The first thing Lazar noticed after defeating Gobi was that the information broker wasn't particularly bothered by losing.
Gobi glanced at his Duel Disk as the holographic field disappeared. His expression showed mild disappointment, but nothing resembling the frustration Lazar had expected.
Lazar, meanwhile, was still feeling the effects of the duel.
His Life Points had been reduced to 400. Every breath reminded him how close he'd come to losing, and the tension in his shoulders hadn't entirely faded.
Gobi looked up.
"Well played."
Lazar returned his cards to his Deck.
"You sound disappointed."
"Not disappointed. I was hoping you'd make a different decision."
"Which decision?"
"The one where you lose."
Lazar stared at him.
Gobi smiled faintly.
"That was a joke."
"Work on your delivery."
"I'll consider it."
For a moment, neither spoke. The ruined street around them was quiet, broken only by the occasional creak of a loose sign swinging above an abandoned storefront.
Then Gobi reached into his jacket and produced a folded piece of paper.
"You won the wager. I'll give you what I know."
Lazar accepted it but didn't unfold it immediately.
"Before we start, I'd like to know something."
"Go ahead."
"You've been trading information with people all over this area. You've probably heard about me. You knew enough about my deck to prepare for the duel, and you seemed pretty confident you could beat me."
"That's a reasonable observation."
"So why take the risk?"
Gobi tilted his head.
"Because information becomes more valuable when you can demonstrate that it is worth something. Anyone can claim to know things. Fewer people can prove that their information is useful."
"And losing to me proves that?"
"No. Keeping my word after losing does."
Lazar studied him for a moment before finally unfolding the paper.
It was a rough map of the old freight depot on the eastern side of the district. Three buildings had been marked in dark ink: the station office, a storage building, and a maintenance workshop.
The last one had been circled twice.
Lazar's expression changed.
"What's this?"
"The maintenance workshop. The Collectors have been using it."
"For what?"
"That's the part you're interested in."
Gobi pointed to a short note written beside the circle.
"Three days ago, seven children were reportedly brought there."
Lazar looked up.
"Reportedly?"
"I don't sell guesses as facts. One of my sources heard the report from someone who had seen the group arrive. I couldn't verify the source's identity, so I won't pretend it's confirmed."
"Then why tell me?"
"Because I have something else."
Gobi tapped the map again.
"On the same day, two separate deliveries were made to the workshop. One contained food. The other contained medical supplies. Both were larger than the usual deliveries to that building."
Lazar's grip tightened around the paper.
"Enough to supply seven children?"
"Possibly. The quantities were also consistent with a larger group. I don't know how many people were there, or whether the deliveries were intended for them."
"So the deliveries could mean nothing."
"They could. But the timing is worth investigating."
Lazar looked down at the map again.
"What else?"
"There's a rear loading entrance facing the service road. A vehicle left through that entrance around sunset yesterday. It returned less than an hour later."
"Where did it go?"
"I don't know. The vehicle made the same trip two days earlier, but nobody I've spoken to followed it far enough to establish its destination."
"Could it have been transporting the children?"
"Could have been. It could also have been transporting supplies, equipment, or something else entirely."
Lazar exhaled slowly.
Gobi was careful with his words. He wasn't promising that the children were still there, or that the workshop was even being used as a holding site now.
But he was giving Lazar something concrete to investigate.
A building. An entrance. A service road. A pattern of vehicle movements.
That was more than a rumor.
"Anything else?" Lazar asked.
"Two people have been asking questions about the workshop."
Lazar looked up sharply.
"Collectors?"
"Not as far as I could tell. They weren't wearing the group's insignia. They asked a shopkeeper about the entrances and the times vehicles usually arrived."
"Do you know who they were?"
"No."
"Did they look like they were searching for someone?"
"I wasn't there, so I won't invent an answer to make the story more interesting."
Lazar folded the map carefully.
For the first time since the duel ended, he looked genuinely unsettled.
If the two strangers were looking for the missing children, they might be allies. If they were working for the Collectors, the workshop could be part of a larger operation. And if they belonged to another group entirely, Lazar had no idea what they wanted.
There were too many possibilities.
But at least now he knew where to start.
"Why give me all this?" Lazar asked.
"Because you won."
"That's the wager. I'm asking why you were willing to collect this much information in the first place."
Gobi's expression grew harder to read.
"Information is valuable because people need it. Sometimes they need it to make money. Sometimes they need it to stay alive."
"And sometimes?"
"Sometimes they need it because someone has disappeared, and they're not willing to accept that nobody knows where the person went."
Lazar held his gaze.
Gobi didn't elaborate.
After a moment, Lazar tucked the map away.
"If this turns out to be useful, I'll remember it."
"That's all I ask."
"You don't want payment?"
"You already paid me."
"I beat you."
"Exactly."
Lazar shook his head.
"You really are strange."
"I prefer difficult to categorize."
"That sounds like something a strange person would say."
Gobi's faint smile returned.
"Then perhaps you should keep that in mind the next time you need information."
Lazar turned to leave.
"Wait," Gobi called.
Lazar glanced over his shoulder.
