A swarm of demons dripping with slime soared above the train. One of them raised its spear and swung it down toward the train, a bolt of purple lightning crashed down, striking the vehicle and sending it rocking from side to side. The entire train shuddered violently.
"Ah."
"Aaaaah!!!"
The students screamed in terror, thrown into chaos.
None of them had ever witnessed anything like this.
"Captain!"
Hikaru flung open the window and shouted. In response to his call, a towering Gem Giant appeared beside the train, raising an arm to block the descending lightning bolts. Hikaru gripped the window frame and vaulted outside. At the same time, countless puppet strings spread out from the cabin. Hikaru stepped onto a purple puppet string, grabbed the window's edge, and leapt atop the train, staring across the gap at the swarm of demons.
Aside from Captain Crystal, a few Spirits emerged from the train here and there, but none seemed strong enough; under the demons' assault, they quickly fell back.
"Are you alright, Psychic Witch!?"
"Lock Cat, you okay!?"
Hikaru could hear scattered voices calling out.
"Master!" Celina tried to mimic her master's vault, hoping to help him. But in the next instant, the window before her was sealed by purple lines, completely blocking her escape.
She tried to undo her seatbelt, only to realize puppet strings had also coiled around her, binding her in place.
"Winda-oneechan," she panicked. "Jabbing Panda, go help Master!"
She called to her partner, but after Jabbing Panda appeared, it didn't rush out, instead, it shook its head, fists clenched, standing guard over her.
Hikaru didn't want Celina getting hurt, and the Spirit was there to protect her.
"Heh. Looks like a tough one," sneered a leading demon.
Hikaru's brow furrowed. Tierra watched the demons with piqued interest.
Hikaru had already recognized these monsters.
They were low-level demons from the Dark World.
It seemed his premonition had been right.
Attacking the train…
So that's it, they were targeting human transportation to divide and sabotage their mobility?
"Tch."
Standing atop the train as it sped along, Hikaru let the rushing wind whip his clothes, unbothered by the force or danger. His eyes were locked on the Dark World demons. The moment they dared make a move, he'd respond with force.
Normally, at a time like this, the Dark World demons would send out one of their warriors to duel him.
Though now… the demons raised their weapons again.
They weren't trying to duel.
They intended to destroy the train by brute force!
These demons had no regard for the so-called "honor of dueling". To them, fulfilling their king's orders came above all else!
Hikaru's expression turned grim.
It wasn't that they refused to duel.
It was that he immediately realized, there had to be similar surprise attacks at other Nexus Points as well, targeting human transport!
Just as Hikaru prepared to face them with brute strength, a strange rift suddenly slashed across the sky. Then, a few demons split apart and died instantly.
"Gyaaaa!!!"
Their sudden deaths drew bloodcurdling screams, startling the surrounding demons into retreat.
'What just happened!?'
"Whoa!" The students watching from the windows gasped.
Did they have an ally!?
Hikaru turned and looked toward the front of the train. There stood a boy with messy hair and heavy eye bags, looking exhausted.
But that wasn't the important part.
The important part was…
He wore a purple uniform!
Hikaru's eyes narrowed.
"Hahaha, didn't think I'd get a chance this soon, Amaki Hikaru." The boy turned his head slowly, hands in his pockets, and grinned at Hikaru.
Even on top of the train, with fierce wind roaring around them, everyone could "hear" his voice.
"It's tough finding a moment when you're separated from Miss Celina." He nodded toward the demons. "Gotta thank those brainless goons."
As he spoke, the Dark World demons began to retreat.
"Tough target! Notify the higher-ranking generals!"
They indeed realized there were too many strong individuals hidden on this train. It wouldn't be an easy kill. But they hadn't given up, they intended to summon more powerful reinforcements.
For now, though, they wouldn't interfere with Hikaru.
So Hikaru shifted his gaze to the boy on the train.
Could he be…the Fusion Army assassin Professor Crowler had warned about?
Had he been following Hikaru all along?
Ever since that letter from Professor Crowler, it was only a matter of time before someone tracked him down.
"I am Assassin No. 44 from the Fusion Army's covert unit. Amaki Hikaru, you must already know why I'm here, right?" he said with a dark smile. "Without Crowler's protection, do you really think you can keep acting like you own the school?"
"Fusion Army!!!?"
"Those damn ghosts are still around!?"
"Amaki Hikaru and the Fusion Army."
For many students, past memories flooded back. Some were thrilled, but others hesitated because of Hikaru's identity.
Celina turned pale at the assassin's words. But she steeled herself and shouted, "Master! Be careful!!!"
The assassin snapped his wrist.
BOOM!
Hikaru felt the ground lurch beneath him as the train jolted.
His expression darkened.
Explosives?
This guy planted bombs on the train!?
Even if they weren't the same species, Hikaru was furious that the Dark World demons attacked humans' transit. Regardless, this human… to show no regard for his own people's lives?
"Heh, can't be helped. Miss Celina's still on board. Otherwise, I'd have blown the whole train up to take you with me," the assassin said, sounding utterly deranged. "But this works too, Amaki Hikaru, you've always valued Fusion and Dueling above all, right?"
"Beat me, and I'll disarm every bomb. Lose, and you can meet your classmates again in heaven."
"That's a no-win deal!!" a student cursed under his breath.
"Yeah! Duels are supposed to be fair!"
But the assassin ignored them, laughing madly. "You don't have the right to refuse!"
"Duel!"
Without even waiting for Hikaru's response, he activated his Duel Disk and drew a card.
[Assassin No. 44, LP: 4000]
Captain Crystal's figure faded, returning to Hikaru's Deck as red light. Hikaru frowned at his opponent, then scoffed, activating his own Duel Disk. The Deck auto-shuffled and cut. He drew his starting five.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000]
"You can do it, Amaki Hikaru!"
"Don't let that guy push you around, senpai!"
Some students cheered from inside the train.
As the Duel began, two mechanical arms popped open from the train roof. Several cameras focused on Hikaru and the assassin. Inside the train, the Duel broadcast started playing.
KaibaCorp never missed a beat when it came to Duels!
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
The train roared through a tunnel. Inside the pitch-black passage, Hikaru's eyes seemed to glow with purple light as he locked eyes with the assassin.
"Draw!" the assassin pulled a card and smirked.
"Don't blame me for this, Amaki Hikaru, I activate the Normal Spell Card: Final Countdown!"