Several minutes had passed since Ryuki's direct interference and his successful purging of Zarc's essence from within Yuya. Now, with Gongenzaka and Mieru accompanying him, he had arrived at the Jungle Zone where Kenji was already waiting at the edge of the path. The atmosphere was thick with heat and humidity, but the tension from earlier battles had begun to subside.
As they approached, Ryuki turned to Kenji and asked, "What's the current situation?"
Kenji nodded, leading them deeper into the zone. "Everyone in the Jungle Zone has been cleared out. We sent the remaining duelists to the graveyard, as per protocol. They're safe."
Ryuki allowed himself a brief smile, relieved by the good news. The fact that there were no more casualties in this zone brought a small degree of comfort amidst the chaos. Together, the group continued toward the heart of the jungle where the others were gathered.
After a few minutes of trekking through the dense greenery, they reached a small clearing. There, Aichi and Yuto were waiting—accompanied by two unfamiliar faces. One was a slim young man with orange hair and a pinkish-red bang hanging down in front. His pale skin was dotted with freckles, and his eyes appeared perpetually closed or squinting. He wore a white undershirt beneath a light pink shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a dark blue waistcoat, and a red tie. Cream-colored pants with a yellow spiral pattern on each leg completed his unusual appearance.
The other was a bulkier young man with long black hair and dark orange eyes, dressed from head to toe in a fisherman's outfit.
Aichi stepped forward and greeted them. "Welcome back, Koutei. And Ryuki-kun—it's good to see you."
Ryuki nodded in return. "Likewise. Who are they?"
Yuto stepped in. "The one with his eyes closed is Mitchie. The guy in the fisherman gear is Teppei."
Ryuki raised an eyebrow. "Why haven't they evacuated?"
Mitchie responded with a calm tone, "We had no idea what was going on."
Teppei added, fidgeting with the brim of his hat. "We were about to leave, but three men in blue military uniforms appeared. We were outnumbered."
"Fortunately," Mitchie continued, "Aichi-kun, Kenji-kun, and Yuto-kun arrived just in time to drive them off. We've been staying close ever since."
Ryuki absorbed the information with a nod. Before he could speak again, a sudden alert rang through everyone's Duel Disks. A soft beep was followed by a robotic voice that echoed through the clearing:
"To all remaining duelists: for the next two hours, all surviving teams will be transported to the Banished Zone for recovery. Please take this time to rest and recuperate."
In a blink, a ripple of energy engulfed the area, and one by one, the duelists began to dematerialize. Even Yuya's unconscious body was transported. Teppei let out a startled yell as he began to vanish, but Mitchie calmly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Relax. Just go with it."
Mieru looked around in surprise, the only one unaffected by the transport. "Where are they going?"
"The Banished Zone," Ryuki explained. "A safe refuge that activates once every twelve hours. It's completely sealed off from outside threats."
Mieru furrowed her brows. "But I'm not a participant—so what about us?"
Ryuki turned to her, offering a reassuring smile. "Since I'm the one who designed the Action Scramble, I have access to all sectors." He tapped a sequence on his Duel Disk, sending out a wave of energy that activated a recall protocol to several duelists—Aichi, Kenji, Kazuma, Kazumi, Serena, Barret, Yuto, and Shun. Then, without hesitation, he gently took Mieru's hand as she too was enveloped by the transport field.
Even his D-Wheel was absorbed by the recall, disappearing alongside them.
Meanwhile, at the Volcano Zone, Yugo's eyes widened in panic. One moment Rin and Emi were standing there—and in the next, they were gone. "Rin? Emi?! Where did they—?!"
Kazuma lightly thumped him on the head, cutting off his panic. "Relax. They were just transported to safety. The Banished Zone. Remember?"
Yugo blinked and exhaled in relief. "Right... sorry." But the tension in his chest didn't disappear entirely.
Moments later, Kazuma and Kazumi began to glow as the recall activated for them as well. Before vanishing, Kazuma grabbed Yugo by the collar and pulled him along—his D-Wheel vanishing too.
Elsewhere, Shun and Sora's fierce battle was still raging. The two were trading blow for blow with relentless precision—until Shun suddenly began to glow. Both duelists froze as Shun's body started to flicker and fade.
