**Chapter 103: Bruno**
"Children, listen up." Yūga Hōzumi called all the children closer. "From now on, eat well, study well... uh, duel well. We will pave the way for your future, but ultimately, you must walk this path yourselves."
The children, with wide, bewildered eyes, looked up at Yūga Hōzumi.
"It's fine if you don't understand for now; just remember what I said." After Yūga Hōzumi finished speaking, he looked toward the courtyard's gate. "My friend over there, why don't you come out and talk?"
As Yūga Hōzumi's voice fell, the courtyard gate opened. A person pushed the door and entered. By the light of the bonfire, Yūga Hōzumi clearly saw the person who had evidently been hiding outside for a while. It was a blue-haired youth in a black jacket. At the corner of his left eye, the mark placed by Security was especially noticeable.
Kaito's expression turned cold when he saw someone secretly following them. He raised his Duel Disk, ready to act, but Yūga Hōzumi stopped him with a hand.
"Who are you people? What is your purpose in approaching these children?" the blue-haired youth said coldly.
"And who are *you*?" Yūga Hōzumi smiled faintly, already having some guesses about the youth's identity. He then looked at Frank beside him. "Do you know him?"
"I don't know him," Frank said, shaking his head from behind Yūga Hōzumi.
"Before Crow was captured, he sent me a message asking me to look after these children," the blue-haired youth replied.
"Are you with the Revolutionary Army?" Yūga Hōzumi asked casually, staring intently into the youth's eyes.
The youth's pupils contracted, and his expression faltered. He quickly tried to hide it, gritting his teeth as he said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Yūga Hōzumi chuckled softly, taking out his Duel Disk and putting it on. "Don't be so quick to deny it. You're a Duelist, aren't you? Then answer me the Duelist's way. Duels don't lie."
After a moment's thought, the blue-haired youth also took a Duel Disk from his waist and put it on his arm. "I don't care who you are or what your purpose is. If I win, you will stay far away from these children."
"Duel!" x2
"My turn!" the blue-haired youth declared, taking the first move.
"I summon T.G. Catapult Dragon in Attack Position!"
Yūga Hōzumi: ???
Seeing T.G. Catapult Dragon appear before the youth, a large question mark materialized above Yūga Hōzumi's head.
On closer inspection, the blue-haired youth's features did bear a slight resemblance to Bruno.
"What's your name?" Yūga Hōzumi asked.
"Bruno," the youth answered curtly, his movements never stopping.
"I activate the effect of T.G. Catapult Dragon! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 3 or lower 'T.G.' monster from my hand!"
"Appear! The Tuner Monster, T.G. Striker!"
"When a Level 4 or lower monster is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon this card from my hand! Appear, T.G. Werewolf!"
"I tune my Level 3 T.G. Werewolf with my Level 2 T.G. Striker!"
As Bruno spoke, T.G. Striker transformed into two rings of light, encircling the three stars representing T.G. Werewolf. A brilliant path of light shot skyward.
"Limiter Removal, Level 5! Booster Activation, OK! Tilt Angle, OK! Ground Support, all clear! GO! Synchro Summon! COME ON! The Tuner Monster, T.G. Star Guardian!"
[2+3=5]
At the end of the path of starlight, a dazzling light flashed as a small D-Wheel accelerated out. It transformed into its humanoid form in mid-air and landed steadily before Bruno, assuming a defensive posture.
T.G. Star Guardian DEF: 2200
"A Synchro Tuner Monster..." Yūga Hōzumi frowned.
"I activate the effect of T.G. Star Guardian! When this card is successfully Synchro Summoned, I can add one 'T.G.' monster from my Graveyard to my hand."
"I add the Tuner Monster, T.G. Striker, from my Graveyard to my hand. Then, I activate Star Guardian's other effect!"
"Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'T.G.' monster from my hand."
"Appear! The Tuner Monster, T.G. Jet Falcon!"
"I tune my Level 2 T.G. Catapult Dragon with my Level 3 T.G. Jet Falcon!"
[3+2=5]
"Limiter Removal, Level 5! Booster Injection, 120%! Restore Network, Correct Range, all clear! GO! Synchro Summon! COME ON! T.G. Power Gladiator!"
A burly man wielding a shield and a giant axe, clad in high-tech armor, descended from the sky and landed beside T.G. Star Guardian.
T.G. Power Gladiator ATK: 2300
Looking at the two guardians before him, Bruno took a deep breath and shouted, "I tune my Level 5 T.G. Power Gladiator with my Level 5 T.G. Star Guardian!"
Star Guardian transformed into five rings of light, joining with the five stars of Power Gladiator to form a path of starlight infinitely more dazzling than before.
[5+5=10]
"Limiter Removal, Level 10! Main Bass Booster Control, all clear! Infinite power, unleashed here and now, surge toward the Other Side of Dimensions! GO! Synchro Summon! COME ON! T.G. Blade Gunner!"
At the end of the starlight path, a mecha warrior in green armor holding a golden light sword appeared. He swooped toward the ground. Just before landing, the propulsion jets on his back suddenly activated, creating a powerful reverse thrust that allowed him to land smoothly. Upon landing, the mecha warrior pressed the trigger of the short gun in his hand. Instead of bullets, a gleaming sword blade shot out from the barrel, pointing directly at Yūga Hōzumi.
T.G. Blade Gunner ATK: 3300
"You didn't wait for my turn to Accel Synchro Summon this monster. Is it because you can't use Accel Synchro outside a Turbo Duel?" Yūga Hōzumi couldn't help but ask, looking at the majestic Blade Gunner.
Hearing Yūga Hōzumi's words, however, Bruno's expression changed drastically.
"Who exactly are you? How do you know about Accel Synchro?" For some reason, Bruno's tone was laced with ferocity, but within it, Yūga Hōzumi even detected a hint of fear.
This left Yūga Hōzumi utterly baffled. *You're using a T.G. deck that might as well have "Accel Synchro" written all over it, and you're asking me how I know?*
When Yūga Hōzumi didn't answer, Bruno's expression grew savage. "I don't care who you are, but since you've peeked into the secret of Accel Synchro, for the sake of my comrades in the Revolutionary Army, I have no choice but to bury you here!"
"I set a card and end my turn." Bruno gritted his teeth, his gaze sharp enough to tear Yūga Hōzumi to pieces.
(end of chapter)