Hajime walked and walked for what seemed like forever. The corridor must have stretched endlessly, for he never recalled it being this long. Had he picked the wrong direction, meaning that he was headed for the stairs instead of the exit? Or was his mind simply playing tricks on him in the dark of the night? When the only directions were forward and backward, everything began to feel so monotone due to this false dichotomy. There had to be more choices in life, and that corridor he wandered in began to feel just like his life, ever so stale and empty. It did not matter that he was born in a rich family and had a much better living than others his age, deep inside there was always something missing. He tried filling that emptiness with literature, movies and video games, but those never managed to satiate his thirst. Perhaps what he truly desired was belonging? Since most kids his age would avoid him out of envy due to his wealthy background, he had always sought belonging in the art he devoured on a daily basis. Now the few friends he did make were gone. Ken was killed and he had pushed Jack and Lori away, despite his grandmother advising him the opposite. He truly was a terrible friend, maybe he deserved to remain all alone, surrounded by books for the rest of his life.
The chilling breeze grew stronger, making him feel cold despite wearing a turtleneck sweater. Rubbing one arm for some warmth, he rushed his steps. The only thing on his mind was the comfort of home. He would take a well-deserved hot shower, change into a pair of comfortable pajamas and drift away into sleep to forget everything for the rest of the night. As he dreamed of his warm bed's comfort and the peace of his room's walls, Hajime suddenly tripped and collided with the cold floor, sliding on his belly, eventually hitting something solid with his forehead. So typical of life to sucker punch him when he was at his lowest.
Once he was back on his feet, he had the relief of seeing the exit door. At long last, the nightmare would end. But as he attempted to open it, he realized it was locked. That was strange, why did the guard lock up the campus this early? And why did his walk seem so excruciatingly long? Unless... it was a trap, and he fell right in. Screaming and kicking the door, he begged whoever was outside to free him from captivity, moments became agonizing long minutes, shouts became cries, but there was no answer to his desperate pleas. It was all for naught, nobody would be coming to save him, he was on his own, as always. Taking out his cell phone and unmuting it, he tried calling the authorities, but he soon discovered that there was no signal. Looking around for an alternative exit, he found that each classroom had been locked as well. As a last resort, he tried thrusting himself into one of the windows, only to find it strangely solid and resistant, for he could not leave at least a crack. Truly he was trapped.
Hajime suddenly felt dizzy, his head was spinning in many directions, he no longer felt as if his feet were on stable ground. The headache disappeared as quickly as it came. When he came back to his senses, a thick red fog had engulfed the corridor. Shishima was close, much closer than the blond would have liked. With no other option left, he took a deep breath, braced himself for what was coming and walked into the obscurity that awaited him in the hopes that there would be some kind of exit at the upper levels. His grandmother must have been in a similar spot fifty years ago. What would she have done in his place? Most likely she would have faced her fears headfirst, always standing up for her beliefs, no matter the odds. Now it was his turn to do the same, but was he going to prevail in the same way she had?
Strange whispers began to echo from both sides of the corridor. At first they were low enough and he could ignore them, but slowly they grew louder and louder, unnerving the young one. As he went deeper into the fog, the whispers became so audible that it felt like someone was speaking close to him. It seemed that they were only uttering gibberish, until Hajime heard his name called out. Just as he was on the verge of running, he felt a hand grab his shoulder and something whisper into his ear the words, "Do you wish to join us?"
Hajime was petrified, a million thoughts raced through his mind in those few seconds. Survival instinct overpowered reason, he slapped the hand off his shoulder and ran aimlessly in the fog as fast as his legs allowed him. This isn't real, it's just a sick nightmare! He repeated this mantra in his mind to keep his sanity intact, all while desperately trying to find a place to hide. Maybe the universe would grant him some mercy, maybe indeed it was all a dream, he would wake up in bed, it would be morning, he would find his best friend and his grandmother both alive and healthy, without a care in the world.
