As soon as Mako Tsunami finished speaking, a large dueling platform rose from the ground.
"Duel accepted. Duelist Mako Tsunami vs. Duelist Chiyuki Hoshino, please wager your Star Chips." A man in sunglasses and black clothes, who appeared out of nowhere, naturally assumed the role of the duel's host.
"I refuse!" Hoshino, finally coming to her senses, shook her head vigorously. "Why do I have to duel Mako for such a reason? It's too strange!"
"Star Chips will be deducted, and you will be deemed to have forfeited the tournament," the expressionless man in sunglasses said, looking at Hoshino. "Miss Chiyuki Hoshino, are you sure you want to refuse this duel? If you do, you will automatically lose a Star Chip."
Losing a Star Chip was even worse. She only had two, to begin with. Losing one would leave her with no margin for error. This feeling of playing a game with only one life left was something the risk-averse Hoshino hated deeply.
"Come on, Hoshino, let me show you my true strength." Already standing confidently on the dueling platform, Mako called out to Hoshino.
Sighing helplessly, Hoshino took out her deck and slowly stepped onto the platform. Compared to losing a Star Chip, accepting this duel seemed the better option. Even if she won or lost, she wouldn't accept Mako Tsunami, but defeating him here might stop him from pestering her in the future. Although it might mean no more grilled fish, her dignity was more important.
Moreover, winning duels would earn her the Star Chips she needed. If she didn't dare to take this step, how could she gather the ten Star Chips needed to compete for the prize money?
"Since it's our first duel, let's wager one Star Chip," Mako said, placing a Star Chip on the table.
Hoshino did the same, placing her Star Chip on the table. "My first duel is against the national third place? This deviates from my original plan to start with some easy opponents," she thought. "But if I can't beat the third place, how can I become the Duelist King?"
With determination in her eyes, Hoshino placed her Heroic Spirit deck on the platform.
"The duel begins!" The dueling platform's electronic voice announced, and orderly grids appeared on the empty field.
"Chiyuki Hoshino takes the first turn. Begin!"
Yugi and his friends, watching from below, were filled with worry. "Do you think Hoshino will be alright? Facing the third-best duelist in the country for her first duel must be very stressful," Jonouchi voiced his concern.
Looking at Hoshino gripping her cards tightly on the platform, Yugi also looked worried. "Hoshino doesn't seem like an experienced duelist. She feels more like a newbie, like Jonouchi."
"Haha, are you saying Hoshino and I are a good match? No way!" Jonouchi scratched his head foolishly.
Anzu looked at Jonouchi with disdain. "That's not what Yugi meant, you idiot. But since Hoshino received an invitation to the Duelist Kingdom, she must have some skills. Unlike a certain someone who sneaked into the tournament and got a Star Chip from Yugi."
"Go, Hoshino!" Jonouchi cheered loudly, ignoring Anzu's mockery.
Focused entirely on her cards, Hoshino didn't have the energy to pay attention to the spectators.
"What's going on? Why are all my cards low-star? Does my luck still affect me even after getting to this world?" Looking at her low-star monster cards, Hoshino felt helpless.
"I summon Spartacus in attack mode," Hoshino said, placing her card on the table. A holographic image of Spartacus appeared on the field.
"For my love, I crush the oppressors!" Spartacus declared as he appeared.
"So, this is the dueling platform with holographic projection. It's so lifelike," Hoshino marveled at the realistic projection.
[Heroic Spirit – Spartacus★★★ Earth][Warrior/Effect] [ATK:1500/DEF:1500]
"I set one card and end my turn." Being the first turn, she couldn't attack, so Hoshino played it safe.
"Have you seen that monster card before?" Yugi asked, puzzled. As a child raised in a Duel Monsters card shop, Yugi had seen countless cards but had never seen one like this.
"A card even Yugi hasn't seen? It must be very rare. Maybe Hoshino is really strong," Jonouchi said excitedly. "Go, Hoshino! Beat that rude guy!"
"My turn, draw!" Mako Tsunami added the card to his hand, observing the situation on Hoshino's field. "A rare monster indeed, but rarity doesn't mean strength."
Mako summoned a monster card to the field, "I summon Great White Shark in attack mode."
[Great White ★★★★ Water][Fish][ ATK:1600/DEF:800]
"Great White, attack Spartacus!" Mako directed his monster towards Hoshino's Spartacus. "Bite Attack!"
With an ATK of 1600, Great White Shark had just 100 points more than Spartacus. The outcome was clear.
"Ugh… such a feeling… double the payback!" Spartacus shattered into pieces and disappeared.
Hoshino LP 4000 → 3900
"Haha." Hoshino smiled, feeling triumphant. "Activate Spartacus's special effect."
[When this card is destroyed in battle, recover 500 LP and deal 500 LP damage to the opponent.]
Hoshino LP 3900 → 4400
Mako Tsunami LP 4000 → 3500
"Not bad, you've got some tricks up your sleeve," Mako praised, seeing his LP drop.
"Hoshino is amazing! Even against the third-best in the country, she's holding her own," Jonouchi cheered from below, waving his arms.
"I set one card and end my turn." With only one normal summon per turn, Mako ended his turn.
"My turn, draw." Hoshino looked at her new card, her expression worsening. "Why does my luck only deserve bronze cards?"
Frustrated, Hoshino placed the card on the table. "I summon Leonidas I in defense mode and end my turn."
[Heroic Spirit – Leonidas I★★★ Earth][Warrior ATK:1400 DEF:1900]
"Sparta! Muscles are the best!" The muscular Leonidas appeared on the field.
"Another card I've never seen," Yugi thought to himself.
"Hoshino, could it be…" Mako Tsunami looked shocked.
"Huh?" Hoshino tilted her head, confused.
"Hoshino, do you like muscular men?" Mako Tsunami seemed to have found the reason for his rejection