Turn 1 – Darkness
"Eh? 4000? I thought Ryuki-kun and Reiji-kun set the LP to 8000?" Aichi muttered, confusion and concern etched across his face. He had counted on the extended Life Points to buy time—time for their plan to unfold, time to outmaneuver Academia's forces.
But that cushion had vanished.
"It seems you had something in mind to delay us..." Darkness sneered, his voice laced with condescension. "But whatever strategy you devised is now meaningless. This duel will be swift. I'll begin! Draw!"
In a single motion, Darkness swiped a card from his deck and immediately played it. "From my hand, I summon Red-Eyes Black Chick!"
A swirling portal of shadow erupted in front of him as a large crimson egg materialized on the field. Cracks spread across its surface, revealing a small dragon, barely hatched. Though it hadn't yet fully emerged, its sinister presence was unmistakable—its eyes already glowing a threatening blood-red.
Red-Eyes Black Chick
Level 1 / DARK / Dragon / Effect
ATK: 800 / DEF: 500
"I activate its effect! By sending Red-Eyes Black Chick to the Graveyard, I Special Summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand!"
The chick began to shimmer with a dark red glow, its tiny body consumed by a rising aura. The egg shattered entirely as flames burst upward, engulfing the field. From within the inferno emerged a hulking, skeletal black dragon. Jagged, obsidian scales lined its body, its wings stretching out like a predator freshly awakened. Its red eyes locked onto Aichi with primal hunger before it released a guttural roar that shook the ground.
Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Level 7 / DARK / Dragon / Normal
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
A chilling wave of malice radiated from the monster, forcing Aichi to take a step back. He grit his teeth, trying to maintain his composure under the weight of the dragon's ominous aura.
But Darkness wasn't done. "You won't have time to defend yourself! I activate the Spell Card—Inferno Fire Blast! As long as I control Red-Eyes Black Dragon, this card inflicts damage to you equal to its ATK!"
Aichi's eyes widened in alarm. "No...!"
Red-Eyes inhaled deeply, its maw glowing with a concentrated ball of energy. The fireball pulsed with raw malevolence as its color warped from the familiar reddish-orange to a sinister, deep crimson, edged with streaks of black. With a deafening roar, it unleashed the blast.
The inferno slammed into Aichi with overwhelming force, knocking him backward. He cried out as the pain coursed through his body—not a virtual simulation, but a real sensation that burned through his chest. Smoke and debris clouded the field as the impact lingered.
Aichi: 4000 → 1600
"Aichi!" Emi cried out, starting to run toward her brother. But Serena quickly held her back, and even Barret took a half-step forward before hesitating. Emi clenched her fists in frustration. "He's hurt! We need to—"
Aichi raised a hand slowly as he struggled to his feet. His breathing was ragged, but his voice, though strained, was steady. "I'm okay... I can still fight. Don't worry, Emi."
Darkness's cold smile never left his face. "You're still standing? Impressive. Admirable, even. But futile. In the end, you will fall."
He raised his hand once again. "Now, I send Red-Eyes Black Dragon from the field to the Graveyard to Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon from my hand!"
Red-Eyes let out one final roar before it was engulfed in a vortex of demonic flame. From the inferno emerged a far more menacing form—leaner, more angular, more brutal in every way. Its arms were gone, replaced by sharper wings, and its scales gleamed with blood-red etchings. Its glowing eyes glared down with a murderous intent as it fully materialized.
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon
Level 9 / DARK / Dragon / Effect
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
"Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon gains 300 Attack Points for every Dragon-Type monster in my Graveyard. With two already there, its power increases by 600."
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon
ATK: 2400 → 3000
Aichi winced again as the sheer pressure of the monster's presence loomed larger. The air felt heavier now, as if gravity itself was warping under the beast's power.
"I set two cards face-down," Darkness concluded, inserting the remaining cards into his Spell & Trap Zones with deliberate flair. "And with that, I end my turn."
The field was dominated by the menacing silhouette of Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, flanked by two face-down cards. Darkness crossed his arms, his expression serene yet brimming with malice.
"You may have endured one blast... but can you survive the coming storm?"
Aichi glanced down at his hand—five cards. Five chances to find a way through this storm.
He narrowed his eyes. Even if the odds are against me... I can't let it end here. Not yet.
Darkness: 4000 | Hand: 1
Aichi: 1600 | Hand: 5
Turn 2 – Aichi
Aichi staggered backward, his body still reeling from the sudden surge of real damage inflicted by Darkness' unorthodox attack. Pain lingered—not just from the impact, but from the overwhelming pressure the dark duelist radiated. For a moment, he clutched his chest and inhaled sharply, his breaths shallow but steady. Then, slowly, he straightened his back, eyes narrowing with renewed resolve.
"...Boku no turn... Draw!"
With a swift motion, Aichi drew his next card. The card glided cleanly into his left hand, the light of the duel disk glinting off its foil. He looked at it for a brief second, then took a step forward.
"I activate the Spell Card—Knight's Call!"
As he slammed the card onto his duel disk, two radiant pillars of light erupted behind him.
"Using this, I Special Summon two Level 4 or lower LIGHT Warrior-Type monsters from my Deck or Graveyard! They can't attack this turn, but that won't stop me!"
From the first beam emerged a regal figure clad in blinding white armor, holding a sturdy shield in one hand and a slender spear in the other—Knight of Benevolence, Kay. The second pillar revealed a younger, agile warrior in bluish-white armor. His curved blade shimmered with a soft, holy glow—Nova Knight, Llew, a Tuner whose radiance rivaled the rising sun.
Nova Knight, Llew
Level 2 / LIGHT / Warrior / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 900 / DEF: 500
Knight of Benevolence, Kay
Level 4 / LIGHT / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1000
Darkness narrowed his eyes, intrigued. "A Synchro user, hm...? How refreshing. The last few were nothing but insects wielding Xyz fodder. I've ended far too many of them with a yawn."
The cruelty in his tone struck a nerve in Aichi. The notion that this man had killed duelists without remorse lit a fire in his chest. He clenched his fist.
"Then I'll make sure you never get the chance to do it again!"
He raised his arm. "I activate Nova Knight Llew's skill! When he's summoned, I draw one card! And if it's a Spell or Trap, all my monsters gain 300 ATK!"
Aichi swiftly drew. The card flicked into his hand—a monster. No power boost, but that hardly mattered. He tucked it into his hand and locked eyes with his opponent.
"I'm not done! Llew has another effect! When used as a Tuner for a LIGHT Synchro Monster, his level doubles!"
Nova Knight, Llew
Level 2 → 4
The aura surrounding Llew intensified as his body began to glow with a shifting spectrum of azure and white.
"Now, I tune Level 4 Nova Knight, Llew with Level 4 Knight of Benevolence, Kay!"
Llew turned skyward and ascended, breaking into four brilliant synchro rings. Kay raised his spear in salute, then leapt into the heart of the rings. The battlefield was bathed in radiant light as Aichi extended his hand and chanted:
"When the clamor of allies fades and silence covers the field—
One knight still rides, undaunted by solitude!
I call upon the blade that shines through abandonment, the will that never yields!
Gather, resolve of steel!
Tune the heart of a fallen legion with the soul of a lonely star—
Synchro Summon!
Gallop through the silence, O radiant sentinel—Level 8!
Solitary Knight, Gancelot!"
With the thunder of hooves, a majestic white pegasus descended from the heavens, carrying a solemn knight clad in gleaming silver armor and a flowing black cape. In his hand, a longsword shimmered with divine might.