The fog vanished and Hajime bumped into the lockers at the corridor's end. It was the second time he had been careless on that evening. While trying to get a hold of himself and maintain his body's balance, a familiar voice called from the shadows afar, "Hajime! Hajime, is that you?"
"Grandma Tsugumi, is that you?" the blond shouted back without even thinking twice.
"Hajime, are you there? Is anyone there?"
"Yes, I am here! Where are you, grandma?"
"I am so happy you're alive, sweetheart! They tied me up and brought me here. Please Hajime, help me! I am at-"
Tsugumi suddenly screamed. Her grandson heard a struggle, followed by the sound of chairs hitting walls and floors, and then silence once more. No, he would not lose his grandmother again, he could not allow such a thing to happen! Hajime ran in the direction of the noises, and soon enough the red fog once more appeared around him, but at this point it had no effect on him. As everyone close to him knew, whenever he set his mind on a goal, he stubbornly persisted until it was achieved, no matter the cost. A pair of stairs could be seen through the fog, and on them he discerned two figures, one hunched over the other, climbing to the upper floor.
Just as he was on the verge of apprehending them, an ear-piercing shriek startled him. Demon Edo popped out from one of the lockers and lashed on him, the two rolling on the floor until the poor mortal was pinned down.
"Little Hajime, why the rush?" asked the winged one, unable to contain his amused cackles. "Your granny is all ours now, so you better get used to it!"
Something was odd. That cheery voice, although younger and more hissed, was very familiar. And the same could be said about his face, if one ignored the demonic features.
"Edo, is that you?!" Hajime gasped, his eyes wide. He could not fathom this, was that creature really Tsugumi's comedian friend who used to perform clown tricks for him when he was a child?
"Oh yes, vastly improved, but it's me alright!" Demon Edo grinned in utter amusement and delight at his prey's horror.
"W-what happened to you?"
"I've seen the light that my master has showed me, so I've been reborn as a new me! If you wish to see good old Tsugumi again, you must also be reborn!"
"Where is she?! What have you done to my grandma?!"
"Kehehe, Hajime, Hajime, you're about to receive all the answers you seek."
Demon Edo carefully placed his hands on the youngster's throat and began squeezing hard, blocking his wind pipes, intent on asphyxiating him as quickly as possible. After mustering the strength to drag a fist from under his own body's weight, Hajime managed to punch the demonized one in the face, causing him to fall back with a blackened eye. The blond quickly got up and ran towards the stairs, but the monster immediately landed in front of them, leather wings spread wide to block his path.
"Despite your best efforts, you're still unable to rescue your loved ones. If I were in your place, I would realize that this entire struggle of mine is pointless and I would just submit to what is coming." Demon Edo giggled, mirthless and sadistic. "But if you keep opposing us, then the rest of your friends and the entirety of Sagakin will be next on our list! The master would find great delight in having you be the last survivor, the one who witnesses everyone's deaths right before his own inevitable fate."
Angered, Hajime shouted back at him, "Why is Shishima targeting me by going after my loved ones?! If this fucking coward has a bone to pick with me, then he should be straightforward!"
"Oh, so you know the master's name. Good job, detective. But still, your feeble mind can't even comprehend my master's ways! If you really think you're worthy of facing him, why not face me first?" the brown haired duelist argued while taking out his deck.
"I'm not afraid of you, nor your dirty tricks!" the blond responded and also took out his deck.
"Shishima-sama will be very pleased when I bring him your dead body as a trophy."
Two dueling tables arose from the floor between them, each placing his deck and setting his cards. Five blue rectangular shields appeared above both duelists, thus beginning their match.
"I summon Onikamas, Strange Flow," Demon Edo said and an anthropomorphic blue fish wielding two golden lances appeared by his side.
"I charge mana and end," Hajime passed the turn.
"I summon Aqua Super Emeral." A humanoid made of green liquid with over-sized hands appeared next to the fish as their owner's swapped a shield with a card from his hand.
"I cast Aquan Jr.'s Delivery." The blond revealed the top three cards of his deck – Rainbow Spark, Miraculous Snare and Emeralda, Pitch Dragon Elemental, taking all into his hand.
