7. Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V: A New Story of Pendulum (Fusion Arc)

Chapter 5 Cronos de Medici

It was nearing arrival. The ship's engines rumbled beneath their feet, a steady, pulsing rhythm that mirrored the anticipation in everyone's hearts. Duel Disks gleamed as the Lancers, Resistance, and Rebel Students armed themselves, waiting for the hatch to open.

When the ship finally touched down with a sharp hiss, the entire deck fell silent for a heartbeat. Then Yuya stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he scanned the academy grounds through the mist.

The marble courtyards, once teeming with duelists in pristine uniforms, were eerily vacant. The banners of Academia fluttered weakly in the wind—symbols of power now hauntingly still.

Yuni frowned, clutching her Duel Disk tighter. "Strange... where are the other Academia members? How come there aren't any enemies waiting to greet us?"

Reisho crossed his arms, his expression composed yet grim. "The population of Academia's soldiers isn't as large as you'd think. After so many losses, they're likely conserving their strength—defense instead of offense."

Yuya nodded slowly, the realization sharpening his tone. "Then that means we'll find them once we reach their strongholds. Everyone—best of luck."

A unified murmur of agreement spread across the deck. The moment the ramp descended, their forces split into smaller squads, boots pounding against the marble pathways as they advanced toward their assigned sectors.

Yuya's group pushed forward through the front plaza, navigating shattered columns and the faint scent of ozone still hanging in the air. Their footsteps echoed through empty corridors until they reached a towering set of double doors.

When Yuya pushed them open, the familiar sight of desks and dueling stations greeted them—dusty, silent, frozen in time.

"This..." Hana whispered, her gaze distant. "This is where we learned the basics. The Main Classrooms."

Her voice lingered in the hollow air, a soft reminder of what Academia once was—before it became a battlefield.

The group stepped carefully into the Main Classrooms, the faint smell of chalk and polished floors still lingering in the air. Desks stood perfectly arranged, untouched since the day the students vanished. The silence carried a strange weight—one that made the once-lively academy feel like a tomb.

Yuya walked between the rows, brushing his fingers across a desk. "Hard to believe this was a place for learning."

Vivian's eyes drifted toward the empty podium at the front. "It feels... preserved. Like someone wanted to keep it this way."

Reiji folded his arms. "Or like no one's been brave enough to return." His gaze swept the room, sharp and calculating, searching for any sign of movement.

"This is where we learned everything," Hana said softly. "Dueling theory, strategy, even ethics—at least what they called ethics."

Yusho's tone carried both sadness and pride. "A school meant to inspire duelists... turned into a weapon factory."

Before anyone could respond, a voice echoed from the upper balcony. The sound was calm yet theatrical, rolling through the classroom like a practiced performance.

"Well, well... what do we have here?"

The group turned as a tall man in a blue, gold-trimmed coat descended the stairs with deliberate grace. His pale hair gleamed under the lights, and his posture radiated an air of superiority that no war could tarnish.