Hearing Aleister's words, Alicia's face reddened a bit, as if slapped lightly, from her earlier effort. She looked down at the card in her hands—Odd-Eyes Dragon.
This card was called one of the Four Heavenly Dragons by both Yuui-san and the Headmaster. Even though Yuui-san had already told her stories about the Four Heavenly Dragons, she still couldn't believe a dragon could be that incredible.
Even if she couldn't lift the card right now, Alicia still found it hard to accept that the dragon's power might truly be so overwhelming.
Meanwhile, after hearing Aleister's words, Yuui couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap.
Despite that, up until now, Aleister hadn't done anything harmful to him. Was he really just being overly suspicious?
With that thought, Yuui sighed.
He really was overly suspicious. After all, after being ambushed by two mysterious individuals, losing all his power, and being sealed for thousands of years, the only person he trusted was Alicia—the one who unsealed him and lived by his side for eight years.
So when Aleister first tried to give them Odd-Eyes Dragon, Yuui had genuinely been afraid to accept something with such a mysterious power.
But now… it seemed he had no choice.
Thinking this, Yuui stepped forward. Alicia slowly backed away, watching. Aleister raised a hand, summoning a protective barrier.
Yuui looked at the gesture with some confusion, but Aleister simply smiled. "To prevent accidents."
Yuui had no idea what kind of accident could happen, but despite his unease, he reached out and touched the card.
The next moment—a dragon's roar echoed through Yuui's mind, and he was pulled into a dark space.
There, he saw the dragon—Odd-Eyes Dragon.
The dragon looked directly at him, its red-and-green eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
A second later, Odd-Eyes Dragon spoke softly: "I have waited for you for thousands of years. At last, we meet, human. Now… your mission begins."
"Mission?"
Before Yuui could ask what mission it meant, a card radiating five colors—gray, purple, white, black, and green—shot out from within his body.
Yuui's eyes shot wide. He had never known something like that was inside him.
In the next instant, the five-colored card transformed into a massive shadow, swirling with those same colors—gray, purple, white, black, and green—like a sky-darkening storm.
The moment Yuui saw that shadow, he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity and blurted out:
"Supreme King Z-ARC!"
"ROOOOOOAAAR!!!"
The instant its name was spoken, the shadow opened its green eyes and unleashed a roar powerful enough to shatter space. Yuui nearly lost consciousness.
Even as a weakened soul, his essence still stood among the highest in the world—yet just one roar from Z-ARC caused him unbearable pain.
Was Z-ARC truly this strong?
The roar lasted more than ten seconds before finally subsiding. The massive eyes slowly closed.
"Do not speak its name," Odd-Eyes finally warned.
"Next time, warn me earlier!" Yuui shouted, clutching his ringing ears. Even as a soul, he couldn't stop himself from trying to shake the pain off.
"It is still under seal. You awakened it briefly by calling its name," Odd-Eyes continued. "Do you remember your mission in this world, human?"
"Mission? What mission?" Yuui tilted his head. "I only remember being sent to this world as I was dying. Mister Kyu Jun never told me about any mission. Wait…"
He suddenly recalled something—Kyu Jun had told him that there was a very troublesome matter, and he hoped Yuui could help with it.
Back then, Yuui had been moments away from dying and agreed without asking for details.
Could this be it? Was this the troublesome matter Kyu Jun meant… the one involving Z-ARC?
"It seems you've realized it. Yes, it concerns that one," Odd-Eyes said as it looked at the shadow. "Back then, in order to save the lives of more than a dozen dimensions, Kyu Jun fought against the god who represented the darkness in humanity's heart. In the end, to defeat that god, he unified the power of the Four Heavenly Dragons and created it.
"Although that god was defeated by its power, the god was not destroyed. Before vanishing, it slipped into its body and corrupted it."
"With no other choice, Kyu Jun scattered the Four Heavenly Dragons across different worlds to prevent that god from reappearing. The Four Heavenly Dragons are the keys that summon it. Without us as keys, it will remain forever sealed in the rift between dimensions.
