After their clash, the 20,000+ point explosion detonated dead center on the Duel Platform.
The newly constructed, colossal Duel Platform was split apart by the impact. A massive crack tore through the middle, spiderwebbing into smaller fractures that spread in both directions.
As a result, alongside the draw, the entire platform standing proudly in the plaza was left in ruins.
Fortunately, both Irena and Miles were blown off the platform by the final impact of Final Fusion.
Although Miles felt a wave of intense dizziness upon crashing to the ground, a few bruises were far better than being buried under a collapsed platform.
"Th-th-this was just the first Duel... my brand-new Duel Platform... i-it-it's..."
Slurred speech was expected at his age. Even Vice Principal Raiden, normally sharp-tongued, suddenly seemed decades older as he stared at the rubble.
"A draw... It's a draw!"
Compared to the devastated Vice Principal, Miss Erin, the host remained admirably professional.
A Duel must have a ruling, no matter how absurd the ending.
She climbed atop the wreckage, determined to reach the spot that was once the center of the Duel Platform, and announced:
"Fusion Academy Festival Class Year Challenge Match 1—Irena Kartel vs. Irene Austin—with both Duelists' Life Points reduced to zero, the result is a Draw! An incredible performance from both sides!!"
Silence followed.
The final turn—the overwhelming comeback of Shining Phoenix Enforcer—had left the audience slack-jawed. And the explosive trap that leveled the platform to force a draw pushed them even further.
It took a long while after Miss Erin's announcement before anyone stirred.
"That Duel was..."
"So damn cool!"
"Holy crap, that was insane!"
Then, like thunder, the applause finally came, erupting across the plaza.
"Fusion Academy in our country is this strong now?!"
"What a prodigy! A true pillar of the nation!"
With the cheers of foreign dignitaries raining down, Irena and Miles's Fusion vs. Fusion battle had become a showcase of the Academy's brilliance.
Drowned in the celebration, the three Austin brothers looked at each other, eyes misting.
"Big Bro, did you see that?!"
"Yeah. Our little sister... she's incredible now!"
Eddie Austin even snatched the family banner from his brother and waved it high.
"Ren—you're always my pride! I love you!"
Though he once lost his Spirit Eyes in a Shadow Game protecting Ren, he'd never once regretted it.
All he wanted was for the little sister he cherished to find and become her own HERO.
"Ren-chan, are you okay?!"
Aisha and Kevin ran from the prep area to meet the heroine of their team.
Even if it ended in a draw, facing the Gray Witch—Fusion Academy's strongest—and going toe-to-toe with Quintet Magician? That was an absolute triumph for a first-year.
"I'm totally fine."
Aside from a red, sore bottom from the fall, Ren was indeed unharmed.
Miles, however, was now looking toward Irena, who had also been launched off the Duel Platform.
Having used no magic to cushion herself, Irena had hit the ground hard... and hadn't gotten back up.
"Alalalala..."
Muttering strange 'fish-people words', dizzy beyond reason, Irena lay flat on the ground, totally KO'd.
...
"Miss Misaki, is Irena-senpai okay?"
Back in the second-year prep area, the Duelists gathered around the unconscious Irena with worried looks.
Misaki, the school's visiting nurse and health teacher, inherited blood from a distant eastern land. Her black hair and eyes radiated serene, oriental grace.
Her pale hand now rested on Irena's warm cheek, using Eastern-style Onmyo arts to run a full-body scan.
Her expression was grave. What worried her was the mysterious fainting spell Irena had experienced months ago… She had found no abnormalities back then. If this were the same cause, Irena's health might truly be in danger.
Especially after overextending her mana to force out a Quintet Magician. For a young mage low on reserves, that was practically suicidal.
Despite that, the more she examined her, the more conflicted Misaki's expression became.
Irena's mana... hadn't been fully drained.
While nearly depleted, there was still a trickle of flow after the summon. She had barely passed the danger threshold.
Then the real reason she fainted...
With the Onmyo feedback, Irena's flushed cheeks, then came incomprehensible murmurs...
It all pointed to a ridiculous, baffling cause.
"Irena Kartel... is drunk."
After multiple checks, Miss Misaki confirmed the result.
Irena was completely, unmistakably tipsy. Misaki could stake her medical career on it.
"Drunk?!"
Aisha and the now back-in-her-own-body Ren gasped in unison.
"That explains so much!"
Ren was the first to connect the dots.
"That's why Irena-senpai acted so weird during the Duel... and said so many bizarre things. She was actually drunk!"
"Bizarre things?" Aisha tilted her head, her ahoge bouncing. "What did she say?"
"...What did she say?"
How could Ren possibly tell her?
That Irena summoned Quintet Magician and blew up the Duel Platform... just to go on a date with Miles?
"Oh, y'know. Just some random nonsense."
Ren decided to cover for Miles and brushed it off.
"Suuuper suspicious!"
Aisha narrowed her eyes. Her instincts screamed lies.
"Won't... won't let you..."
Still unconscious, Irena finally muttered something semi-coherent.
"Senpai, did you say something?"
Aisha leaned in.
Ren tried to stop her, but it was too late.
"Won't let you escape, Miles... You will go on a date with me... and take me traveling far away..."
"!!!?" Aisha was dumbfounded.
"You utter scoundrel!" Inside her Soul Room, Dark Aisha delivered a brutal verbal beatdown.
...
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