A burning village, hellish scenes. Flames danced like demons, devouring every inch of land. Green fields and old houses were reduced to ash. The air was thick with the smell of burning wood, cloth, anything that could burn.
People wandered like zombies, bodies twisted, skin rotting. Some were charred to cinders, yet their blackened forms still moved mechanically.
A boy sat on the ground, tears blurring his vision. He stared ahead, terrified, unable to speak.
A man crawled on the ground, skin blackened, desperately dragging himself toward the boy. The man opened his mouth, eyes hungry like a beast.
"..."
The dream ended.
The last of the Doma Three Swords, Loren, sat up, tears unconsciously falling.
"That dream again?"
A voice beside him.
Loren stood and bowed respectfully.
"Arbiter."
The Arbiter was a handsome man, quietly standing nearby.
"Yeah, another nightmare."
Loren sat up, rubbing his temples.
"It’s fine. It’s almost over. As long as I defeat him..."
He glanced at the Duel Disk and deck nearby.
Yes, as long as he won...
Or got defeated.
Either way, he’d be free of the nightmare.
"Get ready. The time has come," said the Arbiter. "The wheels of fate are turning. A new era is coming—no one can stop it."
"Yes."
Loren nodded and stood.
...
Zane was the sixth to register.
Though his loss to Kira had affected him, Zane quickly regained his rhythm and won the last puzzle card, securing the sixth spot in the quarterfinals.
"Oh, Zane made it too!"
Seeing his friend, Jaden rushed over excitedly.
"Maybe we’ll face each other in the finals. I won’t lose this time," Jaden grinned.
Zane’s fighting spirit was back. Arms folded, he smiled: "Sure. But I won’t hand over victory so easily."
Jaden: "Let’s both give it everything and duel with no regrets!"
"Right!" Zane replied, fired up.
Kira appeared: "So you made it too, Zane. Congrats. Hope we meet in the finals."
"Kira..."
Seeing Kira, Zane’s fighting spirit visibly dimmed.
"Yeah... okay."
He agreed, but his face showed anything but excitement. Maybe he was thinking, anyone is fine as an opponent—just not you.
Kira didn’t mind, just smiled.
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