This duel was actually quite important to him as well.
If he could defeat the "Saint Son" from the other academy now, then when it came time to depart, his morale would surely be soaring.
But if he lost... then he lost! It was not as if he had never lost before!
If he really did lose, then he could simply make this "Saint Son" his next short-term goal.
During this exchange student trip, he would work toward that goal, study and improve at Holy Rite Academy, and once the exchange was over, challenge the "Saint Son" once more!
Of course, the moment the duel began, he had completely cast such thoughts aside.
At this point, all his attention was focused entirely on the duel itself. As for nonsense like "friendship first, competition second," it could go to hell!
But though he gave it his all, Evan Pearson had come prepared as well. As the sole "Saint Son" among Holy Rite Academy's enrolled students, the education Evan Pearson had received and the resources available to him were beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
At Saint Marian Academy, however, even Victor Gaude, the "Son of the Hero," had not received any special treatment in practice.
Everything Victor Gaude possessed had basically been earned through his own efforts.
Thus, by comparison on every level, it was difficult for him to measure up to Evan Pearson.
This was plainly reflected in the strength and variety of their decks. Fundamentally, this duel was unfair.
As a result, Victor Gaude had fallen into a bitter struggle from the very start! Meanwhile, Evan Pearson, the "Saint Son," had quickly revealed his cold and arrogant side after the duel began.
His offensive was exceptionally swift and fierce, wholly unlike the standard of a second-year student.
The Saint