First Official Match Of The Year - 2

***

The first official match of the school year was starting. So, why am I up against a freshman?

I found myself designated as the chosen duelist and tasked with this assignment. When did this happen? I don't like any of these situations. Alexis said it's for PR and a good start for the year. But it was Crowler who planned all this.

During this first week, Alexis had been pushing me to get more involved with school for some strange reason. She didn't want to see me waste away my 'potential'. I wasn't sure what the hell she was on about when she tried explaining that to me.

Even now she woke up very early in the morning and made her way to my room with my spare key, preparing breakfast and then waking me up. After a groggy meal, she started dragging me out of my room for a practice duel, before dragging me again to the duel auditorium stadium. Because, apparently I have an official match that I never heard of.

So, was this a setup? Probably. As I entered the dueling stadium room, I was greeted by the sight of the entire room filled with students all seated and excited about this duel.

Also this is new… who is that fat fuck? He seemed to be the main caster for today's event.

Jaden, Syrus, Chazz, and Alexis were already seated, watching expectantly. The four of them thought this match would be a highlight of the year's duels. They were sitting with Crowler, discussing something that made him visibly upset. It seemed he couldn't find Aster Phoenix, so Crowler made me the face of the school and put me for the first official match of the year. Even though they know I dislike dueling in front of a crowd.

"The match-up between the strongest first-year of Obelisk Blue vs the strongest second-year of Obelisk Blue."

I had to admit, that fat fuck knows how to stir things up, even I was getting a little worked up after hearing that line. Ah, he was the vice chancellor, Jean-Louis Bonaparte.

"Give a big welcome to our Duel Academy's challenger, a freshman among freshmen. The top-ranking of Obelisk Blue for the freshman year, Mr. Reginald Van Howell The Third (III) !"

"Well, look who it is, The goat himself. I'm gonna make sure I beat you black and blue and take that title for myself." Reginald boasted.

"I didn't know the school had a sick hobby for picking up third rate duelists. They even had to announce who you are." Gojo retorted with a smirk.

"WHATCHA SAY YOU PUNK?" Reginald spat out.

"Damn. He insulted him and the school at the same time." even Jean muttered, surprisingly.

Alexis facepalmed after hearing that she was definitely going to try giving Gojo a scolding. Jaden and Syrus awkwardly grinned, while Chazz burst into laughter upon hearing the statement.

I ignored the kid in front of me, as I was looking at the small fat baldy's head… his bald head was shining. Shining brighter than my future. It put me into a daze.

~

The rest of the audience had thoughts in their mind, but they could all agree unanimously. This is going to one hell of a duel of the year.

Meanwhile in Crowler's mind. 'Good, Good. This is the reaction I wanted. After all, I even managed to get Gojo in this official exhibition match, thanks to Alexis. The whole school is already in a buzz. Now all I need is for Gojo to win this match. Then my wallet is going to fatten up. This will also make me look good in all the other higher ups around the world.'

Except for the freshmen, everyone betted on Gojo to win this duel because it's a fact that Gojo will win, and they all want that quick free DP. Even the teachers were in it. So, they worked hard on hyping up the duel.

"Alright, you know the drill. No direct attacks below the belt. But trash talk…is encouraged." Jean quickly said his piece and exited the stage.

That snapped me out of my daze. Trash talk was allowed...?

"Alright, then I'm—" Reginald began.

"Look kid, I think you got into the wrong school. With your height, your voice, and your tone, I'd swear you're still in middle school" Gojo cut in, kicking off his verbal assault.

"But if you are of age, then I can't even imagine how you grew into such an abomination like that. Must be either how you were raised or it's just in your family genes."

"In that case, it must have been a sorry-ass family."

"Though, I would never dare insult anyone's family. It's just that I can't help but question if you were just a mutation born from your family to have such a ridiculous short height. I didn't think it was possible. But drink some milk."

"Top of all that, you look like those nobody like the crowd right behind you, yet you are titled the strongest Obelisk freshman of the year? Imagine that."

Gojo kept going and going until Reginald finally snapped. Ah, we could hear Chazz laughing harder now.

"Alright, alright, tone it down. Let's get on with the dueling," Jean quickly intervened.

"SHUT UP! I'm going first," Reginald declared, drawing his first card and starting his move.

Gojo smiled and watched. If he sees that Reginald's deck is bad, then he'll just play a rogue deck he picked up and learn along the way.

Recently in the blackmarket site, there were rumors of a strong cute deck called the Dragonmaid. Gojo upon reading the news was interested; as he simply looked at all the photos of the cards provided by the web, storing them in his memory, then recalled his memories of some of the cards in his original world he made it applicable to his blank deck.

While Gojo has experienced going against this deck before in his previous world, he still has no idea how to play it.

And here he is going to learn how to play this new deck against the 'strongest first-year freshman of Obelisk Blue'.

~

Both of us activated our duel disks and began the duel.

"I summon the Marauding Captain in attack mode!" Reginald declared.

A rugged, dual-wielding blonde man materialized on Reginald's field with 1200 attack points.