Solitary Knight, Gancelot
Level 8 / LIGHT / Elf / Synchro / Effect / Limit Break
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2300
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon let out a deep growl as Gancelot's light clashed against its corrupt energy.
"When Gancelot is Synchro Summoned and is the only monster I control, I can retrieve a card from my Graveyard. I return Knight's Call to my hand."
The spell card lifted itself from Aichi's Graveyard slot and returned to his hand in a soft glow.
"And that's not all! When Llew is used to Synchro Summon a LIGHT Synchro monster, that monster gains 800 ATK!"
Solitary Knight, Gancelot
ATK: 2800 → 3600
But Darkness was ready. His eyes gleamed.
"Trap Card—Open! Red-Eyes Gleam!"
A pillar of black flame erupted as the eyes of Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon flashed with a piercing crimson.
"When your monster's ATK is higher than Red-Eyes' original 2400, your monster loses ATK equal to the difference between them. Gancelot's original ATK is 2800—so he loses 400!"
Solitary Knight, Gancelot
ATK: 3600 → 3200
Gancelot faltered slightly, his radiance dimming just a fraction. But Aichi's voice rang out with unshaken conviction.
"Even so, I'm pushing forward! Battle!"
Gancelot raised his sword high. His pegasus spread its wings, ready to charge.
"I activate Gancelot's skill! Once per turn, I send 2 cards from my Deck to the Graveyard and Gancelot gains 2000 ATK until the end phase!
Two cards ejected from Aichi's deck and slid into his Graveyard slot.
Solitary Knight, Gancelot
ATK: 3200 → 5200
Light poured from the knight's blade as the pegasus bolted into the air.
"Strike down the darkness! Gancelot, attack Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!"
With a single, flawless slash, Gancelot's sword cleaved through Red-Eyes, dispersing the corrupted dragon into sparks of black and crimson.
Darkness: 4000 → 1800
The crowd gasped. Even some of the Celosia agents watching from afar murmured with astonishment.
But Darkness was unfazed.
"You activated my trap... Red-Eyes Spirit!"
Black flames erupted once more as Red-Eyes reemerged from the grave, snarling.
"Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon... rise again!"
Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon
ATK: 2400 → 3000
Even with his monster destroyed, the field had shifted. Aichi eyed the battlefield carefully, noting Darkness' remaining resources.
"I set two cards face-down. That ends my turn."
Two cards materialized behind Gancelot as the knight returned to a defensive stance. Aichi's heart was racing, but he kept his focus sharp. Darkness had shown what he was capable of—and Aichi had answered. Now, he had to brace for what was next.
Darkness: 1800 | Hand: 1
Aichi: 1600 | Hand: 5
Turn 3 – Darkness
"My turn! Draw!"
The moment the card left his deck, a faint shiver danced through the air—a subtle shift that only Darkness himself could feel. He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the unwavering light in Aichi's eyes across the field.
That light... it isn't just holy. It's absolute. It tore through the darkness of my Red-Eyes, and left a scar I haven't felt in ages. Curious... how long has it been since I faced a duelist who could stand their ground without fear?
A wicked grin crept across his face.
"Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!" he called, extending his arm toward Aichi's field. "Attack Solitary Knight, Gancelot! Darkness Giga Flame!"
The shadowy dragon let out a guttural roar before releasing a concentrated stream of deep crimson flames, blazing toward Gancelot like a dark comet.
But Aichi was ready.
"Trap card open—Haos Guard!" he declared.
The card flipped open, releasing a radiant barrier of light that intercepted the fiery blast midair. The attack scattered into shimmering embers that harmlessly evaporated into the sky.
"When a LIGHT Attribute monster is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack. And because your monster is DARK, I also draw two cards."
Two fresh cards slid into Aichi's hand. Darkness scowled as he counted—seven cards.
Seven cards in hand? So he's preparing something big...
"Tch... I set one card face-down," he said curtly. "Turn end."
Even now... he's not flinching.
Darkness: 1800 | Hand: 1
Aichi: 1600 | Hand: 7
Turn 4 – Aichi
"Boku no turn—draw!"
Aichi drew quickly. The card's aura surged with energy as he recognized its potential. His eyes narrowed, and he immediately placed it on his Duel Disk.
"I activate the spell card—Fatiguing Flasetto!" Aichi declared. "All monsters on your field will have their effects negated!"
A sonic pulse radiated outward from the card, targeting Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, aiming to strip it of its power.
But Darkness was already one step ahead.
"You think I'd leave my dragon vulnerable? Continuous Trap, activate—Metal Plus! I equip this to my Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon. Any spell card that targets this monster is negated and destroyed!"
A dense metallic veil encased the black dragon's body like armor. The sound waves of Aichi's spell struck the barrier and bounced off, shattering Fatiguing Flasetto in a burst of sparks.
So he's protecting his dragon even further. I can't force an attack just yet... but I can still buy time, Aichi thought, tightening his grip on the remaining cards.
"I switch Gancelot to Defense Position," he announced. The noble knight sheathed his blade and raised his shield, kneeling in a defensive stance. "Then I set two cards face-down and end my turn."
From behind him, Blaster Blade knelt as well, standing vigil like a sacred sentinel. Their formation was one of light and resolve, a silent testament to Aichi's will to endure.
Darkness: 1800 | Hand: 1
Aichi: 1600 | Hand: 4
Turn 5 – Darkness
"My turn. Draw!"
As Darkness drew, a burst of malignant energy rippled outward. His eyes flickered with irritation, then disdain.
"You dare not attack?" he growled. "I thought you were a warrior. But it seems I overestimated you."
Aichi's expression remained calm, unwavering.
"It's called playing smart. I know you're hiding something dangerous in your hand—and I won't rush in without a plan," Aichi replied firmly.
That earned him a rare flicker of amusement from Darkness. He glanced at the card he'd held since last turn.
"So you noticed... Very well. You're no ordinary duelist. I'll entertain you with something more fitting."
A low hum began to emanate from Darkness's body. Tendrils of abyssal energy slithered from beneath his cloak, creeping across the field. The atmosphere thickened.
"From my hand, I activate the spell card—Pot of Greed! I draw two cards!"
Two cards flowed into his grasp like offerings from the void. His grin widened.
"Now... behold the evolution of true power!"
He revealed the first card in his hand.
"I activate the Continuous Spell—Red-Eyes Supply!"
A ripple of dark magic spread across the field. Then he pointed at his dragon.
"I send Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon to the Graveyard... and from my hand, I Special Summon—Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!"
The transformation was swift and violent. The original Red-Eyes vanished in a vortex of flames and steel. Emerging from the blaze was a fearsome, metallic beast. Its entire body gleamed with chrome, its wings sharper than swords, and its eyes burned with bloodlust.
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
Level 10 / DARK / Dragon / Effect
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2400
"This monster can only be summoned by releasing Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon that was equipped with Metal Plus," Darkness explained. "And it gains 400 ATK for each Dragon-Type monster in my Graveyard. I have three—so it gains 1200 ATK."
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
ATK: 2800 → 4000
The beast roared with renewed fury.
"Also, since I Special Summoned a Level 7 or higher Red-Eyes monster, Red-Eyes Supply lets me draw one more card!"
He drew—and wasted no time.
"I equip my Red-Eyes with Fairy Meteor Crush! With this, when it attacks a monster in Defense Position, it inflicts piercing battle damage!"
The equip spell infused the metal dragon's claws with a blazing celestial energy. Aichi instinctively clenched his fist.
He's setting up for a piercing blow...!
