# Three Years Later
A clear, bright sun shone over the horizon.
The city stood as a testament to humanity—a living, breathing utopia and a pristine example of a futuristic paradise. Glowing, fascinating structures and high-tech buildings were laid out across the metropolis, yet it still retained an abundance of vibrant greenery, natural landscapes, and a distant, remote but majestic mountain that framed the skyline.
However, none of these architectural marvels were the true specialty of this city. It was not what this City was most acclaimed or renowned for.
The true defining feature of this city was the genuine smile on its people's faces and happiness inside and outside them. No one harbored anger, ignorance, or arrogance. Everyone lived with a united, unified heart, as if they were all deeply connected. Perhaps that was the exact reason this city was named Heartland.
Today, the citizens were acting exceptionally cheerful, showing support for a specific group of students, which they themselves had nothing to do with.
A boy with black hair and distinct standing, light purple bangs stepped out of his house. He possessed gray eyes and thick, strong eyebrows that gave him a sharp appearance. Although a warm smile rested on his face, he carried the unmistakable aura of a firm, strong-willed individual, backed by a bright light in his eyes.
"Mom! Dad! I'm heading out now!" He announced with energetic voice.
"Yeah! Take care. And once again, congratulations!" His mother called out.
"Congratulations from me too, son." His father added.
"Thanks!" the boy yelled back, rushing out the door.
He was dressed in formal attire: black trousers, a dark green button-up shirt, a matching black blazer, and a neatly tied tie. He hadn't just thrown these clothes on for the occasion; he had put a significant amount of effort into his appearance because he wanted to look good in front of a certain someone... or rather a girl.
"Yo!" A familiar voice called out.
"Yo!"
The two boys exchanged a firm, tight hand-hug—a classic symbol of their deep friendship and fierce rivalry.
"Today is finally our seniors' graduation day."
"I've waited a long time for this moment." The boy replied. "I couldn't feel better. Our senpais are graduating, and we are finally entering our next year."
"Wait up!" A female voice chimed in from behind them. "You're leaving me behind, Nii-san!" She didn't sound genuinely angry, just slightly out of breath.
"Sorry, Ruri. I didn't realize you were falling behind."
"I wasn't being slow! You just jolted like lightning the exact second you saw Yuto." She explained, catching her breath.
"Good morning, Ruri." Yuto greeted, his voice shifting into a noticeably happier tone.
"Good morning, Yuto." She replied, returning his greeting with a bright, radiant smile appearing on her face.
Ruri's older brother immediately threw a razor-sharp glare at the surrounding area, scanning the passersby who were staring at his little sister with doting or admiring smiles. His intimidating aura was so intense that a few distracted citizens actually tripped over their own feet or bumped into each other. Only the people who quickly snapped out of it under his intense gaze managed to walk away unscathed.
"Ah! Nii-san, they need help! Maybe something happened to them!" Ruri noted, looking at the clumsy passersby.
"Just ignore them." Her brother snorted, crossing his arms. "They got exactly what they deserved."
"Shun, you are as protective as always." Yuto remarked, offering a sympathetic look toward the citizens who were fighting with each other. "But I suppose it's legitimate."
The newly arrived brother and sister were also dressed in formal clothing, though Shun wore his coat loosely over his shoulders.
"It's freezing this morning. I honestly can't believe you two can withstand this early chill of morning." Shun grumbled.
"You can withstand any kind of deadlock, even when pushed completely into a corner during a duel, but you can't handle a simple drop in temperature." Yuto laughed quietly.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Shun growled.
Ruri had her long dark-purplr or perhaps black hair, hair neatly tied up. Her pink eyes perfectly matched her. Complemented her outfit and hair, which caught the morning breeze with a luminous, beautiful luster. Her smile possessed a natural charm; she could captivate anyone without even trying, embodying with an effortless, angelic grace. Yet she was no manipulator, nor lecherous. She was just simple, kind and caring girl.
Yuto took a deep breath before speaking. "Today marks the beginning of a completely new start for us."
"Yeah. I can't wait to see it throughout." Ruri agreed cheerfully.
