"Whoa, looks like both duelists are fired up before the match."
The MC gave a light cough to control the situation.
This strange duelist, Rio, was a genius officer specifically chosen by the Council, a textbook elite Upper City duelist who looked down on everyone not named Jack Atlas. To think he'd even trash-talk an interdimensional visitor this time.
Seeing the atmosphere get tense, the MC hastily redirected the focus.
"The Friendship Cup is a dueling event promoting peace and friendship between two worlds. Today is Day Two of the Friendship Cup.
"Our duelists are:
"From the Security Bureau, genius officer Rio!
"And from another dimension, the hero who commands elemental forces, Jaden Yuki!"
"Hero? Pfft, hahaha! Heroes? That's so childish."
This time, not just Jaden, but even Aster Phoenix, who was watching the broadcast because Sartorius predicted Jaden would appear today, frowned.
"Hey, take that back!" Jaden was now completely enraged. "Don't destroy a kid's dream!"
"Hmph." Rio scoffed without another word.
After all, in his world, Elemental HERO was just a "trash deck" nobody used.
"Duel!"
[Rio, LP: 4000]
[Jaden Yuki, LP: 4000]
"My turn, I set one monster in Defense Position, Giant Rat. I set one card and end my turn."
[Giant Rat] Level 4│EARTH│Beast│DEF 1450
Rio ended his turn swiftly.
"That's it?"
Many spectators from Jaden's world shook their heads.
Setting a Giant Rat in defense just to be destroyed later? Isn't that basic? And this is what passes as an elite or genius duelist?
"Be careful, Jaden. Maybe he has some weird trap."
"Got it." Jaden nodded to Avian's voice, though he wasn't too worried.
"I Normal Summon, Sparkman! Sparkman, Attack Giant Rat!"
[Elemental HERO Sparkman] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│ATK 1600
Jaden's skilled warrior appeared for the first time on this interdimensional dueling stage. His attack was meant to be a probe for traps, but it ended up easily destroying the Giant Rat.
"Giant Rat's effect: When destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon an EARTH monster with 1500 or less ATK from my deck. I Special Summon another Giant Rat!"
Another oversized rodent appeared on his field.
Jaden frowned. Confused.
'Is that it?'
Was he really just stalling with Giant Rats to prep for a Synchro?
"I set one card and end my turn."
The duel began with a simple monster trade.
"Hmph, see? You duel against Satellite rats, and all you can do is fight more rats."
Jaden, though enraged, was calmed down by how perplexed he felt. "From what Mr. Yusei told me these past two days, the difference between Upper City and Satellite was caused by a past explosion, nothing more. So why belittle your own people over that?"
While Hikaru had spent the last few days hanging out with Yusei and watching him tune his D-Wheel, Jaden had joined in too, driven by curiosity, he'd asked questions about Satellite, Upper City, and their divide.
From what he'd learned, this city once had no class division. Everyone lived as one until a single failed experiment split them and seeded prejudice.
How ridiculous.
"Equals?
"Don't kid yourself. Everyone has their place. Some are born to stay in sewers. Others get to enjoy everything, that's how the world works.
"Just like you, so-called 'hero.' Ever think about the kids watching you on TV, those who'll never make it to this stage? How different are you from them now?"
"You!"
Jaden's face darkened.
Watching the broadcast, Aster instinctively slammed his fist on the table.
"Everyone has their place"? That's dangerously close to talking about "destiny."
But Rio's words were simply unacceptable.
"You think saying some flashy lines and talking back to an elite like me makes you a hero? It changes nothing!" Rio sneered. "After you leave, Satellite scum will still be chased underground by the cops, and the Upper City will use the tech we get from you people to make life even better for ourselves.
"Your presence might even cost them what little space they had!
"This is reality. You're no hero, just a student. You can't change anything."
Rio pointed accusingly.
Fresh out of the academy, he had already become a Security Bureau elite, labeled a "genius."
With the Council's backing, he'd succeeded in "hunting" Satellite filth and now held immense superiority.
He truly saw himself as a veteran worthy of lecturing this schoolkid on how the world really works.
"Now I'll show you exactly where so-called 'heroes' belong!"
He drew a card and revealed his hand. "Normal Summon, Jutte Fighter! I tune Level 2 Jutte Fighter with Level 4 Giant Rat!
"Synchro Summon, Level 6, Goyo Guardian!"
Chains spun in the air, whirling a whip overhead, a samurai-like enforcer appeared with a smirk.
[Goyo Guardian] Level 6│EARTH│Warrior│ATK 2800
"Level 6 with 2800 ATK!?"
"Ohhh! Officer Rio has summoned a Synchro Monster with 2800 Attack, an incredible force!"
"Battle! Goyo Guardian attacks Sparkman!"
The enforcer flung his chain, smashing Sparkman, Jaden's LP plummeted.
[Jaden Yuki, LP: 4000 → 2800]
"Goyo Guardian's effect! When it destroys a monster in battle, it Special Summons that monster in Defense Position to my field!"
The chained Sparkman was dragged to Rio's side, stunned and locked in defense.
[Elemental HERO Sparkman] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│DEF 1400
"Elemental HERO relies on Fusion Summoning, right? Now your monster is trapped on my field. How will you fuse?
"Let's be honest. This deck is already obsolete in our world. Better drop it now."
"When you activated that monster effect, I activate my Trap, Hero Signal! When a monster is destroyed in battle and sent to the Graveyard, I Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Elemental HERO from my hand or deck!
I Special Summon, Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman] Level 4│WATER│Warrior│ATK 800
Jaden watched Sparkman stolen to the other field as he summoned Bubbleman to his own. He then sent Hero Signal to the Graveyard.
"Bubbleman's effect! When this card is summoned and I control no other cards, I draw two cards!"
Expressionless, Jaden drew.
"What's with that vibe?" Chazz swallowed nervously.
It was intimidating. Very intimidating.
"Tch, pointless struggling." Rio shook his head. "I end my turn."
...
Bonus @600 PS
Stones PLZzzzz