Chapter 1230: A Duel Should Be Fun

One month later, the highly anticipated WRGP World Championship officially began its first stage.

The opening phase consisted of the preliminaries. In this stage, each participating team would earn points based on the outcomes of their early duels. Teams that accumulated enough points would advance. Importantly, even if a team had bad luck and faced an overwhelmingly strong opponent early on, or underperformed due to uncontrollable circumstances, a single loss would not result in immediate elimination.

This preliminary format ensured that strong teams would not be eliminated too early due to unlucky matchups, giving all the top teams that had signed up for the WRGP a fair chance to advance.

Yusei Fudo and his friends were also participating. Just as in the original timeline, they named their team "5DS."

Interestingly, the name "5DS" was originally short for "5 Dragons," referring to the five Dragon Signers deeply connected through the Crimson Dragon.

However, the current situation was that the Five Dragons team only had four dragons—the fifth one had flown solo.

Yes, this was something even Kira had not anticipated. He never expected that after appearing before the protagonists as a clear antagonist, the Crimson Dragon would notice something special about him and casually pull him into the group, turning him into one of the Dragon Signers as well.

During this past month, he had also officially joined the Sector Security under the identity of "Fujiki Kira."

The operations of the Iliaster organization had provided him with a sufficient resume and background to qualify for the position. Through proper procedures, he had once again legitimately become the head of the Sector Security.

As for "Director Goodwin," the official story was that he had retired and resigned, with no one knowing his whereabouts.

During the WRGP registration period, Yusei’s side had also invited Kira to join them. Yusei still considered Kira a comrade. Even though Kira had worn a mask before and did not spend much time with them in daily life, Yusei had that feeling.

Especially after everyone became connected through the Crimson Dragon, Yusei felt even more certain about it.

Unfortunately, Kira still refused the invitation.

This was only natural—it was also Z-ONE’s intention. As an outsider from another dimension and a duelist judged by Z-ONE as "King"-level, if Kira joined the 5DS team, the team’s future struggles would likely be reduced by more than half.

By the time they reached the finals against the Three Pure Nobles of Iliaster, Kira could go up alone and wipe out all the carefully prepared mini-bosses that Z-ONE had set up. There would be no chance for Yusei and the others to even take the field—it would be ridiculous.

Even if Kira was placed last in the team order, knowing there was someone to back them up would make it harder for Yusei and the others to be pushed to their limits. This would be detrimental to their growth and to Z-ONE’s plans. Therefore, Kira naturally could not join them.

Thus, even with changes to the timeline, the 5DS team’s roster remained unchanged.

Their first preliminary opponent was also the same as in the anime—they faced the world-famous team duel specialists, Team Unicorn. In the end, 5DS managed to secure their first victory without too much trouble.

Yusei’s side smoothly won their first match. On the third day of the tournament, Kira’s first WRGP match also arrived.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The most passionate fans of New Domino City!"

The airplane-haired commentator stepped onto the edge of the announcer’s platform, his red suit jacket flapping dramatically in the air as he roared into the microphone. "Welcome to the WRGP Preliminaries—the New Domino Cup, live on site!"

The stands erupted in a tsunami of cheers. Colorful glow sticks flickered like stars in the dimly lit venue.

The large screens displayed the emblems of today’s competing teams in real time—the left side showed the lightning-emblazoned badge of "Team Psychic," while the right side featured the smiling-face logo of the "A Duel Should Be Fun" team.

Of course, compared to the overly serious name on the opposing side, the team name "A Duel Should Be Fun" and its somewhat abstract smiling-face emblem were far more eye-catching.

"First to enter the arena—the North American Team Psychic!"

The commentator performed an exaggerated backward lean. "This team swept through their opponents in last year’s North American Turbo Duel 3v3 Team Championship and claimed the champion’s trophy! Let’s welcome—"

With the roar of engines, three sleek silver-white Duel Runners emerged side by side from the entrance tunnel, tracing perfect arcs onto the track.

The lead rider removed his helmet, revealing blond hair and sharp blue eyes.

"Captain Jack Black!"

The second rider was a woman with a high ponytail. She casually tossed her helmet toward the stands, triggering a wave of screams.

