[Axe Raider, ATK 1700]
Several examinees in the waiting area let out quiet gasps.
A Level 4 monster with 1,700 ATK was already a very reliable low-level attacker in an ordinary duel.
Even the ace monsters in many ordinary people's decks might not have higher ATK.
"Axe Raider, with 1,700 ATK. For a low-level monster, that is an excellent value."
The examiner clearly enjoyed explaining things.
"Establishing pressure on the field with just one Normal Summon is certainly practical."
Yūki nodded.
Axe Raider, huh.
An old acquaintance.
Back in his previous life, when Duel Links had first launched, this monster had been a dominant force in the format that made countless players reach for their wallets.
Times had changed later, and the 1,700-ATK Normal Monster had gradually become a relic of a bygone era.
But in the current early-GX environment, it was still quite intimidating.
The examiner took out another Spell Card.
"I also activate the Equip Spell Card, Legendary Sword."
A projection of a sapphire-studded longsword rose from the back row, pale golden patterns of light flowing over its blade.
"This card can only be equipped to a Warrior-Type monster. The equipped monster gains 300 ATK and DEF."
The longsword descended, turning into a streak of golden light that merged into Axe Raider's battle-axe.
The previously battered axe blade immediately gleamed with a sharp edge.
[Axe Raider, ATK 1700 → 2000, DEF 1150 → 1450]
"Two thousand ATK."
The examiner looked at Yūki's face-down monster.
"That is enough to deal with the vast majority of low-level monsters."
He set another card in his back row.
"I enter the Battle Phase."
Axe Raider raised his battle-axe and strode toward the face-down monster in Yūki's front row.
"Axe Raider, attack that face-down monster!"
The battle-axe traced a golden arc through the air.
"Great Axe Mountain-Splitter!"
The axe blade crashed down.
The monster on Yūki's field flipped face-up.
A swordsman clad in silver-white full plate armor leaped out of the card projection.
Gripping a broad greatsword with both hands, he crouched low, angling his blade toward the descending axe.
[Spirit of the Harp, DEF 1200]
"Twelve hundred DEF?"
The examiner smiled.
"Fujiwara, Axe Raider's ATK has already reached 2,000. That much DEF won't stop him."
The great axe slammed into the greatsword.
Bang!
A golden shock wave swept outward.
Several people in the waiting area were already expecting to see the monster cleaved apart.
But the Spirit of the Harp on the field dug his feet into the ground, bracing the sword's hilt with both hands.
The greatsword bent into a startling curve, yet it never broke.
Axe Raider roared and pressed down on the axe handle again.
The Elf Swordsman gritted his teeth and raised his head, silver light shining on his armor.
The next instant, he flicked his greatsword upward.
The great axe was forcibly parried aside.
The smile froze on the examiner's face.
"The monster wasn't destroyed?"
Yūki raised a hand.
"Spirit of the Harp's effect applies."
"This card cannot be destroyed by battle with a monster that has 1,900 or more ATK."
The examiner glanced at Axe Raider's stats, then looked at the warrior still standing on the field with his sword.
With 2,000 ATK, he had instead just crossed the threshold for that protection.
This monster's effect specifically stopped high-ATK monsters.
"I see."
The examiner nodded.
"Resistance to destruction by battle against high-ATK monsters. It certainly is a good defensive choice."
"However, low-level monsters with less than 1,900 ATK can still deal with him. I still have a usable monster in my hand, so I can take care of him next turn."
His tone was steady.
It was just one monster refusing to leave the field.
The examiner did not consider it too serious.
The examination decks prepared by the academy were by no means weak.
After all, there were 110 examinees taking this practical exam, but only about half would ultimately remain.
Duel Academy had never been some cram school that anyone could enter just by paying.
The cradle of duelists would only accept those with genuine potential.
The examiner was just about to declare the end of his turn.
"Wait, sir."
Yūki raised one finger.
The examiner paused in surprise.
Yūki flipped over the first set card in his back row.
"I activate the Normal Trap Card, Secret Barrel."
A black metal machine gun sprang out of the Trap Zone, an oversized ammunition drum attached to its side, its muzzle aimed at the examiner's field.
"This card inflicts 200 damage to the opponent for each card in their hand and on their field combined."
Yūki scanned the opposing area.
"You have Axe Raider, Legendary Sword, and one set card on your field, sir. Three cards in total."
"And another three in your hand."
"For a total of six cards."
He tipped up his chin.
"So you'll take 1,200 damage."
The examiner's hand stopped on his Duel Disk.
Six cards?
He instinctively glanced at his hand, then at his field.
There really were six cards.
Secret Barrel's ammunition drum spun rapidly, dense bursts of flame spraying from its muzzle.
Ratatatat!
Bullets of light shot across the field, striking in front of the examiner one after another.
[Ryosuke Uchida LP: 4000 → 2800]
The examiner took half a step back.
He finally began to struggle to maintain his composure.
A Defense Position monster he couldn't destroy.
Twelve hundred points of effect damage.
The duel had only just begun, yet he had already lost nearly a third of his Life Points.
That sense of frustration had come very suddenly.
And it felt utterly unfair.
Yūki blinked.
"It's not over yet."
The examiner raised an eyebrow.
There's more?
Yūki flipped over his second set card.
"I activate the Continuous Trap Card, Torture Wheel."
A massive steel wheel rose from the back row.
Spikes covered its outer rim, while a ghastly white structure resembling animal bones was embedded in its center.
Several black chains lashed out, wrapping directly around Axe Raider's arms, waist, abdomen, and legs.
"I activate it by targeting one monster on your field."
"As long as Torture Wheel remains on the field, the targeted monster cannot attack or change its battle position. When that monster leaves the field, this card is also destroyed."
The chains abruptly tightened.
Axe Raider was dragged toward the wheel, his entire body wedged between its spokes. His battle-axe fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Yūki continued explaining.
"Also, during my Standby Phase, Torture Wheel will inflict 500 damage to you."
The examiner stared at Axe Raider chained to the wheel, and his expression finally changed.
Defense.
Burn damage.
Attack restrictions.
Plus a Spirit of the Harp specifically meant to be a nuisance to high-ATK monsters.
He finally understood the direction of Yūki's deck.
A classic defensive burn strategy.
And the examination deck he was using happened to lean toward seizing the tempo with low-level monsters, then widening the ATK gap with Equip Cards and high-level monsters.
This deck was usually very effective against ordinary examinees.
But the student across from him was using every card to hit him right where it hurt.
"So that's how it is."
The examiner stared at Yūki's back row.
"You planned to fight a drawn-out battle from the start."
"More or less."
Yūki thought for a moment.
"Mostly, I prefer to let my opponent calm down a little first."
The examiner said, "..."
He did not feel the slightest bit calmer.
If anything, he wanted to hurry up and end this duel.
Before you continue