"So this is Duel Academy?"
A man with a small split mustache stepped onto the Academy island, brushed the dust off, and squinted around.
"Interesting."
His name was Hayato Kuroda.
Once, he was one of Sartorius's most trusted generals—one of the few officers personally given a brand-new Deck by Sartorius, and respected within the Society.
Now, Sartorius was said to be dead, but the Society would not end. They had new orders—many members were sent to the island to enter the Genex Tournament.
Kuroda didn't know why. But they never questioned, only executed. That's how the Society worked: no matter how strange the command, they'd follow.
Because they believed in destiny. Even the smallest act could hugely affect the future—the butterfly effect. They were mere mortals, blind to the grand plan. Their job was simply to obey.
Since he'd enter, he'd go all the way. Kuroda was the leader of this group—a Society captain. He set a small goal: collect the most Genex Medallions and win the tournament…
"You're Hayato Kuroda, the Society of Light's field leader for this invasion, aren't you?"
Kuroda: "!"
Startled, he spun around. One man stood there casually, eyes narrowed, sizing him up.
"Duel King, Kira!?"
To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.
The King had found him—and spoke his name.
But how?
He'd only just stepped on the island—hadn't done a thing yet.
"You look surprised," Kira tilted his head. "You step onto my island, into my Academy—and expect me not to notice?"
Kuroda: "…"
Since when is it your island and your Academy? Are you the chancellor or the chairman…?
Not important.
Kuroda narrowed his eyes. "Duel King… heh, perfect. I figured if I'm entering, I should aim for the top. On this stage, the King is unavoidable…"
"Oh? Confident?" Kira said, amused.
"They say you took down Lord Sartorius—but frankly, I don't believe it. I still believe his fate won't end here. If he lost to you, it must have been deliberate—destiny's arrangement."
Kira laughed.
"So, whenever you lose, it's 'fate's plan.' You guys are unbeatable then."
"Fujiki Kira, Duel King—whether you truly transcend destiny, I'll confirm it myself."
Kuroda unfurled his Duel Disk.
Kira shrugged.
He'd noticed: Society members all had sky-high confidence regardless of actual skill. Each convinced that victory was their fate.
"Duel!" x2
[Kira, LP 4000]
[Hayato Kuroda, LP 4000]
"I'll go first. Draw!"
Kuroda called out.
"The Deck Lord Sartorius gifted me—today I unleash its power.
I activate the Spell Pot of Greed to draw two cards.
Then I Normal Summon Beetron-1: Carapace Chassis!"
Responding to the summon came a steel-alloy beetle, a machine-insect with heavy tires for hind legs.
[Beetron-1 Beetletop, ATK 1700]
Kira searched hazy memories.
Beetron?
The name evokes the later meta-dominant "Inzektors," but this isn't that busted Deck. This is "Beetron," an unprinted anime Deck—what Chazz used after Sartorius beat him and "whitened" him into the Society.
With the timeline diverged—Sartorius died before whitening Chazz—this Deck showing up in another lieutenant's hands made sense.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn, draw."
Kira drew two.
"A 1700-ATK beetle—that's a bit troublesome. I activate Graceful Charity to draw three and discard two."
He filtered his hand.
"I set one monster in face-down Defense and two back row, then end my turn."
Kuroda frowned but wasn't fooled.
He knew this man was crafty; nine out of ten things he said couldn't be trusted. Calling it 'hard to deal with' meant the trap was ready.
Can't take the bait lightly.
"My turn again, draw!"
Kuroda drew, then took a breath.
"If you won't attack, I won't be polite!
I activate the Continuous Spell: Frontline Base!"
A Continuous Spell appeared. This one is an old, real card supporting Unions—Chazz used it when he first showed VWXYZ.
"Frontline Base: once per turn in Main Phase, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Union from your hand!"
Kuroda slapped down a card.
"By Frontline Base, Special Summon—appear!
Beetron-2 Beetleturbo!"
Another steel beetle appeared, with stag-beetle pincers.
[Beetron-2 Beetleturbo, ATK 1500]
"Then I Normal Summon Beetron-3 Spider Base!"
Golden motes formed a red steel spider on his field.
[Beetron-3 Spider Base, ATK 1000]
"1, 2, and 3—a Union?" Kira smiled. "You lined them up in one go—impressive. Fusion next?"
"Heh, not yet."
Kuroda raised his arm.
"I'll swing first!
Battle Phase. Let's see if your monster can withstand my triple Beetron strike!"
He chopped his arm down.
"Go! First, Beetron-1 Beetletop attacks your face-down!"
The lead beetle charged. Kira snapped his fingers.
"I activate my set Trap: Quaking Mirror Force!
When an opponent's monster declares an attack, change all Attack Position monsters they control to face-down Defense Position. Monsters changed this way can't change battle position!"