"President Pegasus, long time no see."
Chancellor Sheppard warmly invited Industrial Illusions' President Pegasus to sit.
Pegasus took a sip of hot tea and looked up. "How's the GX tournament? Going smoothly?"
For some reason, the moment he was asked this, scenes flashed through Sheppard's mind of the outside invitees getting crushed by the Academy's elite students until they questioned their card-life.
"Uh… going smoothly? Maybe. Probably."
But he knew that wasn't Pegasus's real concern, so he quickly shifted.
"As for the card you mentioned—'Ultimate D'—no leads yet."
"I see. A shame. I'd hoped the GX tournament might lure out the card's holder…"
Pegasus leaned back, crossed his legs, and sipped tea again.
"But I still don't quite understand—is what you said true? That Aster's father's murder is connected to some extraordinary crisis?"
Sheppard asked.
"It's related to the last card Aster's father designed, yes?"
Pegasus nodded. "To integrate humanity's cutting-edge intellect into card design, our company collaborates with scientific departments across fields.
Our astronomical observation division discovered something terrifying."
Sheppard blinked. "Terrifying?"
"Yes. According to the observatory's data, hundreds of millions of years ago, a white hole somewhere in the cosmos released tremendous energy."
"White hole?"
"White holes and black holes are opposites. One theory posits that a white hole is the outlet for the dark energy a black hole produces. The massive energy released from there—we call it the 'Waves of Light'—may have invaded Earth more than ten years ago."
Sheppard was shocked. "You mean Aster's family incident?"
"Yes, we believe that's possible," Pegasus nodded.
"Further research led to more findings. In human history, conflicts, disasters—wars that caused countless deaths—many of them show traces of those Light Waves."
This theory surprised Sheppard even more. "Are you saying even human wars might have been caused by the Light Waves?"
"No, we can't assert that. But we believe there was at least some influence," Pegasus said. "The Waves of Light can drive people out of control, drawing out their darkness.
Some war-mongering tyrants and infamous dictators may indeed have been affected. And now, they've set their sights on the power of cards—their potential.
Aster's father was likely killed because he was one of our card designers—a remarkably gifted one. His talent was exploited by evil forces, resulting in the birth of that forbidden card."
Sheppard frowned. "After all these years, has that power not waned at all?"
"That's not quite right. You know cards have the power to seal extraordinary beings like the three Sacred Beasts and three Egyptian Gods."
"Are you saying Ultimate D has that kind of power?" Sheppard was stunned.
"That's hard to say… but leaving it alone will cause new threats—that's certain," Pegasus said. "So no matter what, we must uncover the truth of that incident and find the card."
Just then, the door burst open from outside, and a man in a black suit rushed in, panting.
Pegasus frowned. "Kemo, didn't I tell you to wait outside?"
He was a subordinate from Industrial Illusions.
"Yes, President Pegasus, but it's urgent!"
"Just got word from HQ—something happened at the World Championship," Kemo said.
"Looks like the Ultimate D card has finally appeared!"
…
Night over the sea, aboard a cruise ship.
"Mmhmhm… hahaha—"
In a room with no light source, The D. threw back his head and laughed maniacally within the sealed space.
"Finally! No more concealment—no more restraint!
Now, I can unleash all my power!"
As he roared, light burst from his body, like a white whirlwind. The storm raged through the enclosed room, like thunder rolling through, smashing everything with overwhelming force.
Just earlier, for the first time in ten years, he had used that card in the World Championship arena, in front of everyone.
Ultimate D. It was the key card that helped him reach the top—it had granted him power for so many years, and even just riding that attached fate-power had gotten him this far.
Tonight, for the first time, he unleashed the card's full power. No more restraint, no more cover.
Only then did he realize, to his own shock, just how powerful it was.
Even he himself had never truly understood how strong he was when fully released!
He felt amazing!
But just as he was reveling in this unexpected might—
"Who's there!?"
The D.'s face changed; he barked, thrusting out his right palm toward a point in the darkness. The white light radiating from him condensed into a transparent sphere, spiraling as it blasted toward that spot.
A bang—like impact. Two clusters of white light crossed, briefly illuminating the ravaged room.
"Oh? Not bad—you actually sensed me here."
Kira stepped out of the darkness, unhurried.
The D. stared for a long beat.
"You're…"
His pupils tightened slightly; he was startled.
"Duel King Fujiki Kira?"
Why here, of all places?
"You're a busy man—always running around the world. Hard to find time to pay you a visit," Kira shrugged with a faint smile.
"World Champion, The D., right? Pardon my bluntness, but is the champion you… or 'him'?"
Kira lifted his gaze toward the ceiling.
Above The D., the energy radiating from him had manifested Plasma in the flesh—a dark body seemingly bound by white light, eyes full of bestial fury, glaring at Kira with a guttural growl.
The D. was silent for two seconds, then asked darkly, "How much do you know, Duel King?"
"Enough."
"Ten years ago—the murder. Ultimate D. The Light of Destruction."
Kira extended a hand toward the airborne Plasma and hooked a finger.
"This card—I'm taking it."
...
2 Bonus chapter at 500 PS