Turn 1 - Ryuki
The storm in Ryuki's eyes reflected the tension boiling in the air. Three Sector Security agents stood across from him, their duel disks armed and primed, their stances sharp and confident. To them, this was nothing but procedure—three against one, overwhelming numbers and law on their side. But to Ryuki, this was a test, an opportunity to remind them—and himself—that he had not dulled even a fraction since the battles that scarred his past.
His crimson Duel Board gleamed as it hovered at his side, the hum of GIRS energy filling the courtyard with a faint static. A bolt of lightning crackled briefly overhead as he raised his hand toward his deck.
"I'll start us off! Atashi no turn! Draw!"
The card slid into his grip, snapping into place with practiced ease. A familiar thrill coursed through him—after so long without drawing in such a high-stakes clash, it felt almost intoxicating. His lips curved into a grin.
"Man... I really missed using this." His tone shifted, playful and razor-sharp. "Anyways, let's set the stage properly. From my hand, I activate the Continuous Spell—Hand of Midas!"
A golden circle etched with alchemical symbols unfolded onto the battlefield, glowing with a greedy, hungry aura.
"With this card, I can discard one card from my hand or field to the graveyard, and in exchange, I can add a card of my choice from my deck to my hand." His eyes narrowed. "But why settle for once when I can bend the rules?"
He thrust another card forward. "I activate another Continuous Spell—Multicast!"
Another sigil blazed to life beside the first, this one pulsating with shifting, refracting glyphs that distorted the battlefield like rippling water.
"With Multicast, all Spell effects I control are doubled. And once every two turns, I toss a die. If it lands on odd, the effect triples. If it lands on even, the effect quadruples."
A six-sided die materialized, gleaming with crimson light. Ryuki rolled it across the cobblestone courtyard, and the clatter of plastic echoed like a drumroll of fate.
The cube clicked to a stop—six.
A wolfish grin spread across Ryuki's face. "Perfect. Even number—it quadruples!"
The three officers exchanged wary glances. One of them hissed, "He's already digging for cards. Don't let him build momentum."
Ignoring them, Ryuki's voice rang with authority. "I send four cards from my hand to the graveyard—and in exchange, I claim four cards of my choice from my deck!"
His discarded cards dissolved into the golden aura of Hand of Midas, sinking into the void. His deck shimmered and fanned out before him like a magician's display, hundreds of options waiting to be chosen. Without hesitation, he plucked four cards, slotting them confidently into his hand before the rest collapsed back into his Duel Board.
"Now then, let's bring some thunder down on you. From my hand, I summon—Mighty Bolt Dragoon!"
The sky above darkened. A bolt of lightning tore across the heavens, slamming down in front of Ryuki with earth-scorching force. From the brilliance emerged a figure—a battle-worn warrior clad only in shoulder armor, wielding a crackling blade alive with lightning. His stance was one of defiance, his presence electric.
Mighty Bolt Dragoon
Level 4 / LIGHT / Human / Effect
ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1500
"Now for his skill!" Ryuki declared. "When Mighty Bolt Dragoon hits the field, he brings a friend. I Special Summon one Tuner monster from my deck—but its ATK and DEF drop to zero. Come to my aid, Hadrod Dracokid!"
The battlefield sparked violently as a small humanoid dragon spun into existence, twin nunchaku in hand, each weapon sparking with arcs of electricity. His tiny roar was defiant, eager.
Hadrod Dracokid
Level 2 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Tuner / Effect / Thunderstrike 4
ATK: 600 → 0 / DEF: 300 → 0
"Hadrod Dracokid's skill—when he's Special Summoned, everyone at the table pays the toll. Each of you sends one card from your hand or the top of your deck to the graveyard. And in return—I draw one card!"
"Che...," one of the officers muttered, grimacing as the three of them placed the top cards of their decks into the graveyard zones. Ryuki casually slid his new draw into his hand, eyes glinting.
"But we're just getting started. Mighty Bolt Dragoon's skill—when used for a Synchro Summon of a Thunder Dragon, I can modify his level anywhere between one and eight." He raised his hand, electricity swirling around the warrior on his field. "I'll declare him as level six!"
The Dragoon's aura intensified, lightning wreathing his blade before burning into a brighter flame as his level shifted upward.
Mighty Bolt Dragoon
Level 4 → 6
Ryuki thrust his hand forward. "Now—I tune my Level 2 Hadrod Dracokid with my Level 6 Mighty Bolt Dragoon!"
Hadrod Dracokid leapt skyward, bursting apart into two radiant Synchro rings. The Dragoon's body surged with energy as he dove through them, becoming a silhouette framed by stormlight.
Ryuki raised his voice, his chant echoing across the battlefield like thunder rolling across mountains.
"When the earth trembles and lightning crowns the battlefield, the warrior of fists awakens! O mighty dragon, let your knuckles roar louder than thunder! Synchro Summon—unleash the storm of impact! Level 8—Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon!"
The ground split as a colossal figure descended, his arrival heralded by a deafening crash of thunder. Muscles rippled across his crimson, gold, and white-scaled body, his form humanoid yet unmistakably draconic. A golden thunderbolt insignia blazed across his chest as arcs of raw electricity erupted outward, making the Sector Security agents flinch.
Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon
Level 8 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Legion
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
The dragon bellowed, pounding his fists together to unleash a shockwave that rippled the courtyard stones. Sparks of lightning crawled across the ground, licking at the boots of his opponents.
