Buzz——
As Tenjo Hikari advanced, the Purple Light Path rose above the sea.
Tenjo Hikari looked below the sea's surface, and vaguely, he could see the massive Earth Painting drawn on the seafloor.
No wonder it couldn't be found with normal means; it's buried beneath the sea.
If not for Yusei, he really wouldn't know how long it would take to find this place.
Bang, wind and waves surged from all directions, seemingly about to knock Tenjo Hikari down, sweeping toward him.
As the waves were about to crash onto Tenjo Hikari, accompanied by a dragon's roar, a jet-black Skulls Dragon slid across the sky, instantly forcing the surrounding waves back.
The Netherworld Dragon flew alongside Tenjo Hikari, howling above the sea.
Tenjo Hikari could feel the emotions coming from the Netherworld Dragon.
It seemed, it too was getting excited.
"Woooooo————"
From the deep sea, a sound emerged.
Tenjo Hikari suddenly felt his left hand getting warm; he glanced at his left hand, and at that moment, the red-black Dark Mark finally emitted a strange color.
Is it coming?
Boom, boom!
Several tentacles, like giant pillars ascending to the sky, rose from the sea, with strange patterns even drawn on them. Unnoticed, a massive, terrifying creature emerged from the dark sea.
Moments later, the sky turned gloomy, and a gigantic black-purple squid, covering the sky, emerged from the sea, roaring with its bloodthirsty mouth wide open.
"It's it!" Mud Dragon King exclaimed in a low voice.
Earthbound Servant Geo Kraken!
The Evil God tasked with overseeing it!
Geo Kraken rose from the sea without any hesitation and swung its tentacle, striking down toward Tenjo Hikari.
"Roar!!" Seeing the tentacle coming down, the Netherworld Dragon showed no fear at all, charging toward the tentacle.
The tentacle and claw collided, bursting forth with intense colors unlike anything recognized by duelists in this world.
With the eerie colors as the clash's center, a powerful heat erupted, forcing both parties to slightly retreat.
"Roar…" After the clash, the Netherworld Dragon slowly flapped its wings, yet didn't pursue its advantage but instead flew backward, retreating a distance.
"Ooooooo!!!!!!!!!!"
However, after the brief clash, Geo Kraken let out an earth-shattering howl.
The sea's surface seemed to start boiling.
"Roar!!" The Netherworld Dragon roared back, a single tear slipping from the corner of its eye, falling into the sea.
Long before humanity existed, it and Geo Kraken had already known each other.
The Gods created the Power of Synchro, each God mastering its respective power, like the giant before with the "Hundred Eyes Dragon", or his "leader" mastering the Negative Synchro Power.
Yet among the countless gods, dragons, and Subordinate Gods, some chose a distinct path, like it, like Geo Kraken.
It was lucky, still not kicked out of being a Duel Dragon. Though no longer following a Signer, it now had a master more trustworthy, but Geo Kraken was different—its master couldn't even protect itself, let alone shelter it.
So when it saw Geo Kraken attacking Tenjo Hikari indiscriminately without even starting a duel, it immediately acted, hoping to awaken its "old acquaintance."
The familiar clash made it shed a tear.
"Geo Kraken, why are you attacking the Mud Dragon King?" Tenjo Hikari loudly asked from above the sea.
Though he promised Yusei to help find the Earth-Painted Winged Dog Demon, there was more urgent content for him before that.
The giant squid seemed to regain some sanity, possibly due to the Netherworld Dragon.
It looked at Tenjo Hikari racing across the sea, saw the strange red glow emitted by the Dark Mark on Tenjo Hikari's left hand.
That was the mark of its "leader"!
"Hiss——"
Its countless tentacles uncontrollably lashed against the sea surface.
Even regaining consciousness, due to chains, bonds, it still had to fulfill its "duty".
Tenjo Hikari, effortlessly crossing various difficulties under the waves and tentacles' lashes, demonstrated a "Rapid Acceleration Technique" that left Geo Kraken in awe—though in truth, Tenjo couldn't drive, it was all the D-wheel's doing, with Tenjo only providing energy.
Nonetheless, no matter the reason, since Tenjo Hikari was dodging its attacks so easily, it now had the chance to muster the strength to resist its enslavement and answer Tenjo Hikari's question.
It raised a tentacle, pointing to the Netherworld Dragon, then to Mud Dragon King.
Mud Dragon King confusedly scratched its head, speaking, "What does that mean?"
However, the squid couldn't speak.
