"Elemental HERO Flame Wingman attacks!"
"Flame Wingman's effect—deal damage equal to the destroyed monster's ATK!"
"Won! What a fun duel!"
Jaden struck a pose at his opponent.
He looked back—legendary gambler Joey was also brutalizing an armored demon mook.
"Flip Monster 'Dice Jar' effect: both players roll a die; the lower roll takes damage equal to the opponent's roll × 1000!"
"Ahahaha! I rolled a 6—Dice Jar deals 6000 damage!"
The demon mook got one-shot from full by a die roll, cursing in demonic language as he disintegrated—likely something like "what the f— kind of duel is this?!"
Hard to blame him. Anyone getting domed for 6000 by a die would react the same.
"Ah~ dueling is the best. That felt great," Jaden stretched.
"Yeah, yeah," Joey slung an arm around him. During the extradimensional campaign they clicked and became duel buddies.
They were in the 12th dimension's center—the realm of the Supreme King's Castle.
After a long journey, Kira and the two projected their consciousness through dimensions like heroes seeking the Demon King. They cut through obstacles and finally reached the final world.
The legendary Supreme King was here.
They'd seen the misery of peoples under his rule—the Supreme King's army dominated nearly all twelve dimensions, the natives suffering under their yoke.
The closer they came to the Supreme King's realm, the worse the chaos. Their resolve hardened: they would bring him down.
"Honestly, I've seen many duelists," Joey said.
"But there aren't many like you."
"Me? What about me?" Jaden asked.
"Mm… hard to put into words. It's… full of passion?" Joey searched for words. "Your duels feel like they contain something ineffable—infectious."
"Really?" Jaden scratched his head. "Ahaha, I'm nothing special. If anyone, Kira's more special…"
"That's true," Joey glanced at Kira.
"Not many like you either."
Kira spread his hands innocently.
They passed another war-ravaged town, now a ruin. Looking from the ruins, they could make out a dark mountain with a looming castle like a demon. Lightning traced the sky, the jagged silhouette sneering at all below.
"Hey, that's…"
"Mm," Kira nodded. "The Supreme King's Castle?"
The three stared in silence at the dark fortress, its skyline piercing the clouds, exuding regal authority even from afar.
"That's… the Supreme King's Castle," Jaden murmured, clenching his fist.
He had seen too much on the way: chaos under the Supreme King, oppressed people, massacred resistance. He'd befriended some of them.
Through Kira he also learned the Supreme King had a special connection to him.
Though Kira told him the Supreme King was his dark side—an opposing split whose deeds were not his—Jaden still felt awful.
And the nearer they drew, the more he felt a link between himself and this place.
He sensed a presence in that castle connected to him beyond space. That convinced him Kira was right, and he felt instinctively this was his duty, his mission.
Like the old stories: a hero summoned to another world, tasked with slaying the Demon King. This was his responsibility—and his alone.
He couldn't say why—he just knew.
"Okay—let's rush it in one go!"
"Tomorrow," Joey said after a beat.
"It's the last day of the weekend. We've been fighting for twelve straight hours. Rest might be wise."
"I'm not tired," Jaden protested.
"Joey's right," Kira added. "Continuous duels drain mind and body; it affects performance. We won't face the Supreme King right away inside; there'll be consecutive battles.
We've come so far. No need to rush this last step. Rest, tune decks, reach peak form, then go."
With Kira agreeing, Jaden relented. "Fine."
He looked again at the castle, reached toward its jagged silhouette, and clenched his fist.
"I'll be back tomorrow."
They logged off for the day.
…
Meanwhile, in the Supreme King's Castle—
Deep in the keep, on a throne ringed by ferocious fiends, the black sovereign slowly opened his eyes.
Twin golden irises flared like blades in the dark. That gaze held such authority that a glance could freeze a man—yet was hollow, as if missing a piece of soul.
"Supreme King," a demon knelt on one knee, head bowed. "Your orders?"
"The invaders from another world," the Supreme King said coldly. "Found them?"
"Er… the scouting parties haven't reported back. We haven't—"
"They're already here," the Supreme King cut him off.
The demon blinked. "S-say what?"
"They're here—nearby. I can feel them."
He paused, then waved a hand. "Leave."
The demon scrambled away, as if even speaking to the Supreme King was crushing.
The Supreme King closed his eyes again.
They were close. He could sense the invaders.
Or at least one of them.