"You don't have enough mana to play that card," Zeke said.

"Yeah, I do. Cocco Lupia reduces the cost of creatures with dragon in their race."

Clearly this younger kid had no clue.

"It says: dragonoids don't count." Zeke made a show of leaning over and pointing.

Zeke was standing at his table for his randomized duel. He was to the right and two other duels were happening simultaneously. Almost nobody in the stands was paying attention right now. A look backwards showed people chatting in groups, snacking or going through their phones. The other players around the room were scratching their heads or moving their lips as they silently read their cards' effects to themselves. The kid Zeke was facing was now squinting between the table and his hand, thinking hard and pouting. He had a pudgy face with thick cheeks that made his eyes slimmer. He was an eighth grader from Zeke's high school and he had a pegasus on his shirt. It was a game logo but it definitely meant he was from the Life Dojo.

Zeke watched him pick up a card and put it back into his hand.

"Dude, what are you doing?"

"I didn't mean to play that one," the boy said.

"What do you mean?"

"I wanted this one," he put down a fire creature that was one cost cheaper.

"Too bad. You played Onslaughter Triceps. There's no take backs."

When the kid refused to play fair Zeke sighed and walked across the room to get a supervisor. Zeke got an older guy in a black shirt and trousers to come to their table. Zeke couldn't believe it when the kid lied and said Onslaughter Triceps had slipped out of his hand and then Zeke insisted he had to play it. But when the supervisor said the screens were recorded Zeke felt immediate satisfaction as they were led to the side of the room. A recording was rewound on a little screen and there were the kid's fingers intentionally setting down the card. He looked chastened but Zeke was still angry with him. What a goddam liar. The nerve.

The supervisor turned in his spin chair, "You both alright to continue?"

"Yes," Zeke answered quickly. He had four shields and the game was almost over. He wasn't sure he'd get any points if he won via disqualification.

Zeke walked back to his table with the Life dojo cheater who hung his head. Zeke picked his hand back up and caught sight of Master Ankoku. He was still watching the games but after catching Zeke's eye for a second he turned his attention to the other duels. Zeke felt a furious pit in his stomach. He swore once again that he'd get revenge for being looked over and manipulated.

Zeke won the duel on his next turn and gained a little more satisfaction.

While pushing his cards together he felt both happy and unhappy that his duel had been a regular one against a non-Kaijudo duelist. Everyone's eyes on him might be too much for his first true duel and the nerves could play mayhem with his inexperience. Still, the easy win cheapened the night for him and the next round was scheduled in another week.

The kid walked off quickly without a word. As Zeke went to go back to the stands he cast another look toward Ankoku and saw another dojo master with him. It was the squat one, Cronus, and he was trying to get Ankoku's attention but was being ignored. Finally Cronus gave up and turned away. Zeke watched him move across the room - he was going outside and the other masters were walking out too.

A secret discussion between the masters? Ankoku only seemed interested in watching the games.

Zeke walked to Shaun who was licking a peppermint ice-cream with chocolate chips.

"What'd you have to get the supervisor for?" Shaun asked.

Zeke was about to launch into his story. He sat and paused when he noticed Mr Matsumoto making his way out after the masters and trying to be subtle about it. He filed the observation away and began ranting to his best friend about the Life dojo cheater.


Chapter 10: Behind the Scenes...?


Tamashi, Isis, Cronus and Jinsei had walked far from the building so were unlikely to be seen or heard by anyone else stepping out. The car park was very large and almost empty. A streetlight behind the towering chain-link fence afforded them some visibility.

"Ankoku wouldn't even come to speak with us," Jinsei said with his sleeves together. "It's as you said, Tamashi: He's changed."

The blocky head of Cronus looked from Jinsei to Isis, whose shrouded eyes turned from Cronus to Tamashi.

Tamashi was the shortest of them. He sighed deeply, "But does it mean Ankoku's motives no longer align with ours…?"

"Good evening, dojo masters."

