"President Beckas, it's been a long time."
Principal Jiaodao warmly greeted President Beckas of the International Fantasy Association to take a seat in front of him.
Beckas took a sip of hot tea and looked up at him.
"So, how's the GX Tournament progressing? Is it going smoothly?"
For some reason, the moment he was asked this question, Principal Jiaodao immediately remembered scenes of the invited visitors from outside the academy being beaten miserably by the elite students, doubting their skills with cards.
"Um... it's going smoothly? Maybe... sort of."
But Principal Jiaodao understood that Beckas wasn't really concerned about the tournament itself, so he quickly changed the subject.
"But the card you mentioned, 'Ultimate D', hasn't been found yet."
"I see, what a pity. I was hoping that holding the GX Tournament might attract the card's owner to show up..."
Beckas leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, and took another sip of tea.
"But I still don't quite understand, President... is it true? That Ed's father's murder is connected to a terrible crisis?"
Principal Jiaodao asked.
"Is it related to the card Ed's father designed in the end?"
Beckas nodded, "Our association works with various scientific departments to integrate the pinnacle of human wisdom into card design.
The astronomy department discovered a terrifying fact."
Principal Jiaodao was taken aback, "A terrifying fact?"
"Yes. According to the observatory's data, it was discovered that billions of years ago, a white hole in a corner of the cosmos released a massive amount of energy."
Principal Jiaodao: "A white hole?"
"White holes and black holes are entirely different entities. There's a theory that suggests a white hole is the exit for the dark energy a black hole produces. The massive energy released from there, which we call 'Light Fluctuation', might have already invaded Earth more than a decade ago."
Principal Jiaodao was shocked, "Are you saying... Ed's family incident...?"
"Yes, we believe there's a possibility." Beckas nodded.
"Furthermore, with more in-depth research, we've made new discoveries. In human history so far, many conflicts, disasters, and wars causing countless deaths can be traced to the shadow of Light Fluctuation."
This theory surprised Principal Jiaodao even more: "Are you suggesting... even the wars in human history might be caused by Light Fluctuation?"
"No, we can't assert that just yet. But we believe there is at least some influence," Beckas said. "Light Fluctuation has the potential to make people lose control, unleash their dark side.
Some warlords and infamous dictators indeed may have been influenced by the fluctuation. And now, they're eyeing the power of cards, the potential within them.
It's likely that Ed's father was killed because he was a card designer in our association, and quite a genius. His talent was exploited by evil forces, leading to the creation of that forbidden card."
Principal Jiaodao frowned, "But if it's been so many years... has this power not weakened at all?"
"That's not quite right. You should also know that cards possess incredible power, capable of sealing the Three Phantom Demons, Three Phantom Gods, and such unbelievable existences."
"Do you mean the Ultimate D also holds such power?" Principal Jiaodao was astonished.
"That I can't say for sure... but leaving it unchecked will undoubtedly pose a new threat," Beckas said. "So, we must uncover the truth of that year's incident and find out the whereabouts of that card..."
As he spoke, the door was suddenly pushed open from outside, and a man in a black suit rushed in, gasping for breath.
Beckas frowned, "Tengawa, didn't I tell you to wait outside?"
He was a subordinate brought by Beckas from the International Fantasy Association.
"Yes, President Beckas, but... it's an emergency!"
The man in the black suit named Tengawa said.
"Just now, we received communication from headquarters, the World Tournament... something's gone wrong in the tournament."
"The Ultimate D card... seems to have finally appeared!"
...
...
On a yacht on the nighttime sea.
"Heh heh heh... hahaha —"
In a room with no light source, D.D. threw his head back, laughing wildly inside this enclosed room.
"Finally! No more concealment, no more restraint!"
"Now, I can unleash all my power!"
As he shouted, light burst from within him like a white tornado. The storm swept wildly through the enclosed room, like a thunderstorm, destroying everything in its path.
Just not long ago, for the first time in ten years, he used that card in the world tournament, in front of everyone.
Ultimate D. It was the key card that helped him reach the champion's peak. Over the years, it was this card that empowered him, and merely by relying on that additional Destiny Power, he had reached his current level.
And tonight, for the first time, he truly unleashed the full power of this card. There were no more constraints, no more covering up.
Only now did he realize, surprisingly, just how strong this power truly was.
Even he himself had never truly realized how strong he was when fully unleashed!
He felt fantastic!
But just as he was reveling in this unexpectedly immense power,
"Who!?"
D.D.'s face changed abruptly, shouting loudly. His right hand rose suddenly, striking toward a spot in the darkness. The white light radiating from him gathered into a transparent light ball, transforming into an energy vortex that surged into a certain spot in the darkness.
A loud bang, like the sound of something hitting, two white lights crossed, briefly illuminating the chaotic room.
"Oh? Not bad, you can actually detect me here."
Yugen slowly stepped out of the darkness.
D.D. stared at him for a moment.
"You are..."
Then his pupils contracted slightly, surprising him inwardly.
"Duel King... Fujiki Yugen?"
Why would he be here?
"You're quite the busy person, running all over the world. It's not easy to find time to visit you."
Yugen shrugged, giving a faint smile.
"World Champion D.D., is it? Pardon my intrusion, but is the champion title yours... or 'his'?"
As Yugen spoke, he raised his eyes, looking above him.
Above D.D., the energy radiating from him had manifested as the entity of Blood Demon D, whose dark body seemed bound by the white light. Its eyes were filled with a beast-like ferocity, glaring at Yugen with a growl in its throat.
D.D. was silent for two seconds before gloomily asking.
"What do you know, Duel King?"
"Enough,"
Yugen replied blandly.
"The murder ten years ago, the Ultimate D card, the light that could destroy the world."
Yugen reached out towards the Blood Demon D hovering in the air, his fingers giving a slight tug.
"I want this card."