7. Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V A New Story of Pendulum (Standard Arc)

Chapter 33 Sora's Secrets

After the fierce Duel between Sora and Shun, Sora had been rushed to the LDS medical wing. Now he lay unconscious in a hospital bed, machines quietly monitoring him. Everyone gathered outside the ward, faces tense. To Yuya and Yuni's surprise, Ron and Jean were among them, choosing to stay rather than walk away.

"He'll be fine," Yuni reassured, arms folded as she leaned against the wall. "LDS has one of the best medical teams. They'll take care of him."

"But..." Ayu's small voice wavered. "If that building had hit his head before the Field Magic shut down—"

Yuzu crouched and gently rested a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It didn't. He's safe now."

Meanwhile, a quieter conversation took place further down the hall, away from the children and anyone unfamiliar with the Four Dimensions.

Reisho spoke first, his tone cool and measured. "According to the medical team, his injuries are mostly superficial. Cuts, bruises, and some trauma to his legs and head. He'll be sore for weeks, but his life isn't in danger."

Yuya let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Then, with a grim expression, he added, "Once he stabilizes, we'll have him transferred to Leo Corporation's facilities. There's too much he knows... and too much we need to ask him."

Everyone in the circle nodded silently.

Outside the ward, Shuzo tried to lighten the mood, though his usual cheer carried a tinge of worry. "Yoko and I will take the kids home. They've had enough excitement for one day."

"Right," Yoko agreed softly. "Please... take care of Sora."

The group murmured their assent, watching as Shuzo and Yoko led the children down the hall. Soon only Ron, Jean, the Sakaki siblings, Yuzu, Reisho, Ryu, Gongenzaka, and Vivian remained.

The silence stretched until Vivian finally broke it. "Now what? What are we supposed to do from here?"

Jean's gaze hardened, arms tightening across her chest. "If you ask me... Shiunin Sora deserved every ounce of pain Shun gave him."

Ryu finally broke the silence, his fists clenched. "What do you mean by that? Just what the hell is going on here?"

Yuya drew in a steady breath, meeting everyone's eyes. "It all ties back to something long before any of us were born. One of the old stories Vivian's father wrote... about the Supreme King Dragon, Zarc."

Gongenzaka frowned deeply. "Now of all times, you're telling a story?"

Yuni shook her head. "It isn't just a story. It's connected to everything that's happening now."

Her voice dropped low as she explained, "Zarc was said to be a Duelist who could hear the voices of Duel Monsters themselves, able to link his heart with theirs."

Yuzu nodded, adding softly, "Because of that gift, he was unstoppable. He rose through the ranks, undefeated... a champion that no one could touch."

Ryu's eyebrows rose. "Huh. Sounds like he must've been something else."

Katrina's gaze darkened. "But that power had a cost. One day, he pushed too far... and his opponent was left gravely injured. Zarc was horrified—at least at first."

Vivian's hands tightened at her sides as she spoke bitterly. "But the audience didn't care. They cheered louder. They wanted blood, violence. To them, his pain, his opponents' pain... it was just entertainment. And Zarc gave in. He let himself become what they demanded."

Jean shuddered, whispering, "That's... monstrous."

Yuya's face tightened. "And once he surrendered to that darkness, there was no going back. He fused with his Dragons, becoming something greater—and more terrible—than any Duelist alive. He unleashed his 'ultimate entertainment'... the destruction of the world itself."