As the duel ended, the gigantic geoglyph in the sky gradually lost its color.
The fiery corridor encircling the city's midsection slowly receded.
Crow's body swayed.
Although Hikaru ultimately did not use any special power monsters for his attack, Crow's Life Points had been reduced to 1 during the duel using the Earthbound Geoglyph, and he lost the match outright. As a duelist, he naturally had his stamina and life force drained.
As the massive fiery corridor dissipated, his body once again plummeted vertically, like a bird with broken wings.
Just as everyone thought tragedy was about to repeat itself, the colossal vulture flapped its wings.
The ultimate Earthbound Immortal had not successfully completed the geoglyph nor fully revived, but its body would not dissipate so quickly. Thus, supported by the enormous bird god, Crow and Hikaru were carried back to the track.
"Phew."
The audience, concerned for the two, all breathed a sigh of relief.
After Hikaru landed on the track, he stopped his D-Wheel and ran to Crow's side. At this point, Crow was motionless.
He was still wearing his Dark Signer uniform. The good news was that he seemed to still be breathing, but Hikaru couldn't tell how badly he was injured.
"He's not dead," Tierra said from the side. "Or rather, has he been reborn? This human is, in any case, a living being now."
Hikaru finally felt relieved.
Then, he couldn't help but reflect.
As expected of the Earthbound Immortals.
The Earthbound Immortals in the original story could be said to be one of the most generous and "employee-friendly" groups among the many villain factions.
Except for Red Nova, that anomaly, all Earthbound Immortals had one principle: first "pay the salary," then hire.
As long as someone was connected to a Signer, held a grudge against a Signer, and could help them defeat the Crimson Dragon, they would directly revive that person. As long as the Dark Signer didn't go back on their word during the duel, the Earthbound Immortals would absolutely not interfere with whatever the Dark Signer wanted to do.
Moreover, even if the Dark Signer lost, no matter how they lost, this revival would not be revoked. It was essentially a free resurrection, even in the worst-case scenario.
Of course, different Earthbound Immortals also showed varying degrees of consideration.
For example, in the original story, after Carly Nagisa became a Dark Signer and lost to Jack, her Earthbound Immortal even thoughtfully erased her memories from her time as a Dark Signer. In contrast, Kalin did not receive such treatment after the Dark Signer war ended and had spent his time reflecting on everything he'd done during that period.
Of course, for Carly and others, the first situation might actually have been its own form of suffering.
All in all, it seemed that Crow not only revived this time but might have also gained some special power, after all, Wiraqocha Rasca did not abandon Crow to his fate but actively carried them both to the track.
This indicated that, at least for the Earthbound Immortal, this duel had actually been very satisfactory.
Considering the generosity and habits of the Earthbound Immortals, it was even possible that Shinji, who had previously been swallowed by the duel, had also been revived somewhere in a corner of the Commons district.
Just as he was thinking this, Hikaru noticed Trudge driving a two-seater patrol car with a small team from Sector Security, speeding toward them. In the car, Serena was still waving.
He heard Crow faintly stirring, seemingly waking up.
As expected of the man who, in the original story, could withstand an Earthbound Immortal's attack with a mortal body, he was waking up already.
In this world, with the protection of the Earthbound Immortal, he didn't seem to have suffered much pain at all.
On the other side, Trudge approached Hikaru and immediately told him to leave quickly. Hikaru didn't ask why, he nodded, had Serena get in and sit in the back seat, then said, "As for Crow, I'll leave him to you. He should need a bit more time to fully regain consciousness."
"Don't worry," Trudge promised.
His Sector Security subordinates behind him didn't even question Trudge's decision. Having witnessed the duel up close, and as duelists themselves, they now held nothing but admiration and respect for Hikaru and Crow.
Especially since Crow had died right in front of them to save a child, even if he was from the Commons, they couldn't bring themselves to be hostile. And Hikaru winning against what they considered an almost invincible situation was even more extraordinary.
Furthermore, since their captain said so, why would they arrest anyone?
Anyway, they couldn't win a duel against him, so why bother? How much did they get paid a month? Why risk their lives?
Hikaru indeed didn't need to ask Trudge for the reason. Although he didn't know why no Fusion Dimension soldiers had tried to snatch Serena while he and Crow were dueling, at least this way, Trudge didn't seem to need to make a final choice between his job and justice.
Earlier, Hikaru had asked Trudge to continue looking after Serena because he was worried about collateral damage injuring her. At that time, Hikaru had seen the passion in Trudge's eyes, passion he thought had long since died, and he guessed then that if a colleague tried to take Serena, Trudge would definitely not allow it and would stop them.
This situation was good for everyone present.
"The footage of Crow saving those people has been recorded by our patrol cars. The parents of those two children are also anxiously waiting for them to return. By then, Crow might even become a 'hero' praised by some people in the Tops," Trudge said thoughtfully.
"Is that so?" Hikaru nodded.
That might be a great thing. At least Crow's efforts would not be in vain.
He didn't chat long with Trudge, time was very tight. He continued driving rapidly in another direction.
Unconsciously, the sky had once again become overcast. Unlike the giant bird god from before, a terrifying colossus had appeared at one pole of the city. Clearly, Kalin and Yusei's duel had also entered its final stage.
On the other side, Leo Akaba felt a surge of irritation but showed no emotion on his face.
Originally, according to his plan, Hikaru was bound to lose to Crow, as Hikaru normally had no way to bypass the combination of Wiraqocha Rasca and Black-Winged Assault Dragon. So he had wanted his Fusion Dimension soldiers to watch how Hikaru would lose to a duelist from another dimension, how Hikaru, this "traitor of the Fusion Dimension," would fall.
But he never expected that Hikaru would play D/D/D Oracle King d'Arc. What was even more infuriating was that that card was definitely one he had created with his own technology!
His own card becoming a powerful tool for his enemy's student, allowing him to overcome an impossible situation, infuriated him beyond measure.
What angered him even more was that precisely because he had allowed his soldiers to watch the duel, they had missed a prime opportunity to take Serena.
But no matter how angry or dissatisfied he was, he absolutely could not show it now. He must not let his soldiers discover his mistake.
Damn it.
With his hands behind his back, he gazed expressionlessly from below the Elder Council chamber, as if everything was under his control, appearing profound and unfathomable, causing the nobles to gasp and whisper in awe.
Only he knew how enraged he was inside, and how murderous his intent toward Hikaru had become.
He could tolerate it no longer!
He narrowed his eyes, his face as cold as a wax figure, as if he wanted to devour someone alive.
Now, he had completely grasped all of Hikaru's trump cards!
It was time!
He could no longer let Hikaru thwart his plans!
He made his decision, to act personally.
He would deal with Hikaru himself!
...
Stones Plzzz>💎💎✌️