One officer clenched his jaw. "Three thousand attack, first turn... He's trying to lock us down immediately."
"And now... for the kicker!" Ryuki smirked, his voice reverberating with confidence. "Knuckle Dragon, Seek the Mate!"
The titan raised its fists skyward, unleashing a resonant roar. Light engulfed the graveyard as five of Ryuki's discarded cards spiraled back into his deck. The deck reshuffled itself violently, a golden aura bursting forth.
"Electric bonds that made with their fists." Ryuki raised a card from his Extra Deck, slamming it onto his board. "Together, with the strength of unity, crash the opposition with your thunderous hands! Brawler, Big Bang Slash Dragon! Legion!"
Beside the towering red dragon emerged its partner: a four-legged draconic beast clad in sleek blue, white, and gold plating. Its claws crackled with energy, and its long tail lashed with raw force. Both roared in unison, a golden "V" of light engraving itself across the battlefield, uniting them as one.
Brawler, Big Bang Slash Dragon
Level 7 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Mate
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
The Sector Security officers froze, disbelief flooding their voices. "W-What the hell did you just do?!"
Ryuki's grin widened dangerously. "Legion. A summoning where one monster calls its partner... and when they unite, their power becomes one."
The two dragons' auras intertwined, energy coalescing until their stats merged into a single terrifying force.
Legion (Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon + Brawler, Big Bang Slash Dragon)
ATK: 5500 / DEF: 4500
The glowing digits blared in crimson above the battlefield. The officers' helmets flickered, systems straining to process the absurd power spike.
Ryuki thrust a hand skyward. "But we're not stopping there! Big Bang Slash Dragon's effect activates—when Legion is formed, I reveal the top two cards of my deck! And if one of them is a LIGHT monster, Legion gains 500 ATK!"
He drew with sharp precision, slamming both cards onto his Duel Board. One glowed faintly—revealing itself to be a Spell—but the second shone brilliantly.
"A LIGHT attribute monster! Which means Legion gets a little stronger!"
Legion
ATK: 5500 → 6000
The two dragons roared together, their combined aura blasting outward in a dome of lightning. The Sector Security stumbled back, their visors distorting from the sheer magnetic pressure.
Ryuki's expression was pure satisfaction. "Now then... let's secure the field. I set three cards face-down!" Three holographic panels materialized behind him, flashing ominously in crimson arcs. "That's plenty for now. I'll end my turn!"
The field before him was a fortress: a 6000 ATK behemoth, roaring and crackling with storm-born energy, backed by three unknown traps. His opening was overwhelming, a declaration of dominance in both strategy and spirit.
From inside the manor, Rex stood by the window, his jaw slightly slack as he watched Ryuki work. "This power... in just one turn..." he whispered, awe and disbelief lacing his voice.
The Sector Security officers exchanged grim looks, their hands trembling slightly above their decks. They had entered this duel expecting to corner a fugitive. Instead, they now stared down a monster whose sheer presence threatened to crush them before their first move.
The duel had only just begun, but already, the scales tilted violently in Ryuki's favor.
Ryuki: 4000 | Hand: 2
Security 1: 4000 | Hand: 5
Security 2: 4000 | Hand: 5
Security 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
The Sector Security headquarters buzzed with sudden alarms. Crimson warnings flooded the monitors as one feed from Rex Goodwin's manor took priority. Director Roget, perched with his usual composure in the command chamber, leaned forward when he saw the scene: Ryuki's Legion summoning blazing across the screen, its aura distorting even the camera feed.
For a rare moment, Roget's stoic face cracked. His jaw stiffened. "What... is that?"
"Director!" one operator called, hands flying across his console. "An unknown summoning signature has been detected!"
"What summoning is it?" Roget snapped, his sharp voice cutting across the room. The operator's scanners whirred as the data finalized.
"Summoning confirmed." The operator's voice trembled. "It's called... Legion, Director."
The word hung heavy in the air, unfamiliar yet brimming with danger. Roget's eyes narrowed, his tone low and cold. "Legion... Scan the boy who performed it. I want every piece of data you can pull—now."
The operator's hands moved rapidly, but after a pause, his screen flashed negative results. "Sir... there's nothing. No registry, no residence, no history. It's like he doesn't exist."
A tense silence followed. Then Roget rose from his chair. "Change of plans. I don't care who he is. I want that boy arrested and brought before me—immediately!"
"Yes, Director!" came the chorus of Security confirmations as orders were relayed through comms.
Meanwhile, within the grand halls of Goodwin Manor, Rex Goodwin himself stood at a tall window, gazing down at the duel taking place outside. He had seen many displays of power, but this... this was beyond ordinary. The storm Ryuki commanded seemed to challenge the heavens themselves.
His lips curved into a rare smile. "So... this is the power of your vice-commander."
Beside him, Reiji and Reira watched with arms crossed, his calculating gaze never leaving the crimson glow of Ryuki's Duel Board. "Impressive, isn't it?" His voice carried a measured confidence. "With this kind of demonstration, the Lancers' endorsement of him is no longer a question—it's inevitable."
Rex nodded slowly, a sense of certainty resonating in his chest. "Indeed. That boy has the spark. After this duel, I will personally ensure the alliance is sealed."
Back at the battlefield, the courtyard trembled beneath the weight of Legion's power. The twin dragons—Big Bang Knuckle Dragon and Big Bang Slash Dragon—loomed like storm-forged deities, their combined aura tearing faint cracks in the ground beneath them.