"One more thing. If you investigate the workshop, don't approach it from the main road. The Collectors have people watching the obvious routes."
"How many?"
"I don't know."
"Of course you don't."
"I know what I've observed. I don't know what I haven't."
Lazar gave him a final look.
"Try not to lose your next duel."
"I'll try to survive the humiliation."
"Good luck with that."
Lazar walked away with the map in his pocket.
For once, the information he'd won was worth more than the Duel Points he could have wagered.
Now he had to find out whether it was worth the risk.
Marcus listened without interrupting.
That alone told Lazar the situation was serious.
They were back at the supermarket shelter. The younger children had been moved away from the entrance, and several of the older ones were gathered around a table where the map had been spread out.
Emily stood beside Marcus, her arms crossed tightly.
Ren was seated near the wall. He had been quiet since Lazar began describing Gobi's information, but his eyes had never left the map.
When Lazar finished, Marcus leaned forward.
"Seven children."
"That's what the report said."
"Three days ago?"
"Yeah."
Emily looked at the circled workshop.
"Do you think they're still there?"
Lazar didn't answer immediately.
"I don't know."
Her face fell slightly.
"But we have a place to check," he continued. "That's better than wandering around hoping someone tells us something useful."
Marcus studied the marked entrance.
"We can't just walk in."
"I know."
"They'll have people watching the road. If we approach as a group, they'll see us coming."
"Then we don't approach as a group."
Ren finally spoke.
"The service road has an old pedestrian passage running beside it. It used to connect the back of the workshop to the neighboring block."
Everyone turned toward him.
"You've been there?" Lazar asked.
"Near it. I never went inside the workshop."
Ren looked down at his hands.
"I know the roads around the freight yard. I used to carry messages for the Collectors. Sometimes they sent me to check whether a shelter was still occupied or whether a debtor had moved."
Marcus's expression darkened.
"And you did it?"
Ren didn't look away.
"Yes."
The answer was quiet, but he didn't try to excuse himself.
"At the time, I told myself I was just carrying messages. I didn't know what happened to everyone who couldn't pay. By the time I understood, I'd already helped them find places they shouldn't have found."
Nobody spoke for a moment.
Lazar remembered what Ren had told them before: the Collectors didn't simply take Duel Points. They kept records. They tracked people. They treated vulnerable children as resources.
Ren had been part of that machinery before realizing what it was doing.
"Can you still recognize their routes?" Lazar asked.
"Some of them. The service road is narrow enough that a vehicle has to slow down near the rear entrance. There's also a broken section of fencing farther down. Someone on foot could get close without being seen from the main road, provided the area hasn't changed."
"Provided," Marcus repeated.
"I won't pretend I know what's there now."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"We observe first. We don't rush in because we found a building on a map."
Emily frowned.
"And if the children are there?"
"Then we find out how many people are guarding them and work out how to get them out."
"How long will that take?"
"As long as it takes to do it without getting everyone else captured."
Emily clearly disliked that answer, but she didn't argue.
Lazar understood why she wanted to move immediately. She had already seen what happened to people who lost everything in a duel. The possibility that children were being held somewhere nearby was enough to make waiting feel unbearable.
But a reckless rescue could leave even more people needing rescue.
Marcus rolled the map back up.
"We'll watch the workshop tomorrow. A small group, from a distance. We'll look for the vehicle, count anyone going in or out, and see whether those two strangers show up again."
"And if they do?" Lazar asked.
"We don't approach until we know what we're dealing with."
Lazar nodded.
It wasn't much of a plan.
But it was a plan that gave them a chance.
The following afternoon, the shelter was busier than usual.
Someone had managed to find a box of canned food. Two children were arguing over whether the cans needed to be rationed immediately or saved for dinner. Near the back wall, another pair were trying to repair a damaged Duel Disk using parts taken from an abandoned electronics shop.
Marcus was helping them when a knock came from the entrance.
Three quick taps.
Then a pause.
Then another two.
The person watching the door glanced toward Marcus.
Marcus straightened.
"Who is it?"
"A kid. Says he needs somewhere to stay."
"Alone?"
"Yeah."
Marcus exchanged a look with Lazar before approaching the entrance.
He opened the door only far enough to see the person outside.
The boy looked around sixteen. He wore a worn brown jacket, and the Duel Disk strapped to his arm had a crack running through its outer casing. A small bag hung from one shoulder.
He looked tired, but he stood straight.
"I'm looking for a shelter," he said. "Someone told me people were staying here."
"Who told you?"
"Someone near the eastern road. They said Marcus was taking people in."
Marcus glanced at Lazar.
"That sounds like me."
The boy's expression didn't change.
"Are you Marcus?"
"Depends on what you want."
"A place to sleep. At least for tonight."
Marcus studied him.
"Name?"
"James."
"Where did you come from, James?"
"A shelter near the eastern road."
"Did you leave, or did something happen?"
James hesitated.
Then he looked past Marcus at the people inside.
"The Collectors found us."
The conversation around the room faded.
Lazar stepped closer.
"What happened?"
James shifted the strap of his bag.
"They challenged the shelter to a duel. We lost. They took most of our supplies and demanded more Duel Points than we had."
