The sheer brilliance of this final exceeded many people's expectations.
In post-match interviews, both Andy and Wodesen said that even if they fought again on the spot, they might not be able to perform as freely and brilliantly as they had in the arena.
Many spectators, too, etched the experience of this match deep into their memories.
In particular, the countless spells that had appeared above the Grand Martial Arena—including more than twenty Legendary-tier spells—left an indelible impression on the audience.
As time passed, perhaps several years or even a decade later, when Magic Duel had gradually faded from public view, there would still be a group of old players who occasionally told their children of that glorious spectacle.
In many people's eyes, Magic Duel might spark a craze for gaming across the entire population.
But in Ron's view, the emergence of the Phantasmal Weeping Willow would undoubtedly shatter that perception.
But that was a matter for later.
The instant the enormous fireball representing Wodesen's final sliver of health exploded with a thunderous boom, the entire Grand Martial Arena fell suddenly silent.
Then even fiercer cheers and shouts soared straight into the sky.
The whole venue was chanting Andy's name.
Andy, a boy barely in his teens, stood there blankly, his mind dazed for a moment.
Having been immersed in the heat of battle until then, he was suddenly pulled out of that state and faced with the tidal roar all around him.
He did not know what to do with himself.
Instead, it was Wodesen, the one who had lost, who strode forward magnanimously and shook Andy's hand. Then he seized Andy's wrist, raised it high, and declared Andy's victory to the tens of thousands of spectators around them.
More than ten minutes passed before the most frenzied cheering