"You... you're not... Yusei Fudo, are you?"
Miles's worldview was shaken to the core… so much so that even the heartwarming sight of a father and daughter reunion couldn't calm him.
The man before him, judging by voice and appearance alone, was unmistakably the protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's—the true wielder of Stardust Dragon—Yusei Fudo.
But if it were just Yusei Fudo appearing within Stardust Dragon's consciousness, Miles could still understand that. After all, he had once encountered the Pharaoh, Atem, before.
That alone proved that the Spirit Continent, to some degree, was connected to "that world."
If it were only Yusei Fudo who appeared here…
"Father!"
Completely buried in her father's embrace, Krista's face overflowed with happiness; she probably hadn't even heard Miles's shocked question.
That was what truly left Miles reeling—the stunning revelation that Krista Shia, wielder of [Stardust Spark Dragon] from Synchron Academy, was actually Yusei Fudo's daughter.
Miles didn't even need to think too deeply to realize how complicated that was.
"Yusei Fudo… what a nostalgic name. But…"
The man's gaze softened as it fell upon Miles. His sincere, serious expression carried not a hint of deceit.
"I think you must be mistaken, Miles. Though we look alike, I am fundamentally different from the 'Yusei Fudo' you know."
"Miles? You know me?"
"Weren't you just introducing yourself to Krista?"
"So you were listening in the whole time, huh?"
"Well, it's the first time my daughter's ever brought a man home. As a father, I had to observe carefully, of course!"
"Wha—!? Father, what are you saying!?"
Krista's cheeks turned bright red as she pushed away the father she'd just reunited with.
"W-What do you mean I brought a man home? It's not like I wanted to come back… By the way, Father, where even is this place?"
Calming down from the emotion of reunion, Krista finally began to take in her surroundings.
"If I can see you, Father, then… could this really be—the afterlife!?"
So this world's Yusei Fudo… was already dead?
Yet, Miles couldn't stop wondering why this man, who was Yusei in every way, claimed to be fundamentally different from "Yusei Fudo."
With a fond tap to Krista's forehead, Yusei smiled gently. "Don't think such silly thoughts, Krista. You're living better than anyone."
"So you really aren't… Yusei Fudo?" After thinking it through, Miles still couldn't believe it.
"You've been saying strange things for a while, Miles. My father's name is clearly…"
Halfway through her sentence, Krista stopped when Yusei gestured for her to.
Then, replacing her, Yusei continued to address Miles's doubt.
"Miles, I'm indeed not the Yusei Fudo you know. For now, that's all I can say. If you wish to understand the truth of this world, you must go to the Spirit Sanctuary yourself."
"Spirit Sanctuary?"
Miles recalled—it was the site of the annual grade-ranking tournaments held among the Three Academies.
"The Spirit Sanctuary connects the truths of two worlds. Once you reach it, you'll understand why I said I'm different from 'Yusei Fudo.'"
"Then Father, what is this place? Why are we, and you, here?"
"This is a space linked through Stardust's memories. Through the remnants of Stardust's will, I could appear before you. Because you two were both chosen by Stardust."
Miles and Krista, both chosen by Stardust—meaning, of course, the [Stardust Dragon] and [Stardust Spark Dragon] cards they each held.
As he said this, Yusei turned his gaze to Miles once more.
"Stardust's will is the embodiment of protection. Anyone acknowledged by Stardust Dragon… even entrusting my daughter to you, I'd have no worries."
"Father!" Krista interjected anxiously. "Now's not the time to be saying things like that! Miles and I… this is literally the first time we've met!"
So even the strong, composed Krista could show a bashful side like a little girl before her father. Miles couldn't help but find her even cuter this way.
"I've always believed in destined bonds—time spent together doesn't matter. But yes, now isn't the moment for this discussion."
It was clear that "Yusei" wanted to savor the warmth of reunion with his daughter. Yet, his increasingly serious gaze told them both that the situation outside was dire.
