[Destiny HERO - Malicious]
[Level 6 / Warrior / Effect]
[ATK 800]
"This isn't over yet!" Yusaku's eyes were as sharp as blades. "I continue by activating the effect of [Destiny HERO - Denier] in my GY! While this card is in the GY and I have a [Destiny HERO - Malicious] other than this card on my field or in my GY, I can Special Summon this card!"
The moment his words fell, the summoning spiral flared again. The dark-winged Malicious descended amid a surge of shadowy aura, landing solidly beside him.
[Destiny HERO - Malicious]
[Level 6 / Warrior / Effect]
[ATK 800]
"And I'm not done!" Yusaku's tone stayed calm but carried an edge. "I resolve [Destiny HERO - Denier]'s effect! Since [Destiny HERO - Malicious] is already on my field, I Special Summon [Destiny HERO - Denier]!"
The summoning spiral erupted once more. A lean hero carrying chains, radiating a cold, composed menace, stepped out onto the field.
[Destiny HERO - Denier]
[Level 3 / Warrior / Effect]
[ATK 1100]
Seeing four monsters appear on Yusaku's side in the span of a heartbeat, cold sweat beaded on Miki's forehead. The earlier confidence had completely vanished from his face.
The students behind him all fell silent. Eyes wide, they stared fixedly at Yusaku's seamless sequence of plays.
He'd started his turn with just a single card in hand. Yet in the blink of an eye, he had four monsters on the field and a fistful of fresh resources added to his hand.
Can he really turn this whole game around off that? someone couldn't help shouting in their heart.
"Denier and Malicious are both on the field, and Yusaku-senpai just searched [Polymerization] off [Vision HERO Vyon]. What do you think he's going to fuse into?"
A student behind Yusaku was resting her chin in her hands, eyes shining with anticipation.
"I feel like it'll be [Elemental HERO Sunrise], right?" someone else replied without even looking at the field. "Search [Miracle Fusion], bring out another HERO, and extend even further."
"Why can't it be [Elemental HERO Trinity]?" a third chimed in. "Don't forget Yusaku-senpai added [Premature Burial] back earlier, and he's already searched [Elemental HERO Stratos] with [Isolde].
"The opponent's [Vanity's Ruler] is in Attack Position and its ATK was halved. If Trinity comes down at 5000 and swings over it, that's 3750 damage off the bat…"
"Plus he could follow up with [World Legacy Succession] to revive Stratos afterward. With the Link monsters he can make off that, he could even link [Sunrise] and Stratos and keep snowballing."
"But whatever line you guys are talking about, it doesn't seem like he can close the game this turn… Trinity can't attack directly, and [Herald of Ultimateness] is still in Defense Position…"
While the crowd was still arguing, Yusaku's steady voice cut through the noise and pressed everything down.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card [Polymerization]!"
"I Fusion Summon a monster whose materials are: 1 Level 6 or higher 'HERO' monster + 1 'Destiny HERO' monster!"
"I fuse the [Destiny HERO - Denier] and Level 6 [Destiny HERO - Malicious] on my field and send them to the GY as materials!"
"Beginning with destiny and ending in ruin! O slumbering phoenix of the abyssal gale, heed my call. Lend me your wings of annihilating flame and tear apart the walls between dimensions! Awaken from the ashes and descend—[Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer]!"
The moment Yusaku's chant rang out, the students behind him collectively held their breath. Their mouths fell open one by one; some even forgot to breathe for half a second.
"Holy—Phoenix Enforcer!"
Before their exclamations fully left their throats, the two monsters on Yusaku's field had already transformed into twin pillars of dazzling light, shooting into the Fusion vortex hanging in midair.
The vortex turned a blazing crimson in an instant. Magma-like crystalline flame churned within, and shadowy silhouettes were flung from its edges, leaving scorch marks on the virtual ground wherever they fell.
A moment later, a massive claw plated with golden patterns punched through the vortex. The heat bursting from it seemed to tear the air itself apart.
[Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer] leapt from the vortex in a blaze, its body wreathed in roaring flames that reached dozens of meters high. Crimson eyes burned with destructive light as it landed solidly on the field.
[Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer]
[Level 8 / Warrior / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK 2500]
Every student who'd long since stopped believing in "destiny" was now staring, dumbfounded, at the monster before them.
The sheer pressure radiating off it was far beyond any monster that had appeared so far. Even the air around it seemed to distort under the heat.
With Phoenix Enforcer now on the field, Yusaku almost offhandedly waved his hand. "Looks like I don't need to build any further. Two more monsters will be plenty."
Miki: "???"
Before he could even respond, Yusaku raised his arm and shouted, "I use [Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights] and [Infernoble Knight - Renaud] on my field as Link Material!"
