Sho narrates over a series of shots of Duel Academy. "October. The start of a new term at Duel Academy." He reflects that he and Judai have returned to the school as second-year students... but the dorm they live in hasn't changed at all.

Chronos is running fast, with a very short, plump man in a dark green jacket by his side. "Hurry up, Vice-Principal Napoleon!" Napoleon replies positively, addressing him as 'Temporary Principal Chronos.' Chronos quite likes the sound of that, except for the 'temporary' part. Napoleon points out that it's just for the duration of Principal Sameshima's absence, but Chronos says that if he can make a good showing at the school, he just might end up with the job permanently one of these days.

The two of them arrive at the school dock, where an ocean liner has moored itself. They take a moment to breathe, and Chronos takes the opportunity to show Napoleon why he thinks the school will do well under him. He holds up a copy of 'Monthly Duel!' magazine, and flips to an interior article. He points out a photo of a boy with long, silvery hair. It seems the big news in the pro duel world league, the young genius Edo Phoenix, is coming to Duel Academy this term. Napoleon is impressed, but has to wonder just why a pro duelist would be enrolling in a dueling school. Chronos thinks the answer is obvious -- because he's become the principal, of course!

New students begin disembarking from the ship, already wearing their Osiris Red and Ra Yellow uniforms, and gawking enthusiastically at their first sights of Duel Academy. Chronos and Napoleon wave to them in greetings.

And, across a small channel, at the beach under the Osiris Red dorm, Judai's getting ready for a duel with a new incoming student. He's entirely too pleased with his 'sempai' role, and very cheerful about the idea of being able to help this new student along. Up on the cliff, Tome, Sho, and Pharaoh are watching this. Tome says Judai's as cheerful as usual, while Sho, hearing Judai laugh quite long and loud, thinks Judai's really letting this 'sempai' business go to his head.

Note: Sempai = Senior, most Japanese call a person with higher grade "Sempai!".

On the duel, Judai's opponent -- a silver-haired, silver-suited young man, smiles and nods to Judai. It's none other than [Edo Phoenix].

Judai tells Edo to start things off, as Manjoume and Asuka arrive at the top of the cliff. Manjoume wonders just who the heck this new student is, and Sho explains that he just showed up at their door earlier, and said that he had come to Duel Academy so he could have a duel with Judai-sempai, who he respects a great deal. (Manjoume, hearing the new duelist's name as 'Edo,' makes a comment about Judai going up against a classical prefecture, which gives Sho a sweatdrop.) But what's really bugging Sho is that he feels like he's seen this Edo somewhere before. Manjoume suggests they might have gone to the same junior high, but Sho's sure that isn't it. Tome excitedly interrupts to say the duel is starting...

Edo draws, and smiles. Judai, looking pleased with himself, says he can tell Edo just drew a good card. Manjoume's scornful of Judai's attitude, but Tome says to give him a little leeway -- it's his first kouhai, after all.

Edo summons Ojama Yellow in defense mode, and ends his turn. Manjoume is taken aback at seeing Ojama Yellow on the field. "That idiot freshman, putting a small fry like Ojama Yellow in his deck at a time like this. That's my problem." The spirit of Ojama Yellow, appearing by Manjoume's Sholder, looks down happily at his hologram counterpart, and says it's cruel to call him a small fry. Manjoume irascibly tells him to shut up and get back in the deck, which he does -- but not before Asuka gives him a weird look for apparently talking to thin air. She then looks down and wonders just what kind of deck Edo is running. Tome says it's pointless to try to figure it out -- he just bought those cards half an hour ago. In flashback, we see Edo coming to the school store and asking Tome for some cards. She says they don't have much of a selection on hand at the moment, but he says that eight packs of whatever will be fine. He just needs forty cards to make a deck. Pharaoh, lying on top of a shelf, looks down at Edo and hisses. Edo opens his packs, inspects his cards, and says they'll do fine. Tome worriedly says that he won't get far around here with a thrown-together deck like that, but he seems utterly unconcerned. Hearing this flashback, Manjoume and Asuka agree that it sounds like this freshman's just messing around with Judai...

Judai draws. He summons Sparkman, and tells the elemental hero to open this daydreaming newcomer's eyes. Sparkman attacks Ojama Yellow and destroys it. Judai ends his turns.

