Meanwhile in the Jungle Zone
The dense canopy above filtered the fading sunlight into fractured beams, casting long shadows across the battle-worn clearing. The sounds of Duel Monsters still echoed faintly in the air—residual aftershocks from the fight that had just ended.
Yuto and Shun stood side by side, their duel disks powering down, their breathing heavy. Scattered duel fields and fragments of destroyed monsters marked the area where they had just held off an ambush. Fifteen Obelisk Force operatives had attacked at once, but the duo—driven by grit and defiance—had managed to prevail.
The reason they'd avoided a devastating trap? Hikage's intelligence. The masked ninja's warning had allowed them to anticipate the ambush and prepare accordingly.
"Fifteen at once..." Yuto muttered, brushing sweat from his forehead. "They're getting bolder."
"Bolder, or desperate," Shun replied, resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath. His eyes shifted to their allies. "Either way, we're still standing."
They had told Ryuki, Ruri, and Kenji earlier to stay back, insisting that Ryuki—the strongest of their group—should conserve his energy. With Academia stepping up their offensives, his power would be needed for the inevitable big clashes ahead.
Now, however, the two boys' exhaustion was plain to see. Ruri stepped forward, worry etched in her expression.
"Can you still fight?" she asked, scanning their faces.
Shun shook his head first, then Yuto. "We're tapped out," Shun admitted. "If another wave comes, we'll just get in the way."
And as if fate itself had overheard them, the undergrowth rustled violently. Three more Obelisk Force soldiers emerged from the shadows, their eyes sharp, duel disks ready.
Ryuki's hand instinctively moved toward his own duel disk, but before he could activate it, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
"I'll handle them," Kenji said calmly.
Ryuki turned, raising an eyebrow. "You sure? You've barely dueled since we got here."
Kenji smirked. "All the more reason to stretch my legs."
After a pause, Ryuki nodded. "Fine. Just... try not to make a huge mess."
The Emperor chuckled, his tone almost teasing. "I'll keep the collateral damage to a minimum. No promises on their pride, though."
He stepped forward with deliberate slowness, his boots crunching against the leaf litter. As he reached the center of the clearing, he raised his left arm, revealing a Standard Dimension duel disk unlike the usual designs—sleek, silver in color, with elegant engravings along its edges. With a smooth motion, he activated it, and a light blue blade flared to life with a hum.
From behind, Ryuki called out, frowning. "You're using a Standard duel disk? Why?"
Kenji glanced back over his shoulder, grinning faintly. "Just wanted to try it out."
Ryuki could only sigh. "Do what you want."
It was then that Ryuki felt something—an unsettling ripple in his mind. His PSYqualia flared, sharp and intrusive. The three Obelisk Force soldiers were radiating something... unnatural. A heavy, oppressive darkness lingered around them, almost tangible in the air.
He opened his mouth to warn Kenji, but stopped himself. The Emperor wasn't someone who needed protection—if anything, danger was his native ground.
The Obelisk Force soldier with the green crystal stepped forward, a smug grin tugging at his lips. "Well, well... looks like we've got ourselves a wannabe hero."
The one with the yellow crystal chimed in, voice dripping with mockery. "At least the fools we fought earlier put up a fight. You? You'll just be another mark on our record."
The red-crystaled soldier's gaze locked on Ruri. "Here's the deal. Hand over Kurosaki Ruri, and we'll let you walk away unscathed."
Kenji stopped just a few steps away, his expression flattening into something cold and unreadable. "Done talking?" His voice was calm, but it carried an edge sharp enough to cut steel. "Good. Then let's get this started. And one more thing..." His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Don't underestimate me. There's a reason they call me the 'Emperor.'"
Ruri blinked in surprise. She had never heard that tone from Kenji before—cool, razor-focused, and utterly serious.
Ryuki, watching closely, leaned toward her. "Kenji's easygoing most of the time, but when he gets serious..." His gaze stayed fixed on the approaching duel. "You're about to see why his nickname isn't just for show."
The yellow-crystaled soldier scoffed. "Big words. Let's see if you can back them up."
All three activated their duel disks, scarlet-red blades of light flaring from each.
"Then prepare yourself, Emperor," the green one said darkly. "You're about to experience the might of the Obelisk Force."
A cold breeze swept through the Jungle Zone as the duel began.
-----
"DUEL!"
Kenji: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Red: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 1 – Obelisk Yellow
"I'll take the first turn! Draw!" the yellow-crystaled Obelisk Force soldier declared, his voice filled with arrogance as he slid his drawn card into his hand. Without hesitation, he slapped a card onto his duel disk. "I summon Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
From a portal of gears and steam, a squat, bronze-plated mechanical hound emerged, its metallic jaw clanking as it barked mechanically at Kenji. Steam hissed from vents along its back, and its glowing red eyes locked onto its target.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
"I'll end my turn with that," Yellow said smugly, crossing his arms as the automaton growled low at the Emperor.
Kenji: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Red: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 2 – Obelisk Green
"My turn! Draw!" The green-crystaled soldier's tone carried the same condescension. "I also summon Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
A second hound burst forth in a flurry of gears and metallic clattering, identical to the first but with slightly darker plating. It immediately joined its counterpart, both machines lowering their heads in preparation to strike.