They whipped around, staring into the dark as a man approached. They could tell who by his kaijudo energy before he walked into the distant lamp's light. Matsumoto stood in his fine suit with his arms behind his back and smiled.

"Why did you follow us?" Tamashi demanded.

"It's not your students that interest me. It's you," Mastumoto confessed. "So-called masters of my game. I want to know what exactly it is you're doing in Alcadeia. I'm sure you all must be curious of me too?"

The four shared a look before answering.

"We are," Tamashi revealed. "But we cannot tell you about our dojos."

"How unfortunate. Then I won't reveal what I know about the secret of Duel Masters," He tried dangling it like a treat.

"We have our own secrets."

"Then should we settle this like true kaijudo duelists?" Matsumoto suggested, getting annoyed now.

Again they looked at each other before nodding.

"Allow me to do the honors…" the one to step forth was Cronus, Master of the Hope dojo.

He raised a light card and it shone yellow: Sphere of Wonder. The light abruptly swallowed them and Matsumoto reacted, but when he could see again he realized they were in a yellow dome. Light routinely moved in ringlets through line patterns.

Matsumoto lowered his arms, "...And what's this?"

"A duel field to give us privacy so we can have our game in peace," Cronus said simply while putting the card away. "You were aware that spell cards could be used in this way, of course…?"

The other masters were quiet as they stood behind him. Tamashi mentally compared Matsumoto's lesser reaction to that of Shaun, Phoebe and Zeke during that mayhem with Soulswap. He concluded that Matsumoto was aware that it was possible to use the spell cards as actual spells, but the dome had surprised him regardless.

Matsumoto observed that the other Masters were also in the dome, "What you mean to say, is I get no backup while you have three allies?"

"Come now…" Cronus started shuffling his deck while their tables appeared, "We may respect our shared titles, but we're not allies. Our dojos have been longtime rivals for goodness sake!"

"Hmm," Matsumoto said and he began shuffling his cards too.

Ten teal shields appeared between them and they both drew their hands.

"After you please," Cronus swished his hand in a way which was meant to show humility but still came across as pompous. "After all, us masters are so curious to see how the creator of Duel Masters plays."

The sarcasm wasn't lost on anyone. Matsumoto could read the air: the four of them seemed quite sure that Cronus would win. How curious. Matsumoto doubted even these masters knew the secret of Duel Masters, but it wasn't impossible that they'd figured it out.

Also, their level of kaijudo energy was impressive enough to suggest they'd evolved already…

With a simple movement, Matsumoto charged water mana and raised his head to signify his turn was over.

"I summon Tulk, the Oracle!" the round light bringer manifested and then Cronus's turn was over.

Matsumoto charged fire, Bolmeteus beside Energy Stream, "I summon Emeral!" The cyber lord fluttered down, screens projected from its cybernetic helmet. Matsumoto got to set his Spiral Gate as a new shield and take another to his hand.

Cronus added water to his light mana, "I also summon Emeral!"

"No surprise there. Cyber lords and light bringers - you're playing Wise Starnoid," Matsumoto watched as he too swapped a shield, "How tragically predictable…"

Cronus lifted his chin, a know-it-all gesture, "Don't forget, the reason you can identify my deck is because it's moving faster than yours."

Of course, both baits needed for his finisher were now out. Matsumoto merely smirked in response and drew his next card.

He charged nature, "I summon Aqua Strummer and re-order the top five cards of my deck!" The liquid being weaved in and started jamming, the tunes making Matsumoto's deck shine before five cards floated out for him. He pointed in turn and they floated back in his chosen order, "Turn end."

"I summon Tajimal, Vizier of Aqua," a blocker that would power up when battling fire creatures. The rainbow creature was chimera-like in composition, with a watery body beneath the gold armor of a light creature.

"Energy Stream, I draw two." Matsumoto ended his turn after that which prompted Cronus to draw slowly.

