After a brief exchange, Yugen learned that Peacock Dance didn't arrive much earlier than him and didn't know much more than he did.
She probably arrived here two days ago, with the purpose of finding Joey Wheeler. But she couldn't find him and was met with the "warm hospitality" of the local residents.
"Are you sure Joey Wheeler is here?" Yugen asked.
"Pretty much," Peacock Dance replied casually.
"Why are you looking for him?"
But Mai didn't answer this question and changed the subject.
"Heading that way, this path leads out to the town... though the situation there isn't much better."
Breaking through the forest, they indeed began to see the town's buildings. But the streets were equally deserted, as if even the wind feared this silence and dare not pass through easily. The streetlights emitted a faint yellow glow, swaying feebly in the darkness.
There wasn't a single human figure in sight, yet every window and shadow felt as if they were lurking with hidden gazes. Yugen followed Mai, the two of them progressing down the empty street, each step accompanied by the echo of shoe soles and the stone pavement.
"This way."
Mai indicated a narrow alley by the roadside.
It might lead somewhere as a shortcut, but if she hadn't pointed it out, Yugen would have automatically ignored it because the space was so narrow it didn't seem like a proper path.
Especially for Peacock Dance, it was questionable whether she could squeeze through such an exaggeratedly narrow space.
But she actually managed to squeeze through.
After passing through, what appeared was a train station silhouette. Behind it was an old clock tower, but the clock on the tower had stopped moving.
Peacock Dance led him into the station, its unique atmosphere greeting them head-on. The station remained empty, the waiting room benches covered in dust, stepping into this station was like entering a strange realm with no way out.
Yet, moving forward, there was a glimmer of light towards the platform direction, like a lonely star lost in the night.
A train car. The train appeared slightly old, with lights casting a hazy glow on the wet platform.
Surprisingly, someone came to greet them.
"Sister Mai is back?"
The person who came out was also a woman. Her black hair was somewhat disheveled, her dress slightly damaged, her face covered in dust and fatigue yet one could vaguely see that her features were quite exquisite.
"Hm?" As she approached, she noticed Yugen following behind and gasped, "Sister Mai brought a man back..."
"Why does that sound so strange when you say it?"
Mai brushed past her and headed straight for the train car.
"He's also a duelist, quite skillful. Should be able to help."
"That's great then."
The woman responded enthusiastically.
"Not Sister Mai's man, then I won't hold back."
With that, she trotted up and stretched out her hand to Yugen.
"My name is Meiyue."
Yugen expressionlessly shook hands with her as a courtesy, then bypassed her and continued behind Peacock Dance.
"What's the situation here? Is this like a survivor gathering place or something?"
"More or less, it's the only place known in the town. Seems like the remaining duelists and protected civilians have gathered here."
As they spoke, Peacock Dance was leading him into the train car.
Left behind, Meiyue feigned anger: "Ignored me..."
A chubby boy next to her chimed in: "Sister Meiyue, he ignored you, can you stand for that?"
"Exactly."
Meiyue snorted but then quickly smiled.
"Well, considering he's handsome and seems to be a skilled duelist, I won't fuss over it."
"Eh?" The chubby boy was taken aback, "You weren't like this when I first came."
"Isn't that obvious."
Meiyue had a look of self-evidence.
"Are you half as handsome as he is?"
The chubby boy: "..."
Heartbroken, but seemed at a loss for words.
Inside the train car, a burly man sat by the seats. Standing up, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of the two.
"This is Iwao, considered a leader-like figure in this temporary gathering place."
Mai introduced them.
"Oh, I see, a duelist. Well, at this point, indeed, what we need most is a duelist's strength, but..."
Iwao walked to Yugen, examining him curiously.
This man was over two meters tall, carrying a considerable presence in front of ordinary people. Yugen had to look up to meet his gaze.
"Seems young, like a student."
Iwao frowned skeptically.
"A skinny scholar type, can you really fight?"
Yugen chuckled.
It's card battles, not brawling, do I have to be burly like you to play?
Yet, before he said anything, Peacock Dance already spoke with hands on hips: "If you saw him duel, you wouldn't ask that."
Iwao asked with surprise: "Is he really good?"
"It's not about being good or not. His duel is indeed quite special... uh..." Mai pondered, "A bit hard to explain. But if you want to know, you can see for yourself."
"Oh, interesting... indeed."
Iwao looked at Yugen.
"I won't send an unarmed student to the front lines, unless you prove your ability to me."
He said, holding up his Duel Disc to imply to Yugen.
"Perfect timing, tomorrow marks the crucial plan launch. If you want to join the action, prove your skills with a duel, and I'll allow you to join the plan.
If not, then the kids should obediently wait aboard the train with the old, weak, and women for our news."
He paused, his fierce expression actually dimming a bit.
"I already... don't want to see anyone fall before me anymore."
Yugen looked up and met his gaze for a moment.
Hmm, looks like a traditional warrior archetype, sounds like a decent person.
So he nodded in response and opened his Duel Disc.
Then as a mark of respect for such a warrior...
...let him experience some fun in dueling.
"Duel!"
"..."
A mere three minutes of successive rounds of exchanges.
"...Guardian Sphinx is flip-summoned, all opponent monsters return to their hand."
"Then the Sphinx's effect, once per turn, it can revert to face-down position."
Yugen politely.
"..."
"Continuous Trap 'Traveler's Trial'. When the opponent's monster attacks, they must guess my hand; guess wrong, and the attacking monster returns to hand."
"Too bad, you guessed wrong again. Iwao's monster return to hand."
"..."
"Guardian Sphinx's direct attack."
The massive swipe from the Golden Body Guardian made Iwao dizzy, seeing stars, and faintly collapsed to the ground, his Life Points depleting.
Then, looking down at his hand full of repeatedly bounced cards, unable to be played, he fell into contemplation.
Yugen stepped forward and politely asked, "So, did I pass the test, Mr. Iwao?"
Iwao looked up, casting a meaningful glance at him.
Then gritted his teeth.
"Pass, you must pass! Now even if you don't want to, you have to come."
He stood up, dusted off his pants, gritting his teeth.
"Keep up the momentum, and then wipe out those damn zombies for me."