I think I'm starting to get back into the rhythm. For now, I will try to get a new chapter in 2 to 3 weeks.
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[Yuna's POV]
Soon after the Gradation Duel, life at the academy returned to normal. Most of the students had left for their end-of-year holidays, leaving only a handful behind in the dorms. Yet, knowing what lay ahead, I couldn't help but sigh at the chaos that was surely coming.
Not that any of it would matter if my husband wouldn't let me keep my job... Inside Seto's office, I stood nervously, holding Miyuki close as my husband sat at his desk, sighing for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Yuna..." he muttered, his piercing gaze locking onto me. I flinched.
"Heh... What's wrong?" I asked, feigning innocence.
Another deep sigh. Then his voice, flat and edged with disbelief: "So let me get this straight. Over the past few months, a secret, dark organisation attacked the academy. Their leader just so happened to be one of our most important sponsors. His goal? To unlock a Sprite Gate hidden beneath the school and use it to revive three dark sacred beings, all so he could regain his youth?"
He leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "Did I get any of that wrong?"
"Y...Yeah... that's pretty much it," I replied with a sheepish smile. "But I handled it! No students got hurt, and I made sure to deal with everything as quietly as possible!"
Thankfully, knowing the original plot in advance, I had ample time to prepare for the Shadow Riders' attack.
First was Nightshroud. There wasn't much hope for redemption with that body-possessing spirit. I dealt with him swiftly and banished him to the Shadow Realm without a second thought.
Second came Camula. I did feel a pang of sympathy for her. After all, her goal was to revive her extinct vampiric race. But no matter how tragic her motives, I couldn't allow my students to be sacrificed for her cause.
Third was Tania. She wasn't inherently evil. So I gave her a good scare and redirected her toward Jaden and his friends as a form of training.
Fourth, Don Zaloog. Not much of a threat, honestly. I let that situation unfold naturally, and as expected, Chazz stepped up and defeated him, just like in the original timeline.
Fifth was Abidos the Third, a descendant of a Pharaoh who came after the end of Seto's reign. The moment he saw me, he surrendered immediately, as the young king was well aware of my identity.
Sixth, Titan. Honestly? The hit man was forgettable. I sent him packing straight to the Shadow Realm.
Seventh, Professor Banner. Despite everything, he was a good teacher. I let him stay at Duel Academy, but not without a few firm negotiations, and by that, I mean threats. I told him to evaluate Jaden as his successor. Just like in the story, he eventually chose to guide Jaden in the form of a cat.
And finally, Kagemaru, the leader of the Shadow Riders. Originally, he was supposed to become the first superintendent of Duel Academy. I made sure that didn't happen. With his ambitions blocked, he settled for the role of a sponsor, handing the seven spirit keys to Chancellor Sheppard, but I quickly confiscated them after I came back from my maternity leave.
Also, unlike a certain bald principal, I had the common sense to keep all seven spirit keys to myself, rather than handing them out to my students and forcing them to duel for their lives. When Kagemaru eventually made his move, I dealt with him and ensured his defeat.
With the threat neutralised, I unlocked the Spirit Gate beneath the academy and retrieved the Sacred Beast cards. Frankly, it was far safer for them to be in my possession. The Sacred Beasts didn't exactly appreciate being ordered around, but a little divine persuasion from the Egyptian Gods was more than enough to keep them in check.
After my thorough explanation, Seto pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. "That's not the reason I'm angry… I'm mad at you for keeping me in the dark."
"I… I didn't want you to worry," I muttered, guilt tightening in my chest.
"Still, you should have told me," he said firmly. I nodded, lowering my gaze.
"Yuna, as your husband and as a father, it's my responsibility to make sure you're both safe. I know you're strong… but that won't stop me from worrying when you're in danger."
"What if you got hurt? What if you're in danger, but I couldn't save you because I wasn't aware..." Seto continued, "Think how you will feel if it's Miyuki in this situation."
Looking down, I observed my daughter giggling on my lap. A year has already passed, but it felt like she was still a small baby weeks ago with short blue hair like mine and a chubby face...
Noticing my sad expression, Miyuki reached out and patted my cheek in an effort to comfort me. Watching her innocent smile, I couldn't help but smile back.