"If Stardust's memories brought you two here, then the situation beyond must be critical. The magic stone's tolerance limit must've already been breached."
"Magic stones! Right!" Miles suddenly recalled.
The events that followed had been so fantastical that he'd nearly forgotten—he and Krista had been blasted here by an exploding magic stone.
To be precise, Stardust Dragon's 'Sanctuary of Sacrifice' had sent them here to survive the detonation.
"Father, you know about the magic stones too?"
"I do. And I also knew this day would inevitably come."
Yusei lifted his eyes toward the cosmic lights swirling across the mysterious space.
Fifty years ago, Axet discovered a source of infinite energy—the magic crystal stones.
Energy that could be endlessly reused, powered by the energy generated during Duels.
The discovery of magic crystals allowed the Axet Republic to rapidly grow in power, elevating it to one of the three great nations of the Spirit Continent.
Nonetheless, few knew the truth.
Fifty years ago, the reason Axet scholars discovered the magic crystals was due to the catastrophic destruction of a remote town on the nation's border.
In that instant, the blast stained the sky red and scorched the earth. The explosion spread so widely that even the western region connecting the Kingdom of Livorden and Axet turned into a Gobi desert… still barren to this day.
From that annihilated town, Axet's researchers uncovered the remaining fragments of the magic crystal stones.
Back then, Axet was just a struggling small nation wedged between major powers.
The discovery of a limitless, high-efficiency energy source appeared to the Axet Congress as a lifeline—a means for survival.
Danger and opportunity coexisted. Even knowing the energy's potential to bring ruin like that destroyed town, humanity's greed for progress was ingrained in its nature. No matter the danger, as long as the profit was great enough, it became a "harmless" resource.
To popularize magic stone energy across the nation—and even the entire Spirit Continent—along with its conveniences such as magitek trains and magitek airships, the Axet Congress erased from history the disaster fifty years ago, and all knowledge of the destroyed town.
The magic stones found in the ruins were rebranded as "harmless, high-efficiency energy."
Of course, to ensure safer use, Axet continued researching nonstop. They concluded that as long as production methods and charge efficiency limits were properly controlled, runaway reactions wouldn't occur.
That research result gave Axet's upper echelons a false sense of security.
Albeit ten years ago, a researcher named Shia uncovered another truth.
No matter how carefully you controlled the process or limited the charging rate, a dark red, destructive substance would inevitably accumulate within every magic stone.
It was irreversible. No matter how Shia tried, he couldn't eliminate that crimson sediment building up inside the stones.
Through deeper research, Shia discovered that this unknown red matter was the true cause of the stones' runaway explosions.
And worse… it could spread.
Once a single magic stone's red matter reached its limit, it would contaminate others, infecting even pure stones with its destructive essence.
In today's Axet Republic, where magic stone energy powered every street and city, the spread of that destructive sediment meant the whole nation was on the brink of annihilation.
Shia submitted his findings to Congress at once, urging the government to halt the use of this doomed energy.
Regardless, his efforts yielded… nothing.
No matter how detailed his reports were, the Congress never responded. Eventually, his researcher status was stripped away under dubious circumstances.
The reason was easy to guess.
After fifty years of reliance on magic stones, Axet's progress had gone too far to turn back. The nation, its people, and its very civilization could no longer function without that convenient energy.
Even after the danger became known, the wheel of history could not be stopped.
"This day was destined to come. It is Axet's inescapable fate… its preordained calamity."
Yusei withdrew his gaze from the starry void above.
Miles could tell that the "Shia" researcher Yusei mentioned was none other than his counterpart in this world.
Krista Shia—her surname confirmed it. Her father, therefore, was "Shia."
"So it really isn't our fault after all." Miles let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The red destructive matter had accumulated inside the magic stones for fifty years—it wasn't something caused by a single event.
Meaning, the explosion's true cause wasn't their Turbo Duel at all.