To calculate many steps ahead like a machine, or more accurately, like a mind with cybernetic enhancements. That was very 'water civilization'. Perhaps the two players were similar in that regard.

"I summon Vess, the Oracle and end!" A round cell-like being flew in, glowing from within. Another blocker and light bringer.

Neither player was yet to attack.

"Speaking of spells with real magic, here is the core of my strategy," Matsumoto couldn't help grinning like his words held a double meaning, "Transmogrify. It-"

"It lets you destroy a creature and swap it with the next one in that player's deck. Yes, yes," Cronus was annoyed. Clearly he didn't like things explained to him by anyone else. "I assume you planned ahead as well, ordering those cards after Strummer to account for your draws, including the extra ones from Energy Stream. The card you placed fifth will be the one you replace Emeral with, I take it?"

Matsumoto simply smiled once more and waved his hand. Emeral shone bright blue before vanishing. His top card spun over, "Bolmeteus Steel Dragon!" It stretched its leathery white wings and roared. "Turn end."

"Quite the trade-up, well how about this: I summon Illusionary Merfolk and draw three. Your turn," Cronus smiled. He knew Tajimal's power boost would make it stronger while blocking Bolmeteus anyway. Matsumoto needed to get it out of the battle zone.

"This is insufferable."

Surprisingly, Master Jinsei walked up so he was standing parallel with Cronus.

There was a good few heads of height difference between them. Matsumoto paused, not expecting such an interruption.

Cronus rounded on him, his fists balling up and head blushing, "This is my duel!"

"This is no time to be measuring your skills at playing a game," Jinsei said derisively, "We need to see the true extent of this one's powers. For that, I'm jumping in."

He reached into the pockets of his robe and pulled out a card. Another light one: Miracle Portal. Matsumoto had never discovered a use for it, and he went from bewildered to astounded. The card lit up brighter and when it subsided there was a table off to the side, equal distance to both players. The sphere had grown to make room, pushing against a parked car which started alarming, but the noise was muffled through the dome.

Jinsei started walking to the table, still holding up the glowing card. This was evidently something Matsumoto had never seen before.

"You hijacked a duel that has already started?" Matsumoto was open-mouthed.

"Yes, here's how it works," Jinsei reached his table, swapping the card for his deck and shuffling. "I choose a number between one and five. In this instance, I choose five." As soon as he said the number his side of the field made a crunching noise and then cards started floating into position, "That means, I join the game with five shields, five cards in my hand, and five mana already set up." His field finished setting itself up for him, "But now the total of these cards are removed from my deck, that's fifteen…" One by one they hovered up, slow at first and then quickly like flickering pages, before they faded out, temporarily banished from their game to somewhere else.

Matsumoto glanced at the pile of ten cards that made up Jinsei's deck, then back to him, "And this becomes a threeway duel now?"

"Technically yes, but I'm not interested in dueling Cronus. I want to play you."

"Then it's two against one," Matsumoto's hand twitched for his pocket. He considered using a spell of his own to bust his way out, but this turn of events were so surprising that perhaps he ought to stick with the game to see how it plays out, regardless of how against regulations it'd become. "I suppose… a lot of spells have uses that haven't been discovered yet. They need certain situations to show what they can do, such as interrupting a duel, for example…"

"Yes, and another thing about Miracle Portal."

"What's that?"

"It becomes my turn," Jinsei drew then charged his sixth mana. All light and nature cards. His deck choice was just as obvious as his peer - Aura Pegasus, "I summon Spectral Horn Glitalis!" The shimmering horned beast stepped forth with a roar, "Turn end."

Matsumoto drew and eyed both his opponents, then he charged his first darkness mana, "I cast Terror Pit on Tajimal." The shadowy hole opened with countless pale arms reaching out and gently coaxing it backwards into death. The creature's colors faded to gray before it was gone. "And now Bolmeteus attacks Cronus, double shield burn!" It reared its head back before unleashing flames.

