Alester Crowley, a man called a genius since childhood, touched the truth at the age of fifteen.
Perhaps as recompense for decades of mad, single‑minded study, the Gate of Duel Monsters' truth opened to him for a single instant.
And in that instant, Alester's life veered onto a new track.
He became even more different, even more out of place in this ordinary world.
As if his brain's nerve center, once stimulated at a higher order, could no longer be satisfied by ordinary pleasure.
Seeking truth became Alester's everything thereafter.
For Alester, who had only glimpsed truth for a moment, the simplest way to pursue it was to find any means to approach the monsters standing at the pinnacle beyond that Gate of Duel Truth.
This is why Alester Crowley took such an intense interest in Aisha Carlos.
In his eyes, a girl who could only summon Level 1 and 2 monsters possessed a gift no one else had—someone closest to the truth.
Such a rare gift was necessary, for truth forever belongs to the few.
If Aisha Yuna Carlos kept growing, she would one day summon a monster from the very peak beyond the Gate of Truth.
He had to witness it.
For even that instant's glimpse had already etched into Alester Crowley's genius mind the forms of those peak monsters beyond the Gate.
Yes—Alester remembered every one of the strongest monsters at the Gate of Truth.
"This is—!!!"
In that moment, Alester felt the greatest impact of his life.
Its shock was no less than when the Gate first opened.
Because before him appeared one of those strongest monsters from beyond the Gate.
"Legendary Dragon Fusion Summon! Blade of the supreme mage that scorches the earth—let its crimson light reach the ends of the sky! — Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon!"
[Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon] Level 8│DARK│Spellcaster│3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
Using The Eye of Timaeus, which Invoked Mechaba could not stop, the Dark Magician's greatest Fusion potential awakened.
The ace that bore the Deck's hope at last descended, invincibility written across his face.
Irena was dumbstruck: "Hold on a second… my Dark Magician has a form like this? He's way too cool!"
Clad in the Red-Eyes' crimson armor and wielding the black dragon's mage blade, the Dragoon looked like an evolved Dark Paladin—yet the power it unleashed stood far above the Paladin's.
Feeling Red Daddy's oppressive might, Miles finally understood why the Headmaster said The Eye of Timaeus best suited Irena's Dark Magician Deck.
With The Eye of Timaeus able to call forth any of Dark Magician's Fusion forms, evolving straight into the strongest [Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon] was child's play—Fusion Academy's ultimate secret weapon.
Sensing a monster Special Summoned on Miles's field, the 5000‑Attack colossus in the sky—Invoked Augoeides—tilted its grotesque body, locking its radiance onto the Dragoon.
"A monster from beyond the Gate of Truth—here of all places!"
Alester's expression shifted from shock to a crazed smile.
To touch truth, then challenge it—this too was one of his life's pursuits.
He had never imagined that this seemingly distant dream would be realized in the Graduation Duel.
"Then fight—fight—fight to the very last! With all my strength I'll challenge the pinnacle! Invoked Augoeides's effect—upon a successful Special Summon, destroy it!"
The bombardment of the Academy's gathered mana tilted downward once more.
But this time, not a speck of it touched Irena's body.
With a light raise of his arm, wreathed in crimson mage‑fire, the Dragoon intercepted every beam from the sky.
Scattered rays burst around Miles, their shockwaves only teasing Irena's gray hair.
"The strongest Dragoon won't be destroyed by Invoked Augoeides's effect!"
[This card cannot be targeted, and cannot be destroyed, by card effects.]
Majestic resistances—untargetable and unaffected by destruction—let the Dragoon slip unharmed through Augoeides's targeted destruction.
Yes, the Dragoon surged skyward.
Spreading the black wings of Red‑Eyes, he batted aside the bombardment with one hand, the other dragging a blazing mage blade that carved a crimson arc between sky and earth.
"Not only will Augoeides fail to destroy him—I'll strike it down instead! Shatter the heavens with your slash, Dragoon!"
The Dragoon's Attack was only 3000, while Augoeides had 5000 after absorbing a Fusion.
Yet that gap didn't matter as the Dragoon's blade, wreathed in crimson flame, came down.
"This is Red‑Eyes Dark Dragoon's effect!"
[During your Main Phase: Target 1 monster your opponent controls; destroy it, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its original Attack. You can use this effect up to the number of Normal Monsters used as Fusion Material for this card each turn.]
Even in his ultimate form, the Dragoon still housed the Normal power of Dark Magician.
Within the all‑cleaving flame blade burned the ace's will.
"—Dragoon • Dragon‑Soul Flame Slash!!"
That blade, as if to cleave the endless sky, roared down and split the Academy‑sized Augoeides.
"Stop him, Mechaba!"
Crimson met silver in midair, their clash shaking the Academy.
At Alester's command, Invoked Mechaba raced in to intercept the Dragoon.
Alester roared: "Since you activated an effect, take Mechaba's effect in return!"
He flung the Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries in his hand skyward—the Monster to fuel Mechaba's counter.
"Negate Dragoon's effect and banish it, Mechaba!"
Even if it couldn't be destroyed, if banished, the Dragoon would still be sent away.
He was certain this was his all—enough to challenge a monster at the Gate's pinnacle.
And yet, even a genius could not truly foresee how strong the Gate's greatest monsters were.
"Negate your negate—unleash it! Red‑Eyes Dark Dragoon's final effect!"
Miles countered with an ability that left everyone speechless.
[Once per turn, when a Spell/Trap or monster effect is activated (Quick Effect): Discard 1 card; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card, then this card gains 1000 ATK.]
Similar to Invoked Mechaba, yet not the same.
Mechaba required the matching type to negate.
The Dragoon did not—discard any card, negate anything, destroy it, and grow stronger.
Majestic resistances stronger than Augoeides's destruction; suppression greater than Mechaba's.
All of it, in a single monster.
"This is… a monster from beyond the Gate of Truth…"
Alester gazed up at the ever‑brighter flame blade.
"I discard the Trap, Return from the Different Dimension—this is the end! — 'Crimson • Arcane Burst!!'"
Dragon soul and arcane power roared as one. With a completely useless Trap as the final price, Miles crushed Alester and declared the Duel over.
[Invoked Mechaba — negated & destroyed]
[Invoked Augoeides — destroyed]
A turn ago, two top‑tier LIGHT Invokeds had formed an almost certain, invincible lock. In a single exchange, the Dragoon wiped them out in the sky.
A jagged crimson rift split the heavens—the mark of that slash's terrifying might.
Just as Miles declared—a form that could cleave the sky.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
[Alester, LP: 3000 → 1000]
With Augoeides destroyed by Dragoon's effect, Alester took damage equal to its original 2000 Attack.
[Red‑Eyes Dark Dragoon, ATK: 3000 → 4000]
After the counter, the crimson‑wreathed blade burned hotter still—symbol of a fusion soul at its peak.
"This is the finishing blow, Alester‑senpai!"
Under the crimson glow, Miles—controlling Irena's body—pointed forward with all his might and entered the last battle.
"Deciding direct attack! Red‑Eyes Dark Dragoon!"
The crimson flame blade fell from the sky. Engulfed by the strike, Alester's eyes saw only the searing fire—and a soul that burned with the same truth.
"So you were… the one who can touch truth…"
"—Dragoon • Crimson Rift Slash!"
[Alester, LP: 1000 → 0]
...
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