Antique Gear Hound Dog #2
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
"Antique Gear Hound Dog—direct attack! Hound Charge!"
Kenji's fingers twitched toward a Quick-Play Spell in his hand, but he stopped. A memory of Kazumi's warning flashed in his mind: 'When Antique Gear Hound battles, your opponent can't use Spells or Traps during that battle.'
"Tch... guess I'll take it head-on," Kenji muttered.
The mechanical beast lunged, steam hissing from its pistons as it swiped its reinforced claw across Kenji's side. The impact pushed him back several steps, his coat whipping from the force.
Kenji: 4000 → 3000
"Well now," Green remarked with a small smirk, "you took the hit like a man. But don't fool yourself—you're just delaying the inevitable."
He slid a card into his duel disk with a metallic click. "I set one card face-down. Turn over."
Kenji: 3000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Red: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 4000 | Hand: 4
Turn 3 – Obelisk Red
"Now it's my turn! Draw!" The red-crystaled soldier's grin was wolfish as he revealed his drawn card. "I summon—guess what—Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
A third automaton leapt into existence beside the others, its plating catching the dim jungle light.
Antique Gear Hound Dog #3
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
"And like before, my hound attacks you directly!"
The machine's claws dug into the ground as it lunged at Kenji. The Emperor braced himself, absorbing the blow—but this time, as the hound came in close, Kenji's hand shot out.
Gasps rang out as he grabbed the mechanical beast mid-strike by its belly plating, its legs thrashing wildly. With a sharp grunt, Kenji pivoted and hurled it back toward its controller, the automaton skidding to a halt in front of Red.
Kenji: 3000 → 2000
"Did... did Kenji just throw a monster back at him?" Ruri asked, eyes wide.
Ryuki exhaled slowly, nodding. "That's... Kenji for you."
Red's expression faltered for just a moment before he scoffed. "Impressive trick, but it doesn't change the fact you're hopelessly outnumbered. With your Life Points already halved, you won't last another full round. When my turn comes again, it's over."
Sliding a card into his duel disk, he smirked. "I end my turn."
Kenji: 2000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Red: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 4000 | Hand: 4
Turn 4 – Kenji
The three snarling Antique Gear Hound Dogs crouched low, metallic jaws clicking, glowing eyes locked on him. Steam hissed from their armored frames, the jungle air filled with the mechanical stench of oil and scorched steel.
Kenji didn't flinch. He simply stood there, hands loose at his sides, gaze locked forward as if measuring them—not as opponents, but as obstacles. He could already feel the weight of numbers pressing against him. If he didn't take control now, the next coordinated strike would crush him.
He closed his eyes.
For a heartbeat, the clearing seemed to still. Then he opened them again—his irises glowing faintly, an almost cosmic light swirling within. PSYqualia.
A ripple of recognition passed through Ryuki and Ruri instantly, both of them drawing sharp breaths.
"...He has it too," Ryuki murmured under his breath.
Ruri turned toward him, stunned. "Kenji... has PSYqualia?"
Ryuki nodded as he didn't expect Kenji to have one as well.
Kenji raised his arm in one smooth motion, the silver duel disk gleaming. "My turn—draw!"
The card slid free in a bright arc, and for a fleeting second, it left a faint trail of shimmering stardust behind it. Kenji glanced at it, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
"If I control no monsters," he declared, his voice calm but carrying, "I can Special Summon this card from my hand. Stand beside me—Dimensional Robo, Goyusha!"
A swirl of blue-white energy split open the air, and from within strode a lean, humanoid robot. Its frame was a striking blue with white reinforcement plating, a sword gripped in one hand and a shield in the other. A bold "1" was emblazoned on its chest, the number gleaming in the sunlight that pierced the canopy.
Dimensional Robo, Goyusha
Level 4 / LIGHT / Battleroid / Effect
ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1500
On the sidelines, Yuto and Shun exchanged curious glances.
"What kind of deck does Kenji even run?" Yuto asked, leaning toward Ryuki.
Ryuki didn't take his eyes off the field. "Dimensional Robos. In my world, they're part of the Dimension Police clan—a force that wins through overwhelming power, scaling their units to the point where you cannot stop them. Brute force and precision. But here..." His tone dropped ever so slightly. "...Let's just say I hope the Obelisk Force has enough Life Points to survive what's coming."
That last remark sent a faint shiver through Ruri, Shun, and even Yuto.
Kenji lifted his gaze to the three Academia soldiers, his voice suddenly sharper. "You'd better brace yourselves. I'm not holding back."
He raised a hand over Goyusha. "I activate Goyusha's skill! I can Fusion Summon without a Fusion Spell—so long as Goyusha is one of the materials!"
The Obelisk Force visibly stiffened.
"That's impossible—" the Yellow soldier muttered.
"Only the elite of Academia can Fusion Summon without a Spell Card!" Green snapped, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
Kenji ignored them, sliding two more cards from his hand. "I fuse Dimensional Robo, Goyusha on my field with Dimensional Robo, Daisupporter and Dimensional Robo, Daimagnum from my hand!"
