Infernity Mirage
XLII: Stygian Dirge
It was possibly around three in the morning when I finally fell asleep.
I was running in my dream. The sort of running where even though your legs are aching and you can't catch your breath, you keep going. I was being chased, though I didn't know by what. I only knew it was close behind me, and it would strike the moment I slowed down or showed any sign of weariness.
The scene kept changing. Sometimes the ground beneath my feet was an uneven forest floor with wild undergrowth that threatened to catch my feet and ankles and send me tumbling to the ground. Other times, it was hard pavement, unforgiving under my feet. Neo Domino shifted between urban comforts and damp rainforest, vines and untamed plant life mingled with the buildings like Ryuusei having let loose with Black Garden.
The rain poured. I felt heavy like lead, my body and clothes saturated from the downpour. It was slowing me down. I couldn't afford that. I risked taking a moment to tear off my jacket, forgoing its protection for the lighter burden.
I was sweating, and a blast of cold air made me shiver. The dream-time could not seem to decide on a climate. Some of the rain turned to snow, even though that was impossible.
I heard a growl, low and menacing. A bolt of terror flashed through me and I started running again. The snow was getting thicker, making it hard to navigate the jungle floor. I stumbled a few times, usually managing not to topple over onto my face.
Eventually, I looked behind me. I couldn't not. The curiosity and fear of the unknown hurt more than my aching feet. Gale-force winds howled, and I heard it... the sound of wings.
Eerie, cold, calm, white hair fluttered as he landed, the smiling carefree Youkai replaced by something else, some hidden monster of the dark that creeped through the night draped in the cloak of the night's skies. It moved confidently, assuredly, as if... my capture was a foregone conclusion. I was in the midst of a game of cat and mouse. It was toying with me, so confident that I would be its prey. My heart leapt up into my throat.
I would have bolted, but I was a Duellist of the Infernity. My stand was going to be here or I'll die trying. "Yeah?"
I didn't see it before it hit me. One second I was gawking at the city-jungle, the next I was knocked to the ground. I think I yelped or maybe even screamed as I looked up and saw him above me. Long slender fingers planted against my shoulders and held me down against the concrete and under-brush. I fought and squirmed and tried to get away, but it held me firmly. Crimson eyes watched me, like it was just waiting for me to tire myself out.
It didn't have to wait long. Eventually I gave up, slumping back against ground. "Fine... you got me..." I managed weakly. "Then what?"
His hands lifted from my shoulders and wrapped around my wrists, just as strong. "You should take solace in the fact that you provided a very good chase." Crimson eyes gleamed with adrenaline and victory.
My arms were pressed down, spread out from my body. I tried to move again and found my arms held down by shackles of words and actions. "Glad I could be so entertaining. Get it over with," I snapped back at him.
He tilted my head back with one firm hand in my hair. "One day, you are going to learn the value of discretion." He ran the pads of his fingers over the exposed line of my neck, ran his tongue over his teeth.
I feebly tried to jerk away from his grip. "You're a liar."
"Not to you. Not yet." The sylph was graceful, winds howling about him. "Well?"
I felt like Scrooge. "Bah, humbug," I slammed to fight even though he clearly had every advantage. The danger and the trust and the feeling of being completely out of my depth, they all mixed into some intoxicating cocktail and I kissed him back.
"More," I said when he let me breathe. He smiled at me, and he lowered his mouth to my neck again, teeth penetrating easily as I moaned and arched my back and–
– jerked awake so suddenly I fell out of bed and onto the floor, my legs tangled in the sheets.
I stared up at my ceiling in the dark for a moment before gasping out, "What was that?!"
"Is he alright?" Ryuusei was blinking at me when he came over on Sunday afternoon.
"It looks like the worst of all illnesses," Rex agreed. "Love-sickness."
"It totally never happened!" I yelled.
"What?" Both of them stared at me.
"Nothing," I groaned at the pile of homework due next week. "I'm bored. I'm going out to Duel."
"Ah, true, we haven't duelled just yet," Rex noted. "It'd be good to try out the new cards."
"The Daimon Area is holding a free-for-all," Ryuusei noted as he got up. "But, before that, we have to go to the House of Cards."
"What?" Rex and I stared at him.
"D-Wheels," Ryuusei answered without preamble. "It's finally finished."
"Finally!" I shouted, jumping up.
"Let's go!" Rex brightened visibly.
"Ara, Ryuu-kun," Ava-san murmurs when we wheel out the D-Wheels. "You're finally taking them? At least I can use that storage space then."
