This Card Is Our Bond

Mu Fengyu carefully stored the card in his backpack, then turned around with his arms crossed, wearing an expression that said, "You just don't get it."

"It's nothing, just preparing a nostalgia kill for myself. It'll give me a metaphysical buff bonus when the time comes."

"Momonga, do you know what the soul of a Duel King is?"

"Hmm, powerful cards? Superb calculation?"

Momonga listed two possibilities in succession. Mu Fengyu nodded, then shook his head and continued.

"A duelist's soul is, of course, [Friendship], [Passion], and [Bonds]. As long as a duelist has those three things, they will never lose."

Momonga clenched one hand into a fist and struck it against his other palm, saying in sudden realization.

"So this is what bonds are? I've learned a lot."

And so, Mu Fengyu instilled his unique philosophy that bonds made one invincible into Momonga.

Peroroncino watched the two of them from the side, gesturing and clapping as he did so. He somehow felt like he was watching a comedy.

Just then, footsteps came from one side of the corridor. Before any of the three noticed, Bukubukuchagama rammed her head into Mu Fengyu's waist, knocking him aside.

"You two, stop leading Momonga astray all the time."

"Bukubukuchagama, don't talk nonsense. Be careful or I'll sue you for slander. Peroroncino was clearly the one who led Momonga astray."

Hearing Bukubukuchagama's complaint, Mu Fengyu immediately dumped the blame on Peroroncino. Peroroncino, who had been enjoying the show, saw the flames reaching his own head and instantly refused to take it lying down.

"Hah? Are you still not awake? We're equally guilty, so stop pinning this on me."

"Heh, everyone knows that in the whole guild, you, Peroroncino, are the one who never does anything decent and is always looking for little girls."

"Are you trying to hurt each other, Yu?"

"Bring it on. Let's hurt each other. Neither of us better back down."

The two pressed their foreheads together and kept trying to overpower each other. Bukubukuchagama and Momonga watched the two clowns fool around, but while no one was paying attention, the pair slowly moved toward a corner.

They exchanged a glance, then immediately turned and ran, terrified of being caught again.

With the troublemakers gone, Bukubukuchagama spoke in an even gentler voice than usual.

"Momonga, don't keep learning from Peroroncino and the others. You know how terrible those two personalities are."

Perhaps because he rarely interacted with women, Momonga seemed rather at a loss before Bukubukuchagama. He could only keep nodding and admitting to all sorts of faults on his friends' behalf.

Meanwhile, after running for who knew how long, the two finally stopped at a corner.

"Whew. Honestly, Peroroncino, did you make your sister angry again? Why did I feel like she wanted to tear me apart just now?"

"How would I know? Maybe she's hit menopause. But that shouldn't happen this early."

After saying that, Peroroncino poked his head out to check. Seeing no one pursuing them, he leaned close to Mu Fengyu and whispered.

"But lately, I've had the feeling that my sister might be in love."

"What happened? Tell me everything."

Mu Fengyu's eyes lit up as he eagerly leaned in to listen. The two chatted back and forth like that.

They completely failed to notice the terrifying shadow behind them as they happily continued their discussion.

"Anything else? Should I say that you two know too much?"

"Wait, Sis, Yu was the one who egged me on. It really isn't my fault."

"Bukubukuchagama, I admit that Peroroncino was the one who came to tell me. I confess and hope for lenient treatment from our leader."

"This nostalgia kill is way too strong. It even brought back the place I least wanted to remember."

Mu Fengyu abruptly woke from his memories and began shaking his head repeatedly, trying to forget that unpleasant recollection.

Rebel watched as Mu Fengyu went from looking sorrowful, to ecstatic, and then frightened again. He had not been in a good mood to begin with, and now he was even angrier.

"Hey, are you fighting or not?"

"Sorry, sorry. Let's continue."

Mu Fengyu found his rhythm again and placed his hand on his deck.

This card was the final gift my companion left me. It carried deep friendship and an unfinished wish.

Even in the face of the greatest hardship, even if my life is threatened, I will firmly fulfill that wish.

"I overlay Aromaseraphy and Xyz Summon."

Mu Fengyu announced loudly, gripping the control console with both hands, his heart filled with determination.

Rebel stared at Mu Fengyu, his eyes full of shock and confusion as he asked doubtfully.

"But how can a single Xyz Monster continue summoning?"

Mu Fengyu took a deep breath. Tears glimmered in his eyes as he roared with all his strength.

"Of course, with the final gift my best friend left me! Spread your wings and soar, [Divine Arsenal] Zeus!"

At his call, Aromaseraphy emitted a dazzling radiance, as though it illuminated the entire arena.

A sound of mechanical compression rang out, as if even the air had been forced away.

Within the light, an enormous entity rose from where Aromaseraphy had stood. Its appearance instantly made the atmosphere in the arena tense and solemn.

Divine Arsenal Zeus spread its wings and soared high, immense energy gathering within them.

The roar of its turbine engines accelerating was deafening, and the entire arena seemed shaken by its power. The spectators below erupted into cheers for this one-of-a-kind card, hailed as the pinnacle of Xyz monsters and possessing godslaying power.

However, Rebel did not give up. His face twisted as he slammed his hand down on the control console and howled viciously.

"Don't think you can take me down that easily! I activate my Set Card, [Lightning Storm]! When I have no monsters on my field, destroy all monsters on my opponent's field!"

For a moment, dark clouds engulfed the arena, and peals of thunder rang out without end. The clouds gradually covered every monster on Mu Fengyu's field, as if they were about to destroy them in an instant.

Yet Mu Fengyu did not retreat. He stared resolutely at Rebel and shouted.

"Hmph, don't underestimate our bonds! Zeus, activate your effect! Remove two Xyz Materials and send every card on the field except Zeus to the Graveyard!"

As Mu Fengyu's words fell, the wing turbines behind Zeus accelerated without pause, gathering all their power within its chest.

The dark clouds gradually enveloped Zeus completely. Yet this did not make Zeus yield. On the contrary, it seemed to draw power from within the clouds.

Suddenly, a brilliant beam of light pierced the clouds, followed by one beam after another.

At last, amid a thunderous roar, the dark clouds vanished entirely, leaving only Zeus as it freely unleashed its power.

Its waves of light swept across the entire field from its center. Everything they touched gradually turned to ash, until only Zeus remained on the field, looking down upon all beneath it.

Rebel looked at Zeus on Mu Fengyu's field, fear and despair appearing in his eyes.

He knew that he could no longer resist this power. Mu Fengyu, meanwhile, took a deep breath and prepared to launch the final blow, shouting loudly.

"The final strike! Let him experience the power of a godslayer!"

As his words fell, Zeus unleashed a deafening roar.

Its power reached its peak at that moment, as though it would destroy the entire arena.

Finally, with a thunderous boom, Zeus released its final energy. That power instantly swept through the entire arena, submerging everything within it.