"Vess blocks!" It swerved in and took the hit, but now his blockers were gone.

"Aqua Strummer breaks - Jinsei's shield!" Matsumoto then pointed at the other opponent. His creature lunged across and smashed its guitar through a panel. The card appeared in Jinsei's hand with a flash. "Turn end."

"No charge," Cronus began, the turns were passing clockwise between them, "I evolve Tulk and Emeral into Wise Starnoid, Avatar of Hope!" Both creatures looked up and grasped the glowing orbs that softly descended to them. They were then pulled and fused, turning together into a spiral of energy until a human-like being stepped out. It had the presence of a deity, blazing with white and faint indigo. "Attack Bolmeteus!" It raised its arm and fired an energy cannon. Bolmeteus was the biggest creature in play but it was obliterated immediately.

Matsumoto staggered before regaining his footing.

Cronus's chuckle was pompous and condescending, "Every time Wise Starnoid attacks or leaves the field I gain a new shield. Next, Illusionary Merfolk attacks Aqua Strummer," His second creature unraveled tentacles that resembled thin ribbons, they flexed out and pulled Strummer apart. Matsumoto's battle zone was cleared, just in time for his other opponent's turn.

Jinsei followed it up, "I summon Urth, Purifying Elemental!" The mechanical angel was larger than Starnoid but lacked its gravity; it was a big double breaker like Bolmeteus. It was blindingly white, bright even for an angel command. "Spectral Horn Glitalis, ike!" It charged and smashed a shield.

Matsumoto tensed up as shards flew, but the pieces wound back together into a glowing card which he seized, "Spiral Gate!" He showed the card to Jinsei but then moved his arm toward Cronus, "I send Wise Starnoid to Cronus's hand!" A vortex of water blasted it away and three cards flew off the table and Cronus snagged them.

Cronus growled, "I gain another shield!" Sure enough, there were now seven panels of blue before him.

It was Matsumoto's turn and he could tell the masters were impressed that he was continuing to fight both of them. That may change if another jumped in, but so far Tamashi and Isis were content with silently witnessing the game.

"I summon another Aqua Strummer!" The liquid being returned and Matsumoto's eyes flickered over the options. He calculated in a second before sending them back. "Turn end."

"I guess you're realizing you didn't know more than us after all," Cronus couldn't help bragging. None of them were very young, but his attitude was reflective of a schoolyard brawl of two against one. He laughed at his supposed advantage while drawing, "I re-summon Emeral! And then I summon Kolon, the Oracle to tap Aqua Strummer!" The gold idol zapped electricity that made the aquatic musician sag. "Illusionary Merfolk attacks Aqua Strummer!" Those ribbon appendages stretched across the zones and dismembered Matsumoto's only creature once more. "Your move, Jinsei."

"How kind of you, Cronus," he too was working Matsumoto into feeling cornered. At least, that's what they were thinking, "I evolve Glitalis and Urth into Aura Pegasus, Avatar of Life!" The horned beast and angel command similarly rose up to meet shining crystals. Then they were suctioned together and out leapt a brilliant pegasus. "Triple break Matsumoto's shields!" In the same leap it flew and smashed a storm of glass, a shockwave blew Matsumoto into the edge of the dome and he felt a jolt of electricity before stumbling back. No triggers. Matsumoto lowered his arms to reveal a glare.

Jinsei waved his hand over his deck, "Whenever Aura Pegasus attacks I reveal the top card of my deck, if it's a creature it's summoned," the card that lifted up was Soulswap, "...but if it's a spell it still goes to my hand. Turn end."

Cronus chuckled, "Your move."

"I summon Emeral, then I cast Transmogrify again to replace it with the top card of my deck, Syrius Firmament Elemental!"

It was a 12,000 blocker that matched Aura Pegasus in strength. Due to its high cost it rarely saw competitive play, but Matsumoto's deck re-ordering and creature swapping strategy worked with it perfectly. Syrius emerged as the largest creature in play, all gold with rings of purple energy. The two masters were again impressed - the move showed that Matsumoto intended to keep playing on.