"Link Summon! Link-2, [Predaplant Verte Anaconda]!"
The two monsters dissolved into streaks of light and were drawn into a new Link circuit that unfolded overhead like a woven blue grid.
In the next instant, the [↙][↘] Link Arrows lit up, and a gigantic serpentine plant-dragon covered in verdant scales slithered out of the circuit, its body coiling and uncoiling as it settled onto the field.
[Predaplant Verte Anaconda]
[Link-2 / Plant / Link / Effect]
[ATK 500]
"I activate [Predaplant Verte Anaconda]'s effect! I pay 2000 LP and send 1 'Fusion' Normal or Quick-Play Spell from my Deck to the GY. This effect becomes that card's activation effect!"
"I activate the effect!"
[Yusaku, LP 3200 → 1200]
"I send [Red-Eyes Fusion] from my Deck to the GY, and treat this effect as [Red-Eyes Fusion]'s effect! I Fusion Summon using [Dark Magician] and [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] from my Deck as materials, sending them to the GY!"
"Come forth, Avatar of Red-Eyes' destruction!"
"Awaken, knight of Red-Eyes, and show the world your true power! Now—descend, [Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon]!"
A ring of black flame erupted as his declaration crashed over the field. A violent vortex of magic power formed out of thin air; purple lightning writhed and crackled at its core, tearing through the sky.
A massive, heavily armored dragon claw burst out of the maelstrom, its talons gleaming with a light sharp enough to rend space itself.
The colossal body of Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon slowly emerged from the storm, armor plating as dark as obsidian and etched with crimson patterns that glowed like molten lava.
It raised its head and let out a low roar as its huge wings unfurled with a thunderous impact. The shockwave forced the spectators to stagger, their vision shaking as the oppressive aura rolled over them like a tidal wave.
[Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon]
[Level 8 / Spellcaster / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK 3000]
The instant Dragoon appeared, the onlookers' jaws dropped wide open. A heartbeat later, the stands exploded into shrieks and howls of disbelief.
"Dragoon with Phoenix Enforcer?! That's illegal!"
"With these two on the board, what's there left to talk about? This game is over!"
"This is a hard GG, right?!"
"Not 'probably' over. It's absolutely over. The guy across from him is going to have to pay another 2500 LP in spiritual compensation to his senior at this rate…"
On the field.
The moment Dragoon hit the ground, every trace of hope vanished from Miki's face. The students behind him were equally blank, faces flooded with despair as the swirling magic vortex above slowly settled.
Yusaku pointed straight at his opponent's field, his voice cold as ice. "I activate the effect of [Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon]."
"Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can destroy 1 monster your opponent controls and inflict damage to you equal to that monster's original ATK."
"I can use this effect up to the number of Normal Monsters used as its Fusion Materials. I used two Normal Monsters to Fusion Summon Dragoon, so I can activate this effect twice this turn."
He slashed his arm through the air. "First activation! I target and destroy your [Herald of Ultimateness], and you take 2000 damage!"
Dragoon's blade carved a crimson crescent through the air.
The red arc of light cleaved straight through Herald's luminous shield, cutting the divine figure cleanly in half. Its shattered form dispersed into radiant fragments, the excess impact crashing straight into Miki's body like a tidal wave.
He staggered back several steps before he managed to stop himself.
[Miki, LP 8000 → 6000]
"Second activation of [Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon]'s effect! I destroy your [Vanity's Ruler] and you take 2500 damage!"
Another crescent of red light shot out, ruthlessly tearing apart the last remaining monster on Miki's field, scattering it like dust.
[Miki, LP 6000 → 3500]
"Battle Phase!"
Yusaku's shout cracked across the plaza like thunder. "Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, attack him directly!"
Phoenix Enforcer transformed into a streak of blazing flame, trailing light as it rushed across the field. The heat was so intense it felt as though even the air was catching fire. It brushed past Miki, and his nerves jolted with a full-body numbness as his LP plummeted.
[Miki, LP 3500 → 1000]
"Now, this duel is over. Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon, direct attack!"
Dragoon's blade blazed to life once more. The crimson arc it unleashed sliced straight through Miki's chest.
The overwhelming shockwave sent him flying like a kite with its string severed, his body crashing hard into the ground.
"Uaaaahhhh!"
[Miki, LP 1000 → 0]
At the instant the duel ended, a crisp system chime rang in everyone's ears: contribution share 50%, reward: 1 K-rank Main God Card.
Miki slammed into the floor with a heavy thud that echoed like thunder across the arena. Dust billowed up around him as the wave of noise finally shattered the crowd's stunned silence.
For a full three seconds, the entire place was dead quiet. Even the sound of breathing was audible.
Then, like a dam bursting, a roar of cheers erupted.
The students were waving their arms wildly; some even jumped to their feet, faces flushed with disbelief and sheer euphoria.
