The silver greatsword inlaid with nine gemstones cleaved through the torrent of blood, and the Master Diamond swung his blade toward the red-haired demon whose face was twisted into a mocking grin.
But against this ancient foe, Fabled Leviathan—the lord of the Fabled tribe—merely sneered and spread its arms wide. Wave after wave of blood-red meteors burst forth, forcing back the Master Diamond's assault.
As a Duel Monster Spirit, Leviathan's card effect was far inferior to the Master Diamond's. Even so, in a direct clash of spirit power, with the duelists' ranks being almost equal, Leviathan's 3000 ATK easily overpowered the Master Diamond's 2900 ATK.
Seeing this, White did not hesitate.
"Garnet, Tourmaline, Alexandrite—assist him!"
Three of the gemstones on White's bracelet flared with brilliance. Red, white, and green light coalesced into three Gem-Knights. Flames, stone, and wind surged toward the Master Diamond.
Reinforced by his comrades, the Master Diamond finally withstood Leviathan's blows. Three elemental forces gathered upon his silver blade, merging into a crescent arc of flaming, earthen, and wind-cutting power.
The slash flew straight toward Leviathan.
Seeing this, Leviathan hurriedly spread its wings, attempting to dodge—but the three Gem-Knights had already sealed off its escape.
Boom!!
The elemental strike sent Leviathan flying. Though it shattered the attack a moment later, the demon's mocking smile vanished—replaced only by murderous intent.
Just as Leviathan prepared to strike again, the robed man suddenly called out:
"Return, Leviathan!!"
The blood-haired demon glared at its duelist with killing intent, but after a tense moment, it withdrew to his side.
The Master Diamond and the Gem-Knights at once fell back to form a protective line before White and Alicia. White sneered at the robed man.
"What's wrong? Planning to run away?"
"Run? Hah. Don't make me laugh. The ones who should be running… are you. Unfortunately for you, it's already too late."
As his words fell, a black barrier spread outward. Four tiny demons—green, yellow, red, and black—appeared, each with oversized heads and tiny bodies.
White's expression darkened instantly.
"Alicia! Break through—now!!"
The three Gem-Knights before him struck behind Alicia, creating an opening before the barrier could fully manifest.
Yuui didn't hesitate. Blue wind wrapped around his body, Stratos's power, and he dashed toward the gap.
"You think you can run? Did you ask me first?" the robed man sneered. "Stop her—Valkyrus!!"
A black shadow lunged from the ground, razor claws aimed straight at Alicia's chest.
"Absolutely not!!" White roared.
The remaining four gemstones on his bracelet flared at once.
Amber, Topaz, Amethyst, Lazuli—the other four Gem-Knights materialized, unleashing a force of pure magical pressure that formed a barrier, blocking the hidden Fabled from striking.
At that moment, Yuui burst through the gap. The shadowy barrier snapped shut, trapping only White and the robed man inside.
White's Duel Bracelet flashed gold, a golden Duel Disk unfolding across his arm.
"Your plan is finished. Now—I end this myself."
The robed man chuckled.
"You really don't understand. Who told you I'm the only one sent to kill the girl?"
"What!?"
White felt his mind explode. The robed man removed his mask, revealing the most unremarkable face imaginable—save for the mocking grin twisting it.
"Relax. My partner will escort that little girl's soul straight to the underworld soon enough. As for you, I'll be sending you down personally. Come now—Shadow Duel, begin!!"
"Chaos! Duel!!"
"Duel!!"
Outside the Shadow Barrier, Yuui had barely taken a breath before a jolt of danger seared through his soul.
A bolt of crackling black lightning streaked toward him.
"Neos!!"
Light burst forth as Neos appeared, arms crossed to guard Yuui.
BOOM!!!
"Alicia!!"
The explosion hurled Alicia's body backward—but Yuui swiftly summoned Stratos to catch her. He looked toward the source of the attack.
Under the moonlight, a towering figure radiated black-gold light. Its massive frame was a fusion of dragon and demon, wreathed in black-violet lightning. With every breath, foul miasma withered the forest around it.
"Alicia… that spirit is—!?"
"Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World!!" Yuui said grimly.
The previous assassin was trapped inside the Shadow Duel. Unless he defeated White, he would never get out.
Which meant—another killer had been lying in wait.
Yuui's instincts flared. He hurriedly ran, Alicia's soul following. She directed Neos, Stratos, and Liquid Soldier to intercept Grapha's lightning.
Albeit Yuui was only a peak Great Magician… while this new assassin wielded the power of a peak Magus.
Stratos and Liquid Soldier managed to block only two blasts before dissipating into motes of light. Neos alone continued fighting—regardless, even he would fall eventually.
"What do we do? Fight? I still haven't recovered… can I win like this?"
As Yuui ran deeper into the forest, he spotted a silhouette ahead.
"Who…?"
He stopped. Alicia, still partially out of sync with him, didn't understand.
Then—a shadow burst from the ground.
It held a bone dagger, its grotesque chest-face grinning hideously as it lunged toward Alicia's back.
A flash of crimson and black.
A single black blade carved through both dagger and spirit, severing them with explosive force.
"Diabellstar!!? Then that means…"
Alicia turned toward the figure controlling the spirit. Under the moonlight, a black-haired girl stood at the edge of the forest, mask gone, black robe flowing.
Her eyes were cold—deathly cold.
"You… saved us?" Yuui asked.
At that voice—Alicia's voice—Alice's expression flickered.
"Don't misunderstand. I just don't intend to let the Prince's Faction achieve their goal. And as for you, old fossil… I've always wished you'd hurry up and die!"
...
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