The whir of artificial fans and the occasional mechanical beep gave the place a strangely sterile atmosphere. The registration building wasn't what Shin expected—less flashy convention hall, more sleek office lobby, with wide transparent displays lining the walls showing holograms of past champions and duels mid-play. A steady line of duelists wound toward the counter, where tournament officials sat behind black desks with chrome borders. One by one, names and decks were being logged.
This tournament wasn't just for students—anyone from certified schools, freelance duelists, amateur circuits, or independents could enter, so long as they met the criteria.
Some wore uniforms, others casual coats or jackets bearing logos of underground teams or local guilds. Shin saw an older man in a grey business shirt calmly filling in his details next to a kid with a neon visor and fingerless gloves.
"It's way bigger than I thought," Shin muttered, glancing around.
Beside him, Rex gave a short nod, arms folded behind his head as he tilted back on his heels.
"It's a full-scale regional," he said. "Not just some schoolyard bragging fest. Top eight gets sponsorship eyes on them. That's real."
Aurora flipped her hair over her shoulder as she looked over the massive duelist roster scrolling across one of the digital screens.
"Even some university and semi-pro circuit duelists are here," she said. "Tessa Vale's already in the bracket. Special invitation or something."
Shin furrowed his brows.
"Of course she is," he muttered.
As if summoned by his thoughts, a soft yet confident voice broke the air behind them.
"You say that like it's a bad thing, Shin."
Shin turned. Tessa Vale stood just behind them, hands resting casually on her hips. Her academy coat was slung over one shoulder, and her silver-blue hair was tied into a high tail that danced ever so slightly with each movement.
He blinked, caught off guard that she had actually addressed him directly for once.
"Didn't say anything," he replied, a little too quickly.
She raised a brow, amused.
"Relax. I know I'm not exactly the friendliest face around school. But I don't bite… not outside duels anyway."
Aurora and Rex shared a look, but wisely stayed silent. Tessa stepped forward, gazing up at the digital bracket. Her name glowed in silver letters, marked as 'Invitational – Confirmed Seed'.
"I wasn't planning on joining, actually," she said casually. "But the organizers reached out. Guess someone's been watching my duels."
Shin crossed his arms, more out of habit than defiance.
"Must be nice," he said. "Getting a free ride to the top."
She turned to him, and for a moment he thought she might throw a snide comeback—but instead she just gave a small shrug.
"You'd be surprised. All that spotlight comes with pressure. Expectations. You have to prove you're worth the privilege... again and again."
Shin didn't respond at first. He hadn't expected her to be... reasonable. Maybe even genuine. The tension between them eased slightly. Just slightly.
"Well," Tessa said, turning away. "I'll see you in the arena. If you survive the qualifiers."
She offered a small wave as she walked off.
"…She's not that bad," Aurora said under her breath once she was out of earshot.
Shin just let out a long sigh.
---
The city buzzed differently at night.
After leaving the registration center and grabbing something to eat with Rex and Aurora, Shin had decided to walk home alone, earbuds in, hands shoved deep into his pockets. Neon signs blinked lazily overhead. The scent of street food and old asphalt filled the air. The tournament was days away, but the city already felt charged with energy—like something was coming.
As he passed a shadowed alley near the transit stop, a figure leaned lazily against the wall.
"Shin Yukari."
The voice was smooth. Playful. Dangerous.
Shin stopped.
The man stepped into view, lit only by a flickering red light from a nearby sign. He looked to be in his early twenties, though the way he moved suggested something older—experienced. His hair was pitch black with streaks of violet, his jacket a high-collared leather piece with strange sigils faintly embroidered across the sleeves. His eyes were mismatched—one amber, one a deep crimson. Around his neck was a pendant in the shape of a broken mask.
He smiled like a wolf who'd just smelled blood.
"You've got his eyes," the man said softly.
Shin's brows knitted.
"Do I know you?"
"Not yet. But I know you." He stepped forward and offered a gloved hand. "Call me Nyx."
Shin didn't take the hand.
"What do you want?"
Nyx chuckled, withdrawing it.
"Just to meet you. Been hearing things. About your duels. About that fire in your blood."
He circled slightly, his voice lowering. "You remind me of your brother."
Shin froze.
"You knew Shiyu?"
Nyx's expression shifted subtly. Not from surprise, but something more complicated. Nostalgia? Regret?
"I knew of him. And I knew the man who broke him."
He met Shin's eyes. "That man doesn't duel in tournaments. He operates under… different terms."
Shin's heart thudded once.
"Who is he?"
Nyx smiled again, but this time it was sharp and cold.
"That's not something you're ready for, Yukari." He paused. "But I'll give you a piece of advice… if you want to get to him, you'll have to climb higher than you think."
From his coat, Nyx pulled something—a card. He flicked it toward Shin, who caught it instinctively.
The card was unfamiliar. Its edges shimmered with corrupted energy, and the art was surreal: a chained demon with seven floating eyes, each eye shaped like a different sin. Sinbound Marionette – Gluttony.
"You're using Sin cards?"
"I don't care what's official. I don't duel for the approval of committees or leagues," Nyx said with a smirk. "My deck reflects the truth of the world, not its rules."
Shin looked up, the card pulsing faintly in his hand. Nyx began walking away, raising a hand lazily over his shoulder.
"We'll meet again. Maybe sooner than you think. And when we do, have that Sin card of yours ready."
And just like that, he vanished down the alley, swallowed by the shadows.