"Then allow me to wipe out your defenses!" Darkness shouted.
But Aichi was already prepared.
"Trap card, open! Twinkle Aegis!" Aichi declared. "When a DARK monster attacks a LIGHT monster in Defense Position, my monster gains 200 DEF for every card in my hand. I have four cards—Gancelot gains 800 DEF!"
A luminous shield formed around Gancelot as celestial sparkles danced across the field.
Solitary Knight, Gancelot
DEF: 2300 → 3100
"Battle!" Darkness roared. "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon—attack Gancelot! Darkness Metal Flame!"
The dragon launched a massive inferno—a blend of violet fire and blazing meteors—toward the kneeling knight. The collision was thunderous.
Even with the enhanced defense, Gancelot couldn't withstand the sheer force. His shield cracked, then shattered, as the knight was consumed by the attack. Aichi was thrown backward from the explosion, his body skidding on the stone floor as a wave of heat and darkness washed over him.
"Aichi!" the spirits of Blaster Blade and Alfred cried out from behind him, reaching out instinctively—but the boy rose slowly, steam rising from his shoulders.
His hand trembled slightly... but his eyes did not waver.
Aichi: 1600 → 700
Darkness crossed his arms. "You survived. But the light you carry will not last. The shadows will consume you soon enough."
Aichi steadied his breathing, placing a hand over his heart.
"No... not as long as I fight with them at my side," he murmured.
The remnants of Gancelot's shattered armor shimmered briefly... as if the knight was still protecting him, even in defeat.
"Hm. I set a card face-down, I end my turn".
Darkness: 1800 | Hand: 0
Aichi: 700 | Hand: 4
Turn 6 – Aichi
Smoke curled from the scorched battlefield, and the weight of the last attack still lingered in the air like a pressure against Aichi's chest. He slowly pushed himself off the ground, hand clutching his side where the shockwaves of Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon's attack had struck him. His breaths were shallow, heavy. Yet it wasn't just pain that shook him—he'd heard a voice, faint but distinct, echoing through the ruins of the stadium.
A scream.
Emi's scream.
His eyes widened, body instinctively turning toward the direction of the sound—but before he could take a step, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon loomed forward, its body a towering barrier of armor and smoke. Darkness' voice cut through the tension.
"You're not going anywhere. The only way forward... is through me."
Aichi froze, heart pounding. His sister could be in danger. But turning his back now meant abandoning everything. Then it happened—again.
PSYQualia.
The vision surged into his mind like lightning. In that brief instant, he saw it: Alfred standing tall, Blaster Blade at his side. Their blades shone with brilliance as they struck together, severing the shadows that cloaked Darkness' monster and cleansing the evil that stained this duel.
Aichi's eyes snapped back into focus. His fingers hovered over his deck.
"I see now... So that's the path. You're calling out to me, aren't you?"
He whispered to the card at the top of his deck, hand trembling—not with fear, but certainty.
"Boku no turn! Draw!"
As Aichi drew, his card gleamed with an almost divine light. Darkness flinched, sensing that this turn would be decisive.
"First, I activate the trap card: Royal Resolve!"
Aichi held the card high as it shimmered. "When a LIGHT Synchro Monster is destroyed, I can Special Summon monsters from my deck or graveyard whose levels equal the destroyed monster's level. Return to me—Knight of Benevolence, Kay! And, Little Tactician, Marron!"
Twin pillars of light descended onto the battlefield. From the first emerged Kay, shield raised in noble defiance. From the second came Marron, a young mage clutching a thick tome as if ready to rewrite the end of the duel itself.
Knight of Benevolence, Kay
Level 4 / LIGHT / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1000
Little Tactician, Marron
Level 4 / LIGHT / Giant / Effect
ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1200
Suddenly, Aichi's PSYQualia ignited in full. Light blue energy coursed around him, his very presence radiating like a beacon. Darkness instinctively took a step back.
"This light... What is this power?"
Aichi opened his eyes—sharp, unwavering, filled with resolve.
"Darkness. You've corrupted his body long enough. Now it ends today. I will purge you here and now!"
He thrust a hand toward his graveyard. "From the graveyard, I activate Pink Comet, Flogal's skill! I use her as a Tuner—by banishing her! Now I tune my level 2 Pink Comet, Flogal with my Level 4 Knight of Benevolence, Kay and Level 4 Little Tactician, Marron!"
A pink flare burst from the graveyard. Flogal—a loyal dog knight in armor—leapt from the ether, biting a short dagger as she dissolved into two radiant synchro rings. Kay and Marron leapt into the air, transformed into eight glimmering stars.
"In the name of honor, I march—bearing the hopes of all beneath my banner! The light of kings does not falter, even in the shadow of despair!"
A vortex of sacred power began to swirl above him. Aichi raised his hand to the heavens.
"O sword that once forged legends, and will again—respond to your sovereign's call!
Synchro Summon! Descend, commander of radiance and salvation—
Level 10, Light Source Seeker, Alfred Exiv!"
A shining knight descended upon a field of silence. His white-gold armor gleamed with every movement, and a red gem pulsed at his chest like a second heart. Behind him trailed a cape embroidered with stars. He raised his sword, stabbed it into the earth, and light exploded from the point of impact.
Light Source Seeker, Alfred Exiv
Level 10 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Legion
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 2500
"And because I used Flogal as the Tuner for an Alfred Synchro, she returns to the deck instead of being banished." Aichi gently slid her card back into his deck. "Now, the true finale begins."
Darkness narrowed his eyes. "That monster... It's powerful. But it still isn't enough to bring down my dragon."
"You're right." Aichi's voice was calm. "Alfred alone... might not be enough. But he's never alone."
He raised his hand. "Alfred Exiv! Seek the Mate!"
Alfred Exiv raised his sword to the heavens. A spiral of radiant energy burst into the sky, summoning another pillar of divine light to the field.
"I return five cards from my graveyard to the deck—now I call upon the one knight who stands by the king's side in every age!"
The five cards slid back into the deck in a flare of light, and from the Extra Deck, a card leapt to Aichi's hand.
"Soul of the radiant throne, answer my call!
Noble sword, born of justice—stand beside your king once more and carve a path through despair!
Blaster Blade!—Legion!"
A second knight emerged beside Alfred—a warrior in shining white armor with sapphire linings, carrying a silver sword that burned with virtue.
Blaster Blade
Level 7 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Mate
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
Darkness' face contorted into confusion. "What... What did you just do? That wasn't Synchro. That was something else!"
Aichi's PSYQualia glowed brighter, his eyes nearly sparkling.
"Legion," he said, voice unwavering. "A rare form of unity—of two warriors whose spirits and power are fused into one. When my monsters are Legion, their ATK and DEF are combined."
Legion (Alfred Exiv + Blaster Blade)
ATK: 6000 / DEF: 4500
A hush fell over the field as even the air trembled at the sheer force radiating from the united knights. Darkness' Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon let out a distorted cry, the pressure forcing it to bow slightly.
"If Blaster Blade is summoned by Legions' skill, he gets 1000 ATK!"
Legion (Alfred Exiv + Blaster Blade)
ATK: 6000 → 7000
Aichi raised his arm. "Alfred Exiv's skill! When a DARK monster is on the field—Haos Pressure! All of its effects are negated!"
A brilliant pulse surged from Alfred's sword, encasing the battlefield in light. Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon's dark energy evaporated in seconds.
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
ATK: 4000 → 2800
"Now, Blaster Blade's skill! I destroy your set card!"
