The early morning sun's rays fell upon the trees, their shadows covering the wood's leaf-filled footpaths. As much as Hajime found the sight beautiful, he could not help but be annoyed at the filth surrounding him. To add even more to his annoyance, there was no signal for his cell phone in the mountains, meaning he could not call neither Jack nor his parents. Although the former may not have cared that much about the blond's fate, his parents would indeed grow worried if he were not to show up back home until dawn. He had to think of an excuse, anything to make up for his delay.

"Stop fiddling with your phone," Sayo said as she emerged from the cave, the packed travel bag resting on her shoulder. "Let's move quickly before Shishima or anyone else comes after us."

"Got it." Hajime nodded and the two of them headed East, descending in the river's valley once again. "Say, are you sure he won't be able to track us down anyway?"

"We aren't leaving enough visible footsteps to be followed. His only chance to find us is if he follows our scent, which is why we must advance as much as possible. If our smell fades away from the air, he will be left without any leads."

"That's reassuring. But why are you so scared about us being followed? Did something happen last night after you knocked me out?"

"Yes. He sent the plushie and his two demonized minions to capture us. While you were taking a nap, I was able to devise some traps and dealt with them fairly easily, to my surprise. You know, even though he could turn human corpses into demons, that doesn't mean their IQs were increased by a lot, I dare say."

"Human corpses into demons? Are you talking about the two monsters who took the faces of my grandmother's friends?"

"Yes, they are not actual demons, per se. They are dead bodies inhabited by their souls, which are being kept in this life by Shishima's own evil essence. If that were to leave them, then the souls would return in the afterlife and their bodies would revert to being corpses."

"So that means that he did not get only to grandma Tsugumi, but also her friends..."

"It seems so. Do you know why he targeted you and your family specifically?"

"My grandmother and five of her close friends used to form a group known as the 'chosen duelists'. They acted as heroes back in her youth and used to defend the world from many evils. It seems that Shishima may have been their biggest threat, one they managed to seal away on their final mission. To put it simply, it's a matter of vengeance. And now that he has dealt with those who imprisoned him, I'm his next target, most likely for being a descendant of Tsugumi Shirayama. When we came face to face, I could not help but notice how twisted and insane he is. Everything seems to be a game to him, he views the world around as pure meaningless chaos and he deems me as a 'worthy playmate'. I've never seen such a sadistic being, and I've studied criminal profiles at seminars."

"He targeted you because of your bloodline. His pettiness truly knows no ends." The priestess shook her head in disbelief. "I know this is sudden, but if your grandmother had sought some help and guidance at a local shrine, maybe your family and her friends may have been protected from Shishima."

"Somehow I doubt that..." the blond sorrowfully confessed. "Anyway, speaking of shrines, you made me curious: how was your childhood at the temple?"

"It's funny that you ask that. Frankly, I don't recall having much of an actual childhood. I was almost always immersed in study and purification rituals. There were very few occasions when I would be playing with the apprentices who were my age. Probably that's why I could only find joy in the beauties of nature whenever I went outside. It was peaceful, orderly and detached from our everyday worries."

"Why did your parents leave you at the Shinto temple? Were you a troublemaker?"

"Oh no, I was a well-behaved child. The problem was that since my birth, I have had some kind connection to the supernatural. My parents had noticed that strange things were happening around me from a very young age, other kids were afraid of being around me due to this, so the only option for 'saving me' was the temple."

"What do you mean when you say that strange things were happening? Can you be a bit more concrete?"

"Objects moved in my vicinity, windows and doors opened and closed on their own, whispers echoed in the room whenever I was all by myself, sometimes there were even unexplained accidents, like someone tripping out of nowhere although there was no obstacle in their path. The high priest, my master, had discovered my connection to the supernatural and decided that I would be a great exorcist. Through his teachings, I was trained to serve others in need of my services. And now that I look back at it all, I kind of wish I had a normal human life..." Sayo confessed, a hint of bitter regret in her voice. "But in a way I am grateful for my position as a priestess. In my spare time I can appreciate the beauties of nature, which not many modern humans do."