"I'm sorry if I'm too harsh..." Seto muttered and sat beside me, but I quickly shook my head.
"No, you're right, I should've told you." I replied with guilt, "I guess I also don't want to put both of you in danger..."
Seto let out a chuckle, and I found myself instinctively leaning against his shoulder. In that moment, with our daughter's laughter between us, the silence felt warm, "Next time I decide to do something dangerous, I promise I'll tell you first."
"There's going to be a next time?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Well..." I shrugged awkwardly. "The next few years are going to be a little hectic..."
Seto stared at me, deadpan, and shook his head in exasperation. "Just be careful."
"Of course! I plan to live to a hundred!" I declared proudly. "I need to see Miyuki grow into a wonderful woman!"
At the sound of her name, Miyuki looked up at me curiously from my lap. "Isn't that right, Miyuki?" I beamed. "I promise I'll turn you into one of the greatest Duelists on Earth!"
"Hmph. Look at those sharp eyes," Seto interrupted, folding his arms. "She has the look of a seasoned business executive. Mark my words, she'll grow into someone who can shift the world."
"As if!" I shot back. "That sharp mind of hers is perfect for duelling!"
We went back and forth, debating her future as if it were a championship match. Eventually, we collapsed into laughter, exhausted by our enthusiasm.
"In the end, it's something Miyuki will have to decide for herself," Seto said, his tone softer now.
I nodded. "Yeah... but I still hope she picks duelling." I pouted slightly. "Given everything we've been through, it wouldn't hurt for her to know how to defend herself."
As memories of what could lie ahead crept into my thoughts, a quiet unease settled in my chest. I glanced down at Miyuki, wondering how best to prepare her for the world.
Then I felt a small tug on my hair. "Huh? What is it, Miyuki?" I asked, blinking in surprise as she looked up at me with wide, sparkling eyes.
"Ma… Ma…"
Seto and I froze like statues, staring at Miyuki in shock.
Confused by our stunned silence, she continued to tug at my hair, repeating, "Ma Ma... Ma Ma..." as she tried to get my attention.
A disbelieving laugh escaped my lips as warmth flooded through my chest."Her first words..." I whispered, glancing at Seto with triumphant joy, and he gave a resigned shrug.
Miyuki kept calling out to me, her tiny voice filled with delight. My smile softened, and I pulled her into a gentle embrace. She laughed in my arms, and my heart melted completely.
"Ugh, I don't want to go to work anymore!" I groaned dramatically, collapsing into Seto's arms. "I just want to stay here and play with Miyuki all day!"
"Didn't you say there were still things you needed to take care of?" Seto reminded me.
I let out a long, grumbling sigh. "Fiiine..." I muttered, turning my face away to hide the scowl creeping in.
Still nestled in Seto's arms, I whispered a silent apology to all the villains lurking in the future. For the sake of early retirement… I'm not going to mess around anymore.
A couple of months later…
"A transfer notice?"
Inside my office, I stared at the document laid out before me. My eyes narrowed slightly as I read the name of the student requesting a last-minute enrollment. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
"Aster Phoenix," I muttered aloud. "A professional Duelist, already well-established, suddenly wants to study at Duel Academy?"
I glanced up at Professor Crowler, who stood nervously in front of my desk. "Doesn't that seem… odd to you?"
"Ah, yes, even I couldn't quite figure it out," Crowler admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Why would someone of his calibre want to enrol now, of all times?"
"So, what do you think, Professor?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Should we accept him?"
"Heh heh heh, of course!" Crowler puffed up proudly. "Having someone like Aster Phoenix as a student would boost Duel Academy's reputation tenfold! I can already picture the headlines!"
I chuckled at his enthusiasm, but my smile faded slightly as I felt a gentle hand rest on my shoulder. Standing silently behind me, Lady Dragonmaid leaned in and whispered something only I could hear.
"...I see." I nodded slowly, my expression shifting.
"Apologies, Dr. Crowler," I said, standing up from my chair. "It seems I have an urgent matter to attend to. I'll leave Aster's transfer paperwork in your capable hands."
Before he could respond, I added, "Also, Professor Banner won't be returning this year. Until I find a suitable replacement, I'd like you to temporarily oversee the Slifer Red dorm."