"That's weird, since when did you switch to Light Water strategies? I thought you preferred playing your Metallica deck with only Light cards. Regardless, I summon Shuff, Eureka and choose 3!" A robotic casino dealer wielding a full deck of playing cards appeared, waving his hand at the opponent with a three of clubs. "Now you can't cast spells which cost 3 and your creatures which cost 3 can't attack or block."
"I cast Rainbow Spark and tap both Aqua Super Emeral and Shuff. Then Mana Arms 2, I draw two cards."
"I expand All For One, Machine of D!" Their haunting surroundings immediately transformed into a blue laboratory with two test tubes and a floating wrench in the middle. "I attack with Shuff and choose 5, break one of his shields!" The robotic dealer pulled out a five of hearts and tossed it into one of Hajime's shields, shattering it into pieces, the card immediately returning into his hand like a boomerang.
"I summon Emeralda, Pitch Dragon Elemental." An angelic white dragon wielding a staff with piano keys appeared, singing a strong A note as its owner also swapped a shield with a card from his hand.
"Setting up a shield trigger? That won't do you any good against my lockdown! I attack with Shuff and choose 5 once again, break another shield! I end my turn and use All For One's effect – I destroy Shuff and replace him with VV-8, Forbidden Machine." The floating wrench crashed the small robot, its pieces being sucked into one of the two test tubes, while a white cycloptic robot with motorcycle wheels for hands and feet appeared in the other tube. "With VV-8's effect I check the top five cards of my deck, take two in my hand and leave the rest on him as seals. Your move, kiddo."
"I summon Defense Armor, Absolute Fear and cast Miraculous Snare on Aqua Super Emeral." A being made of silvery crystals appeared by Hajime's side as the Liquid People made of green water was enveloped in a bright blue aura and turned into a new shield. "Emeralda, attack and Revolution Change into Miradante Twelve, Time Pope!" The Angel Command Dragon rushed towards the opposing shields, but quickly turned around and hi fived with a white angelic dragon donning a pope hat, with long blonde hair and a clock surrounding its back, before disappearing from the battle zone.
Demon Edo's jaw dropped. "Th-that's Tsugumi's trump card! You're using her deck?!"
"This deck is her gift to help me deal with the likes of you! Miradante Twelve's Final Revolution, you can't summon creatures which cost 7 or less until the end of your next turn!" A pair of golden vines appeared out of the ground and tied themselves around Demon Edo's hands. "Then I also draw a card. Miradante Twelve, triple break his shields!"
"The effect of my Onikamas kicks in! Since you put a creature in the battle zone during your turn without summoning it, Onikamas returns Miradante Twelve back to your hand!" The fish crossed its two golden lances and unleashed a torrent of water upon the angelic dragon, making it disappear. "And now it's my turn, I cast Tune Again and return a seal into my hand. Bingo, it's Giga Speed, D2W2! Since it's a non-evolution Water Sonic Command, I put it into the battle zone!" A two-headed white tank armored with drills appeared in the battle zone. "Giga Speed takes off another seal from VV-8. Then with its effect, I return the final seal to my hand!" The test tube's glass was shattered, freeing the white cycloptic robot. "When VV-8 is unsealed, I gain an extra turn! Now with Giga Speed's other effect, since I have a D2 Field, I also return Defense Armor back to your hand. Go, VV-8, break his final shields!" Heeding the order, the creature rushed right through the remaining opposing three shields, tearing them apart in an instant.
Suddenly, two bright lights emanated out of the cards which Hajime took into his hand, one blue and the other golden. "Shield trigger, I cast Arcadia Spark and shuffle Giga Speed back into your deck!" A blue beam caught the tank and made it disappear back into its owner's deck, allowing him to draw a card as compensation. "The other shield trigger is Novalty Amaze, I tap all of your creatures and draw a card! Then I activate its super shield trigger ability and put a non-evolution Light creature which costs 8 or less from my hand into the battle zone! Come out, Kirazeus Savark!"A bright beam rose out of the card into the ceiling, and out of it emerged a slender serpentine dragon made of gold and dark purple crystal, its wings made of sharp golden spears, a red eye glowing on its chest and a brilliant sword of light in its sharp claws.