"Both of you seem way more excited to see today through than focusing on what comes tomorrow." Shun observed realistically.
"That's just because you're a hardcore realist who doesn't know how to enjoy the momentum of the presen." Ruri teased.
"I'm absolutely sure Kaito, Allen, Sayaka, Nate, Keith, and all of our friends are just as excited." Yuto added.
"But you can't dwell too much on today if you want to secure a victory tomorrow." Shun countered. He then turned his focus. "What about you, Yuto? Why did you leave your most powerful cards and your competitive substitute deck in your locker at the Spade Branch? Aren't you going to regret not having a proper duel with the graduating seniors?"
"Don't worry. We are strictly forbidden from bringing our Dueling decks into the formal ceremony room. That's why I stored my primary deck there, so I can grab it the very second." Yuto explained, his eyes turning firm as the phantom flames of his dueling spirit ignited within them.
Shun smirked. "Knowing you, you probably still snuck your main deck in anyway, despite the ban, and plan to use it during the afterparty."
"The exact same thing applies to you, Shun. You brought yours too, right? Except you didn't hid but brought all cards."
"Of course I did! Unlike you, I intend to carry my deck head-on into the ceremony, with every single one of my cards right in my jacket!"
"Actually," Ruri interrupted with an awkward, slightly flustered smile. "I brought mine too. I really wanted to have a final ceremonial duel with our seniors on their graduation day."
"Then it looks like we're all guilty."
The three friends shared a warm laugh as they continued walking.
"Yo, Shun! Yuto! Ruri!" an energetic voice called out. A boy jogged up to them, sporting a bright, light-orange natural palette hair. His standing side sweat fringe hairstyle was good. Everything perfectly matched the dark orange shirt worn under his black blazer. His white but orange shaded eyes were rather different combination. His height was around same as Yuto.
"Nate, good morning." They greeted in unison.
Nate possessed a highly energetic, naive, and gullible personality, paired with an incredibly fast-paced way of speaking.
"You look remarkably sharp for a known money lover." Shun teased.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep talking, because I take immense pride and honor in my money making." Nate shot back, puffing out his chest. "You should know that with proper planning, everything else falls into place."
"Nate," Yuto sighed heavily. "Money can't buy everything."
"It can, Yuto. You just need enough." Nate countered smoothly.
Shun shook his head. "Well, for a guy who thinks about turning a profit from literally any given situation, I guess that motto is normal. I am completely certain you already have an on-the-spot scheme cooked up to extract money from the graduating seniors, the student body, and probably the faculty too."
"I am not a monster!" Nate protested dramatically. "If you want to label me properly, you should call me a financial innovator—a creator of wealth under any given circumstances!"
"Nah, my description fits you perfectly." Shun snorted, a brief smile breaking through his serious exterior.
"Come on! Though, funny story... I actually just came up with a brilliant idea!" Nate beamed.
"?"
"You remember that Rio is the one selected to deliver the valedictorian graduation speech for the seniors, right? I figured I could spread a rumor that she'll personally shake hands with anyone who pays me a 3,000 Yen entry fee. Given her polite and good personality, she won't be able to refuse on stage. And if her overprotective older brother, Shark—his real name is Ryoga, right?—shows up to cause trouble, I'll just offer him a small cut of the profits I earned through my own literal sweat and hardship!"
"Don't you dare!" Shun barked, his protective instincts flaring instantly. "Don't try to exploit someone's little sister for your quick business!"
Yuto looked ready to deliver a stern lecture of his own, but Shun had already beaten him to the punch.
"Fine, fine..." Nate sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "I guess pitching a money making idea involving a little sister right in front of the ultimate siscon was a on the spot mistake." Nate grumbled under his breath.
"Who are you calling a siscon?!" Shun roared, his eyes going blank with sudden comedic rage.
"Kyaaaa!" Nate shrieked. He looked like he was about to be physically thrown into the freezing river in the middle of the chilly morning, giving him energy to bolt away with the speed of a cheetah. Once Shun visibly calmed down, Nate carefully crept back to the group, making sure to maintain a safe physical distance and completely abandoning any future monetary strategies involving little sisters.
