The KaibaCorp blimp's arena glowed under the glare of neon panels, duel disks sparking to life. Rebecca Hawkins stepped onto the platform, her trademark determination shining in her eyes. At her side, her duel disk snapped open with a practiced flick.
Across from her stood Devin, hood up, white glasses catching the glow of the lights. His smile was faint, distant—more like a preacher than a duelist.
Rebecca raised her head, her voice firm. "You're going down, Devin. Don't think you can just walk over me."
Devin's lips curved slightly, though his eyes held none of the fire of competition. "I don't need to walk over you, Rebecca. I already know how this ends. I won't win this tournament. My purpose here is different: to guide. To open paths. The Light has already shown me the outcome."
Connor, watching from the stands, clenched his fists so tight his knuckles whitened. I really don't like how much has changed. This world—it's not the same one I thought I knew. There are too many threats crawling out of the shadows, one after another, each worse than the last. More cults, more gods, more schemes twisting themselves into every duel. I can't just sit back and hope things play out like the canon anymore. That path's gone.
If I want to survive—if I want to control my own fate—I need to be proactive. Using the canon as a crutch, as a map I could follow for my own advantage… that's over. This world has already changed too much.
His gaze fixed on Devin down in the arena. And Devin… he's changed too much. Back when we dueled, he was just arrogant, stuck-up, the kind of guy you could shrug off as a sore loser. But now? He's calm, controlled—like someone else is pulling the strings. That talk about the Light, the way he twists coin flips like it's fate itself… it's wrong. Dangerous.
Connor's jaw tightened. When I first heard him ramble about the light, it sounded like nonsense. Just some weird philosophy to make himself feel special. But the more I see, the more I realize there's more to it. He's not just convinced—he's a believer and believers in things like that…when they offer real power, they're the ones you really have to watch out for.
He shifted in his seat, eyes narrowing. And then there's Jason. What else has he been doing behind the scenes? I already know he's tied to Pegasus's death, that he's tangled up in the Wicked Gods, but that can't be all. A man like him doesn't stop at one scheme. How many other things has he changed? How much of this world is different now because of him?
Connor exhaled slowly, forcing his shoulders down though the tension stayed coiled in his chest. Yeah. Shit like this is going to bite me in the ass later. I can feel it and Devin's just the start.
The scoreboard lit up.
Life Points
Rebecca: 4000
Devin: 4000
The platform lit up, glass walls gleaming under KaibaCorp's neon. The audience hushed as the cousins of fate and faith squared off: Rebecca Hawkins, her bow tied neatly in her blonde hair, against Devin, draped in his white hoodie, glasses glinting with unnatural calm.
Turn 1 – Rebecca
Rebecca drew her sixth card, her fingers steady. Stay calm. Build walls, heal, and wait for the right moment.
"I set two cards face-down "And I activate The Dark Door (Continuous Spell). Now both of us can only attack once per turn."
She lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "That's my turn."
Rebecca – LP: 4000
Devin – LP: 4000
Turn 2 – Devin
Devin drew with eerie slowness, his lips curling in a faint smile. His glasses caught the light, reflecting it like the gaze of someone who already knew the outcome.
"I summon Arcana Force IV – The Lovers (ATK 1600)."
Solemn Wishes (Continuous Trap). Each draw now restores 500 Life Points." She active the facedown trap card.
The armored figure descended, haloed by a spinning coin of fate. Gasps rippled through the crowd as the coin danced mid-air. But Devin's eyes narrowed—unnaturally sharp. The coin froze, flipped, and landed exactly as he willed.
"Upright Position. Now I can tribute Arcana Force monsters with a single tribute with this instead of two."
Rebecca blinked, taken aback by the precision. "That… that wasn't a natural flip."
Devin ignored her. He raised his hand. "Battle. Lovers—attack directly."