The three Sector Security officers, though masked by their visors, visibly faltered under the immense pressure. Their knees felt heavy, their grips on their Duel Disks slick with sweat. Yet even as their instincts screamed retreat, their duty chained them forward.
Turn 2 - Officer 1
One officer stepped ahead, his voice raised in a mix of defiance and discipline. "You're coming with us, one way or another! My turn! Draw!"
The card slid into his hand, and he quickly slapped it onto the field. "I summon Vigilante Zeni!"
In a shimmer of light, a childlike warrior appeared, clutching a short jutte with exaggerated seriousness.
Vigilante Zeni
Level 4 / EARTH / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200
"Zeni's effect activates! By reducing his ATK to zero, I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower Vigilante monster from my hand. Come forth—Vigilante Gata!"
Beside Zeni materialized a small, boxy robot, its head flashing red-and-blue sirens as it clanked into place.
Vigilante Gata
Level 3 / EARTH / Warrior / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 800 / DEF: 800
Vigilante Zeni
ATK: 1600 → 0
The officer thrust his arm out. "Now I tune my Level 4 Vigilante Zeni with my Level 3 Vigilante Gata!"
Gata leapt upward, breaking apart into three radiant Synchro rings. Zeni stepped into the center, his body disintegrating into light as the rings spun faster.
"Tear apart the dark fog of twisted doubt and unravel the truth! Synchro Summon! Appear now—Level 7! Sniping Heiji Type-0!"
The summoning surged with green light, and from it emerged a robotic warrior—its left hand gripping a jutte, while its right arm extended into a long-range blaster. The visor over its mechanical face gleamed sharply as it leveled the weapon at Ryuki.
Sniping Heiji Type-0
Level 7 / EARTH / Warrior / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
Ryuki narrowed his eyes, watching the synchro materialize. A brief thought flickered in his mind—So they're Synchro users too. This duel... is starting to look far too much like Academia all over again.
The officer wasted no time. "Type-0's effect activates! By discarding one card from my hand, I destroy one monster on your field, and you take 400 damage! I target your Legion!"
The blaster on Type-0's arm powered up, glowing with deadly precision. But before it could fire, Ryuki's sharp voice rang out.
"Continuous Trap open—Narukami Line of Defense!"
A sigil of crimson lightning flared beneath his dragons. "If a Thunder Dragon monster I control would be destroyed, I can banish one card from your field or graveyard instead! I banish a card from your graveyard!"
A lightning strike burst forth, striking the officer's graveyard. One of his discarded cards was incinerated into motes of ash before the shot could even launch.
Ryuki's grin widened. "But I'm not done. Continuous Trap—Thunderstorm Chain activate!"
A new panel blazed to life beside him. "Whenever a card is banished from your field or graveyard—you take 300 damage!"
Dark clouds surged, and a jagged bolt split the sky, crashing directly onto the officer. He staggered, electricity arcing around his body as his Life Points dropped.
Officer 1: 4000 → 3700
His fellow officers flinched, their instincts screaming as they witnessed the raw violence of Ryuki's counter. The smell of ozone clung to the air.
The first officer clenched his teeth, smoke rising faintly from his uniform as he steadied himself. His monster remained, but he could feel the futility weighing heavier than his armor.
"Tch... So that's how it is." His tone was bitter, tinged with reluctant respect. "All I can do is set my defenses. I place one card face-down and end my turn."
A single holographic panel flickered into place behind Sniping Heiji Type-0. Still, compared to the towering 6000 ATK Legion, it felt like little more than paper before a storm.
Ryuki's field remained untouchable, his twin dragons exuding an aura that promised nothing less than devastation.
Ryuki: 4000 | Hand: 2
Security 1: 3700 | Hand: 2
Security 2: 4000 | Hand: 5
Security 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 3 – Security Officer 2
The atmosphere around the Goodwin manor had grown heavier. The glow of Legion still radiated ominously on Ryuki's field, its thunderous aura flickering like storm clouds refusing to disperse. The officers exchanged uneasy glances, beads of sweat forming beneath their helmets. Each one of them knew—activating an effect recklessly would trigger that cruel chain of banishment and punishment. Ryuki's setup was airtight.
The second officer clenched his teeth. Damn it... if we don't move forward, we'll be branded as cowards. But if we do... His fingers tightened around his next card. There was no real choice. Their duty was clear: engage the enemy, no matter how futile it seemed.
"Tch. My turn! Draw!" His voice cracked with strain, echoing through the manor's holographic duel arena.
He slapped down his card with practiced force. "I summon Vigilante Zeni!"
A flash of light gave birth to the familiar child-like warrior clad in patrol armor, a jutte gripped tightly in his small hands.
Vigilante Zeni
Level 4 / EARTH / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200
"Zeni's effect activates! I turn his ATK to zero and Special Summon from my hand! Appear—Vigilante Gata!"
Siren-lights whirred to life as a small robot clattered onto the field, its metallic frame bristling with police-like efficiency.
Vigilante Gata
Level 3 / EARTH / Warrior / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 800 / DEF: 800
Zeni's strength immediately dropped to nothing, his jutte lowering as if drained of will.
Vigilante Zeni
ATK: 1600 → 0
The officer wasted no time. "Now! I tune Level 4 Zeni with Level 3 Gata!"
Gata leapt skyward, breaking apart into three shimmering green rings that pulsed with sharp synchro energy. Zeni dissolved into starlight and flowed through the circles, resonating with the officer's voice.