The group continued their friendly chat as they walked down th pristine streets.
All across the Xyz Dimension, the citizens of Heartland were genuinely rejoicing for the graduation of students they barely knew. That was the core essence of the people here; their smiles and their hearts were entirely interconnected.
Suddenly, a violent, fierce, raging jolt of lightning struck directly in the center of Heartland plaza. As an immense cloud of smoke drifted and cleared, teenagers wearing unfamiliar, color-coded uniforms materialized out of thin air.
Some wore yellow, a few wore blue, and a vast majority were clad in blood-red uniforms.
In an instant, the utopia and futuristic paradise that had systematically guaranteed the smiles and happiness of its people was violently torn apart by echoing screams. But this initial vanguard was merely a taste; the true terror was ahead than any of them could possibly anticipate.
# LDS Head Office
The heavy doors of the Maiami City Monitoring Room at LDS were flung open as a commanding figure stepped inside, his long red muffler flung in the air for a brief moment. He marched over to the main terminal and sat down in his executive chair, crossing one leg over the other.
A voice immediately reported without waiting for a formal command. "President, we have successfully verified the identity of the boy." Nakajima stepped forward, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses and his hair showing streaks of white hair brought on by age or stress.
He pulled up the digital file to display the information. "His name is Sakaki Yuya, 14-years old. He is currently a second-year student at Maiami City Second Middle School. His official Dueling Class ranking is Junior Youth." He looked directly at Reiji. "On paper, there is nothing remarkable or special about him. His official win-loss record is exactly fifty percent."
Reiji narrowed his eyes, studying the monitor. "Average... Where exactly does he study the dueling?"
"The Youshow Duel School, located right here in the city." Nakajima answered formally.
Reiji muttered the name under his breath. "Don't tell me... Sakaki was indeed a familiar surname, but this..."
"Yes, your hypothesis is correct. He is indeed the biological son of Sakaki Yusho."
Reiji rested his chin atop his jointed fingers, his expression unreadable. "Sakaki Yusho, the man who vanished without a trace three years ago... and now his son has created an entirely unrecorded, unknown summoning method." Reiji brought up the live combat data and image captures from the recent duel. Yuya had defeated the former champion. "Conduct an immediate, background check. If you discover even a small amount of data relating to this 'Pendulum Summon,' report it to me directly."
"Understood, sir!"
"Reiji." A voice cut through the dark from behind the terminal.
In the dim part of the room where the monitor light couldn't reach, Ryo's vivid red eyes gleamed, making his hidden presence known.
"I want to check on him personally, using my own methods."
Reiji offered a brief, calculated response. "Do whatever you wish, but do not leak or risk with our primary operations or our the confidential information of LDS to outsiders. I am only granting you this because I know you are exceptionally skilled at maintaining a facade and altering your demeanor depending on who you are interacting with."
"Thank you."
Standing to the side, a cold sweat broke out on Nakajima's sideburn.
# The Public Garden
"Hoh, you are visiting here." An elderly man dressed in rugged, worn clothing remarked, tapping his wooden walking cane against the stone ground.
"Yes. Just new things came. I wanted some peaceful time." Ryo replied flatly, sitting onto the end of garden's bench, opposite from where grandpa was sitting.
"I figure you're still running around in circles without taking a proper break." The old man chuckled softly. "Care to hear a classic story about youth and love? I just want someone to listen to this old man's memories before my time runs out."
"I have no interest in useless or time wasting things." Ryo stated simply, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Heh, kids these days," the old man mused, staring out at the greenery. "When I was your age, my friends and I talked about nothing else—constantly whispering about the girls and the female teachers at school. We even buried a secret treasure, a time capsule of our youth, deep in the campus grounds." He chose not to tell on the contents of that capsule or delve further into adventures his youthful past, thinking that such details were inappropriate for a 13-years old boy.
Ryo remained expressionless, peacefully embracing of the garden, which echoed only with the rustle of grass and the trickling of water.
"Do you want to know something interesting?" The old man asked suddenly.