Crowler visibly winced. "Ugh… those Slifer Slackers," He quickly caught himself and straightened up. "Ah, what I meant to say is: understood! I won't let you down!"
Leaving Professor Crowler behind in my office, I followed Lady Dragonmaid silently through the academy's halls. I passed several students along the way, maintaining my usual bright, reassuring smile. But once we reached the locked double doors of the academy's restricted area, that smile vanished without a trace.
As the doors closed behind me, the atmosphere shifted, cold, sterile, and deadly quiet. My eyes settled on the man bound to a chair in the centre of the room.
He wore plain clothes: a white T-shirt, a blue jacket, and black pants. His purple hair and lightning-bolt-shaped yellow eyebrows gave him an almost cartoonish appearance.
"Good work," I said calmly. House Dragonmaid, standing nearby, bowed respectfully.
I walked up to the unconscious man and brought my heel down on his foot. His scream echoed sharply through the room as his eyes flew open.
"You're awake," I said coolly.
"Wh... Who are you? Where am I?" he stammered, eyes darting around in confusion.
"That doesn't matter," I replied flatly. "Your name is Thunder, correct?"
He clenched his jaw and said nothing. "I know you're with the Light-Brigade," I continued, voice low and even. "Tell me where your leader is hiding."
"...Like hell I'm telling you anything," he spat.
"Don't test me." My tone sharpened. "Tell me what you know. It'll make this a lot easier for both of us."
"Heh," he smirked, despite the sweat starting to bead on his brow. "What are you gonna do? Kill me?"
I let out a slow sigh and snapped my fingers. The darkened room was suddenly flooded with light, revealing the massive glass wall behind him. It overlooked the entire academy campus, stretching dizzyingly far below.
Without hesitation, House Dragonmaid stepped forward and punched the glass.
SHATTER!
The reinforced pane fractured and exploded outward in a rain of shards, leaving nothing but open air at the building's edge.
Still bound, Thunder watched in horror as I dragged his chair across the floor to the broken threshold. The wind whipped past us with a howl.
I leaned close, my voice a whisper laced with threat."Don't think I won't do it. Last chance, where is your leader?"
His defiance faltered. "Y...You wouldn't dare," he growled, though his voice trembled.
I smiled coldly. Slowly, I placed my foot on the edge of the chair and pushed. Thunder's scream tore through the air as he plunged from the tower. His voice echoed, and then began to fade.
As Thunder neared the bottom, I focused, channelling my spirit energy in a sharp burst and a massive shadow cut through the air.
With a roar, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand swooped down in a flash of golden light. A few seconds later, the dragon shot back into view, wings beating powerfully as he soared upward, clutching Thunder in his claws.
Felgrand arced through the air before tossing Thunder unceremoniously back into the room. The man hit the floor hard, groaning, his limbs trembling with shock.
For a brief moment, I felt a flicker of guilt… but it passed.
The fear tactic had worked. Broken by the fall and the terrifying rescue, Thunder wasted no time. He quickly revealed the location of his leader.
I smiled in quiet satisfaction. "Good. That wasn't so hard, was it?" With a wave of my hand, I ordered House Dragonmaid to restrain him once more.
Then, stepping to the shattered edge of the room, I let Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand lower his massive head to me. Gracefully, I climbed onto his back.
"Let's go," I murmured, gripping his neck. "It's time to pay an old acquaintance a visit..."
With a mighty roar, the dragon launched into the sky, wind trailing behind us as we disappeared into the clouds.
[3rd POV]
An hour later…
Inside a worn-down building on the outskirts of Domino City, a man sprinted down the dimly lit hallway, panic written all over his face. Bursting through a set of double doors, he shouted frantically, "B...Boss! There's an intruder! She..."
BOOOOM.
The door behind him exploded inward in a blast of smoke and splinters.
From the debris stepped a woman, calm and composed, her eyes locked on her target. Before the man could recover from his shock, House Dragonmaid lunged forward, knocking him out cold with a single blow.
"Long time no see, Sarina," Yuna said calmly as she stepped further into the room. "How've you been?"
Across the room, a woman flinched at the sound of her name. Sarina's breath hitched, memories flooding back in a painful rush: the chaos at KaibaCorp, her failed assault alongside her brother, and the crushing defeat dealt by Yuna and Seto. They had barely escaped with their lives.