"Thanks, Ava-san," Ryuusei smiled at her.
"No problem," Ava waved a hand as a familiar dark blue, heavyset D-Wheel came in, Takeshi taking off his helmet to dismount from the Valhallander II. "Takeshi?"
"How is he?" Takeshi muttered.
"Asleep," Ava shrugged. "Oh, yes, your friend here and his boyfriend ran into Takeshi last night, right? What did you hear?"
"Ah..." I muttered. "Abel Kinsman?"
"What happened?" Ryuusei asked as I began to explain everything to them.
"Well, that explains some things," Rex said as I concluded. "Like that you were on a date rather than suffering of boredom and being mobbed like Ryuusei was."
"You were mobbed?" I asked a mortified Ryuusei.
"It's on the social network," Rex was going on about it. "Leo-san and Zora-san kept a copy."
"I will never live it down," Ryuusei sighed.
"Children," Ava sighed. "Last night Shimotsuki Setsuka did not leave the Bootleg facility unscathed. She is safe."
"She knew where the other two were and never said anything!" Takeshi added with no small amount of venom. We all stiffened, and even Ryuusei looked disturbed.
"What other two?" Rex demanded.
"Sensei wanted me to find the holders of Thor and Loki for this generation," Takeshi growled as he explained. "Harald-shishou foretold that he would... die... and Team Ragnarok with him. That's why, he gave me the Three Polar Gods, told me to find the other wielders and give them the cards, and then started setting his will out."
"He must really believe in fate," Ryuusei noted.
"He told me that he saw a vision..." Takeshi admitted. "That the world would be swept up in an unending winter that would begin once the snow flower bloomed on the frost moon. The three gods would be needed to prevent the bringer of that unending winter."
"...Ava-san, he didn't do anything to you, right?" Ryuusei turned to the garage owner.
"No, no, I'm perfectly fine, and Abel-kun is as well when he's not sleeping," Ava assured. "But, I had a new acquisition~ Would you like to try it out?"
"A Duel? Cool, I'm in!" Rex got up, smirking.
"Oi, Miyagi-san!" Takeshi yelled as Ava put on her DuelDisk. "Are you sure about this?"
"Why not?" Ava lightly shrugged as both of them got outside. "This is a Duel!"
"You..."
"Let's do this!" Rex smirked. "High or lower, Ava-san?"
"Well, since the shop is technically still open, lower," Ava-san decided.
"Duel!"
Avalon: LP 4000
Rex: LP 4000
"Draw!" Ava called. "I'll summon Garmr of the Nordic Beasts [800/1900] to the field in attack mode!" A large red wolf appeared on her field. "Then, I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"Draw!" Rex called. "Hmm, I'll summon Clock Resonator [1200/600] in defence mode! Then, I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"Playing defensively?" Ava blinked slowly. "Well, I'd never seen that in an Atlas. That hand of your must be terrible... I summon Tyr of the Nordic Champions [2000/2000] to the field. Garmr, attack the Clock Resonator."
"Once per turn, Clock Resonator in face-up defence mode cannot be destroyed!" Rex countered as the wolf bounced harmlessly off his monster.
"But, when Garmr battles a level four or lower monster, that monster can be bounced back to your hand," Ava answered easily.
"Ah!" Rex snapped his fingers as the imp vanished.
"Now, Tyr, direct attack!" Ava called.
"Trap card, Limit Impulse!" Rex called. "I send two cards from hand to grave to special summon two Soul Tokens [0/0] in defence mode. Now, what will you do?"
"Tyr, attack one Soul Token!" Ava called as it was slashed through. "Turn end."
"Draw!" Rex called. "I tribute the last Soul Token to summon Legendary Fiend [1500/1800]."
A blue-skinned demon appeared. "Now, when I tribute summon, Illusory Snatcher [2400/1500] can be special summoned from my hand, changing it's Type, Attribute and level to match Legendary Fiend. Now, I activate the other trap, Archfiend's Roar, paying five hundred life points to special summon from my grave the Archfiend Empress [2900/2100]!"
Rex: LP 4000 → LP 3500
Avalon: LP 4000
In a shroud of deadly miasma, the empress appeared, almost lovingly shrouding Rex.
"Battle! My Archfiend Empress, destroy Tyr!" Rex called. "Dark Aegis!"
"Trap card, Nordic Relic Brisingamen!" Ava called. "Now Tyr gains the same original attack as your Archfiend Empress!"
