Security Maintenance Bureau—Main Control Room.
The image flickered in the darkness on the enormous floating projection screen.
It showed the city's elevated highway track, neon lights carving flowing ribbons through the night. Two D-Wheels raced along at astonishing speed, their engines roaring clearly even through the recording.
One of the D-Wheels was entirely white, its metallic wheel hubs gleaming beneath the lights.
Lucky Wheel, the signature ride of Jack Atlas, the former King.
"This is surveillance footage from last night." The technician quickly pulled up the data. "The location was the East Sector Highway Loop, at approximately 2:15 a.m."
Kira stood before the screen with his arms folded, his gaze fixed on the footage. Beside him stood Sagiri Shinkage, the sharp and capable blue-haired, long-legged Investigation Section Chief. It was Sagiri's call that had brought him to this control room.
In the footage, Jack's D-Wheel carved through a bend in an almost perfect arc, while another black D-Wheel clung close behind. From the video, the two were clearly engaged in a Riding Duel.
"Who was riding the other D-Wheel?" Kira asked.
"Apparently another WRGP contestant, but that isn't important." Shinkage said. "Let's skip straight to the outcome of this Duel."
The technician fast-forwarded the recording to the Duel's conclusion.
The footage on the floating projection screen suddenly became intense.
Jack Atlas's wild laughter seemed to pierce through the recording as he raised an arm, his Duel Disk erupting with crimson light—
"Shatter! 'Red Dragon Archfiend'—Direct Attack!!"
In an instant, scarlet flames erupted across the night sky! The enormous dragon spread wings that blotted out the heavens, lava-like patterns coursing between its scales. Roaring, it dived down, its claws wrapped in blazing inferno as it struck at the rider of the black D-Wheel!
"Argh—!"
Flames that seemed almost tangible blasted from