Lightning danced across the field as Blaster Blade drove his sword into the ground. A bolt of white light tore across Darkness' field, eradicating his last defense.
Darkness stood motionless. Exposed. Overwhelmed.
And yet... not angry. He just stared—quiet, perhaps even resigned—as though he already knew this was how it would end.
Aichi took a slow breath.
"It's time."
He extended his arm forward, eyes narrowed in absolute resolve.
"Battle! Legion—ATTACK Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!"
Alfred nodded. Blaster Blade charged first, his blade carving a blinding streak across the ground before striking the dragon's metal hide. The impact staggered the beast. Then, as Blaster Blade leapt away, Alfred raised his weapon—his cape fluttering in the air—and brought his sword down.
"Final Strike—Radiant Justice!"
A colossal beam of divine light erupted from the heavens, swallowing Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon whole. The shockwave shattered Darkness' mask as the field was engulfed in blinding white.
Darkness: 1800 → 0
Winner: Sendou Aichi
-----
The blinding light from Alfred Exiv's final strike faded, and silence fell over the field. The oppressive aura of Darkness had vanished, leaving only the still form of the man he had possessed.
Aichi's GIRS board dissolved into shimmering motes as he dashed forward. He knelt beside the collapsed figure, brushing away the dust and debris.
"Please..." Aichi whispered, pressing two fingers against the man's wrist.
There it was—a faint but steady pulse. Relief surged through him, and he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Good... You're still here," he murmured softly, shifting the man upright and propping him against a nearby wall.
But his thoughts immediately snapped to Emi, Serena, and Barret. The scream he'd heard earlier still echoed in his mind like a warning bell.
"Hang on... I'm coming."
Without another glance back, Aichi turned and sprinted toward their last known location.
Meanwhile, with Emi, Serena, and Barret...
The street was littered with duel disks, shattered cards, and fainted soldiers. Emi stood back-to-back with Serena, their chests heaving from exhaustion. Fifteen Obelisk Force members had fallen, each one forced into a red recall beam that whisked them back to Academia.
Their victory was hard-earned; their breathing ragged and their legs heavy, but there was no time to celebrate.
The air shifted.
Three figures stepped forward from the shadows, the sound of their synchronized footsteps echoing in the quiet. These were not the standard blue-clad Obelisk Force soldiers. Their uniforms were deep black, their masks sharper and more angular, their duel disks a sleek crimson-edged design that radiated menace.
Barret's eyes narrowed. His stance stiffened instantly, one hand moving protectively in front of the girls.
"Run." His voice was low and urgent.
Serena frowned, confused. "What? Why—"
"They're the Obelisk Black Ops," Barret cut her off, his gaze never leaving the three figures. "They're not like the others. They don't just duel. They break you."
The words hit with cold weight. Emi's eyes widened, sensing the danger even without knowing the full story.
Serena's fists clenched. "And you think we should just leave you here to fight them alone?"
"That's exactly what I think," Barret said sharply. "If you stay, you'll only slow me down. Get Emi out of here, find Aichi. That's the only way you'll make it."
The Obelisk Black Ops took another step forward in unison, their visors glinting under the streetlights. Serena hesitated for only a moment before moving to Emi's side.
"You'd better still be standing when I see you again," she muttered, her tone a mixture of defiance and reluctant trust.
Barret's expression softened just slightly. "Don't worry about me. I've got something new up my sleeve, remember?"
Serena scooped Emi into her arms and ran, her boots pounding against the cracked pavement. The Black Ops didn't give chase—yet. Their eyes were locked entirely on Barret.
As soon as the girls were out of sight, the three duelists activated their disks in one fluid motion, blood-red blades of holographic energy snapping to life.
Barret glanced down at the new Tachikaze deck in his hand, the one Ryuki had entrusted to him. His thumb brushed over the top card, feeling the faintly embossed design. He could almost hear the roar of prehistoric beasts ready to be unleashed.
A slow smirk crossed his face.
"I may be outnumbered..." he said, sliding the deck into place, "but I've hunted in worse conditions."
He raised his voice, meeting their cold stares with unshakable resolve.
"I'll make sure you never lay a finger on Serena-sama. That's a promise I'll carve into the bones of this battlefield!"
The three Black Ops tilted their heads ever so slightly, as though acknowledging the challenge.
Barret's duel disk flared to life with a mechanical screech, the orange projection blade hissing into the night.
"DUEL!!!"
Barret: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Black 1: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Black 2: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Black 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
The night's stillness shattered under the weight of imminent combat. Somewhere in the distance, Serena and Emi were still running, unaware of just how dangerous the battle behind them would become.
Barret tightened his grip on his cards, his stance firm, his gaze unyielding. The hunt was on.
Turn 1 – Barret
The crimson glow of three duel disks reflected in Barret's lone, steely eye. The street was dead silent except for the faint hum of holographic projectors. The Obelisk Black Ops stood still, their posture perfect, their focus unflinching. Every instinct screamed at Barret that they were predators waiting for the smallest sign of weakness.
He exhaled slowly. If I give them the first move, they'll tear right through me. My only chance is to set the pace.
Barret's duel disk locked into place with a hiss. "I'll start this duel! Draw!" His voice carried over the empty street, firm and resolute.
The drawn card slid between his fingers, but his gaze remained fixed on the trio ahead. He wasn't speaking for their benefit—he was speaking for himself, and for the spirits that had chosen to fight alongside him.
If I go second, they'll strike mercilessly. First turn... I can at least set the walls high enough to survive the opening assault.
He closed his eye briefly, feeling the weight of his new deck. In the stillness, he heard them—low, resonant roars, the ancient voices of the Tachikaze. They weren't just cards. They were hunters, answering their alpha's call.
When he opened his eye again, there was no hesitation left.
"First, I activate the Spell Card—Ancient Hatchery Revival!"
A green holographic dome shimmered into existence, dotted with fossilized eggs resting in glowing amber. "By sending the top five cards of my deck to the graveyard, I awaken whatever beasts lie dormant. For each Dinodragon-type sent, this card gains power!"
Barret's duel disk ejected the top five cards with mechanical precision. The cards slid into the graveyard slot, and three glowed faintly—their spirits recognized.
"Three Dinodragon-types," Barret announced with a grin. "That means two effects trigger! First, I reclaim one Dinodragon from my graveyard. I return Ancient Dragon, Iguanogorg to my hand."
The faint silhouette of a bipedal dinosaur shimmered behind him before vanishing into the card.
"Second—one Dinodragon returns from extinction! Emerge... True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed in defense mode!"
The ground shook as a piercing screech split the air. A massive pteranodon, its scales hidden beneath rugged orange armor, dove from the projected clouds and landed before Barret, wings extended like a living shield. Its visor-like eyes glinted as it fixed on the enemy.
True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed
Level 5 / WIND / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 2600
"Pterafeed's effect activates!" Barret's voice was sharp now, commanding. "Once per turn, I scout the top seven cards of my deck. For each Ancient Dragon I see, one of you takes 500 damage!"
Seven cards fanned before him in a bright projection. His grin widened. "Four Ancient Dragons. That's 2000 damage straight to one of you... Let's start thinning the herd. Middle one—you're up!"
Pterafeed beat its massive wings, the force gathering into blades of compressed wind. With a deafening gust, they shot forward, striking the central Obelisk Black Ops in the chest. The soldier staggered slightly, his visor flickering red, but he didn't so much as flinch.
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 4000 → 2000
Barret's lips curled into a half-smirk. Not even a reaction. These guys really are built different.
