After calming the girls down, Yuya convinced Yuzu to go and talk to Rei. The rest of the group came along out of curiosity.

"So, my Construct battles your Diva, can't destroy her, and gets hit by her effect instead. Pretty impressive, Yuzu," Rei told her.

"You have some real skills, Rei," Asuka said. "I'm surprised you were never promoted above red."

"They said I had 'discipline problems'," Rei shrugged. "What they really meant is I wouldn't take orders without question." She looked up at the display screen. "I'd rather be a small fry than, say... him." The screen was announcing the next round between Gongenzaka and Jun Manjoume.

"Speaking of which, the man Gongenzaka must return for his duel," Gongenzaka said, prompting the others to follow him to the dueling area. Masumi Kotsu, Hokuto Shijima and Yaiba Todo met them outside the door to the stands.

"Well, Gongenzaka, I hope you're prepared to uphold your family's dueling and everything," Hokuto smirked.

"Don't forget Synchro Summoning!" Yaiba added more seriously.

"Can you tell us more about Manjoume, Asuka?" Yuya asked.

"Maybe you can ask him yourself," said Masumi. Everyone else turned around to see Manjoume's smirking face.

"How long were you behind us?" Yuzu asked in outrage. Manjoume looked over her, Gongenzaka, then the others, chuckled and walked past them without a word.

As the You Show and LDS duelists returned to their respective seats, Gongenzaka and Manjoume entered the field.

"Go, Gong!" Sora called. "You've got this!" Gongenzaka bristled at the nickname but let it slide.

"I hope Gongenzaka can beat that guy," said Tatsuya.

"Don't worry, of course he can!" Ayu chimed in.

"Ooh, I'm getting shivers already!" Futoshi added, trembling in excitement. Manjoume pointed straight at them from down in the arena.

"You three," he called. "SHUT UP." The children froze, mouths agape.

"Unacceptable! Totally unacceptable, Jun Manjoume!" Gonenzaka roared. "How dare you tarnish this duel by bullying children? The man Gongenzaka pledges to teach you respect!"

"Oh, okay," Manjoume replied as he reached his spot, answering Gongenzaka's glare with a smug grin.

"Uh... well, let's start the match!" Nico said after watching them awkwardly.

JUN MANJOUME - UNION

VS

NOBORU GONGENZAKA - SUPERHEAVY SAMURAI

"First," said Manjoume, "I activate the spell Unexpected Dai! Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon a Normal Monster from my deck. I summon X-Head Cannon! Next, I activate Terraforming, which allows me to search a field spell from my deck. I add Union Hanger to my hand and then activate it! Its activation allows me to search a Union monster from my deck. I choose Y-Dragon Head and now I Normal Summon it. Union Hanger's next effect activates: the first time I summon a Union monster each turn, I can equip an appropriate Union monster to it from my deck. I equip Y-Dragon Head with Z-Metal tank! And now, I banish my three monsters from the field! Go, Contact Fusion! X! Y! Z! Combine! XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" The monsters rose into the air and began to transform, attaching and stacking atop one another to form a robotic humanoid-dragon tank.

"Fusing from your spell and trap zone?!" Gongenzaka drew back in surprise.

"All I have to do is banish monsters from my field," Manjoume grinned again. "It never said from what part of my field." His grin grew wider and he looked up at and around the crowd. "And when I duel, this is the only monster with x-y-z in its name worth talking about!" The tension already present amplified considerably but no-one raised their voice, not wanting to give him more satisfaction.

"I set one more card. Show me what you can do, Mr. Manly," Manjoume told Gongenzaka. Gongenzaka drew.

"I summon Superheavy Samurai Wagon!"

The crowd watched a green wheeled robot pulling a cart appear.

"This monster switches to defense position when first summoned," Gongenzaka explained. "Then, by changing it back to attack position, I can search my deck for a Superheavy Samurai Soul Monster! Equip! Superheavy Samurai Soulpeacemaker!" A set of four bronze arms flew through the air and grabbed onto the bar alongside the wagon puller's original hands.

"I also equip the Wagon with Superheavy Samurai Soulpeircer!" A purple crossbow bolted itself to the side of the wagon.

"So... what did that do?" Manjoume asked.

"Soulpeacmaker allows me to send the equipped monster to the graveyard and summon a new one from my deck! Appear, Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei!"

The audience cheered as Gongenzaka's signature monster arrived on the field.

