"My chain resolves." Yusaku looked at Genichiro. "Senpai, you can keep trying to clear my board—but you're down to one card. You sure you can still do it?"
"…"
"Don't get cocky! I wasn't even using my strongest deck!" Genichiro set his last card. "And I won't necessarily lose this! Turn end—your move!"
"Pointless struggle."
Yusaku shook his head and placed a hand on his Deck. "My turn—draw!"
He flicked a card free. "I activate Eternal Soul. Once per turn, I Special Summon 1 Dark Magician from my hand or GY. I'll bring back Dark Magician from the GY!"
Dark Magician
ATK 2500
"Time to end this." Yusaku chopped his hand. "Battle!"
"I've been waiting for this!" Genichiro's eyes flashed. "Flip the set Trap—Threatening Roar! This turn, your monsters can't declare attacks!"
"Your Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon only negates Spells, not Traps. If I can survive this turn, I still have a chan—"
Before he finished, Yusaku pitched the card he'd been holding since his opener. The Dragoon's blade flared with blinding light.
"You're underestimating my monster," Yusaku said coolly. "Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon doesn't just negate Spells. I discard to activate Dragoon—negate and destroy your Trap."
A crimson arc cleaved the air; empowered black magic shredded the set card where it stood.
"Battle."
No more words.
"Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon, direct attack!"
The Dragoon's crescent slash ripped through Genichiro, the magic surge forcing him back a step.
[Genichiro, LP: 8000 → 4000]
"Next—Dark Magician the Dragon Knight, attack!"
Riding his dragon, the magician leveled his staff. A torrent of power pierced straight through Genichiro.
[Genichiro, LP: 4000 → 1000]
"And finally—Dark Magician, finish it!"
Dark Magician vaulted high. The green staff leveled; a clear vortex spiraled from its tip and lanced through Genichiro.
He grunted, dropped to one knee—and his last LP ticked to zero.
[Genichiro, LP: 1000 → 0]
[Congratulations, Host. Duel victory. +200 EXP. Level up.]
The system chimed in his head.
Oh? Level up, huh.
Yusaku didn't open the panel yet. He looked at Genichiro. "Senpai, you lost."
Genichiro stared at the zero on his Disk. He didn't want to admit it—but he had.
He took a long breath and met Yusaku's gaze. "Yeah. I lost this one. I got careless. Red-Eyes is only my spare deck. Next, I'll use my ace."
Some of the Takeuchi students couldn't help muttering.
"A loss is a loss. Don't pin it on 'not my real deck,' tsk tsk."
"Yeah, 'I was careless,' sure…"
Hearing the back-row commentary, Yusaku smiled and raised his Duel Disk. "Oh? Sounds like senpai wants another one."
He'd never turn down a duel. He needed EXP anyway.
When he'd Summoned Dragoon earlier, he'd felt a wave of fatigue—that was his low Stamina talking.
Genichiro ignored the peanut gallery. He pulled a second deck from his pocket, slid it into his Disk, and met Yusaku's eyes. "I'm not losing again. I'll show you my true strength."
"That's enough, Genichiro."
Before they could start, a tall man with gold-rim glasses strode up.
The moment he stepped on stage, the noisy crowd fell silent.
"But—" Genichiro began.
"No buts." The man cut him a glance. "I know you want to save face, but with the Dojo Ranking Battle imminent, there's no point in needless duels. Stand down."
"…Fine." Genichiro backed off without another word.
With the stage clear, the tall man adjusted his glasses and addressed Yusaku. "You're strong. Consider joining our dojo. If you stay here, your growth will stall. With us, you'll have more resources."
At that, Ushio—Takeuchi Dojo's big brother—stepped up, annoyed. "Hey, Fujiwara—poaching on our floor? Not cool."
Fujiwara ignored him, not even sparing a look. "Well? Think it over."
"Thanks for the invite, senpai," Yusaku said, shaking his head. "But I'm fine at Takeuchi Dojo."
He never planned to stay long anyway; he was here to probe a hidden quest tied to the Millennium Items.
As if he'd expected that answer, Fujiwara smiled faintly. "Then, kōhai, see you at the Ranking Battle."
He turned and left the stage, his dojo trailing behind.
Once Fujiwara was gone, Takeuchi's students all exhaled at once—then burst into cheers for Yusaku.
"Good work! Looks like our dojo's big-brother seat should be yours."
Ushio hopped up with a grin.
"Please don't." Yusaku waved it off. "I just drew well."
He had zero interest in being "big brother." He wanted to map out how to siph—earn—players' Crystals before open beta.
He'd read up on the dojo. Ushio was Takeuchi's senior, the strongest student.
He even looked suspiciously like that Ushio from 5D's. Probably the devs' idea of a joke.
"Don't be modest, kōhai. They say 'learning knows no seniority.' From today, you're our big brother and I'll be the kōhai!"
Yusaku: "…"
He changed the subject fast. "By the way, senpai—when Fujiwara stepped up, everyone on both sides went dead quiet. Why?"
Ushio's smile faded. After a beat of silence, he sighed. "What else? He's strong."
He looked up at the dim ceiling. "I went traveling to get stronger—hoped to trade blows with him. Didn't expect Genichiro to fall before that."
"On Level 27, there are four dojos. We were usually third. First was Red Sun Dojo, second was Asahi Dojo, and last was Lion King Dojo."
"Then he showed up. Beat the strongest of all three dojos by himself—and pushed Lion King Dojo from last to first."
"Since he joined them, Lion King has dominated every Ranking Battle. People gave him a title—Maō (Demon King). That name sits like a mountain on everyone's chest here on 27."
"All right, don't overthink it." Ushio clapped Yusaku's shoulder. "The Ranking Battle is in three days. We never had hope before—but after watching your duel, I think that Demon King's throne might just change hands. Give it your all—our dojo's counting on you!"
He strode off.
"Demon King, huh?"
Yusaku rubbed his chin as Ushio's back receded.
Not a bad title. With that tag, "persuading" players might get even easier.
…
Dojo Master's Office.
Takeuchi-sensei sat at his computer, replaying Yusaku's duel on loop.
On the third run, he drew a deep breath—decision made.
He walked to the wall behind him and pressed a slightly raised brick.
The wall shivered as if coming alive, then split from the center, revealing a hidden door.
He stepped into the dim passage. The door closed behind him.
At the end of the passage, four beams lit up overhead, focusing on a transparent display case.
Inside lay a golden puzzle piece.
"Its heir has finally arrived…"
(End of Chapter)
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