She stiffened, fear flashing across her eyes. "H...How did you find me?"
Yuna smiled faintly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "We never lost you," she lied effortlessly, and Sarina easily fell for the lie.
"Then why now?" she demanded. "Why come after me at this moment?"
Yuna's gaze sharpened. "Because your brother finally made his move," she said bluntly. "Naturally, I have to stop him, and I want you to help me."
"Why should I help you...?" Sarina growled, narrowing her eyes. She reached inward, trying to channel her supernatural abilities to escape. But nothing happened...
"There's no point in running," Yuna said with a smirk. "We're already inside a Shadow Game. So why don't we talk this out?"
Sarina stumbled back until her shoulders hit the wall, only for Yuna to close the distance, stopping just inches away.
"You know exactly what kind of condition your brother is in," Yuna said quietly.
Sarina bit her lip, her fists trembling at her sides. After their escape from KaibaCorp, life hadn't been kind to her or Sartorius. They scraped by in hiding until Sartorius began using his prophetic powers as a fortune teller. Slowly, they built a fragile life again. But everything changed the day a mysterious Duelist arrived.
The stranger asked for a fortune and, in return, left behind a single, strange card. From the moment Sartorius touched it, something shifted. Dark energy took root.
Sarina was the first to see the change in him. He grew cold. Calculating. Ruthless. He used people's emotions like tools to gain followers and power. And Sarina... even she, his sister, was reduced to just another pawn in his grand design.
"I know," Yuna continued, her voice cutting through the silence, "that you created this organisation behind his back to find someone who could stop him. Let me be that person."
"And why should I trust you?" Sarina hissed, her voice cracking with defiance.
Yuna smiled. "How about this: in exchange for your help... I'll tell you who corrupted your brother in the first place."
Sarina's breath caught in her throat.
"And," Yuna added, "you know I have the best chance of stopping him… don't you?
Under Yuna's smile, Sarina instinctively shivered.
"This has nothing to do with you," she muttered, eyes narrowing. "I've got it under control..."
"Actually," Yuna replied, her smile fading into a steely calm, "it has become my problem."
Her voice dropped, solemn and cold."Your brother has already made a move against my academy."
Sarina stiffened.
"I never needed your help," Yuna said, tone honest but firm. "I'm offering you the chance to help, because if you don't, my methods will be much less... cooperative."
"If you lay a hand on my brother!" Sarina shouted, lunging at her.
Yuna sidestepped fluidly and, in a flash, had Sarina pinned against the wall. "That would only happen if you don't cooperate," Yuna said flatly. "But know this, even if it's your brother, if he dares harm my family… or my students..."
Her grip tightened unconsciously, and Sarina winced. Yuna caught herself and released her. She stepped back with a breath. "Anyway… it looks like you need time to think this through."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek, black phone, placing it gently in Sarina's hand.
"This phone is untraceable. My private number is saved on it. If you decide to help, call me. But I don't like to wait that long..." Her gaze sharpened. As she backed away, Sarina remained tense, eyes wary.
"It doesn't have to end in tragedy, Sarina," Yuna added, softer now. "I hate sad endings..."
She tapped her Millennium Key, and golden light shimmered through the room, as if sunlight had suddenly returned.
A clawed hand burst through the wall behind her. Without hesitation, Yuna turned and leapt into the open sky, and the last thing Sarina saw was the massive wings of a dragon as it carried Yuna away.
Sarina stood alone in the silence. She glanced down at the phone in her hand, scowling, before shoving it into her pocket with a curse under her breath.
But the weight of Yuna's words lingered in her mind. Her heart ached with conflict as she stared out the broken wall, eyes following the distant figure in the sky.
Ultimately, she made her decision. It wasn't the one she wanted, but maybe… just maybe… it was the one that could set things right.
Some hours later...
As the phone rang loudly, Yuna dazedly answered the call, "H... Hello?"
"Fine... I agree to your demands..." Sarina growled from the other side, "Are you happy now?!"
"Yeah... But Sarina, couldn't you call at a more reasonable time? It's 2 am..." Yuna groaned groggily, and she heard Sarina's snickering before she hung up.
In a way, it's Sarina's little revenge...
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I hope you enjoy it.