Edo thinks to himself that Judai's deck is indeed a Hero deck like he thought. He laughs and says he guesses Ojama Yellow was no match for Judai's cards. Judai says of course -- using a monster like that requires special tactics. Manjoume smirks at hearing that, only to be deflated a moment later when Judai adds it also takes special perversity.

Edo draws. He sets one card face down, and dramatic music plays -- disconcerting both duelists for a moment. It's Edo's cell phone, of all things, and he excuses himself for a moment to take a call. Judai, Manjoume, and Sho are all a bit outraged at this -- he's not taking this seriously! Tome, on the other hand, seems amused that this first-year is acting like a little adult. Judai gets a hold of himself and tells himself that it's a new era -- he and the others have to be patient sempai, teaching their new underclassmen what they need to know. But just when is this guy going to get serious?

Reload Magic Card

Edo, on the phone, says he's dueling right now, and we cut to a tall, round white room. A white-robed young, seated in a glass chair, is laying out a tarot spread on a glass table. He flips one card over. A traditional Grim Reaper figure, holding a scythe. The card is upside down. "Death, reversed. A card of rebirth." Edo says he understands, and hangs up. He apologizes to Judai for the interruption, and goes to continue the duel. Looking at his cards, he thinks, 'Naturally, if I don't have better than this, I won't get to see his more advanced tactics.' He plays the magic card [Reload - Instant Magic: Shuffle your hand into your deck. Then draw cards equal to the number you shuffled in], letting him shuffle his hand into his deck and then draw a number of new cards equal to the number of cards he returned to his deck. He smilingly says he had a bad feeling about his hand, and maybe this will fix it. Judai encourages him, but realizes this sempai thing can get really exhausting.

The Sanctuary in the Sky Magic Card

Edo draws a new hand of four cards, and likes what he sees. He plays a field magic card [The Sanctuary in the Sky ~ Tenkuu No Seiiki - Field Magic: Battle Damage done to an Angel Sub-Type Monster's controller as a result of an Angel being in Battle is reduced to 0]. A column of light erupts around him, and when Judai's vision clears, they are standing on clouds, with the Sanctuary looming large behind Edo. "All right! Now this is more like a duel!" Edo thinks, amusedly, that Judai is quite carefree. He summons Warrior of Zera in attack mode, and then immediately tributes it to summon [Archangel Zerato ~ Daitenshi Zerato - 8/2800/2300: This card can't be Normal Summoned. This card can only be Special Summoned if a The Sanctuary in the Sky is on the Field, and by sacrificing 1 face-up Warrior of Zera on your Field. You can discard 1 Light Main-Type Monster from your hand to the Cemetery to destroy all Monsters on your opponent's Field. If a The Sanctuary in the Sky is not on Field, you can't use this effect]. He then discards Holy Shine Ball, a Light-type monster, from his hand to activate Zerato's special effect -- he can destroy all monsters on his opponent's side of the field. "Holy Beam of Light!" Light flares from a pillar atop the Sanctuary, and blasts Sparkman into nothingness. He then orders Zerato to attack directly, with Holy Surge. Zerato showers Judai with energy bolts from its wings, dropping Judai's life to 1200 (4000-2800) and making Asuka think that maybe that first-year's just been toying with Judai the whole time...

E-Hero Clayguardman Monster Card

Edo ends his turn and asks if Judai is okay. Judai responds that he's better than okay -- he's happy. Things are just getting interesting! He draws, and then plays Clayman in defense mode. Next, he plays Metamorphose, sacrificing Clayman to summon Clay Guardman, who looks much like Clayman in a football helmet and armor, with a shield vaguely like Big Shield Gardna's [E-Hero Clayguardman - 4/0/2800: When this Monster is successfully Summoned, do 200 damage to your opponent for each card on his or her Field].

Edo immediately takes damage, reducing his life to 3400 (4000-200*3). Judai explains that when Clay Guardman is summoned, his opponent takes 200 damage for each card on his field. There are Sanctuary in the Sky, the face-down reverse card, and Archangel Zerato, on both fields in total, so Edo gets 600 damages (200*3). Judai sets one card, and ends his turn. He tells Edo that, since Edo has no cards in his hand, and Clay Guardman has as many defense points as Zerato has attack points, it all comes down to Edo's next draw. If Edo can't draw a Light-type monster, Edo won't be able to inflict any damage.

