Chapter Text
It was the Final match of the Duel Monsters Regional Championship, and the stadium was shaking from the roar of the crowds.
It had been hours since the sun had gone down, but that hadn’t slowed things in the slightest. Floodlights were keeping the field bright as day, and Jumbotrons were broadcasting every move the duelists made. People screamed their lungs out, armies of feet stamping the ground. 20,000 pairs of hands clapped in rhythm.
And why wouldn’t they?
’Darklord Nasten, attack his monster! Howling Fall Slash!”
‘I discard Swift Scarecrow from my hand! Your attack is negated, and the battle phase ends!’
On the field before them, a girl with long, black hair stamped her foot as her monster, a winged Lion-man, veered off-course, slashing the decoy. ‘I play two cards face-down and end my turn.’
Across from her, a tanned boy with messy, black hair smiled wolfishly as he drew.
’This next card normally takes two tributes, but if I use a DARK monster it only needs one. I sacrifice my Wicked Warden to summon Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair!’
The reason for the world’s love of Duel Monsters was as obvious as it was surreal. What person with a beating heart wouldn’t feel it race at the sight of myths made real, of childhood fantasies brought to life? A full-size dragon, fangs and black scales so lifelike you’d think you could touch it, it’s full-throated roar a match for all the voices in the stands.
‘Let’s see, I have one card face-down. Now, Darkest Diabolos, attack her monster! Crimson Blaze of Doom!’
Not that the crowd didn’t try, their cries reaching new heights as bright, red light gathered in the dragon’s mouth, turning the already lit stadium blinding with it’s power.
‘Not so fast! I play my trap card, Rising Energy! By discarding one card from my hand, I give my monster 1500 attack points!’
The girl’s monster swelled with a red aura of it’s own, growing in size until it matched the dragon.
Darkest Diabolos: 3000 ATK Points
Darklord Nasten: 2600 -> 4100 ATK Points
The crowd may have been losing it’s cool, but she wasn’t. Even as she gained the advantage, she kept her eyes glued on her opponent. Waiting.
The boy’s smile didn’t waver either. “Nice try, chica. But now I play my Trap Card, Fiery Fervor! Since your monster is stronger than mine, it doubles Diablos’ Attack Points!”
Darkest Diabolos: 3000 -> 6000 ATK Points
The cheers turned to gasps. Neither duelist looked at the screen tracking their life points. You didn’t get this far in the sport still needing a machine to do the math for you. More than a few eyes in the stands did, though.
Blair Flannigan: 1700 Life Points
Diego Diablo: 1400 Life Points
The boy was about to win.
“What else you got?” His bravado was a little annoying, but the pro league was full of guys like that. It was as much a tactic as the cards they used, so you couldn’t let it get to you. So Blair forced a smile back.
”Well since you asked for it: I play my second trap, Blazing Mirror Force!”
The crowd’s roar shifted, fell and rose, as human voices went quiet and the card’s flaming barrier sprang to life.
’This card will destroy your monster, and then we’ll both take damage equal to half it’s original attack points! Know what that means?’
Diego finally dropped the smile as he stopped to think. “Original… Half of 3000 is 1500, so…”
’This duel’s over!’
For a precious second the screams died down, everyone going quiet as they waited to see what would happen.
Diego closed his eyes… and smiled again.
‘I pay half my life points to activate a trap card from my hand. Red Reboot!’
Triumphantly, he held a card up in the air for everyone to see. “This card resets your trap, putting it back face-down on the field. What’s more, you won’t be able to activate any more traps for the remainder of the turn!’
There was the sound of a security alarm, clear even over the roars and flames, and the blazing shield sputtered and died around her.
’NOW it’s over!’
And it was. Blair felt her jaw clench as the dragon’s attack finally released, a wave of red fire racing to annihilate her monster. But even as the flames washed over her, even as her life points hit zero and the airhorns sounded her defeat, she stood her ground. She was a professional Duelist, and she wouldn’t act anything less.
The game had ended, the blinding light show finally dimming to a level that didn’t hurt the eyes. Out on the field, the two duelists walked to the center to shake hands and congratulate each other. The cheering of the crowd, the roars of celebration, would go on for quite some time yet.