Goyusha leapt upward, dissolving into a swirl of blue and white light. A humanoid robot with a violet-gray revolver frame followed, spinning its gun barrels as it vanished into the vortex. Then a pink-and-white female humanoid robot with a medical kit clasped in her hands joined them, the vortex roaring louder with each addition.
Kenji's voice rang out, his tone like a commander calling an army to battle.
"From the depths of space, where steel and honor shine as one—
I call upon the unyielding defender who crushes evil with iron resolve!
Let justice take form in steel might!
Fusion Summon!
Deploy—Level 8! Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha!"
The vortex exploded, and from within emerged a colossal warrior of steel and gold. Blue and white armor covered its frame, a pair of crimson mechanical wings extending like those of a dragon. In its right hand, a massive blade gleamed; in its left, a titanic shield braced for war.
Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha
Level 8 / EARTH / Battleroid / Fusion / Effect / Limit Break
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 3000
The Obelisk Force instinctively stepped back. The sheer size of the robot dwarfed even the tallest jungle trees, its shadow stretching over them like a judgment.
Kenji wasn't done.
"First, Daimagnum's skill! If Daimagnum is used as Fusion Material—I draw two cards, then discard one!"
The cards flashed in his hands before he sent one to the Graveyard.
"And if a Dimensional Robo Fusion Monster is summoned, Daimagnum comes back from the Graveyard!" The revolver-framed robot reappeared in a burst of light, spinning its barrels. "And when it does—it gains 1000 ATK!"
Dimensional Robo, Daimagnum
Level 4 / EARTH / Battleroid / Effect
ATK: 1400 → 2400 / DEF: 1200
Kenji pointed forward. "Daimagnum's other skill—when Special Summoned, my opponent takes damage equal to half its ATK! That's 1200 damage—to each of you!"
The revolvers blazed, rapid-fire shots forcing the Obelisk Force back as their Life Points dropped in unison.
Obelisk Yellow: 4000 → 2800
Obelisk Green: 4000 → 2800
Obelisk Red: 4000 → 2800
Kenji swept a card from his Graveyard. "Next—Daisupporter's skill! If used as a Fusion Material without a Fusion Spell, I add two Dimensional Robo monsters from my Deck to my hand—and Daiyusha gains 500 ATK! I'll take Dimensional Robo, Daidumper and Dimensional Robo, Daimagnel!"
A pulse of power surged into the giant robot's frame, its blade shimmering.
Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha
ATK: 3000 → 3500
"And from my Graveyard—Dimensional Robo, Daimariner's skill! I check the top card of my Deck. If it's a monster, I Special Summon it; if not, it comes to my hand."
Kenji drew, glancing at the card. A Trap. He slid it into his hand without comment.
"Lastly—when Daiyusha is Fusion Summoned, it gains 500 ATK for every Dimensional Robo used!"
Three phantom silhouettes—Goyusha, Daisupporter, Daimagnum—merged into the colossus, light erupting from its frame.
Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha
ATK: 3500 → 5000
Kenji's arm shot forward. "Battle! Daiyusha—attack Red's Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
At that command, Daiyusha raised its massive sword, the air distorting around it from sheer power. "Daiyusha's skill! By switching one monster I control to Defense Position, Daiyusha gains 1000 ATK! I'll switch Daimagnum!"
Daimagnum knelt, raising its revolvers in a defensive stance as power surged into the colossus.
Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha
ATK: 5000 → 6000
"Six... thousand..." Ruri whispered, eyes wide.
Ryuki gave a low chuckle. "If Kenji was really going for his strongest play... six thousand would just be warm-up."
But Green's eyes narrowed. "Not so fast! Continuous Trap—Antique Gear Reactive Armor! When an Antique Gear monster is in battle, they can't be destroyed in battle, and all battle damage is negated!"
A metallic wall of rotating gears erupted around the Hound Dog as Daiyusha's sword crashed down, sparks scattering as the automaton emerged unharmed.
Red sneered. "Is that the best you've got? Even with 6000 ATK, you can't touch us. Pathetic."
Kenji didn't rise to the bait. He simply smiled faintly, PSYqualia flaring brighter in his gaze. He'd already seen their next move—a coordinated strike with the Hound Dogs, followed by the card that would wipe out his remaining Life Points. And in that same vision... he saw exactly how to stop it.
"Hm." He slid a card into his duel disk. "I set one face-down. Turn end."
The hologram shimmered into place.
As his monsters' effects wound down, Daiyusha's blade dimmed slightly.
Dimensional Robo, Daimagnum
ATK: 2400 → 1400
Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha
ATK: 6000 → 4500
Kenji stood motionless, the faint smirk never leaving his face.
Kenji: 2000 | Hand: 6
Obelisk Red: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 2800 | Hand: 4
Turn 5 – Obelisk Yellow
"My turn! Draw!" Yellow's voice cut through the tension, sharp and eager. His fingers slid the top card from his deck, and a smug grin began to creep onto his face. The gears were turning—literally. The plan was simple: use his Hound Dog's effect to tear chunks out of Kenji's Life Points until there was nothing left.
But before his mechanical beast could even twitch, Kenji's voice rang out, confident and commanding.