"And?"
"Two people couldn't pay."
Marcus's face hardened.
"What did they do to them?"
"They were escorted away."
"Where?"
"Toward the freight yard."
Lazar and Marcus exchanged a look.
James noticed it.
"You know something?"
"We've heard reports," Lazar said carefully. "About the freight yard and a maintenance workshop."
James's eyes widened slightly.
"I don't know about a workshop. I only saw the direction they took them. I tried to follow, but one of the Collectors spotted me. I had to run."
"How long ago?" Ren asked from behind them.
"Yesterday morning."
Ren stood up.
"Did you see a vehicle?"
James shook his head.
"No. They walked them away. There were three Collectors, and one of them had a Duel Disk with a damaged screen."
Ren's expression tightened as he considered that detail.
It wasn't proof that James's two missing companions were the children mentioned in Gobi's report. It wasn't even proof that the Collectors had taken them to the workshop.
But the timing and direction were consistent.
The mystery was becoming harder to dismiss.
Marcus stepped aside from the doorway.
"You can stay tonight."
James looked at him cautiously.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"You don't need me to prove myself?"
"Not by dueling, if that's what you're asking."
James glanced down at his cracked Duel Disk.
"I can duel."
"Good for you. We have more important things to worry about today."
James looked surprised.
Marcus continued, "You can tell us everything you remember about the people who took your friends. Tomorrow, if you want to help, we'll figure out what you can do."
For the first time, some of the tension left James's shoulders.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. We have rules here, and everyone helps where they can."
"I can do that."
Marcus nodded toward the interior.
"Then come in."
James stepped inside, and the door closed behind him.
Lazar watched him for a moment.
Two people taken toward the freight yard. A report of seven children at the workshop. A vehicle making repeated trips. Two strangers asking about the entrances.
The pieces still didn't form a complete picture, but they were beginning to overlap.
He turned toward Marcus.
"Tomorrow, we need to check that workshop."
Marcus nodded.
"Agreed."
Later that evening, Lazar found Satsuki sitting on one of the old supermarket counters, shuffling his Deck.
His appearance drew attention even when he wasn't trying. He wore his usual carefully chosen clothes, and his long hair was arranged neatly despite the rough conditions around them. The contrast between his presentation and the battered shelter had become familiar to the group.
James was sitting nearby, examining the cracked casing of his Duel Disk.
Satsuki glanced at him.
"So you're the new arrival."
James looked up.
"That's what they tell me."
"Can you duel?"
James gave him a dry look.
"I just told Marcus I could."
"People say all sorts of things."
"And you always interrogate everyone who walks through the door?"
"Only the interesting ones."
James looked at Satsuki's Deck.
"Then let's find out if I'm interesting."
Satsuki's eyebrows lifted.
"Oh?"
James set his Duel Disk down on the counter and began checking the damaged casing.
"I've had a rough few days. Could use a duel that doesn't end with someone taking my food."
Satsuki's expression changed. The teasing remained, but there was a little more respect in his eyes.
"Now that's a reasonable request."
James secured the last loose piece of casing.
"Unless you're worried about losing."
Satsuki stopped shuffling.
Then he smiled.
"Careful. You're new here. You haven't learned which people you should provoke yet."
"Maybe I learn quickly."
"Then let's test that."
Satsuki hopped down from the counter and activated his Duel Disk.
The device's display flickered once before stabilizing.
James looked at him, then at the Duel Disk on his own arm.
"You're serious?"
"You're the one who challenged me."
James stood.
"Fair enough."
Marcus, who had been sorting supplies at the next table, looked over.
"You're both doing this now?"
Satsuki didn't take his eyes off James.
"He asked for a duel."
"I asked whether he could duel."
"And I answered the question."
James held out his arm, activating his own Duel Disk. The cracked casing rattled, but the field projector lit up.
"Unless you're going to stop us?"
Marcus looked from one to the other.
For a moment, he seemed ready to tell them to put the devices away. They had a possible rescue operation ahead of them, and the last thing he wanted was a pointless argument over pride.
Then he noticed James's expression.
The boy was still carrying the weight of what had happened at his previous shelter. He wasn't looking for a way to prove he was stronger than everyone else. He wanted one thing in this ruined world that he could still choose for himself.
A duel.
Marcus sighed.
"Fine. But keep it here, don't break anything we can't replace, and don't turn it into a grudge match."
Satsuki grinned.
"I make no promises about the grudge match."
"Then I'll confiscate both your Decks."
"That seems excessive."
"Try me."
James gave a short laugh.
Satsuki turned back toward him.
"Ready, James?"
James slid his Deck into his Duel Disk.
"Ready."
The two stepped into the open space in the middle of the shelter. The other children began moving the tables aside, leaving them enough room for the holographic field to form.
Lazar watched from the edge of the room. He had no intention of interfering. Satsuki was capable of looking after himself, and James had chosen this duel willingly.
Besides, Lazar had more important things on his mind.
The freight yard. The workshop. The missing children.
And the possibility that tomorrow's investigation would reveal something far worse than a few suspicious deliveries.
