The transition from the ruined, starving alleyways of the Heartland to the gleaming, high-tech halls of Leo Corporation had been entirely unnatural for Shun Kurosaki. In the end, the logic of survival had won over his immediate fury. The promise of an active supply line—actual food and medicine shipped for the survivors of the Xyz Dimension—was a variable he could not ignore.
But while Shun had accepted the heavy keys to an LDS luxury suite, Yuto had chosen to remain a ghost.
"I need to see this world clearly, Shun," Yuto had told him on the night of the decision, his dark cloak blending into the brickwork. "If we both step into Reiji Akaba's cage, there is no one left on the outside to pull the lever if it traps us. You gather their internal-information. I will watch the outside."
Now, the calendar had marched straight into the opening day of the Maiami Championship. The city was completely loud, filled with bright banners, roaring crowds, and the endless holographic flash of the Real Solid Vision system. The public was entirely blissfully unaware of the multi-dimensional war hovering right above their heads.
# LDS Boardroom
Inside the high-floor boardroom of the LDS tower, the glass windows looked down at the massive stadium below. The room was perfectly quiet, isolated from the roar of the crowd.
Shun stood near the edge of the long table, his arms crossed tightly. His eyes locked onto Reiji Akaba, who sat calmly behind his terminal. Ryoho stood slightly to the side, his posture still, his expression entirely unreadable.
"The first shipment of medical supplies and emergency rations successfully cleared the transit gate three hours ago," Reiji stated flatly, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Our automated transporting device confirmed delivery to the shelter coordinates you provided. Here, you can have the look of it."
He turned the holographic screen to Shun, Shun saw that big ammount of supplies and packages were instantly turned to light through large energy waves. It happened the same way Shun and Yuto had came here. It gave Shun peace of mind.
"It's the bare minimum," Shun said, his voice a dangerous. "My people are still living in the dirt because of what your father started. Do not expect me to say thank you for resources that should have never been taken from us in the first place."
Nakajima, who was standing felt his face flush with anger. He stepped forward. "Kurosaki! You are a guest of Leo Corporation by our courtesy! Ryo-sama and President went directly against the standard defense budget to secure those supplies for a foreign world. Show some respect!"
Shun didn't even flinch. He slowly turned his sharp gaze toward Nakajima, his eyes burning. "Respect? Your students get knocked out in a damp alley and you rewrite their brains to keep your citizens smiling. We watch our comrades, our friends getting turned into cards. If you want respect, show me results on the battlefield. Otherwise, you are just bureaucrats playing with toys."
"That is enough, Nakajima." Ryo interrupted calmly. "Emotional friction wastes time. The parameters of our agreement are completely clear. We provide the structural substance for your dimension to survive; you provide the vanguard power to intercept Academia."
Shun let out a harsh, dry breath. "The tournament starts today. Your father's hunters are going to cross over during the matches, aren't they?"
"The probability is above 90%. We don't know exactly when and which day." Reiji replied, spinning his chair slightly. "You will be placed in the Junior Youth bracket. Your instructions are to observe, engage, and secure any high-ranking targets for interrogation. But you have to maintain your ranking in order to get into rounds one after another."
"I don't need instructions from an Akaba," Shun said, turning toward the heavy doors. "I know how to hunt wolves. Just make sure your supplies don't run dry while I'm out there fixing your security flaws."
As the doors hissed shut behind the Xyz duelist, Nakajima let out a frustrated sigh. "He is entirely out of control, President. He behaves like a wild animal."
"He behaves like a survivor," Ryo said coldly, stepping toward the window. "Wild animals are predictable because they act on instinct. Shun acts on a calculated vow of revenge. That makes him highly effective, as long as our alliance works in his favor."
# The Harbor Warehouse
Far away from the bright stadium lights, tucked deep within the labyrinth of shipping containers near the southern docks, a single, highly encrypted communication line pulsed into life inside a dark area.
Sora Shiunin sat on top of a stack of crates, his legs dangling over the edge as he chewed lazily a bright pink lollipop. The sweet, cheerful attitude he displayed around Yuya and the others at the Youshow Duel School was completely gone. His eyes were entirely cold, scanning the tiny, glowing holographic screen of Duel Disk.
The screen flickered, showing a heavily distorted, emblem of Academia.
"You're late with your report, Sora." A sharp voice static-crawled through the speaker.
"The security network around Maiami City is a lot tighter than the scouting teams estimated," Sora said, his voice flat. "Reiji Akaba isn't an idiot. If I broadcast too frequently, his quantum mainframe will flag the spatial friction."
"Has the target been located?"
Sora took the lollipop out of his mouth, pointing it at the screen. "The girl who looks like the Xyz capture target is staying at the Youshow Duel School. But that's not the main issue. The Xyz remnants—Shun Kurosaki and the Phantom user—are actively moving through the city. And they've made contact with LDS."
There was a brief pause on the other side of the line. "Are they coordinating?"