"Continuous Trap—Authority of the Hero!"
The trap card flipped up, its holographic projection erupting with a blinding golden light. A towering silhouette of Daiyusha emerged, radiating an overwhelming aura that seemed to crush the will of weaker monsters.
"As long as this card is face-up, and I control a Daiyusha or Daikaiser Fusion Monster," Kenji declared, his eyes glinting, "all face-up monsters whose Levels are lower than my Fusion Monster cannot activate their effects!"
The effect rippled across the battlefield. The three-headed mechanical hounds froze mid-snarl, their eyes dimming as Daiyusha's imposing presence bore down on them.
"Tch!" Yellow clicked his tongue in frustration, realizing his usual combo had been dismantled before it even started.
On the sidelines, Shun's sharp eyes narrowed. "So that's his game. Lock their effects down, strangle the plays before they can even start."
Ryuki nodded. "Exactly. Daiyusha's Level 8—most of their Antique Gear monsters can't even get close. And even if they could, 4500 ATK is a wall they're not getting through easily."
The Obelisk Yellow clenched his fists. "To think you'd know our monsters' effects so well..." He shot Kenji a glare, his pride wounded. "It doesn't matter. I'll still crush you! From my hand—Spell Card, Antique Gear Breakthrough Fusion!"
A shimmering vortex of shifting bronze and iron gears erupted on the field, spinning with grinding force.
"By banishing two Antique Gear monsters from my field, hand, Graveyard, or Extra Deck, I can Fusion Summon one Antique Gear monster from my Extra Deck! I banish my Antique Gear Hound Dog on the field, and my Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog from my Extra Deck!"
The mechanical beasts were pulled into the vortex, their metallic roars fading into the storm of gears.
"Mechanical hounds that carry the ancient spirit—merge into a single, unstoppable predator! Fusion Summon! Appear now, Level 9—Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog!"
With a thunderous CLANG, a monstrous hound landed on Yellow's field. Rusted metal plates clung to its massive frame, and four snapping heads spewed bursts of steam. Its eyes glowed a deep, menacing red, and the stench of machine oil seemed to permeate the air.
Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog
Level 9 / EARTH / Machine / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000
Yellow grinned, the shadows of his beast looming over Kenji's side of the field. "With Antique Gear Breakthrough Fusion's restriction, I can't attack this turn, nor can I summon or set. But I don't need to. Ultimate Hound Dog—show him your power! I activate its effect! When this card is Summoned, your Life Points are cut in half! Antique Shave Howling!"
The four heads reared back and unleashed a simultaneous blast of jagged energy streams. They twisted through the air like metallic serpents, slamming into Kenji with brutal force. The shockwave pushed him back a step, his coat whipping in the gust.
Kenji: 2000 → 1000.
Ruri gasped. "Kenji!"
But as the light from the attack faded, they noticed something strange—Kenji wasn't rattled. He had taken the hit, arms shielding his face, yet when he lowered them, there was a faint, almost mocking smirk on his lips.
On the sidelines, Ryuki crossed his arms, speaking just loud enough for Shun, Ruri, and Yuto to hear. "If this were anyone else, that would be checkmate. But Kenji's Dimensional Robo deck has... quirks. You'll see when it's his turn."
Yuto frowned. "You sound awfully sure for someone who just watched their teammate lose half their LP."
Ryuki's smirk deepened. "Just keep watching."
"Hmph." Yellow straightened, convinced his opponent was bluffing. "Enjoy your last turn, Emperor. You won't survive the next."
Kenji didn't respond—his PSYqualia was already flashing again, showing him fragments of the next few moves, the narrow path to victory.
Yellow flicked his wrist, ending his turn with finality. "Turn end."
Kenji: 1000 | Hand: 6
Obelisk Red: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 2800 | Hand: 3
Turn 6 – Obelisk Green
"My turn! Draw!" Green snapped, yanking his card with practiced precision. His eyes narrowed. "I activate the Spell—Left Arm Offering! By banishing my entire hand, I can add a Spell Card from my Deck to my hand." Without hesitation, his remaining cards vanished in a shimmer of dissolving light. "I take Antique Gear Breakthrough Fusion—and I'll activate it immediately!"
He slapped the card onto his Duel Disk, the machine-like roar of gears filling the air. "Just like last turn, I banish Antique Gear Hound Dog from my field and Antique Gear Triple Hound Dog from my Extra Deck to Fusion Summon!"
Twin arcs of molten steel and scrap spiraled into the air, molding into the towering form of another four-headed monstrosity. Its rust-colored frame clanked into place, each head snapping hungrily.
Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog #2
Level 9 / EARTH / Machine / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000
"And just like last time—Ultimate Hound Dog's effect activates! Your LP gets sliced in half! Antique Shave Howling!"
The mechanical beast reared back, its jaws opening in unison before unleashing a deafening, serrated stream of compressed energy. It tore through the air like a rusted buzzsaw's scream, striking Kenji dead-on.
Kenji: 1000 → 500
The attack's force sent a gust of wind through the field, dust curling around Kenji's boots. Yet when it cleared, the young man was calmly brushing the sleeve of his red coat, not even looking at his opponent.
