Arthur turned sharply at the sound of rapid footsteps echoing across the battlefield. A silhouette approached through the dust—short, broad-shouldered, moving with quiet authority. As he stepped into the light, Arthur saw a middle-aged Japanese man with intense, intelligent eyes and a red bandana tied tightly around his forehead. His face bore the marks of experience—wrinkles carved by time and wisdom—and his long dark coat flared dramatically behind him with each purposeful stride.
Despite his small stature, the man's presence was commanding, the kind that silenced crowds without a word. He stood next to Arthur, examining the dueling field with a look of grim understanding.
"Looks like you could use a little help," he said, his voice calm and measured, carrying the weight of someone who had seen many battles. "I'll be happy to assist."
The Duelist Exterminator's smirk twitched, faltering for the first time during the entire duel. Recognition flashed across his face, quickly replaced by disbelief and disdain.
"Well, well," the Exterminator hissed, his lips curling into a sneer. "Isn't this my lucky day? The Japan Champion Duelist... Solomon Muto."
Arthur's eyes widened in astonishment. Solomon Muto? The man who once beat legends?
Without another word, Solomon stepped forward and activated his duel disk with a confident snap. The red glow of the disk reflected in his eyes.
"This ends now," he said, unwavering.
With a fluid, practiced motion, Solomon drew his card. "I'll take my turn. I normal summon Dark Magician Girl in attack mode."
A gust of magical wind swirled as the elegant spellcaster emerged, her staff twirling as she landed with a smirk, her 2000 attack points hovering in the air beside her.
"I activate my spell card, Sage's Stone. Since I control Dark Magician Girl, this allows me to special summon Dark Magician from my hand or deck."
Energy pulsed across the field. A flash of purple light erupted, and the legendary Dark Magician appeared beside his apprentice. His cape billowed, and his staff crackled with focused arcane might.
Arthur's heart surged with hope. Two of the most iconic monsters in Duel Monsters history now stood on his side. "Unbelievable," he whispered. "I might just survive this."
"Dark Magician, attack Amphibian Beast!" Solomon commanded, pointing forward.
The magician spun his staff and launched a bolt of energy with a shout. The arcane blast howled toward its target.
"Not so fast," the Duelist Exterminator interrupted, flipping his trap card. "I activate Magic Cylinder! Your attack is negated, and instead, the damage is dealt directly to you."
Solomon's eyes narrowed just as the energy rebounded. A blast of magical force struck him squarely, forcing him to take a step back. His life points dropped to 1500.
Solomon exhaled sharply, sweat dotting his brow, but his stance remained firm. "Not enough to stop me."
The Exterminator smiled. "During your second main phase, I activate my trap card Ring of Destruction, targeting Dark Magician Girl. We both take damage equal to her original attack."
A fiery ring encircled the spellcaster, glowing brighter before erupting. The explosion rocked the arena, sending smoke and debris flying.
Arthur shielded his face with his arm. As the dust cleared, he saw Solomon staggering, his duel disk sparking.
Their life points fell—Solomon to zero, the Exterminator to 1500.
"No!" Arthur cried as Solomon collapsed, falling to one knee, the duel disk deactivating in a flicker of red light.
He gave everything he had... just to buy me one more turn.
Arthur's stomach turned. If Solomon hadn't arrived when he did, the Exterminator would have destroyed him. His Blue-Eyes was gone. His plan with Shadow Ghoul obliterated. Without that brief alliance, without that one coordinated strike, he would have died right there.
Arthur dropped to his knees beside Solomon, heart pounding. "Are you okay?" he asked, placing a trembling hand on his shoulder.
Solomon's eyes opened slowly. He winced but managed a half-smile. "Just... winded. Don't let him get away with this."
Arthur's expression hardened. He stood slowly, every movement deliberate, his eyes fixed on the Duelist Exterminator with burning fury.
The Exterminator chuckled. "One down. One to go."
Arthur activated his duel disk, the energy blade snapping to life with a crackle. "I'm not letting you walk away from this."
He drew a card, holding it tightly in his hand. Millennium Shield still had a role to play.
"I activate Shield & Sword! All monsters on the field swap their attack and defense points!"
The field shimmered as the stats changed. Millennium Shield's defense became its new attack—3000 points.
[Cyber-Tech Alligator – ATK 2500 / DEF 1600] → [ATK 1600 / DEF 2500]
"I switch Millennium Shield to attack mode. Attack Cyber-Tech Alligator!"
The golden shield barreled forward, striking the mechanical beast head-on. The gator exploded into a thousand data fragments. The Exterminator's life points dropped to 100.
His eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. "You'll regret that."
Arthur was already in motion.
"Main Phase Two. I summon Cannon Soldier in attack mode."
The machine rolled forward, its cannon rising.
"I activate its effect. I tribute Millennium Shield to inflict 500 damage directly to you."
The shield vanished into light, and a blast erupted from the cannon.
"No—!" the Duelist Exterminator shouted, stumbling back.
His life points fell to zero.
Arthur stood tall, breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell as adrenaline surged through him.