Across the makeshift arena, Satsuki and James raised their Duel Disks.
Their displays lit up.
"Let's have a good duel," Satsuki said.
James's expression sharpened.
"Let's."
The holographic field began to form between them.
"DUEL!"
Satsuki vs. James
TURN 1 — SATSUKI
Satsuki drew his opening hand.
He glanced over his cards before selecting one.
"Let's start simply."
He placed a card onto his Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon a monster in face-down Defense Position!"
A holographic card appeared on Satsuki's field, concealing the monster beneath it.
James studied the face-down card.
Satsuki gave him a confident smile.
"Your turn."
TURN 2 — JAMES
James drew a card.
He looked over his hand before selecting a monster.
"Let's see how you handle this."
He placed the card onto his Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon Sonic Bird!"
A mechanical-looking bird appeared on James's field.
Sonic Bird — 1400 ATK
Satsuki watched the monster carefully.
James raised his hand.
"And now, Sonic Bird's effect activates! When it's Normal Summoned, I can add a Ritual Spell Card from my Deck to my hand!"
His Duel Disk searched through his Deck. A moment later, James retrieved a Spell Card.
"I add Shinsto's Ark to my hand."
He briefly showed Satsuki the card before placing it into his hand.
Satsuki raised an eyebrow.
"A Ritual Deck?"
James smiled.
"Something like that."
He pointed toward Satsuki's face-down monster.
"But first, let's clear the field!"
"Sonic Bird, attack the face-down monster!"
The bird spread its wings and swooped toward the concealed card.
The impact shattered the holographic cover, revealing Satsuki's monster.
Electric Lizard — 800 DEF
Sonic Bird struck it with a burst of energy.
Electric Lizard was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.
James lowered his arm.
"One down."
Satsuki glanced at his destroyed monster before looking back at James.
"Not bad. You've got a Ritual strategy, then."
James placed his hand over his Deck.
"You'll find out soon enough."
James glanced at his remaining cards.
After considering his options, he selected one and placed it face-down in his Spell and Trap Zone.
A holographic card appeared behind Sonic Bird.
"That's all for now. I end my turn."
Sonic Bird remained on the field, its wings slowly folding as the holographic display settled.
Satsuki looked at James's newly set card.
"Keeping something in reserve, are we?"
James crossed his arms.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Satsuki smiled and reached for his Deck.
"Fine. My turn."
TURN 3 — SATSUKI
Satsuki drew his card.
He glanced at it, and a smirk slowly appeared on his face.
"Well, now things are getting interesting."
He selected a monster from his hand and placed it onto his Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon Baby Dragon!"
A small dragon appeared on Satsuki's field, flapping its wings as it let out a spirited roar.
Baby Dragon — 1200 ATK
James looked at the monster.
"Baby Dragon?"
Satsuki shrugged.
"Don't underestimate it just because it's small."
He placed another card face-down in his Spell and Trap Zone.
Then he selected a second card and set it beside the first.
Two face-down cards now stood behind Baby Dragon.
"That's all for me. Your turn."
TURN 4 — JAMES
James drew a card.
He examined his hand, then looked across the field at Satsuki's Baby Dragon and two face-down cards.
He wasn't going to let the little dragon intimidate him.
"Let's put some pressure on you."
He placed a monster onto his Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon Shining Angel!"
A radiant angel appeared on James's field.
Shining Angel — 1400 ATK
James pointed toward Satsuki's side.
"Sonic Bird, attack Baby Dragon!"
Sonic Bird spread its wings and prepared to launch itself forward.
But suddenly—
The monster stopped.
Its wings stiffened, and its body became surrounded by a strange electrical field. It struggled to move, unable to advance.
James frowned.
"What?"
Satsuki smiled.
"Looks like you forgot about the monster you destroyed last turn."
He gestured toward his Graveyard.
"Electric Lizard's effect! When a non-Zombie monster destroys it in battle, that monster cannot attack during its controller's following turn!"
James looked at Sonic Bird.
The mechanical bird continued struggling against the paralysis.
"So that's why you set it face-down…"
"Exactly."
Satsuki leaned back slightly.
"You destroyed Electric Lizard, but it left you with a little problem."
James glanced at the immobilized Sonic Bird, then back at Satsuki.
His expression tightened.
He had successfully removed Satsuki's first monster, but the effect had cost him the opportunity to attack with Sonic Bird this turn.
James wasn't finished, however.
If Sonic Bird couldn't attack, he still had another monster.
"Fine. Shining Angel, attack Baby Dragon!"
The angel spread its wings, gathering light around its hands before launching a radiant blast toward Satsuki's small dragon.
Satsuki calmly reached toward one of his face-down cards.
"Not so fast."
He flipped it face-up.
"I activate my Trap Card — Trap Hole with Spikes!"
James's eyes widened.
Satsuki continued explaining its effect.
"When a monster attacks that was Summoned this turn, I can destroy it! And its controller takes damage equal to half that monster's ATK!"
Spikes erupted from the ground beneath Shining Angel.
The angel tried to rise above them, but the trap caught it before it could escape.
