"Sothing good has been wasted on soone who doesn't deserve it."
"Sothing beautiful is stuck in an awful place."
"Soone is bragging..."
Carrying a dish to the table, Jonouchi glanced at Hoshino, who had been muttering with a sour expression for so ti. "Hey, Hoshino, what are you grumbling about? If you're hungry, just start eating already."
At the table, Musashi's skill with chopsticks rivaled her swordsmanship. Even though it wasn't dual-wielding, chopsticks were still two sticks, so her dexterity was impressive. "This is so good, Master! It's no less delicious than what Miss Tamamo makes!"
"So Duel Monsters really can eat food, huh? Today's been full of surprises," Jonouchi remarked, staring in disbelief at Musashi, who was shalessly enjoying the al.
"Whether it's Duel Monsters or Heroic Spirits, food that's both delicious and filling is a gift from heaven," Musashi replied earnestly, her face glowing with happiness.
Sitting beside her, Mai spoke softly, "Chiyuki-chan, don't be shy. Think about what kind of relationship we have~" Since Hoshino was technically younger, Mai instinctively added the "chan" suffix to her na.
Ten years seed to have left little mark on Mai. If there was any change, it was the softening of her once fiery sensuality into a gentle elegance.
Sigh. Hoshino sighed quietly, gradually coming to terms with the reality of Mai being with Jonouchi. After all, if Mai could accept sothing as absurd as her traveling into the future, what right did Hoshino have to interfere with their happiness?
So sour… another lemon to eat.
With the last dish brought to the table, Shizuka took her seat as well. "Hoshino, you've really had it tough, huh? Traveling all the way to the future, only to get caught up in a Duel Monster rampage."
Why does it sound like she's saying I ca here for a vacation…
"By the way, Jonouchi, since Chiyuki-chan is heading to the academy tomorrow, why don't you go with her? The Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon is defeated, so the leftover minor monsters shouldn't cause too much trouble," Mai suggested.
Jonouchi nodded, understanding her concern. "I was planning on it. Even with Musashi protecting her, letting two girls travel alone in tis like these is too dangerous."
Now, in their eyes, Hoshino seed no different from a teenage runaway—soone who needed protection.
"Let's not talk about such serious topics while eating. Hoshino must be hungry," Shizuka said warmly.
Hearing her stomach growl—perhaps the lemons had only increased her hunger—Hoshino relented. "A soldier with an empty stomach can't fight. Let's deal with the troubleso stuff after we eat!"
Clasping her hands together, Hoshino picked up her chopsticks. "Alright, ti to dig in—"
BOOM!
An untily explosion, accompanied by a dragon's roar, interrupted Hoshino just as her chopsticks were about to reach her first bite.
Jonouchi, Mai, Musashi, and Shizuka imdiately stood and turned toward the window.
"This can't be..." Unlike the others, who reacted instantly, Hoshino hesitated, debating whether to continue eating. If she didn't eat now, she might not get another chance.
"Just one bite—let have just one bite!" The piece of fried chicken in front of her looked too tempting, holding its own against the weight of impending danger. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have worried about table manners earlier when Jonouchi told her to eat.
Sensing murderous intent, Musashi grabbed Hoshino's hand just as the chicken was about to reach her mouth. "Master, what are you doing? The enemy is already attacking! This is no ti for eating!"
Musashi, you traitor! After drinking and eating your fill, now you abandon your master?
Outside the house, darkness engulfed the street. A pitch-black dragon rged with the night, its crimson eyes gleaming like ominous stars in the sky.
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon?! How is this possible?!" Jonouchi exclaid as he stepped outside.
"Hahaha! Katsuya Jonouchi! One of the world's top five duelists, as recognized by Duel Monsters' creator, Pegasus J. Crawford—yet this is the extent of your perception? How disappointing!"
A wild, arrogant laugh echoed as a man stepped out from the shadows beside the dragon. "Take a closer look at your precious Red-Eyes Black Dragon. It now belongs to !"
