In the Dark Signers' hideout, six figures sat around a stone table veined with pulsing geoglyphs. Torches guttered. The air thrummed like a heartbeat.
The man bearing the Condor mark broke the silence. "Dennis has returned to Academia. It's only a matter of time before they invade this City—just as they did to Heartland."
No one answered, but the ripple of shock moved through the room all the same.
"Let them come," Condor continued, voice low and sure. "More bodies for our gods. Tomorrow, Security's dueling machine—Sergey—faces Hiiragi Yuzu. Yuzu is the vessel of Akaba Ray. If we turn her into a Dark Signer, the Professor's plan dies there. No one will stand in our way."
"Are you certain?" asked a woman marked by the Hummingbird. Concern edged her words.
Condor lifted his hand. A hologram flared to life above the table: nine sigils of the Dark Signers circling like an eclipse. "The worlds split, and from that fracture we forged new Earthbound Gods—Lilius and Manibus. Hosts remain unfound for Chacu Challhua, Uru, and Manibus. Uru has loosed its spiders across the streets, yet they return empty-mandibled. And Manibus... grows impatient. Its chosen duelist is in this City. I can feel the mark stirring."
He rose, cloak whispering against stone. "My cue to leave."
He turned and strode for the exit. The torches bent in the draft of his passing.
"Be careful... Condor," murmured the Hummingbird, her eyes on the fading hologram as the nine marks spun, hungry, in the dark.
"The City is one! We are all friends! Day three of the Friendship Cup!" Melissa's voice rang out as the crowd erupted. "Today, we launch the second round!"
"Sixteen duelists have advanced!" Holograms flared around the stadium—Yuya, Katrina, Serena, Reisho, Shinji, Satoshi, Sergey, Vivian, Yugo, Risu, Yuzu, Ryu, Crow, Ron, Yuni, and Shun—hovering like constellations. "Which eight will seize their place? Our fated first match is... Hiiragi Yuzu vs. Sergey Volkov!"
Up in the stands, Sora spotted a pair of kids and hurried over. "You must be Sora, right?" Ruka asked. "Yuni told us about you."
Sora nodded. "Yeah. We follow them now—'Duel Crusher' might try something against Yuzu."
"Same thought," Rua said. "Ruka can call monsters out from her Duel Disk. We'll ride."
Sora nodded once, and they moved.
In the prep rooms:
"Yuzu goes first, huh?" Ron murmured.
"Yuzu... please be careful," Ryu whispered.
Out on the course approach, Yuzu steadied her breathing as Sergey rolled in beside her. I want Yuya to wake up and see this... but with the Dark Signers moving, I have to warn Synchro about the interdimensional war. I'll give everything—and win.
Back in the booth, Melissa's patter soared with the cheers. "She's here! Popularity rising sky-high—the cute, spectacular entertainment angel, Hiiragi Yuzu!"
A surge of applause chased Yuzu's glide. "She looks even better than in round one!" Melissa added.
Yuzu glanced toward the royal box. Jack Atlas... I'll aim for him and speak for all of us. So right now—I'll give my all.
"And here comes her opponent, Sergey Volkov! His round-one victory over Damon was... let's say 'narrow.' Has he still got it? Once the City's fearsome criminal—now a long-faded legend."
In his waiting room, Yugo punched the air. "You got this! Wipe him, Yuzu!"
Sergey's eyes stayed flat, remembering Roget's words: "Hiiragi Yuzu... She and Serena may be my trump cards. Defeat her and bring her to me."
YOU ARE READING
7. Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V A New Story of Pendulum (Synchro Arc)
FanfictionAfter Yuzu is taken by Yugo to the Synchro Dimension, the Lancers arrive and they're going to face a lot of challenges besides getting into the conflict of Tops and Commons. Might add a lot of 5DS stuff inside this arc.