Shining Angel — 1400 ATK
The spikes pierced through its holographic body, destroying it.
James's Duel Disk registered the damage.
James takes 700 damage!
James LP: 4000 → 3300
The hologram of Shining Angel disappeared.
James stared at the empty space where his monster had stood.
Satsuki lowered his hand.
"That's two monsters you've lost without getting a single attack through."
James looked at him, his expression growing more serious.
"You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
Satsuki glanced at Sonic Bird, still paralyzed by Electric Lizard's effect.
James took a moment to examine his remaining cards.
Then he selected one and placed it face-down in his Spell and Trap Zone.
A new holographic card appeared beside his previous set card.
"That's enough for now. I end my turn."
Satsuki looked at James's back row.
"Two face-down cards now? Getting cautious?"
James crossed his arms.
"Maybe I'm just getting started."
Satsuki smiled and reached for his Deck.
"Then let's see what you've got."
TURN 5 — SATSUKI
Satsuki drew his card.
He looked at it, and his smirk widened.
"Now that's more like it."
He immediately placed the monster onto his Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon Axe Raider!"
A heavily armed warrior appeared on Satsuki's field, gripping its axe as it prepared for battle.
Axe Raider — 1700 ATK
James glanced at the new monster.
Satsuki pointed toward Sonic Bird.
"Axe Raider, attack Sonic Bird!"
The warrior charged forward, raising its axe high above its head.
But James wasn't caught off guard.
"Not so fast! I activate my Trap Card — Parallel Shift!"
Satsuki raised an eyebrow.
James explained the effect.
"With this card, I can return a monster I control to the field and Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard that shares at least two similarities with it!"
He gestured toward Sonic Bird.
"I return Sonic Bird to my hand!"
The mechanical bird disappeared from the field.
"Both Sonic Bird and the monster I'm bringing back are Level 4 monsters with 1400 ATK!"
A glow emerged from James's Graveyard.
"Come back! Shining Angel!"
Shining Angel appeared on the field in Defense Position.
Shining Angel — 1400 ATK
Axe Raider's attack was still approaching.
Satsuki watched as James's trap redirected the situation.
"Interesting…"
Axe Raider changed its course and brought its axe down against Shining Angel.
The angel's defensive position wasn't enough to withstand the attack.
Shining Angel was destroyed!
But James wasn't finished.
"Now Shining Angel's effect activates!"
Satsuki's expression changed slightly.
"When Shining Angel is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a LIGHT monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck!"
James's Duel Disk searched through his Deck.
"Come forth! Senju of the Thousand Hands!"
A robed figure appeared on James's field.
Senju of the Thousand Hands — 1400 ATK
Satsuki looked at the newly summoned monster.
Baby Dragon stood at 1200 ATK, while Senju had 1400.
The advantage in raw ATK now belonged to James.
James gave Satsuki a confident look.
"Looks like your attack didn't go quite as planned."
Satsuki chuckled.
"Not bad. You managed to turn a losing position into something useful."
He glanced at Senju, then at his own monsters.
"Unfortunately, I don't have anything else to do right now."
He lowered his arm.
"I end my turn."
Axe Raider remained on Satsuki's field beside Baby Dragon, while James now had Senju of the Thousand Hands and one face-down card.
The duel was becoming more interesting.
TURN 6 — JAMES
James drew his card.
He looked across the field at Satsuki's two monsters before selecting a Spell Card from his hand.
"Let's see how you handle this."
He placed it onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate the Spell Card — Mask of Thousand Faces!"
A strange magical mask appeared above James's field.
"This card allows me to choose a monster I control and change its name to the name of a monster I declare!"
He pointed toward Senju of the Thousand Hands.
"I choose Senju! Its name is now Sonic Bird!"
The name displayed beneath the monster changed.
Senju of the Thousand Hands — 1400 ATK
Current name: Sonic Bird
Satsuki narrowed his eyes.
"Changing a monster's name? What's the point of that?"
James smiled.
"You'll see."
He immediately activated another Spell Card.
"I activate Night Flight!"
A gust of magical wind swept across the field.
"This lets me return a monster I control to my hand! However, for the rest of this turn, neither player can activate the effects of the monster returned by this card!"
James pointed toward his renamed Senju.
"I return Senju of the Thousand Hands to my hand!"
The monster disappeared from the field and returned to James's hand, reverting to its original name.
Satsuki watched carefully.
"So you've bounced your own monster?"
James raised the card.
"Not quite."
He placed it back onto his Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon Senju of the Thousand Hands!"
The robed figure appeared on James's field once again.
Senju of the Thousand Hands — 1400 ATK
James grinned.
"And now, Senju's effect activates! When it's Normal Summoned, I can add one Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand!"
His Duel Disk searched through his Deck.
"And I choose Shinato, King of a Higher Plane!"
James retrieved the Ritual Monster and added it to his hand.
Satsuki looked at the card.
"So that's what you've been searching for."
James held up another card.
"Not quite finished."
"I activate the Ritual Spell — Shinato's Ark!"
The Spell Card appeared above the field, illuminating the entire arena with an intense golden light.
"This card allows me to Ritual Summon Shinato, King of a Higher Plane from my hand!"
