As the Lucky Cup concluded, the entire audience was bewildered.
It was understandable. In the middle of the duel, a sudden celestial phenomenon occurred, with a huge Red Dragon of unknown origin appearing in the field's center. Then suddenly, all tracks and riders vanished, a Hurricane swept through the arena, leaving the spectators in chaos.
If that was all, it would be one thing, but the official event hologram in the center also failed. Now the audience was completely in the dark, unable to see how the duel was progressing.
Finally, when the Hurricane dissipated and visibility returned, and the hologram resumed, the scoreboard showed that the legendary Jack Atlas's Life Points had dropped to zero.
Yusei Fudo won.
The symbol of the city, the undefeated champion Jack Atlas, lost today to a challenger from the Satellite District. The myth of invincibility was shattered, and the King fell from his pedestal.
The most critical moment in history was completely blacked out, with no process visible!
And so naturally, boos erupted from the stands. Someone shouted for a refund, someone cried foul, claiming it was shady, and suggested that there must be some under-the-table deal between Yusei and the organizers.
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that the spectating system failed at this moment, and coincidentally the undefeated King happened to lose in that brief period?
Even the pompadour-headed announcer was now in a cold sweat, staring at the scoreboard cluelessly, wiping sweat with a handkerchief, and stammering: "Uh, this... uh... this situation..."
Until an officer's hologram appeared in front of him, calmly saying, "What's wrong? Aren't you announcing the winner? Hasn't the duel already determined the victor?"
"Oh, oh!"
With the officer's permission, the pompadour-headed announcer hesitated no more.
"The winner is Yusei Fudo!"
"The King's myth has been broken, a new King is born! His name is Yusei Fudo!!!"
"..."
The audience and citizens naturally still had complaints, but that didn't matter. The Public Security Maintenance Bureau would later release the entire detailed process of the duel on the Lucky Cup's official site.
But from the start, who won or lost wasn't what's important. Now, the Dragon Sealers had already awakened, and the Dark Markers were ready.
The two factions, with grievances spanning five thousand years, were about to clash once more.
"..."
Akiza Izinski returned to the Arcadia Movement's building.
Standing once more at the base of this towering structure, Akiza looked up at the tall building, her heart a mix of emotions. For the past few years, she truly regarded this place as her only home, but today it seemed like the first time she returned to that floor without feeling like she was going home.
Was it because Diwein was dead?
Or simply because something in her heart had changed?
Just as she entered, a member dressed in Arcadia Movement attire was waiting for her at the door.
"I've been waiting for a long time, Miss Akiza."
Akiza frowned slightly. She didn't know this person well; although they were in the same organization, they had never spoken.
"Officer Godwin asked me to wait here for you," the person said.
Akiza was startled: "Are you Godwin's man?"
The person nodded: "Yes."
"Since when?"
"From the start."
The person said casually, gesturing with his hand.
"This way, please. Officer Godwin instructed me to show you something."
Akiza nodded, not asking further and followed behind.
Turns out Godwin had a plant in their organization all along.
Though it wasn't Yugen's arrangement, he discovered that Godwin had planted them himself. But thinking more about it, it made sense, given Godwin's handle was in Arcadia Movement's hands, he wouldn't sit idle even if he couldn't openly move against the organization.
The person led Akiza forward. She recognized this path, they were heading to Diwein's room.
As they entered, and the person operated a hidden door, Akiza's expression slightly changed.
She never knew that Diwein had such a hidden chamber in his room.
The person stood outside the door, calmly saying, "Officer Godwin said once you see everything here, your future actions will be up to you."
Akiza paused at the doorway for a minute.
For some reason, though she hadn't stepped in yet, she could vaguely guess what she would see inside.
Something that could shatter the beliefs she built over the past years.
A voice within her urged her not to go in, to ignore these truths. So she could still remain here, in this Arcadia for telekinetic kin. Pretend she knew nothing and stay with the remaining "family" in the organization...
But eventually, she still stepped in.
If it had been before today, she might not have had the courage to face the truth. Because the Arcadia Movement had become her whole life, and she couldn't imagine how to go on if one day she was betrayed by the organization, by Diwein.
But now, something had changed.
Akiza finally walked in, facing all the brutal truths and the real face of this utopia built on lies and harm.
...
...
New Tongshiyi, some unknown location.
In a blue, void-like space, three figures seemed to sit in mid-air.
"Hehehehe, that Godwin guy, he has some skills."
A sharp, childlike voice spoke.
"He successfully repelled the 'anomalies' several times, and even under such continuous interference, he still smoothly held the Lucky Cup.
The Dragon Sealers also awakened smoothly, now it looks like it's a war between them and the Dark Markers?"
Saying this, the voice chuckled creepily again.
"The Red Dragon's power and the Earth-Bound God, even under 'anomaly' interference, are still destined to clash, curious to see what happens next, hehe..."
An older voice said: "This isn't something to be happy about, Luciano.
And that person isn't Godwin, you should know."
"Know, of course, I know."
The child-like figure named Luciano shrugged helplessly.
"But we don't know who that is, he just popped up out of nowhere. Anyway, now he appears to be Godwin, so we call him that.
Otherwise, we can't keep calling him the 'unknown one who replaced Godwin', right?"
The old voice said gravely: "The war between the Dragon Sealers and Dark Markers, the constant 'anomalies', now there's a guy who replaced Godwin and keeps defeating 'anomalies'.
The situation's getting more chaotic. Well, just wonder if that guy can be used, or if he's part of the 'anomaly' needing swift elimination..."
At this point, a third, young voice spoke up.
"Hmph, testing will tell."
While saying this, the person stood up, casually saying.
"Whatever it is, eliminate first, decide later."