Late night.
After finishing a day's work, Hasegawa Mizuki walked alone on the road home, the crisp sound of high heels hitting the ground echoing in the night.
Mizuki was a recent college graduate who had moved from another city to work here. Due to work demands, she often had to work late, and by the time she headed home, the streets were usually deserted.
Initially, she was a bit afraid to walk home alone at night, but after doing it many times, she naturally didn't mind anymore.
Besides, her mind was busy being angry right now, leaving no room for fear.
Because today some idiotic client requested for the department to design a product logo that could be "bigger while being smaller," infuriating the whole department.
Why don't you just ask for a "colorful black"?
I'll just take a brick and smack it on your forehead, and you'll immediately see what "colorful black" is...
Muttering to herself angrily as she walked, a sharp, strange cry suddenly pulled her back to reality.
Only then did Mizuki realize that the atmosphere felt a bit off today.
She didn't know if it was an illusion, but the streetlights seemed dimmer than usual, the lighting weak and lifeless. The sky appeared a thin, eerie blood-red color, and the wind sounded like something was wailing.
All the stars had gone out, leaving only the pale moonlight hanging quietly at the horizon, seeming to smirk silently. Something seemed to crawl in the darkness, bringing gusts of biting wind.
One of the streetlights next to her flickered off with a "snap" of distress.
Mizuki jumped in fright, her legs nearly giving out beneath her.
...Just a coincidence, right?
Due to the old wiring, it just happened to go out as she passed by.
What a lousy day, she thought sarcastically to herself.
Mizuki took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and turned to continue forward, only to suddenly freeze.
For a moment, she felt as if her breath had stopped.
A dark red backdrop, blood spreading across the ground. A foot slowly stepped into the pool of blood, the shadow large as a mountain, its projection covering Mizuki entirely.
A demon with a green face. It wore lavish clothes, crowned with horns the color of fresh blood. A grinning skeleton adorned its chest, blood-red eyes brimming with sarcasm.
Dark Ruler Ha Des!
Indeed, it was the Duel Monster known as "Dark Ruler Ha Des." Level six, attack power 2400, with the ability to negate the effects of monsters destroyed by battle.
Mizuki's legs gave out, and she found herself sitting on the ground.
Hologram?
Maybe someone was playing a twisted holographic joke on her?
She quickly dismissed the thought.
Because this demon... looked too real!
She felt she could sense its presence. The slight tremor with each step it took, its breath, a cold aura piercing the soul, inducing despair.
It was real!
Furthermore, this king of the Netherworld even opened its mouth, speaking.
As if someone was speaking through the beast's mouth.
"Your soul... I'll be taking it."
The white skeleton's mouth seemed to grin wider, mocking silently in the dark.
In the silent night, the area was deserted. Despite wanting to scream, Mizuki found her throat dry, unable to make a sound.
She closed her eyes in despair.
Shortly after, this terrified girl realized... nothing seemed to have happened.
She opened her eyes cautiously, surveying her surroundings, only to find the towering creature halted less than a meter in front of her.
Blockaded by a hero in green armor. His posture was upright, armor styled sleekly, with a golden belt around the waist.
But what caught her attention the most was the scarf around his neck.
The hero stood with his back to the girl, one hand gripping the monster's horn, using his body to stop its advance. His bright red scarf fluttered in the wind, conspicuous against the blood-red night sky, like a banner in the girl's eyes.
Masked Hero Blast!
"Ha!"
Blast kicked the mocking skeleton on Ha Des's chest hard. Ha Des staggered backward, squinting its red eyes in pain as if badly hurt.
"Are you alright?" A pleasant and gentle voice sounded in her ear.
Mizuki turned blankly, finding a boy beside her—it seemed. Young in appearance, yet the black coat he wore radiated a mature charm.
The Duel Disc on his hand, opened and displaying the summoned Monster Card, quickly led her to guess he had summoned the hero.
In her mind, the first thought wasn't why Duel Monsters could attack her or why his summoned monsters could materialize, but—
—That there existed such a handsome person!
Not only was his face attractive, but more importantly, there was an aura, a strong presence like one who holds power and authority, with his coat flying in the green wind, resembling a novel's illustration.
Moreover, it looked like the illustrations drawn to the readers' tastes!
Perhaps it was the near-death experience, In any case, Mizuki was instantly smitten.
She quickly remembered.
Wait, I've seen this guy before.
He's...
...The Duel King!
No chance, his striking looks made identification easy.
Not only Mizuki but the girl behind him likely shared her sentiment.
Chinai, following Youyu, quietly watched his silhouette, sinking into countless thoughts.
—Indeed, no one compares to our Youyu.
Ha Des, humiliated, let out a strange cry, staggering forward again.
In Duel Monsters, Ha Des's attack is 2450, originally higher than Blast's.
However, Blast's on-field skill halves the attack of target monsters. If processed by game data, Ha Des is now just an attack 1225 minion.
Youyu stepped forth, blocking the seated girl.
"Blast," he calmly said, "finish it."
Masked Hero Blast received the order, lunging forward. With whirlwind stirring, his legs struck alternately, each hit followed by a green gust effect, like a whip fiercely flogging Ha Des.
Ha Des staggered dazedly, wailing. It retreated several steps, raising its head in unwillingness, only to see Blast spring from its body, leaping mid-air, spinning, turning into a hurricane, slashing down.
Hurricane Slash!
With a single strike, Ha Des's body split open from the center, bursting into bloody mist, vanishing without a trace into the night.