"Tear apart the dark fog of twisted doubt and unravel the truth! Synchro Summon!" The officer thrust his arm forward with all his determination. "Arise, Level 7—Sniping Heiji Type-0!"
The new Synchro monster landed with heavy metallic steps, its blaster primed, its jutte gleaming. The crimson optics locked directly on Legion, though it hesitated as if aware of the futility of its target.
Sniping Heiji Type-0
Level 7 / EARTH / Warrior / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
The officer exhaled sharply, knowing it wasn't enough to topple Ryuki. "I... set two cards face-down. That's all I can do. Turn end."
Ryuki's eyes barely shifted, calm and unwavering. He simply rested a hand near his deck, his mind already analyzing their formation. Three Type-0s across the field soon... They think numbers will work against me. But the more they commit, the faster their downfall.
Ryuki: 4000 | Hand: 2
Security 1: 3700 | Hand: 2
Security 2: 4000 | Hand: 2
Security 3: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 4 – Security Officer 3
The third officer growled. Watching his comrades fold under Ryuki's defenses stirred something in him—a mixture of anger and dread. "We're Sector Security! We don't back down to one kid!" His fist slammed against his duel disk, rattling the device. "My turn! Draw!"
He repeated the familiar motion, perhaps clinging to the ritual as a form of comfort. "I summon Vigilante Zeni!"
The small warrior appeared once again, like a carbon copy of his allies' summons.
Vigilante Zeni
Level 4 / EARTH / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200
"Zeni's effect activates! His strength falls to zero, and from my hand—Vigilante Gata joins him!"
The siren robot clanked onto the stage, its lights flashing red-blue in rhythmic pulses, mirroring the officer's escalating heartbeat.
Vigilante Gata
Level 3 / EARTH / Warrior / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 800 / DEF: 800
Vigilante Zeni
ATK: 1600 → 0
"I'll show you we're not so easily cornered! I tune my Level 4 Zeni with Level 3 Gata!"
The ritual played out once more: the rings of energy, the dissolution of light, the chant delivered with desperate authority.
"Synchro Summon! Unveil yourself, Level 7! Sniping Heiji Type-0!"
The mechanical warrior descended, landing heavily on the field beside the other two Type-0 units. Their glowing visors aligned in unison, a squadron standing at attention, though even their combined firepower seemed meaningless in front of Legion's stormy presence.
Sniping Heiji Type-0 #3
Level 7 / EARTH / Warrior / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
The officer clenched his jaw, glaring at Ryuki across the field. "Don't think you've already won. I set two cards face-down. My turn ends."
His bravado rang hollow, though, drowned by the thunderous hum radiating from Ryuki's field.
Ryuki: 4000 | Hand: 2
Security 1: 3700 | Hand: 2
Security 2: 4000 | Hand: 2
Security 3: 4000 | Hand: 2
From the sidelines, Rex Goodwin watched silently, his sharp eyes narrowing. Three Type-0s. Three face-downs. The officers had formed a wall, a defense born of desperation, yet Rex could already see the flaw. Their fear of Ryuki's banishment effects had shackled their creativity. They were repeating the same lines in a play where the ending was already written.
Reiji lips curled slightly, his gaze shifting toward Ryuki. He's barely lifted a finger, and already his presence has forced them into submission. To think that Narukami could do such damage... and the strength of Legion.
Back at Sector Security HQ, Roget watched the feed with simmering frustration. The operators reported data streams, but none of it made him any happier.
"Director... it appears the officers are relying solely on Synchro formations to pressure the boy," one said hesitantly.
Roget's fist tightened. "Pathetic. They're treating him like a standard opponent. Don't they realize? This boy doesn't play by our rules."
Ryuki himself stood calm amid the storm. His gaze never wavered from the three officers now staring him down with their trio of synchro monsters. Yet inside, his thoughts turned sharper, colder. This is just like back in Academia... soldiers throwing themselves at me, believing numbers can overcome resolve. They don't understand. A single strike of lightning can scatter even the largest flock.
The duel had tilted entirely in his favor, though the officers were too blinded by protocol to see it.
The audience, Rex and Reiji included, felt it in their bones—this wasn't just a duel. This was domination unfolding, a storm slowly tightening around its prey.
Turn 5 - Ryuki
The air grew heavy, electric with anticipation. Within the holographic dome of the duel, even the simulated atmosphere seemed to shudder beneath the tension Ryuki exuded. His expression hardened, his crimson-tinged PSYqualia eyes glowing with lethal resolve. He raised his duel disk with steady purpose, his fingers brushing the top of his deck.
"My turn." His voice cut like a blade. He swiped the top card and glanced at it, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "Draw."
The officers stiffened. That single word carried weight. Ryuki's aura was shifting—darker, sharper, more absolute. Then, without hesitation, he spoke the words that sent every spectator reeling.
"Final Turn!"
The declaration thundered through the manor.
"F-Final Turn?!" one officer blurted, his voice cracking as his monster's visor glared back at him in eerie silence. Even the other two officers recoiled, their confidence faltering.
From the manor's balcony, Rex Goodwin straightened sharply. Reiji Akaba's eyes narrowed, focused wholly on the boy now radiating the same decisive pressure as a veteran general. Even Reira, wide-eyed and trembling, felt her heart lurch at Ryuki's voice. Final Turn... he means to end everything right here.
Ryuki extended his arm, card already poised. "I activate the Spell Card—Vanquisher's Charge!"