The armored Arcana warrior surged forward, slashing through Rebecca's guard and cutting directly into her Life Points. The crowd gasped—Devin had wasted no time in drawing blood
I use my trap card draining shield which stop your attack and give me life points equal to your monster attack.
Rebecca – LP: 4000 → 5600
Rebecca staggered slightly, clutching her Duel Disk. Devin simply set two cards and lowered his hand, his expression unreadable.
"My turn ends. The Light guides."
Turn 3 – Rebecca
Rebecca drew, and immediately her Solemn Wishes glowed, bathing her in gentle light.
Rebecca – LP: 5600 → 6100
I use the spell card graceful charity with let me draw three cards and then I discard two for it cost
She smiled faintly, but her eyes hardened. "I discard Marie the Fallen One (1700 ATK / 1200 DEF) as one of the cards for my cost of graceful charity . Now, during each Standby Phase, I'll gain 200 more Life Points. Slowly but surely, I'll turn this around."
She set a monster and another facedown card—its back faced the arena—and ended her turn with another face-down trap. Her plan was clear: stall, heal, and chip away.
But Devin's expression didn't flicker. His calm was unnerving.
Turn 4 – Devin
Devin drew. The coin emblem on his Duel Disk shimmered as if it already knew what was coming.
"I summon Arcana Force VII – The Chariot (ATK 1700) in attack mode."The armored beast descended, its body wrapped in radiant plates of light and shadow, reins of cosmic energy clutched in its spectral hands.
Above it, the great coin of fate spun violently, gleaming with blinding light. But as always, Devin's gaze fixed on it with unnatural certainty. The coin slowed, froze, and twisted unnaturally before landing on the side he desired."Upright Position. Any monster destroyed by this card in battle will not rest in your Graveyard—it will serve me instead. "Rebecca's lips parted in shock, her brow furrowing.
She snapped her fingers, and one of her face-downs sprang to life. "Then I'll even the field! I activate Bad Reaction to Simochi. From this moment on, any Life Points you'd gain become damage instead."Devin's face did not flicker. His calm made her declaration feel hollow. "Battle," he intoned, his voice as even as a priest's sermon.
The Chariot surged forward, its spectral steeds screaming as its lances drove into Rebecca's set monster—Skelengel (DEF 900). The angel cried out, shattering into motes of light.Skelengel's final blessing triggered, allowing Rebecca to draw one card. But before its spirit could escape to her Graveyard, black chains lashed out from the Chariot, corrupting its essence and twisting it into Devin's control.
Turn 5 – Rebecca
Draw Phase
Solemn Wishes: +500 LP → 6300 → 6800
Standby Phase
Marie the Fallen One: +200 LP → 6800 → 7000
A warm glow wrapped around Rebecca's body as her Life Points rose, like a shield forming against the creeping chill that Devin's monsters gave off. The crowd murmured with renewed hope—her plan was working.
Rebecca drew her card, clutching it tight. I can still turn this around. Just one step at a time.
She pressed the Spell forward. "I play Upstart Goblin. Normally, you'd gain 1000 Life Points and I'd draw one card." Her eyes narrowed, voice rising. "But with Bad Reaction to Simochi active, those Life Points become 1000 damage!"
The audience gasped as what should have been a warm burst of healing instead twisted into cruel red lightning, lashing across the field and striking Devin in the chest. He didn't even flinch. His Life Points dropped, yet his face remained calm, eerily detached.
Devin – LP: 4000 → 3000
Rebecca drew her bonus card. Solemn Wishes glowed again, washing her in a halo of light.
Rebecca – LP: 7000 → 7500
Her lips curved in the faintest smile. "Piece by piece, I'll wear you down." She slid one card into her Duel Disk. "I set a monster. That ends my turn."
The hologram shimmered into existence. Fragile. Temporary. But her will was unshakable.
From the stands, Joey leapt up, fist in the air. "That's it! Keep it going, Rebecca—burn him down!"
