"Mr. Deion... are you really going to Duel with Irene?"

Still observing proper royal etiquette, Shira had no standing to stop Deion's involvement in the Duel.

Even though they were both students at Fusion Academy, the gulf in status and identity was obvious.

Not to mention the experiment's key card, [Metamorphosis], had been provided by Deion himself—so his request to participate in the final awakening Duel was perfectly justified.

Resigned, Shira leaned in closer to Irene—currently being inhabited by Miles—and whispered:

"Please be careful during the Duel, Ren-chan."

"Careful? Why?"

"Deion... well, how do I put it... He's honest and forthright, but too forthright. Even when Dueling younger students, he never holds back."

"I don't want him to hold back," Miles said with conviction. "Dueling is about giving it your all. Holding back won't awaken new cards."

"Huh?"

A freshman at Fusion Academy, unflinching in the face of a royal upperclassman Duelist, and brimming with fighting spirit—

Shira found herself admiring Irene all over again.

"Sigh… It's so complicated. I feel like I want to steal you away, Ren-chan... Why won't you just join the Magic Club already?"

"Why won't you join the Magic Club?" Miles asked mentally, stepping in for Shira.

Irene said earnestly, "You don't get it at all, Miles. If I only join one club, I won't be able to join in on all the fun stuff the other clubs do! That'd be such a waste."

So she was a club-playboy—flirting with every club but joining none.

After accepting Deion's challenge, the Magic Club relocated to the Duel Arena located within the club building.

Fusion Academy had many Duel-focused clubs, so the facility had ample Duel fields where students could Duel to their hearts' content.

But when Deion stepped into the once-bustling arena, the whole room suddenly fell quiet.

Some of that came from the reverence and fear that the name "Kaiser" inspired.

However, most students, upon seeing Deion's bear-like physique, immediately wanted to find a place to hide.

"Why is Deion here? Don't tell me he's looking for another Duel?"

"I don't want to be that lucky one. I'd get flattened."

"The pressure just from standing across from him is insane."

No one seemed eager to Duel Deion. Even casual, non-credit sparring Duels made people flinch at the mention of his name.

That was why Shira had warned Irene earlier.

But was Miles afraid?

He'd gone toe-to-toe with the Pharaoh himself.

And Deion? Let's see what he's got.

"Hahahahahaha! This is great—I haven't looked forward to a Duel this much in ages! You'd better impress me!"

Standing tall at one end of the arena, hands on hips, Deion laughed heartily. He was visibly thrilled.

Aisha, unable to make up a new excuse to cling to Irene during the Duel, reluctantly let go.

"Be careful, Mr. Miles... and go easy."

That "go easy" line really hit home. What? Was she worried about Miles injuring royalty in a non-Shadow Game?

Well, in Aisha's eyes, Miles was basically invincible.

And to Irene, he was just as impressive.

"If you want to Duel personally, Ren, I'll step aside."

Last time, Miles had fought in Irene's place due to the Shadow Game's necessity.

If she insisted on Dueling herself this time, he couldn't stop her.

"No, I'll sit this one out. I want to watch you Duel."

Such a girlish response, Miles almost suspected someone had swapped out the normally headstrong redhead.

"You're seriously letting me have this imprint Duel? Ren, you're such a great person."

"As long as you're happy... I really like your... HERO plays too."

Now that the potion synthesis goal had been completed, Irene only had one thing left:

Every time she thought about the Duel Miles fought for her that night, her heart raced uncontrollably.

She'd never felt so overwhelmed before.

Miles's Duel style—and the HERO cards he played—had a special kind of charm that even Irene couldn't explain.

Maybe if she watched him Duel once more using her body, shared that battle again through Soul Exchange, she'd find her answer.

"You better win, Miles."

"Of course. Not just win—I'm going to imprint some beautiful cards too!"

Miles lifted the hem of Irene's short skirt to access her Deck, placing the three faceless prototype cards inside.

On second thought, this was probably the first time he'd ever lifted any girl's skirt besides Aisha's.

May the thigh-strap deck box trend live forever.

"Heh heh heh—ha ha ha! Ready? Then let's Duel!"

Already fired up, Deion raised his Spirit Eyes card case. The battle aura he released surged toward Miles like a raging beast.

"This aura's insane—and we haven't even started yet. A true upperclassman!"

Miles realized this was his first Duel against a second-year at Fusion Academy.

He remembered Kaima's crushing win over Kevin and how it drove home the huge gap between years.

But since then, he'd survived countless tough Duels, even Shadow Games.

It was time.

Time to test the waters of the next tier of Fusion Academy strength.

Time to carve a path with his HERO Deck!

"Duel!"

[Deion, LP: 4000]

[Irene, LP: 4000]

The Spirit Eyes gleamed—Miles had won the coin toss and would go first.

"I summon [Elemental HERO Sparkman] in Attack Position, set one card, and end my turn!"

[Elemental HERO Sparkman] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1600 ATK

Miles had drawn the strongest Level 4 HERO in Irene's Deck right from the start—no need for his usual one-monster-one-set openings.

He also happened to draw one of those mysterious new prototype cards.

"HEROes, huh? Now that gets my blood pumping! My turn—Draw!"

Deion's thick arm pulled a card from his Spirit Eyes Deck, and the mere motion stirred the air like a windstorm.

"If you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon this Monster from my hand!"

[Cyber Dragon] Level 5│LIGHT│Machine│2100 ATK

"I summon you—Cyber Dragon!"

...

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