Lightning snapped across the field, arcs of energy dancing violently as the card's glyphs glowed. "With this, I Special Summon one Tuner monster with Thunderstrike directly from my deck!"
A thunderclap tore through the air, and from the light descended a small but fierce white dragon, its tiny frame wreathed in lightning. In its hands gleamed a blade far too large for its size, but it held it with the ease of a seasoned warrior.
"Come forth—Ascetic Dracokid!"
Ascetic Dracokid
Level 1 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Tuner / Effect / Thunderstrike 1
ATK: 500 / DEF: 500
The officers shifted uncomfortably at the sight of the crackling Tuner. They knew well what that meant—Synchro evolution was coming.
But Ryuki wasn't finished. He slid his next card onto the disk with a sharp motion. "I activate the Spell—Clash of Thunder Gods!"
A stormfront of energy spiraled into existence above the battlefield, lightning wreathing every corner of the arena. "With this, I destroy one card I control, and one card you control. But thanks to Multicast's effect, I can destroy two of yours instead!"
He pointed with commanding precision. "I destroy my Big Bang Slash Dragon and Hand of Midas, and I target one set card from Officer Two, and one from Officer Three!"
The arena was consumed by blinding flashes. Four thunderbolts screamed down, annihilating his own fielded monster and continuous spell in exchange for vaporizing the officers' face-downs. Sparks showered over the duel disks of the two officers as they staggered from the impact, shielding their faces.
"Why... why destroy his own monster?!" Reira gasped from the sidelines.
Reiji, however, folded his arms calmly. His sharp gaze never left the boy standing in the storm. "Because that destruction wasn't a loss. It's preparation. Big Bang Knuckle Dragon remains on the field... the Mate to Legion will absorb any blow that targets it. Which means..." He paused as his lips curved faintly. "Ryuki intends to summon something far greater."
Back on the battlefield, Ryuki's tempo only quickened. He slid another card into his graveyard slot. "I activate Hand Destruction! All of us discard two cards from our hands, then draw two more!"
The officers hesitated, but the effect pulled them forward. Cards discarded, new cards drawn, though their hearts sank deeper into unease. Ryuki, however, discarded without hesitation, his gaze cold and unwavering.
The crimson glow in his eyes intensified. This is the storm. The vision of annihilation is clear.
"Now," Ryuki said, lifting his hand toward Ascetic Dracokid, "I activate Dracokid's effect! If I control a Thunder Dragon Synchro, Dracokid's level increases by one!"
The small dragon raised its blade to the sky, lightning crawling along its form. Its aura flared higher, as if its body had grown stronger beneath the current.
Ascetic Dracokid
Level 1 → 2
Ryuki's eyes widened slightly as the PSYqualia vision overtook him. Within his mind, he saw it: two colossal dragons, fists ablaze, eradicating every foe before them. The outcome was already sealed.
He spread his arms wide, his voice ringing with conviction.
"Now I tune my Level 2 Ascetic Dracokid with my Level 8 Big Bang Knuckle Dragon!"
The Tuner leapt skyward, exploding into two crimson Synchro rings laced with jagged lightning. Big Bang Knuckle Dragon roared as its massive frame broke apart into a stream of stars, spiraling into the rings with a sound like a shattering heavens.
Ryuki's voice thundered as the storm intensified, his chant a declaration of power itself.
"When fists ignite like meteors and lightning crowns the sky, the ultimate warrior rises! Through unyielding will and indomitable strength—break the chains of fate!"
The energy within the rings detonated, cascading into form. A towering silhouette emerged, cloaked in lightning and golden armor. The crash of its arrival shook the duel field like a quake.
"Synchro Summon! Become the fist that shakes creation!" Ryuki raised his arm as the monster landed with earth-shattering force. "Level 10—Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Buster!"
A thunderous roar followed as the evolved dragon revealed itself. Its body bore gleaming gold armor upon its arms and legs, a radiant blue gem pulsing in the center of its chest. Lightning cascaded from its fists as if the world itself quivered before its strength.
Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Buster
Level 10 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Legion
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 2800
Gasps echoed from both the duelists and the audience. Even the trio of Synchro monsters on the officers' side seemed diminished, their metallic bodies shaking under the force of Knuckle Buster's roar.
But Ryuki was not done. His voice dropped into a calm, certain tone. "...And now... Seek the Mate."
Knuckle Buster raised its massive fist to the heavens. Light burst forth, blinding and absolute. Five cards from Ryuki's graveyard were pulled back into his deck, which instantly shuffled on his disk. A single card then glowed within his Extra Deck slot before ejecting itself into his waiting hand.
Ryuki lifted it high, his voice ringing with exaltation.
"King of striking who cuts through the air at high speed! Let your fists of thunder quake the very heavens! Brawler, Big Bang Slash Buster—Legion!"
He slammed the card beside Knuckle Buster. A golden V-shaped aura split the field, and from it descended a second dragon—similar to its partner but with sharper armor, its limbs and chest gleaming with gold, a matching blue gem radiating power.
The two roared together, their combined voices like a storm ripping apart the skies themselves.
Brawler, Big Bang Slash Buster
Level 9 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Mate
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
Every officer stumbled back, their Synchro monsters lowering weapons instinctively as if cowed before the overwhelming might of the Legion pair.
Reira's hands clutched the railing as her breath caught. "Two... two dragons?! He's going to wipe them all out!"
Reiji's eyes narrowed, watching Ryuki stand unwavering at the storm's center. "Not going to. He will. This is the end he envisioned the moment he declared Final Turn."