"Thanks to his effect, I can summon another monster. I summon the Warrior Lady of the Wasteland!" he continued.

A fierce woman wielding a one-handed sword, her other arm wrapped in bandages, appeared on the field. She has 1100 attack points. Reginald then equipped both of his monsters with two equip spells. Boosting Marauding Captain's attack points to 1500 and increasing Warrior Lady's attack points to 1400.

Before ending his turn he set a card face down.

"Then I'm calling it a turn. How's that for you?" Reginald smirked as he asked me. "I hope you aren't rusty cuz I heard you were inactive for a while until you got here and that even Aster came here because of you."

This kid must really not know anything about me. I have no idea what I would even do if I was outside the academy island. So, the fuck is he on about me being inactive?

Turning to look at Alexis, who puts her arms in an X formation while shaking her head.

I think that was her way of telling me not to destroy his reputation, his school life, his ego, and his pride in this duel. Since she made me breakfast this morning even though it was mid. I will let it go.

Looking at his field, it's complete garbage. But by the standards of this world, it was understandably decent, as he had made use of every available card in his hand. The cards in this world aren't even advanced yet, always filled with odd gimmicks and relying on old-school play styles.

Sighing with a thought, when was the last time I played old school Yu-Gi-Oh? You know, that turn-by-turn play style. Where I summoned a monster, set a card, then ended my turn.

Inwardly grinning at the nostalgia, then frowning as I remembered I always got beaten by those crappy burn decks that my friends always cooked up.

Clicking my tongue, I drew my card and decided on summoning the boss card of this archetype.

"I play a spell card Dragonmaid Changeover."

~

A lot of people were murmuring as they watched the duel. "Doesn't Gojo always play Blue-Eyes, Red-Eyes, and Dark Magician girls? What is this?"

"Don't ask me, maybe he has a thing for Dragon Maids now. Is he going to be Kaiba's successor?"

"Well, I knew he had a lot of decks, but he must have spent a fortune to get those."

"What? No, Gojo is poor—But I'm taking care of that. He helped me get the Mikanko series a while back, and I know he doesn't have much on him. This is likely a gift from Pegasus or Kaiba."

"Damn, lucky bastard."

~

"What this Spell Card does lets me perform a specific Fusion Summon. By sending two Dragonmaid monster cards from my hand to the graveyard, I can bring out Dragonmaid Sheou."

I sent Dragonmaid Tinkhec and Kitchen Dragonmaid to the graveyard as the fusion material.

On the field appeared a beautiful sparkling purple onyx dragon.

A level 10, fusion monster with 3500 attack points with an interesting effect. It might be a bit overkill if I were to start using spells and traps.

"3500!?" Reginald panicked a little.

"Yeah, the attack is a little low, I know, bear with it." Gojo rolled his eyes.

"Low?! You're crazy! That's a high attack monster!"

"Sheou attack his lady warrior monster."

Dragonmaid Sheou flew into the air and then blasted a vortex like attack at Warrior lady of the wasteland prompting him to drop his life points to 1900.

"Next I play the spell card dark hole." I said with a smile. Wiping out all the remaining monsters, including mine, on the field.

'What is this guy doing?' Reginald narrowed his eyes as he thought about his opponent's move. It didn't make sense to him to destroy his own monster.

Everyone's watching was also confused. Why would Gojo do that?

Reginald made a move when his monsters were destroyed.

"You're gonna regret that. Thanks to my monster equipping the jewel sword (equip spell) being sent to the graveyard, I get to draw a card!"

Unfortunately, Gojo didn't even seem to hear him, not that he cared. He had more important things to focus on.

Inside Gojo's head, 'Which card should I spawn?' He wore a look of deep contemplation.

[Ooooh, play the Dragonmaid Hospitality. That one!] Dark Magician Girl excitedly chirped, suggesting one specific spell card.

~

"Do you guys think Gojo messed up?" Syrus asked, sounding worried.

"He does have a deep expression," he added.

"Big deal, like that would make a difference," Chazz snorted. "Knowing him, it's probably part of his plan anyway. He can't use Dragonmaid Sheou to attack anymore this turn since he already attacked with it."

"Well, I have to agree with Chazz on this one. Hahaha. Gojo doesn't even seem to be panicking. Not that I've ever seen him make a panicked face in a duel," Jaden laughed.

"Well he better make his turn, cause time is clicking." Chazz commented.

~

After a brief moment of consideration, Gojo settled on the spell card his wife picked.

"I activate my spell card. Dragonmaid's hospitality. This back my Sheou from the graveyard in defense mode. Then I have to send a dragonmaid monster from my deck to the graveyard."

Dragonmaid Sheou, 2000 defense points.

For the spell effect, I sent the Laundry Dragonmaid to the grave. And just like that, my purple onyx dragon returned to the field.

"Then I end my turn by placing two cards face down." Gojo's hand was empty and he was smiling.

"Hah? Then let me show you how it's done!"

Reginald drew his card and looked at it for a moment before playing it immediately.

"I activate pot of greed! Sorry, but now I picked up two more cards!

