Morning sunlight streamed through the window.
Yusaku slowly sat up in bed. As he stretched and let out a small yawn, his joints gave a faint crackle, scattering the last of his drowsiness.
After returning from the ruins yesterday, he hadn't gone to watch the matches in person. Instead, he'd opened the Quantum Cube in his assigned room and rested inside the space it constructed—after grinding duels all day, he really was tired.
Sensing movement beside him, the Naiad rubbed sleep from her eyes. Her long lashes fluttered as she sat up on the soft bedding. By reflex, she gathered the slipped fabric at her shoulder and carefully covered what it had revealed, then asked in a quiet, newly-awake voice, "Not going to sleep a little longer, Master?"
Almost at the same time, Melo sat up on the other side, rubbing her eyes, her pupils narrowing into sharp little slits. "Huh… is it morning already?"
She turned her head, curiously surveying the surroundings. Then she tilted her small head, awed. "I was too sleepy to notice last night—so this is where you live, Master? That's amazing! A tiny cube can open up a whole complete space like this?"
Yusaku lifted a hand and ruffled the girl's soft hair, his tone gentle. "If you want a room of your own, I can build one for you separately. Any style you want."
"Really?" Melo's eyes lit up. She tilted her head again and thought hard. "Then… please build me an underwater palace! I'm used to the sea—switching to a dry environment all of a sudden feels kind of uncomfortable."
As she spoke, she suddenly paused and looked toward the Naiad, worry slipping into her gaze. "Big Sis… last night I was half-asleep, but I think I heard you making really uncomfortable sounds… did Master bully you?"
The moment the words left her mouth, the Naiad's pretty face flushed scarlet. Embarrassed, she turned her head toward Yusaku.
Yusaku immediately cleared his throat twice to cover the awkwardness. He patted Melo's head again, forcibly steering the topic away. "You heard wrong. What you heard was probably your own sleep-talking."
Knock knock knock~
Crisp knocking sounded at the door, perfectly timed to break the delicate atmosphere in the room.
A soft blue shimmer washed over them. In the next instant, elegant dresses materialized over their exposed skin, their slender figures swaying as the fabric settled.
Melo reflexively ducked behind Yusaku. Then she remembered—only her Master could see them; outsiders couldn't sense their presence at all. Her courage returned. She cautiously poked her little head out from behind him and stared toward the doorway with curiosity.
The Naiad, the Siren, and the little mermaid could only shake their heads helplessly, a hint of indulgent fondness hidden in their eyes.
Yusaku chuckled, rubbed Melo's hair, then exited the Quantum Cube's constructed space and walked to the door. He pulled it open.
Outside stood a staff member in charge of tournament logistics, posture respectful.
When the door opened, the staffer nodded at once and explained, "Mr. Yusaku, the quarterfinals are about to begin. Next is the drawing ceremony—please proceed to the arena to receive your draw."
"Alright." Yusaku nodded. "Let me wash up. I'll be right there."
After a quick wash, Yusaku went straight to the entrance of the competitors' tunnel and waited for the match to begin.
Inside the arena, the commentator was already in place, passionately hyping the crowd and trying to ignite the spectators' enthusiasm.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm your commentator, Sasakura, bringing you the latest tournament updates!"
"After a full day of fierce battles yesterday, the Top 16 have all been decided! They are—Yusaku, Johannes, Night Raven… every one of them is an elite Duelist at the highest level!"
"Anyone who makes the Top 16 is no ordinary fighter, but the quarterfinals will be even more dangerous and intense than yesterday's duels! After today, only eight competitors will remain on this stage, charging toward the glory of the title 'Duel King'! Who will laugh last and write the next legend? Let's find out together!"
As the commentator's voice fell, a man in sunglasses with a solemn expression—Isōno—walked up to the Duel platform. He raised his hand and pressed a machine shaped like Bingo Machine, Go!!!, preparing to begin the draw.
Golden balls marked with competitor numbers spun and clacked rapidly inside the transparent dome, ringing out with bright, metallic chimes—each one like a tap straight onto the audience's heart.
The noisy arena fell into instant silence. Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the draw machine, terrified of missing even a single detail.
Two golden balls rolled out one after another from the carved mouths of two Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragons on either side, landing precisely in Isōno's open palms. He glanced down at the numbers and names, then lifted his arms high and announced in a booming voice:
"First match—Competitor 18: Yusaku!"
"And… Competitor 3!"
A short, bewildered silence followed. Confusion surfaced on players' faces.
One player rubbed his chin and muttered, baffled, "Yesterday's Top 16 opener was Senior Yusaku. Today's quarterfinals are also him going first? The organizers aren't doing something shady, are they?"
Before anyone could spiral, Kazetaro waved a hand.
"Why overthink it? Senior going first is great—saves us from watching a bunch of trash players slap-fight. Just sucks for whoever's unlucky enough to run into him in round one."
As soon as he said it, someone couldn't help blurting out, voice tight with anxiety, "You think… his opponent might be Ko—"
"Shut your crow mouth!" the surrounding players snapped in unison before the name could even finish.
In the competitors' tunnel, hearing his own name, Yusaku raised an eyebrow slightly. "First again?"
But he wasn't that surprised. With only 21 points of Luck, drawing the opener was basically business as usual for him.
At center stage, after announcing Yusaku's name, Isōno opened the other golden ball. When he saw the name inside, he raised his arm again, his voice loud as a bell as it carried through the entire venue:
"His opponent is Competitor 3—Johannes, a powerhouse from the Nordic Federation!"
"Now, please welcome both Duelists to the stage!"