The battlefield itself trembled, waiting for Ryuki to unleash the decisive strike.
Back at the Sector Security headquarters, chaos erupted as alarms wailed and crimson warning lights painted the entire control room in a frantic glow.
"Director! The system is destabilizing!" one operator shouted, hands flying over the console. "The signal detectors are registering fluctuations beyond safe levels! The monsters' presence is overwhelming our sensors—we have to shut the detections down now before the entire grid collapses!"
Roget's eyes widened, his expression twisting with frustration. He knew this was no ordinary duel. Whatever power Ryuki was unleashing was distorting the very systems designed to monitor psychic and monster energies. Slamming his fist onto the control panel, he barked the order.
"Very well—shut it off! Now! We cannot afford the mainframe to overload!"
"Yes, Director!"
One by one, the screens flickered to black as the detection systems were forcefully terminated. The alarms subsided into silence, but the tension in the room only grew heavier. Roget gritted his teeth, staring at the dead monitors.
What kind of monster have we provoked...?
Back at the duel, Ryuki's crimson aura burned brighter than ever, his gaze sharp as lightning arced across his Duel Board. His opponents—three trained Sector Security officers—were barely holding their ground. The sheer oppressive force of Ryuki's monsters pressed down on them like a storm about to crush everything in its path.
"Now..." Ryuki raised his arm high, voice cutting like thunder. "With Big Bang Slash Buster on the field, their powers become one!"
The two titanic dragons bellowed as their bodies glowed with overlapping crimson and silver arcs. Their forms twisted together, surging with divine force.
Legion (Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Buster + Brawler, Big Bang Slash Buster)
ATK: 6500 / DEF: 5300
A shockwave erupted from the summoning, scattering debris across the ground. The officers shielded themselves, barely holding their Duel Disks steady.
"When Big Bang Slash Buster is summoned by Legion, I can target two of your cards and destroy them! Then this card gains 1000 attack points!" Ryuki declared, his voice merciless.
The dragon inhaled, its chest swelling with light before unleashing a deafening roar—an electrified breath of thunder. The two remaining face-down cards on the officers' field shattered like glass, leaving them completely defenseless.
Legion ATK: 6500 → 7500
"And I'm not finished!" Ryuki continued, his eyes flashing. "Big Bang Knuckle Buster's skill activates! If there's a Big Bang Knuckle monster in my graveyard, this card gains an additional 500 attack! Big Bang Knuckle Dragon rests in my graveyard—so rise higher!"
Legion ATK: 7500 → 8000
The officers froze, their mouths dry, eyes wide at the impossible number.
"E-Eight thousand...?" one officer stammered, nearly dropping his Duel Disk.
"That's— That's impossible!" another shouted, panic lacing his voice.
But deep down, they all knew the truth: there was no hope left.
Ryuki pointed forward, his voice low but carrying an authority that made the air itself vibrate. "Battle. I activate Big Bang Knuckle Buster's Legion skill! During my Battle Phase, I can target up to four of your cards and attack them all at once! And if they are monsters, when they're destroyed, you take damage equal to 200 multiplied by the combined Levels of all those monsters!"
The officers turned pale. Their minds screamed in denial, but their bodies felt the crushing weight of inevitability. This wasn't a duel anymore. It was judgment.
At this moment, Ryuki wasn't the Flame Monarch. No—he had ascended beyond that title. His crimson aura sparked with relentless thunder. He was the Thunder Emperor, executioner of Sector Security.
"Legion—attack the three Sniping Heiji Type-0's!" Ryuki roared, raising his arm like a conductor leading the symphony of destruction. "Vermillion Thunder Knuckle!"
Both dragons bellowed, fists crackling with violent lightning. They surged forward, their combined power tearing the air apart. In a flash of blinding vermilion light, the three Type-0 units were obliterated, their holographic frames shattering as the officers themselves were hurled backward by the sheer force of the impact.
The roar of thunder echoed through the manor grounds. Dust and wind blasted outward, scattering debris as silence followed in the wake of annihilation.
Officer 1 LP: 3700 → 0
Officer 2 LP: 4000 → 0
Officer 3 LP: 4000 → 0
Their Life Points drained to zero instantly, their bodies slamming into the dirt. Duel Disks sparked out and powered down, leaving them unconscious.
Ryuki stood tall, his crimson Duel Board gleaming beneath the electric storm still lingering around him. His gaze softened only for a moment as he dismissed his Legion monster, the dragons fading into bursts of light.
The system announced the outcome in a cold, definitive tone:
Winner: Himejima Ryuki.
The other Sector Security officers watching from the barricade didn't dare move. Their comrades had been obliterated in a single, merciless strike. To challenge Ryuki now was no different from stepping into the jaws of death.
And inside the manor, Rex's eyes widened with awe and terror. "Unbelievable... That boy... that's not dueling. That's power incarnate."
Ryuki lowered his arm, crimson sparks fading into silence. His expression was calm, but beneath it was a storm—a warning to all who would oppose him.
-----
While Ryuki's duel raged like a thunderstorm, life in the city went on, its bustling streets alive with neon signs, vendors calling out, and engines rumbling in the distance. Yet high above the noise and chaos, on the top floor of a pristine white skyscraper, a different kind of silence reigned.
The office was immaculate—marble floors reflecting the warm glow of chandeliers, modern art lining the walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the cityscape. At the center sat a man whose very presence radiated dominance.
