Varian Empire Warship—Supermassive Sky Palace Concord of Bells.
Floating above the royal capital of Livorden, shrouded in thick mist, the Empire's colossal warship rang out melodious chimes as it flew. The bells of death—each toll signaled the approach of war.
At the thirtieth toll, accompanied by thirty taps of Marshal Locke Slint's fingers against the floor, the nuclear warheads of Inferno Tempest were dropped and detonated.
With maximum firepower unleashed at the highest efficiency, the enemy's most critical forces would be annihilated. This was the grand design of the Empire's Marshal.
First, the royal capital was sealed beneath thick fog. Then, the hidden Shadow Duelists served as a threat, forcing the capital into special alert status.
Once the city entered that state, the populace was driven off the streets and compelled to remain indoors, minimizing civilian casualties. However, noble families from across the nation—gathered in Livorden before the year's end to report their duties—were forced into their lavish family manors.
And what awaited them was…
BOOM—!
Before the Inferno Tempest truly exploded, none could have imagined Livorden's royal capital would be subjected to aerial bombardment.
It was nothing less than a declaration of war, breaking a century of peace across the Spirit Continent.
The result was inevitable: two great nations plunged headlong into the flames of conflict.
And yet—should the balance of centuries truly be broken, the aggressor nation would inevitably face condemnation from all other peace-seeking powers.
War brought nothing but hunger, death, exile, and an unending chain of hatred.
Such reckless aggression, even from the Varian Empire, famed for its military might, could never have been so simply agreed upon.
Thus, all of this was understood as the Marshal's unilateral will. He swore the flames would not spread beyond the capital.
Albeit, the only way to guarantee that was to burn Livorden's capital to ash.
The mist barrier sealing the city was prepared precisely for this purpose. No living soul inside could escape until the fire consumed everything.
"This fog will last for a long time. A very, very long time…"
The Marshal's aged, low voice echoed within the palace hall. Locke Slint, who had pursued eternal life for half his years, had paid a price greater than anyone could imagine.
"What… what is happening!?"
Supporting Professor Field toward the manor, Ren's crimson eyes reflected the blazing explosions ahead, brighter even than her pupils.
The noble manor had been blown apart.
Fortunately, due to Professor Field's exhaustion from the Shadow Game, their progress was slowed, sparing them from the first detonation of Inferno Tempest.
Professor Field clenched his teeth. "Ren, forget about me. Save them!"
Even if the noble estates were caught unprepared, within them dwelled Duelists—combatants representing the greatest families.
Battle-hardened intuition might have driven these Duelists to act instinctively, raising defenses in the moment of crisis. If there was even the smallest chance, then rescuing survivors from the flames was a hero's duty.
"I understand, Professor!"
Ren's Spirit Eyes ignited. This was no time to heed rules forbidding Monster Summons outside official Duels.
"Go, Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
The smiling HERO charged into the inferno, its protective bubbles warding off the heat.
"Help me!"
"It hurts!"
"Is anyone there?!"
Encased in his bubbles, Ren plunged into the blaze, confronted with the sight of a real hell.
For that was all war ever birthed: hell on earth.
"This is unforgivable! How could they do this?!"
Sorrow and rage tangled within her chest. Even as Bubbleman fought through the flames to rescue, the cries of agony never ceased.
The fires brought with them collapsing ruins, destruction layered atop destruction.
"I must stop these flames first. HERO, I need greater power!"
Clutching a Fusion card, Ren remembered the summoning Miles had achieved in his Trial Duel with the Legendary Dragons—an Elemental HERO fused by attribute.
"Please, Miles… grant me the courage to save them."
She pressed the card to her brow and prayed. Then, casting Fusion with all her will, her water HERO transformed into an elemental form of absolute frost.
"Freeze these raging fires of destruction! Seal all within ice! Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!"
VWOOOSH–CRACK!
Cloaked in pure white, the Fusion HERO descended. Absolute Zero struck the ground, freezing the inferno and the collapsing ruins in an instant as if stopping time.
"I did it, Miles. I became a HERO who saves others!"
The icy chill brushing Ren's cheeks replaced the fiery torment, dulling the hell before her eyes.
"Extermination must be thorough. If you begin, you must leave no trace!"
Within the palace, Marshal Locke Slint counted the thirty tolls once more.
Disaster followed disaster: the second Inferno Tempest warhead fell. If it struck the already-ruined manor, not a single soul would survive.
"This… can't be…"
Ren's pupils reflected the crimson descent of annihilation. And this time, she stood directly beneath it, unable to flee.
"Enough. You've gone far enough."
From a distant tower, a young man in white robes raised his shining card—Invocation.
"Summoning from the Light! Ride forth! Invoked Mechaba!"
[Invoked Mechaba] Level 9│LIGHT│Machine│2500 ATK / 2100 DEF
The Fusion materials were unseen. A summon complete in a single card, as though it fused powers beyond this dimension.
The radiant chariot charged forth from the youth, carving across the misted sky. It struck the falling Inferno Tempest.
"This one's for you to counter."
Light nullified the nuclear blaze. The warhead vanished, leaving even Locke Slint himself with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
...
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