[Yo, he didn't explain what Pot of Greed do!]

[Hubby, its not that deep.]

[Nawh, fuck that. He's cooked.]

"Next I reveal my face down card! Call of the haunted!" Reginald announced.

"And here I thought it was magic cylinder or something." Gojo muttered under his breath. "My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined."

"I'm using it to bring back the Warrior Lady of the Wasteland. Then equip it with an equip spell," Reginald continued.

"This shit is getting really old and what the fuck are you going to do with that?!" Gojo yelled.

"Oh, you will see! I'm using her as a sacrifice so that I can play Gilford the legend!" Reginald answered.

The heck? That name sounds very familiar but different. Isn't that Joey's card? Gojo tilted his head as he wondered.

On the field a warrior emerged wielding its two handed long sword. With 2600 attack points.

~

"Woah, this guy has some sweet moves." Jaden was thinking about why Reginald was equipping equip spells on his monsters without much concern for defending them. Only realized that it was all for the sake of this specific monster.

"Yeah, this freshman knows his stuff. Gojo needs to take this seriously now," Alexis was surprised at the skill level of the freshman.

~

"Check this out, Gilford's special ability is access to any number of equip spells from my graveyard!"

[Why is he so excited? Is that his ace?] Gojo frowned as he telepathically communicated with his wife.

[Looks like it.] Dark Magician Girl asked as she floated near him.

[That is so sad and disappointing.]

Reginald, with three equip spells back in the field, boosted Guildford's attack points to 3500. Then, he added another equip spell from his hand by discarding a card, further pumping Gildford to 4000 attack points.

"No way!" Alexis exclaimed, jumping in shock. Like many others, many were gawking at the appearance of the warrior's sword.

Even Gojo was a bit surprised by the hologram's animation of Gilford's sword continuously growing larger and larger. Now, the sword stood at a staggering 22 feet, emitting a menacing red glow.

"That is some illegal gay shit right there," Gojo muttered, then eyeing Reginald's field.

Upon observation, he already made most of Reginald's deck. Likely random shit fodder monster cards and spell cards, with a rare chance of trap cards. It is safe to assume that those spell cards were mainly equipped spells.

Looking at Reginald's backline, it is already taking up four slots, leaving only one remaining space. Additionally, he only had one monster on the field. Those equip spells didn't appear to provide any defensive measures beyond granting a +1 draw when the monsters were destroyed.

'That monster likely only has one effect too—equipping spells from the graveyard.'

[Doesn't this give off a little feeling like going against the Mikanko deck?] Gojo spoke his thoughts.

[Ah, a little yeah.]

"Now Gilford shows him what real power is, destroys his Dragonmaid Sheou," Reginald exclaimed as Gilford lifted his heavy sword and swung at my dragon who heavily fought back before destroying it.

"You're defenseless!" Reginald exclaimed, clearly excited.

"Uwaaaaa, he thinks destroying my monsters makes me defenseless." Gojo blinks and then glances down at his two face down cards.

'Well, looks like I don't even need to use those.' he secretly thought.

As it was his turn, Gojo drew his card and then activated the Spell Card in his hand without looking at it.

"I activate my own Equip Spell Card, and I'm going to put it on your monster," Gojo said with a gentle smile.

"What?! Why?" Reginald's face grew confused and a little concerned.

However, something unexpected happened on the field. Gilford the Legend appeared walking towards Gojo's field.

"Wha-? What did you do!?" Reginald's face contorted as he demanded an answer.

"I'm using a classic case of 'go fuck yourself'. And I'm helping you with that. Wait, pause, that came out wrong."

"Well, anyways It's also thanks to my Equip Spell Card, 'Snatch Steal'. This card lets me steal your monster. And now I'm going to attack you with that monster. Nice sword, by the way." Gojo continued.

The warrior turned to look at me, nodded, and swung his 22-foot sword at Reginald's life points, reducing them to 0.

Not before Reginald screamed "Nooooooo" as his knee dropped to the floor, looking devastated when he took the hit of the ominous projection.

~

"Oh wow, he looked shocked and traumatized." Syrus

"No kidding. To be beaten by your own ace monsters and with a sight like that... I think it was a bit too much," Jaden agreed.

"That guy is cooked," Chazz commented.

Meanwhile, Alexis continued facepalming at herself for even agreeing to help Crowler with this plan of his, before glaring hard at Gojo.

Ever since Gojo began facing challenge requests from students left and right in the previous year, he started summoning 5 headed dragons and one-shotting them, all in an attempt to intimidate his opponents. The students were always trying to issue challenges whenever they saw him just so that they hoped to get a glimpse of Dark Magician Girl in the duel. However, Gojo stopped using her since their intentions eventually became obvious.

Gojo then made it a hobby to use Neos Blue-eyes ultimate dragon, 5-headed dragon, or any means possible to terrify his opponent and intimidate them with it. Alexis is also a victim of this, and she has been trying to convince him to stop doing that.

~

"GGEZ, I'm out," Gojo said hastily, leaving the stadium and avoiding eye contact with Alexis.

***