His purple eyes gleamed like polished gems, cold and sharp as steel. Fair skin contrasted with spiked blond hair that flared wildly, with two longer strands framing his face, falling past his jawline. Every detail of his attire—his long white trench coat lined with violet edges, the spiked shoulders, the silver neckband at his throat, the A-shaped belt buckle, and the matching earrings—spoke of confidence, pride, and power.
This man was none other than Jack Atlas—the King of the Synchro Dimension. The strongest duelist the city had ever known, a symbol who stood above the masses.
Seated in his leather chair, Jack swirled the coffee in his cup with slow, deliberate motions. The bitter aroma wafted up, grounding him in routine. But then—
BOOOOOM.
A thunderous crash of lightning split the sky. The sound rattled the windows of his skyscraper, so fierce it silenced even the hum of the city below. Jack's hand stilled. He rose immediately, leaving his coffee half-finished on the desk, and strode toward the balcony doors. With a push, they swung open, and the night air rushed in.
From the horizon, he could see it: a pillar of vermilion lightning tearing across the heavens, painting the skyline in crimson streaks. Jack narrowed his eyes, sensing the sheer intensity behind it. Then, without warning, a faint glow radiated from his pocket.
Jack reached inside and pulled free his Duel Disk. The card already set within—his ace, Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight—was burning with a deep, crimson light, pulsing in rhythm with the storm.
Jack frowned. "Scarlight... Why now?"
It had been years since the mighty dragon had responded like this. For it to react meant only one thing: someone, somewhere, had released a power strong enough to rival his own.
A soft knock broke the tension. One of his maids entered, bowing respectfully before addressing him. "Atlas-sama. Forgive the intrusion, but there has been... a disturbance near Goodwin Manor. Witnesses report a violent clash of lightning."
Jack tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "The Goodwin Manor again..." He exhaled through his nose, almost a sigh. "It seems Rex continues to attract trouble like moths to a flame. Whatever his business is, I want no part of it."
The maid hesitated, then spoke again, her voice firmer this time. "But, sir... it is said that Mr. Goodwin has begun moving forward with his plans. He has gathered several powerful allies—duelists capable of changing the balance of the city itself."
Jack froze. His gaze snapped toward her, sharp and commanding. "What did you say?"
She lowered her head, repeating carefully, "Mr. Goodwin is no longer working alone. He has secured allies... and intends to reshape the city."
For a heartbeat, silence filled the room. Then Jack's lips curved into a slow, wolfish grin. He chuckled under his breath, but there was nothing soft in the sound—it was laced with fire and conviction.
"So, Rex has finally shown his hand. Perfect." He turned back toward the balcony, the glow of the storm reflecting in his eyes. "I've grown weary of dancing to Roget's tune, paraded as a puppet for his propaganda. If Rex truly means to challenge the order of this city... then perhaps the time has come."
He clenched his fist, his voice rising, fierce and resolute. "The time to take back everything stolen from us. To return pride to every duelist who's been crushed beneath Roget's tyranny!"
The maid looked at him in awe, as though glimpsing the true King once more. Jack turned back toward her, his tone sharp with command. "Summon Mikage. Tell her I require her presence immediately. There is much to prepare."
"Yes, sir!" She bowed deeply before hurrying from the room.
Jack lingered on the balcony, gazing at the streaks of lightning still lingering in the sky. His heart pounded with something he hadn't felt in years—a mix of anticipation and challenge. Whoever had unleashed that storm was no ordinary duelist.
"Could it be," Jack muttered, his voice low, "that the one Rex spoke of... is the very person who caused this display?" His hand reached into his coat, pulling forth a small silver amulet.
He clicked it open. Inside, beneath the thin glass, was a faded photograph: Jack himself, grinning with unshakable pride. Beside him was Crow Hogan, his ever-loyal comrade. And between them stood another man, his raven-black hair streaked with yellow, his smile steady and calm.
Jack's expression softened, rare vulnerability flickering across his features. He traced the edge of the photograph with his thumb.
"Yusei..." His voice carried a promise, low but resolute. "I swear it. We will take everything back. The city, our pride, our future. Roget's grip ends here."
Clutching the amulet close, Jack lifted his head once more to the cityscape sprawled before him. The storm winds whipped across his coat, lightning still rumbling in the distance. He stood tall, as if the entire city lay beneath his dominion.
The King had spoken.
To be continued...
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"If what you're saying is true," Shinji muttered coldly, "then let the city burn. For all I care, let the Tops vanish in fire."
The bluntness of his tone hit the room like a blade. Ruri gasped. Yuzu stiffened. Even Rin flinched at the malice hidden behind her old friend's voice.
-
"Well said, Mr. Hogan. Though, I must admit, I'm surprised to hear such words of cruelty from one who calls himself a revolutionary."
Everyone turned.
At the doorway stood a small, flamboyantly dressed man. His spiky purple hair stuck up in every direction. Two crimson lines ran vertically over his eyes, and his lips, painted with red, curved into a smirk. His red coat shimmered faintly in the light, its golden trim glinting as he tipped his head forward in exaggerated courtesy.
"Jaeger!" Crow blurted, eyes widening.
-
Yuri's expression hardened as he turned back to the window. The moonlight reflected in his eyes, sharpening them with conviction. "After this... I'm not going back to Academia. No matter what happens, that place isn't my home anymore." His voice carried no hesitation, only finality.
Ryuki studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I see. Then I'll say this—I'll be glad to help you and your mother in any way I can. If you're determined to walk away from that life, you won't have to do it alone."