"What?!" Sora shouted in disbelief. "No—wait—!"
In a flash, Shun vanished mid-duel, the match ending abruptly without conclusion. Sora clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over. "Damn it!!" he screamed. Around him, the remaining Obelisk Force agents were dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Their prey had vanished without a trace.
The Banished Zone was unlike any battlefield or duel arena. Designed as a sanctuary, it resembled a sprawling indoor mall complete with cafes, shops, fountains, resting areas, and lounges. Warm, ambient lighting and quiet music filled the space—an odd contrast to the war-torn chaos outside.
At present, only about fifteen duelists had arrived, scattered across the zone. Despite the safety, fear began to creep into the air. Whispers turned into murmurs, and murmurs into shouts.
"Did you see those guys in blue?"
"They turned my teammate into a card!"
"My entire team got wiped out!"
"They came out of nowhere...!"
In a corner of the zone, Ruri, Rin, and Emi stood watching the panic with concern. All three wore anxious expressions.
"This isn't just confusion..." Ruri murmured. "It's fear. They're terrified."
Then, a voice called out, "Ruri! Rin!"
It was Yuzu, rushing over and nearly throwing herself into Rin's arms. "I'm so glad you're both okay!"
Emi smiled. "Are you alright?"
Yuzu nodded, catching her breath. "Satoru-san and the Fuma brothers protected me. I dueled with them for a while... but it wasn't easy."
Then, Gongenzaka arrived with Mitchie, Teppei, and the unconscious Yuya over his shoulder. The sight of Yuya stopped Yuzu in her tracks.
"Yuya!" she cried, running to his side. "What happened?! Is he hurt?"
Gongenzaka gently set Yuya down and shook his head. "He's alright now. Ryuki saved him."
Just then, more light flared across the area—and Ryuki, along with Mieru and the others, appeared at last. Ruri lit up as she saw her brother.
"Nii-san!" she called. "How did the duel with Sora go?"
Shun folded his arms, frustrated. "It didn't. I was pulled out mid-battle."
Yuzu blinked. "Wait... Sora's here?!"
"Was here," Shun clarified. "The duel was interrupted by the recall."
The remaining duelists began to converge, a sea of confused faces surrounding Ryuki. Their voices rose in unison:
"What's going on?"
"Who are those blue-uniformed freaks?"
"Why are we even here?!"
Ryuki calmly raised a hand—and with quiet authority in his voice, said, "Everyone, please settle down. I will explain everything."
A tall duelist at the front narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here? You're not even a participant."
"I designed this tournament," Ryuki replied firmly. "The rules. The zones. The layout. I have clearance to all areas."
That drew a few gasps—but more importantly, it commanded silence.
"Now listen carefully," Ryuki said, his tone resolute. "Because I will only explain this once."
All eyes turned toward him, the chaotic voices finally silenced. Even the air seemed to grow still.
With everyone's attention on him, Ryuki prepared to reveal the truth—and what would come next.
-----
As Ryuki finished recounting the truth behind Academia's dark campaign, a heavy silence hung over the gathering duelists. His voice had been firm, each word carrying the weight of countless battles fought and lives lost. He detailed the brutal truth—how Academia treated dimensional warfare as nothing more than a hunting game, turning innocent duelists into cards without remorse, and leveling entire cities as if they were meaningless obstacles.
When he mentioned this, Ruri stepped forward, her expression solemn. "They destroyed my home... Heartland. They didn't just conquer it. They erased it."
A murmur rippled through the group, the implications sinking in like stones in deep water. One of the surviving duelists raised a hesitant voice. "Wait... your duel against that Sora guy... the field turned into a warzone. Was that... real?"
Ruri gave a slow nod. "It was. That wasn't just an illusion. What we experienced there... was war."
A cold hush fell over the gathering. It wasn't just a game anymore. It never had been.
Ryuki stepped forward again, his voice firm but measured. "This city is their next target. Heartland has already fallen. If they succeed here, many more will follow."
His words echoed through the chamber like thunder. Then he looked each duelist in the eyes.