"A draw showdown. That's quite like you, sempai." Judai laughs and takes it as a compliment, but his friends above are less impressed. Manjoume says that even in his second year, Judai's still an idiot.

Edo says that letting it all hang on the draw is betting everything on luck. Judai says that's not true -- a draw like this is when a duelist's true spirit and heart change everything. Edo asks if its true, then, the rumor that Judai has conversations with his spirit. Judai smiles, and says that believe it or not, he can hear it. He smiles at his deck. "Isn't that right, aibou?" The spirit of Hane Kuriboh floats from his deck and kuris at him cheerfully.

'Well, well,' Edo thinks. 'I had thought that the one who I've heard gave such trouble to the Kaiser, who's entered the World League, would have more in the way of tactics than this. But this duel is almost over. Just as that person predicted.' We flash to the room of the diviner again. The man in robes flips over another card -- this one a knight in a chariot being pulled by a horse with two serpents for heads, inverted like Death was. "The Chariot, reversed. Its meaning... defeat."

Edo's turn. He draws -- a magic card named Monster Gate. He frowns slightly at this, and Judai says that he can tell Edo didn't get the card he wanted.

"I don't know who said that, but that's a boring way to think. Not knowing what comes next -- that's what makes this fun!"

Beckoning Light Trap Card

"What will happen next has already been decided." Edo reveals his trap card [Beckoning Light ~ Hikari No Shoushuu - Trap: Discard your entire hand to the Cemetery, choose that number of Light Main-Type Monsters from your Cemetery and put them into your hand]. He can discard his entire hand to move an equal number of Light-type monsters from his graveyard to his hand. He discards Monster Gate, and returns Holy Shine Ball to his hand, then discards Holy Shine Ball to activate Zerato's effect again, destroying Clay Guardman.

"You're good!" Judai says.

"This is fate, sempai. Archangel Zerato, attack! Holy Surge!"

"Is that so? I activate my Instant Magic -- Flute of Summoning Kuriboh!" Judai's face-down card activates, and Hane Kuriboh appears in defense mode. It is immediately destroyed by Zerato's attack, but Judai takes no damage. "Thank you, aibou. Looks like spirit has overturned that boring prophecy..."

"Ah, so that was your trump card, sempai? It suits you, the legendary duelist said to be able to talk to his spirit."

Judai is surprised at being called 'legendary,' but very pleased, as well. His friends are less impressed. "A legend of foolishness?" Asuka says. "Legendarily easy to please?" Sho contributes. "He's a legendary idiot," Manjoume says.

'Naturally, all is going as that person said,' Edo thinks as Judai continues to laugh. 'It looks like he's just a counterfeit legend...'

In a flashback, Edo stands before the glass table, with the man in white having just revealed The Chariot, reversed. "In this duel, Judai will win. You will lose. For the sake of your next victory, you will be able to learn his abilities."

"Is he really a duelist who could defeat me?" Edo asks.

"In order for you to grow... he is a person you will need."

'Everything has gone just as he said,' Edo thinks.

Judai's turn. He draws, very enthusiastically, and plays Bubbleman, who lets him draw two more cards. He sets one card face down, then plays The Warrior Returning Alive to return Sparkman to his hand. Next, he plays Polymerization. Edo smiles, thinking that it's finally coming -- Yuki Judai's fusion combo. Judai fuses Bubbleman, Sparkman, and Featherman into Tempester. Tempester attacks Zerato with Chaos Tempest.

"They'll both be destroyed!" Sho exclaims.

"What are you talking about?" Asuka asks.

"No wonder you haven't been promoted," Manjoume snarks.

Judai uses Tempester's special ability, destroying his face-down card to prevent Tempester from being destroyed in the battle. Next, he plays De-Fusion to revert Tempester back to Sparkman, Featherman, and Bubbleman. Direct attacking with all of them, he reduces Edo's life points exactly to zero (3400-800-1000-1600). Game over.

Judai walks over and makes sure Edo is okay, then goes into a little lecture. "The world of dueling is a harsh place. But be sure to have fun with it, whether you win or lose." Even he has to laugh at his own melodrama. Edo thanks him, and promises to study hard.

