"David, I'll be borrowing your will for now."
Kira played a card from his hand—one once used by the original owner of The Big Saturn, David Rabb.
He completely ignored the fact that he and David were never even close. If David ever found out his will and deck had been inherited by this guy, he'd probably be so enraged he'd come back to life.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Forced Activation' from my hand!
This card can force any set card on the field to activate." (Manga Card)
Kira pointed at one of Akiza's set cards.
"Let's go with the set card on your left—force it to activate for me."
Akiza was stunned.
"You're forcing my set card to activate!?"
The card flipped open—sure enough, it was the Plant-Type exclusive Trap "Wall of Thorns".
A Plant-Type monster's defense Trap: when a Plant is attacked, it destroys all Attack Position monsters the opponent controls—basically a Plant-type "Mirror Force".
"Huh? It just happened to be Wall of Thorns? Lucky." Kira chuckled.
His setup was a classic combo, specially designed by David Raber for The Big Saturn: "Forced Activation" forces a set card to activate, then chain it with the Quick-Play Spell "Backfire" (Manga card), which changes any Spell/Trap effect into "destroy an opponent's monster."
With this combo, the opponent's forced Trap would end up destroying Kira's own The Big Saturn. When The Big Saturn is destroyed, both players take damage equal to its ATK.
If handled correctly, this combo often made quick work of opponents in one turn.
But today, luck was on his side: Akiza's set card really could destroy The Big Saturn anyway, saving Kira an extra card.
"A card force-activated in this way ignores all activation conditions." Kira smiled. "So with 'Wall of Thorns', all of my Attack Position monsters are destroyed."
Akiza: "!?"
Is this guy crazy?
He spent so many resources just to wipe his own field!?
"The Big Saturn's effect," Kira continued, "If destroyed by an opponent's card effect, both players take damage equal to The Big Saturn's ATK!"
Akiza: "!!"
The Big Saturn's ATK was now 3800—
3800 damage instantly!
To both sides, no less!
Akiza glanced in shock:
Kira had 2700 LP left, while Akiza himself still had 4000. If they both took the damage, wouldn't Kira self-destruct first?
"At this moment, I discard 'Hanewata' from my hand." Kira declared,
"When discarded, all effect damage to me this turn becomes 0. This works even during the opponent's turn."
Akiza: "!"
So only she would take the damage now!
"Explode, The Big Saturn!"
Kira raised his arm high.
"DOUBLE IMPACT!!!"
Boom!
The core in The Big Saturn's chest turned deep crimson. Its rings shrieked like metal in agony, as the core imploded into a micro black hole, then exploded outward in a supernova. Fragments of the star, wrapped in searing flame, swept the entire field as radiating rings, even tearing the air itself.
"Aaaaaah—!"
Akiza was thrown skyward, her body suddenly light as a rose petal, reeling under a shock both physical and mental.
The immense pain faded, replaced by numbness, then her consciousness started to sink into darkness.
Falling, falling.
A drop to an unknown end.
Was this...the end?
It wouldn't be surprising. After a combo like that, even with 200 LP left, in a duel where damage is real, a duelist's body often fails before their life points hit zero.
As a psychic duelist unable to control her own strength, Akiza had met such opponents before—most couldn't withstand the pain and would collapse before the duel ended.
Would she end up like that too?
A hint of mocking self-awareness rose in Akiza's fading mind.
Yes, it had always been her using her power to make others suffer—though never willingly. But this time, things were reversed; maybe she'd lose to the pain before actually being defeated.
Perhaps it was karma, the punishment of fate herself.
If so, it might be fine to sink quietly into this darkness and accept her fate.
But... Sayer!
She can't give up—not like this! Her own fate didn't matter, but she had to avenge Sayer.
Akiza shuddered. The will for vengeance reignited her fading mind.
She remembered Sayer's tragic death—the memories of him flashing before her eyes.
Their first meeting—Sayer had removed her Witch's mask and gently told her she no longer needed it, that she finally had a home.
And when she returned from a mission, Sayer had warmly welcomed her, and told her solemnly:
"Here, you're unique, Akiza. To us—and especially to me—you're irreplaceable."
His smile was so warm, so reassuring.
Yes... For Sayer, she had to wake up and go on.
But just then—
Sayer's face in her mind twisted. The gentle smile turned sinister, lips curling into a sleazy grin:
"Heh heh, Akiza, just be my Akiza. Work for me with all your might, squeeze yourself dry, and when you're spent and worthless, die quietly."
Akiza: "!"
What was this?
No, Sayer never said something like that!
The scene shifted, now to the corridor of Arcadia Movement building. Akiza chased after Sayer, pleading:
"Please don't put the new kids through such cruel potential development.
They might not be able to handle it—"
"It's for their own good, Akiza. To unlock their potential, it's necessary." Sayer soothed her, "Don't worry—they're our companions, like you. I know my limits; nothing will happen to them."
So Akiza didn't press further.
But next, Sayer turned, the scene darkened, and he sneered:
"If they can't even take that, they're worthless to us—not fit to be called companions.
Only those who become my weapons get to stay. The useless can die; nobody will care."
Akiza: "!!!"
No—this isn't real! Sayer never would have said that or thought that way!
"Aaaaah—!"
Akiza staggered, half-kneeling, clutching her head in agony as she glared at Kira.
"It's… it's you, right?"
"You're the one messing with my memories! Did you show me these things?!"
Kira tilted his head and smiled innocently:
"Huh? What are you talking about? I don't quite understand~"
"Don't play dumb!" Akiza shouted. "You're the one… you're trying to warp my memories! You think I'll believe you?!"
But even as she said it, Akiza felt a chill of fear.
Turning duel damage into real pain was common enough in psychic duels. But the ability to mess with someone's mind, to invade their very memories…
Is that… really possible?
"Distort? Really?" Kira squinted and smiled.
"Are you sure I'm warping your memory, or has this suspicion always been in your heart, and you just chose to ignore it until now?"
Akiza: "!"
…