"Second is Lina, Team Psychic’s tactical brain and the anticipated first-round duelist!"

The final rider was a burly, bald man. His Duel Runner was noticeably heavier than the others, with a cross-shield pattern on the front armor.

"Last-round duelist Victor, Team Psychic’s final line of defense—the most reliable player who ensures victory for the team!"

The three stopped in the player zone and raised their right hands in unison. The Team Psychic emblems on their gloves sparkled under the lights. Fans in the stands had already unfurled English support banners, and thunderous applause rang out.

"And their opponents are—"

The airplane-haired commentator suddenly made a strange expression. He glanced down at the information in his hand, then looked up again to confirm. "Uh... the ’A Duel Should Be Fun’ team."

He paused.

The audience quieted down as well. Everyone sensed that something was off.

"According to the list provided by the organizing committee," the commentator’s voice grew hesitant, "this team... uh... only has one participating player."

The entire venue fell into dead silence.

"And that player is—" The commentator’s tone suddenly shot up an octave. "The New Director of the Sector Security, Mr. Fujiki Kira?!"

The audience was stunned.

Did the commentator just say something unbelievable?

One person? Participating in a team duel?

And he’s the Director of the Sector Security?

What did that mean? Did some privileged elite get bored and come here to experience life?

The stands instantly exploded into chaos.

The large screen timely switched to the player entrance tunnel, where a tall, slender figure was slowly pushing his Duel Runner out.

Fujiki Kira wore a black trench coat, his face bearing that ever-present relaxed smile. He patted the pitch-black "Phantom" Duel Runner specially prepared by the Sector Security, then waved to the audience.

"Uh... Director Kira—er, Player Kira—does seem rather special," the airplane-haired commentator said, scratching his head.

"Registering alone for a 3v3 team duel is indeed..."

Kira had already mounted his Duel Runner and was slowly driving onto the track.

The large screen gave him a close-up. He winked at the camera, made a "shh" gesture, then pointed at the "A Duel Should Be Fun" text on his team uniform. His mouth clearly formed the words: "Numbers don’t matter. Having fun is what’s important."

The three members of Team Psychic exchanged glances. Jack Black frowned.

"Is this guy looking down on us?" Lina said in a low voice.

Victor crossed his arms. "Probably just some powerful guy here for fun. Let’s finish him off quickly."

Such speculation was not unreasonable. After all, there was no record of this person participating in any competitions in his public resume—he was most likely just here to play around.

The discussions in the stands grew louder, though some people were still cheering "Go, Director!"

Finally, the head referee walked to the center of the field and raised his right hand. "After verification, the tournament rules do indeed allow a single-player team to participate. However, they must defeat all three opposing players. If the sole player of the ’A Duel Should Be Fun’ team, Fujiki Kira, forfeits or is unable to continue in any match, the team will be ruled to have lost the entire match."

This announcement caused an even greater uproar.

The commentator clutched his airplane hair, his voice growing hoarse from shouting: "Everyone! This means Director Fujiki will be facing all three professional players of Team Psychic in consecutive duels by himself! This is unprecedented in the entire history of Riding Team Duels!"

The three members of Team Psychic had already put their helmets back on. Captain Black said through the team communicator: "No matter what he’s planning, we will carry out our own duel."

Kira seemed completely unconcerned by the surrounding noise. He was adjusting his Duel Runner while humming a little tune.

"Players, take your positions!"

The referee raised the starting flag. "First match: Team Psychic’s Lina Storm versus Team ’A Duel Should Be Fun’’s Fujiki Kira! Turbo Duel—"

The roar of Duel Runner engines echoed across the arena.

The four machines shot forward like arrows from a bow.

"Accel!!!"

The two Duel Runners raced out together, charging toward the first corner.

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Lina, LP 4000]

Lina accelerated at full speed without hesitation and took the first corner.

"Sorry, Director, but I won’t go easy on you just because you’re alone!"

The blonde rider laughed as she glanced back at Kira behind her.

Kira smiled, unperturbed.

"I go first. Draw!"

Having secured the first turn through speed, Lina drew her card and declared:

"I Normal Summon ’Krebons’!"

...