Cronus drew and his expression turned smug. He decided to charge Holy Awe instead of using it to tap Syrius, a move that would have ended the game with certainty. Clearly he preferred the theatrics of having his evolved Avatar return to the field alongside Jinsei's.

"I evolve Emeral and Kolon together! Wise Starnoid, return! Bathe this battle with your glory once more!" The creatures combined and after the flashy entrance was over Matsumoto was staring down two mighty Avatars, and yet his expression showed he was holding onto something. Those eyes ever-calculating.

Cronus paid no attention to them, "And I summon Vess, the Oracle! Illusionary Merfolk break his last shield!"

It was the one Matsumoto had replaced when he'd summoned Emeral at the start of the game, so he knew it was another Spiral Gate. He let the attack go through then used it to bounce Wise Starnoid once more. Cronus's irritation was satisfying, but he did gain an eighth shield and now there was Jinsei's turn to deal with.

"I summon another Urth, Purifying Elemental and Pala Olesis, Morning Guardian!" the two light creatures raised themselves, flanking Aura Pegasus. "Very well, Mr Matsumoto, I see no way around it… Aura Pegasus, todomeda!"

It flew in for a kamikaze strike with the equally matched blocker.

"Syrius!" Matsumoto raised his arm and the creatures met violently in the middle, shockwaves of light rippled out and shuddered the dome.

When the light show ended both Avatars were gone - but Matsumoto was still at no great advantage.

Jinsei's top card revealed itself and he frowned, "Bronze-Arm Tribe. I boost mana…" The green beast folk landed heavily, it spun its bamboo trident in its hand. Another card from Jinsei's deck leapt into his mana.

This game would be over soon if Matsumoto didn't get out of this. He took a deep breath and poured his faith into his cards, a sure-fire way of turning things in one's favor.

"No charge. I cast Lost Soul on Master Cronus."

"L-Lost Soul?" Cronus watched in horror as all the cards in his hand darkened - including Wise Starnoid. They all snapped in a flurry, landing in his graveyard.

Matsumoto continued, "Then I summon Marine Flower and end." The one-cost blocker unfurled itself protectively.

"Why do you have that card?" Cronus complained while his compatriat's matching surprise was quiet.

"You two are spending so much time bragging about your advanced kaijudo skills that you're forgetting about the most basic ones," Matsumoto scolded. Jinsei stiffened while Cronus looked enraged. "Faith in your deck - relying on it to answer your call. These are things even your students are capable of. Didn't you consider that your greatest advantage was also your greatest weakness?"

"What do you mean?" Jinsei asked quietly.

Matsumoto shook his head at them, "Your faith in winning was based on the belief this game was two against one, and not in your cards themselves."

They both looked uncomfortable upon realizing this foolishness. Cronus was red in the face again.

Matsumoto crossed his arms, "Duelists who can't affect probability the way we can only use cohesive decks. You're right that running a copy of Lost Soul and a cheap blocker like Marine Flower is counter to a strategy with Transmogrify, as they could interfere with me bringing out a strong creature. If I dueled like this publically and got these cards exactly when I needed them - like now - I'd be branded a cheat, because my deck structure wouldn't make sense to outsiders. As you're aware, most people deny or don't understand the extent of kaijudo magic."

"You altered your deck before approaching us for a duel," Jinsei read between the lines.

Matsumoto nodded.

Cronus drew - he was still bothered by being shown up after expecting the humiliation to fall on his opponent - and ironically he pulled another copy of Wise Starnoid. With just one bait out he couldn't play it.

"Illusionary Merfolk, todomeda!"

"Marine Flower blocks," Matsumoto was level as his creature swerved in the way and was eviscerated by the twirling ribbons.

Cronus barked a laugh, "You mock us for forgetting, but even faith can't draw you a second blocker! It's now Jinsei's turn and-" An explosion made Cronus falter, and he whipped his gaze over with his mouth hanging open.

