There was no joy in Shizuku Yoru's eyes.
She resented this world.
If it hadn't been for Divine's intervention, perhaps she wouldn't have even had this one connection—a single person she could call a friend.
"That's right. Keep growing stronger."
"Overwhelm these duelists, break them down."
A glint of strategy shimmered in Divine's eyes.
Though he wore the appearance of a refined gentleman, a much grander scheme churned behind his placid gaze.
To Divine, Shizuku Yoru was nothing more than a key piece in a calculated game of chess.
---
Duel Academy, Medical Ward
"So the duelists from the Satellite Region are finally making their appearance?"
"Interesting. At this point, they still need to close the gap between themselves and the Duel Academy or even the Eastern Sector," said Asuka Tenjoin thoughtfully, her eyes fixed on the projection of the Duel King Gold List.
What drew her interest most, however, was You Feng's position in the rankings.
His strength carried an air of unpredictability and quiet pressure—qualities that made her curious to see where he stood.
"I wonder what rank You Feng will end up with…" murmured Sho Marufuji, eyes wide with anticipation.
"Top twenty or thirty for sure," said Judai Yuki with unusual seriousness. "His strength is no joke."
Though they had yet to duel, Judai could feel it—You Feng radiated that same quiet weight that marked true champions.
---
[Duel King Gold List — Ranked 33rd in Overall Strength!]
[Name: Aster Phoenix (Ed Phoenix)]
[Identity: Globally renowned professional duelist; undefeated across over 30 major league tournaments.]
[Deck Archetypes: Destiny HERO, Vision HERO]
[Yu-Gi-Oh's Six Key Attributes: Suppression 86, Anti-Interference 80, Luck 60, Deck Assembly 85, Defense 60, Strategy 80]
[Total Comprehensive Strength Score: 451]
[Rewards: Defense +5, Luck +5, Strategy +5; Unlock cards "Dragonic D-End" and "Destiny HERO - Dominance"]
"Whoa, no way—an undefeated world-class pro?!"
"He's been in more than thirty league matches without losing?! That's insane!"
"But he's only 33rd? What kind of monsters are ahead of him on this list?!"
"And where is he from? Is he affiliated with Tongshiye, the Satellite Region, or Duel Academy?"
---
Eastern Tongshiye Region — Pegasus' Estate
As soon as Pegasus saw the name, he swirled his red wine gently and chuckled.
"Oh ho! Young Ed-boy! Impressive indeed—33rd on the Gold List? Splendid."
"It's been quite some time since I saw that duel spirit of his in action."
"Hohoho… things will surely become more entertaining once he's invited to the Duelist Kingdom."
---
You Feng watched the announcement calmly, smiling faintly.
"Just as I thought."
"After seeing names like John Anderson appear, it was only a matter of time before Ed Phoenix showed up."
"And if Ed is here… then Ryo Marufuji can't be far behind."
"As for Judai Yuki—he's still not on the list, and frankly, he's not ready. Not yet."
"In his current state, he can't surpass Ed or Ryo."
Still, You Feng knew Judai's potential could skyrocket later—especially once he unlocked the true power of Neos and his bond with his cards.
"With Ed appearing now, the real storm is just beginning."
"By tomorrow, the Gold List might be dominated by Satellite Region duelists."
Of course, these were You Feng's own speculations.
But with each new ranking revealed, the entire dueling world—Duel Academy, Satellite, and Tongshiye—grew more unsettled.
Tensions rose as organizations grew bolder, with many aiming to claim rare cards by any means necessary.
And the one ranked at the very top… was certain to become the focus of it all.
Because just one divine card—just one—was enough to drive countless duelists into madness.
---
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---
55. Duel King Gold List, 32nd in Overall Strength…
55. The 32nd-Ranked Duelist—Leader of the Dark Signers!
---
Astrological Chamber, Arcadia Movement Headquarters
"Well done, Ed… you've earned your place among the top 33."
"That alone validates your strength," said Sartorius with an unreadable expression.
"It's time. Prepare yourself—your next destination is Duel Academy."
"Find Judai Yuki."
Ed Phoenix raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You speak of this Judai like he's a chosen one."
"Trust destiny. It will guide you."
Sartorius didn't offer more.
"Tch…"
Ed turned and walked away without arguing further.
Behind him, Sartorius simply smiled, eyes glinting with fate's calculation.
"Judai Yuki… let's see how brightly you shine."
---
Duel Academy, Medical Ward
"Insane! A pro with thirty undefeated championships?!" Sho nearly dropped his tablet.
"And still only 33rd? What kind of freaks are in the top 10?" said Judai, scratching his head.
"He's definitely not a casual opponent," Asuka agreed, expression darkening.
---
Principal Sheppard's Office
"I've heard of Ed Phoenix. One of the strongest professionals alive."
"Now that he's on the list… does that mean the Eastern Branch has no representation yet?" Sheppard frowned in concern.
For now, professionals seemed to dominate, but it wasn't the only metric for success.
"Mamma mia!" exclaimed Professor Chronos. "Thirty wins, zero losses?! Impossible!"
"If he joins our academy, it would be a tremendous honor," Sheppard said with pride.
"But I doubt anyone here could match him."
Chronos could only nod, speechless.
---
Duel Temple, Daitokuji-sensei's Residence
"Ah… duelists these days are getting harder to predict."
"The Seven Stars have already failed three times."
"They couldn't even defeat a bunch of students," Daitokuji said, petting Pharaoh the cat.
"It's time we got ready too."
He disappeared behind the mountain path, smile as enigmatic as ever.
---
[Duel King Gold List — Ranked 32nd in Overall Strength!]
[Name: Rudger Godwin]
[Identity: Leader of the Dark Signers; based in the Northern Satellite Region.]
[Deck Archetype: Earthbound Immortals (Earthbound God Uru)]
[Yu-Gi-Oh's Six Key Attributes: Suppression 80, Anti-Interference 78, Luck 70, Deck Assembly 78, Defense 70, Strategy 80]
[Total Comprehensive Strength Score: 456]
[Rewards: Defense +5, Luck +5, Anti-Interference +5; Unlocks three exclusive Earthbound God support cards]
"The Satellite Region's breaking records—two duelists on the list tonight!"
"That's got to be a good omen!"
"That makes four total from the Satellite Region!"
"Two others are from unknown territories!"
"Duel Academy's sitting at seven representatives…"
"And Tongshiye's close behind with six!"
The balance between the three great regions was shifting.
And the competition was only heating up.