At Isōno's cue, the lights overhead suddenly dimmed. Two blazing spotlights sliced through the darkness like blades, pinning the two tunnel exits and lighting the paths for both Duelists.
The next second, thunderous cheers erupted from the stands. To steady, approaching footsteps, two tall figures emerged from opposite sides and walked toward the central Duel platform.
Once they stepped onto the platform, Johannes—wearing a headband decorated with stars and stripes—let out a sharp whistle. He fixed his gaze on Yusaku and spoke with easy familiarity. "Friend. We meet again."
Yusaku focused on him, searched his memory for a moment, then nodded. "You're the Duelist who talked to me yesterday—the one who wanted to see the power of the Egyptian Gods?"
Johannes crossed his arms, grin confident and bold. "That's right! I've heard the Gods' reputation for a long time. Today I'm here to verify it myself—whether our Nordic Aesir stand above all… or your 'crowned kings' crush every throne and treasure beneath them!"
"Want to see the Gods' power?" Yusaku raised his arm. His Duel Disk snapped open with crisp mechanical clicks. "Then you'd better show me you're worthy. Come on—let me see what your so-called Aesir can really do!"
Johannes's eyes burned with battle-lust. He smiled, said no more, and opened his Duel Disk as well, sliding his Deck into the slot.
"Duel!"
"Duel!"
Their shouts rang out together. The system screens on their Duel Disks lit up, and in the dazzling glow, their Life Points and turn order appeared clearly:
[Yusaku, LP: 8000]
[Johannes, LP: 8000]
[First: Yusaku]
Yusaku glanced at the prompt, drew his opening hand, and spoke evenly—clear enough for the entire arena to hear. "My turn. Draw Phase complete. Main Phase."
After a brief pause, his fingers flicked and a card shot forward, sliding into place.
"I activate the effect of Kashtira Fenrir! If I control no monsters, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!"
"My field is empty, so I meet the condition. I Special Summon it in Defense Position—come forth, Kashtira Fenrir!"
A burst of crimson light flooded the platform. Within it, a ferocious beast took shape—armored in heavy red plating, gripping a massive axe, its face hidden behind a savage wolf-fang mask. A cold, violent aura rolled off it like a predator about to strike, pressing down on the entire arena.
Kashtira Fenrir
[Level 7 / Psychic / Effect]
[DEF 2400]
The instant the monster hit the field, Yusaku's voice sharpened. "Now I activate Kashtira Fenrir's other effect! During my Main Phase, I can add 1 'Kashtira' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
"I add Kashtira Unicorn!"
Before his words could fully settle, Johannes cut in coldly. "You're not searching that easily."
He snapped a card from his hand and flashed it forward, gaze razor-sharp. "I activate PSY-Framegear Gamma!"
"If I control no monsters, and you activate a monster effect, I can do this: I Special Summon this card from my hand, then Special Summon PSY-Frame Driver from my hand, Deck, or GY. Then your monster's effect is negated, and that monster is destroyed!"
"My field is empty, so I meet the condition!" Johannes's voice hit like a hammer. "I Special Summon PSY-Framegear Gamma and PSY-Frame Driver from my Deck! And I negate your Kashtira Fenrir's effect—then destroy it!"
Blue lightning and precise, mechanical gears erupted into being as two monsters materialized on Johannes's side, electricity hissing through the air.
PSY-Framegear Gamma
[Level 2 / Psychic / Effect]
[ATK 1000]
PSY-Frame Driver
[Level 6 / Psychic / Normal]
[ATK 2500]
"A PSY-Frame Deck, huh?" Yusaku glanced at the two new monsters with calm eyes. Then he raised another card from his hand. "Since you activated a monster effect during my turn—then I activate Triple Tactics Talent."
Hearing the name, Johannes lifted an eyebrow. "That card? From what I've gathered, you usually use it to draw. It's only two cards—go ahead and draw."
Yusaku smiled faintly. "Your understanding of this card is… a little narrow. It doesn't only draw."
Johannes froze for half a beat, confusion flickering across his eyes. "?"
"I officially activate Triple Tactics Talent." Yusaku's gaze locked onto Johannes, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I choose the first option: I look at your entire hand, then choose 1 card to return to your Deck."
"What—?!" Johannes's pupils constricted, disbelief splashed across his face. "You can check my hand and send one back?!"
"That's right." Yusaku nodded with a polite smile. "That's the real reason I run it. Sometimes, it matters more than a Pot of Greed ever could."
Then he held Johannes's gaze. "By Triple Tactics Talent's effect—reveal your entire hand."
Johannes clenched his teeth. He hesitated, struggling for a moment, but in the end he unwillingly spread his remaining four cards.
Yusaku's eyes swept over them. He read the names softly:
"Solemn Judgment, Dark Ruler No More, Valkyrie of the Nordic Ascendant, Alviss of the Nordic Alfar."
"Opening with Gamma, plus Solemn Judgment and Dark Ruler No More?" Yusaku coughed lightly, genuinely a bit surprised. "That's a high-quality hand. In that case—I return Solemn Judgment to your Deck."
Johannes went completely still, staring at Yusaku in blank shock, like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
By any normal logic, you'd prioritize the oppressive shutdown of Dark Ruler No More—yet Yusaku had chosen Solemn Judgment instead. The decision flew in the face of every expectation.
Up in the stands, the other competitors watching also wore puzzled expressions. None of them had predicted Yusaku would pick that card.
One after another, the same question rose in their minds.
Was he that confident Solemn Judgment wouldn't be able to activate on the opponent's turn… or that even if it did, it wouldn't matter?
(End of Chapter)
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