"Additionally, since I sent Soulpeircer to the graveyard, I can now add a new Superheavy Samurai monster to my hand. I choose Superheavy Samurai General Jade!"

The audience cheered louder. Gongenzaka had retrieved one of his Pendulum Monsters.

"I set my scale with the Superheavy Samurai Pendulum Monsters, scale 1 General Jade and scale 8 General Coral!" Gongenzaka announced. The monsters appeared in the pillars of light. "I can now Pendulum Summon monsters level 2 to 7! Appear, my monsters! Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Fist and level 5 Superheavy Samurai Big Waraji!" Two more robots rose up on the field, a small red and yellow one and a floating golden one.

"A tuner monster huh?" Manjoume chuckled. "Good thing I prepared with this - I activate the trap card Dimensional Barrier! This card will prevent Fusion, Ritual, Synchro or Xyz monsters from being summoned for the rest of the turn and guess what? I choose Synchro!"

The crowd began to murmur in frustration, Gongenzaka's friends included.

"It looks like he isn't even allowing Gongenzaka to play the game," Yoko remarked.

"That's Academia tactics for you, Mrs. Sakaki," Asuka muttered.

"He's awful," Ayu sniffled as she and the other children glared at Manjoume. Yuya and Yuzu exchanged a glance.

"Well, Gogenzaka's in a tight spot right now, but let's see what he does next!" Smiley called, trying to calm the audience down.

"Big Benkei's effect allows Superheavy Samurai monsters to attack in defense position!" Gongenzaka announced. "Big Benkei attacks Dragon Cannon!" Benkei slammed its fist into the ground, sending out a wave of flames cracking out of the ground. The flames surrounded XYZ and it exploded -its 2800 attack points were no match for Big Benkei's 3500 defense. Manjoume drew back and growled as his life points dropped to 3300. "Now Fist and Big Waraji attack directly!" The two other monsters launched Manjoume off his feet. He landed in a crouch, sliding along the ground to a halt with only 600 life points remaining.

"You Synchro slime..." Manjoume growled as he stood up and started his turn. "So aren't you going to go running around for action cards or something?"

"The steadfast dueling style is the pride of my dojo and my family-!" Gongenzaka began.

"Okay, okay, I didn't ask for your life story," Manjoume cut him off. "So I don't have to deal with this whole action duel silliness? Fine by me." He drew his next card.

"Right... I now activate Soul Absorption! Each time a card is banished, I gain 500 life points! And with this next card, I'm about to give myself a big boost! I activate Pot of Desires! By banishing the top ten cards from my deck, I can then draw two cards - and top myself up by 5000 life points!" Manjoume's points increased to 5600.

"Oh! All of Gongenzaka's hard work is undone just like that!" Nico called as the crowd groaned.

"Now then! I Summon A-Assault Core!" An orange tank vaguely shaped like a scorpion rose up. "Union Hangar now allows me to equip this monster with B-Buster Drake!" A green dragon-like robot flew out and attached to the right side of the Assault Core's cannon. "Also, I activate Frontline Base! Now, once per turn, I can Special Summon a Union monster from my hand! I summon C-Crush Wyvern!" Another robot dragon, this one purple, floated next to the combined monsters.

"Now I banish these three monsters!" Manjoume announced. A! B! C! Combine! ABC-Dragon Buster!" The three monsters locked together, the dragons becoming mountings for their weapons on Assault Core's tail. "And Since I banished three more cards, I get 1500 more life points," Manjoume smirked, now with 7100 total.

"Once per turn, ABC-Dragon Buster can target one card on the field and banish it if I discard a card," Manjoume announced.

"Sadly, you're out of cards," Gongenzaka said.

"Good point... but I have an idea," Manjoume grinned. He leaped from his position, grabbing an action card. "Now I'll have plenty of spare cards."

The crowd erupted into boos, cries of 'you hypocrite!' ringing out.

"Barrett Academy duelists are prepared to exploit all resources available," Manjoume laughed as he discarded the card. "Say goodbye to your Benkei!" Missiles fired from the launchers at the bottom of Manjoume's monster, detonating around Big Benkei and causing a vortex to surround the monster as it vanished. Manjoume's life points increased again to 7600.

"Gongnzaka's mainline non-Synchro monster is out of the duel!" Nico shouted. "It's a tough situation to be in, folks!"

"Speaking of not Synchro summoning, I think I'll get rid of that tuner next," Manjoume went on. "Dragon Buster, attack!" The mouths of the dragons and the cannons attached to them began to glow. Blinding beams engulfed Superheavy Samurai Fist, disintegrating it.