"Hmph," Rex scoffed as the two monsters killed each other. "When Archfiend Empress is destroyed and sent to the grave, another Dark Attribute Fiend Type monster takes her place! Come, Belial – Marquis of Darkness [2800/2400]!"
"Ah!" Ava paled as the winged monster arose. "You... don't use Synchro monsters much, do you?"
"Doesn't matter," Rex shrugged. "Belial, attack Garmr with Dark Blade!"
Avalon: LP 4000 → LP 2000
Rex: LP 3500
"Illusory Snatcher, Legendary Fiend, direct attack!" Rex called.
"Don't joke with me!" Ava laughed. "When a monster is destroyed by battle, I can special summon Nordic Beast Tanngnjostr [800/1100] to the field in defence mode."
"Well, that's fine," Rex drawled. "Illusory Snatcher then attacks Tanngnjostr!"
"Trap card, Nordic Relic Laevateinn!" Ava called. "I choose to destroy-"
"Hang on," Rex stopped. "Does it target?"
"Yes."
"Then, the effect of Belial states that you can only use it on him."
"Fine!" Ava yelled as the monster was destroyed.
"Now, Legendary Fiend, direct attack!" Rex called as the fiend dived.
Avalon: LP 2000 → LP 500
Rex: LP 3500
"Turn end," Rex concluded tidily.
"Draw!" Ava scanned her hand. "I summon Dverg of the Nordic Alfar [100/1000] to the field. Because he is normal summoned, I can normal summon another Nordic monster like the tuner monster, Vanadis of the Nordic Ascendant [1200/400]." A cheeky fairy giving us lip appeared. "I'll discard Svartalf of the Nordic Alfar to turn the level of Vanadis to equal it, in this case five, before I use Monster Reborn to pull Tyr out again."
"One, five, four... ten," Rex realised. "The god is coming..."
"Tuning, level one Dverg to level four Tyr to level five Vanadis! When the door of Asgard opens, the ancient war god will raise his magical hammer, the very earth itself will shake as he appears from a roar of thunder! Synchro Summon! Descend, Thor, Lord of the Aesir!"
"What?" Rex shouted as lightning flashed across the skies.
"Even I have no idea why she's the chosen of Thor... how can people wielding so much power be so carefree...?" Takeshi muttered as a large figure descended and thunder rumbled overhead from what was previously clear skies [3500/2800].
"So that's god..." Rex muttered, before grinning. "Oh, wow..."
"Rex!" Ryuusei scolded, looking nervous. "I hope those guys didn't notice..."
"Thor, destroy the Legendary Fiend!" Ava ordered. "Thunder Pile!"
"Gah!" Rex blocked as his monster shattered.
Rex: LP 3500 → LP 1500
Avalon: LP 500
"Turn end," Ava was breathing hard. "This is... the first time... I can't believe it myself. Even if I die right now, I'll be satisfied with just this..."
"Huh?" Rex blinked.
"I first saw Thor during the WRGP almost twenty years ago," Ava looked wistful. "I was five... I saw that majestic figure swinging the hammer of Mjolnir, and I thought, what a wonderful sight. Someone with no pride like me could never hope to use Thor to its fullest potential, but... if this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake."
"Don't... screw with me!" Rex looked murderous. "That kind of idiotic dream, I won't recognise it! Dreams exist so that we're always running, searching for it... just sitting there to wait for something doesn't mean it's going to happen! You have to go out there and find it! That kind of god... I've never prayed to god, because there is no god that can make Jack Atlas stay! It's my turn!"
He looked relieved as he drew. "I'll activate the Spell, Card of Demise! I draw until I have five cards in hand, and at the end phase, all the cards in my hand are sent to the grave! I'll then play Card Destruction! Now, since they were discarded, appear, Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World [2300/1400]! Sillva, Warlord of Dark World [2300/1400]! I Exceed summon! Come, Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon [2600/1700]!"
Dark wings fluttered as the figure that so resembled death itself descended on black-feathered wings.
"Once per turn, I can detach a Exceed material to destroy a card on the field, that is, your ace card!" Rex declared to Ava's horror-struck face. "Go, Adreus, Funeral March!"
The devil cackled as black feathers showered over Thor, the god disappearing.
"Now, Adreus, direct attack!" Rex roared as the black wings were tainted in red energy. "Condolence Flare!"
Avalon: LP 500 → LP 0
Rex: LP 1500
"Ah, we failed," Ava sighed, hardly bothered by her loss. "Still, I am satisfied."