Bound by countless chains, shackles, it couldn't even communicate.
"Mud Dragon King and Netherworld Dragon... Do they have anything in common—are you trying to say it's because Mud Dragon King possesses the power of the Red Dragon?" Tenjo Hikari suddenly recalled Mud Dragon King's past experiences.
The Mud Dragon King became a Synchro Monster because it once received the blessing of the Red Dragon, thus acquiring part of the Synchro power.
The Earthbound Servant Geo Kraken floated up and down, seemingly in agreement with Tenjo Hikari's speculation.
"So that's how it is..." Even the Mud Dragon King understood at this moment.
During this time, following Tenjo Hikari, he learned many secrets about this world, so he also knew about the dimension's struggle for "Synchro".
Moreover, the God who saved him back then seems to be the current "The One God", so it's quite normal for him to be targeted by the Earthbound God, who then sent specialized "slaves" to press him step by step.
Initially, it might have been just a rash decision to wipe out the offending Mud Dragon King when it suddenly appeared, but upon discovering that Mud Dragon King had received aid from the Red Dragon and possessed a trace of the Red Light's Synchro power, the Earthbound God controlling Geo Kraken would absolutely not let Mud Dragon King go!
It wants to seize the "Red Dragon" Synchro power within Mud Dragon King.
Because, it desires ascension!
Suddenly, a tentacle leapt out from the seabed, attacking the completely unprepared Tenjo Hikari.
"Hikari!" Mud Dragon King exclaimed in shock.
The reminiscing Netherworld Dragon broke into a cold sweat in fright, quickly turning around, crazily rushing back.
However—
Snap.
Without even the slightest disturbance, the tentacle struck a point just centimeters from Tenjo Hikari, without even causing his body to tremble.
Tierra appeared next to Tenjo Hikari at some unknown time, yawning: "I thought it would be a duel, why is it an obstacle race? Speed up quickly, don't mind the obstacles, Tenjo Hikari."
The Netherworld Dragon and Mud Dragon King slowly reduced their speed.
"Heh..." Tenjo Hikari chuckled twice, then pressed the accelerator tightly, rushing forward madly.
Even if Geo Kraken tried all sorts of ways to stop him from reaching the goal and completing the squid's sea painting, it couldn't truly stop Tenjo Hikari. In the end, Tenjo Hikari circumnavigated the sea's surface completely, completing the painting.
"Woo———" Geo Kraken let out a long sound on the sea's surface, like the horn of an ocean liner.
Sounding like crying, also like liberation.
Clack.
Clack—
The chains bound on it, the numerous shackles around its tentacles began to collapse.
It emitted its final call on the sea's surface, then turned into a bit of purple fragments, disappeared into the air. Finally, it completely transformed into a card, wrapped in purple light, flying to Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari caught the card, and the next moment, countless scenes flashed before his eyes.
These scenes contained things that Geo Kraken wanted to convey through memories, as well as methods to find the "Earth-Painted Winged Dog Demon", and most importantly...
In Geo Kraken's memories lay a giant deity engulfed in flames, commanding countless giant serpents.
Its appearance caused the earth to burn spontaneously; its appearance made spirits kneel in worship.
"Human, who permitted you to gaze upon me!?" Suddenly, it [turned its head] towards Tenjo Hikari.
The giant deity waved its fist down, shaking the entire planet.
Striking toward the direction of Tenjo Hikari's gaze.
In the memory, it actually noticed Tenjo Hikari!
Tenjo Hikari abruptly opened his eyes, even Tierra gasped sharply.
In the shared memory, she too saw that existence—
What was that existence?!
Even she felt a trace of... fear!
Tenjo Hikari slowly rubbed his brow.
Earthbound God... Red Nova Dragon!
The true god of the Earthbound Gods!
Meanwhile.
In the Upper City Area, in the Noble House located at [2], a group of nobles rarely donning formal attire, waited before a device.
The next moment, the massive Dimension Gate slowly rotated, and a group of soldiers emerged from it, lining up on both sides of the road.
A group of nobles wore smiles on their faces, used "flattering" expressions to gaze at the Dimension Gate.
Finally, a middle-aged man wearing a purple professor's uniform and cloak strode down from within.
"Ah, Professor Akuma, didn't expect you'd personally come—haha."
"Greetings, noble Duke." Akaba Leo greeted expressionlessly.
"Hahaha, didn't expect you'd want to come personally. Well then, without delay, let me guide you to the Red Lotus Land you wish to see."