"I'm sorry if I brought up bad memories," Hajime apologized.

"Don't worry, I have made peace with my past. Now we must look towards the future."

As the sun fully appeared on the sky, they crossed the river by an old wooden bridge which surprisingly was still resisting decay with time's passage. The following footpaths they traveled through were less abrupt and slightly cleanlier, almost as if someone managed them. In actuality, they were hunter's trails, crossed on an almost daily basis by a few villagers living at the mountain's base. Although indirect, just like the bridge, this was another sign that they were getting closer to civilization.

Before they knew it, there were no more trees around them, and beneath, in a small valley, were two tracks of railroad. They both cheered at the sight and playfully raced down the hill, laughing all the way. From there, they resumed their journey in the direction of the rising sun, waiting for a train to pass by and hopefully pick them up.

"I must confess, it's been a long time since I've felt so at peace," Hajime spoke with a smile very uncharacteristic to his snobbish intellectual attitude.

Sayo giggled at his remark and replied, "Maybe you should get out of the city more often."

"You got me there, but sorry, I'm not much of an outdoors person to begin with. Nothing beats a warm room, a cup of tea and a good book."

"Don't worry, there's a first time for everything, including the possibility of us actually defeating Shishima."

The blond blinked and looked at her in disbelief. "You really believe that?"

"Yes, I have seen you duel back at the college and I recognized the potential inside of you. I am most certain that you are the only one capable of bringing down Shishima," the priestess confidently stated.

"Gee, thanks for the compliment, but I only got so close. A single Ninja Strike and it all went in his favor."

"That only shows that you are almost on equal footing with him! The only thing which you need is some refining in your dueling style."

"I'm confused, what's that supposed to mean?"

"How about we stop and have a true duel so I can prove my point?"

"If it means we can take a break from all this tedious walking, I'm game!"

They both unpacked their decks, which glowed with bright auras and caused two dueling tables to arise from the ground. As the blond set up his shields, he noticed that his opponent quickly swapped a few cards in her own deck before doing the same. Once they were both done, five blue rectangular shields materialized above each of them, thus beginning their match.

"I cast Scale of Bravery and Love, discard Mad Dead Wood and draw two cards," Sayo said.

"I summon Crista, First Squad." A small floating creature made of pale yellow crystal appeared by Hajime's side.

"Bad Action Dynamite, I summon Dorgan Churis." A blue mouse donning the fossilized skull and claws of a dragon appeared by Sayo's side. "I did not want to reveal my main trump card so soon, I was actually hoping to keep it for more dangerous times, but I guess I need to go all out on you and be an actual challenge so you can see my point. Dorgan Churis, attack and Revolution Change... into Doguraeater, D2M2!" The mouse rushed at the opponent, then it turned around and hi fived a tall bipedal demonic plant, red buds pulsating on its green skin, its hands and feet made of spiked vines, and its giant mouth filled with fangs and extended at its sides like chelicerae. "With Doguraeater's effect, I discard Dorago the Great and bring out Mad Dead Wood, Seductive of D from my graveyard into the battle zone!" Their surroundings then changed to those of a forest of toxic plants filled with gravestones, a giant Venus Flytrap in its center, holding a lipstick. "Doguraeater, double break his shields!" The Demon Command Dragon got on its four limbs and spat a purple beam from its mouth which pierced two of the opponent's shields.

"You did so much on your third turn, that's even faster than Shishima..."

"Speed is just another form of control. While the likes of Shishima prefer to take their time and gradually set the tables in their favor, I can also put pressure on my opponents early on. And now, Hajime, it's your move."

"R-right. I summon a second Crista and also Defense Armor, Absolute Fear. Turn end."