"I won't force you to fight. You've all seen what we're up against. If you choose not to continue, I won't judge you. All I ask is that you disable your Duel Radars. That way, the system knows you've officially dropped out of the tournament, and you won't be targeted further."
One by one, the remaining duelists lowered their heads. Then, aside from Yuzu, Gongenzaka, Ruri, Rin, Emi, the Fuma brothers, and the still-unconscious Yuya, they each deactivated their Duel Radars. Even Mitchie and Teppei followed suit.
Ryuki gave a respectful nod. "Your Duel Radars are now off. That marks your safe withdrawal from the Action Scramble. You'll be escorted to LDS headquarters, where security is guaranteed. Your teammates in the graveyard will be transported there as well."
A female duelist in the group looked at him with concern. "What about the people in the arena? Are they safe?"
Ryuki met her gaze. "Yes. LDS has secured the arena with the highest level of defense. They are protected."
Relief washed over the resigning duelists. Some smiled weakly. Others gave bows or words of gratitude. "Good luck," one said. "Please... all of you, come back safely."
With that, Ryuki issued the command, and the system responded. The non-combatants, including Mieru, vanished in streams of soft light, transported to the safety of LDS.
Silence settled in again. Only the core group remained.
A low groan broke the silence.
Yuya stirred. Slowly, his eyes opened, hazy and unfocused. He blinked several times, trying to sit up, but the motion made his head spin. Before he could process where he was, he was enveloped by a sudden warmth—Yuzu had thrown her arms around him in a desperate hug.
"Yuya! Thank goodness...!" she cried. "I thought—I was so worried!"
"Yuzu...?" Yuya murmured, dazed. "Where... am I?"
Ryuki stepped forward. "You're in the Banished Zone. A sealed area created to give duelists a chance to recover. It opens every twelve hours."
Yuya looked around, then his memory struck like a hammer—Academia, the Obelisk Force, the Knight of Duelists being turned into a card.
He gasped as panic flared in his chest. "No... No, I saw them... They turned him into a card—right in front of me—!"
His breathing accelerated. Sweat formed on his brow. He was hyperventilating.
"Yuya!" Yuzu cried, trying to steady him. "It's okay! You're safe!"
Gongenzaka knelt beside him. "Calm yourself, Yuya. You're among friends."
But the terror gripped him too tightly. That was, until Ryuki and Aichi stepped forward. Their eyes glowed faintly—blue auras surrounding them for a brief moment. They had activated PSYQualia.
And just like that, Yuya's panic began to subside. His heartbeat slowed. His thoughts cleared.
He stared at them in astonishment. "What... what did you do?"
"Don't worry about that now," Aichi said gently. "What matters is that you're safe."
Yuya wanted to ask more, but the questions caught in his throat. For now, he simply nodded.
Before Ryuki could resume explaining their next step, Gongenzaka stood. "Ryuki... I have to ask. What happened when you dueled Yuya?"
Yuzu looked sharply at Ryuki, her eyes wide. "You dueled Yuya?! Why?"
Gongenzaka answered for him. "Because Yuya wasn't himself. He... wasn't acting like the Yuya we know. It was like he was being controlled. He was out for blood."
Ryuki gave a quiet nod. "Yuya was covered in darkness when I dueled him, and acting like he was possessed."
Yuzu's face paled. She turned to Yuya, who avoided her gaze. "You were... possessed?"
Ruri and Rin shared a glance, both of them knowing too well who "Zarc."
"I had to stop him before he lost himself completely," Ryuki said. "And to do that... I had to use everything I had."
Gongenzaka nodded. "Including a new summoning method."
That caught everyone's attention.
"A new summoning method?" Ruri echoed.
Even Yuto and Shun looked up sharply. "You created one?"
Ryuki let out a soft breath, then retrieved two cards from his Extra Deck. He placed them gently on the table in front of them.
The group gathered around.
Dragonic Overlord "The X."
Dragonic Overlord The End.
Each card glowed faintly, their artwork full-art, borderless, as though alive with energy. Names, stats, effects—all were present, but what made jaws drop was what happened next.
As Ryuki placed the two cards side-by-side, the group noticed something surreal—their artworks were connected, forming a single seamless image.
Yuya leaned closer. "What kind of summoning is this?"