"That's all," Green declared, smirking as he slid his last card into the Graveyard slot.
Kenji: 500 | Hand: 6
Obelisk Red: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Yellow: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 2800 | Hand: 0
Kenji's expression didn't change. The only sound was the faint rustle of fabric as he adjusted his coat, as if flicking away the damage like lint. Deep down, there was a reason he looked so unshaken—compared to the crushing defeats he'd suffered at the hands of Ren and Kai back in the day, this was nothing.
That subtle dismissal didn't go unnoticed. The Obelisk Force's confident smirks wavered, just for a moment. The psychological shift was palpable—this man wasn't on the back foot, no matter what the Life Point counter said.
Across the field, Ryuki stood with arms folded, the faintest grin tugging at his lips. He'd seen this before—Kenji's ability to turn damage into fuel for his momentum.
Green turned to his teammate in red, trying to mask his own unease with bravado. "Finish it next turn," he ordered sharply. But even as the words left his mouth, there was an underlying tension. If Kenji really was as calm as he looked... their window to end this duel might already be closing.
Turn 7 – Obelisk Red
"Tch... my turn! Draw!" Red growled, yanking his card as if daring it to be enough to finish this stubborn opponent. His teeth clenched. "I summon another Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
The metallic whir of gears echoed as a squat, rust-colored mechanical hound padded onto the field, taking position beside Red's existing monster. Its eyes glowed a predatory red, both heads fixed squarely on Kenji.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
Level 3 / EARTH / Machine / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
"Next, I activate the Spell—Antique Gear Renewal!" Red's Duel Disk flared as the card slammed down. "By banishing one Antique Gear monster I control, I can Special Summon an Antique Gear monster that's already been banished—from either player's banished zone! Its effects will be negated, but that won't matter!"
He jabbed a finger at his newly-summoned Hound Dog. "I banish my Hound Dog to bring back Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog!"
The air shimmered, and a hulking, dark-blue three-headed hound took form, each of its mechanical jaws snapping and sparking as it snarled toward Kenji.
Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog
Level 7 / EARTH / Machine / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1000
"Now for the big one," Red said with a wolfish grin. "I activate my Hound Dog's effect! By using monsters from my hand or field, I can Fusion Summon!"
The two mechanical beasts—the smaller Hound Dog and the hulking Triple Bite—were pulled upward into a spiraling vortex of molten metal and grinding gears. The vortex exploded outward, revealing a titanic, rust-armored monstrosity with four snapping heads, each one glowing with heat.
"Come forth—my third Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog!"
The massive construct slammed onto the field with a seismic thud, dust kicking up around it.
Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog #3
Level 9 / EARTH / Machine / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000
Kenji's eyes narrowed—not out of fear, but with quiet recognition. He already knew what was coming next.
"You know what happens now!" Red shouted. "Ultimate Hound Dog's effect—your LP is cut in half!"
The beast's four jaws opened wide, unleashing a roaring column of cutting energy. It tore across the field, raking through the air toward Kenji.
Kenji: 500 → 250
The crowd watching flinched at the sight, but Kenji barely shifted his footing. His coat whipped in the wind from the blast, yet his face remained calm, almost unreadable.
Red, emboldened by the hit, suddenly noticed a card lying just to his right—an Action Card tossed aside earlier in the match. He stooped, picked it up, and quickly scanned its text. A wicked grin crossed his face.
"Oh... oh, this is perfect," he muttered, before raising his voice. "I activate Action Magic: Bramble Shot! You take 500 damage! This is the end for you!"
Glittering green vines burst from the card, twisting into thorned brambles that shot forward like a barrage of spears, their tips gleaming with lethal intent.
But Kenji's hand moved in an instant. "Not so fast! I activate Dimensional Robo, Daibattles' skill!" His voice cut through the air with steady authority. "When my opponent activates a card effect, I can discard this card to negate that effect—and then I draw one card!"
A massive, futuristic police vehicle—its red, blue, white, and gold frame flashing—materialized between Kenji and the incoming brambles. The Daibattles emitted a deep siren-like wail before deploying an energy barrier. The thorned projectiles struck and shattered harmlessly, falling as withered scraps to the ground.
With the threat gone, the mechanical guardian dissolved into motes of light, leaving Kenji standing untouched. He casually drew his replacement card, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Red's confident grin twisted into a scowl. "Curses!"
Kenji simply met his glare, eyes sharp but unreadable.
"I... end my turn," Red spat, sliding his remaining cards into place with more force than necessary. His frustration was palpable—their so-called perfect offense had been blunted yet again, and Kenji was still standing.
Kenji: 250 | Hand: 7
Obelisk Red: 2800 | Hand: 3
Obelisk Yellow: 2800 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Green: 2800 | Hand: 0
Across the field, the Obelisk Force regrouped mentally. Yellow's brow furrowed, Green kept his arms crossed, but it was Red who looked the most unsettled.
On the sidelines, Ryuki's smirk deepened, eyes glinting as if he could already see the shape of Kenji's counterattack. He knew that look in Kenji's eyes—he'd seen it in countless fights before. It was the calm before the storm, the moment where the tides of a battle quietly turned.