From rock-bottom disadvantage to a full clean sweep.
He'd started from "grassroots" and steamrolled the top-floor elites.
Is this kind of guy really from the Satellite District?
While the crowd of believers were celebrating, shouting and laughing loud enough to shake the rafters, a rustling disturbance came from the edge of the plaza.
The Upper City students were slipping away one by one, heads hanging low, trying to blend into the walls as they hugged their Duel Disks to their chests like thieves.
They hoped to use the chaos to quietly retreat back to their base camp.
Yusaku's gaze swept across them, his voice calm and unhurried yet carrying clearly through the arena.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
At that, Mizuki's body stiffened. His steps halted as if someone had yanked invisible strings tight around his limbs.
He slowly turned around, veins standing out on his forehead, his face flushed bright red with humiliation.
His hands balled into fists, knuckles bone white. His nails were digging so hard into his palms they were on the verge of breaking skin. Rage and unwillingness roiled in his eyes, but in the end he gritted his teeth, bent down, and pulled the Deck from the Duel Disk of the still-unconscious Miki, who lay there frowning even in a coma.
He flung the Deck hard toward Yusaku.
"Take it! But don't get cocky! If you've got the guts, come to the first floor of the Satellite District! We'll be waiting for you at the Duel Tower on Floor 1. When the time comes, I'll take everything back with my own hands!"
With that, he swung his arm angrily and stalked off with the Upper City students trailing sullenly behind.
Once the Upper City group had left in a cloud of resentment, the dojo masters from the Satellite side hurried over.
The first to reach him was the Flame Wolf Dojo Master. His eyes were red with emotion as he grabbed Yusaku's hand in both of his, his voice trembling.
"Yusaku… thank you. Truly, thank you. If not for you, the defenses on Floor 23 would've fallen long ago. Flame Wolf Dojo… Flame Wolf Dojo wouldn't have survived to this point."
Yusaku smiled slightly, as if what he'd done were nothing more than a trivial errand. "There's no need for thanks. We're all from the Satellite District. Supporting each other is only natural."
At that moment, Takeuchi stepped out from the crowd in his dark training robes. His expression was solemn, his gaze serious as he raised a hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
When the cheers had gradually died away, leaving only scattered whispering, Takeuchi spoke in a deep voice.
"Though the crisis on Floor 23 has been resolved for now, the other floors in the Satellite District are still in dire straits. The Upper City's offensive has never stopped."
He paused and swept his gaze across the gathered dojo masters from Floor 27, eyes firm and tone ringing with conviction.
"I plan to lead some of our senior students to immediately reinforce the upper floors. We can't leave them to fight alone."
"Count Flame Wolf Dojo in!" the Flame Wolf master said without hesitation. "You all came all this way to help us on Floor 23. How could we sit back and do nothing? We'll give everything we have to support you and stand with you."
Takeuchi nodded gravely, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. "Good. Every extra person is another share of strength. Time is short. We move at once."
Then he looked back at Yusaku, his gaze now carrying both trust and expectation.
"Yusaku, take the newly joined students and head to Floor 1 of the Satellite District. These kids are… unusual. Their thinking is wild, but incredibly sharp. Sometimes, even I can't fully follow the more complex lines, but they can calmly pick apart every key step. With them at your side, they might bring you some unexpected help."
"Understood." Yusaku inclined his head.
Takeuchi said no more. He turned to the other dojo masters and senior students, issuing concise orders about the support routes and defensive deployments.
Moments later, he led his group at a brisk pace toward the upper floors.
After they left, the remaining players looked around at each other, scratching their heads, curiosity and excitement written all over their faces.
Many of them were just about to ask Yusaku if he needed help with anything, hoping to trigger a follow-up quest and earn more rewards.
Right then, someone near the edge of the crowd suddenly cried out in surprise.
"Hey! My quest panel just changed! Something new popped up!"
At that, everyone hurriedly lowered their heads to check the virtual quest interfaces on their wrists.
Where earlier there'd been nothing but an empty list, a new icon was now flashing with a bright golden glow. Beneath it, a clear label had appeared:
"★★ [Guard the Satellite District]."
[Quest Name]: Guard the Satellite District
[Quest Objective]: Assist Yusaku in holding the line on Floor 1 of the Satellite District. Join him in repelling the Upper City forces' frenzied assaults before they break through to the Duel Tower, and maintain the defensive line until reinforcements arrive.
[Quest Rewards]: Crystals ×100, Random Rare Card ×1, access to a Private Shop.
The plaza that had just quieted down a moment ago erupted again as everyone stared at the new quest, eyes blazing.
A brand-new battlefield was waiting for them.
And the one at its center… was Yusaku.
(End of Chapter)
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