Ed and Amon were already meeting for more than the second time.
Back when he left the Forgotten Dimension last time, Ed already had this kind of premonition.
Because Saiou had told him that in the Forgotten Dimension, he might encounter another chance that would make him stronger.
At the time, he thought it meant meeting Tenjo Hikari here; but to his surprise, when he was preparing to leave this place, what he felt was a completely different scene.
Amon Garam.
This man gave him an eerie feeling.
After finishing his own business, Ed arrived at Duel Academy, ready to fulfill his promise to Tenjo Hikari, to study properly and strengthen himself. The professors here all seemed quite capable, so in the first few days after he came, he didn't seem too worried about the outside blockade and the Spirits' attacks.
Until, day after day, the Spirits' offensives seemed to grow stronger, and that pitch‑black Darkness worsened more and more; he could no longer study here with the mindset of leisure and vacation.
He left the main area of Duel Academy to explore those most dangerous zones, searching for every possible hidden threat.
It was during this kind of exploration in the outskirts that he luckily rescued some classmates in remote areas and brought them to Duel Academy's infirmary.
There, he saw Amon again.
The Amon of that time was completely different from the one he'd seen in the Forgotten Dimension—gone was his usual calm; instead he anxiously, tensely helped the teachers treat the students' wounds. Clearly the injured were classmates from this school he didn't even know, yet he looked as if he himself were the one getting hurt and bleeding.
At that time he understood that the intel he had investigated about Amon was definitely not just a façade by Amon or the Garam Financial Group.
Just like Amon had said in the Forgotten Dimension last time, Amon truly wanted to create a world where everyone is equal and no one is harmed.
"Amon, these days I've seen you helping the teachers save the students. I know you're not someone who hurts others. Right now nothing has truly begun yet. It's still not too late to pull back."
Ed drew a card, looked at Amon, and spoke seriously.
Hearing Ed's words, Amon calmly pushed up his glasses.
Just as Ed had been observing him, he too had, during this period, seen Ed many times—this non‑academy student just like him, a Professional Duelist who might not even have attended class for more than a few days, risking himself every day out on the outermost perimeter for some classmates he probably didn't even know, searching for possibilities and rescuing students trapped in danger.
Just from this behavior alone, he was worthy of the world's praise, and worthy of so many boys and girls around the world viewing him as an idol.
He acknowledged Ed and the others' efforts, but…
As things stood now, the school's medical system had completely collapsed, fundamentally unable to support the teachers in settling and treating all the unconscious students.
If things go on like this, can they really keep enduring?
The students with the weakest Spirit Power had already fallen into comas, and some who protected others during the process had also been attacked; in the end, the number of unconscious students would only grow, and as time passed, the students' condition would worsen more and more.
When even people at his and Ed's level fell unconscious, who would be left to protect this school?
Rather than silently waiting for death like this, he believed it was better to stake everything in a desperate struggle; that was still better than continuing such utterly hopeless Duels.
"Then do you have any other way?" Amon refuted him. "If you had a way, you wouldn't be here blocking me—you'd be using every second to deal with it, wouldn't you?"
On the side, Aiko was completely lost; she utterly couldn't understand what was going on, so she hurriedly asked.
Then, from Amon's calm words, she learned that Duel Academy Island was sealed and completely unable to contact the outside world. Hearing this, she immediately looked in disbelief at the people inside—in her impression, Duel Academy was doing just fine; just a few days ago she'd seen news reports saying it was flourishing and all that.
"Looks like the outside world's consciousness has been tampered with. No wonder there's been no rescue at all beyond the 'outer wall' for so long." Amon calmly pushed up his glasses and lowered his head slightly; the reflection on the lenses seemed to scrutinize Ed. "Under these circumstances, do you have any other method?"
Ed lightly clenched his fist and said, "I believe there will be… Minister Tenjo will definitely find a way."
Amon looked toward Tenjo Hikari, silent for a long while.
Earlier today he had indeed heard that Tenjo Hikari and the others seemed to have found some special clue.
But he…
Could those classmates wait until that time came?
Seeing that Amon didn't respond, Ed knew he hadn't managed to persuade him.
"Then, in the end, it still has to be settled with a Duel." Ed placed his hand on his Duel Disk. "Let's see just how strong this so‑called 'Absolute Power' of yours really is. If… that kind of power can't even defeat me, how could it possibly stand up to the Darkness hanging over our heads?"
"My turn. I draw one card." Back to the present.
He drew a card from his Deck into his hand, then glanced down at it once before immediately playing it: "Normal Summon, Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude."
If Judai's Soul Card was Bubbleman, then Ed's Soul Card was this Diamond Dude.
Diamond Dude, body inlaid all over with diamonds, calmly took the field and gazed off into the distance at his opponent.
"Diamond Dude's effect: I flip the top card of my Deck. If that card is a Spell Card, it is sent to the Graveyard; if it is not, it is returned to the bottom of the Deck.