Not Choosing Dark Dimon? He's a Second-Year! (4k) / Not Choosing Dark? Dimon? He's a Second-Year! (4k)

Or perhaps, in the eyes of those unwilling to see things develop this way, it was precisely an opening they could use to convince themselves.

Luke Beech was silently gritting his teeth at this moment, swearing that he would teach Dark Dimon a lesson!

He began to pray that the three contestants ahead of him would not choose Dark Dimon!

"What's going on?"

Winnie Skadi, who had arrived almost exactly on time, looked curiously at everyone in the room.

But before she could satisfy her curiosity, the Duel Club staff hurried in.

After confirming once again that everyone had arrived, the staff visibly relaxed and began leading them toward the backstage area behind the host's platform.

The sixteen contestants who had entered the Golden Cup main event were all dressed neatly in school uniforms, with Duel Club badges pinned to their chests, presenting the bearing of model students.

Once they entered backstage, the makeup artists who had long been waiting swiftly got to work, tending to their hair at an astonishing speed.

Of course, the students generally handled their own grooming, so the makeup artists' work mainly consisted of touching up minor imperfections.

This backstage area was located beneath the host's platform, but it was entirely enveloped by a barrier. Those outside could not see in, while those inside could see outside.

From here, they could also observe the contestants' duels from the best possible angle. "Ding-dong."

As the two o'clock chime rang out, the music drifting over the venue suddenly changed key, its melody turning intense. The opening performance began abruptly, like a fireball rushing straight at them.

Senior Judy, the female host dressed in a golden formal gown, poised and dignified with an air of noble elegance, suddenly appeared in the backstage area.

She glanced inside, exchanged a