Ryuki replied calmly. "It's called Legion. A very rare summoning method. A Legion monster calls its Mate from the Deck or Extra Deck and places it in the same Monster Zone. Together, they function as a single unit."
He continued, "Both monsters retain their individual effects. Additionally, they unlock a special Legion Effect when paired. Their ATK and DEF are the sum of both monsters' stats. But only one Legion can be present on the field at a time."
Everyone stood stunned.
"So it's like... Synchro or Fusion," Rin whispered, "but with two monsters sharing a single soul."
"And no Extra Monster Zones needed..." Shun added.
Yuya exhaled slowly. "That's... incredibly powerful."
Ryuki gave a nod. "It's not something anyone can use. In our group, only I, Aichi and Kenji have access to Legion."
Gongenzaka, eyes narrowed in curiosity, asked the next question. "Ryuki... where exactly do you come from? Are you from the Fusion Dimension like Sora?"
Yuya added, "Are you one of them?"
Ryuki smiled faintly, shaking his head. "No. I'm not from the Fusion Dimension."
He reached into his pocket and drew another card. Not from Duel Monsters—but from Vanguard. He held it up for them all to see.
Dragonic Overlord. The original.
"This is where I come from," he said. "A world where Duel Monsters doesn't even exist. A completely different reality."
Gasps echoed through the group.
"Another reality?" Yuzu asked.
Ryuki nodded. "My homeworld knew nothing of Duel Disks or Extra Decks. But when the dimensions between my world and yours began to distort, I was chosen to intervene. My mission is to stop Academia from their mad ambitions. And most of all... to protect Ruri and Rin."
Ruri's eyes softened. Rin gave him a small nod. They had already known—but hearing him say it aloud gave the words a new weight.
"Wait... so all of you..." Yuya asked, eyes flickering between faces.
Ryuki gestured toward the others. "Aichi, Kazuma, Kazumi, Christopher, Kenji, Satoru, and Emi—we're all from the same world."
He then turned toward the remaining duelists. "Let me also formally introduce a few others."
He motioned to a pair standing quietly to the side.
"They are Mikazuki Serena and Barret Gomez. They're from the Fusion Dimension. Normally, they're here to take me on, but don't worry—they're with us now."
Serena folded her arms and added, "We're considered traitors to Academia now. Now that we know of the truth of their ambitions."
Yuzu and Yuya were stunned—not just at her words, but her face.
"She looks just like Yuzu!" Yuya blurted.
The resemblance was uncanny. The same eyes. The same posture.
Ryuki smiled slightly. "Yes. There's a reason for that."
He then turned to another pair. "Kazehaya Rin and Hayasaka Yugo are from the Synchro Dimension."
Finally, he nodded at Shun, Yuto, and Ruri. "As Ruri, her brother Shun and Kurayami Yuto are from the Xyz Dimension."
Yuya's head spun. He looked at Yuto... then Yugo. And then at his own reflection in a nearby surface.
"...We all have the same face," he murmured. "Does that mean..."
Ryuki answered before he could finish. "Yes. There's a Fusion version of you. His name is Yuri."
The silence grew cold.
Ryuki's voice became grave. "Academia is here in Standard to capture four girls—Yuzu, Serena, Ruri, and Rin. They're after all of you."
Yuya's voice trembled as he looked at Ryuki. "Why is Academia after Yuzu...? What do they want with her?"
Ryuki's expression hardened as he pointed directly at the bracelet on Yuzu's wrist. "Because of that."
Yuzu looked down at her bracelet, confusion and fear rising in her eyes. Ruri, Rin, and Serena stepped forward and raised their arms, revealing similar bracelets. A shared realization fell over the group like a cold shadow.
"These bracelets," Ryuki began gravely, "are key components to Academia's plan. Whatever scheme they're running—whatever endgame Leo Akaba is pursuing—it starts with them. That's why they need the four of you. It's why they destroyed Heartland... and why they took Ruri."
Yuya, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka recoiled in shock, the weight of that revelation hitting them all at once. Yuzu took a step back, her lips trembling. Ruri's head bowed low as the painful memory returned.