"But now, due to several accidents, we have gathered in this world once more. This means it has already begun to awaken. And the corrupted power within it is calling us here."
"In order to defeat it again and seal it once more, Kyu Jun chose to send you to this world. He hoped you would gather the Four Heavenly Dragons again, and use our power to defeat that god and force it back into eternal slumber."
"Albeit because of certain individuals, you never encountered us after arriving in this world. That's why you remained unaware of your so-called mission. Anyhow, that no longer matters… for now, we have finally met.
"Human—no, Albaz Yuui—your mission in this world begins now."
"With the Genesis Card Kyu Jun entrusted to you, you now hold the authority to wield the power of the Four Heavenly Dragons. I, Odd-Eyes Dragon, represent the Foundation among the Four Creation Forces. I will greatly strengthen your power as a duelist—you will gain superior draw, fortune, and physical resilience.
"And as the Foundation Dragon, I possess the ability to evolve into different forms: Tribute, Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz… The more mastery you gain over my power, the more of my forms you can unlock."
"Now then, Albaz Yuui—will you become my contractor and begin your journey to save the world?"
After hearing the full story of why he was brought into this world, Yuui fell silent for a long time. Then he asked, "If I refuse to fulfill this mission… what will happen?"
Odd-Eyes did not become angry. Instead, its red-and-green eyes flashed, and countless scenes of devastation flooded Yuui's mind.
"If you do not fulfill your mission, then one day it will fully awaken. And at that time, even without the Four Heavenly Dragons as keys, it will break free from the dimensional rift.
"Its power alone rivals the Creator Gods. After all, it was born from the Genesis Power that Kyu Jun used to unify the strength of the four of us.
And with the corruption of that dark god added to it, countless dimensions—and this world as well—will be consumed by its power. Everything will become its domain until the entire universe is swallowed by darkness."
"...I understand." After a long while, Yuui finally spoke. "So that's why Kyu Jun sent me to this world. If even someone like him thought this was troublesome… He sure placed a lot of trust in me.
"But…"
A familiar expression, one he wore back when he ruled over the world, slowly appeared on Yuui's face.
"Isn't this more interesting? A world-saving mission that only exists in novels… falling onto someone like me? Then of course I have to give it a try and see it through to the end."
Yuui raised his hand toward Odd-Eyes Dragon. "Then let us form a contract, Odd-Eyes Dragon. I promise you—I will defeat it and save this world.
"Even so, once I finish my mission, whatever I choose to do… none of you are allowed to interfere."
Odd-Eyes' heterochromatic eyes flickered subtly, but it lowered its massive head onto Yuui's hand.
"Very well. Then the contract is made. From this day forth, I, the Foundation Dragon—Odd-Eyes Dragon—shall follow in your steps as your sword and shield, clearing your path until the day you accomplish your salvation."
...
Yuui opened his eyes. A flash of red and green flickered and vanished within them.
Then he saw the Headmaster's office—now a complete ruin. The antique desk lay shattered. Spilled coffee stained the floor. Furniture, carpets, and books were torn apart as if ripped by a great beast.
Alicia and Spirit Chorozo were being shielded behind Aleister, who was gripping his staff and spellbook with a solemn expression.
When Aleister saw the flicker fade from Yuui's eyes, he asked warily, "Albaz Yuui."
Yuui, confused by the scene, still answered honestly. "It's me. What… happened just now?"
Only then did Aleister exhale in relief.
"Nothing. You merely completed the contract." Then he added, "Now you understand what the third task I asked of you is, don't you?"
Yuui looked at Aleister with a deep, steady gaze. "I understand. And you will uphold your end of the promise?"
"Of course." Aleister nodded. "I, Aleister, keep my word."
"Good." Yuui waved to Alicia. "We're leaving, Alicia."
"Eh? Ah, yes, Yuui-san!"
Alicia gathered her books and left the office with Yuui.
Left alone in the wreckage of his office, Aleister gave a bitter laugh, then sighed deeply.
"So it finally begins… You bastard. I kept the promise I made you back then. If you disappoint me… I won't forgive you either."
...
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