Late at night, carrying Professor Viper's mission from the West Branch, the long-coat man set foot on Duel Academy Island.
His mind replayed Viper's words before departure.
"Remember, Duel Academy is nominally run by Chancellor Sheppard, but in reality it's already the Duel King's domain.
Keep a low profile there. Don't stir up trouble or unnecessary attention. Avoid a direct clash with the Duel King if you can; he isn't our objective, understand?"
The long-coat man clicked his tongue.
To be honest, he was a little dissatisfied with his employer's caution, because personally he really wanted to fight that Duel King.
Rumor had it the Duel King was not only incredibly strong, but had a penchant for collecting the decks of those he defeated. He'd beaten top-tier opponents—from cosmic invaders to resurrected ancient demons, to famed underground elite dark duelists.
And all of them, after losing to him, had their decks taken.
So you can imagine how rich his collection of rare cards must be.
That made the long-coat man even more interested in this legendary king. He felt the king was the same kind of duelist as himself.
Defeat the strong and take rare cards to make oneself stronger—that had always been his way.
It was a pity his employer wouldn't allow him to actively provoke the Duel King. And even if he did win, Viper wouldn't pay extra—because that would violate the commission parameters, i.e., personal action.
So though he didn't fear the Duel King, measured purely in pay, taking on such a fight would be a loss. He wasn't doing it.
"So this is Duel Academy, huh…"
As he landed on the island and moved through the dense forest, he couldn't help muttering.
It didn't match his mental picture.
Instead of the vibrant center of the dueling world he'd imagined, the place felt like a gloomy, isolated island. Thick, shadowy woods blanketed the land. The cold moonlight spilled down, its pallid beams unable to pierce the tightly woven canopy, dappling the ground like ghostly stains. The shifting light patches, swaying in the wind, looked like specters gliding across the earth.
Even a man who fancied himself hardened felt a chill.
A few steps further, he grew irritated to find he seemed to be losing his way.
"Hell with this."
He checked the map in annoyance.
"This should be the right direction…"
By the map, he should've already broken out of the forest—or at least he should be able to see the academy's landmark main building by now.
But where was it?
All around was still just forest, indistinguishable from where he'd first landed. Tree shadows stretched long in the night, weaving into a titanic net, as if determined to imprison any living thing that trespassed into this forbidden place.
He shook off the absurd thought.
If only he could find a student to lead the way…
Just as he thought it, he seemed to spot a figure among the trees.
He moved in at once.
"Hey! Wait up, student—"
The small figure slowly turned around.
He blinked.
A very beautiful girl.
Features so perfect they hardly seemed real, skin pale to the point of bloodless, big eyes, long lashes, but her face was stiff and expressionless—almost like…
Right: like a doll.
The girl stared at him, saying nothing.
"Right, so, uh, miss, I'm… an external… repairman. The academy reported equipment that needs service," he improvised. "But I got lost in the woods and can't find the main building. Could you lead me there?"
The girl remained expressionless, just looking at him.
Just as he started to feel creeped out, the girl slowly nodded.
Then turned to lead the way.
He exhaled in relief.
With a local guide, things were much easier.
He followed behind her through the woods. At first neither spoke, the silence growing strange. As they went on, he noticed the trees seemed to grow more numerous and towering. In tandem, the moonlight filtering through the canopy grew dimmer, until it was almost gone.
The atmosphere curdled into something uncanny. From beyond the woods came the occasional caw like a crow's, making him think of funerals.
He couldn't help asking, "Miss, I'm headed to the main building. You're sure this is the way?"
The girl still didn't reply. But they had come out of the woods; ahead stood an old dormitory building, fenced off and in disrepair.
He frowned.
The academy's abandoned dorm—he'd heard the rumors. Lots of missing students, plenty of ghost stories.
And right in the middle of the yard, there seemed to be… a transparent coffin?
Crystal-like, dreamlike texture, completely see-through.
"Have you heard the forbidden tale of Duel Academy…"
A plaintive girl's voice echoed.
"In the abandoned dorm, there was once a girl who loved dueling."
"But she had no talent. Professors looked down on her, classmates mocked her."
"In the end, she died, and stayed here forever. But she didn't disappear. Her obsession with dueling was so strong it kept drawing lost duelists here."
"In this way… she could duel with them forever, and ever…"
As she spoke, the coffin opened on its own.
The girl inside slowly sat up, her head creaking around.
Then she showed the man a blood-curdling smile.
The long-coat man's eyes widened; he stumbled back two steps.
The one sitting up out of the coffin—was the very same girl who'd led him here!
Right, that girl—
He whirled and looked behind him.
There, the girl now had her hair loose and wild, wearing the exact same expression as the one in the coffin. With a predator's grin, she slowly raised her Duel Disk.
Her airy voice continued:
"Let's duel—"
The long-coat man backed away, every hair standing on end. He'd never seen anything so eerie in his life.
Was this really Duel Academy?
Was it possible the truth, unknown to outsiders, was that the academy had been taken over by ghosts? That this was already the realm of the dead?
But just as the ghost girl, hair disheveled, raised her Duel Disk and moved toward him—
"Kyaa!"
A hand from behind lifted the ghost straight off the ground like a chick.
The girl's feet bicycled in the air twice, then she gave up struggling. Blushing, she looked up. "Master, what are you doing? I'm working…"
"I just got some intel—small mistake. This guy isn't the kind of target you can handle."
Kira set the tousle-haired Alice aside and smiled lightly.
"I didn't expect Professor Viper to actually bring an elusive duelist out of hiding… I'll handle this one myself."