Chapter 368

"We agreed on today, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

"Eh...?"

"It's the Black Rose Witch!"

"Ah, right, right... we're going to the Fallen Zone to defeat the witch..."

"..."

Early in the morning, the two little boys conspired via video call to find the witch from urban legend, saying they would use the strongest card deck to defeat her.

Yusei had heard the twins mention this last night. According to Ryuusei, the witch's duels are said to be very powerful, and the duels can cause real damage. The loser will be eliminated by the witch, making her a very dangerous person.

Online witnesses claim that the witch roams the Fallen Zone. Out of curiosity, Ryuuga and his friends decide to go there to find the witch and fight her.

Not long after, Ryuuga ended the call and excitedly ran back to her bedroom to change her clothes.

Ryuusei: "Yusei, I'm entrusting Ryuuga to your care today."

"Yes, I'll keep an eye on him."

Last night, Ryuusei asked Yusei to take care of this matter, because Ryuusei weak and needs to stay home to look after the house, so Yusei can only follow behind Ryuuga.

Only when an adult was with Ryuuga did Ryuusei dare to let Ryuuga go out.

Soon, Ryuuga set off alone with Yusei's modified Duel Disk. After Ryuuga had been gone for a while, Yusei finally came out.

Because Yusei didn't want to spoil the children's fun, he secretly followed behind...

The scene shifts, and Yusei follows Ryuuga and the others to a small town.

This place is somewhat dilapidated, but it's not like the Satellite District, which is full of ruins. It was probably affected by the accident that happened in the Satellite District 17 years ago. However, because it is located far from the epicenter of the accident, the impact was not as great as in the Satellite District, so there are many more people living here than in the Satellite District.

Many of the residents here are people who have been arrested and marked by the Security Bureau. They cannot go to the city, nor do they want to be sent to the ruins of the satellite district. Thus, this town is also known as the Fallen Zone.

As they walked, Yusei followed them to an open space where a large group of people were playing cards. Seeing the crowd, Ryuuga and the others went up to inquire about the witch.

Yusei, however, showed little interest in this and merely observed the crowd around him.

But suddenly, Yusei felt something strange in his right arm again. "Not again?!"

At the same time, a commotion arose ahead, and the crowd began to flee in this direction.

"Oh no, it's a witch!"

"It will be eliminated, run!"

"..."

"A witch?! She really appeared? Where? Where?" Upon hearing that a witch had appeared, Ryuuga and the others did not run away; instead, they became even more curious and crowded around her.

Upon seeing this, Yusei realized something was wrong and quickly gave chase.

Just then, a sudden gust of wind arose in front of them.

Rumble rumble rumble...!!!

With a deafening roar, several thick, black thorny vines tore through the ground, instantly ripping the surrounding area to shreds. Some even pierced the surrounding buildings, smashing through the walls on the spot.

As luck would have it, one of the vines actually stretched towards Ryuuga and his group.

"Waaaaah--!!!"

It looked like the shot was about to hit Ryuuga, but at that critical moment...

"Fly, Stardust Dragon!!"

'Roar--]';∞ ['liu±∑~∈] ·′qun:!!'

With a dragon's roar, the vine stopped advancing, and only then did Ryuuga and the others dare to open their eyes.

"Stardust Dragon... It's Yusei!"

Ryuuga was taken aback when he saw the Stardust Dragon opening its barrier, but he immediately realized what was happening and looked around in surprise. He quickly spotted Yusei running behind him.

"Ryuuga!"

"Yusei!"

In no time, Yusei arrived at Ryuuga and the others. "Are you alright?"

"It's alright, I was really scared just now, thank goodness you arrived in time!"

Ryuuga was genuinely terrified and cried. If Yusei hadn't intervened in time, his small frame would have been smashed into a pulp.

"Ryuuga... who is this man...?" Tian Bing, Ryuuga's friend who was slumped next to him, asked nervously.

"His name is Yusei, and he is..." Ryuuga was about to introduce him.

However, Yusei suddenly stepped forward and shielded them behind him, saying, "We can talk later; the danger isn't over yet."

He was staring intently ahead...

Slowly, the smoke and dust dissipated, and the legendary witch's figure finally became clear.

Chapter Fifteen: Aki Izayoi, Invitation

The city's Public Security Maintenance Bureau.

"Excuse me, I'm Akutsu."

"Is there something you need?"

A middle-aged man with long gray hair and dressed in gray opened a video call and spoke with a researcher named Akutsu.

Immediately, the person on the other end of the screen reported excitedly, "MOMENT has produced the same huge reaction as the night before! It seems that two dragons are clashing again!"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's eyes sharpened, and he immediately asked, "Where did the conflict take place?"

"A massive energy reaction was detected just now in the Fallen Zone!"

Please record all the details.

"Yes, sir."

Akutsu bowed and then ended the video call.

Just then, a short boy with clown eye makeup exclaimed with delight, "Oh my gosh~, has that man finally appeared?!"

"Hehehe~, aside from the King and that little girl in the top-level area, the only two Dragon Markers who will appear in the Fallen Zone are the remaining witch and the man from the Satellite Area~."

"Yago, take the invitation to see that man."

"Yes, sir!"

The short man named Yago saluted and withdrew, leaving the middle-aged man alone, who knows what he was thinking.

At the same time, Yusei was confronting the witch.