"My Red-Eyes?! Stolen?!" Jonouchi gasped, pulling out the card only to see the image of his once-proud monster fade away, leaving behind a pitch-black void.
"Damn it, when did this happen… Could it be?!" Jonouchi's eyes widened as he recalled the mont his Red-Eyes had been destroyed by the Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"By defeating others' monsters, you can steal them and make the once-virtual Duel Monsters materialize for destruction… So, you must be the mastermind behind all this chaos."
With deliberate, forceful steps, a masked man erged from the darkness. "Jonouchi, an undeniable force in Duel Monster history. To achieve the great goal of erasing Duel Monsters from existence, I, Byakuya, must make you disappear tonight!"
The man, Byakuya, extended his arm, revealing a strange black duel disk unlike the ones Hoshino and Jonouchi used.
"Wait, did he just say Jonouchi is one of the world's top five duelists?! When did that happen?" Hoshino's expression was one of utter disbelief as her image of "Rookie Jonouchi" crumbled.
"Oh? A woman not in the records. Why is she with Jonouchi?" Byakuya noticed Hoshino, montarily surprised.
"But since she isn't in the records, she must be an insignificant weakling—not even worth eliminating."
Jonouchi activated his duel disk without hesitation. "A duel? I'm ga. Let show you what happens when you challenge Jonouchi the Great!"
Mai looked concerned. "Jonouchi, without your Red-Eyes Black Dragon, can you even—"
"Don't worry, Mai!" Jonouchi interrupted, his eyes burning with determination. "In front of my friends, my sister, and the woman I love, how could I, Katsuya Jonouchi, retreat over sothing so trivial?!"
"That's a nice speech, but..." Hoshino suddenly interjected, strapping on a duel disk she had sohow acquired.
"But stealing soone else's ace monster and then picking a fight? Isn't that a bit shaful for a mastermind?"
"Wait, is that my duel disk?!" Mai asked in confusion. "When did you get that?"
"I had Musashi grab it just now. Anyway, I'll return it later, Mai~"
Standing beside Jonouchi, Hoshino spread her duel disk wide. "Let this so-called insignificant weakling join the fray too. What do you say?"
"Hahaha, it doesn't matter how many weaklings join forces! In the face of the absolute power bestowed upon by Lord Paradox, you outdated duelists stand no chance!"
The masked man, Byakuya, didn't seem fazed by Hoshino's sudden intervention. Instead, his arrogance only grew.
Jonouchi frowned, staying on alert. "Paradox? So, you're not the mastermind behind the monster rampage?"
Hoshino furrowed her brow as well. "Outdated duelists..."
Byakuya's words struck a chord, stirring a mory in Hoshino's mind—the humans she had seen passing by during her journey through the tunnel.
"Could it be… this guy ca from the future?"
After an entire day of chaos, Hoshino felt her brain nearing its limit. The tangled web of causes and effects occasionally revealed faint threads of clarity, teasing her curiosity.
Raising his uniquely designed Duel Disk, Byakuya sneered. "Those about to die have no need for further knowledge. Let's begin the duel!"
Jonouchi grinned, brimming with confidence. "Fine by !"
Hoshino nodded. "Let's settle this with a duel!"
[Byakuya vs. Jonouchi & Hoshino]
[Duel Start!]
"I'll go first. Draw!" Jonouchi swiftly drew a card and slapped a monster card onto his Duel Disk.
"I summon [The Black Stone of Legend] in Attack Position!"
[The Black Stone of Legend ★ (Level 1)][DARK][Dragon/Effect][ATK 0/DEF 0]
A black gem materialized on Jonouchi's field, its crimson glow strikingly vivid in the dimly lit street.
Despite its ominous appearance, the monster's combat power was non-existent.
Hoshino couldn't help but marvel. "Summoning a monster with 0 attack points in Attack Position... Jonouchi, your dueling style has gotten a lot bolder!"
She recalled their first tag duel against Kaiba, where Jonouchi had been mocked for summoning a 1500-ATK monster in Attack Position during his opening move.