For all their bravado, the Obelisk Force had just made a fatal mistake: they had given Kenji room to breathe. And against someone like him, a single turn of breathing space could be all it took for the hunter to become the prey.
Turn 8 – Kenji
The jungle had gone utterly silent. Not even the wind dared to intrude on the moment.
Kenji's gaze shifted from his towering Vanguard—Daiyusha, his stalwart partner through countless battles—to the deck resting before him. In that stack of cards lay the allies, strategies, and sacrifices that had carried him through every victory and every crushing defeat. They were not just cards; they were his soldiers, his comrades.
As his fingers brushed the top of his deck, a familiar sensation surged through him. His PSYqualia—that strange, unyielding force—flared to life. The world around him seemed to fade, replaced by a vision.
He saw it.
Daiyusha, but not as he was now—transformed into something far greater, an unstoppable colossus cleaving through his enemies with light brighter than the stars themselves. The image was so vivid it was as if fate itself whispered the path forward.
Kenji closed his eyes. In the stillness, he understood. This was the moment. This was the end.
When he opened them again, the silver light of PSYqualia burned deep within his irises, cold and resolute.
"Final Turn!" His voice cracked the silence like a thunderclap.
Gasps rippled through the spectators.
"Final Turn?" Yuto blurted out, his disbelief plain.
Shun's eyes narrowed. "Is he saying... he'll finish it now?"
From the sidelines, Ryuki's lips curled into a knowing grin. "Looks like Kenji's pulling out the big guns. Ruri, Yuto, Shun—you're about to witness the power of the Emperor. The third-strongest fighter in my world... Mitsusada Kenji."
Kenji drew his card with practiced precision. He didn't even glance at it—the silver fire in his eyes told him exactly what it was before his fingers left the deck.
"I activate the Spell Card—Daiyusha Victory Formation!"
The holographic card materialized before him, its energy flaring like a rallying trumpet. "By returning five cards from my hand to my deck, I can add five Dimensional Robo monsters from my deck or graveyard to my hand!"
In a single, fluid motion, Kenji returned five cards to the deck. "From my deck, I add Dimensional Robo, Dailander and Dimensional Robo, Daidragon. From my graveyard, I add Dimensional Robo, Daibattles, Dimensional Robo, Daimariner, and Dimensional Robo, Goyusha!"
The cards snapped into his hand one after another like weapons loaded into a chamber.
"Next, I activate my Field Spell—Hall of Heroes!"
The jungle backdrop of the Action Duel dissolved in a wave of light. In its place rose a titanic hall, its white mechanical walls glistening like polished steel, etched with glowing circuitry that pulsed with golden light. Enormous archways lined the structure, so vast that even Daiyusha could stride through them without stooping. The air hummed with power, and Kenji—standing at its center—looked utterly at home.
"Hall of Heroes' effect: Once per turn, I can reveal one Dimensional Robo monster in my hand and Special Summon a monster from my deck with the same level!" He revealed Daimariner, then pointed to his deck. "From my deck—Dimensional Robo, Daitiger!"
With a metallic roar, a massive yellow robo-tiger with green stripes leapt from the summoning light. Its bladed claws gleamed wickedly as it landed beside Kenji, tail lashing like a predator ready to pounce.
Dimensional Robo, Daitiger
Level 4 / EARTH / Battleroid / Effect
ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1000
"I also switch Daimagnum to Attack Position!" The revolver-limbed mech pivoted sharply, raising its gun-arms in perfect synchronization with its partner's stance.
Then Kenji's tone dropped, his voice carrying a gravity that made the Obelisk Force shift uneasily. "Now... Daiyusha. Now is the time to transcend."
He drew another card from his hand and slammed it down. "I Normal Summon Dimensional Robo, Goyusha once more!" The small, spherical mech with wide, determined eyes appeared, hovering beside the others.
A/N: Insert Cardfight! Vanguard Opening 1
"And now... I activate its skill!" Kenji's arm swept forward, his voice gaining force with each word. "I fuse Goyusha with Daibattles, Daidragon, Daimariner, Dailander, and my ace—Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha!"
Ryuki, Ruri, Yuto, Shun and even the Obelisk Foce expected the familiar sight of monsters being sucked into a swirling vortex. But what they saw instead left them breathless.
High above the Hall of Heroes, Daiyusha took flight. His limbs detached, scattering into the air like pieces of a living machine, while the other Dimensional Robos surged upward to meet him.
Daimariner locked into place as massive armored legs.
Daibattles transformed, forming powerful thruster-boosted feet.
Dailander reshaped into colossal arms brimming with servo-muscle plating.
Daidragon unfurled into immense, gleaming wings that blotted out the light.
Goyusha moved to the core, merging seamlessly into Daiyusha's chest, forming a radiant, beating heart of power.
As the pieces locked together, Kenji's voice thundered across the arena:
"Beyond the cosmos, where ultimate valor is forged!
I call upon the giant who stands at the pinnacle of justice!
Let all who bring chaos fall before its titanic power!
Fusion Summon!
Arise—Level 12... Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha!"
Light engulfed the fusion, so blinding it forced everyone to shield their eyes. When it cleared, the colossus stood revealed.