"I don't know anymore than this," Sora reported, his eyes narrowing. "They're trying to set up a defense for the upcoming tournament, that is for sure. If you send a standard vanguard squad, they're going to walk straight into an ambush. Tell Professor to ensure the deployment is heavy enough. I'll maintain my position until then."
"Understood. Do not fail your mission, Sora. The Revival Zero project cannot afford delays."
"Yeah, yeah," Sora muttered, snapping the communication line shut with a flick of his wrist. He slipped the lollipop back into his mouth, chewing hard. Crisps of lolipop fell, his face twisted into a small, cruel smile. "Let them build their little walls. It just makes it more fun when everything falls apart."
# The Stadium Floor
Back at the Maiami Championship arena, the celebration had reached its peak. The stadium surrounded by thousands of screaming fans. The announcer's voice boomed across the speakers, introducing the preliminary matches for the open divisions.
Walking through the crowded underground tunnel leading toward the secondary fields, a flamboyant, brightly dressed young man named Razz was. He looked completely relaxed, entirely unbothered by the heavy atmosphere of the tournament.
"Oh, look at all those lovely ladies in the front row," Razz purred, giving his hair one flick. "This tournament isn't just a stage for dueling, it's a buffet of absolute beauty!"
Walking right beside him was Vance, a serious, no-nonsense duelist.
"Stop slacking off, Razz." Vance said sharply, his voice tight. "The open division matches are single-elimination. If you lose focus for even one turn because you're staring at the stands, you're going home early. The local talents this year isn't a joke."
"Oh, please, Vance, you worry way too much." Razz laughed, waving an empty hand in the air. "Dueling is all about performance and charm. If you don't have fun with the crowd, what's the point? Watch and learn, my friend. I'm going to put on a show they'll never forget."
# Waiting Room
The waiting room hummed with a frantic, electric energy, a stark contrast to the sterile concrete corridors of the stadium. It was a whirlwind of noise and motion, but beneath the pre-tournament jitters was a familiar warmth that felt unmistakably like home to the Youshow Duel School crew.
"I'm shivering with excitement!" Futoshi cheered, bouncing.
Right next to him, Tatsuya adjusted his focus as he held his Duelpad.
Ayu clutched her hands "You've got this, you two. No matter how strong the challenge is, you two will jump through it, Yuya-niichan and Yuzu-neechan!"
Yuya Sakaki stood in relative silence, adjusting his signature goggles over his forehead. Beneath his calm exterior, his heart hammered a fast, rhythmic beat against his ribs. The roar of the massive crowd outside pressed down on the room like physical weight, a reminder of the sheer scale of the championship.
He took a sharp breath, his vision blurring slightly from the pressure—until his eyes locked onto Hiragi Yuzu.
The sight completely steadied his breathing. Yuzu was tightly buckling her pink duel disk onto her forearm. Her expression was a masterclass in focus: a mix of fierce determination and a quiet, centered calm that Yuya had always envied.
Catching his nervous glance, Yuzu stepped forward, breaking the distance between them. She gently reached out and tapped the small pendulum crystal hanging around Yuya's neck.
The crystal swinging gently between them in a rhythmic, hypnotic arc.
"Hey," Yuzu said softly. She offered him a warm, deeply reassuring smile that seemed to possess its own gravity, instantly making the roar of the stadium outside fade into background static. "No matter who we are up against, remember why we duel. We bring the smiles, and we play our own game. Together."
Yuya looked at the swinging crystal, then past her shoulder at the bright, hopeful faces of the kids—Futoshi, Tatsuya, and Ayu—who believed in them with everything they had.
The suffocating tension in his chest dissolved, replaced by a profound sense of gratitude. The nervous boy vanished, and the entertainer took his place. He grinned, his confidence completely restored, and held out a closed fist.
"Right," Yuya said, his voice steady, resonant, and filled with affection for his team. "Let's give a show that makes everyone smile!"
# The Registration Gate
Near the primary registration terminal for the LDS special exhibition block, a young man with a bright, overly confident smile adjusted the collar of his uniform. He carried himself with the effortless grace of a professional performer, chatting amiably with the automated LDS intake drone.
"Dennis McField, registering for the Junior Youth Invitational Group." Dennis said cheerfully, sliding his digital identity card into the terminal's reader slot.
The machine hummed, its green laser scanning the card before the screen flashed with a bright, welcoming checkmark.
REGISTRATION SUCCESSFUL: ENTER ENTRANCE B.
"Thank you very much, little machine." Dennis gave gratitude, tapping the top of the terminal playfully.
As he walked past the security gates and entered the private competitor corridors, his friendly entertainer smile slipped for a brief fraction of a second, revealing a pair of entirely sharp, observant eyes. He looked up at the massive ceiling cameras, mapping out the security blind spots with a simple glance.
"So this is the heart of Leo Corporation's defensive network, Very clean, very professional. Reiji Akaba certainly knows how to build a nice stage."
He took a deep breath, his theatrical confidence returning in full force as he heard the distant roar of the stadium crowd.
"The curtains are finally going up," Dennis smiled, his voice dropping into a quiet, thrilling whisper. "Let's see if the Standard Dimension can actually keep up."