But in one corner of the stadium, at the edge of a tunnel that led into the guts of the superstructure, one figure remained silent. His appearance was unremarkable, dressed in a janitor’s uniform with a hat pulled low to hide his features. The only thing that would’ve stood out to people if they had been able to see it were his bright, red eyes.
There he stood, leaning on a wall with a broom in hand, not even pretending to be on the job. The only sign of what he was thinking was a sly grin, spreading across his face.
“And there you have it, folks! What a match! Both sides gave it their all, neither backing down till the very end. But when the dust is settled, it is the upstart Diego Diablo who has taken the gold!”
The praise went on as the two shook hands. Blair worked to keep her posture straight, and to smile genuinely. She couldn’t quite hide the pain of losing, but neither would she let it control her. A few deep breaths on stage were all she allowed herself.
Diego was taller than Blair; a little handsome, with messy black hair. He had that cocky grin on his face, but again not too arrogant or anything. To anyone watching, he was the stereotypical young athlete.
“Hey, good game.” He said. “You pulled out all the stops.”
”Yeah, you too. And congratulations on making the World Championship.” She replied. “Better not lose early there, all right?”
”I don’t think that’s gonna be a problem.” he said with a laugh. And then, leaning in to pat her on the back in a sportsman-like hug, he added something else. Quietly. “Speaking of which, I heard something before the game. Something about a deal with your team?”
Blair froze.
”Hope it isn’t true,” he added, pulling away and stepping back. The words were sad, but the look on his face was not. “I’d really like to face you again. Not that many pretty faces around here, you know what I mean?”
Diego turned, that same smile growing as he headed towards the cameras and commentators waiting to one side.
Blair stayed in that spot, silent, until a referee called and started guiding her off the platform.
Her hands, clenched into fists again, were shaking the whole way.
The janitor had watched impassively as the duel played out before him, the only sign he gave of his thoughts on the battle was a sardonic smile spread across his face. Only now, as the rest of the crowd began to move towards the center to cheer their heroes, did he turn and start making his way into the shadows.
The figure pulled out a phone and dialed, pressing it to his ear. The same roar celebrating the match also masked the words he spoke.
”Hey, boss! Bet you can’t guess where I’m at… aww don’t be like that. Where’s your sense of humor? Yeah, just wrapped up. You missed a hell of a duel.”
……..
“Mhm. Yeah, just as expected. I do believe this checks the last box on our preliminary list. No, wait! Second-to-last, I’m sorry. Assuming nothing has changed, of course. If that’s the case, I take it we have the green light?”
…….
“So serious. You’re gonna shorten your lifespan if you keep this up. Okay okay, look, I get it; you’ve put a lot into this, you wanna be sure you’re getting what you paid for. I’m just asking that before you get mad, remember you came to me. And me and my boys have delivered so far, have we not?”
…….
“Thank you. So please, have a little faith. I’ll report again once we’re ready to move. And hey, jokes aside, I’m actually serious about the loosening up part. It’ll help you once the real show starts. Call it friendly advice!”
He ended the call as he made his way downward, steps echoing against the tunnel. His smile stayed the same.
“After all, no plan survives contact with the enemy. And we are going up against some real hitters here. Hmm, speaking of, I should find out how He is doing…”
(Meanwhile, in another part of the world…)
Out on the ocean, a cargo freighter was approaching a shore after a long journey.
It was night there too, but there were far fewer lights to see by. That didn’t bother the boy sitting out in the open on it’s main deck, though. Neither did the cold or the wind as a gust swept the ship, stirring his hair. The figure, whoever he was, gladly traded those comforts for the chance to look up and see the stars.
Across the deck from him, by a door leading inside, another figure stood watching him quietly. As the boy cast his gaze above, she leaned against the frame and mused to herself.
“Out here again, huh? Just what are you looking at, I wonder. Are the stars really that beautiful? Or is there something else? Maybe something you’re trying to find out there…”
The boy didn’t answer. Perhaps he didn’t hear her at all. Out there in the hours before dawn he just continued to look up into the heavens, endless and glittering before him.