-
Rex tilted his head slightly. "Then I take it you've made your choice, Jack?"
Jack's smirk widened. "Yes. In the opening exhibition match of the Friendship Cup, I want him—Himejima Ryuki—as my opponent."
-
Ryuki added, his voice respectful but firm, "Mr. Goodwin... you spoke of unity. What did you truly intend?"
Rex paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembly. He knew many in the room already judged him for the harsh rule he had enforced during his time as director. To reveal the truth now was not a decision made lightly. Finally, he spoke.
"There was a plan," he admitted. "A plan I created alongside three others, one that could reshape this city forever. Its name was Operation: Daedalus."
-
Gael closed his eyes, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Yes. Fudo Yusei has passed away."
A hush fell over the chamber.
"No one knows how he died," Gray added, his tone somber.
But then Jack lifted his head, his gaze burning with painful memory. "I know."
Everyone turned sharply to him.
"Jack... you know?" Crow's voice cracked in disbelief.
Jack nodded, his jaw tightening. "Yes. I was there. I know exactly how Yusei died... because he sacrificed himself to save me."
-
Yuya clenched his fists, gaze burning with determination. "Yuto, Yugo, Yuri... I'll honor your faith in me. I'll push your dragons beyond their limits. I swear it."
Next on Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V: The Flame Monarch: The Truth Behind the City
Cards used this chapter:
Brawler, Big Bang Slash Dragon
Level 7 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Mate
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner Monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, target 1 card in your opponent's field, destroy it and this card gains 500 ATK.
Mate: If this card is summoned by Legion's effect, draw and reveal 2 cards from your deck. If one of the cards is a LIGHT Attribute Monster, this card gains 500 ATK.
Once per turn: When this card attacks and is Legion, your opponent cannot activate spells/traps when this card attacks.
Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon
Level 8 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Legion
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner Monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, return 5 random cards from the GY back to the deck and shuffle. Then Special Summon "Brawler, Big Bang Slash Dragon" from your Deck and Legion Summon that card to this card.
Once per turn: If this card is Legion, this card gains 500 ATK.
Legion: When this card attacks and is Legion, this card can attack all monsters in the field. While attacking, this card gains 300 ATK for every LIGHT Attribute Monster in your field.
Brawler, Big Bang Slash Buster
Level 9 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Mate
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner Monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned and you used a Thunder Dragon Synchro Monster, this card gains 500 ATK.
Mate: When this card is summoned by Legion's Effect, target 2 cards in your opponent's field, destroy it and this card gains 1000 ATK.
Once per turn: When this card attacks and is Legion, your sends a card from their deck to the GY if they use a card effect from their hand.
Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Buster
Level 10 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Synchro / Effect / Legion
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 2800
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner Monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, return 5 random cards from the GY back to the deck and shuffle. Then Special Summon "Brawler, Big Bang Slash Buster" from your Deck and Legion Summon that card to this card.
Once per turn: If you have a Big Bang Knuckle Monster in your GY, this card gains 500 ATK.
Legion: When this card attacks, target up to 4 cards in your opponent's field instead and this card attacks all of the chosen cards in one attack. If the cards destroyed were monster cards, inflict 200 damage to your opponent equal to the monsters combined level or rank. This card cannot be targeted by card effects if this effect is used.
Afterthis card attacks and you have Brawler, Big Bang Knuckle Dragon in your GY,this card can attack again, and all monsters in your field gains 500 ATK forevery card destroyed.
Ascetic Dracokid
Level 1 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Tuner / Effect / Thunderstrike 1
ATK: 500 / DEF: 500
When a card in your opponent's field is destroyed or banished, Special Summon this card from your hand or deck.
Once per turn: If there is a Thunder Dragon Monster in your field, increase this cards level by 1 to 3.
Thunderstrike: When this card is in the GY and a card in your opponent's side is sent to the GY, target one monster in your field with Thunderstrike and that card gains 500 ATK.
Hadrod Dracokid
Level 2 / LIGHT / Thunder Dragon / Tuner / Effect / Thunderstrike 4
ATK: 600 / DEF: 300
If you have a monster with Thunderstrike in the field, Special Summon this card from your hand,
Once per turn: If this card is Special Summoned, your opponent then sends one card from their hand or the top of their deck to the GY and draw 1 card.
Thunderstrike:If this card is used as a Tuner for a Thunder Dragon Synchro Monster, target 1monster in your field and that card gains 500 ATK and target one card in youropponent's field, destroy it and banish one card from your opponent's GYface-up.
Mighty Bolt Dragoon
Level 4 / LIGHT / Human / Effect
ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1500
When this card is summoned, Special Summon 1 Tuner monster from your deck or GY, but their ATK and DEF turns to 0.
Ifthis card is used as a Synchro Material for a Thunder Dragon Synchro Monster,you can declare this cards level from level 1 to 8.
Narukami Line of Defense (Continuous Trap)
Once per turn, if a Thunder Dragon monster would be destroyed by battle or effect, you can banish 1 card from your opponent's field or GY face-up instead.
Thunderstorm Chain (Continuous Trap)
Each time a card is banished from your opponent's field or GY, inflict 300 damage to them. If 3 or more cards are banished in a single turn, destroy 1 card on the field.
Clash of Thunder Gods (Normal Spell)
Destroy 1 card you control and 1 card your opponent controls. If both were destroyed, banish 1 card from your opponent's GY face-up.