Kira walked onto the duel field, facing Chazz Princeton for their first-round match.
Unfamiliar with each other, there was no need for small talk. Chazz saw Kira as just a stepping stone, while Kira was eager to test a story character's real strength.
In the card game community, it's well known: most anime character decks are for fun, not competitive. Many tried copying them as kids, only to brick their hands and realize none of their cards worked.
But anime characters in action are another story. They have deck bonds—or, really, plot armor—drawing their key combos at just the right time, no matter how shuffled.
And the stronger the duelist, the more pronounced this power—like GX's Jaden Yuki, or DM's Pharaoh at the end.
Still, Chazz's signature cards came later in the anime. VWXYZ was a gift from Chronos to teach Jaden a lesson, Armed Dragon came from North Academy, and not even the Ojama brothers were around yet.
So, he should be weaker than in the show.
"I'll take the first turn," Kira said, claiming priority from the duel disk.
"I set a monster face-down, and set one card in my back row."
He placed two cards—one monster face-down in front, one spell/trap face-down in back. Holograms projected them onto the field.
"A defensive play, huh? But against the No. 1 junior, that's only natural," Chazz boasted.
Chazz hadn't yet faced Jaden's reality check and was feeling confident.
"But it's useless! My turn—draw!"
He quickly played two cards from his hand.
"I set one card face-down. Then activate Spell Card—Card Destruction! We both discard our hands and draw the same number of cards."
Kira complied, discarding his hand and drawing new cards along with Chazz.
With new hands, Chazz pressed a button: "Flip face-down card—Spell Card: Silent Dead! I revive a Normal Monster from my graveyard in Defense Position.
I bring back the just-discarded Amazoness Swords Woman!"
A red-haired swordswoman appeared, kneeling with a shield at ready.
[Amazoness Swords Woman, DEF 1400]
"Next, equip her with 'Great Sword'—raises her ATK by 300!" (Anime card) ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel•fire.net
[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1400→1700]
"You might wonder what good it is to boost ATK in Defense Position," Chazz gloated.
Kira was unmoved—he had, in fact, kind of been thinking that.
"Let me show you—elite dueling is beyond your imagination! 'Great Sword' has another effect: when offered as a tribute for a Warrior-type monster, it counts as two monsters.
So, I tribute Amazoness Swords Woman, counting as two—"
A white whirlwind enveloped the swordswoman, who vanished in a golden light.
"Light of dawn, illuminate the path to victory—legendary swordsman, cut down all obstacles!"
Chazz raised a card high, his cloak billowing in the summoning storm.
"Appear! Level 8—Legendary Swordsman!"
A masked, red-haired swordsman in black armor emerged, a massive sword slung over his shoulder.
[Legendary Swordsman, ATK 2600]
Kira nodded. As expected, duelists in this world were extra flashy with their summoning speeches.
"Summoning such a strong monster on turn one!" a red-haired girl exclaimed. "He's not a normal kid."
"Haha, of course!" Chazz's lackey A in the back row beamed. "That's our No. 1 in the junior elite class—Chazz-sama!"
"He's already been admitted to the senior academy—these opponents are nothing," lackey B agreed.
"The top of the junior division?!" The two girls looked on with awe.
They'd heard of the Duel Academy junior division—not as hard to get into as senior, but still full of talent. The elite class, even more so.
First in the elite class—a true big shot.
They began to feel sorry for his opponent.
Too bad—the handsome Kira probably wouldn't be seen after this round.
"It's not over yet!" Chazz continued.
"Legendary Swordsman's effect activates! When summoned, he can equip as many Equip Spells in my graveyard as possible to any Warrior on my field!"
He retrieved two cards from his graveyard.
"I equip 'Great Sword' and 'Jewel Sword' (anime card) to Legendary Swordsman!"
The swordsman roared, drawing his sword longer and longer.
"Each gives 300 ATK. So, total ATK increase: 600!"
[Legendary Swordsman, ATK 2600→3200]
"3200 ATK!" The red-haired girl was amazed. "That already beats the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
The lackeys felt even prouder.
"Sit down, this is basic for Chazz-sama," lackey B smirked.
But Kira, in the duel, wasn't fazed—actually, he was eyeing Chazz's two remaining cards.
They'd just started, and Chazz had already burned four of six cards for this—painful.
"Hahaha, awed by this overwhelming power?" Chazz laughed. "Don't worry, this'll be over quick.
Battle phase! Legendary Swordsman, attack that face-down monster!"
The swordsman leaped, swinging his enormous blade. Kira's set monster flipped up—a blonde female warrior in black combat gear.
[D.D. Warrior Lady, DEF 1600]
"D.D. Warrior Lady's effect activates," Kira said calmly. "After battling, she banishes herself and the opponent's monster."
I'll just send your 8-star monster to another dimension!