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

Chapter 19 Victoria vs. Fubuki: Darkness

"Now then... who will be the next victim?" At the edge of the roaring volcano, heat shimmered in the air as Tenjoin Fubuki—or rather, the being that wore his face—stood upon a molten platform, his voice echoing with cruel amusement. The crimson glow of magma reflected off the twisted mask hiding his eyes. Across from him, the four Academia duelists—Yuri, Johan, Dennis, and Kenzan—braced themselves beneath the suffocating heat.

"Yuri? Johan? Dennis? Kenzan!" The shout came from behind them. Yuzu's group arrived at the scene just in time to see the confrontation. The moment Yuri turned and recognized her, his composure cracked. "Yuzu! Don't get close!" he shouted, desperation breaking through his usual calm.

The warning came too late. Fubuki's masked head turned slowly toward the newcomers, his grin curling wider. "Hiiragi Yuzu... So you've come to us after all."

The sound of his voice made Victoria freeze where she stood. Her eyes locked on the familiar body before her, and the blood drained from her face. "Tenjoin Fubuki...?" she whispered, her voice trembling. The glint of the black mask sent a chill down her spine. "No... it can't be..."

A dark laugh followed. "Even Fujiwara Victoria is here," Fubuki mocked. "What an unexpected reunion. It's thanks to your blood that I was revived... but don't worry." His tone twisted into something grotesque. "I no longer need your blood. I have something far more valuable now."

"You..." Victoria's hands clenched into fists, fury rising beneath her fear.

Yuzu took a step forward, confusion mixing with dread. "Wait—where's Asuka? How come she's not with you?"

"She's here." Yuri raised a duel card for everyone to see, his face grim. The sight made Yuzu and the others gasp in horror. On the card's surface shimmered the image of Asuka Tenjoin—frozen, sealed away. "He's not Fubuki," Yuri said, his voice heavy. "He's Erebus, controlling Fubuki's body and deck. The real Fubuki would never card his own sister in cold blood."

"Damn it..." Ryu muttered through clenched teeth, his anger barely contained.

Victoria's eyes blazed as she stepped forward, the molten air distorting around her. "So you're saying you're just a vessel for that monster?" she demanded. "Then let me show you that I'm not afraid—and that I won't let him keep mocking the people I care about!"

She walked steadily onto the lava platform, the heat licking at her boots as the magma hissed below.

"Oh?" Fubuki tilted his head, his tone amused. "Let's see if you have the guts for it, girl."

Their Duel Disks snapped open in unison, glowing red against the burning sky. Energy surged as Victoria's Field Magic activated automatically, transforming the ground beneath them into a blazing arena where molten rivers circled the platforms.

"Field Magic – Crossover!" Both duelists glared across the molten divide, their voices overlapping in perfect unison. "Duel!" (Victoria:4000)(Fubuki:4000)

Victoria drew her opening hand, her expression steady despite the heat radiating from the lava around them. "I'll take the first turn," she declared, her Duel Disk lighting up in a pulse of violet light. "I Summon Clear Phantom!" (ATK:1200/DEF:800/Level 3)