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

Chapter 9 The Man who Threw Away his Draws

The Lancers and the Commons were herded into a dimly lit chamber, its décor resembling an old-fashioned executive office rather than a cell. Heavy wooden beams lined the ceiling, and the faint smell of tobacco and oil clung to the air. At the far end, a massive block draped in a stained sheet served as a throne of sorts. Perched atop it was the kingpin himself—Tokumatsu Chojiro—his sharp eyes glinting under the flickering lights. Two attendants stood at either side of the room, like bookends to his presence.

"So you're here?" sneered the blue-robed man, his voice carrying a mixture of pride and menace. "Our boss, Tokumatsu Chojiro, has called you out himself!"

"Tokumatsu...?" Crow muttered, narrowing his eyes at the name.

"And who does he think he is, calling us out personally?" Sawatari snapped, stepping forward with his usual bravado.

Dennis leaned in close, his whisper low but urgent. "You shouldn't fight with these guys here... you'll only make things harder for us."

Chojiro's voice rumbled from his perch, deep and commanding. "Bring 'em out."

"He means your cards!" the blue-robed attendant clarified with a sly grin.

"Cards?" Jean echoed, a frown creasing his brow.

"If you want to enjoy your life here," the attendant continued, "you'd better hand some over!"

Ron crossed his arms defiantly. "If giving up my cards is just to curry favor with the boss, then forget it—I don't have one card to waste on that!"

Jean nodded sharply. "He's right. We're not here to settle down and 'enjoy' ourselves. We need to get out of here, as soon as possible."

One of the Commons in a green outfit shifted nervously, glancing at the guards. Gongenzaka placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, speaking in his calm, grounding tone. "Don't worry. It'll be all right."

Chojiro straightened on his throne, his shadow stretching across the room like a dark wave. "Listen up. I'm the boss here—on top of this place. That means I make the rules. You're all beneath me, so you obey me." His eyes narrowed into hard slits. "That's the common sense of this world."

"Oh yeah? And what makes you say that?"

The voice cut through the room like a blade. Everyone turned toward the barred doorway to see Yuya standing there, determination burning in his eyes.

"Yuya?!" the Lancers exclaimed in unison, relief and surprise mixing in their voices.

Chojiro's gaze fixed on the boy, sizing him up. "And who might you be? You don't belong here."

Yuya stepped forward without hesitation. "If it concerns my comrades, then I have every right to be here. Cards aren't for intimidation—they're meant to be used for Dueling!"

Chojiro let out a low chuckle that soon turned into a scoff. "Another brat who refuses to listen to reason... Fine then. Take a good look at this!"

He vaulted from the block he sat upon, his heavy boots slamming against the floor. The impact sent a gust of air rushing outward, eerily reminiscent of Gongenzaka's summoning stance. At the same time, his attendants tore away the white sheet covering the block.

Gasps rippled through the group. Beneath the cloth was no throne of stone, but a massive pile constructed entirely of Duel Monsters cards—stacked high and fused together, countless edges overlapping. Glimpses of powerful Synchro Monsters gleamed among the layers.

"Do you know what these are?" Chojiro's booming voice echoed. "They're the cards of those who dared challenge me in Duels over the ten years I've ruled this place. Every defeat added to my collection, every challenger crushed beneath me. Here, cards are proof of who sits on top! Dueling itself is the law of power!"