Did she… suspect Sayer?
Now that she thought about it, Akiza realized little doubts had flitted through her mind before.
Sometimes a new kid would join them, and Sayer would say he just didn't fit in and had left. But when Akiza inquired, there was never a word of that kid again.
Members sometimes vanished suddenly, with no explanation.
She'd been in Arcadia Movement for ages; even if Sayer never said certain things to her face, sometimes snippets could be heard in passing. Sometimes Sayer would turn solemn, then, when another member caught his eye and motioned that Akiza was coming, Sayer would fall silent—his gaze instantly softening for Akiza.
What was she not supposed to know? Did Sayer never truly trust her?
These doubts had arisen—but Akiza always shoved them aside.
Maybe it was Sayer messing with her mind. He was skilled in suggestion and manipulation. If he wanted her to brush off suspicion, she naturally would.
Or maybe—
Maybe, as "Goodwin" said, people believe what they want to believe. She'd doubted, but just never dwelled on it.
After all, Arcadia Movement was the only place she belonged—she didn't want to doubt Sayer. She didn't want to think more than necessary. She let Sayer do the thinking for her...
No! No way! Sayer never lied to her. It had to be this white-haired bastard in front of her. He killed Sayer himself and now tried to slander him, even invading her mind.
Unforgivable!
"I activate my set card! Trap—'Damage Vaccine ΩMAX'!" Akiza shouted.
"When I take battle or effect damage, I regain that amount as LP!"
[Akiza, LP 200 → LP 4000]
"Oh? You negated The Big Saturn's self-destruct." Kira nodded approvingly. "Well, even if you can recover with a card's effect, surviving the actual pain and overcoming the shock… your willpower is impressive. Good, good."
He revealed another card from his hand.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Magical Mallet'. Shuffle any number of cards from hand—including this one—into the Deck, then draw the same number." (Anime effect)
Kira returned his hand to his Deck, shuffled, and drew new cards.
"Next, 'Card of Burial Magic'.
Banish 'Card of Adversity', 'Prototype Development', and 'Forced Activation' from my GY, to draw two cards."
He drew, then immediately sent an eight-star Machine, "Machina Megaform," to the graveyard from his hand, to activate:
"I send 'Machina Megaform' from my hand to the GY to trigger 'Machina Fortress' in the grave.
If I send Machine-Type monsters from my hand whose total Level is 8 or above, Fortress can Special Summon itself from the GY.
Special Summon 'Machina Fortress' in Defense Position!"
There's no "once per turn" limit for Fortress; as long as you have enough Level and Machines, you can keep reviving it.
With a rumble, Fortress rose from the ground—taking up a defensive stance.
[Machina Fortress, DEF 1600]
"I can't lose, and I won't. I have to avenge Sayer. I must... because otherwise..."
Akiza bit her lip. Her voice began to quiver with tears.
"If not, then what else can I do? What would I do from now on?"
Her resolve was clearly wavering.
"What to do?" Kira smiled. "What, is your whole life about Sayer? Without Sayer, you're not even a duelist?"
Akiza: "I…"
"Before you ever met Sayer, you never gave up dueling," Kira said.
"You knew dueling might hurt others, hated your own strength, hated being called 'Witch'…
So why not quit? Don't duel—just live a normal girl's life. Why not?"
Akiza stumbled back two steps, trembling: "I—I'm not, I didn't, I'm not..."
Unbidden, Yusei Fudo's unwavering eyes from their last duel flashed in her mind.
"You must think for yourself, and learn to love yourself!"
That's how Yusei spoke to her.
"You deny the joy in your heart that comes from hurting others—but because you have that kind of heart, I know you can do it!"
Akiza: "…"
"A Duel is a clash of duelists' souls. Through your matches, Yusei understood your heart—and so do I,"
Kira smiled, guiding her gently,
"Tell me—why won't you give up? Why do you keep dueling, even now?"
"I… I..."
Akiza looked down at her toes.
Well, from her field of view she probably couldn't see them...
Again, memories flashed: scenes from long before her powers awakened, when she still had a warm, loving family and hadn't broken off from her parents. Young Akiza, nestled in her mother's arms, watching legendary duelists fight on TV, her gaze alight.
"Mommy, mommy!"
Little Akiza tugged at her mother's sleeve.
"Can I become a powerful duelist like that too?"
"Of course,"
Her mother hugged her close with pampering love.
"If Akiza wants, you can become the best duelist in the world."
"…"
That's it.
She just couldn't let go. No matter how she changed, no matter how low she fell, she just couldn't betray dueling.
Etched in her childhood memory was the image of a spiky-haired king standing at the top of the world, the crowd around him cheering him on.
It's said he wasn't just the Duel King, but a hero who'd saved the world—admired far and wide, long after his legend faded.
She didn't want to be a Witch, didn't want to be shunned, didn't want to hurt others for pleasure.
She couldn't give up because what she truly wanted was—
"I am... a duelist."
Akiza, with tear-stained cheeks, raised her head. For the first time, a light other than vengeance shone in her amber eyes.
"Then prove it to me."
Kira nodded.
"A true duelist's life is not defined by others. Even if there's no path ahead, they can make a new one with their own hands.
If you can do it, then prove it. Show me, Akiza Izinski!"
He drew two more cards.
"Continuous Spell—'Mirage of Nightmare'.
During the opponent's Standby Phase, draw cards until you have four in hand."
"Set one last card. Turn end!"
…