"And now I'll set one more card," Manjoume snickered.

"Come on, Gongenzka!" Shuzo shouted, "get fired up!" Although the others around him cringed at the display, Gongenzaka nodded at the encouragement.

"My turn! I Normal Summon Superheavy Samurai Battelball! Now I target your ABC-Dragon Buster!"

"I see what you're trying to do," Manjoume said, reading the display on his duel disk screen. "In response, I tribute my Dragon Buster to Special Summon three of my banished monsters! Assault Core, Buster Drake and Crush Wyvern return to the field!" A-Assault Core appeared in attack mode, the other two in defense.

"Now your Battleball loses its target and you can't use my monster to summon a high-level Synchro," Manjoume smirked.

"I can still summon my own monsters!" Gongenzaka replied. "Pendulum Summon! Appear, Superheavy Samurai Drum!" The new monster resembled a cylinder with glowing red rings at each end. "I tune level 1 Drum with level 5 Big Waragi! Raise your war cry, divine ogre! Show yourself on this battlefield infested by evil! I Synchro Summon level 6 Superheavy Samurai Ogre Shutendoji!" A robot with red and gold armor emerged from the rings, hefting a huge club over its shoulder.

"When this monster is Synchro Summoned, I can destroy all spells and traps my opponent controls!" As Gongenzaka explained the effect, Shutendoji slammed its club into the ground, sending out a shockwave towards Manjoume's field.

"I chain my trap card: Union Scramble!" Manjoume shouted. "I'll use this to Special Summon back my banished Y-Dragon Head and Z-Metal Tank!" The two monsters flew out of portal, both landing in defense position. Then the shockwave hit and blew away Manjoume's cards.

"Talk about a turnaround!" Nico cried. "Now Manjoume has no more life point gaining, no more summoning extra monsters and no more searching with his field spell!"

"I'm far from finished!" Gongenzaka continued. "I tune my level 2 Battleball and level 6 Ogre! Come out, level 8 Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi!" The new mehanical warrior was bronze and cobalt blue.

"I target my Sarutobi and lower its level by one to return Superheavy Samurai Fist to the field!" Gongnenzaka shouted as the smaller robot emerged. "Then, I target Sarutobi with General Jade to increase its level back to 8!

"Battle! Ninja Sarutobi will attack B-Buster Drake!" The Superheavy Samurai monster sent out an enormous gust of wind, blowing away the smaller robot.

"General Coral's effect!" Gongenzaka announced. "When my Superheavy Samurai destroys a monster by battle, it can attack again! Destroy C-Crush Wyvern!" The other dragon machine was blown away.

"If you think that's enough to stop me..." Manjoume started.

"Did the man Gongenzaka say he was finished?" Gongenzaka cut him off. "I use the final effect of Superheavy Samurai Fist! When my Superheavy Samurai destroys an opponent's monster by battle, I can immediately Synchro Summon! I tune level 2 Fist with level 8 Sarotubi to Synchro Summon level 10!

"Raging deity, in unison with the roar of a thousand blades, come forth in a spiraling sandstorm! Superheavy Samurai Warlord Susanowo!" The oni-like warrior calmly sat cross-legged, brandishing a huge sword and defense of 3800.

"Now Susanowo will attack A-Assault Core!" Susanowo launched a wave at the last A-B-C monster, smashing it apart and dropping Manjoume's life points to 5700.

"Finally, I'll use Susanowo's effect to set a spell or trap from your graveyard," Gongenzaka said. "End turn."

Manjoume huffed as he drew.

"I banish Union Scramble from my graveyard to activate its second effect: I return my banished X-Head Cannon to my hand - which I'll now Normal Summon! And now-"

"And now, I activate the card I took from you!" Gongenzaka interrupted. Dimensional Barrier! I declare Fusion for the monster that can't be summoned this turn!"

Manjoume gaped as the crowd cheered. It was clear which player they were all supporting.

"Alright, not bad," Manjoume said. "I equip my Y-Dragon Head to X-Head Cannon. Your turn." X-Head Cannon's attack pints increased from 1800 to 2200. Gongenzaka looked at the card he drew, thinking a moment. "I equip Susanowo with Superheavy Samurai Soulshield Wall! It gains 1200 defense points!" Sunaswos's defense rose to 5000. "Battle! Susanowo attacks X-Head Cannon!"

As the blast approached, X-Head Cannon Detached from Y-Dragon head, floating back to the ground.