Smoke cleared and Jinsei was seen lying on the ground with his cards scattered around him. He groaned but didn't get up.

Jinsei had drawn the last card in his deck - an automatic loss.

Cronus's wide eyes turned back. Matsumoto's did too, but they were unsurprised, and still calculating… His mind was running like a computer. He wasn't just counting his own cards, but theirs too.

"My turn, and no charge. I cast Terror Pit on Illusionary Merfolk." Another creature was pulled into the graveyard.

Cronus was clearly panicked, but doing his best to hide it by continuing fiercely, "I summon Corile!" The cyber lord uncoiled itself.

"My turn, and no charge, again. I cast Burst Shot to destroy both Corile and Vess." A big red robot rolled up and fired a barrage of bullets from its fingers. Afterwards it faded and no creatures were left.

Cronus swore and took a shaky breath to calm himself down, but Matsumoto's careful eyes noticed this.

"You mocked me earlier for pretending to be the creator of Duel Masters, but isn't that almost true?" Matsumoto spoke.

"What are you talking about?" Cronus angrily spat.

"Don't you know why some can kaijudo duel and others can't?" Matsumoto asked with a measured amount of mocking in his tone, exactly what he needed to do to disturb Cronus's already running emotions.

"As a matter of fact I do!" Cronus squawked. "We all do! We already know that duelists are the reincarnations of creature spirits!" He didn't see Matsumoto's pleasure diminish at all. He then turned to Tamashi and Isis who remained quietly frowning behind him, "Aren't either of you going to step in and help me?"

His demanding tone failed to hide his fear. Matsumoto was in his head and he couldn't do anything about it. Tamashi and Isis shared a look before turning back.

"No," Tamashi answered. "We need to see how his strength compares to one of us."

Cronus sneered forward and Matsumoto kept smiling.

Then Matsumoto's eyes flickered a cybernetic blue, "If I were to tell you that I was responsible for all of us existing in the human world in the first place, that would in effect still make me the creator right?"

Cronus paled. Thoughtlessly he continued with the motion of his draw. It was a dead draw from a lack of concentration - not a creature to attack his shieldless opponent, but a spell - Holy Awe. Cronus stared at the two cards in his hand until Matsumoto took it as confirmation that Cronus couldn't play anything.

"My turn, I wonder what I'll draw…"


"We haven't had a kaijudo duel for a few rounds now…" Phoebe stated with her head in her hand.

"Yeah, kinda boring," Felicity stated and on her other side, Riley yawned.

Phoebe was still sitting with them and their attitudes had warmed. Phoebe would never usually be friendly with someone from another dojo, but she was still sitting with them out of a desire to know more about the Mystery Duelist who was with them.

Felicity was in good spirits despite losing her duel. She was running her fingers absently through the ponytail of her autumn-coloured hair.

The Mystery Duelist had been rigid ever since Mr Matsumoto had slipped out the side door. He'd not relaxed the whole time. When he finally stood Phoebe grabbed for him but he moved his hand. Then Phoebe stood and took hold of his arm.

He grit his teeth but wouldn't raise his arm to shake her off. He didn't want to draw attention to himself.

"Let me go, Phoebe."

"I know you're waiting for your opportunity, but believe me - this is not it," Phoebe cautioned.

"This has nothing to do with you, so mind your own damn business."

He stared through his silver aviators and eventually Phoebe felt her arm go limp as she let go. He turned and made his way down, only getting errant glances his way from those who passed before they went back to checking social media. Phoebe felt a rush of concern mixed with anger. She looked through the crowd until she spotted Thomas with his blonde hair and bandanna. Not yet ready to give up on getting answers she stood and made her way over.


It turned out Phoebe wasn't the only one alarmed by the Mystery Duelist's exit. The majority of the audience didn't notice four of the dojo masters stepping out to get some air, followed by the tournament holder. Now another was following them out. Two viewers hadn't shifted their attention from the games and so had noticed everything.