"I activate Mad Dead Wood's Denjara Switch. Now all creatures in the battle zone will be sent to the bottom of our decks." The Venus Flytrap opened the lipstick and used it to color its lips dark red, after which it descended upon the battle zone and devoured the three Metallicas and Doguraeater. "Then all non-evolution creatures from our graveyards will be put into the battle zone - arise, Dorago the Great, Dragon World!" A giant quadrupedal dragon with white scales all over its reptile skin, large red wings and three black horns on its sharp head emerged from the ground. "With Dorago the Great's effect, we can't put non-Dragon creatures in the battle zone. I suppose that's not a problem whatsoever?"

"Of course not..." Hajime nervously replied, aware that there were only few creatures in his deck which had Dragon races.

"I summon Dorgan Churis yet again and attack with him to Revolution Change into Dogiragon Buster, Blue Leader! With his Final Revolution, I bring out Beroringa, Third Seed from my hand." The blue armored dragon with a long blonde mane reappeared, followed by a green chameleon with the mouth of a carnivorous plant growing on its head. "With Beroringa's effect, I discard Dorgan Churis and now you must also choose and discard two cards!" The blond gulped as he tossed Faywon, Green Knowledge Silver and Bernine, Dragon Armored into his graveyard. "Dogiragon Buster, break his final shields!" Heeding her order, the blue armored dragon rushed at the opponent and used the sword in its mouth to slash away his remaining three shields.

"Shield trigger, I cast One Eye's Judgment and freeze Beroringa!" A glowing red eye appeared and fired a white beam upon the chameleon, binding it to the ground. "Also, shield trigger, I cast another One Eye's Judgment and freeze Dogiragon Buster as well!" The same happened to the blue armored dragon. "And now it's my turn, I cast Dragon's Sign and bring out Kirazeus Savark!" A circular golden portal glowed in the sky, 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 sword of light in its sharp claws. "With his effect, I send Dorago the Great face up on one of your shields!" Heeding its master's words, the dragon fired a white beam from its chest upon the opposing dragon, making it disappear. Hajime sighed with relief that the lockdown imposed on him was no more and passed the turn.

"Tsh, Dogiragon Buster and Beroringa can't untap on this turn." Sayo bit her lip. "I charge mana and end."

"I summon Savark DG, reveal the top three cards of my deck and take all spells and Metallica creatures to my hand." A small cycloptic dragon made of pale purple crystals appeared, its owner revealing the top cards of his deck as Condemning Thunder's Judgment, Kirazeus Savark and Violent Wheel's Judgment, all of which went into his hand. "Kirazeus Savark, destroy Beroringa!" The chameleon fell by the dragon's blade of light. "I end my turn and with Savark DG's effect I cast Condeming Thunder's Judgment and send Dogiragon Buster face up on your shields!"

"I charge mana and end again."

"Your rush was formidable, Sayo. However, now that your steam has run out, the control over the board is mine! I summon White Night, Edge of Yin Yang and add a shield. I end my turn and with Savark DG's effect I cast Violent Wheel's Judgment on Kirazeus Savark. Now until the start of my next turn, he wins all battles and you can't choose him by the abilities of your spells. I put Violent Wheel's Judgment face up on my shield and end."

"I charge mana and pass the turn."

"I summon Saint Rose, Dragon Edge and bring out Endless Heaven, True Holy Church." A humanoid donning a turquoise green and dark golden armor appeared alongside a floating church with large blue roses painted on each corner and two pairs of blue wings coming out of both sides, a dragon's head sculpted above its large entrance. "Now it's time I put some pressure on you as well! Kirazeus Savark, attack and Dragon Double Breaker, I add two new shields from the top of my deck while I also break two of your shields! White Night, double break her shields! Savark DG, break her final shield!" One by one, all of the opponent's shields was shattered by the three attacks, until she was rendered defenseless. Her silence meant that most likely she had not gotten any shield triggers. "I end my turn and since I have more shields than you, Endless Heaven Dragsolutions into Neverend, True Destiny King!" The floating building transformed into an angelic dragon who wielded a double-bladed spear and wore the church's architecture as his armor.

