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

Chapter 22 Five God Dragon

The sunlight bled through the drifting smoke as the two groups finally crossed paths among the ruined outskirts of the facility. The air still carried the tang of ozone and burning metal; puddles shimmered with reflections of the destruction behind them.

Rumi ran ahead, her boots splashing through the shallow water, eyes widening when she saw Ruri clinging to Shun's arm, both of them drenched. "What happened to you, Ruri? Brother? You both look so wet..."

Shun shook the water from his sleeves, his tone rough but steady. "Ruri fell into a sealed chamber that filled with water. Mom stayed behind to duel the one responsible while we worked to get her out."

Condor folded his arms, his usual grin subdued. "Is that so? Are you alright, Ruri?"

Ruri nodded faintly, brushing a strand of soaked hair from her cheek. "I'm fine... just tired. But what about you guys? You look like you've been through something too."

Rumi exchanged a look with Kaito before answering. "We managed to regroup with the others, and... we found out something about our Dragons." Her voice softened, cautious but resolute. "Apparently, they were given to us by free-willed humanoid AIs—beings who live inside the Duel Monsters world itself."

Jean blinked, startled. "Free-willed... humanoid AIs? You mean they think and act on their own?"

Ron pushed his glasses up, nodding. "Exactly. They're not programs anymore—they've become entities, existing independently inside the network of the Duel World. Our Dragons are extensions of them."

The group fell silent for a moment, the idea settling like static in the air.

Kaito glanced toward the horizon where the smoke from the collapsed lab still rose. "We can explain it in detail later. For now, we need to find the others—and warn them about what's inside Yuya and the others."

Ruri's eyes widened slightly. "You mean...?"

Kaito's expression hardened, his tone grave. "Yes. The Supreme King still sleeps within Yuya—and if we're not careful, he'll awaken again."

The wind carried a low hum from the wreckage behind them, like the echo of a duel field fading away. Rumi clenched her fists, glancing toward the distant silhouette of the city. "Then we don't have time to waste. Let's move."

The air thickened as a shadow stepped forward, the last remnants of the lab fire reflecting off his black glasses. His voice was calm, almost casual, but carried a dark undertone.

"If you think you're going to leave," he said, "then you're wrong."

Everyone froze. The man's dark coat swayed in the wind, and the faint shimmer of Duel Energy pulsed around him like a living aura.

Rebecca's eyes widened instantly. "Mr. T?" she breathed.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Oh? So one of you remembers me." His tone was sharp, deliberate. "Under orders from Mistress, none of you will leave this place alive."

The ground quaked. Shadows rose like liquid, swirling into a dome that enclosed them completely. Blue static arced through the air, sealing their exit paths one by one.

Ruri flinched, clutching Shun's sleeve. "Rebecca, who is this guy?"

Rebecca stepped forward, her voice steady despite the rising energy. "He's Trueman, also known as Mr. T—once the messenger of Darkness, or rather, Erebus." She glared at him. "And it looks like he's still serving that darkness."