Before he could say another word, the Exterminator turned and bolted. His coat flared behind him as he disappeared into the alleyways beyond the field.
"Coward!" Arthur called after him, taking a step forward—but stopped.
Behind him, Solomon lay still.
Arthur turned and rushed back, kneeling once more. Solomon was breathing, but just barely.
"Hang on," Arthur said. "I've got you."
In the distance, red and blue lights flashed. Arthur stood and ran toward the road, flagging down an approaching ambulance.
The paramedics rushed over, lifting Solomon gently onto a stretcher. Arthur walked beside them.
As they neared the ambulance, he reached into his jacket and pulled out his most treasured card—Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
He tucked it gently into Solomon's coat pocket, alongside a folded note.
"I hope you make it," Arthur said softly. "We'll celebrate with drinks when you survive."
As the paramedics began to close the doors, Solomon stirred.
His hand reached out, fingers weakly grasping Arthur's wrist. He pushed the card back into Arthur's hand.
"No," Solomon whispered, his voice cracked but sincere. "That's a gift. You earned it."
Arthur's throat tightened.
He nodded slowly, watching as the ambulance rolled away, disappearing into the horizon.
The sunset bathed the empty field in a deep orange glow.
Arthur remained standing in silence, the card clutched in his hand. His eyes never left the road.
A man just risked his life for me, he thought. And I only survived because he chose to intervene.
His grip on the card tightened. A mix of guilt, gratitude, and rising determination surged in his chest.
(Back to Present Day)
"That's the story of how I met my best friend, Solomon Muto," Arthur concluded, his voice soft and heavy with nostalgia. His eyes glimmered faintly as distant memories played behind them. The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile, fond and weathered. "Take it as a lesson that, no matter how skilled you are, there will always be someone out there who can beat you in a duel."
Rebecca leaned back into her seat, her arms folded loosely across her lap, her brow furrowed in quiet thought. Her eyes remained locked on her grandfather, wide with admiration and a new sense of humility. The confidence she usually wore like armor had cracked just enough to let reflection seep through.
"I... I never thought about it like that," she murmured, her voice more subdued than usual. "Even the strongest can fall... if they face someone more prepared."
Arthur watched her carefully, pleased to see the realization dawn behind her eyes. It wasn't often Rebecca paused to reflect. Her usual brashness gave way now to something more grounded.
"Thank you for sharing your story, Grandfather," she said, sitting up straighter. Her tone was respectful, her expression serious. "I'll remember your words and use them to grow as a duelist."
Arthur nodded, his face softening with pride. "That's why you need friends to cover your back," he added, resting his hand on the steering wheel, eyes briefly flicking toward the road ahead. "They help you overcome your weaknesses. They shield you when you can't do it yourself."
Rebecca's blue eyes brightened with a newfound clarity. "You're right," she said firmly. "I need to start building a strong network of friends and allies. People who can challenge me, support me, and help me grow—not just cheer when I win."
Arthur smiled. "Spoken like a true duelist."
As their car slowed to a stop in front of the school, Arthur's gaze shifted to the building entrance. The door opened, and Connor stepped out slowly, his posture slumped, his eyes downcast. His blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and his backpack hung off one shoulder. The boy's usually vibrant blue eyes were dull, almost glassy.
Arthur frowned, concern immediately knitting his brows. He didn't have to ask—he could see it in the way Connor carried himself.
Rebecca, catching the same shift, leaned forward in her seat, watching as Connor opened the car door and slipped inside.
"Hey, Connor," she said gently, her voice soft with genuine concern. Her usual teasing tone was absent. "Are you alright? You seem like you've had a tough day."
Connor didn't answer right away. He stared out the window, lips pressed into a thin line, shoulders tight. Finally, he gave a quiet reply.
"It's been rough," he muttered. His voice was hoarse, almost broken. "I just need some time alone, that's all."
Rebecca's expression fell slightly. She nodded, understanding, and rested her hands on her lap.
"I get it," she said quietly. "But... when you're ready, I'm here. Okay?"
Connor offered a small nod, never taking his eyes off the passing scenery.
The car resumed its slow journey, the interior now heavy with silence. Not hostile, but dense—thick with unspoken emotion.
Arthur's knuckles tightened around the steering wheel. He glanced at Rebecca through the rearview mirror. She had a worried crease between her eyebrows, her eyes flicking occasionally toward Connor.
She gave him a small, reassuring smile. A subtle gesture—but it spoke volumes.
Arthur caught her eyes in the mirror and gave her a faint nod, a silent thank-you for her empathy. Rebecca had always been fierce, competitive, and sometimes selfish, but in moments like this, he saw the kindness and maturity he knew she carried within.
Connor didn't respond, but a soft exhale escaped him. Arthur noticed the tension in his shoulders ease ever so slightly. Maybe that simple act of kindness had reached him.
The car rolled onward through the quiet streets, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. As the shadows lengthened, Arthur felt a mix of pride and sorrow. Today's lesson had been painful—but maybe it was the kind of pain that helped someone grow.
He only hoped both Rebecca and Connor would find their strength in time.
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