Lost again.
Akiza Izinski dropped to her knees, her legs splayed, gazing up at the sky.
If there was anything the second round made clear to her, it was the gaping chasm between their abilities.
This wasn't a gap she could overcome just by trying a little harder, or by pushing herself to the limit. This man was in a completely different league from all her previous opponents. The difference was just too great.
In the first duel, her opponent had intentionally chosen a Plant deck to mirror hers. She'd thought it was just to mock her, but later realized maybe he was subtly pointing out her own weakness.
Yes, she had always hated and rejected her own power, and so, of course, she consciously limited her own abilities. She had barely tapped into a tenth of her true potential. Even her beloved Plant deck was nowhere near as masterfully employed as she had always imagined.
He had shown her a much greater power, a higher potential, and made her realize all this.
But to do that, the prerequisite was simple: he was just fundamentally so much stronger. Strong enough that he could set aside his main deck and, approaching the duel with a playful attitude, still deliver his message to her in the heat of battle.
This was what it meant to be truly effortless.
Just now, in this most recent duel, that feeling was even clearer. Her opponent seemed to be conveying something through the duel itself, awakening in her old dreams and memories—the reason she first began walking the path of a duelist.
And once he achieved his purpose, he casually ended the duel, as if it were as easy as lifting a finger.
And then, there was Sayer.
Strangely, this time, after losing again, she didn't feel as angry as last time. Even her sadness and hatred seemed to have faded.
It was as if the empty part of her heart—left hollow after Sayer's death—had been filled by something else.
"Director Goodwin" slowly walked up in front of her.
The girl looked up, meeting the director's gaze in silence.
"Are you interested," the director suddenly said calmly, "in working for me?"
Akiza: "..."
She couldn't help wondering if the director's mind worked in any normal way.
Even though her hatred had oddly faded, her emotions were calm now, but they were still enemies.
Sayer had taken her in when she was at her lowest, almost becoming a father figure to make up for the one she'd thought had abandoned her. If that's how you look at it, then the man before her was practically her father's killer.
And yet, after killing Sayer, knowing the blood feud between them, this man could calmly extend an olive branch as if nothing had happened...
Just how shameless did you need to be to do something like that?
"As I said before, the Signers are warriors who stand as guardians through the ages," Kira said. "Soon, a great darkness will fall. That will be the destined moment for the Signers, when you must face your fated enemy and drive away the darkness threatening our world.
Whether you want to or not, those called 'Dark Signers' will find you. Battle is your fate."
Kira paused, his voice low.
"If you join us, the Sector Security will use all our resources to support you in these battles. In fact, you must realize it by now: the Fortune Cup was designed precisely for this purpose.
To gather all the Signers, awaken your powers through clashes with each other, so that you can face the overwhelming darkness that threatens to engulf the world."
Akiza replied coldly, "If that's the world, then let it be destroyed. Why should I fight for a world that despises me?"
"That's a question you're supposed to answer yourself," Kira smiled slightly. "Well, after our duel, I think you already understand, don't you?"
Akiza: "..."
Yes. She wanted to be a duelist, one acknowledged and admired by all, shining bright in the spotlight—not a "witch" shunned wherever she went.
"If you win, the Sector Security will let the whole world know the truth," Kira said calmly. "Everyone will know who stepped up in the world's darkest hour.
The citizens will know the heroes who saved this city."
Kira stood with hands behind his back, looking toward the arena. Floating projections above the stadium all displayed the face of Yusei Fudo.
From Satellite, Yusei Fudo bore the mark of an outcast, yet had fought his way to become the Fortune Cup's champion and seized the right to challenge the King.
Not everyone, but some in the audience had already started calling out Yusei's name.
"One more secret for you," Kira smiled at Akiza. "The King, Jack Atlas, is also a man from Satellite."
Akiza: "!"
This was explosive news in New Domino City, where the King was revered. The king, built up as the city's symbol by Security, was in fact from the lowest Satellite area?
"With the Sector Security's resources, even a Satellite outcast could be made into a 'legendary King.' If you're gold, we'll let you shine. But you have to prove you're gold, of course."
Kira turned, looking at Akiza again.
"So the question is—are you?"
Akiza: "..."
The girl remained silent.
"Of course, you don't have to decide right now," Kira waved his hand. "See what you need to see first.
When the tournament ends, you can go back and see for yourself—return to your 'friends' among the Arcadia Movement. Go, and you'll see what you need to see."
This was also a way of dismissing her. Akiza hesitated, but in the end said nothing, rising and leaving in silence.
There was nothing more to be said.
She couldn't beat him—this was now all too obvious. She didn't even have a chance to risk it all.
Yet despite being so overwhelmingly strong in dueling, skill, and even authority—he treated her with surprising patience.
Akiza was curious what else he wanted her to see.
But still, she listened and didn't leave immediately.
Her Dragon Mark throbbed faintly, as if warning her that there would be more key moments she could not ignore in the matches ahead.
Now, all the known Signers had appeared in this tournament: Jack Atlas, Yusei Fudo, Akiza, and that little girl Luna.
Legend said there were five Signers. There was still one left—who might already be here.
Akiza could sense something would happen in the finals.
…