After organizing her deck build outside, You Wushuang saw that she had time and decided to watch the Collegiate League.
She took chips and cola from the fridge, then pressed the remote on the table with her toes.
She shouted toward You Chen's room, "Want to watch the Collegiate League? The replay's about to start."
Getting no response, You Wushuang could not be bothered to pay him any more attention.
"Hmph! No ambition."
"Just wait. Once I learn a few tricks from the Collegiate League, I'll beat you senseless!"
"╭(╯^╰)╮!"
You Wushuang munched on chips and took several huge gulps of cola.
At that moment, the broadcast happened to show You Chen's duel against Liu Wenhui.
At the sight of it, You Wushuang seemed to freeze, her eyes widening.
"Pff—"
She sprayed cola everywhere.
"What the hell? Am I seeing this right?"
"That bastard actually entered the Collegiate League?"
"Where did he get the qualifications to duel?"
"And that Liu Wenhui—I'd looked into her before. She's one of High School Five's outstanding students."
"But he actually..."
You Wushuang was utterly shaken. Her little brother felt more and more unfamiliar. When had he become this strong?
No wonder he had told her from the start to watch the Collegiate League. So that was why.
Thinking back to earlier, she had acted like an idiot and lectured him at length.
Especially that line: Otherwise, why are other people in the Collegiate League instead of you?
Seeing this scene now, it truly felt like she had been slapped across the face, leaving it burning hot.
"Damn it!" You Wushuang said.
"I'm going to become a card game master too!"
The next day, the Collegiate League arrived as scheduled.
After yesterday's elimination matches,
the top eight had been selected.
By the time You Chen arrived, he had already seen the list of finalists.
High School Nine had lost six students in the very first round.
Before the lower-bracket matches began, almost everyone thought it would be difficult for High School Nine to have any students left in the top eight.
Yet after yesterday, two High School Nine students had still made it into the top eight.
They were naturally Mu Qingyu and You Chen.
The students from High School One who advanced were:
Chen Mo, Xia Sheng, Wu Zhifeng, and Lin Yingying.
The students from High School Five who advanced were:
Han Feng and Chen Ze.
Thus, High School One held four of the eight spots.
However, today's event was doubles.
The individual top-eight matches would be tomorrow.
When he arrived at the preparation room, Hua Ningning had already been waiting for a long time.
"You finally made it."
"We're in the third duel. Our opponents are Lin Yingying and Huang Tianhai from High School One."
"Do we need to change the decks a little?"
"I'm worried they might target us."
Hua Ningning did not have much doubles experience, and this was her first time playing an Underworld Deck. It was impossible for her not to be nervous. After all, it was her first time bringing smiles to other people's faces.
"No need. I already have a deck that works very well with yours."
When You Chen came over that morning, he had rummaged through the card shop for a few cards. Combined with the cards he already had, he could put together another life-point burn deck.
After all, many Underworld Deck cards could be shared.
"Alright. The host just asked what our team was called."
"We have to tell him before he can introduce us."
Hua Ningning's words made You Chen look like an old man on the subway.
Damn it, it was just a competition. Why did they need a team name? Did they think they were making their debut?
Still, the school's operations had always been this baffling.
He had grown used to it.
"Whatever," You Chen said.
"Then let's be the Lightning Duo," Hua Ningning said.
"Don't make it cringe, thanks," You Chen said.
"Then you come up with one," Hua Ningning said.
"Healing Duo," You Chen said.
"Depressing Duo? Sure, sure!" Hua Ningning's eyes lit up.
You Chen: "..."
He suddenly realized that Hua Ningning really was suited to playing an Underworld Deck. She could even hear "healing" as "depressing." Without a doubt, she was the ideal Underworld Deck player. No wonder she had been interested in it.
Time quickly passed.
At last, it was the third match, and their team's turn to take the stage.
Looking at their team name, the host gave a dry cough and said through gritted teeth, "Please welcome the Depressing Duo!!"
The moment the words fell, the crowd erupted.
"Damn, they're not even pretending anymore?"
"That name is so Underworld. I love it."
"Don't tell me their doubles deck is going to pull that Underworld nonsense too?"
"Probably not. They'd get targeted for sure."
Amid the surrounding chatter, You Chen and Hua Ningning walked onto the stage.
Standing opposite them were two top students from High School One.
The guy was still a guy.
The girl was a flat-chested young woman with braided hair.
You Chen had nearly thought all top students were beauties.
Clearly, that conclusion did not hold up.
"You Chen, your strength isn't bad, and your deckbuilding ideas are bold. But this is as far as you go," Huang Tianhai said.
Huang Tianhai sounded so confident that he had clearly come prepared.
Lin Yingying and Huang Tianhai exchanged a glance and smiled.
Hmm?
Looking at the two of them, You Chen felt that something was off. Had they really prepared something specifically to counter him?
Or were they involved with each other?
"Enough talk. Duel start!!"
You Chen had already unfolded his Duel Disk.
Hua Ningning unfolded hers at the same time.
A coin fell from above.
"Heads. We go first. Hua Ningning, you start!"
You Chen took the initiative to let Hua Ningning go first, so he could observe more of what their opponents were up to.
The order of turns mattered greatly.
"Alright!"
Hua Ningning drew a card from the top of her deck with two fingers.
"I normal summon Blast Sphere from my hand in Attack Position!"
Hua Ningning cried out and pressed down a card.
The next moment, a short goblin-like creature with red skin appeared in the Monster Zone before her. It held two bombs, each just large enough to fit in one hand. A red X was marked on its forehead, several more bombs hung from its waist, and a lewd grin spread across its face.
That flashy grin made it seem ready to blow everything up at the slightest disagreement.
Its little green vest was already flying up.
Seeing this, You Chen clapped and said cheerfully, "Good, good, good. You summoned yourself right from the start. Now they've got it even harder."
"?????" Hua Ningning said.
Seriously, you're even messing with your teammate's mindset?
This is me? This is you!
Huang Tianhai and Lin Yingying across from them also found it amusing.
If nothing else, You Chen was truly first-rate at messing with people's heads. Even his words gave an Underworld Deck a buff.
Blast Sphere FIRE Attribute / Level 3 / Fiend-Type ATK: 1000 / DEF: 300
Seeing this,
Lin Yingying's expression gradually stiffened as she noticed something was wrong. Could Hua Ningning also be using an Underworld Deck?
Were they really putting together a pair now?
"Then I set three cards! End turn." Hua Ningning had completed her task and swiftly ended her turn.
"Then it's my turn. Draw!"
Huang Tianhai quickly drew a card, then revealed a meaningful smile.
Thanks to Yaoyue, Tulu Guilai, 5364, Nanjing Penguin, Ren Yi, 0329, Mu Gong, Black Tech Can't Be Played, and all the other readers for your recommendation votes!!
Keep following along. The author will not drag out the pacing. Once this gets promoted, there will be appropriate bonus chapters.
Before you continue