Ryuki continued, his voice low but unyielding. "While Synchro hasn't fallen yet, Rin was taken in secret. The attack on Standard isn't random—it's targeted. They're here for Yuzu. Serena too, who ran from their grasp. Ruri and Rin managed to escape... but now they're back on Academia's radar."
His tone darkened as he added, "And it's not just them. Yuya, they're coming for you too."
Yuya's eyes widened, his complexion draining to a pale hue. "Me...?"
Ryuki nodded grimly. "You, Yuto, and Yugo are all marked. Academia considers you three a direct threat to their mission."
Yuto stepped forward, his voice stern. "Why us?"
Ryuki looked at the three boys in turn. "Because of your dragons."
In silent unity, they drew their monsters. Yuya summoned Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon to his side, its fierce presence casting a long shadow. Yuto revealed Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, pulsing with dark energy. And Yugo called forth Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, its piercing light cutting through the tension.
Ryuki's gaze lingered on them. Zarc's presence once would've overwhelmed Yuya... and tried to absorb the others. But not anymore. Thanks to Ryuki's efforts, Zarc's influence had been purged from both Yuya and Yuto. Rin's Luminous Hope Dragon had neutralized Zarc's grip on Yugo. And as Ryuki observed the girls' bracelets, they remained inert—no signs of activation.
"They no longer threaten you from within," Ryuki reassured them. "But your dragons—those dragons—hold the power to stop Academia's ambitions. That's why you're in their crosshairs."
Yuya clenched his fists. "Then what do we do? How do we stop them from taking over the city?"
Ryuki crossed his arms. "Hold the line. For twelve more hours. As long as the Action Field remains active, the Real Solid Vision will stay online. Once that runs out, Academia will lose its biggest advantage—they'll be forced to retreat."
Gongenzaka nodded, the gravity of the situation settling in. "So it's a battle of attrition..."
"Exactly," Ryuki affirmed. "And with Standard duels now starting with 8000 LP, their usual ambush tactics won't be as effective. They can't just gang up and end it in one turn anymore. We've bought some time."
At that moment, Christopher stepped forward, folding his arms behind his back. "Then let's not waste it. We should split into teams—cover more ground and push them out sector by sector."
Everyone turned to him, and despite the tension in the air, a renewed resolve sparked in their eyes. Christopher's plan made sense. Coordinated resistance would maximize their chances.
They nodded in agreement. The counterattack was about to begin.
Far away in the icy solitude of the Iceberg Zone, no duelists could be seen amidst the shimmering frost. The stillness was soon broken as a swirling portal opened, and from it stepped Yuri, his gait unhurried and his expression unreadable.
He glanced around with a sigh. "Tch... Not even one to play with. Boring."
A chunk of ice cracked behind him, and he lazily turned around—only to see Dennis Macfield standing with his usual smile. Yuri's eyes narrowed.
"Oh. It's just you."
Dennis chuckled. "No need to be so cold. This is the Iceberg Zone, after all."
Yuri scoffed. "Where's the target?"
"Hiragi Yuzu? No clue. She was taken to the Banished Zone."
Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Banished Zone?"
Dennis explained while fiddling with his duel disk. "It's a resting area for duelists. I hacked my device to keep myself from being transported there. Academia's protocols are getting in the way lately."
Yuri turned away, clearly uninterested. "Do whatever you want. I'll handle this my way."
He walked off, leaving Dennis behind. Just as Dennis was about to follow, another portal shimmered to life behind him. He turned—and his blood ran cold.
Emerging from the swirling light were the Obelisk Black Ops—elite enforcers of Academia's will, ruthless and silent.
Dennis froze. No use talking to them, he realized bitterly. They don't listen. They just execute.
Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and bolted into the snow, sending a message through his duel disk as he ran:
To: Sora
Message: Obelisk Black Ops are here. Fifty strong. Be careful.
At the Ancient Ruins Zone, Sora stood on a crumbling pillar, scowling at the ground. He was still seething from earlier—Shun had slipped through his fingers yet again.
His duel disk chimed, and he glanced at the message. As he read Dennis' warning, his heart dropped.
"Fifty...?" he whispered.