"...true, to be able to summon the god at all is fantastic," Takeshi noted.
"Rex, you're... still sore about that time, huh?" Ryuusei murmured.
"The gods don't give things to people for free," Rex muttered bitterly. "There's always a sacrifice... and sometimes the price isn't so simple."
"Say, aren't we supposed to have a license before getting the D-Wheel?" I finally realised as I wheeled Carpe Jugulum along. It would have been faster to ride it, but I was hardly keen on being caught out illegally riding.
"You didn't know?" Rex blinked at me. "Kings offers a D-Wheel license as part of its curriculum. The testing age is this year."
"Eh? Really?"
"You fell asleep in class, right?" Ryuusei hit the nail on the head once more.
"You shut up..." I struggled under the metaphorical weight.
"So, shall we hit the Daimon Area?" Ryuusei debated, looking at the heavier D-Wheels. "We should return these back home first, though..."
"Ryuusei, your dad got a driver's permit without a license, right?" I asked pointedly.
"But, that doesn't mean-"
"Oi, you guys!" The red-haired Glen hung suspended from one of the lamp-posts. "Did you see that big figure just now? Reggie and I were just about to dive at it."
"It's fine," Ryuusei assured. "It's just Rex's opponent."
"Ah, so that's it" Glen nodded. "Ryuusei, be careful. Minatsuki's growing bolder, enough to try and kidnap the boss-lady. She barely escaped intact with more people, and she's still working."
"Shimotsuki's very dedicated," Ryuusei answered. "Where's Reggie?"
"Ah, that guy's somewhere," Glen waved to the skies as he turned and winked out in the blink of an eye.
"What was that?" we yelped at Ryuusei.
"Glen's partially electrokinectic," Ryuusei answered, shrugging. "Well... we just have to wait for the license test."
"Oi, your friend- oh, wait," I sighed. "Never mind."
"So, what caused the depression today?" Ryuusei asked as we were pushing the things along.
"Just... a bad dream," I shrugged. "Ne... Ryuusei Rex... I met Uncle Crow drinking himself silly in the Ace of Spades yesterday and complaining to Rally-san."
"Ah, Uncle Crow?" Ryuusei echoed.
"Yeah..." I groaned as my phone rang. "Ah, excuse me. Hello?"
"Chase?" Crow's voice echoed through. "Ah, I heard from Rally how you brought me home, thanks. Erm... let's not talk about that... okay?"
"Too late," I put the thing on speaker just so that we could see Crow's expression when he realised that Ryuusei and Rex were there.
"Kids!" Crow looked panicked. "Traitor!"
"So, who's the, I quote, flighty bastard who stole your passport, unquote, you were complaining about last night?" I asked. "Do we need to log a police report?"
"No, I know who it is," Crow looked resigned. "It's my boyfriend. Please don't tell Jack, or I'll never hear the end of it."
"You mean that you've found someone even more flighty than you?" Rex asked bluntly, smirking. "Oh, I think Father would really laugh."
"...okay, brat, what do you want?" Crow muttered.
"So, when are we going to meet him?" Ryuusei asked good-naturedly.
"Never! He pisses me off just thinking about it! Never mind, I'm just going to dump him!" Beep.
"...sounds like this one's a keeper," Ryuusei nonchalantly murmured as we continued walking. "We'll meet him."
"Where did you learn that serenity?" I muttered.
Packing the D-Wheels took a while, but they were covered with a tarp at the Fudo house before we headed for the Daimon Area. It was crowded, Duellists milling about, and we came across a public disturbance; a familiar blonde-haired girl was restraining a much larger man, her slender figure hiding disproportionate strength as she held the man back from hitting a familiar dark-haired duellist.
"As daughter of the Commissioner, I can't allow you to create a public disturbance," Seiran murmured as she flipped the man over. "Tenjouin Michiru, you should be more careful with your words as well."
"I don't need you to tell me what to do!" Michiru scowled. This time, she wore a black and red striped sweater, black gloves, blue jeans-shorts with a duel box attached to the belt, black socks and shoes, and her hair was tied up in a neat ponytail. "Besides, even if you're a Lady, you're the same age as me! You don't get to boss me around!"
"Both of you, stop," graceful shoes clicked as the Titania appeared. "Hinamori-san, perhaps it is fine if we settle this in a Duel? After all, Tenjouin-san is unlikely to listen to us when Shimotsuki-san isn't around."