Jonouchi smirked confidently. "Heh, I'm not the sa guy I was back then. Watch carefully, Hoshino, and witness the true power of my deck! I activate [The Black Stone of Legend]'s special effect!"
[You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 Level 7 or lower "Red-Eyes" monster from your Deck.]
The black gem began to crack, releasing crimson waves of energy from its core.
"A Level 7 or lower Red-Eyes monster?" Hoshino tilted her head, intrigued. "But your Red-Eyes Black Dragon was stolen, wasn't it?"
"You think that's my only ace?" Jonouchi grinned and confidently slapped a card onto his Duel Disk.
"I Special Summon from my Deck [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon]!"
From the swirling crimson energy erged a black dragon, its icy aura chilling the air. It briefly vanished into the shadows before reappearing in its full, nacing form.
[Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon ★★★★★★★ (Level 7)][DARK][Zombie/Effect][ATK 2400/DEF 2000]
Despite the dragon's terrifying presence, Hoshino's excitent bubbled over. "That's amazing! Summoning such a powerful monster in just one turn—you've really improved!"
"The battle's just begun, Hoshino. Don't get too comfortable just yet." Jonouchi's calm, determined deanor exuded the confidence of a top-tier duelist. For a fleeting mont, Hoshino was tempted to believe the claim that he was one of the "world's top five duelists."
"I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
[Jonouchi's Hand: 3 Cards | Set Cards: 2]
"Hmph. Done with your little show? Then it's my turn. Draw!" Byakuya remained unbothered by the chilling presence of Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon. Activating a hidden chanism on his Duel Disk, he sneered.
"Now, it's ti to unveil the arena I've prepared for you. Don't think you'll walk away unscathed! I activate the Field Spell [Malefic World]!"
The surroundings twisted and distorted, transforming into a surreal, chaotic realm of swirling colors.
As the spell took effect, Hoshino felt a wave of unease wash over her. "This isn't quite like a Shadow Ga, but… this space definitely harms the soul."
Byakuya shot her a sinister grin. "Impressive. For a no-na duelist, you're surprisingly perceptive. That's right—anyone who loses in Malefic World will be erased from existence entirely."
Jonouchi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Erased from existence? You an—?"
"Your very being will vanish. No one will rember you ever existed. Only by erasing you so completely can we purge Duel Monsters from history!"
Hoshino narrowed her eyes, her tone sharp. "Why do you hate Duel Monsters so much? You're playing the ga yourself—doesn't that make you a hypocrite?"
"Enough talk! Prepare for judgnt! I activate the effect of [Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon] from my hand!"
[Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must first be Special Summoned (from your hand) by banishing 1 "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" from your Deck.]
Byakuya's Duel Disk automatically ejected a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his Deck, banishing it instantly.
"Co forth, the resurrected emperor of Malefic World! I Special Summon [Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon]!"
[Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][LIGHT][Dragon/Effect][ATK 3000/DEF 2500]
The dragon erged, its black-accented wings and head radiating malevolence. It was unmistakably the sa Malefic Blue-Eyes that had wreaked havoc earlier.
Hoshino's curiosity flared. "Wait, aren't all three Blue-Eyes White Dragons supposed to be in Kaiba's hands? How do you have one?"
Jonouchi's jaw dropped. "If you've got a Blue-Eyes, does that an Kaiba lost again?!"
Why did you have to add "again"? Did Kaiba lose another duel?
"Hahaha, who knows~" Byakuya's cryptic response dripped with mockery. "Kaiba, one of the world's top five duelists, is naturally a pri target. Perhaps your ally has already fallen!"
As Malefic Blue-Eyes let out a blood-curdling roar, its gaze locked onto Jonouchi's Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon.
"Follow in your comrade's footsteps, Jonouchi Katsuya! Malefic Blue-Eyes, attack!"
Jonouchi's instincts kicked in. Seeing the incoming attack, one of his face-down cards flipped open.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell [Flash Fusion]!"
(*****)
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