All the names finished loading onto the large central screen.
The students who had been discussing new cards gradually fell silent. The standby lights on the dozen or so Dueling Fields changed from red to green, and the loudspeakers above the venue lit up.
Cronos walked onto the central platform in high heels, holding the Monthly Test Terminal.
He surveyed the lines from the three dormitory colors, deliberately lingering on the Osiris Red Dormitory for a few seconds.
Jaden stood fairly straight in the line.
Syrus, however, hunched his shoulders and shielded the Deck Box at his waist with both hands, already gripped by pre-duel nerves.
Cronos nodded in satisfaction.
At least everyone was here this time.
"Quiet. I will now explain the rules for the practical portion of this Monthly Exam. Everyone, listen carefully. If you miss a single rule, don't come crying to my office afterward, na no ne."
The venue fell completely silent.
"For this Monthly Exam, priority will generally be given to duels between students from the same dormitory."
"Osiris Red against Osiris Red, Ra Yellow against Ra Yellow, and Obelisk Blue against Obelisk Blue."
"The winners will receive five Monthly Exam credits, along with a practical assessment of excellent or higher."
"The losers will also be scored on their in-duel plays, deck construction, handling of rules, and dueling performance."
Several Red Dormitory students quietly breathed sighs of relief.
Duels within the same dormitory would at least mean relatively smaller gaps in ability.
Cronos raised one finger.
"However, you'd best not take a Monthly Exam defeat too lightly."
"The academy will keep a record of every student's consecutive Monthly Exam results. Students who accumulate more than three consecutive Monthly Exam losses will be placed on the Expulsion Evaluation list."
A few gasps came from the Red