"From the seven cards, one comes to my hand, one to my graveyard, the rest back to the deck. I'll take Ancient Dragon, Hypnohang into my hand... and send True Ancient Dragon, Aloneros to the graveyard."
He slid Hypnohang into his hand, the card's holographic eyes flashing briefly, while the projection of a colossal horned dragon faded into the graveyard slot. The rest of the cards returned, the deck shuffling with a mechanical whirl.
"Now," he continued, "I set three cards face-down."
Three holographic panels snapped into place before him, each glowing faintly as if concealing some primeval trap.
Barret finally exhaled, lowering his arm slightly. "That'll be all for now."
His eye darted between the three soldiers, reading their movements—or rather, the lack of them. They stood in an unbroken formation, their expressions unreadable beneath their helmets. It was as if they didn't care about the damage their ally had just taken, or maybe they had calculated it didn't matter.
Still, Barret had drawn first blood. And in his mind, that counted for something.
Barret: 4000 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Black Ops 1: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 2000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Black Ops 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
As his turn ended, Barret tightened his grip on his deck. He knew this was only the calm before the storm. Against one opponent, this setup might have been enough to stall their advance. Against three Black Ops, each with their own strategies and no hesitation to strike at his weakest point... the hunt was going to be brutal.
Turn 2 – Obelisk Black Ops 1
The first of the three black-uniformed duelists stepped forward, his movements precise, almost mechanical. Without even glancing at Barret, he drew his card.
"Draw," he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Barret's single eye narrowed. Right... these guys don't taunt, don't posture... they're built to duel like machines. That means no reading their emotions — just cold, efficient plays. But that also means they're predictable... and if memory serves, the Obelisk Black Ops stick to the same Antique Gear arsenal. If I play this right, I can turn that predictability into my advantage.
The man wasted no time. "I summon Antique Gear Hound Dog."
A squat, bronze-plated mechanical canine materialized in front of him, its glowing red optics locking on to Barret. Steam hissed from its joints, and a mechanical growl rumbled from deep within its frame.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
"Continuous Trap, activate!" Barret slammed a button on his Duel Disk, and one of his set cards flipped up. "Primal Roar! As long as I control a Dinodragon, any time you activate a monster effect, you'll pay 200 Life Points for every Level that monster has. If you don't pay, its effects are negated for the rest of the turn!"
The Obelisk Black Ops duelist didn't even flinch. "I pay 600 Life Points to activate Hound Dog's effect. If you have a monster on the field, you take 600 damage. Hound Flame."
The mechanical dog's jaw split open, revealing a small combustion chamber that erupted with searing fire. The blast forced Barret to shield his face.
Obelisk Black Ops 1: 4000 → 3400
Barret: 4000 → 3400
"Still using direct burn to chip me away, huh..." Barret muttered under his breath.
The duelist continued, unblinking. "I activate the Spell Card, Polymerization. I fuse the Antique Gear Hound Dog on my field with another in my hand."
The two machines howled as they were pulled into a swirling vortex of metallic shards and blazing heat. The monotone voice of the duelist began its ritual-like chant:
"Mechanical hounds that carry the will of ancient engines... merge, and be reborn with twice the bite. Fusion Summon. Appear—Level 5, Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog."
The creature that emerged was larger, more menacing—a deep navy-blue frame with reinforced plating, twin heads snapping in opposite directions, each muzzle fitted with jagged, gear-like teeth that spun ominously.
Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog
Level 5 / EARTH / Machine / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1000
"Then I activate the Continuous Spell, Antique Gear Railgun."
The ground behind the duelist shook as a massive, steam-powered railgun rose from the earth, its barrel glowing with volatile energy. "For every 'Antique Gear' monster I control, you take 400 damage. I control one. You take 400."
The cannon fired, sending a projectile roaring toward Barret. He gritted his teeth and crossed his arms, the impact sliding him back on his heels.
Barret: 3400 → 3000
The duelist lowered his arm, gaze unwavering. "I end my turn."
The silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating. There was no smirk of satisfaction, no boast about the damage inflicted — only an unspoken acknowledgment that the move was done, and the next strike would come just as coldly.
Barret exhaled slowly, straightening his stance. His eye darted between the three opponents. So that's how it's going to be... one after another, no hesitation, no breathing room. Just relentless pressure until I break. But I'm not breaking.
He placed his hand over his deck, the faint vibrations of the Tachikaze monsters echoing in his mind like distant roars. I've fought worse odds. If these Black Ops think they can wear me down before Serena-sama and Emi reach Aichi, they're in for a surprise.
Barret: 3000 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Black Ops 1: 3400 | Hand: 2
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 2000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Black Ops 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 3 – Obelisk Black Ops 2
"Draw."
The second Obelisk Black's voice was just as cold and devoid of emotion as the first's, a mechanical monotone that betrayed neither satisfaction nor malice. That, Barret knew, was what made these duelists unnerving—they didn't react, didn't taunt, didn't even seem alive outside the motions of the duel.
"I summon Antique Gear Hound Dog."
Another mechanical beast, identical to the first, materialized with a metallic growl, its burning furnace-eyes locking onto Barret.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
"And just like last turn... I pay 600 Life Points to activate my Hound Dog's effect. I deal 600 damage to you."
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 2000 → 1400
Barret: 3000 → 2400
The hound opened its maw and unleashed a searing burst of flames. Barret grit his teeth, shielding himself with one arm as the heat singed the air around him.
"Then I activate another Continuous Spell—Antique Gear Railgun."
Another colossal cannon emerged, its massive barrel locking into place beside its twin from the previous turn.
"This card deals 400 damage to you for each 'Antique Gear' monster on the field. There are two."
Two thunderous shots rang out, the shockwaves slamming into Barret's chest and forcing him to step back.
Barret: 2400 → 1600
"I set one card face-down. End turn."
Without another word, the second Obelisk Black's eyes returned to their neutral stare, its mechanical duty complete.
Barret: 1600 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Black Ops 1: 3400 | Hand: 2
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 1400 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Black Ops 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 4 – Obelisk Black Ops 3
"Draw."
The final Black Ops duelist stepped forward, drawing his card with the same lifeless precision.
"I summon Antique Gear Hound Dog. I pay 600 Life Points to activate its effect and deal 600 damage to you."
A third hound took form, the trio now surrounding Barret from three angles. Another burst of molten breath scorched toward him.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
Obelisk Black Ops 3: 4000 → 3400
Barret: 1600 → 1000
The air was growing oppressive, the smell of heated metal and scorched dust thick in his lungs.
"Then I activate Polymerization. I fuse the Antique Gear Hound Dog on my field with another in my hand."
The two mechanical beasts were pulled into a swirling vortex of light and gears. Sparks rained down as the third Black Ops duelist chanted in perfect synchronicity with his comrades from before:
"Mechanical hounds that carry on the ancient spirits, flock together and become one with a new power! Fusion Summon! Appear now—Level 5—Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog!"
The hulking, two-headed hound emerged, its armor plates clanging into place, both maws glowing with menacing energy.
Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog
Level 5 / EARTH / Machine / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1000
"I equip Antique Gear Plasma Cannon to my Double Bite Hound Dog. Its effects are negated, but its ATK increases by 1500."
Twin plasma cannons locked onto the beast's back, their whine of charging energy cutting through the battlefield.
Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog
ATK: 1400 → 2900
"Next, I activate Stop Defense. Your True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed is changed to Attack Position."
Barret's dinosaur let out a sharp cry as it was forced upright, wings spreading unwillingly.
