"I haven't performed my normal summon this turn," the younger Paradox Brother said, drawing another card.
"I summon 'Kaiser Seahorse' in Attack Position!"
[Kaiser Seahorse, ATK 1700]
"Then I set a card face-down. Turn end."
He ended the turn with a cold face.
He was beginning to realize he'd underestimated these students.
He'd accepted the commission thinking this was just a punishment duel against two freshmen—not worth worrying about. But even before the battle had truly begun, the brothers' three ace monsters had already lost two—one to the graveyard, one banished. That was rare in their tag dueling experience.
The brothers exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other's thoughts.
This duel might not be so easy after all.
Of course, losing was impossible—at most, it'd just take more effort. They were legends who'd dueled against Yugi Muto! To lose to two freshmen would be a joke.
Jaden's turn: "My turn, draw!"
"I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards from my deck."
"I set a monster, then set two cards face-down. Turn end!"
As in the anime, the academy's tag rules were that no one could attack on their first turn. Only after all four players had completed their first turns could the battle phase begin.
Many spectators held their breath.
The real fight would begin now.
"My turn, draw," said the elder brother.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Monster Reincarnation!'"
He discarded a card. "Monster Reincarnation lets me discard a card to add a monster from my graveyard to my hand. I'll retrieve the 'Suijin' discarded by Mind Crush!"
Suijin's phantom shimmered, ready to return from the graveyard—but before he could act, Jaden interrupted.
"Not a chance! I activate my face-down—Trap Card 'Hero Rule #1: Five Freedoms'!" (anime card)
"Up to five cards in both graveyards are banished!"
The brothers' faces changed again. "What did you say?!"
"So, I banish 'Suijin', 'Tribute Doll', 'Jirai Gumo', and 'Dark Designator' from your graveyard!" Jaden declared.
A vortex opened, banishing Suijin's phantom, and sending it straight to another dimension.
And with that, their entire graveyard was emptied in one go.
Now, "Monster Reincarnation" lost its target and fizzled, leaving the brother short two cards.
Another anger vein popped on his bald head.
Misawa looked conflicted from the stands.
"Uh, nicely handled, but..." He hesitated.
Alexis: "You mean that's a bit unlike his usual style?"
"Probably just my imagination," Misawa shook his head, not wanting to elaborate.
What else could he say?
Maybe bad company does rub off on people?
Still, it was fun watching legendary duelists get frustrated.
"To think you'd take out two of our ace monsters so quickly—I have to give you some credit," the elder brother said. "But if you think it'll be that easy, you're underestimating us."
He glanced at his brother.
"This time, I'll use your monster."
"No problem, big bro."
"'Kaiser Seahorse's effect: when used as tribute for a LIGHT monster, it counts as two tributes. So, I tribute 'Kaiser Seahorse' as two tributes to Tribute Summon!"
Kaiser Seahorse split into two beams of light, merging into a storm on the field.
Lightning flashed, and a golden thunder demon appeared.
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