"What is that...?" Demon Edo muttered, fear beginning to take over him.
"This is the other gift my grandmother left me, a brand new Metallica finisher. With Kirazeus Savark's effect, I send VV-8 face up on one of your shields!" Hajime exclaimed and the dragon was quick to cut the robot into pieces with its sword, the victim's image reappearing on one of its owner's shields.
"Don't think you've won merely because you've showed off a fancy finisher! My extra turn begins, meaning that Miradante Twelve's lockdown has expired!" The winged one flexed his muscles and ripped off the vines which bound his arms. "I cast Streaming Shaper." He revealed the top four cards of his deck, which were VV-8, Forbidden Machine, Giga Speed, D2W2, Wild Speed, D2W and Adamski, S-Rank Space, all of which went into his hand. "The time has come for you to join us, little Hajime. Onikamas, todomeda!"
"Ninja Strike 4, I summon Falconer, Lightfang Ninja and block the attack!" The white plane-like creature appeared in the way of the blue fish, its wings breaking the golden lances and tearing into its skin until Onikamas disappeared in a small explosion, Demon Edo growling in frustration and passing his turn. "I summon Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge, which brings out Heaven's Heaven, Heavenly Justice!" A humanoid donning white and blue armor appeared alongside a white and golden futuristic church shaped like a sci-fi spaceship. "Kirazeus Savark, attack and Revolution Change into Miradante Twelve, Time Pope!" The blonde winged angelic dragon hi fived with the one made of crystals and reappeared, causing its golden vines to once more bind Demon Edo's hands. "With its Final Revolution, again you can't summon creatures which cost 7 or less, and with its other effect I cast Dragon's Sign, which brings back Kirazeus Savark. Miradante Twelve, triple break his shields!" Giving out a roar that sounded closer to a horse's neigh, the Angel Command Dragon fired twelve beams from the clock on its back, tearing into three of the opponent's shields. "I end my turn and with Heaven's Heaven's effect I bring out Kaiserbarra, War Dragon Elemental, which allows me to draw a card and bring out Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge alongside D'Arc-en-Ciel, Holy Spear Dragon Elemental!"
Demon Edo gulped at the sight of the angelic army. He had only seen this kind of powerful lockdown and creature spam only in Tsugumi's play style. To think that the boy could master her strategy so well. He truly was her grandson... Unable to do much in his turn, he said, "I charge mana and end."
"It's my turn once again. Gravity Zero, I cast Miracle Stop, you can't cast spells until the start of my next turn!" The pairs of golden vines returned, this time wrapped around the opponent's shields. "Then I summon Miracle Star, Time Caster and return spells with different costs from my graveyard to my hand." A white and blue bipedal angelic dragon donning a space suit appeared, allowing Hajime to return Miraculous Snare, Miracle Stop, Dragon's Sign, Novalty Amaze and Arcadia Spark back into his hand. "Heaven's Rosia, attack and Revolution Change into Miradante Twelve, Time Pope! Final Revolution, you can't summon creatures which cost 7 or less, and with Miradante Twelve's second ability I will cast another Dragon's Sign, which brings back Heaven's Rosia along with Endless Heaven, True Holy Church. Miradante Twelve, break his final shields!"
Demon Edo used his wings to protect himself from the blast which shattered the remainder of his shields. It did not matter what shield triggers he had received in his hand, for he could use neither.
"I can't believe I'm saying this... but it seems that little Hajime's all grown up," the brown haired duelist remarked with a tinge of melancholy in his hissed voice. "Maybe in the end you've had the last laugh after all, didn't you, Tsugumi?"
"Kirazeus Savark, todomeda!"
Heeding the blond's order, the dragon fired a bright beam out of the red eye from its chest, Demon Edo lowering his head with a smile of resignation.