Connor, however, leaned forward, fists tight in his lap. She's doing everything right… but it won't matter. Not against him. He isn't just playing cards—he's bending the duel itself.
Turn 6 – Devin
Devin drew, movements slow and deliberate. The fate-coin emblem on his Duel Disk shimmered as though already anticipating its master's will.
"Futile," Devin whispered, his calm voice carrying through the arena like a sermon. "No amount of healing will protect you from destiny."
He raised his hand. "I tribute The Lovers. Its power lets it count as two tributes. With it, I summon the avatar of inevitability—Arcana Force XXI – The World (ATK 3100)."
The stadium shook violently as the colossal figure descended, a giant cloaked in cosmic radiance, arms spread as if to embrace the very sky. A shimmering wheel of fate spun above it. Gasps filled the arena—Kaiba himself leaned forward, eyes narrowed at the monster's oppressive aura.
The coin spun. The crowd held their breath. And as always, under Devin's piercing gaze, the coin froze mid-air, twisted, and fell exactly as he desired.
"Upright Position. By sending two tributes at my End Phase, I may skip your turn entirely."
Rebecca's bow trembled faintly in her hair as she realized the noose was tightening.
Devin's voice didn't waver. "I offer your Skelengel and The Chariot. The World prepares to erase your future."
He slid another card into his Disk. "Nobleman of Crossout. Your set monster is banished from existence."
The hologram of her Nimble Momonga (DEF 100) flickered once before shattering into light, vanishing entirely. No graveyard. No second chance.
"And now," Devin continued, "I activate Megamorph. While my Life Points are lower than yours, my monster's attack points double."
The World's towering form swelled with power, its cosmic aura flaring so bright the entire blimp seemed bathed in golden fire.
The World – ATK 3100 → 6200
Rebecca's lips parted, her heart lurching as she realized what was coming.
Devin's hand lowered. "Battle. The World—obliterate her Life Points."
The cosmic giant raised its blade of light and struck, the impact rattling the entire platform. Rebecca cried out as her Life Points plunged.
Rebecca – LP: 7500 → 1100
The crowd gasped in disbelief—one strike had nearly ended her.
Connor clenched his teeth. This is it… he's sealing her fate.
Turn 7 – Rebecca (Skipped by The World's effect)
Rebecca reached for her deck, but her Duel Disk locked with a harsh buzz. Her turn was gone—erased from time itself. She gasped, panic flashing across her eyes as she realized she wouldn't even be allowed to fight back.
The audience erupted in anxious murmurs. "He's… he's skipping her turn?! That's impossible!"
Devin only stood in silence, his glasses flashing with cold finality.
Devin drew again, sliding the card into his hand with slow precision. His expression never changed—still calm, still detached, as though this outcome had been written long before the duel began.
He lifted his gaze. "Battle. The World—strike directly."
The cosmic titan's aura surged, its blade raised high. But in that instant, Rebecca's eyes widened. Wait—his Equip Spell…
The Duel Disk flashed a reminder: Megamorph. When the controller's Life Points are lower than the opponent's, the monster's ATK doubles. But when they are higher… the ATK is cut in half.
Rebecca gasped. "Your Life Points are higher than mine now—Megamorph weakens your monster!"
The World – ATK 3100 → 1550
Devin's expression didn't change, his voice quiet, unwavering. "Even halved… destiny doesn't waver."
The World's sword of light struck Rebecca, the impact sending her staggering back.
Rebecca – LP: 1100 → 0
Rebecca collapsed to one knee, clutching her deck. Her field was stripped bare, her cure-burn strategy powerless against Devin's manipulation of fate itself.
Devin stood perfectly still, his hood casting a faint shadow across his face. He looked less like a duelist and more like a prophet who had simply spoken truth.
"I told you," he said softly, though his words carried across the silent arena. "This was never about me winning. The Light has shown me the future. My role is not to claim victory in this tournament , but to guide others to the path they must walk."
Rebecca lowered her head, trembling, unable to respond.
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