"I just can't stand you!" Seiran scowled.
"Yo!" Ryuusei waved to them.
"Ah, Fudo-kun," Hazuki greeted. "as you see, we're currently in a pickle..."
"This bitch started it!" the man snarled, struggling loose. "Who the hell are you guys?"
"Well, we're here for a Duel," I answered. "But, what did this guy try?"
"He tried to steal my Valkyrus!" Michiru defended.
"Dammit!" the man looked cornered as every eye on the Daimon Area turned hard. "Oi, you- I'm innocent!"
"In that case, then you'll have no problems if you Duel?" Ryuusei pointed out.
"I'll be the opponent," I offered, stepping up. "So, higher or lower? What do I call you anyway?"
"I'm Marcus, the new boss of the area!" the man boasted as he produced a DuelDisk. "Higher! Let's go!"
"Duel!"
Chase: LP 8000
Marcus: LP 8000
I glanced at my hand, swallowing nervously. "I summon Infernity Mirage [0/0] to the field, before I play Card Destruction to discard the rest of my hand and draw more cards. " Yes, everything was fine... "Then, I activate the Continuous Spell, Wave-Motion Inferno, and send it to the grave to empty out my hand."
"Oi, oi, that's way too many cards," Marcus growled.
"I tribute Infernity Mirage to special summon Infernity Demon [1800/1200] and Infernity Necromancer [0/2000]," I declared. "Now, I use Demon's search effect to pull an Infernity Barrier and set it. I activate the effect of Necromancer; when my hand is at zero I can special summon an Infernity monster from the grave. Appear, Infernity Avenger [0/0]!"
My favourite tuner gave me a thumbs up, and I remembered... why I've always dreamed of the Infernity way.
"Tuning, level four Demon and level three Necromancer to level one Avenger!" I called. "The dead and the living... when they meet at zero, above the cage of eternity the demonic dragon comes forth! Synchro summon! Appear now, Infernity Death Dragon!"
My demonic dragon [3000/2400] appeared with a roar.
"Well, it's your turn," I pointed.
"D- Draw!" Marcus looked intimidated before my dragon before he sighed in relief. "Well, 'cause this is my turn, I'll activate the field spell, Mausoleum of the Emperor! So now I can-"
"Yes, yes, pay life points instead of monsters," I sighed. "Go ahead."
"Fine!" Marcus scowled. "Now, I'll discard three Chthonian Emperor Dragons to special summon Montage Dragon [?/0 → 5400/0]!"
"Huh?" I blinked as the mighty monster appeared. "Then, why play-?"
"'cause I pay two thousand life points to summon Dark Horus [2800/1000]!" Marcus yelled as the dark monster appeared. "Get it now? You're facing my strongest beast! Now, Montage Dragon! Get him!"
I blocked as the force almost sent me skidding back. Huh? Real damage?
Chase: LP 8000 → LP 5600
Marcus: LP 8000
"What?" Marcus was blinking at Infernity Death Dragon. "Why is it...?"
"The effect of Infernity Bishop in the grave!" I called. "When my hand is at zero, and this card is in the grave, once per turn I can choose one monster and for this turn, that monster isn't destroyed!"
"Fine! Turn end!" he scowled.
"Draw!" I called. "I play the Spell, Bullet and Cartridge, to send the top four cards of my deck to the grave, and then draw a card and place this Spell card on top of my deck. Now, I reveal the drawn card, Infernity Demon to special summon him! With his effect, I pull an Infernity Launcher and activate it. Now, I send Infernity Launcher to the grave to special summon two old friends, Necromancer and Avenger! This is payback! Tuning, level four Demon to level three Necromancer to level one Avenger! Against the backdrop of darkness, many eyes open... open the truth of the gates! Synchro summon! Take flight, Hundred Eyes Dragon!"
Many eyes opened as the dragon appeared [3000/2500], and even Marcus took a step back. "Hey... wait! That dragon can't stand up to my Montage Dragon!"
"Infernity Death Dragon's effect!" I called. "This turn, in exchange for not attacking with it, Infernity Death Dragon can destroy one monster and inflict damage to you equal to its attack. Your Montage Dragon has five thousand four hundred, so you'll take twenty-seven hundred damage. Burn in the black flames and be satisfied. Death Fire Blast!"
"What?" Marcus cowered as the dragon was consumed.
Marcus: LP 8000 → LP 5300
Chase: LP 5600
"Now, I'll attack your Dark Horus!" I called. "Go, Hundred Eyes Dragon! Infinity Sight Stream!"
