Chapter 3 - A test of skill

📍 You Show College – Duel Arena (Morning)

Yuya (grinning):

"Alright, Andrew! One last thing before you're officially in—duel one of us!"

Yuzu (smirking):

"So, who's it gonna be? Me or Yuya?"

Andrew (confident):

"I want to test myself against Yuya—if that's alright with you."

Yuya:

"Awesome! Let's go!"

He darts toward the Action Field console.

Yuya:

"Let's set the Action Field to… Pharaoh's Tomb!"

Andrew:

"Fitting choice."

🎮 Duel Start:

Action Field: Pharaoh's Tomb

Yuya LP: 4000 | Hand: 5

Andrew LP: 4000 | Hand: 5

Andrew:

"So… who goes first?"

Yuya (flipping a coin):

"Heads or tails?"

Andrew:

"Heads."

The coin lands—heads.

Andrew:

"Looks like I'll be taking the first move."

▶️ Turn 1 – Andrew

Andrew:

"I summon Berry Magian Girl in Attack Mode!"

Berry Magian Girl appears, staff spinning.

Andrew:

"Her effect activates—when she's summoned, I can add one 'Magian Girl' from my deck to my hand. I choose Kiwi Magian Girl."

Andrew (thinking):

Hand: 4 — Magician's Navigation, Dark Magical Circle, Dark Magician, Mirror Force.

Andrew:

"Now I activate the Continuous Spell—Dark Magical Circle! I reveal the top three cards of my deck…"

Three cards appear above his deck. He adds Dark Magic Attack to his hand.

Andrew:

"I set two cards and end my turn."

Spectators in the Stands:

Sora (arms crossed):

"Seriously? Starting with a low-ATK monster in Attack Mode?"

Skip:

"Don't be too quick to judge. Sometimes, a monster's effect is more important than its stats."

▶️ Turn 2 – Yuya

Yuya:

"My turn! I summon Performapal Whip Snake!"

A whip-wielding snake dances onto the field.

Yuya:

"Then I play… Pot of Greed! That lets me draw two more cards!"

He draws: Timegazer Magician and Stargazer Magician.

Yuya (thinking):

Better hold onto these…

Yuya:

"Whip Snake, attack Berry Magian Girl!"

Andrew:

"Not so fast! Berry Magian Girl's effect activates! I switch her to Defense Mode—then Special Summon a 'Magian Girl' from my Deck!"

Andrew:

"I summon… Dark Magician Girl!"

She flips onto the field in a graceful spin, blushes slightly, and strikes a pose.

Stands:

Skip:

"Whoa! He brought out Dark Magician Girl just like that?!"

Sora:

"Hmm… unless he's got that card, there's nothing in his deck that can take down Odd-Eyes…"

▶️ Yuya's Main Phase 2

Yuya:

"You showed me your ace—now let me show you mine! I set the Pendulum Scale and Pendulum Summon…"

Yuya & Audience:

"Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"

The mighty dragon roars onto the field.

Yuya:

"Your move, Andrew!"

▶️ Turn 3 – Andrew

Andrew:

"I draw! Since I drew a card, Berry Magian Girl's effect activates—I Special Summon Oracle Mahad!"

Oracle Mahad rises in a blaze of light—ATK 2500.

Andrew:

"Now I activate my face-down—Magician's Navigation! I summon Dark Magician from my hand!"

Purple energy floods the field as Dark Magician appears.

Andrew:

"With Dark Magician on the field, I play Dark Magic Attack! Say goodbye to your back row!"

Yuya:

"Timegazer Magician's effect negates trap destruction once per turn!"

Andrew:

"Nice save. But now—Mahad attacks Odd-Eyes!"

Yuya (shocked):

"You'd sacrifice Mahad just to trade?!"

Andrew:

"No. Mahad gains ATK equal to the ATK of any DARK monster he battles!"

Mahad's staff pulses with light as his ATK rises—

Mahad ATK: 5000

He blasts through Odd-Eyes in one strike.

Yuya LP: 4000 → 2000

Andrew:

"Now, Dark Magician Girl—Dark Burning Attack!"

Yuya:

"I activate Action Card: Block Attack!"

A magic wall halts the attack.

Andrew:

"Tch. I end my turn."

Yuya (thinking):

Odd-Eyes is gone… do I still have a chance?

Andrew (noticing):

"Yuya—just because you lost your ace doesn't mean the duel's over. Trust your deck… and it'll guide you through."

Yuya (nodding):

"Right… my turn!"

He draws—Monster Reborn.

Yuya:

"Wait… Odd-Eyes isn't in the graveyard. Pendulum Monsters go to the Extra Deck!"

He looks to the glowing cards in the Extra Deck.

Yuya:

"Then I set the scale again! Timegazer and Stargazer! Pendulum Summon—Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon—return to the field!"

Yuya:

"I play Reckless Rush! Odd-Eyes gains 800 ATK!"

Odd-Eyes ATK: 2500 → 3300

Yuya:

"Then Triple Attack boosts it another 1700!"

Odd-Eyes ATK: 3300 → 5000

Yuya:

"Odd-Eyes, attack Mahad!"

Andrew:

"Trap Card—Mirror Force!"

Yuya:

"Timegazer's effect stops Trap Cards from the battle phase!"

Andrew:

"I chain Magician Navigation from my graveyard—banishing it to negate a Spell or Trap. Mirror Force goes through!"

A massive shockwave erupts—Odd-Eyes and all of Yuya's Attack Position monsters are destroyed.

Yuya (grimacing):

"I end my turn…"

▶️ Final Turn – Andrew

Andrew (smiling):

"Cheer up, Yuya. That was one amazing turn. You may not have scratched my LP, but this duel made my blood pump."

He raises his hand.

Andrew:

"Now, let me finish this! Dark Magician, attack directly! Dark Magic Attack!"

Yuya LP: 2000 → 0

WINNER: ANDREW

🤝 Post-Duel

Andrew walks across the field and offers his hand. Yuya, smiling, takes it.

Yuya:

"Whoa… you're awesome, man."

Andrew:

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Yuya:

"C'mon, let's go grab lunch. My treat."

Andrew (grinning):

"Deal