Even without that intense Accel Synchro Duel, the inevitable chain reaction would have happened sooner or later.
Krista pressed anxiously, "Then, Father… isn't there any other way? Once the magic stones go berserk, are we just supposed to watch Axet be destroyed?"
Just as Shia described, the entire Republic was now contaminated—the red sediment had spread through every magic stone, even transforming the underground mines into four massive crimson towers piercing the earth.
"Fate's inevitable disaster is the price of humanity's greed for dangerous energy. Such an ending cannot be undone… or so I once thought."
At that, Shia's eyes met Miles's—eyes the same shade as Krista's—reflecting the Stardust light shimmering through the space.
"Miles… in that single moment just now, you gave this nation hope once again!"
"That single moment… you mean…"
"'Stardust Dragon—Sanctuary of Sacrifice!'"
In a life-or-death moment, the D-Wheel explosion caused by the magic stone's dark red corruption was halted by Stardust Dragon's power.
After being enveloped in Stardust's cleansing light, the magic stones inside the D-Wheel—once tainted crimson—had miraculously returned to their pure, original clarity.
Shia said, "Stardust, the embodiment of the will to protect, seems to possess the power to purify the dark red, destructive sediment within the magic stones. You could call this the final ray of hope grasped from the brink of despair."
"That's… possible?"
Miles hadn't expected that the frantic split-second struggle for survival he made earlier would become, in Shia's words, this nation's final lifeline.
"This is nothing short of a miracle, Miles! Are you the one who creates miracles!?"
Hearing hope in her father's voice, Krista's stardust-colored eyes sparkled as she looked at Miles with admiration.
Both father and daughter stared at him, eyes gleaming with excitement, which only made Miles more embarrassed.
"Calling me a miracle maker is a bit much, Krista."
"Not at all!" The father and daughter said in unison.
"O-Okay… So, what exactly do we do next?"
Even if Stardust Dragon could purify the destructive matter within the stones, they couldn't expect Miles to summon Stardust Dragon and cleanse each stone one by one.
At that rate, Axet would have been blown to pieces long before he finished purifying even a few.
Shia replied, "There's one feasible plan… that said, it will require both you and Krista to work together."
"Both of us?"
They exchanged glances.
The sudden eye contact so close made Krista's cheeks flush red again, the starlight around them making her look even cuter.
Miles probably hadn't realized that his looks—deemed 'decently handsome' by the loli Main God who had witnessed billions of lives pass through reincarnation—were, in fact, quite charming.
Seeing his adorable daughter fluster so easily made Shia's fatherly smile return once more.
"Miles, Krista. You were both chosen by Stardust. That means [Stardust Spark Dragon] should also share the same purifying ability against the destructive sediment within the stones."
"Still, even with both of us, wouldn't it take too long to purify everything before the explosion?"
"You don't need to purify every magic stone. The widespread runaway of destructive energy has already connected and exposed the leyline of magic stones that runs beneath the nation."
"The magic stone leyline!" Krista exclaimed. "Oh, you mean those four crimson towers?"
"Exactly. Of those four towers, the tallest is the primary leyline connecting the entire country. The other three are secondary branches. Miles, Krista… your task is to combine the power of both Stardust Dragons and attempt to purify the main leyline's destructive sediment completely."
"So if we purify the main leyline, the explosion can be stopped?" Miles asked, uncertain.
After a pause, Shia said, "Theoretically, yes. Once the main leyline is purified, the other contaminated sediments should vanish along with it. Of course, that's only a theory. You understand what that means, Miles."
"Yeah." Miles nodded.
There was always a gap between theory and practice.
Having him and Krista cleanse the leyline of magic stones involved countless unpredictable factors.
Whether the combined power of two Stardust Dragons could truly purify the leyline, and whether that purification could really prevent the national explosion, was all unknown.
Though Shia didn't say it outright, it was clear: this was a gamble with their lives at stake.
