As soon as Mazaki Anzu (known as Téa Gardner in the English version) saw that You Feng's opponent was a girl equal to her in beauty and presence, she couldn't hold back her enthusiasm. She immediately stood up and waved excitedly in support of You Feng, much to the surprise of both Jounouchi Katsuya (Joey Wheeler) and Mutou Yugi.
"Why is Anzu so pumped up today?" Jounouchi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I have no clue… Maybe she's just really cheering for You Feng?" Yugi replied, scratching the side of his face in confusion.
———
"Ahem!"
"Students, please keep quiet!"
"Today marks the official entrance duel of You Feng, a duelist recommended by Mutou Yugi and Jounouchi Katsuya, into our academy!"
"His opponent is none other than our Obelisk Blue representative—Asuka Tenjoin!"
"Principal Shephard has declared that if You Feng wins this duel, he will be promoted directly to Obelisk Blue. If he loses, he will be placed into Osiris Red."
Professor Chronos's announcement set the arena abuzz.
"Hmph! Thinking he can leap straight to the top just by arriving?"
"If he were ranked on the Duel King's Gold List, we'd understand—but he's not even listed. Beating Asuka? What a joke!"
"Asuka-senpai, crush him!"
"This duel's already decided!"
Laughter and jeers erupted across the stands.
"Well then, since there are no objections," Chronos declared with a dramatic flourish, "I now announce—the duel begins!"
He sauntered off the field and joined Principal Shephard.
"So, Principal… Care to bet on how many turns Asuka will need to win?" Chronos smirked.
"I'd say within five turns," Principal Shephard chuckled.
Chronos nodded in satisfaction.
At the center of the arena, the two duelists had taken their positions.
Asuka activated her duel disk with a confident smile. "Let's go. I've been looking forward to dueling a Duelist from Domino City. Try to last longer than five turns."
You Feng stepped forward and lifted his left arm, revealing his Phantom God Duel Disk.
The duel disk gleamed: the edges were shaped like the golden wings of The Winged Dragon of Ra, the deck zone styled after Obelisk the Tormentor's face, and the monster zones intersected at the twin jaws of Slifer the Sky Dragon.
It was a Duel Disk designed to embody the power of the Egyptian God Cards.
As he donned the disk, gasps echoed from the crowd.
"What kind of Duel Disk is that?! It's incredible!"
"A custom deck for the Egyptian Gods?! That's insane!"
"I want one!"
Yuki Judai (Jaden Yuki) jumped up, shouting, "I need that Duel Disk!"
You Feng simply smirked. "I'm afraid disappointing you is inevitable."
———
29. The Oppression of the Emperor! First Strike from the Throne!
"Huh?" Asuka blinked, momentarily stunned.
What did that mean? Was he saying he'd win in just a few turns?
"You Feng, where did you even get such an awesome Duel Disk?!"
Chumley Huffington (Cheng Zhi) shouted from the stands.
For a duelist, being cool, skilled, and winning was the ultimate trio—and this Phantom God Duel Disk hit all three.
"The duel begins!" both duelists shouted in unison.
DUEL—!
A coin was flipped. You Feng won the toss.
Though it was commonly accepted that Emperor Decks worked better going second, You Feng didn't mind.
"My turn—Draw!"
At that moment, his aura changed completely. An invisible pressure radiated off him.
Asuka instantly felt it.
This guy… He's serious.
"I summon a monster in Attack Position—Edea the Heavenly Squire!"
You Feng slammed a card onto his Duel Disk.
Edea the Heavenly Squire
LIGHT / Level 1 / Warrior
ATK 800 / DEF 1000
"When Edea is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a monster with 800 ATK and 1000 DEF from my Deck—except another copy of Edea!"
"And the monster I summon is… Eidos the Underworld Squire!"
With a second move, You Feng summoned his second monster. A dark energy pulsed from the field as Eidos took form—cloaked in tattered shadows, glowing red eyes peering beneath a broken helm.
Eidos the Underworld Squire
DARK / Level 2 / Spellcaster
ATK 800 / DEF 1000
"Now Eidos's effect activates! I gain an additional Tribute Summon this turn!"
"I tribute Edea and Eidos—to call forth the shadow that commands all darkness!"
You Feng raised a third card and slammed it down.
"Erebus the Underworld Monarch, descend!"
A black flame engulfed the two monsters. The sky above the field darkened as a towering figure emerged—massive, horned, draped in a heavy cloak and seated upon a jagged throne. The field shook.
Erebus the Underworld Monarch
DARK / Level 8 / Zombie
ATK 2800 / DEF 1000
Gasps and silence followed.
"Summoning a 2800 ATK monster on turn one?!"
"And those cards… They aren't even in circulation! Rare prints?!"
Asuka's brows furrowed. "So that's your real power…"
You Feng wasn't finished.
"Erebus's effect activates! When Tribute Summoned, I send two 'Monarch' Spell/Trap cards from my hand or deck to the Graveyard, then shuffle one random card from your hand or field into your deck!"
He pulled two cards from his deck and discarded them.
Asuka's eyes widened as she felt a pull—one of her cards vanished back into her deck!
One of my best opening moves… gone?!
"It's not over yet," You Feng said, eyes gleaming. "The road of a Monarch… is walked alone."