Ryo didn't ask for reason. He merely shifted his head slightly toward the elderly man. That subtle movement was all the confirmation he needed.
"You are probably... well, I don't know your exact height, but let's overlook that detail for now. Tell me, are you familiar with the banyan tree?"
"Yes," Ryo replied. "Though they are not planted in Miami."
"They are known for having some of the smallest seeds," the old man continued. "Can you tell me what you find if you slice open the fruit of that tree?"
"Seeds."
"Seeds, of course. And what do you observe if you split one of those tiny seeds directly down the middle?"
"Its internal core."
"And what happens if you attempt to cut that core even further?"
Ryo remained silent for a moment before answering. "It's impossible to see."
The old man chuckled, a raspy sound vibrating in his throat. "You see nothing because the essence becomes extremely subtle, but that doesn't mean it doesn't to exist. That deeply hidden, invisibility is the exact blueprint that eventually grows into a massive banyan tree, renowned for its incredible height and enduring roots. That extremely subtle essence is identical to the core a human being." He explained, moving his face toward the open sky.
A flicker of genuine curiosity surfaced in Ryo's eyes.
"When a human life concludes, their final voice merges into the mind. That mind dissolves back into the foundational energy of the universe, and that energy ultimately unifies with light. Light itself is the definitive, absolute reality of all creation. Every single atom of this universe." He looked back at Ryo with a gentle smile. "That is the ultimate self, that is the truth. That is what you are, kiddo."
Ryo's analytical gaze deepened. He wanted to hear more, to learn more.
The elder easily read the boy's intent. "You know honeybees, correct? They systematically gather nectar from vastly different flowers and store it within a single hive. But once that nectar is processed into honey inside the hive, can you differentiate which individual drop was taken from which specific flower? No. Because in the end, they all dissolve into a singular unity. That was the design from the very beginning—the planned conclusion. That's exactly how all individual consciousness eventually returns and dissolves into that primary unity, merging all senses back to the origins. original factor. Once they return to it, they no longer possess the need or the curiosity to question where they came from."
Ryo's eyes widened slightly as the conceptual analogy clicked.
"It's exactly like rivers that originate from entirely different corners of the world, yet inevitably become one with the sea." The old man continued, his voice steady. "Just like just a part of tree getting destroyed doesn't mean whole tree will die, just that part. A part have become lifeless but life itself doesn't end. The exact universal energy that keeps us alive, that anchors our presence... that absolute essence is the true self. That is the truth, that is us, kiddo."
Ryo didn't ask why the old man was telling him all of this. It was as if he knew that the grandfather possessed a strange hunch about what was soon to happen to all the worlds—a old goner's foresight, or perhaps just a desire to pass down knowledge before it was too late.
Ryo stood up without bidding farewell or uttering another word. He cast one final look up at the cloudless, plain, blue sky before heading off toward his destined location.
...
A certain local building, its walls covered in structural cracks and its paint long washed away, was bustling with noise.
A crowd of children, who had been loudly taunting and calling a boy a cheat, quickly cleared out as fast as possible.
Only three kids remained inside, staying out of pure admiration and absolute trust. They were doing their best to lift the spirits of a visibly discouraged boy.
Suddenly, a person wearing sneakers entered through the crack of the old door. His footsteps were perfectly silent thanks to his sneakers, but the creak of the old door immediately made notice.
His sharp silver hair didn't waver, and his eyes carried a natural piercing look that instantly made the children in front of him nervous. Room become silent. It was now confirmed that that no one here knew who he was or any relation to him.
He was dressed in simple, unpretentious clothing: black jeans, pure black sneakers, and a tight, black jacket worn over a plain, black T-shirt.
His words were direct, and his accent and manner of speaking was plain, but his sharp voice cut through the air.
"I want to join the Youshow Duel School."
The group instantly rejoiced, thrilled that a fourth student had arrived right after the first three. No one pressed for further questions at that moment, simply informing him that regular classes would begin next day.
However, there was only one simple reason for this sudden development to happen.
'If you want to know whether someone is an enemy or a friend, if you want to find crucial information about them, you have to stay close to them'.