Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

Although the first duel knocked someone out, President Kaiba's insistence meant the tournament wasn't much affected. After a brief pause, the second match of the quarterfinals soon began.

This time, it was an in-house Duel Academy match—Jaden happened to be matched against Zane.

"Come to think of it, this year's Duel City has three Duel Academy students in the top eight," Mokuba couldn't help but say. "There are plenty of pro duelists competing too. Are today's students really that overpowered?"

"Or maybe the current pro duelists just aren't that great?" Kira remarked.

Mokuba: "..."

Kira wasn't just talking nonsense. In GX, the pros never looked that impressive in the anime. Even so, Kira wasn't one to underestimate the pro scene here without seeing it for himself.

But after some personal experience, he realized his old stereotype actually had merit.

The pros really weren't all that.

After all, in the world of Yu-Gi-Oh, the real powerhouses don't bother with the pro circuit!

Zane wasn't in his best form right now.

Doubting your own path is fatal for a duelist. Uncertainty directly affects your performance in a duel. That's why, in the original story, after losing to Aster, Zane couldn't even beat random nobodies.

Though he wasn't as devastated as he was back then, his mindset had definitely taken a hit.

But right now, on the dueling stage, all he could do was force himself to set aside his doubts and devote himself fully to the duel at hand.

"Come on, Zane, round two!" Jaden called out confidently. "I'm not the same as before!"

Zane seemed lost in thought but snapped back to attention, shaking his head and forcing himself into focus. The duel disk unfolded.

But the duel itself didn't go smoothly for either side.

Both struggled.

". . ."

". . ."

". . ."

"The effect of the spell card 'Different Dimension Capsule' activates after two turns," Zane stated. "So in my Standby Phase two turns later, I add the card sealed in 'Different Dimension Capsule!"

"Ooh, here it comes," Jaden rubbed his nose. "But I can't let you have it that easy."

"Activate set card—trap card 'Mind Crush'! I declare 'Power Bond'—if you have that card in your hand, you must discard it immediately!"

"NANI!?"

Zane was shocked.

"You actually knew the card I was getting was Power Bond!?"

Even Kira watching outside couldn't help but laugh.

It was just like when Kaiba was shocked that Yugi knew he was about to summon Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.

Zane had been using the same playstyle for three years at Duel Academy—he always searched for his soul card "Power Bond" with Different Dimension Capsule. Even someone as dense as Jaden had memorized it by now.

Zane scowled at Jaden.

His eyes seemed to say, "You've changed; you didn't duel like this before..."

But of course, this kind of interference wasn't enough to stop Zane.

The duel heated up, with Jaden's endless Fusion Heroes and Zane's relentless Cyber Dragons clashing back and forth in a wild, dizzying battle.

"Duel Academy is insanely strong this year..." Mokuba couldn't help but comment again.

"Hmph, it's alright," Kaiba replied.

His gaze paused on Zane for a moment.

He could see a bit of his own younger self in this kid: the same aggressive style, the pursuit of ultimate power. Once, Kaiba too believed power was everything—in life and especially in dueling.

But that was long ago. Now, he'd moved past that phase, aiming for higher realms.

"Zane Truesdale, huh. Interesting," Kaiba murmured.

"Will you remain lost, or will you evolve and join the ranks of true duelists?"

But evolution probably wasn't coming today.

After a fierce exchange, the final turn arrived.

"Elemental HERO Plasma Vice's effect!" Jaden declared. "Discard a card to destroy one of your opponent's Attack Position monsters.

I discard a card—destroy Cyber End Dragon!"

Plasma Vice's arm crackled with electricity and speared toward Ryo's lone Cyber End Dragon!

"Quick-Play Spell—Forbidden Dress!" Zane shouted. "Cyber End Dragon loses 600 ATK and can't be targeted or destroyed by card effects until the end of the turn!"

[Cyber End Dragon: 4000 → 3400 ATK]

An almost invincible barrier surrounded Cyber End Dragon, sacrificing 600 ATK for powerful defense. Plasma Vice's attack was repelled, its effect nullified.

"Now Cyber End Dragon is immune to most effects this turn," Zane declared. "If you want to destroy it, you'll have to do it in battle, Jaden!"

But Zane was ready for that, too.

Face-down on his field was the key card from his graduation duel with Jaden: Quick-Play Spell "Battle Fusion," which raises his monster's ATK by the opposing monster's ATK during battle.

In other words, no matter how high Jaden stacked his Hero's ATK, Cyber End Dragon would surpass it—and this would decide the duel!

"So strong, Zane. You even prepared this level of defense..." Jaden said. "But if there's one thing I've learned this semester, it's that there's no such thing as an unbeatable monster!

Watch closely, Zane—this is my evolution after six months!"

"Come at me, Jaden!" Zane yelled. "Bring it on with everything you've got!"

"Alright! First, activate Spell Card 'Fusion Recovery' to return 'Polymerization' and 'Elemental Hero Wildheart' from my Graveyard to my hand.

Then, activate 'Polymerization'—fusing 'Elemental Hero Necroshade' and 'Wildheart' in my hand! Fusion Summon—Elemental HERO Necroid Shaman!"

[Elemental HERO Necroid Shaman: 1900 ATK]

"Necroid Shaman?" Zane was caught off guard.

This wasn't Jaden's usual OTK high-ATK Hero play.

"Necroid Shaman's effect," Jaden grinned. "Tribute an opponent's monster to Special Summon a monster from their Graveyard. (Original effect)

I tribute Cyber End Dragon to Special Summon your Cyber Dragon from your Graveyard!"

"NANI!?"

Zane was stunned.

Wait, you're stealing my move!?

He instantly remembered when his Cyber Dragon was sacked by Kira's Chimeratech Fortress Dragon not long ago—history repeating itself.

"Cyber End Dragon can't be targeted or destroyed by effects, but tributing is a cost for Necroid Shaman's effect—not targeting or destroying."

Jaden smiled.

"Now, Elemental Hero Plasma Vice and Necroid Shaman—attack Zane together!"

". . ."

[Zane Truesdale, LP 0]

The result was decided. Zane staggered backward, collapsing to the ground, momentarily in a daze.

He looked up at the sky.

Was his dueling path really wrong?

PS: Bro is now questioning his life choices.