The Obelisk Black Ops were moving. And if they were here, then failure was no longer an option. Academia was tightening its grip. Every decision from now on would be a matter of survival.
Sora's jaw clenched as he shut off his duel disk and surveyed the ruined battlefield. "So it begins..."
-----
Fusion Dimension — Academia, Throne Room
The grand throne room of Academia pulsed with an oppressive silence as Professor Leo Akaba stood before the towering stained-glass windows. His eyes scanned the reports flashing across the virtual display projected in front of him. The damage report from the Standard Dimension campaign was troubling—Obelisk Force casualties rising, tactical withdrawals increasing, and worst of all, one group had to be forcibly recalled.
Before Leo could dwell on the implications, the doors to the chamber burst open with a crash. A breathless enforcer stumbled forward, drenched in sweat and trembling from fatigue.
Leo turned slowly, his gaze like a blade. "Speak. Why the panic?"
The enforcer dropped to one knee, panting. "Professor... It's Darkness. He's escaped."
Leo's eyes widened in a rare show of shock. "What...? How?"
"We're still piecing it together," the enforcer reported hurriedly. "He was under constant guard, without his deck, but... our men were found unconscious. He took advantage of the lapse and vanished. Surveillance suggests he's heading toward the Standard Dimension."
Leo's fist tightened at his side. Darkness... the anomaly I tried to contain. Now roaming free. His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Dispatch twenty additional Obelisk Force. Find him. Bring him back—by any means necessary."
"Yes, sir!" The enforcer bowed and sprinted out.
Leo slumped back onto his throne, his composed mask cracking under pressure. If Darkness intervenes, everything could collapse. Do I pull the operation back? No... not yet. But this changes everything.
He activated a private comm-link and sent an encrypted message to the Obelisk Black Ops:
Priority remains Yuri.
However, if Darkness is encountered, engage immediately. Defeat him and return him to Academia at any cost.
Standard Dimension — Banished Zone
Time in the Banished Zone was nearly up. The ethereal sun above the recovery zone flickered faintly—its cycle nearing its end. At the heart of the quiet sanctuary, Ryuki and Christopher stood with their allies, gathered at the square for final orders.
Ryuki's voice cut through the calm, sharp and resolute. "The operation begins as soon as the time expires. Let's review our objectives."
He turned to the Fuma Brothers—Hikage and Tsukikage.
"Your mission: information and interference. Keep Academia blind and off-balance. Delay them, trap them, mislead them—whatever it takes."
Both brothers gave silent nods, vanishing into the shadows.
Ryuki continued.
"For the Ancient Ruins Zone: Aichi, Emi, Yuto, Serena, Barret—you'll engage any remaining Obelisk Force there and neutralize the threat."
"At the Iceberg Zone: Satoru, Yuzu, Christopher, Yugo, Gongenzaka—same deal. Expect heavy resistance."
"In the Volcano Zone: Yuya, Kazuma, Kazumi, Rin—secure the perimeter and cut off any reinforcements."
"And lastly, the Jungle Zone: I'll take point with Kenji, Yuto, Shun, and Ruri. Stay mobile and strike with precision."
Everyone stood ready, expressions steeled with purpose.
Just before the phase ended, Ryuki pulled Yugo aside and led him into a private chamber lit only by a flickering crystal. Yugo frowned, sensing the seriousness.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Ryuki hesitated for only a second before speaking. "If everything falls apart... if we're overwhelmed... I need you to take Yuzu and get out."
Yugo's eyes widened. "What?! Run away?! I can't abandon everyone!"
"You wouldn't be running," Ryuki replied firmly. "Clear Wing has the ability to travel between dimensions. Yuzu's safety is critical. As long as one of the bracelet girls is secure, Academia can't complete whatever they're planning."
Yugo looked away, jaw clenched. "You better explain this to Yuya yourself later."
"I will," Ryuki promised. "But for now, this is your mission."
As they exited the room, the flickering light of the Banished Zone went out.
Their time was up.
Arena Entrance — Standard Dimension
The entire resistance force rematerialized in a flash of light at the Arena's main gates. Without exchanging words, the teams split off and sprinted toward their designated zones.
