything else aside, Jiang He had defeated Alexis in a fair match just last night. For these people to speak of him this way was, by extension, an insult to Alexis's strength.
"Jiang He..." Just as Alexis turned to say something to him, she realized he was already walking toward the field with a lazy, nonchalant gait.
"That guy..." She couldn't help but let out a small smile.
It seemed he didn't care one bit about the words of those ignorant "weaklings." He wasn't the type of person who needed comfort from others.
"Don't worry at all, Jiang He is incredibly strong! Actually, he was the one who rejected Chazz and told Professor Crowler to give him a stronger opponent like Bastion Misawa!"
Hearing the commotion, Jaden spoke up to Alexis with full confidence in Jiang He. "Plus, he has a partner following him, just like my Winged Kuriboh!"
As someone who could see duel spirits, Jaden had noticed the Sphere Kuriboh hovering near Jiang He's shoulder the moment he returned.
Alexis's expression became slightly unnatural. She quickly turned her head back toward the field and huffed, "Whowho's worried about him!"
She was so flustered that she didn't even process the part about Jiang He having a spirit partner like Jaden.
Jaden was left scratching his head in confusion, wondering why this senior student had suddenly become "upset."
"Alexis..." Junko and Momoe exchanged knowing glances, their eyes growing even more curious as they looked at their friend. Then, they turned their gaze back toward the field where Jiang He was standing.
Opposite Jiang He, Bastion Misawa stood ready, his Duel Disk active and his eyes burning with competitive spirit.
"It's been a few days. I didn't expect to have the chance to duel you so soon, Examinee No. 111... no, Jiang He!" Bastion said with a smile.
Bastion had an honest, down-to-earth look that suited his name perfectly. Unlike the current Chazz, his personality wasn't dark or brooding. Given that they had met before, the atmosphere between them wasn't as tense as the previous duel.
However, Jiang He could tell that Bastion's drive to win was anything but low.
"Well then, let's begin, Four Basic Operations... ah, I mean, Bastion Misawa!" Jiang He glanced at the golden-haired professor standing on the sidelines and placed his deck into his Duel Disk. He shook off his laziness, genuinely interested in his upcoming duel of "spreading laughter and love."
"FourFour Basic Operations...?" Bastion's eye twitched for a moment before he decided to pretend he had misheard.
He opened his yellow coat, pulling his top deck from one of the six jacket pockets that looked like ammunition pouches. Inserting it into his Duel Disk, he shouted, "Come! Let me see what your Exodia deck is made of!"
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