["It's decided!"]
["The winner is Fujiki Kira!"]
["It's been eight years since the last Duel King was crowned. At this historic moment, we finally welcome the second-generation Duel King—"]
"..."
The room was silent, wrapped tightly in the thick darkness of night, as though even the air had solidified into a shadowy mass. The only light in this darkness came from the television, where the news endlessly looped the same story.
Principal MacKenzie sat on the sofa, tapping his fingers on the armrest.
"Duel King, Fujiki Kira…"
He immediately recalled the two times he had indirectly crossed paths with this new Duel King.
Once was a riding duel in that small town. His invincible King Tiger Summon Lock ironically enabled the opponent's infinite burn damage LOOP.
The second time, he possessed his top general, Reggie Mackenzie, himself, using an aggressive Angel deck and even the planetary series' Venus. Yet not only did he fail to secure victory, Venus was even used by the opponent to backfire against him, locking him out with his own Venus, making him so mad he rage-quit the network.
And now, such a duelist had become the king of this era.
Principal MacKenzie fell silent.
It wasn't that he was afraid of this person. Tragoedia feared nothing—he once stormed the royal palace and challenged the Pharaoh and the Seven Priests head-on. He considered himself invincible and did not think he was afraid of any opponent.
He wasn't afraid, but just thinking about having to face this Duel King again in the future, remembering that endless stream of bizarre tactics, gave him a headache...
At this moment, his trusted aide, David Rabb, a student from the American Duel Academy like Reggie, entered the room.
"Well?" Without turning his head, Mackenzie asked indifferently.
"We've got her. Player Reina, ranked fifteenth in the pro scene, specializing in an Ice deck," David stood respectfully behind him. "She's strong—even I had to work hard to take her down."
"But she's under control now?" Mackenzie asked flatly.
"Of course, Professor. Just as you ordered."
David's lips curled into an increasingly twisted grin.
"That woman really put up a fight, struggling until the very end. Heh, but she's destined to be ours—like prey caught in a spider's web, the more she struggles, the tighter she's bound. That despair, though, is intoxicating..."
He only realized he was off-topic when he noticed the professor's displeased glare, quickly correcting himself.
"But she's completely under control now, a member of the 'Planet Users'," David said quickly. "You were insightful, Professor. She's got great synergy with the 'Mercury' of the planetary series."
Principal MacKenzie grunted heavily.
"Naturally," he said. "If I hadn't seen her potential, I wouldn't have sent you for her. Now that she's accepted Mercury and my power, as a Planet User, she might even become stronger than you, David."
"You should feel a sense of urgency, David."
A swirl of black mist rose from Principal MacKenzie's body, his eyes flashing darkly.
"Anyone—anyone—even you, who can't prove their worth will be eliminated."
David shivered inside, bowing repeatedly, but a flash of malice flickered in his hidden gaze.
Eliminated...me?
But Mackenzie didn't bother with his reaction, turning back to the TV.
"Fujiki Kira, the new Duel King," Mackenzie said coolly. "To be honest, he's a bit beyond what I anticipated."
"A tough opponent?"
David quickly regained his composure and asked.

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