At least one hundred meters tall, its gleaming blue-white-and-gold armor shone like a beacon. Its massive wings stretched wide, their span enough to eclipse the battlefield. The air seemed to bend beneath its sheer presence. Merely standing there, it radiated an aura so overpowering it could crush the will of lesser duelists.
Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha
Level 12 / LIGHT / Battleroid / Fusion / Effect / Limit Break / Mate
ATK: ? / DEF: ?
Ruri looked up at the size of Great Daiyusha, "It's... it's a monster..."
"No," Ryuki corrected with a smirk, his voice dripping with admiration. "That... is justice given form."
Even the Obelisk Force—trained, disciplined, and drilled for precision—took a half-step back without realizing it. Against this towering warrior, their once-fearsome mechanical beasts seemed suddenly... small.
Kenji's silver-lit gaze never left his opponents. His hand hovered over his cards like a general poised to issue his final command.
The Emperor had assembled his army.
Now, the judgment would begin.
"When the Great Daiyusha is Fusion Summoned, and Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha rests in the graveyard, the Great Daiyusha's base power surges—gaining 3000 ATK and DEF!" Kenji's voice echoed through the Hall of Heroes, reverberating like a decree from a sovereign. "And for every non-Fusion Dimensional Robo I used to forge him, he gains an additional 500 ATK and DEF. I used five—an extra 2500!"
The air trembled as the numbers climbed.
Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha
ATK: ? → 5500 / DEF: ? → 5500
"But I'm not done," Kenji continued, his silver-lit eyes locked on his opponents. "When Daimariner, Dailander, Daidragon, and Daibattles are used as Fusion Materials, each grants the Great Daiyusha another 500 ATK. Four abilities—another 2000 points!"
The great machine warrior's aura blazed brighter, a towering storm of mechanical divinity.
Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha
ATK: 5500 → 7500
"And lastly... Hall of Heroes! All Dimensional Robos gain 200 ATK for every level they possess!" Kenji's field glowed as though the Hall itself blessed its champions. Energy coursed through each metallic ally like molten gold through veins.
Dimensional Robo, Daimagnum
ATK: 1400 → 2200
Dimensional Robo, Daitiger
ATK: 2000 → 2800
Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha
ATK: 7500 → 9900
The Obelisk Force's faces paled. The pressure from the towering machine was crushing, every movement it made bending the air around it.
But Green managed a laugh. "Hah! You think sheer power will be enough? You've forgotten Antique Gear Reactive Armor! Even if your oversized tin can swings with nine-thousand-plus ATK, my trap will negate all battle damage. Your monster can't break us."
Kenji's expression didn't shift an inch. "Battle! Great Daiyusha—attack Green's Ultimate Hound Dog!"
"Fool! With Reactive Armor, my Hound Dog can't be destroyed and I take no damage!" Green's trap projected a barrier of rusted gears around his monster, grinding together in defiance.
Great Daiyusha's colossal fist slammed against the makeshift shield—metal groaning against metal. But Kenji's voice cut through the din like a blade.
"Great Daiyusha's skill! When this card attacks first, I switch it to Defense Position. And when I do... all my non-Fusion Dimensional Robos' ATK is doubled!"
The great warrior raised its arms defensively. In that moment, Daimagnum and Daitiger's forms lit up, their systems overclocking to a deadly degree.
Dimensional Robo, Daimagnum
ATK: 2200 → 4400
Dimensional Robo, Daitiger
ATK: 2800 → 5600
"Hmph. So what?" Red scoffed. "You've got two attacks left at best. Even if you chip away at one of us, in our next turn we—"
"There will be no next turn." Kenji's interruption was calm, final... and absolute. He lifted his hand toward the vast, vaulted ceiling of the Hall of Heroes.
"Let the limits be shattered through adversity! Let your true power be unleashed upon the wicked! Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha—Limit Break!!"
Great Daiyusha's roar tore through the Hall as a deep silver Vanguard Circle materialized above him, shimmering with cosmic light. A sound like glass shattering rang out, echoing into eternity.
"Limit Break?" Shun murmured, stunned.
Ryuki chuckled low, his tone the only calm one in the chaos. "An ability from our world—one only a few monsters can use. It activates only when your LP is below 1000. A last-resort ability... but in the right hands, it's a death sentence."
Ruri's eyes widened in realization. "When Kenji was smiling after they dropped his LP to 1000... he planned this?"
Yuto nodded grimly. "He let them push him to the brink on purpose. Risky... but lethal."
Kenji's voice brought all attention back to the field. "Great Daiyusha's Limit Break! When he's in Defense Position, and I control at least two Dimensional Robos with 3000 or more ATK, he switches back to Attack Position—and gains 3000 more ATK!"
The numbers spiked again, reality almost unable to contain them.
Ultimate Dimensional Robo, Great Daiyusha
ATK: 9900 → 12900
"And that's not all!" Kenji pointed directly at his enemies, his tone a commander delivering the final order. "If Great Daiyusha's ATK exceeds 9000, he attacks all monsters—and negates all card effects!"
The Obelisk Force's confidence dissolved instantly. Every trap, every layer of protection—they were nothing now.