James raised the Ritual Monster.
"But to call upon a king of the higher plane, I must offer the appropriate sacrifices!"
He pointed toward Senju.
"First, I Tribute Senju of the Thousand Hands!"
Senju's body began glowing before dissolving into golden particles that rose toward the sky.
"That's one!"
James then revealed another card from his hand.
"And I also Tribute Sonic Bird from my hand!"
The mechanical bird materialized briefly above the field, its wings spreading before it too dissolved into a stream of light.
The two streams of energy spiraled upward, forming an enormous golden gateway above the dueling field.
The ground trembled.
A deep, resonating chime echoed through the shelter as the gateway slowly opened. Beyond it lay an endless expanse of golden clouds, illuminated by a brilliant celestial light.
James raised his Ritual Monster toward the gateway.
"From beyond the boundaries of the mortal world, descend from your celestial throne! Let your divine presence illuminate the battlefield!"
The golden gateway burst open.
A towering figure emerged, clad in ornate golden armor. A magnificent pair of wings spread behind him, while a radiant halo shone above his head. His presence seemed to bend the light around him, and the air itself trembled as he descended.
"RITUAL SUMMON! SHINATO, KING OF A HIGHER PLANE!"
SHINATO, KING OF A HIGHER PLANE — 3300 ATK
Shinato landed on James's field, and a powerful wave of golden energy swept across the arena.
James lowered his arm.
"Now that's a king worthy of the name."
Satsuki looked at the enormous Ritual Monster.
For the first time in the duel, he wasn't looking at James's monsters with amusement.
He was looking at a monster that could seriously threaten his field.
James pointed toward Satsuki's side.
"Now, Shinato! Show him the power of a king! Attack Baby Dragon!"
Shinato spread its enormous wings, gathering a brilliant sphere of golden energy between its hands.
"CELESTIAL JUDGMENT!"
The sphere erupted into a magnificent golden beam, racing toward Baby Dragon.
Satsuki, however, wasn't going to let the attack go through so easily.
"Not so fast! I activate my Trap Card — Shift!"
A holographic barrier appeared between the two monsters.
James glanced at him.
"Shift?"
Satsuki smirked.
"This Trap lets me change the target of an opponent's monster attack to another appropriate monster on my field!"
He pointed toward his other monster.
"I change your attack target from Baby Dragon to Axe Raider!"
The golden blast suddenly changed direction, racing toward Axe Raider instead.
The warrior raised its axe in an attempt to defend itself, but the difference in strength was overwhelming.
Shinato — 3300 ATK
Axe Raider — 1700 ATK
The blast engulfed Axe Raider in golden light.
The warrior's holographic body shattered, and its card was sent to the Graveyard.
Satsuki had successfully protected Baby Dragon, but his stronger monster was gone.
James lowered his arm.
"An interesting trick. You sacrificed your stronger monster to protect the weaker one."
Satsuki smiled.
"That's what traps are for. You should try playing around them sometime."
James looked at Baby Dragon.
"Then I'll just have to deal with that little dragon another way."
The battle damage was calculated.
The difference between Shinato's 3300 ATK and Axe Raider's 1700 ATK was 1600.
Satsuki's Duel Disk registered the damage.
Satsuki takes 1600 damage!
Satsuki LP: 4000 → 2400
Satsuki steadied himself, looking at his remaining monster.
James lowered his arm.
"That's enough for now. I end my turn."
Shinato stood proudly on James's field, its golden wings slowly folding behind its armor.
Satsuki looked from Shinato to Baby Dragon.
His smile returned, although the situation had become considerably more dangerous.
"Well, James. You've certainly made things interesting."
He reached for his Deck.
"My turn."
Turn 7 — Satsuki
Satsuki reached for the top card of his Deck.
"It's my turn."
He drew.
For a brief moment, his eyes remained fixed on the card. Then, slowly, a confident smirk spread across his face.
James noticed it.
"What is it?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Satsuki raised his hand.
"I activate a monster from my hand!"
He placed the card into his Spell and Trap Zone.
"Time Wizard!"
James blinked.
"…Huh?"
He leaned forward, looking at the card.
"Wait a minute! Did you seriously just play a monster in your Spell and Trap Zone?!"
Satsuki glanced at him.
"That's right."
"That's a monster card! You're supposed to summon it!"
"I'm well aware of that, James. But I can activate Time Wizard as a Spell Card while I control Baby Dragon."
James stared at him.
Satsuki continued, seemingly enjoying his opponent's confusion.
"Now, let me explain its effect. Time Wizard allows me to perform a time roulette. The outcome determines what happens to the monsters on the field."
A massive holographic clock materialized above the arena. Its circular face was divided into two distinct symbols: a towering red structure and a sinister skull.
"If the arrow stops on the red tower, one thousand years pass for every monster on the field."
The image of the red tower glowed.
"But if it lands on the skull, every monster I control gets lost in a time paradox. And I lose Life Points equal to half the combined ATK of the monsters destroyed this way."
James looked at Baby Dragon.
"So you're putting your own monster at risk?"
Satsuki shrugged.
