The onlookers were slack-jawed.
What even was that sequence?
Especially here in the Dark Web—everyone knew the Armorer's strength as their station manager. His dueling skill was top-tier for this underground market, and universally respected.
Machina was his signature. Rumor had it that before joining the Dark Web, he'd made a name on the streets using "Machina Force." Later, by chance, he dueled one of the higher-ups and lost, then willingly bent the knee and became a general under the Dark Web's banner.
And that guy just got beaten by some newbie—using the very archetype the Armorer excelled at?
No—more accurately, was that even Machina on the other side? Hard to say.
At first glance, sure, the Deck was Machina. But once "Catapult Turtle" popped out, the tone swerved off the rails…
Is this how you play Machina?
The fake Machina boss needs four pieces to combine—boasts "ATK surpassing Blue-Eyes Ultimate"—but has no other utility, and can even be picked apart component by component when attacked.
The real Machina boss is Catapult Turtle. If one shot doesn't do it, fire another. Fortress, Megaform—just shells. Go wild enough, it'll even shove itself into the barrel and fire itself.
Jokes aside—he won, didn't he?
Kira strolled over and crouched leisurely in front of the fallen man. The surrounding guards hesitated, torn—intervene? Don't? Neither felt right.
"Had enough?" Kira smiled.
The Armorer: "…"
Do I look like I'm in any position to say no?
"Good." Kira smiled. "Then… let's chat about what we mentioned earlier—correcting your rules."
The Armorer sighed weakly. "That's… not up to me. The entire underworld operates this way. Where there's demand, there's supply. Even if you change this place, other markets will still exist—"
"Don't worry about that," Kira shrugged. "If I hadn't run into it, fine. But since I did…"
He gave a small chuckle.
"Consider yourselves unlucky."
The Armorer blinked, then grit his teeth. "Even if I agreed, the Dark Web won't let you go. They'll come for you. You've no idea how deep the organization's roots go. There are duelists far stronger than me—"
"Oh? Even better."
Kira smiled.
Besides, the name they'll be hunting is Revolver. What's that got to do with me?
The Armorer stared, incredulous. How could there be such a madman in this world—afraid of nothing and no one?
And with absurd dueling skill to boot…
"And there's something else. A few questions," Kira added. "It's actually the main reason I came to the Dark Web."
"Ask," the Armorer said helplessly.
"The Shadow Riders," Kira said. "The one behind them—word is he frequents your market too?"
"The master of the Shadow Riders?"
The Armorer blinked, then nodded.
"He does exist. He mostly buys alchemy reagents, apparatus, and the latest developments in alchemical research…"
"All alchemy?" Kira asked.
So Kagemaru hadn't slackened in his pursuit of alchemy in the slightest.
"Yes. Recently he bought a batch of… a batch of…"
Mid-sentence, he seemed to realize he'd said too much and quickly clammed up.
"A batch of what?" Kira asked.
His voice was casual and quiet, but behind the Revolver mask, a weight pressed down.
Fear flickered across the Armorer's face. He hesitated, eyes darting up to meet Kira's—then flinched as if shocked, looked away, and answered despite himself.
"A batch of… living alchemical materials."
He kept his head down, not daring to meet Kira's eyes.
Living materials.
Disgust flashed across Kira's face. The Armorer, even without looking, felt the contempt and icy killing intent.
"We never pry into client details—that's another Dark Web rule," the Armorer murmured. "Sellers sell, buyers buy. We just provide a platform. We didn't abduct anyone…
But from what he purchased, he's likely researching the forbidden branch—'human transmutation.' The secret of immortality that has obsessed alchemists for generations."
"Then this 'master of the Shadow Riders'…" Kira's tone cooled. "How do I find him?"
"That, I don't know…"
Seeing the look on Kira's face, he hurried to add:
"That's a core Dark Web principle too—never dig into what clients don't want known. Many who trade here are big names in the underworld—there might even be old monsters from three thousand years ago. Poking around gets you killed.
It's why the Dark Web endures. But! If you insist on finding him, I do have a suggestion."
"Oh?"
"We don't know the 'master's' whereabouts, but if he's still researching human transmutation, he's likely tied to the 'Star of Alchemy.'"
"What's that?"
"The most renowned forbidden-alchemy research group today—the only one in the underworld still pursuing the immortal alchemy.
Anyone interested in that field wouldn't bypass them.
With your ability and… personal charisma, Leader Revolver, if you say hello to the Star of Alchemy, you might just get connected to the master of the Shadow Riders…"
The Star of Alchemy.
Kira pondered. Another thread leading to a new organization. If they were the authority on human transmutation—what was their relation to Lyman?
In the Shadow Riders arc, Lyman was the apparent boss—the top general under Kagemaru—but in truth, an ally.
He'd sound Lyman out after returning.
"That's all we know," the Armorer said, resigned. "Leader Revolver, so…"
Kira came back to himself. He glanced at the man's pitiful look, then at the enforcers behind him, faces pale with fear, too scared to speak.
He smiled slightly.
For some reason, though there was sunshine in the eyes behind the visor, the Armorer felt a chill.
Like being marked by a demon.
….
When they finally left the underground market and returned to the street, Kurozaki was trembling.
He'd once fancied himself a tough guy. But looking at his new boss now, he felt his own weight wasn't worth a speck of dust.
"L-Leader Revolver… you really did just… take out the whole market."
"Yup." Kira tilted his head. "Something wrong with that?"
"N-no, sir. It's just… he said it's the Dark Web." Kurozaki couldn't help blurting. "Isn't this basically… declaring war on them?"
"Yup."
"But… but then, some heavy hitters will come. Maybe even ones so deeply hidden they never leave their caves…"
"Oh?"
Kira smiled.
"Such a good thing?"