"Huh? Feathered Chestnut Ball!?"
The next day, Judai was shocked to receive a warning from Yugen.
Meanwhile, the Feathered Chestnut Ball floated out by his side.
"Really?" Judai looked at the Feathered Chestnut Ball in surprise, "Pal, you're a spirit from three thousand years ago?"
The Feathered Chestnut Ball nodded: "Kurikuri."
"Wow, you're really amazing!"
Judai showed deep respect.
Chazz, who was also called together by Yugen, couldn't help but frown: "The Dragon of Light and Darkness, there's actually such a connection..."
"Seems like we're in the same boat now, Chazz," Judai looked at him.
"Lightning," Chazz reminded irritably.
But he felt somewhat conflicted inside.
His Dragon of Light and Darkness, and Judai's Feathered Chestnut Ball, there's actually so much connection hidden in these.
Could this be what they call destiny?
"In any case, you two better be careful. I'm not always on the island," Yugen said.
"Hmph, if such guys want to come, let them come," Chazz said arrogantly, "I and Light and Darkness won't be afraid of them."
"Exactly. We won't lose either, right, pal?"
Judai smiled at the Feathered Chestnut Ball beside him.
"Kurikuri," the Feathered Chestnut Ball agreed.
Though these two young men were full of confidence, if they were to face Little Lobster Yugen now, it wouldn't be optimistic. From what he knows, these two in their current state shouldn't be Little Lobster's match.
"So it seems the island of Duel Academy is really dangerous, so many dangerous people eyeing it... Speaking of which, Teacher Dade Temple hasn't returned yet."
Judai mentioned this with a worried expression.
"Could something have happened?"
"Not likely, with such a useless guy, which Dark Duelist would be so bored to capture him?" Chazz expressed confusion.
Judai pondered, "Hmm... sounds about right."
Yugen: "..."
Well, it at least proved that Teacher Dade Temple's long-standing facade was truly effective. In the students' eyes, he was just a coward, afraid of things and the dark, useless in every way, even if the enemy came, they wouldn't bother picking such a Duelist.
In the animation, after Dade Temple went missing, everyone thought he was killed by the Seven-Star because Dade Temple, after all, was assigned to guard a Seven-Star Key in numbers. But the world line changed, and now the Seven-Star Key that was originally guarded by Dade Temple is in Yugen's hands, so it's natural that a useless teacher like Dade Temple wouldn't be targeted.
However, of course, there's still worry. But the school's investigation team hasn't made any progress so far, and though Judai is concerned about his teacher's safety, there's little he can do.
Yugen speculated, perhaps Dade Temple isn't on the island at the moment. Recently, the Seven-Star's activities have become more frequent, maybe he's returned to the organization for business. But Yugen also knows, it shouldn't be long before he returns.
Before Dade Temple's physical demise, he should still assess every student in the academy he deemed capable. Just like in the original work, he defeated Asuka and Chazz before ultimately losing to Judai, then entrusted hope to Judai.
But Yugen didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
Just this nightfall. As Yugen was leaving the cafeteria, the Silent Magician behind him poked him lightly with a Magic Staff and gestured a sign.
"Is it happening now?" Yugen was surprised.
The Academy Island is large, if Teacher Dade Temple returned without a sound and settled in any forest, even he wouldn't be able to find him.
But according to the animation, he knew the location of Dade Temple and Judai's final battle, which was also Dade Temple's secret base on the island. It was located in the academy's restricted zone, below the abandoned dormitory, a former Alchemy Laboratory explored by students as a forbidden realm.
Keeping a spirit focused on that specific place isn't difficult, so if anyone returns, he'd know immediately.
After dinner, Yugen went for a solitary walk in the woods.
Tonight, the exploration squad of the Elf Realm had agreed to take a temporary break. Joey had agreed to join their squad, but he lacked equipment for now. Although he asked Keihei for new Link System login equipment and corresponding new Duel Disc, it would take two more days to arrive.
And Joey took advantage of these two days to leave the island and return home to find Sister Mai, having set off early in the morning. However, he left with a scowling face, seemingly anticipating a beating.
So tonight, Yugen hadn't planned any activities and took the opportunity to unwind on the island.
The abandoned dormitory is no stranger, Yugen was quite familiar with it. He skillfully navigated through the dark and dreary courtyard, following the creaky, drafty corridor down to the underground and quickly found the underground Alchemy Laboratory depicted in the animation.
The heavy iron door was half-open, not locked, but covered in mottled rust, nearly stuck.
Yugen tried to push it with his hand but couldn't move it at all. Then he stepped back two steps, the Silent Magician floated to his front, and with a gentle push from her slender arm, the door, accompanied by a rumbling hum, slowly opened.
Indeed, even for mages, basic arm strength still prevails.
Entering the room, the dusty, stale air hit his face. Without a single light source, the vast space appeared particularly eerie in the darkness. Every piece of equipment was covered with white cloth, spider webs hung in the corners, without a trace of live human presence.
And beyond these devices, at the room's end, lay a coffin.
Yugen stepped forward, attempting to pry open the coffin lid.
Good, it didn't budge at all.
Completely immobile. So he had to retreat again.
"Silent,"
The Silent Magician reappeared, softly placing her hand on the coffin. With a rumbling sound, the heavy coffin lid was immediately pushed aside under her palm.
"Impressive, impressive." Yugen praised, "The young lady truly possesses tremendous strength."
Clearly an expression of praise, yet he noticed a slight blush on Silently's icy face, followed by a slightly annoyed glance before swiftly retreating into the Card Deck without any movement.
"Uh, just joking around." Yugen smiled in apology, "Don't leave, provide some lighting, please."
Silent pouted, seemingly unhappy, but obediently floated out again, swinging her Magic Staff to cast a Lighting Technique. The pitch-black room instantly lit up as bright as day.
Besides arm strength, it turns out Lighting Technique is also part of a mage's standard toolkit.
Yugen, aided by the light, looked forward and found no surprise in seeing the corpse lying in the coffin.
The shriveled skin clung tightly to the bones, presenting a bizarre grey-brown color, as if time were forever frozen at the moment of death. Though the eyes were deeply sunk, they still seemed to give an eerie illusion of seeing the outside world.
This was Dade Temple's corpse.