"That's the gamble."
The roulette began to spin.
A deafening ticking echoed through the arena. The arrow raced around the clock, passing the skull, the red tower, and every mark between them.
Slowly, it began to lose momentum.
James watched with growing anticipation.
"Come on… Stop on the red tower!"
The arrow passed the skull.
It approached the red tower.
For one glorious instant, it seemed certain that Satsuki had won the gamble.
Then—
CLICK!
The arrow moved one final time.
It stopped on the skull.
James immediately grinned.
"You lost!"
Dark energy erupted around Baby Dragon. Its small body began flickering, as though it were being pulled apart by an invisible force.
"Your Baby Dragon is going to disappear into a time paradox! And you'll have to pay the price!"
But Satsuki didn't panic.
Instead, he reached into his hand.
"Not so fast."
He revealed another card.
"I activate my Quick-Play Spell!"
The card flashed brilliantly.
"TIME MANIPULATION!"
James's expression changed.
"Another Spell?!"
Satsuki held the card high enough for his opponent to see it clearly.
"Time Manipulation has a special effect. When a Time Wizard effect results in a time paradox, I can activate this card to negate that effect!"
The darkness surrounding Baby Dragon suddenly froze.
"So the time paradox is negated," Satsuki continued. "My monsters won't be lost, and I won't suffer the Life Point penalty."
The dark energy shattered into countless fragments.
Baby Dragon was safe.
But Satsuki wasn't finished.
"And there's a second part to this effect. If I control Baby Dragon, I can Special Summon Thousand Dragon!"
James's eyes widened.
"Thousand Dragon?!"
Satsuki pointed toward Baby Dragon.
"Now, let's see what happens when a thousand years pass!"
A tremendous flash of golden light engulfed Baby Dragon.
The tiny dragon began to grow.
Its body stretched and expanded, its scales becoming harder and more imposing. Its wings spread wider, while its claws and horns grew into the formidable features of an ancient creature.
The air itself seemed to tremble beneath its transformation.
A deep, thunderous roar erupted from the light.
"SPECIAL SUMMON! THOUSAND DRAGON!"
THOUSAND DRAGON — 2400 ATK
The golden light dispersed.
A colossal dragon now occupied Satsuki's field. Its enormous wings cast a shadow across the arena, and its piercing eyes glowed with the power of a thousand years.
James could only stare.
"Baby Dragon… became that?"
Satsuki smiled.
"Time has a funny way of changing things."
Then he raised his hand toward James's side of the field.
"And now, Time Manipulation's other effect takes place. When Thousand Dragon is Special Summoned this way, every monster you control has its ATK reduced to zero!"
A temporal shockwave swept across the arena.
James's monster, Shinato, King of a Higher Plane, stood beneath its enormous golden wings.
The Ritual Monster's divine aura began to flicker.
Its magnificent armor dimmed. Its wings trembled, and the energy that had once made it such a terrifying opponent began to disappear.
Shinato, King of a Higher Plane: 3300 ATK → 0 ATK.
James looked horrified.
"What?! You reduced Shinato's ATK to zero?!"
Satsuki pointed toward the helpless Ritual Monster.
"That's right. Your mighty Shinato has just become a sitting duck."
James clenched his teeth.
He had spent several turns preparing for this moment. He had searched for the Ritual Monster, gathered the necessary cards, and finally brought forth a monster with 3300 ATK.
Yet Satsuki had dismantled all of that with a single combination.
And now, Thousand Dragon was staring down Shinato.
Satsuki extended his arm.
"Thousand Dragon! Attack Shinato!"
The ancient dragon threw its enormous head backward.
Its jaws opened wide, and a tremendous concentration of fiery energy began gathering within its mouth. The surrounding air warped from the heat. Even the ground beneath its claws seemed to tremble.
James stood frozen.
"Wait—!"
Satsuki's voice rang across the arena.
"THOUSAND-YEAR INFERNO!"
Thousand Dragon unleashed its attack.
A colossal torrent of flames swept across the field, engulfing Shinato in an explosion of fire and light.
The golden wings of the Ritual Monster briefly appeared through the flames, desperately resisting the assault.
But its power was gone.
The divine light shattered.
Shinato's figure dissolved into countless golden fragments, which scattered across the battlefield before disappearing completely.
SHINATO, KING OF A HIGHER PLANE — DESTROYED!
The impact struck James.
He staggered backward as the damage registered.
James: 3300 LP → 900 LP.
For several seconds, the arena remained silent.
James stared at the empty space where Shinato had stood.
His strongest monster had been destroyed.
Not by an even stronger Ritual Monster, nor by some elaborate combination of cards, but by a dragon that had begun the duel as a small, seemingly insignificant creature.
Satsuki lowered his arm, his smirk never leaving his face.
"Looks like a thousand years really does make a difference."
James clenched his fists.
He had 900 Life Points remaining.
And Satsuki had just brought an ancient dragon onto the field.
Turn 8 — James
James drew his card.
For a moment, he studied it. Then, much to Satsuki's surprise, a smile appeared on his face.
"What's so funny?" Satsuki asked.
James raised his hand.
