Hearing Akiyama's words, almost everyone thought they'd misheard.
What had he just said? That the new champion claimed to be a Shadow Duelist and was declaring war on them?
Don't be ridiculous—Shadow Duelists were like rats hiding in the sewers, afraid to appear in the sunlight. How could they possibly enter the Duelist League? Even if they were Shadow Duelists, the League would have noticed—they wouldn't even qualify to register.
The audience laughed, praising Akiyama's sense of humor for making such a joke on the podium.
Viviana was smiling too, clearly not taking him seriously. She'd seen real Shadow Duelists before—Akiyama was nothing like them.
"Morgan, isn't he funny? Saying he's a Shadow Duelist."
Morgan covered her arm, expressionless. "Funny? I think he's serious."
"Huh?"
Viviana froze. Morgan wasn't joking—she'd fought Shadow Duelists before and knew the signs. Her gaze toward Akiyama grew tense.
Shadow Duelists had infiltrated the League and even become its champions.
Milo's face was grim. Unlike the crowd, he already knew the three on stage were Shadow Duelists, and he was on high alert. Whatever they were planning, revealing themselves now meant their goal was already achieved.
A chill ran down his spine—he suddenly realized something. Losing to a Shadow Duelist meant being dragged into the darkness. So why was he fine now?
On stage, Akiyama laughed along with the crowd, drawing an eye roll from Hannah. The woman host chuckled politely. "Akiyama, you're quite the joker, making jokes like that."
But Akiyama's smile vanished. "Who said I was joking?"
The host blinked, confused.
"How ridiculous. Once, even walking through a damp alley would have you called a Shadow Duelist. Now I stand in the sun, in front of thousands, and no one believes it. Hannah, are these people idiots?"
He got another eye roll in response.
Unbothered, Akiyama went on. "Since you still don't believe me, let me show you proof!"
The tattoos on his bald head glowed black, and the black mist of a Shadow Game spread from his feet like a bottomless swamp, swallowing the ground. The crowd had no choice but to believe—their new "king" was a Shadow Duelist.
Viviana gasped, covering her mouth. She'd actually been cheering for a Shadow Duelist.
Panic erupted in the stands—people shoved and cursed, scrambling to escape. Hannah frowned; Akiyama reveled in it.
The host tried to flee but was trapped in high heels and the encroaching mist. She gave up and faced him. "You really are Shadow Duelists? Why join the League? What's your goal?"
Akiyama tossed the trophy aside. "I told you—we're here to declare war. And we joined the League to recruit allies."
"Allies? No duelist in the League would join you!"
Akiyama lifted her chin. "Forgot already? Anyone who loses to us becomes our ally."
Remembering they'd beaten almost every club, her face went pale.
Akiyama spread his arms. "Now, everyone here will witness a turning point in history! From this moment, the world will enter the Shadow Duelists' era! All losers will be converted—you should be honored to join us! Let's welcome the new age!"
He pressed a communicator, the signal for the Gravedigger to activate the conversion array.
But seconds passed, and nothing happened. The sky stayed blue. The sun still shone. No darkness. No crushing pressure. No massive magic array.
"What's going on? Is the communicator broken?"
Hannah hurled a boot at him. All that buildup, and he fumbled at the climax… she wanted to sink through the floor.
The crowd stared. Was he bluffing all along?
Morgan clapped her hands, realizing—the strange array was for converting losers into Shadow Duelists. However, outside the arena, there was no one left to respond. They'd all become her Duel Points.
Akiyama's expression hardened. "Big problem. The Gravedigger's been taken out… the array can't be activated."
Hannah's face changed instantly. "Impossible! Who could do that?"
Even with more than ten Shadow Duelists present, none could match the Gravedigger's strength.
The only one who could was the long-vanished Duel King.
Akiyama had no answer.
"What about the plan?"
"New orders… abort. Retreat now. Escape routes are set. The boss will handle the rest."
"What? After all this?" Hannah protested. She hadn't spoken to Milo yet—if she left now, who knew when they'd meet again?
Akiyama smirked. "Stay if you want. Without the array, you'll be facing every club duelist and League enforcer alone. Think you can beat them all? Or maybe you think Haisen Club's captain will side with you?"
Hannah's cheeks burned red. She pulled off her last boot, ready to smash him with it, but Zelo stopped her.
"Enough. The boss lost a major plan… we can't afford more losses."
Hannah reluctantly agreed.
Akiyama took the host's hand. "Too bad, beautiful—we're leaving. Next time, can I take you on a date?"
The host was stunned. A moment ago, they'd been full of menace; now they were fleeing?
Uniformed League enforcers flooded the tunnels, armed with specialized Decks.
Zelo grabbed Akiyama. "Quit flirting—we're leaving!"
Black mist surrounded the three, and they vanished.
Milo stared—just before disappearing, Hannah had looked at him. She still remembered him, even without her memories.
Hope surged in his chest.
He moved to give chase, but Everett and Caleb stopped him.
"Where are you going, Captain?"
"To chase the Shadow Duelists, of course!"
"Do you know where they went?" Caleb asked.
Milo froze. They'd left their D-Wheels behind… where could he even start looking?
League enforcers surrounded the arena, evacuating the crowd. Morgan and Viviana left with them.
Thus ended the Duelist League—starting strangely, ending absurdly. The news was everywhere, shaming the League.
Hale, the Minister of Internal Affairs, resigned, taking all the blame.
The League tried to divert attention by heavily promoting the Junior Division finals. Morgan's name spread further, and the Junior Division became the hottest event.
…
"I never thought I'd watch the Junior Division finals at the main arena," someone said.
"If not for the Shadow Duelists, the League wouldn't be hyping it."
"Then I should thank them… especially that girl. I'd happily lose to her."
"I want to be her D-Wheel."
At the packed main arena, Jade and Isla came to cheer for Morgan. Nerissa from Team Predator was there too, drawing stares.
Milo also came—interested in Morgan and with nothing else to do.
The duel was about to start. Morgan wore a black shirt and pleated skirt, her hair in a ponytail. Her opponent, Orion of the Bai Group's White Night Club, wore a white suit and looked arrogantly confident.
The host's voice boomed. "This is the most anticipated finals ever! You all know the witch, Morgan! Her opponent is Orion, rising star of the White Night Club, wielding the powerful Blue-Eyes Deck with few losses to his name! What sparks will fly? Let's find out!"
Most of the crowd backed Orion—such was the Blue-Eyes Deck's fearsome reputation. If the club entrusted it to him, his skill was unquestionable.
They wondered what Deck Morgan would bring—Eldlich? Dinomorphia?
The opening cannon fired, and the giant screen showed the coin flip. Orion would take the first turn.
Instead of drawing, he raised his arm and pointed skyward, ready to deliver his signature intro.
Morgan, seeing the gesture for the first time, pictured something and blurted:
"A kids' meal!"
Orion: "…"
Audience: "…"
...
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