"Cough...cough cough..."
On the Duel Ship, in the player's lounge, Hibiki Momiji was coughing violently while leaning against the wall.
He took out a tissue to wipe his mouth and was about to leave the room. Passing by a full-length mirror set up in the room, he stopped unconsciously and turned his head toward the mirror.
He saw the man in the mirror.
A thin and fragile man, seemingly capable of being blown away by a light breeze. The pale complexion was akin to the first snow of winter that had never seen the sun, devoid of any blood color, and faint shadows hung under his eyes.
He didn't resemble a duelist, more like a patient.
He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm really in bad shape." He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Especially when facing the most important junior, I need to show some semblance of a duelist..."
He composed himself, took a deep breath, and put his glasses back on.
But when he turned, he found his sister Hibiki Midori had somehow already positioned herself at the door, blocking the only exit from the lounge.
"Sister," Momiji said softly.
Seconds of silence.
"You really... haven't actually recovered, have you?" Midori said, "Since that duel..."
Hibiki Momiji paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes."
That was already last year's incident.
On the night Hibiki Momiji claimed the world championship in the United States, a mysterious duelist appeared before him.
"Congratulations, world champion Mr. Momiji."
That person said, then revealed a strange smile.
Then he raised a Duel Disc and inserted a card deck into it.
"Can you accept my duel challenge?"
The duel came suddenly. But Hibiki Momiji was a card enthusiast akin to Judai, thus immersed in the joy of winning the championship, he didn't give much thought to the duel.
He felt that as a champion, accepting challenges was part of his responsibility.
So he accepted.
And that was the beginning of the nightmare.
The man's duel exceeded his imagination. Not only ridiculously strong but also exceptionally eerie.
This was also Hibiki Momiji's first encounter with the legendary "Dark Duel." With every occurrence of damage, every instance of losing Life Points, he could feel actual life energy escaping his body, like an invisible Black Hole gradually extracting his soul.
Then he lost.
Or rather, he should have lost.
In the final round, all his resources were depleted, his Life Points flickered like a candle in the wind, and his consciousness was already blurred.
He couldn't even see clearly the opponent across from him, just heard that person chuckle gloomily: "No wonder you're the world champion, indeed stronger than most duelists of this era.
Then I'll be taking your soul and your Earth without hesitation."
But right at that moment, twin beams of golden light shot in like sword strikes, and the roar of a motorcycle swiftly approached.
The man's expression suddenly changed.
"Tch, to be followed all the way to a place like this, truly a persistent fellow... Forget it, my powers are still too weak, it's not the right time yet."
He said this while putting away the Duel Disc, casting a cold glance at Hibiki Momiji.
He laughed sinisterly.
"You got away with your life this time, champion," the man sneered, "But don't rejoice too soon. Your duel was basically lost to me. This life, though left in your hands temporarily, is already mine.
From now on, every time you duel, your life will diminish with your card deck, as if it were 'your life'... Heh, this description may still seem abstract, but it's alright."
The man's face was engulfed in shadows.
"...You'll understand soon enough."
Hibiki Momiji lost consciousness, completely collapsed to the ground.
Before his consciousness faded away, he heard what seemed like a motorcycle stopping nearby, followed by someone rushing towards him.
"Hey! That guy over there, are you alright..."
"..."
"So it's true, you were lying to me?"
Midori looked at him.
"Saying you'd already recovered, ready to return to the duel field or whatever..."
"I'm sorry, sister," Hibiki Momiji said.
"But why? With such a condition..."
Midori stepped forward.
"Besides, now there is only one semi-final left, with only you and that bizarre man yet to duel.
You must have seen it too, this opponent..."
"Perhaps similar to the opponent who felled me in the United States, both possessing the legendary 'dark forces,' right?" Momiji nodded, "I know."
"You know, then still... Two people have already fallen in the recent duels.
Given your current condition, even engaging in an ordinary duel is exceedingly taxing. Fighting such a character, you may not even endure until the duel concludes..."
"I know."
Momiji nodded.
"If so, then why still..."
Midori urgently stepped forward, grasping his shoulders with both hands.
"Just listen to me, Momiji, forfeit. It's not too late now, don't duel such a person..."
But Momiji raised his head, smiling gently.
"I've already mentally prepared for anything when I entered this tournament, sister. Whether it's a Dark Duel... doesn't make much of a difference."
"Momiji!"
"I am a duelist, sister." Momiji shook his head, "Especially in front of important juniors, I want to show the demeanor of a duelist... Not a deserter."
Midori: "..."
She lowered her head, falling into silence.
"Must you really... go?"
"Yes."
Momiji smiled effortlessly, tapped her shoulder.
"And don't worry, sister, I am very strong." He said confidently.
Midori took a deep breath.
"I understand. Just this one match, never again. Also..."
She stepped back, letting the door open.
"...You must win."
Momiji exited the room, walking toward the arena along the corridor, leaving her with a back view holding a thumbs-up without turning back.
"Of course."
"..."
...
"Alright, now we've reached the final battle among the top eight!"
Judge Izuno stood in the center of the field, while the duelists, Hibiki Momiji and the Judge claiming to be the incarnation of the Snake God, had already taken their positions on the left and right sides of the arena.
Momiji cautiously examined the man opposite, while his opponent merely stood with arms crossed, eyes closed, looking as though he didn't even regard Momiji as his adversary.
Hibiki Momiji recalled the events before Loren fell in the previous match.
He didn't know the opponent's origins, but undoubtedly, this person must be quite terrifying, whether within the duel or outside.
Yet no matter what kind of opponent he faced, he had never backed down.
"World champion, greatest hero Hibiki Momiji."
The Judge regarded him with an enigmatic smile.
"Let me see what you're capable of."