No, wait. He was supposed to be the intruder and the stalker, so why had the dueling momentum suddenly flipped? Why did it feel as if the other side had become the real villain, while he himself had turned into some disposable extra in a horror movie?
But after opening the distance, he quickly calmed down. "I see. It seems you really do possess some extraordinary power," Alpha said in a low voice. "I knew Father would not choose a student for no reason..."
"Father." Yugen repeated the word. "So you're a family operation?"
Alpha did not answer that question. "I came for you, Yugen Fujiki. Father believes your abilities are valuable to us. Join us, and you will gain resources beyond your imagination, as well as the chance to stand at the peak of the world."
"Well, before that, I should at least know who you people are, right?"
"That is something you only have the right to know after joining us," Alpha said. "But I can tell you this. Our goal is to overturn this world and seize supreme power and authority from the tyrant called Seto Kaiba."
Yugen raised an eyebrow. Based on that goal alone, it was already obvious that they were not on the same path. First, Yugen had not yet finished drawing enough benefits from Seto Kaiba, and their relationship was still fairly good.
Second, at this stage, as long as Yugi Muto did not appear again, the president was basically the chosen one of this era. With the president's cards, resources, and power, trying to go against him... Yugen only had one thing to say. If they wanted to get themselves killed, they should not try to drag him along with them.
"Refusing, then? As expected. But unfortunately, since I came here, I never intended to leave you with the option to refuse."
Mechanical parts on Alpha's arm shifted and assembled, directly forming a Duel Disk. He raised it toward Yugen. "Then through Duel, I'll use force to bring you back."
The instant Alpha activated that transforming Duel Disk, a transparent wave spread outward, like a pale blue barrier sealing off the entire field. Yugen recognized it immediately as technology similar to the Duel Disk Seto Kaiba had used before. Scientific Shadow Duel? He frowned slightly.
He knew similar technology existed in 5D's with Iliaster, but those people came from the future. In this era, was there really someone besides Seto Kaiba who had mastered something like this? His curiosity about Alpha's origin only grew stronger.
"Fine."
Yugen unfolded his own Duel Disk as well.
"Duel!" x2
Yugen, LP 4000
Alpha, LP 4000
"I'll go first. Card Draw."
Yugen revealed a card from his hand. "A Continuous Spell: 'Messenger of Peace.' All monsters on the field with ATK 1500 or higher cannot declare attacks."
It resembled Gravity Bind and Level Limit Area B, old attack-lock cards often seen in stall strategies. But this one was more flexible. During each of its controller's Standby Phase, they could pay 100 Life Points to keep it on the field, or choose not to pay and let it Destroy. In other words, its owner could Release the lock on any turn they wanted.
"Starting with an attack lock right away." Alpha crossed his arms and let out a cold laugh. "Are you really that afraid of the power of my Deck?"
Yugen did not answer. He only smiled. "Then I activate 'Card Destruction.' Both players discard all cards in their hands, then draw the same number."
As Alpha redrew his hand, he quietly watched Yugen's expression after the Card Draw. Was he refreshing his hand because he was digging for a specific card or combo? The thought lingered in Alpha's mind as he continued observing.
"I set one Monster in the Front Row," Yugen said. "Then I set one card and end my turn."
"Heh, looks like you didn't find the combo you wanted. Then get crushed under my power! My Turn!, Card Draw!"
Alpha swept out a hand. "I Normal Summon 'Paladin of Felgrand'!"
A blond swordsman appeared on the field, his white cloak streaming behind him. Paladin of Felgrand, ATK 1700.
"When this card is Summoned successfully, I can equip a Level 7 or 8 Dragon from my Deck or Graveyard to it as an Equip Card."
Alpha pulled out the card he had searched from the Deck. "I equip the Level 7 Dragon 'Arkbrave Dragon' from my Deck."
The phantom of a shining dragon appeared and wrapped itself around the knight's blade like a dragon soul. "Then I activate the Continuous Spell 'Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords'!" Alpha declared.
A statue of a divine dragon rose on the field, ringed by ruins like an ancient temple. "This card's Once Per Turn lets me send 1 other face-up card I control to the Graveyard to Special Summon a Divine Dragon Token. I send 'Arkbrave Dragon,' which is being used as an Equip Card on my field, to the Graveyard and Special Summon a Divine Dragon Token!"
Divine Dragon Token, DEF 0
"Then with the follow-up effect of 'Paladin of Felgrand,' I can tribute one Monster on my field and this card to Special Summon a Level 7 or 8 Dragon Monster from the Graveyard. So I offer 'Paladin of Felgrand' and the Divine Dragon Token. The soul of the shining dragon revives here and now. Level 7, Arkbrave Dragon, Summon!" (ANIME EFFECT)
The paladin and the token vanished together. In a curtain of brilliant light, the form of a dragon took shape, and the shining dragon descended in a shower of glowing particles.
Arkbrave Dragon, ATK 2400
"So it's this Deck," Yugen said, resting his chin on one hand. He had seen this Deck during his last trip to Kaiba Corporation. It was a new branch of the LV Series developed by the Kaiba Corporation Research Division around the Level 8 dragon Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand, and one of the latest powerful Dragon Deck.
But that Deck had only been created recently. Even at Kaiba Corporation, it was not yet for sale and should not have been on the market. Yugen grew even more wary of who this person really was.
"When Arkbrave Dragon is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, all face-up Spells and Trap Cards on the opponent's field are banished!" Alpha shouted. "So disappear, Messenger of Peace!"
A shining blast erupted from the dragon's body, and the storm of light swept away Messenger of Peace in the Back Row, banishing it to the far side of the Different Dimension. "And for each card banished by this effect, Arkbrave Dragon gains 200 ATK!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Arkbrave Dragon, ATK 2400 -> ATK 2600
"Now the attack lock has been Release. A simple trick like that is useless before my shining dragon!" Alpha threw back his head and laughed.
"Battle! Crush it! Arkbrave Dragon, attack that face-down monster!"
Arkbrave Dragon opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of blinding light. The set monster flipped over, revealing a red-skinned blacksmith.
Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu, DEF 500
"The monster you attacked is 'Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu,'" Yugen said. "When this card is flipped, I can choose one Equip Spell from my Deck and add it to my hand."
He pulled the searched card from his Deck. "I add the Equip Spell 'Butterfly Dagger - Elma' to my hand."
If any student who had seen how brutal this Butterfly Dagger one-turn kill deck was back at Duel Academy had been here, they would already be sweating. But his opponent had not yet realized how serious the situation was. He was still acting as if everything remained under control.
"Then my Battle Phase ends, and I set three cards on the field."