"And I activate the Continuous Spell—Antique Armageddon Gear. When a monster on the field is destroyed, its controller takes damage equal to that monster's ATK."
Barret's heart sank. He could see exactly where this was going.
"Battle. Double Bite Hound Dog—attack True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed."
Both plasma cannons ignited, unleashing a beam of blinding energy.
"Trap Card—activate! Fortissimo Echo! If I control only one monster, it can't be destroyed by battle this turn, and I take only half the damage!"
A shimmering barrier of golden resonance wrapped around Pterafeed, absorbing the brunt of the blast. Still, the impact sent Barret sliding backward across the arena floor.
Barret: 1000 → 50
Even the crowd—if there had been one—might have gone silent. Fifty Life Points left. Just one slip, one miscalculation, and the duel would end.
"I end my turn."
The Obelisk Black stepped back without a flicker of satisfaction, its role complete, leaving Barret standing alone against three unfeeling opponents, his back to the wall.
Barret: 50 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Black Ops 1: 3400 | Hand: 2
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 1400 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Black Ops 3: 3400 | Hand: 1
Turn 5 – Barret
Barret staggered, his breathing heavy. The searing memory of the last attack still pulsed through his limbs, but the fight wasn't over yet. His gaze burned with defiance.
"My... turn... Draw!"
The card slid free from his deck with a snap, the faint thwip ringing like the first crack of thunder before a storm. Barret's eyes darted to his new card, then to the remaining ones in his hand. For a moment, the battlefield around him blurred — and then it clicked. His lips curved into the faintest grin.
I can win this.
"First," he declared, "I activate the Quick-Play Spell — Devourer's Tithe! I destroy my True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed, and Special Summon Ancient Dragon, Iguanogorg from my hand! And more importantly, all other card effects are negated until the end of the turn!"
The sky above darkened as Pterafeed let out a piercing screech, its wings folding in before it exploded into shimmering dust. From that dust stepped a dark yellow, bipedal dinosaur clad in Aztec-style armor, twin obsidian blades protruding from its forearms. Its presence was raw, primal — a predator reborn.
Ancient Dragon, Iguanogorg
Level 4 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200
A faint hum of magic rippled across the battlefield. The lingering effect from Obelisk Black Ops 3's Equip Spell fizzled out and shattered like glass.
Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog
ATK: 2900 → 1400
Barret's voice sharpened. "Next, I activate the Spell Card — Excavation Charge Deployment! I destroy up to two cards on my field, then look at the top five cards of my deck and add a Dinodragon-Type monster among them to my hand. I'll destroy Primal Roar and my other Set card!"
The ground beneath Barret's rear guard erupted as both cards shattered into nothingness. He quickly rifled through the revealed top cards, his fingers settling on one. The others slid back into his deck, unchosen.
"And because I destroyed two cards," Barret continued, "I can activate Excavation Charge Deployment's other effect — a Fusion Summon using monsters from my Graveyard!"
Two ghostly figures emerged from the dirt behind him — the colossal, bone-white tyrant True Ancient Dragon, Aloneros, and the sleek, armored hunter Ancient Dragon, Knightarmor. Both let out earthshaking roars before being swallowed by a swirling crimson vortex.
"From the bones of fallen beasts and the ashes of ruined dominions, I summon the lord of extinction! Blood-fueled power, awakened through sacrifice — embrace the Engorge! Fusion Summon! Emerge, Level 8! Emperor Dragon, Gaia Emperor!"
The vortex exploded outward, revealing a gargantuan light-brown triceratops, its three horns replaced by massive siege cannons. With a bellow that rattled the very air, it stomped onto the battlefield.
Emperor Dragon, Gaia Emperor
Level 8 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Fusion / Effect / Engorge
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
"When Gaia Emperor is Fusion Summoned, I Special Summon two Dinodragon-Type monsters from my Graveyard — and when they leave the field, they return to my hand! Return to me — Ancient Dragon, Babysaurus and Ancient Dragon, Gattlingaro!"
The ground split as a young, dark-blue raptor with glowing red stripes leapt out, followed by a bulkier, azure-armored dinosaur whose twin shoulder-mounted gatling guns whirred threateningly.
Ancient Dragon, Babysaurus
Level 2 / FIRE / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 900 / DEF: 900
Ancient Dragon, Gattlingaro
Level 4 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1000
Barret's eyes blazed. "And now... from my Graveyard, I activate the trap card Primal Rage! Since it was sent there by a card effect while I control a Fusion Monster, that monster's ATK is doubled until the End Phase! But at the end of my turn, I take damage equal to half its ATK!"
Emperor Dragon, Gaia Emperor
ATK: 3000 → 6000
"Let the laws of the battlefield reign — eat, or be eaten! Gaia Emperor, Engorge!"
The titanic triceratops roared, stomping the ground with bone-crushing force. Its cannons swiveled before locking onto Barret's own monsters — the Emperor was turning on its allies.
"By devouring any number of cards I control, Gaia Emperor gains 500 ATK for each. And now, Gaia Emperor — feast to your heart's content!"
A gruesome display unfolded as the emperor's cannons fired point-blank, annihilating Babysaurus and Gattlingaro in twin blasts. The carnage would have sickened any ordinary duelist, but Barret's focus never wavered.
Emperor Dragon, Gaia Emperor
ATK: 6000 → 7500
"And when a Dinodragon-Type Fusion Monster activates an effect," Barret continued without pause, "I can Special Summon Pterafeed from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"
The great winged beast reemerged in a flash of green light.
True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed
Level 5 / WIND / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 2600
"I activate Pterafeed's effect! I look at the top seven cards of my deck, and for each Dinodragon among them, you take 500 damage!"
His hands moved quickly — one, two, three, four... His eyes narrowed. Not a single Dinodragon. The opportunity slipped through his fingers, but he kept his momentum, taking one card into his hand and sending another to the Graveyard before shuffling the rest back.
"Since two or more Dinodragons were destroyed this turn, I can Special Summon this from my deck — Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver!"
A shadow blotted out the battlefield as a monstrous black dinosaur with jagged white spines crashed down, letting out a roar that shook even the mechanical Obelisk Black Ops.
Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver
Level 8 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
"Spinodriver's effect — I draw one card. If it's a monster, I Special Summon it, and it gains 1000 ATK!" He drew — but the card was a spell. He slid it into his hand without hesitation.
Barret's gaze swept across the three opponents still on the field. His voice hardened to steel. "Let the onslaught begin. Pterafeed — attack Antique Gear Hound Dog! Pterafeed can attack while this card is in defense position and it uses its defense as damage during damage calculation!"
The winged beast launched a blazing fireball, engulfing the mechanical hound in an inferno. Obelisk Black Ops 2's LP plummeted to zero, their body thrown backward as their Duel Disk triggered an emergency shut-down.
Obelisk Black Ops 2: 1400 → 0
"Now, Gaia Emperor — attack the left Double Bite Hound Dog!"
The Emperor's horn cannons unleashed a storm of armor-piercing rounds, tearing through the two-headed hound in seconds.
Obelisk Black Ops 1: 3400 → 0
Barret's fist clenched. "Gaia Emperor's Engorge — if three or more cards were destroyed, it can attack again! Gaia Rampage!"
The Emperor roared with unrestrained ferocity, swiveling its cannons toward the last remaining Obelisk Black Ops. A relentless barrage of shells tore through their monster, the battlefield lit with fiery detonations until nothing remained.