"When a Union monster is equipped, it takes the hit for what it's attached to!" Manjoume grunted, bracing himself as his life points were reduced to 2900.

"Wow, Manjoume protects his monster but still takes a big chunk of damage!" Nico shouted.

"Thanks for pointing that out," Manjoume replied dryly, dusting himself off. "And that damage was well worth baiting you into leaving my monster on the field."

Gongenzaka stiffened, glaring at his opponent.

"Hurry up and end your turn!" Majoume jeered.

"First, I use Susanowo's effect and set another card form your graveyard," Gongenzaka said. "Now it's your turn."

"Okay," Manjoume replied. "I'm done fooling around. It's time to remind you all what this blue jacket really means! I activate my set card: Roll Out! This allows me to equip my Y-Dragon Head to my X-Head Cannon again from my graveyard! Now I banish X-Head Cannon and Z-Metal tank from my monster zones and Y-Dragon Head from my spell-trap zone to summon another XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" His smirk grew wider. "I'll be right back." He leaped away, returning with another action card. "I discard this to target your Susanowo and destroy it!"

"I chain the card I set last turn!" Gongenzaka shouted. "The action spell, Invisibility! Susanowo is unaffected by other card effects this turn!"

"Fine," Manjoume said, "but I'll grab another action card to destroy your General Coral! And another to destroy your General Jade!"

"Hang on, Gongenzaka!' Yuya called. "You still have more defense than anything of his can overcome!"

"Are you sure about that?" Majoume called up. "I banish A-Assault Core, B-Buster Drake and C-Crush Wyvern from my graveyard to summon another ABC-Dragon Buster! Oh, did I forget to mention they can do that as well?" he grinned at Gongenzaka's shocked face. "Now I banish both my ABC and XYZ! Final Combination! A-to-Z Dragon Buster Cannon!" The crowd watched Manjoume's monsters combine again. The XYZ monsters were surrounded by the others, the dragon heads arranged on the front of the tank, their cannons locked together over X-Head's shoulders Assault Core's tail hung underneath, slung with missiles.

"Your Susanowo is unaffected by all effects this turn," Manjoume said, "so its defense points are back to 3800. My A-to-Z has 4000 attack. A-to-Z attacks!" All of his monster's guns and heads lit up, blasting a series of beams at Susanowo.

"It may be unaffected, but it still counts as being equipped with Soulshield Wall!" Gongenzaka shouted. "I can send it to the graveyard to negate the attack! Then Susanow's defense points won't be lowered like normal!"

"Nice try!" Manjoume called back. "I chain A-to-Z's quick effect! By discarding another card, I can negate your card's activation!" Missiles shot from the Dragon Buster Cannon, surrounding Gongenzaka and his monster. Then its attack continued, burning Susanowo to ash.

"Although he lost his monster, Gongenzaka has still avoided taking any damage!" Smiley called. "We'll just have to see how things go next!" The audience prepared to offer more encouragement... until they realized Manjoume was laughing.

"Did I say I was finished? I activate A-to-Z Dragon Buster Cannon's final effect! By banishing it, I can Special Summon back ABC-Dragon Buster and XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" Sure enough, his monster split apart and the previous two reappeared. "I can't summon XYZ from the graveyard, but I can summon it when it's banished! Oh... and did I mention that is also a quick effect? So we're still in my battle phase!" He gave everyone a moment to let that fact sink in before shouting, "XYZ, attack directly! XYZ Hyper Cannon!"

The tank's cannons all lit up, firing straight at Gongenzaka. He braced himself as the blast slammed into him, pushing him back and dropping his life points to 1200.

"Now ABC attacks directly! ABC Buster Cannon!" Manjoume yelled. The second blast pushed Gongenzka back further. He took a step back and slammed his metal sandal into the ground, remaining on his feet. Even so, his life points were depleted. The stadium displayed Manjoume's smirking face all over.

The crowd was perfectly silent, all glaring down at Manjoujme - except for one person. Gen Ankokuji was clapping. He stopped when he noticed all the dirty looks turning towards him.

"Well... that's the match," Nico announced, clearing his throat. Gongenzaka approached Manjoume.

"I can't fault your skill, but your conduct was still deplorable. I hope that one day, you learn that there's more to Duel Monsters than just raw power." Manjoume just snorted at him.

"Well, at least you gave me a duel I wasn't embarrassed to be a part of." Then he turned on his heel and strode out of the stadium, without giving anyone there another word or glance.