Michael clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Jonathan stood, "I'll stop him before he wastes his chance."

"Good idea. We can't let him unravel this close to finding out the truth," Michael replied. "Sure you'll be alright?"

"I'll be right back," Jonathan said while making his way down the steps.

Michael frowned and tried putting his attention back on the poorly played rounds of duels that were happening now. His eyes caught the side door as it swung shut after Jonathan, yet another person leaving the building. Some people had noticed now but seemingly thought nothing of it.

Meanwhile, Jonathan let the door swing shut behind him and paced quickly into the dark. Distant streetlights barely lit up the grassy space between a copse of trees and the car park. He caught sight of the strident silhouette belonging to the Mystery Duelist. A fair ways beyond was a glowing yellow dome. It baffled Jonathan, but he recovered and started jogging. When the boy didn't turn Jonathan had to grab at his shoulder.

"Hey, it's me. Jonathan." It was too dark for them to see each other's faces.

"Leave me alone," the Mystery Duelist mumbled and immediately turned to continue but Jonathan grabbed him.

"Hey! I know you're upset but our plan will be ruined if you confront him now."

"That's easy for you to say!" He turned hard on the spot and batted Jonathan's arm away. His hissed voice was loud enough to almost blow their cover. "You didn't lose your family because some monster was trying to cover his tracks!"

"Listen," Jonathan stepped close, firmly urging him to quiet down, "You dueled Michael for Mr Matsumoto's number remember? And you lost. We only agreed to hand it over after you broke down and told us what was really going on." Reminding him of the situation finally seemed to be grounding him, and Jonathan could sense the impulse was fading. "You agreed to do things our way, remember? So go back inside. Please."

The Mystery Duelist breathed, seeming emotional and vulnerable. Jonathan truly did pity him, he rested his hand on his shoulder.

"Fine…" The Mystery Duelist surrendered and shrugged off Jonathan's hand. He headed back into the building.

Jonathan sighed in relief and went to follow after but paused. He glanced back toward the strange dome. His curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to do some spying in the dark. Maybe he'd overhear something useful.


"Fortress Shell, todomeda!" Matsumoto swept his arm and Cronus was blown off his feet.

It had been slow and grueling, but Matsumoto had crept back into the lead, exploiting his opponent's emotions and throwing him off his game, ultimately revealing himself to be the smarter duelist. There was also the concerning issue of his eyes, which weren't any kind of magic power but looked like real-life optical implants.

Jinsei had since stood back up. He and the other masters approached the downed Cronus. The duel field surrounding them finally extinguished, leaving a circular scorch mark in the concrete.

"Congratulations on the win," Tamashi said in a hollow manner, "But it changes nothing. We can't tell a non-master like you what we know."

"Then I guess the truth will have to wait. I dare say we've both learnt a lot about each other tonight. Until next time, take care." The glow of his eyes switched off and he turned, slipping his hands into his pockets.

That seemed to be the end of their exchange.

Some ways away, Jonathan was peeking over from behind a car. He was contemplating. He'd not overheard much, but not only was Mr Matsumoto hiding secrets but so were the dojo masters. Jonathan crept through the darkness, he knew nobody could spot him because he couldn't even see himself. At the very least, he hoped he wouldn't step on a stick and break it loudly, or kick an empty drink can.

Once Jonathan was close to the building and it was almost bright enough to see himself, he felt like he was in the clear. But a distant noise made him turn. Matsumoto was standing behind him with a smile and glowing robotic irises.


Author's Note.

Chapter Author: Zoicite23

Decks -

Mr Matsumoto: ace201 from Pojo forums "Fun Early Fattie Deck! Featuring Transmogrify!"

Master Cronus: Australia Duel Masters on Youtube Wise Starnoid Deck.

Master Jinsei: EarthP0w3r on YouTube Aura Pegasus deck.