No one knew that beneath the pitch-black night sky, a steel giant was silently lurking beneath the waters just outside the Duel Academy Island, like a hunter spying in the dark, scrutinizing everything happening on the island.
This submarine. Inside, warriors in standard uniforms were bustling about, and a woman with a straight posture in an officer's uniform was the commander of this submarine.
Her name is Aiko, and she grew up with Ammon, the scion of the Galem Financial Group. She is here as Ammon's backup, ready to provide support if anything unexpected happens in Ammon's operations.
At this moment, Ammon, acting as the operations agent, was delving into the pitch-black, lightless forest on the Duel Academy Island.
Regarding Duel Academy, many rumors have circulated within the Dark World of the Dueling Realm.
Even before Yugen became famous, Duel Academy had already attracted the attention of many forces. For instance, there was the student disappearance incident at the old dormitory years ago. Among the Dark Duelists, there is an unverified rumor that Duel Academy opened a door to the Dark World, where on the other side lies unimaginable powerful forces. Those who obtain the power from the other side of the door could rule the world...
Though unverified, as a Transmigrator with spoiler-like powers, Yugen knew this legend was true. The old dormitory incident was indeed related to another dimension back then, which was the world of the final villain, Darkness, who indeed had the power to drag an entire world into darkness.
However, the incident at the old dormitory was later covered up by various parties and hasn't been mentioned much for years.
Until later, a Duel King emerged from Duel Academy, and his name became increasingly prominent. Various self-proclaimed highly-skilled strongmen in the Dueling Realm attempted to explore Duel Academy, only to encounter defeat, or in some cases, disappear without a trace.
Rumors began to circulate that the door had indeed been opened. The force behind it was incredible, and that power had been acquired by the Duel King.
Hence, the Duel King is now considered one of the most fearsome beings in this world, and anyone daring to trespass into his domain or offend his authority would be cast into that eternal roaming darkness.
This is one of Ammon's mission objectives. He seeks to verify the authenticity of the legend and to find the rumored power that could make a Duelist a "King".
Crows screeched ominously as they flew overhead in the night. Ammon traversed the woods and found the location of the old dormitory.
"Aiko, I've found it."
Ammon spoke into his earpiece.
"Alright, be careful." Aiko said from the other end of the earpiece, "We'll intervene the moment something untoward happens."
"Got it, I'm going in."
Ammon crossed the fence marked "No Entry" and entered the dormitory.
"Strange, none of my devices are responding."
Ammon stepped onto the old wooden floor as he entered through the door.
"The instruments couldn't detect any fluctuations of dark power. This place looks just like an ordinary..."
Creak.
Ammon's pupils contracted.
It was the sound of the floorboards splitting apart.
Before he could react, the decrepit floor beneath him, strained by the years, gave way.
Ammon found no footing and suddenly plummeted downwards.
In that instant, he had a strange illusion, as if the floor cracks led not to the building's basement but to... Hell.
Ammon felt like he had been falling for a long time, yet it also felt like only an instant.
Until the solid ground struck his body heavily, he barely regained his senses.
Dizzy, his body struggled to maintain balance. He braced himself against the wall, staggered a few steps, suspecting he might have a concussion.
"Aiko, there's a slight mishap. I fell down..."
He spoke into the earpiece.
"I take back what I said earlier, this dormitory feels a bit odd. I..."
He paused, realizing something was amiss.
"Aiko?"
But there was no vocal response.
Instead, the earpiece transmitted a strange murmuring, seemingly a woman's voice, shrill, hoarse, hard to discern, but giving off an eerie vibe.
Ammon frowned, cutting off communication. He stood, groping forward.
Initially, there was darkness ahead, still resembling an old student dormitory. But while he was progressing down the cobweb-filled old corridor, unknowingly, he found the corridor suddenly transformed from aged to exquisitely luxurious, yet with more dim lighting.
He seemed to recognize this corridor, causing his pupils to contract slightly.
Compelled by an inexplicable force, he walked down the corridor.
There was a room ahead, the door slightly ajar.
At the doorway stood a youth.
A red-haired youth, despite his young age, his eyes held an unusual determination... and brooding darkness.
Ammon recognized him; it was himself.
A younger version of himself.
The younger Ammon pushed open the door slowly entering, approaching the bed inside.
On the bed lay a boy even more youthful. His eyes shut tight, face pale, connected to life support equipment, a respirator on.
That was his brother.
Ammon's beloved brother, yet also his life's greatest shadow.
Ammon Galem was originally an orphan, or perhaps even calling him an orphan is understated. He was a refugee from an extremely impoverished region, living in hunger and starvation, with death as the only prospect.
But fortune turned, and an incredible opportunity found him. He was selected as the adopted son of the chairman of the Galem Financial Group, being groomed as the financial group's heir.
He then worked hard, never disappointing the chairman's expectations. His growth was astonishing, reaching world-class levels in various fields, and was called a person of "King's caliber".
But unexpectedly, the chairman later had a son of his own. That son was Ammon's brother, Heide.
So naturally, the chairman's own son received the inheritance rights, and Ammon, who was more suitable and capable in every regard, had to fully devote himself to supporting Heide.
Ammon loved his brother dearly and was willing to give his life for him.
But if things continued this way, he would never inherit the financial group, living his life as his brother's shadow, doing all the dirty and exhausting work needed by the financial group.
More importantly, like this, he would never have the chance to achieve his grand wish, more important than his own life.
However, Heide was always in poor health, perpetually frail.
At this moment, Ammon was facing a scene where he had countless opportunities ——
—— to pull out the respiratory tube, turn off the life support equipment, even for just a moment, and his brother would die.
If handled properly and covered up well — which Ammon could definitely do, his brother would "die of illness," and he would rightfully reclaim his throne.
The red-haired boy stood by the bed, looking at his beloved brother lying there, not moving for a long time.
"...Kill him and you can become king."
The voice sounded from behind Ammon.
"I see, Ammon Galem, is this the darkness in your heart?"
Ammon: "!"
The world spun around him, the sickbed and the red-haired youth vanished in the whirlpool. Regaining his senses, Ammon whipped around to see a young man standing behind him with his hands clasped, smiling warmly.
But Ammon's expression immediately turned heavy.
The Duel King... Fujiki Yugen.