Tome is happy that Edo was able to give Judai a bit of a duel even with that deck. Edo, walking away, thinks that all is happening as prophesied -- but he really can't see how he's going to grow from dueling someone like Judai.

Edo walks away, and Judai joins his friends on the cliff. After a little banter about Judai's pretensions at being a sempai, and Edo's skill, Sho suddenly remembers where he saw Edo's face before. Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a copy of 'Monthly Duel!' and confirms it -- that was Edo Phoenix! Judai only recognizes that yeah, the guy said his name was Edo, but Asuka recognizes the name. The young genius who's all the talk of the pro-circuit World League? Manjoume finds it hard to believe, but the photo does look like him...

Judai thinks that a pro would probably have better deck-building skills. Tome explains about how Edo just threw together that deck from random packs, and Judai realizes that Edo was able to give him that much of a fight with a deck like that... But that just makes him want to have a real duel with Edo, and see what he's like with his real deck by his side.

At the docks, Chronos and Napoleon have sat down, exhausted, still waiting for Edo Phoenix as the sun sets. Napoleon is enthused to see one last student coming down the gangplank. Chronos looks up, hoping it's Edo, but is a bit stunned when the student vaults over the guardrail and lands heavily on the dock. He's a tall, very muscular guy with long dreadlocks, wearing a dinosaur-like hat, earrings and a necklace made from bones and teeth, and a Ra Yellow uniform with no sleeves.

"Hey, old guys!" he says. Chronos and Napoleon are a little offended by that. "You guys have anything to do with Duel Academy-saurus?"

"That's right. You see, I am --" Chronos is rudely interrupted as the student grabs him by the collar and yanks him up to yell in his face.

"Why the hell am I in Yellow and not Blue-don? I'm Tyranno Kenzan! There's nobody around who's a match for me-don!"

Chronos and Napoleon explain that new students are only placed in Obelisk Blue if they come from the associated junior high. All others are sorted into Osiris Red or Ra Yellow based on their skills. That Kenzan was placed in Ra Yellow shows his superiority compared to others who had to take the exams.

"Superiority? Me?" Kenzan laughs at this, really liking the sound of it. He pats Chronos's Sholder and walks off cheerfully.

Chronos seems confused, but looks off into the distance philosophically. It seems Edo Phoenix didn't show up after all... Perhaps Chronos proving his worth wasn't meant to be after all.

But Napoleon has a plan. He mentions a certain duelist in Osiris Red, and a certain elite newcomer... Chronos gets his meaning immediately, and they begin to laugh...

to be continued...

[E-Hero Tempester]
English OCG name | Elemental Hero Tempest
Star/Atk/Def| 8/2800/2800
Type/Family | Wind/Warrior
Effect | This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. By sending 1 card (except this card) from your side of the field to the Graveyard, select 1 monster on your side of the field. While this card is face-up on the field, the selected monster is not destroyed as a result of battle. (Damage calculation is applied normally.)
Eng OCG Code | EEN-EN034
JP OCG Code | EEN-JP034

[The Death ] - Numerology Number 13
Tarot Card | Major Arcana
Reversed Meaning | hanging on - not letting go. Stagnation and immobility. Inertia or slow change. Old habits are hindering growth. Feeling held back but not willing to risk change. Decay, inaction, frustration, ignorance, mortality, sexuality, materialism, resentment.

In the tarot, this is one of the most famous cards that people misunderstand the meaning. The Death doesn't have to be physical death or dead bodies. It presents a powerful, turned inside-outside change in life, which can't be controlled. It is the death following by rebirth. It is also an ending to something in life that will begin the great change. It can clear away negative conditions for better opportunities. To compare, you can think of a phoenix rising from the flaming hell. To clarify this card, you have to look at the correlation between this card and other cards as well.

[The Chariot ] - Numerology Number 7
Tarot Card | Major Arcana
Reversed Meaning |shows a time of unsuccessful sfforts, defeat or failure

[ Judai's deck list]
New cards played | E-Hero Clayguardman (M)

[ Edo Phoenix's deck list]
New cards played | Archangel Zerat (M), Warrior of Zera (M), Light Beckons (T), Reload (S), Sanctuary of the Sky (S)

M=monster, S=Spell, T=Trap