A ripple of energy rolled across the field as Great Daiyusha raised his right hand, a colossal two-handed sword forming from blinding light and digital matter. The blade's edge glimmered with the combined will of every Dimensional Robo Kenji had ever commanded.
"Great Daiyusha! Strike down the Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dogs!"
With a battle cry that shook the Hall to its foundation, the giant machine charged, each step a thunderclap. The sword swung upward, its arc trailing silver-and-gold light that painted the walls like dawn breaking over a battlefield.
And then—
"Galactic... Gargantua Punisher!!!"
The words came not from Kenji, but from Great Daiyusha himself, his voice mechanical yet laced with burning conviction. The blade descended, cutting through the Obelisk Force's entire formation in one unstoppable sweep. Every Antique Gear monster was cleaved apart, their mechanical remains scattering like ash on the wind.
The shockwave from the strike blasted outward, rattling the air itself. The three Obelisk Force members could do nothing but watch as their Life Points plummeted in unison.
Obelisk Red: 2800 → 0
Obelisk Yellow: 2800 → 0
Obelisk Green: 2800 → 0
Silence followed, broken only by the fading hum of Great Daiyusha's systems powering down from their limit.
Winner: Mitsusada Kenji
-----
The Hall of Heroes shimmered and dissolved, the jungle battlefield returning as the duel disk systems reset. Kenji stood there, red coat swaying in the breeze, eyes still glowing faintly silver. His breathing was steady, his composure unbroken—like this overwhelming victory had been inevitable from the start.
The Obelisk Force collapsed to their knees, their pride shattered as surely as their Life Points. Red slammed a fist into the dirt. Yellow hung his head in disbelief. Green's hands trembled—not from anger, but from the lingering fear of what they had just witnessed.
On the sidelines, Yuto, Ruri, and Shun could only stare. Even having seen countless duels, this was something else entirely—a clash that felt like it had shaken more than just the battlefield.
Ryuki stepped forward, grinning like a man who had just watched a prophecy fulfilled. "Now you understand," he said softly to them. "That... was the power of the Emperor. Third strongest in my world, but in his element? He is unstoppable."
Kenji finally looked over at the fallen Obelisk Force, his expression unreadable. Then, with a simple flick of his wrist, he deactivated his duel disk.
"Remember this," he said, his voice calm but carrying like a commandment. "Power is nothing without resolve. And mine... will never falter."
He turned away, Daiyusha's towering form fading into motes of light behind him, leaving nothing but the memory of that overwhelming presence—and the knowledge that none of them would ever forget the day they faced Mitsusada Kenji at full strength.
Kenji walked away from the battlefield without a word, the tension of his victory still hanging in the air. Behind him, the duel disks of the defeated Obelisk Force members lit up with the sharp, clinical glow of the Force Return Protocol. Streams of light coiled around their bodies before pulling them away in shimmering beams—recalled to Academia like pawns swept from a chessboard.
He didn't bother to look back. His eyes were fixed ahead as he closed the distance to Ryuki and the others.
"Well?" Kenji asked, his voice calm but edged with that faint note of pride that came after a flawless win. "How did I do?"
Ryuki regarded him for a moment, arms crossed, before answering in his usual matter-of-fact tone.
"At the very least," Ryuki said, "you had the sense to use Hall of Heroes to seal the battlefield. If you'd summoned Great Daiyusha out in the open jungle, half the Obelisk Force would've been on us before you could take a step."
A subtle smirk tugged at his mouth. "You win the duel, but you also kept us from making a scene. That's what I call clean work."
Before Kenji could reply, a familiar voice rang out.
"Ryuki-kun!"
They turned toward the sound and saw Emi running toward them, Serena close behind. Between them, supported by both arms, was a figure whose gait was still unsteady—Aichi Sendou.
"What happened to you?" Ryuki asked sharply, closing the gap in two strides.
Aichi's answer was quiet but heavy. "I faced Darkness."
The name alone was enough to make Shun and Yuto's expressions harden. Darkness—Academia's most dangerous duelist, a predator that even their world whispered about.
"You fought him and made it back alive?" Yuto asked, disbelief tempered with curiosity.
"I beat him," Aichi confirmed, the words coming with the relief of someone finally freed from a weight they had carried too long. "But... I also learned something. Darkness was possessing the body of a former Academia duelist for the past five years. That body—its real owner—has returned, and right now... he's dueling against Academia."
The group collectively exhaled, tension giving way to cautious optimism. Another powerful duelist had been added to their ranks, and every ally counted in this war.
With the Jungle Zone cleared, Ryuki quickly reorganized their movements.
"Serena, Aichi, Shun—you're with me. We're heading to the Volcano Zone. Kenji, you'll advance to the Iceberg Zone. Yuto, Ruri, Emi, you'll make for the Ancient Ruins Zone and back up Barrett. He's still holding position there."
Everyone nodded in turn, committing their assignments to memory. Without further delay, they split into their respective directions. As Ryuki moved out, a new alert flickered on his duel disk—a message from Tsukikage.
The infiltration program you and Reiji installed... it's been hijacked by an Academia agent.
The text ended with a short addendum: I'm tracking the culprit now.
Ryuki's eyes narrowed. That was a problem for later—but one they couldn't afford to ignore.