Leaving the palace full of worry for Alice, Aisha Carlos plunged into the thick fog—only to realize her own naivety.
It was a blinding, unprecedented fog; once inside this white-shrouded world, she quickly lost all sense of direction.
Without any landmarks in sight, the fog blanketing the capital was nothing short of a natural disaster.
"What do I do, what do I do?"
Like a tiny boat lost at sea, surrounded by identical scenery in all directions, she had no idea where to go… not even back the way she came.
"Damn it, I should've brought a compass!"
But who would have thought you'd need survival gear like that just to move around the capital?
There was no choice now but to push forward.
Trusting her unreliable sense of direction, Aisha headed toward where she thought the residence was.
In the fog-covered capital, the streets felt even more uncanny.
After about five minutes, a girl's clear, lilting humming drifted through the mist. The melody was lively yet tinged with sorrow—striking directly at the listener's heart.
Regardless, what shocked Aisha most was the voice's owner.
"Miles, that voice—is it…?"
"Yes. Luca Slint!"
Her voice was unmistakable. Even after half a year, Aisha and Miles remembered it clearly.
"So you did come to the capital, Luca."
Rather than wander blindly, Aisha ran toward the voice.
The closer she got, the more a golden-haired girl's silhouette emerged in the fog.
"Luca! Luca!"
Still, no matter how she called or sprinted, the distance between them never closed.
Only when the voice faded and the figure vanished did Aisha stop, gasping for air. The cold, damp fog burned her lungs.
"What is going on here?"
First, she had a vision of Alice standing in blood, then she got lost in the fog, and now she couldn't find Luca.
Feeling overwhelmed, she nearly wanted to cry.
Then came heavy footsteps—not a girl's—and unlike Luca's, they were drawing closer.
"Who… now?"
Her mind muddled by the eerie surroundings, she could barely tell dream from reality.
Until a grim, fierce face emerged from the fog.
"A g-ghost!"
Panicked, Aisha screamed.
"Aisha?"
"Don't eat me! I'm all bone—you'd break your teeth! Pick someone bustier, I'm flat, I'm sorry!"
Crouched with her hands over her head, she even admitted the truth she'd never dared before.
"Miles, help me!"
But Miles didn't answer—because this wasn't a ghost.
"Calm down, Aisha Carlos!"
"Eh?"
When the "ghost" spoke her name, she dared to look up.
"P-Professor Field?"
Her second-year homeroom teacher at Fusion Academy—tall, broad-shouldered, with the physique of a soldier—Field, nicknamed the "Iron Demon" for his stern demeanor.
Given how scary he looked on a normal day, it was no wonder she'd reacted so badly when he appeared out of the fog.
"Why are you here, Professor?"
"I should ask you that. The capital has declared a shelter-in-place due to this unprecedented fog. No one is to leave their homes… what are you doing out here, Aisha Carlos?"
A former instructor for the national army's special forces, Field still served as an advisor to the capital guard. With the fog so unnatural, he'd been called to lead the guards in maintaining order.
"I-I got lost, Professor."
She didn't mention chasing Luca.
"Without any gear, of course, you'd get lost… so reckless! You'll come with me; I'll get you back to the residence."
"Saved…"
Relieved, she followed as he released a "Recorder Bug," its faint green glow barely visible through the mist, marking a route.
Awkward silence pressed on her until—
"About last night… well done, Aisha."
Surprised, she realized he'd been waiting for her to speak.
"You mean the Duel with Villy Barrett?"
"Yes. As one of Fusion Academy's best, defeating a Starcrest Academy noble abroad brought honor to our school. Vice Principal Raiden will likely award you skill credits."
Miles shouted, "Credits!"
Skill credits were precious—after earning the max 300 in finals and crafting the A-rank banned card Graceful Charity, Miles's stock was empty. With no chance to earn more over spring break, he was already itching for classes to start.
"So you were at the banquet too, Professor?"
"Yes. Seeing my student shine against another academy was the best reward."
Though strict, Field cared deeply for his students' futures.
"Aisha Carlos… you are a generation of courage and potential. Always face the light and pursue hope. In two years, I believe you'll lead Fusion Academy to its peak."
"Professor…"
Embarrassed at his praise, she realized that as a second-year, he'd be her homeroom teacher. Better to build rapport now—though she decided against trying to curry favor.
…
Meanwhile—
On the peaks of the Skiwo Mountains, which encircled the capital like a divine wall, the whole fog-covered city lay in view.
"Did your trip yield results, Luca?"
From her BeaconBug, her grandfather Locke Slint's voice came.
"I just went to see someone… not much to gain, Grandpa."
"A friend?"
"…Yes. A friend I think of constantly, whom I long to meet again… at negative distance."
"Heh… no matter how much you want to, we must begin the plan now."
"I know, Grandpa."
Shutting off the bug impatiently, clutching the Millennium Ring, Luca closed her eyes.
On another peak kilometers away, Locke's Millennium Eye shone with darkness.
At the far end of the range, Reigun Seth gripped the Millennium Rod.
Three Millennium Items formed a triangle, releasing dark power.
The thick fog was the result of this unprecedented dark ritual.
Now, at its climax, the barrier would seal the capital completely, turning it into a one-way prison—a hunting ground for darkness.
The fog itself would corrupt Duelists' Spirit Eyes, dragging their souls toward darkness.
Once corrupted, the Duelists and their monsters would fuel the Sacred Beasts, granting Locke Slint eternal life.
"Locke! Don't forget our deal!"
"I know. The Kaiser king and his heirs will be handled by my Shadow Duelists. When the fog clears, you, Duke Seth, will appear as the 'savior' to drive them off… and claim the throne."
"Spare me the talk."
The ritual complete, the golden triangle's seal was engraved beneath the capital, thickening the fog.
…
Following Professor Field, Aisha reached the residence.
"Sister, you're all right!"
"What's this, Aisha? Can't bear to be apart for one night? Are you a sis-con? Sorry, but we're related, so no."
"Not that bad!"
Relieved to find Alice safe, Aisha relaxed—but Field's face hardened as urgent messages came in.
"It's worse than I thought."
"What happened, Professor?"
"The guard has taken casualties."
"From fog?"
"From Shadow Duelists. Likely the same ones who hit the Marquis's family. They're attacking the guards, even defeating several captains."
Captains were always strong Duelists; this was serious enough for Field to suspect the fog itself was part of a terrorist attack.
"Stay here with your sister. With the top Duelists of the great houses gathered, it's safe."
"I understand. I'll tell the others not to leave either."
But—
"We can't leave?" Alice feigned surprise. "Then what about little Ren?"
"Ren-chan?"
"This morning she went out, excited to get the capital's special fried rice dumplings for breakfast. If she's not back yet, she's probably trapped in the fog."
...
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