The woman was wrapped in a black cloak, had long rose-red hair, and wore a silver-white mask painted with blood and tears, obscuring her face.

Moreover, a rose dragon covered in crimson petals floated behind her, and Yusei naturally recognized the dragon.

As Yusei was sizing her up, she was also sizing up Yusei and the Stardust Dragon behind him.

"Is that dragon protecting you?"

"A level seven Black Rose Dragon, so you were also chosen as a companion by the Red Dragon?"

Upon hearing Yusei's question, the woman was taken aback for a moment, then angrily retorted, "What do you mean? Are you playing me?"

Yusei did not answer directly, but instead raised his right arm and took off his glove, revealing a red glowing mark.

"That mark... you are one too..." The woman behind the mask seemed surprised, then disgusted. "A mark that shouldn't exist!"

"You hate this mark? No, I can sense your sadness. Can you tell me why?" Yusei asked calmly after sensing the emotions emanating from the dragon mark.

"This is ridiculous. Don't act like you know me so well..."

Just as the Black Rose Witch was about to make her move, she saw Yusei's sincere eyes and swallowed back the words she was about to say.

"Hmph, I'll let you off this time!" The witch sneered, then flung the card away. A blinding light shot up, and her figure was instantly engulfed by the dazzling light.

When the light faded, the witch and the Black Rose Dragon had vanished, leaving only ruins.

"They've left...?" Yusei murmured softly upon seeing this.

He looked at his right arm, where the dragon seal that had been glowing dimmed again.

Although I don't know who she is behind the mask, she doesn't seem to have left any bad impression on me.

On the other side, Aki Izayoi ran wildly until she turned into a narrow alleyway and stopped to rest.

"Ha... ha..." She took off her mask and gasped for breath.

After catching her breath, she raised her head. It was a very delicate face with a pair of beautiful yellow-brown eyes, which she gazed at for a long time in the direction of the Fallen Zone.

After a long while, Aki Izayoi murmured softly, "A companion? This is the first time someone has ever said this to me. Even Divine has never said anything like this..."

"How could someone like me deserve companions?" she said self-deprecatingly, but when she thought of Yusei's eyes, which showed no fear and even concern for her, she subconsciously hoped for it.

"That man also has similar marks; perhaps he truly understands my heart..."

Just thinking about that cold, handsome face, she felt a considerable fondness for this man she was meeting for the first time. "I wonder if I'll ever see him again?"

As night fell, Yusei led Ryuuga and his friends away from the town and back into the city.

Along the way, Ryuuga kept praising Yusei to his friends about how amazing he was, and also chatted enthusiastically about the supernatural events that had happened that day.

Although the danger posed by the witch had left an indelible mark on them, they quickly forgot about it, proving themselves to be both incompetent and fond of playing.

After seeing her friends off, Ryuuga went home with Yusei.

On their way back, however, they encountered a short man with an extremely lewd laugh.

This person was none other than Yago from the Public Security Maintenance Bureau, who had followed Yusei all the way here after discovering him.

Seeing him blocking his path, Yusei frowned. "What brings you here?"

"Hehehe~, nice to meet you, Yusei Fudo. I'm Yago, the Special Investigation Room Chief ~."

Upon hearing this, Yusei's expression changed, and Ryuuga also panicked.

"Special Investigation Room Chief...?! Is he here to arrest Yusei?"

Yusei quickly shielded Ryuuga, coldly saying, "This has nothing to do with the child. Arrest me instead."

"No, no, don't worry~. I'm not here to arrest you. I'm here on orders from Commander Rex Godwin to deliver a message~."

Yusei had a bad feeling. "What does the superior want with me?"

"This is it..." Yago then took out an envelope containing an invitation and a photograph from his pocket and handed it to Yusei.

Yusei picked it up and looked at it, his eyes widening instantly. "Ah..."

The only reason was because the photo showed Larry and his three companions from the satellite area.

Yago placed his right hand on his left chest and continued, "I invite you to participate in the Duel of Fortune Cup. If you refuse, I'll make the four people in the photo suffer unimaginable pain."

"Got it? Hehehehe~!" With that, he turned and left.

Only after Yago disappeared from their sight did Ryuuga dare to speak, "Yusei... are you alright?"

"It's alright." Yusei clenched the envelope in his hand, then gently shook his head and replied, "As long as I participate in this competition as required, everyone will be saved... I might have to trouble you for a few more days."

"Yes, Yusei, you can stay as long as you want!"

Chapter Sixteen: The Lucky Cup Opens, First Match

"Everybody listen!"

"The Duel of Fortune Cup has finally begun!!"

The host, sporting an exaggerated pompadour, held the microphone and shouted in an over-the-top tone, eliciting deafening cheers. The entire venue was packed with people, and every seat was occupied.

As is customary, King is expected to perform a high-speed car show at this major competition. After the Red Dragon Archfiend appeared, Jack drove the Lucky Wheel and showed off his driving skills, flying off the track and then landing steadily on the central dueling platform in an extremely unscientific manner.

"There can only be one king, and that is me! Who dares to duel me?"

After Jack asked his aunt for another kids' meal (just kidding), the floor below opened, and a group of contestants slowly rose up and appeared on the field.

After everyone appeared, Jack and Yusei made eye contact at the same time.

'You really came, Yusei!'