"Gah!" Marcus yelped. "You...!"
Marcus: LP 5300 → LP 5100
Chase: LP 5600
"Turn end," I signalled.
"I draw!" Marcus raged. "I summon Decoy Dragon [300/200] to the field. Turn end!"
"...do you take me for an idiot?" I could feel a vein throbbing at my temple. "Draw! Because of Bullet and Cartridge, the card is sent to the grave. Now, I'll use Hundred Eyes Dragon's effect. Once per turn, I can banish a level six or lower Dark Attribute monster, and Hundred Eyes gains its effect for that turn. So, I'll banish Necromancer to gain the revival effect to summon Infernity Archer [2000/1000]! By the way, when my hand is at zero, Archer can attack directly."
"What?" Marcus yelped.
"Hmm... Infernity Death Dragon, clear the way!" I called. "Death Fire Blast!"
In the wake of the black flames, my Infernity monsters roared.
Marcus: LP 5100 → LP 4950
Chase: LP 5600
"Now, Hundred Eyes Dragon, Infernity Archer, direct attack!" I called as they blasted him.
Marcus: LP 4950 → LP 0
Chase: LP 5600
"I just didn't expect that, punk!" Marcus loomed before he gave Ryuusei and the girls a discreet look before stalking off with a huff. "Just you wait!"
"What age is this already?" Hazuki sighed tiredly. "That's why I hate patrol..."
"Well, Himemiya-san is a real princess after all," Seiran smiled back. "Papa always taught me well!"
I sweat-dropped at her enthusiasm. "Somehow, I don't feel assured about the future of Neo Domino City..."
"Even so, the Arcadia Movement rescued quite a few Psychic Duellists last night," Hazuki murmured. "Even so, Shimotsuki-san was injured... she'll recover, but... for someone to be able to do that, he must be extremely strong."
"Minatsuki..." I recalled. "That guy managed to injure Shimotsuki?"
"Shimotsuki got injured?" Rex was stunned. "Huh... guess there's a first time for everything."
"You guys, can't you fight for yourselves?" Michiru scoffed. "Yes, Shimotsuki-san is down right now, but the Arcadia Movement isn't her alone, right? You've got to make your own place as well!"
"We know that!" Seiran snapped back. "Still, whoever it is seem to be targeting Psychic Duellists..." Seiran murmured, now solemn. "And, to not have Shimotsuki-kaichou around is very troubling. But, for some reason, I feel uneasy... Ariyashi-san is also staying indoors."
"Really?" I absently muttered.
"Yes, because there's been a frequent visitor and Ariyashi-san is avoiding him," Hazuki affirmed. "Hmm, who knows why..."
"Ah, you all," Golden Breeze walked up to us, her eyes twinkling. "Good day."
"Ah, Breeze-san," Ryuusei greeted. "Are you here to Duel?"
"No, I was going to find Satoshi, but it looks like he's going after Kaido again," Breeze murmured. "It's almost sad to look at them..."
I remembered the books. "Ah, Breeze-san, you helped Kaido write one of his books, right?"
"Ah, you've read it?" Golden Breeze looked pleasantly surprised. "Well, usually we don't talk to strangers about such things, but Kaido was talking about purely general totemic significance, so it was approved. Kaido and Satoshi... I only heard about him from Satoshi, so I don't quite know myself."
We had taken a spot by the edge, where there was a small park, complete with small fountain and joggers and Duellists. Nearby was the run-down Pandemonium Stadium that people still got a kick out of, but mostly abandoned.
"Kaido was a genius, that could be said," Breeze murmured. "Well, for anyone to enter university at seventeen, he was really a genius. Within years, he was already well on his way to become the next teen Ph.D. Satoshi was also in university at the time, and they worked together on that thesis... Trailblazing, they called it. Over the course of their work together, it seemed like there was something deeper... right before Satoshi left for our world as a guardian and for his career."
"Huh?" we yelped. "Just for that?"
"For a soul as isolated as Kaido, it must have been heart-wrenching to be alone once more," Breeze sighed. "But, not forgiving him after so long is getting ridiculous..."
"Have you considered locking them into a room?" Ryuusei suggested. "That works, right?"
"The problem is getting Kaido to stay in the room," Breeze sighed. "There's no way to do it."
"So... we need to lock them in a room for a long time, right?" Hazuki suggested. "If that's the case, then maybe we can use the archives room!"
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