Tragoedia vanished.
Just one round of combat—two of the world's top monsters clashing. The result was Tragoedia's utter defeat—almost laughably one-sided.
Armityle struck, and Tragoedia's domain collapsed, his body scattered.
But calling it a battle between "two top monsters" isn't fair. Tragoedia only had half his power—his heart wasn't even restored.
From a normal view, even heartless Tragoedia is a rare, powerful monster. But to the Sacred Beasts, he was like a cripple racing them in a wheelchair.
And Kira had done most of the work.
By defeating Tragoedia in a Shadow Duel, Tragoedia was left half-dead. Already in a bad state, facing the three-in-one Armityle—if that couldn't finish him, the Sacred Beasts might as well bury themselves.
Most students couldn't fully follow the duel.
They just saw a lobster-like demon so huge it dwarfed even the monsters from their childhood shows. Its aura was oppressive, inspiring instinctive terror.
But before they could process that fear, the Duel King just smacked it down like a mosquito.
Only then did many students realize—the Duel King isn't just a skilled duelist.
He truly possesses world-shaking power.
Kira put away his duel disk, Armityle's image vanished. As he examined the Sacred Beast cards, he paused and smiled.
"Thanks for your help, you three."
But there was no response.
Maybe the three Sacred Beasts thought themselves too lofty to speak.
Kira didn't mind—he smiled and put the cards away.
Chancellor Sheppard stared at the spot where Armityle had disappeared, somewhat absent-minded.
"Armityle... So the three Sacred Beasts can fuse?"
Even he, who was entrusted with their seal, didn't know.
In fact, even Chairman Kagemaru in the original didn't fuse them. In the anime, he only played Fallen Paradise—even that was strong enough.
The key cards for Sacred Beasts' system, including their fusion, were all revealed later by Yubel in the GX anime's second half. No one knew their full potential before.
Sheppard recalled the legend he heard when entrusted with the Sacred Beasts.
An unimaginable evil force, so powerful it had to be sealed. If released, it would plunge the world into chaos.
He remembered well—this was a power that must never be released. If freed, the world would fall into chaos.
But now, prophecy had not come true—the power had instead prevented chaos.
Sheppard watched Kira, now surrounded by cheering students, not knowing what to say.
"An incredible boy, isn't he, Chancellor?"
A voice spoke at his ear.
"Looks like our generation truly is over."
"Yes," Sheppard sighed.
"With Zane's changes, I started to wonder if I'm getting old."
"Maybe my methods are outdated. Maybe it really is a new era, and the youth can create a broader path in dueling—better than we ever could."
"Indeed," the man beside him said. "That's what they mean by 'the next generation is to be feared.' Fujiki Kira is not only an amazing duelist, but an unorthodox alchemist.
Whether in dueling or alchemy, he has the courage to move forward, an unrestrained, fearless spirit of exploration.
Though I never thought I'd say this, I believe he'll be a better alchemist than me."
"Hahaha, that's something to look forward to—wait, alchemist?"
Only then did Sheppard feel something was off. He turned, and saw Lyman, standing hands on hips, half-transparent like a ghost.
Sheppard's brain froze for two seconds.
Professor Lyman? But wasn't he already dead!?
Realizing that, the bald Chancellor's eyes widened and he cried out in terror.
"GHOST!!!"
Lyman: "..."
…
"The Supremacy Sun, Ebon Sun—a strategy built around infinite revival."
Back in his room, Kira lay on his bed, counting his spoils from the night.
A silver-haired girl sat at the head of the bed, carefully peeling an apple. With a flick of her finger, the knife moved on its own, slicing the fruit.
She flicked her finger again. Two forks floated up, each spearing an apple slice.
One floated to her mouth, one to Kira.
This was, of course, Silent, who'd come from the Spirit World to settle here. She was now wearing a school uniform—unless you looked closely, you'd never know she was a spirit.
"Weakness: vulnerable to non-destruction removal. Still, this deck is interesting."
Kira remembered in the manga, when Tragoedia used this deck, everyone was amazed—every card in it was unknown.
Tragoedia had bragged that the deck was a manifestation of his own power, unique in the world, symbolic of his destiny. Just as humans are fated to be 'insects,' his deck was the embodiment of his dominion.
Well, now that destiny clearly belongs to Kira.
Silent floated another apple slice to him, tilting her head and making a gesture.
"Yeah, I know. Tragoedia may be gone, but his forces aren't finished. The Planet series still has a few cards out there."
He paused, then smiled.
"But don't worry—it won't be long now."