"It's true, you had indeed applied pressure on me, Hajime. However, you have left yourself open to attack. You have three shields, and Saint Rose only has blocker while you have a Light dragheart in the battle zone, in this case Neverend." Sayo licked her lips in anticipation as she drew her next card. "This will be the decisive turn. Either I win right now, or it is your victory. I summon Linnevenus, M Demon Dragon!" A green demonic dragon with three pairs of arms made of plants and a Venus Flytrap enclosing around its head, appeared by Sayo's side. "Mana Arms 4, since I have 4 multicolored cards in my mana zone, Linnevenus will revive Dorgan Churis and he will also grant speed attacker to all of my creatures this turn!" The blue mouse donning dragon fossils reappeared in the battle zone. "I attack with Dorgan Churis and Revolution Change into Dogiragon Buster, Blue Leader! Final Revolution, he brings out Evil Heat, Screaming Demon Dragon from my hand into the battle zone!" The blue armored dragon hi fived the mouse and reappeared in the battle zone, followed by a dark purple demonic dragon with pink flowers growing out of its skin. "With Evil Heat's effect, I put the top card of my deck into the graveyard... and recover Falconer, Lightfang Ninja into my hand. Go, Dogiragon Buster, break his final shields!"

Hajime took cover as the creature once more slashed away his remaining three shields with the sword from its mouth. Much to his dismay, he received no shield triggers in any of them.

"Judging by your expression, it is my win," Sayo concluded. "Evil Heat, attack and Revolution Change into Demonkazura, Evil Revolutionary Grudge Weed!" The dark purple dragon flew towards her opponent and then turned around and hi fived a quadrupedal green dragon with its wings and paws made of leaves, its head shaped like a bud. "With Demonkazura's effect, I discard Dorago the Great and destroy Saint Rose!" Giving a battle screech, the Demon Command Dragon fired blood red beams from the two flowers on its necks, destroying the armored humanoid. "Demonkazura, todomeda!"

The creature flew towards Hajime and slapped him with its leaf paws, throwing him away until he crash landed on the rocky ground. The forest of toxic plants faded away alongside the creatures, marking the end of their duel. Sayo picked up both their decks and then she walked up to the blond, who lay defeated, staring at the clear morning sky. Soon enough, the priestess's pretty face popped into view.

"Congratulations for resisting my rush that well."

"I tried the best I could..."

"I was right, you are strong, but not strong enough for the likes of Shishima. The fact that you were one turn away from victory, just like when you faced him, only proves that fact."

"What else can I do? My deck basically relies on defense: blockers, reverse blockers, shield triggers. I used those and some of my strongest removal on your creatures, and it still wasn't enough."

"You have the right strategy, indeed. All you need is to have it modified just a bit, in order to best counter your opponent." Sayo stretched her hand out. "Let me help you upgrade your deck. We'll figure out something when we arrive in Tokyo."

For some unexplained reason, the girl looked oddly innocent in the morning light. There was no way he could refuse her warm offer, in fact, Hajime would have hated himself if he dared offend such a goodhearted person. He grabbed her hand and allowed her to help him get back of his feet, dusting his expensive sweater and pants afterwards.

Just then, they heard a noise from behind and turned to see a train coming from Sagakin's direction. Not wasting any time, the two of them shouted and waved their hands at it. Much to their relief, the train stopped in its tracks. The conductor, an obese man in his late fifties wearing a formal blue uniform, stuck his head out and said, "What are you two youngsters doing out here in the wilderness?"

"Sir, the city of Sagakin has disappeared off the map, we're the only two survivors!" Hajime replied, watching the man's face turn pale. "You too noticed, didn't you?"

"Yes, I was just on my way back to Tokyo to report this to the authorities."

"Would you mind if you let us in, sir? We will pay for the tickets, don't worry!" the blond said, pulling out his wallet to prove that he was not lying.

"Alright, come on in, you two."

A door automatically opened in the wagon closest to them. Relieved that they had finally found an escape, Sayo and Hajime grabbed their luggage and went in.