"I won't force you to do this," Shia continued. "Krista, as your father, I'd rather see you flee Axet and let this country be destroyed by its own arrogance."
For any father, the world would always weigh less than his daughter.
Even so, Miles knew—even if this man claimed not to be "Yusei Fudo," his appearance and character were nearly identical.
Yusei Fudo was the kind of man who would risk his life to save the city and build a future.
"I'll do it, Father!" Krista declared firmly. "This country holds my friends… and my memories with you and Mother. Even if there's only a sliver of hope, I won't run away!"
Indeed, Krista had perfectly inherited her father's spirit.
Then she turned to Miles. "But you're not from Axet, Miles. You don't have to risk your life for this, so—"
"You can't do it alone, can you, Krista?" Miles interrupted.
"Miles?"
"If even two Stardust Dragons might not be enough, going alone would just be suicide. If you die, then saving you earlier would've been pointless, wouldn't it?"
"Ugh!" Krista shrank into her collar, unable to argue.
"Let's go together, Krista."
"Eh?" She blinked, her stardust-filled eyes widening in disbelief.
"Since our fates have been bound together by Stardust, I'll stay with you to the very end, Krista!"
"!!!"
In that instant, Krista felt her heart pound violently inside her chest—ready to leap out.
"You'll… stay with me till the end, Miles?" she asked shyly, her voice soft and trembling.
"Of course! Together, we'll use Stardust's power of protection to save everyone!"
There was no need for any Millennium Scales to measure this.
Someone like him could never be on the side of evil—Krista truly believed that.
"Let's just hope Aisha won't get mad later," Miles muttered.
Even though he had made this decision on his own, Miles was sure that if Aisha were here, she would've made the same choice. A girl kind enough to save even a random classmate would never abandon an entire nation.
"Miles, Krista… you truly are people acknowledged by Stardust's light."
As Shia watched the young pair make their decision, his heart swelled with nostalgia and pride.
"Miles, Krista… remember this: Stardust's power shines brightest when protecting what is precious. I believe that someday, you both will reach the realm of Limit Overdrive."
With his left hand, Shia grasped Miles's wrist, and with his right, Krista's fingers. Closing his eyes gently, he seemed to be making a wish.
"The future of this country, of this world, I entrust to you both. Under Stardust's light of hope, forge the path to miracles together!"
Then, with one final act of fatherly encouragement, Shia joined their hands together.
"Ah!! Father, what are you doing!?"
Suddenly forced to hold hands, Krista tried to pull away in flustered panic—but her body refused to listen.
Holding on a bit longer… didn't seem so bad.
Miles, less embarrassed than her, noticed that when Shia placed their hands together, a card appeared between their joined fingers.
The card representing the ultimate form of synchro acceleration—the Ultimate Synchro card.
"You really aren't Yusei Fudo, huh?" Miles asked again, astonished.
This time, surrounded by gentle starlight, Shia simply smiled kindly.
"Finally, allow me to speak as a father and express my heartfelt gratitude. Thank you, Miles… thank you for saving Krista, my daughter."
"Father…"
As the cosmic space around them began to fade, tears welled up in Krista's eyes at the thought of parting so soon after reunion.
"There's no need to cry, Krista. Your mother and I will always be with you as stardust in the sky. And besides… you've already met someone who can protect you in my place."
"Father! Stop saying weird things!"
"Miles, if it's you, I can entrust my daughter to you without worry. Please, take care of Krista for me."
In this situation, how could Miles refuse?
Watching the fading figure of the father, his conscience wouldn't allow him to say no.
'Shia… you're playing dirty!'
"Yeah. Don't worry… I'll take care of Krista."
As Shia's body dissolved into particles of starlight, his final smile radiated satisfaction.
"Accel—turn it up, proud Turbo Duelists! In the light of Limit Overdrive, claim the future that belongs to you!"
...
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