Obelisk Black Ops 3: 3400 → 0
Winner: Barret Gomez
The echoes of the last barrage faded, leaving only the heavy, labored breaths of the victor. The three Obelisk Black Ops were flung backward, their duel disks sparking before the force-recall protocol activated, teleporting them back to Academia in streaks of blue light.
Barret stood alone, the cracked earth and smoldering craters a testament to the ferocity of his final turn. He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders finally loosening.
"...Survived," he murmured, his voice rough but steady.
The massive form of Gaia Emperor dissolved into golden particles, the battlefield returning to silence. Somewhere in the distance, wind carried the scent of ozone and scorched earth.
Barret inhaled deeply, letting the cold air cut through the fading adrenaline of his duel with the Obelisk Black Ops. His hands were still trembling—not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of what had just transpired. He quickly activated his communicator and sent a message to Ryuki and the others, detailing the Black Ops' presence and their capabilities.
By the time the message sent, Serena and Emi had returned—Aichi between them, supporting himself on their shoulders. The three froze as they took in the scorched battlefield around Barret: gouged terrain, drifting smoke, and the lingering shimmer of fading monster projections.
"They didn't hold back on you, did they?" Aichi asked, his voice dry. Soot smeared his jacket and face—a lingering souvenir from his own encounter with Darkness.
Barret shook his head, a tired smirk tugging at his lips. "No. But I prevailed nonetheless. Now we've got a bigger problem. The Obelisk Black Ops are here."
Serena frowned, the name foreign yet ominous on her tongue. "Black Ops? How are they different from the regular Obelisk Force?"
"They're worse," Barret answered bluntly. "Crueler. They don't taunt, they don't posture—they duel to win, in the most efficient, merciless way possible. And they're built for it."
Emi crossed her arms, bracing herself. "What kind of decks do they run?"
"The same Antique Gear archetype as the Obelisk Force," Barret replied. "But this is the full version. Every restriction removed. They wield the deck's maximum potential—its most ruthless tools."
Serena was about to press him for more when Barret's gaze snapped to the treeline. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.
Ten more Obelisk Force soldiers emerged from the shadows, their duel disks glowing in the dim light. The group was surrounded.
Aichi instinctively tried to step forward, but his legs faltered; exhaustion was still clawing at him. Serena and Emi shifted their weight, ready to fight, but the fatigue from their earlier battles weighed heavily on their bodies. Their breathing was shallow. Their reflexes slower than usual.
And then, just as the encirclement seemed ready to close, a new figure appeared—stepping between the Black Ops and Barret's group.
The enemy froze. The air thickened. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Barret's eyes widened. "...Darkness?"
The man shook his head. "No. My name is Tenjoin Fubuki."
Barret felt his breath hitch. He knew that name—an Academia alumnus whose dueling record was the stuff of legend. Before Akaba Leo's rise to power, Fubuki had been among the academy's most feared and respected duelists.
Fubuki's eyes were calm but hard. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to repay a debt—to Aichi—for freeing me from the darkness that held me prisoner for over five years." His voice sharpened, laced with controlled fury. "And to reclaim the honor of my alma mater. Academia has fallen far, and I will see it restored to what it was meant to be."
He activated his duel disk, its light cutting through the gloom like a blade.
Barret's instincts flared. He turned to Serena and Emi. "Take Aichi. Get to the Jungle Zone and meet up with Ryuki."
Emi hesitated. "What about you?"
Barret's smirk returned, faint but confident. "Fubuki and I have this covered."
Serena met his eyes, saw the resolve there, and nodded. They each took an arm of the still-weakened Aichi. "Don't you dare lose," Emi called back as they moved.
The two duelists remained in place, watching the Black Ops adjust their stances.
Meanwhile—
Far across the battlefield, the winds howled over the Iceberg Zone. Gongenzaka, Yugo, and Yuzu had just finished dismantling the last of the Obelisk Force stationed there. The snow was churned into muddy slush beneath their feet, littered with the fragments of shattered Duel Monster projections.
Chris's communicator beeped. He read the message and his brow furrowed. "It's from Barret—Black Ops are here. Everyone needs to be on guard."
Before anyone could reply, the distant blizzard began to shift. A lone figure emerged from the white veil, walking with deliberate, unhurried steps.
The storm broke for just a moment—and they saw him clearly.
"Yuri..." Gongenzaka growled.
Satoru's eyes narrowed.
Yugo reacted instantly. "Get on," he told Yuzu, mounting his D-Wheel.
"Wait—what are you—?!" Yuzu started, but Yugo's tone was firm.
"This was Ryuki's plan. If you're safe, Academia's whole plan falls apart. As long as they can't use you, they've already lost a piece of their game."
"But—"
"Let's go!" Yugo gunned the engine, the D-Wheel kicking up ice and snow as they sped away. Yuzu bit her lip, frustration and guilt twisting in her chest. Leaving her friends felt wrong, but she understood—if she stayed, she'd only become a liability.
"I'm not taking any chances. Clear Wing, take us out of here!" Clear Wing answered Yugo's request as Yugo's D-Wheel started to shine and just like that, he and Yuzu are gone from the Standard Dimension.
Back in the clearing, Yuri's eyes tracked the retreating bike until it vanished. His smile faded. "Tch. My target got away." He shifted his gaze to those who remained. "I suppose I'll have to settle for you three."
Chris and Gongenzaka took defensive stances. But Satoru stepped forward. His gaze was fixed, not on Yuri's duel disk, but on his face—his eyes, his hair. Recognition flared.
"This one's mine," Satoru said quietly, but with a steel edge that silenced the others.
Chris frowned. "Why?"
"This... is personal," Satoru replied, never breaking eye contact with Yuri. "And it ties directly to the G-Quest I've been undertaking."
Chris studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Then he's yours."
The moment was shattered by the appearance of six more Obelisk Force soldiers from the flanks. Chris's activated his GIRS as he's ready to duel. "Gongenzaka—we're about to have our hands full."
The samurai duelist slammed his fists together. "We will not falter!"
As the chaos began to spread, Satoru and Yuri remained locked on one another, isolated within their own invisible arena.
"You're brave to face me alone," Yuri said, his tone a blend of mockery and genuine intrigue.
Satoru's reply was calm, but carried the weight of conviction. "Brave, or simply certain. I will defeat you."
Yuri's grin returned, sharper this time. "I like your confidence. What's your name?"
"Enishi Satoru," he replied. "Branch Chief of the Dark Zone."
With that, he tapped the gem embedded in his left wrist. A deep violet light flared, and the air shimmered as his GIRS activated. A sleek, dark duel board unfolded before him, his deck and Extra Deck materializing with a resonant hum.
Yuri activated his duel disk in turn. The hum of technology and the faint shimmer of AR systems filled the air.
Their eyes met one final time.
"DUEL!"
Satoru: 4000 | Hand: 5
Yuri: 4000 | Hand: 5
To be continued...
Cards used in the duel:
Knights' Call (Normal Spell)
Special Summon up to 2 Level 4 or lower LIGHT Warrior monsters from your deck or GY. Monsters summoned this way cannot attack this turn.
Knight of Benevolence, Kay
Level 4 / LIGHT / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1000
When this card attacks and you have a 'Blaster' or 'Alfred' Monster in your field, discard 1 card from your hand and this card gains 1000 ATK.
If this card destroys a Monster, release this card and Special Summon 'Knight of Virtue, Bedivere' from your deck.
Nova Knight, Llew
Level 2 / LIGHT / Warrior / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 900 / DEF: 500
When this card is Summoned, draw 1 card. If the card is a Spell/Trap, all Monsters in your field gains 300 ATK.
