NOVEL WEB Chapter 231: The confused pioneer
While the HEROes busied themselves preparing a Duel arena and finding Celina a worthy opponent...
The world, as always, kept turning.
Fate, though meandering, always led to the same end.
"Ah, such a shame. Our rising star Zane Truesdale has fallen short of the Top 32."
The announcer's voice echoed from the studio broadcast. Zane sat slumped on a company bench, head lowered, hollow.
Another loss.
Ever since losing to Aster Phoenix, his record hadn't been terrible, but his win rate was steadily declining.
What began as an upset was now undeniable: he was getting weaker.
The company president had told him repeatedly not to stress too much. Zane still had a strong image and held good commercial value. He didn't need to obsess over that loss to Aster. What he needed was to get his head back in the game.
But Zane had asked for time off.
He could say it was all meta matchups, decks targeting Machines or Cyber Dragons. But he couldn't bring himself to hide behind that excuse.
Even under "Non-Fusion Area," Hikaru could still summon Fusion Monsters through all kinds of workarounds. Was Zane really saying he couldn't win just because of counter strategies?
"Zane."
"President!"
Zane stood as a middle-aged businessman approached.
"I heard. You want to return to the Academy for a bit?"
"...Yes. I think I still have a lot to work on."
"Nonetheless, our company can't endorse a Pro Duelist graduate who runs to his old teachers every time he loses."
"No. I'm not looking for my teacher."
"The public won't believe that."
Zane fell silent.
The businessman sighed. Not from kindness.
Zane still had value for the company's image and GG revenue. So the man merely sighed again, then pulled a card from his coat.
"Take this."
"What is it?"
"A travel pass to Neo Domino City. Our firm is moving into interdimensional exploration. Zane, you've got experience there. We want to expand our operations. I believe you'll excel at it. And if you have someone you want to meet, do it there. You won't have the tabloids on your back."
A rare smile broke across Zane's face. He accepted the card and bowed.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Hahaha, this is for the company's prosperity too. Do your best, Zane. I'm rooting for you." He patted Zane's shoulder. "Take your time there, reset yourself, and then come back."
"I will!!"
His energy was back.
After background checks and trials, Zane passed KaibaCorp's filters and was transported through a dimensional gate to Neo Domino City.
Back in this dimension, his stagnant heart began to stir.
Ever since his defeat by Aster, Zane had questioned himself more and more.
Why was he Dueling?
Why had he become a Pro Duelist?
Adult society was nothing like the Academy. There was no Professor Crowler, no understanding Hikaru, no Jaden's laughter. And he still had to worry about Syrus.
Every day hurt.
Every night, he tossed and turned.
He asked himself again and again:
Was this really what he wanted?
Was this the kind of Dueling he loved?
He had no answers.
Now...
"Hahhh, huff..." Neo Domino City was an artificial dimension bridging fractured ones. Last year, when Zane visited, it was still sparse. Now, it was bustling.
Some tech here could only be seen in X-Dimension.
He tilted his head toward the artificial sun, mimicking moonlight. Overhead, a winged figure streaked by like an angel.
He shielded his eyes from the glare, watched a while, then lowered his head and flexed a tired hand.
X-Dimension citizens were a strange breed.
He had called Hikaru before arriving, but there was no answer. So he tried Chazz and learned that Hikaru had gone to the Skyscraper with Celina. Still, Zane had plenty of time off, so he wasn't worried.
Hikaru had once told him not to do things he didn't want to in a Duel. Zane never understood that. Not until now.
He stopped by a card shop run by an X-Dimensioner.
Last year, he told Hikaru not to waste money on leftover packs from other dimensions. They rarely held rare cards.
But now, alone and aimless, Zane found himself buying a few anyway.
Just to pass the time.
He opened them one by one, placing the cards aside casually. As he sorted them, a deafening BOOM shattered the front door of the shop.
What the hell?
He whipped his head toward the entrance.
A hulking brute in spiked leathers kicked down the door.
A weird octopus-like hat clung to his bald head. In one hand, he held a thick club. In the other, a burlap sack. He smashed the glass display case with a crash and roared, "Bag all the cards! Now!"
"Aaaaagh!!" The shopkeeper dove under the counter, trembling.
Zane blinked.
A robbery?
Wait, a real robbery? Was this guy from X-Dimension too? Is it really that lawless here?
Before Zane could process, a glowing red sigil appeared on the man's forehead. He bashed his club again, screaming, "Hurry up and bag the cards!"
"Don't know what's going on... but you're wearing a Duel Disk, right?" Zane stepped forward, slapping his deck and cards into his Duel Disk as he activated it.
A silver mechanical dragon projection spiraled behind him, coiling through the shop with a menacing glare.
"Bastard! You dare stand in my way?! I'll kill you and take your cards too!" The man shattered another display, cards and glass flying.
His logic baffled Zane.
Yet, anyways, "Duel!!"
[Wild Robber, LP: 4000]
[Zane Truesdale, LP: 4000]
As the Duel began, a sharp whistle rang out.
The cowering shopkeeper suddenly froze.
All the shattered cards and flying shards stopped midair.
A figure dropped down outside the store. As he landed, his mechanical wings detached and transformed into a small robot.
"Master Kaito! Someone beat us here!"
"I can see that," the newcomer muttered. His eyes caught the school uniform on the Duelist inside, and he scoffed.
An interdimensionaler.
Why did it have to involve one of them? He frowned, weighing the tension between two universes.
Then sneered.
Fine. I'll resurrect him after he loses.
...
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