"I'm not finished yet."
He placed a card onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate Monster Reborn!"
A familiar symbol appeared above the field, and a beam of light descended onto James's side.
"Come back! Sonic Bird!"
The winged monster emerged from the light, spreading its wings as it returned to the battlefield.
SONIC BIRD — 1400 ATK
Satsuki narrowed his eyes.
"Bringing back your searcher? Is that really going to help you?"
James's smile widened.
"I'm afraid you've misunderstood my intentions."
He raised his hand toward Sonic Bird.
"I tribute Sonic Bird!"
The monster dissolved into a pillar of light, its energy gathering above the arena.
"By tributing it, I can Tribute Summon Choji of the Trillion Hands!"
A new monster appeared on James's field, surrounded by a radiant golden aura.
CHOJI OF THE TRILLION HANDS — 1500 ATK
Satsuki looked at the monster, then back at James.
"Another monster with an effect?"
"Exactly. And because Choji of the Trillion Hands was Tribute Summoned, its effect activates!"
Golden hands appeared around the monster, each reaching toward an enormous spectral deck.
"I'm allowed to add one Ritual Spell and one Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand!"
Two cards emerged from the light.
"First, I add Gandolf, King of Destruction! And with it, its corresponding Ritual Spell…"
James revealed the second card.
"Ritual of Destruction!"
Satsuki's expression became more serious.
"So you're going for another Ritual Summon…"
James held the Ritual Spell above his head.
"That's right! And this time, I'm bringing forth a monster that will wipe your field clean!"
He activated the card.
"Ritual of Destruction!"
A dark ritual circle appeared beneath Choji. Its golden light began to twist, transforming into a sinister vortex.
"To perform this Ritual Summon, I must offer monsters whose combined Levels equal the Level of the Ritual Monster!"
James raised his hand.
"I tribute Choji of the Trillion Hands, Level 6!"
Choji was engulfed in light and disappeared from the field.
"But that's not all! I also tribute the monster in my hand!"
He revealed another card.
"Relinkuriboh! A Level 1 monster!"
A small, round creature appeared briefly within the ritual circle before dissolving into energy.
"The offerings are complete! Now, descend from the depths of destruction and bring ruin to everything before you!"
The ritual circle expanded.
Dark clouds gathered above James's side of the arena, and a tremendous shockwave swept across the battlefield. A colossal figure began emerging from the swirling darkness.
"RITUAL SUMMON! GANDOLF, KING OF DESTRUCTION!"
A towering monster materialized with a thunderous roar.
GANDOLF, KING OF DESTRUCTION — 2500 ATK
James's monster stood proudly on the field, its immense presence casting a shadow over the arena.
But James wasn't finished.
"Since Relinkuriboh was Tributed, its effect activates! I get to draw one card!"
He drew from his Deck, adding the card to his hand.
Satsuki glanced at Gandolf.
"Interesting. So that's your answer to Thousand Dragon?"
James looked directly at him.
"Not just an answer. It's the end of your strategy."
He pointed toward Gandolf.
"Now, I activate Gandolf's effect!"
The monster raised its enormous arms. A sinister energy began gathering around its body.
"Gandolf destroys every monster on the field whose DEF is lower than its own ATK!"
Satsuki's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait…"
James thrust his arm forward.
"KING'S DECREE OF DESTRUCTION!"
A violent wave of dark energy erupted from Gandolf and swept across the entire battlefield.
Thousand Dragon spread its wings, attempting to withstand the incoming force. But the attack was overwhelming. Its enormous body began cracking with dark energy before finally breaking apart into countless fragments.
The ancient dragon had been destroyed.
THOUSAND DRAGON — DESTROYED!
Satsuki stared at the empty space where his monster had stood.
James raised his hand toward Gandolf.
"And that's not all! For every monster destroyed by Gandolf's effect, he gains 100 ATK!"
Dark energy surged into Gandolf's body.
Its power increased.
GANDOLF, KING OF DESTRUCTION — 2500 ATK → 2600 ATK
James grinned.
"Your Thousand Dragon is gone, and my Gandolf has become even stronger!"
Satsuki remained silent.
His entire field had been cleared. The monster that had transformed the course of the duel was now nothing more than a memory.
James pointed toward Satsuki.
"Gandolf! Attack Satsuki directly!"
The King of Destruction raised one enormous arm.
A sphere of dark energy formed above its palm, growing larger with every passing second. The arena trembled beneath the pressure.
"DESTRUCTION BURST!"
Gandolf unleashed its attack.
The enormous blast raced across the battlefield, engulfing Satsuki in a storm of dark energy.
Direct Attack! 2600 damage!
Satsuki: 2400 LP → 0 LP.
The explosion faded.
For a moment, the arena was silent.
James stood with Gandolf towering behind him, while Satsuki's Duel Disk displayed the unmistakable result.
WINNER: JAMES.
James had been pushed to the brink. His Shinato had fallen, his Life Points had been reduced to just 900, and Satsuki's Thousand Dragon had seemed ready to finish the duel.
But James had found another path to victory.
And with one final Ritual Summon, he had turned the entire duel around.