If this card is used as a Tuner for a LIGHT Attribute Synchro Monster, this cards level is increased by 1 or 2 and that monster gains 800 ATK.
Solitary Knight, Gancelot
Level 8 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Limit Break
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2300
1 LIGHT Tuner + 1+ Non-Tuner Monster
When this card is Synchro Summoned and this card is the only monster in your field, return 1 card from your graveyard to your hand.
Once per turn: Send 2 cards from your deck to the GY and this card gains 2000 ATK and can attack all monsters in the field.
Limit Break: When this card attacks and this is your only monster in your field in the field, draw and reveal the top 2 cards in your deck. If one of them is a Monster Card, this card cannot be targeted by card effects.
Haos Guard (Normal Trap)
This card can only be activated if a LIGHT attribute monster in your field is targeted for an attack. Negate that attack, if the monster that attacked is a DARK attribute monster, draw 2 cards.
Fatiguing Falsetto (Normal Spell)
Until the End Phase, negate all monster effects in your opponents field.
Twinkle Aegis (Normal Trap)
When a DARK attribute monster attacks a LIGHT attribute monster in defense position, that monster gains 200 DEF for each card in your hand.
Royal Resolve (Normal Trap)
When a LIGHT Synchro monster is destroyed by battle or card effect: Special Summon 1 or more LIGHT monster from your Deck or GY whose Level is less than or equal to the destroyed monster's Level.
Little Tactician, Marron
Level 4 / LIGHT / Giant / Effect
ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1200
If there is a 'Blaster' or 'Alfred' Synchro Monster in the field, Special Summon this card from your GY.
Once per turn: Search the top 5 cards in your deck and add 1 Monster to your hand and the rest returns to the deck and shuffled.
Pink Comet, Flogal
Level 2 / LIGHT / High-Beast / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 900 / DEF: 1300
This card can be used as a Tuner from the GY by banishing it. But if the Synchro Monster summoned with this card is a 'Blaster' or 'Alfred', this card returns to the deck instead.
Light Source Seeker, Alfred Exiv
Level 10 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Legion
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 2500
1 LIGHT Tuner + 1+ Non-Tuner Monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, return 5 cards from your GY back to the deck or Extra Deck and shuffle your deck, then Special Summon 'Blaster Blade' from your Extra Deck and Legion Summon that card to this card.
Legion: When this card is Legion, and declares for an attack, this card gains 500 for each Monster on your field. If there are 2 or more monsters in your field, this card can attack again.
If your opponent controls a DARK monster and this card is Legion, negate that cards effect.
Once per turn: Search your top 3 cards in your deck and Special Summon 1 Level 4 LIGHT Attribute Monster to your hand.
Blaster Blade
Level 7 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Mate
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
1 LIGHT Tuner + 1+ Non-Tuner Monsters
Mate: If this card is Summoned by a Legion's effect, this card gains 1000 ATK.
When this card is Synchro Summoned, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Monster from your hand, and that card gains 300 ATK.
Once per turn: Target 1 card on the field and destroy it. If it's a Spell/Trap, add a Spell/Trap from your deck to your hand. If it's a Monster, this card gains half the ATK of the monster destroyed. If there is a 'Blaster' or 'Alfred' Monster in your field when this effect cannot be negated.
Ancient Hatchery Revival (Normal Spell)
Send the top 5 cards of your Deck to the GY, then apply the following effects based on the number of Dinodragon monsters sent:
1+: Add 1 Dinodragon from GY to your hand.
3+: Special Summon 1 Level 5 or lower Dinodragon from your GY.
5: Fusion Summon 1 Dinodragon Fusion Monster using materials from your GY.
True Ancient Dragon, Pterafeed
Level 5 / WIND / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 2600
When a Dinodragon-Type Fusion Monster activates an effect, Special Summon this card from your hand or GY in defense position.
Once per turn: Look at the top 7 cards from the top of your deck and for every Ancient Dragon Monster, inflict 500 damage to your opponent. And from those 7 cards, add 1 to your hand, send 1 to your GY and the rest returns to the deck and shuffled.
This card can attack while in defense position and uses its defense during damage calculation.
Primal Roar (Continuous Trap)
If you have a face-up Dinodragon-Type Monster in the field, when your opponent activates a monster effect, your opponent must pay 200 LP for every level of that monster. If not, then their effects are negated for the rest of the turn.
Fortissimo Echo (Counter Trap)
If you control only one monster, that monster cannot be destroyed and the damage you take is halved.
Devourer's Tithe (Quick-Play Spell)
Destroy 1 Dinodragon-Type monster you control; apply both effects:
Special Summon 1 Dinodragon-Type monster from your hand.
All card effects are negated until the end of this turn.
Ancient Dragon, Iguanogorg
Level 4 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200
When this card is used as a Fusion Material for a Dinodragon-Type Fusion Monster, Special Summon this card from the GY and when this card leaves the field by a card effect from one of your monsters, that monster can inflict piercing damage when it attacks a monster in defense position.
Ancient Dragon, Knightarmor
Level 7 / FIRE / Dinodragon / Effect / Mate
ATK: 2300 / DEF: 2100
Mate: When this card is summoned by Legion's effect, this card gains 1000 ATK and draw 1 card.
Once per turn: If this card is Legion and this card attacks, destroy 1 Ancient Dragon monster in your field and this card negates 2 card effects in your opponents field.
True Ancient Dragon, Aloneros
Level 5 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 2100 / DEF: 1800
When an Acient Dragon Monster is destroyed in your turn, Special Summon this card from your deck or GY in defense position, and you can only switch this to attack position after your next turn.
Once per turn: Look at the top 3 cards from the top of your deck, if there is an Ancient Dragon monster among the cards, Special Summon it, and put the rest back to the deck and shuffle.
Emperor Dragon, Gaia Emperor
Level 8 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Fusion / Effect / Engorge
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2000
2 Dinodragon-Type Monsters
When this card is Fusion Summoned, Special Summon 2 Dinodragon-Type monsters from your hand or graveyard and if those monsters leave the field during your turn, they return to your hand instead.
Once per turn: When this card attacks and is Engorged, Special Summon 1 Dinodragon-Type Monster from your deck and that card and this card gains 500 ATK.
Engorge: Destroy any amount of cards in your field and for every card destroyed, this card gains 500 ATK, and if 3 or more cards were destroyed by this effect, this card can attack again and your opponent cannot activate card effects.
Ancient Dragon, Babysaurus
Level 2 / FIRE / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 900 / DEF: 900
If there is a Legion in your field, Special Summon this card from your deck, hand or GY and this cards ATK is doubled.
Once per turn: When this card leaves the field by one of your monsters effects, add 1 Ancient Dragon Monster from your deck or GY to your hand.
Ancient Dragon, Gattlingaro
Level 4 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1000
When this card is destroyed by a card effect, Special Summon 1 Ancient Dragon monster from your deck in defense position.
Once per turn: Target 1 card in your field and destroy it, and inflict 500 damage to your opponent.
Ancient Dragon, Spinodriver
Level 8 / EARTH / Dinodragon / Effect
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
When 2 or more Dinodragon-Type Monsters are destroyed during your turn Special Summon this card from your deck.
Once per turn: Draw 1 card. If the card is a monster card, Special Summon it and that card gains 1000 ATK.
When a Dinodragon-Type Fusion Monster attacks, add 1 spell/trap card from your deck to your hand and this card gains 1000 ATK.