Iceberg Zone
Dennis Macfield, dressed in a sleek overcoat, scanned his duel disk. A smirk crept across his face as a signal confirmed it: Yuya and Yuzu were back.
He broadcast a message across the Obelisk network.
"Targets have returned. All active forces converge."
At the same time, a silent system update finalized on his duel disk. Dennis chuckled to himself. The new patch reverted duel starting Life Points from 8000 back to 4000—yet allowed the first player to draw as usual.
"A little unfair, maybe..." he mused aloud, "but rules are rules."
He gave a half-hearted bow to the air. "My sincerest apologies, citizens of Standard. Just doing my job."
Somewhere Nearby...
Gastille, formerly known as Gerard, glanced down at Dennis's message and smiled darkly. He turned a corner and spotted three Obelisk Force soldiers patrolling the icy ruins.
The center soldier nodded in greeting. "All clear here. Anything—"
Gastille suddenly grabbed the man's face, dark energy bursting from his palm and flooding into the duelist's body. The other two staggered back in shock, but it was too late. Tendrils of creeping darkness spread from the ground and ensnared them, their screams muffled by shadows.
Moments later, the three stood again—silent, lifeless, their bodies cloaked in an unnatural black aura.
Gastille waved them off casually. "Go. Attack everything in sight."
They obeyed without a word, marching away like puppets.
Gastille turned in the opposite direction, humming. "Now... what kind of chaos shall we stir next?"
Iceberg Zone — Christopher's Team
Christopher froze mid-step. His PSYQualia flared to life, a pulse of energy shooting through his mind.
Gongenzaka noticed. "What is it?"
"...Something's wrong. In the Jungle Zone."
Gongenzaka tensed. "Should we reroute?"
Christopher shook his head. "No... Ryuki's there. He can handle it."
Volcano Zone
Rin suddenly turned westward, her eyes narrowing.
Yuya noticed. "Something bothering you?"
"I felt... something. A darkness, near the Jungle Zone."
Kazumi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "If anyone can deal with it, it's Ryuki and Kenji."
Jungle Zone
Ryuki stopped walking. His senses flared. Kenji's PSYQualia sparked as well.
"Something dark was here," Ryuki muttered. "To the west."
Shun readied his duel disk. "Do we check it out?"
"No. It's gone. For now, we stay on mission."
Obelisk Black Ops, Nearby
Receiving Leo's update, the Black Ops split into two groups. One remained focused on Yuri. The other began tracking the coordinates provided—coordinates that pointed to Darkness.
Ancient Ruins Zone
Aichi, Emi, Serena, Yuto, and Barret arrived at a shattered plaza covered in vines and rubble. Obelisk Force soldiers approached from the other side, duel disks flaring to life.
Barret stepped forward, expression steely. "Let me take point."
Serena joined him. "You'll need backup."
Aichi observed the enemy's behavior. "Wait... something's wrong."
Before he could speak further, a chill fell across the ruins.
From the shadows emerged a tall, lean man clad entirely in black. Long dark brown hair framed a face obscured by a featureless black mask. His aura exuded menace—thick and tangible.
Barret froze. "No... It's him."
Serena's breath caught in her throat. "Darkness..."
Emi looked between them, confused. "Who?"
Barret's voice was grim. "One of the most dangerous duelists in Academia. He doesn't distinguish friend from foe—he destroys everything in his path."
Serena whispered, "Why is he here...?"
Aichi stepped forward, eyes unwavering. "Go. Help Barret with the Obelisk Force."
Serena hesitated. "You'll face him... alone?"
Emi smiled faintly. "He's not just a duelist. He's Aichi."
Barret nodded. "Something about him... tells me he can do it."
Serena reluctantly turned to assist Barret. Emi joined them, activating her duel disk.
As Aichi faced Darkness, he activated the GIRS on his wrist. A glowing blue holographic board materialized in front of him, his deck and extra deck hovering above it.
Darkness silently extended his duel disk, no words exchanged. Only the howling wind bore witness as the duel began.
"DUEL!"
Darkness: 4000 LP | Hand: 5
Aichi: 4000 LP | Hand: 5
And in that moment, the battlefield grew quiet—eerily still—except for the resonating echo of their duel disks activating.
The duel of fate had begun.