NOVEL WEB Chapter 368: Two Agents
In a shattered dimension.
A boy in a military uniform and wide cloak, with purple hair, walked jauntily past a row of stasis capsules, hands behind his back.
This boy was Yuri, a core soldier of the Fusion Army.
After the Fusion Army's blitz on Shinson failed, losing many labs and bases, the remnants could only struggle to survive. But in that moment, Yuri's quick reflexes allowed him to capture someone Leo Akaba was after:
His other daughter—Lulu Obsidian.
From the instant Yuri saw her, he knew: this was the "daughter" the Professor was searching for.
After all, aside from the hairstyle, she looked exactly like Celina.
Yuri didn't quite understand why the Professor had daughters across different dimensions, or why they all looked identical. Maybe they were multiples—but even that seemed unlikely.
Not that it mattered to him.
A year ago, he'd seen Celina training in a lab with duel spirits. Back then, he simply assumed the Professor valued his daughter highly, and he even felt a bit envious.
However, now, after seeing him attack one world and abduct his daughter from another, that envy vanished.
Maybe the Professor had some twisted ideas. Yuri didn't care.
He glanced at Lulu through the glass of the stasis pod, tilted his head slightly, and walked away.
Because of his achievement, Yuri's rank in the Fusion Army rose even higher. Though he was already second only to one, he now had complete freedom to wander the base.
After the last retreat, the Fusion Army released many controlled spirits, leaving the interior hollow and sparsely guarded. The Sacred Beasts' power couldn't be sustained, making the atmosphere feel cold and empty.
Still, as he passed a soldier, Yuri suddenly stopped.
"Hey, you."
A flicker of purple light flashed in his eyes—unlike Amaki Hikaru, his gaze was full of aggression and destruction.
A strange violet aura shimmered behind him.
"Y-Yes, sir!" the soldier stammered.
"You came from the Professor, didn't you?"
"Yes!"
"Don't tell me... you've got that fun little power on you? The one with numbers?"
"Uh... Y-yes."
Yuri smiled dangerously. He raised his right hand, curling it into a loose fist, then gave a light cough and said softly:
"How interesting. Wanna duel?"
"N-No! The Professor specifically ordered me to carry out this mission. I have to recover the resources before anyone notices..."
The soldier swallowed hard.
"Ah~~ I see. What a bore. Go on then~"
The soldier exhaled in relief. Though drenched in sweat, he dared not show a hint of impatience. He bowed twice, spun around, and bolted—afraid to linger even a second longer.
Yuri waved his right hand lazily in the air, still smiling.
"Take care on the road~~"
Even after the soldier disappeared, his smile didn't fade. Like a robot, it remained fixed on his face.
He lowered his hand, tilting his head again.
Since the failed blitz on Shinson, Yuri had sensed something off about the Fusion Army.
Though that didn't really matter to him.
He only wanted a place that made him happy.
Still...
He tapped his forehead with his right hand.
"Lately, I keep feeling like the Professor's gotten weird."
Raised by the Professor, taught from childhood in dueling and all kinds of theory, indoctrinated in the Fusion Army's ideals, Yuri had initially wanted the Professor's approval.
But as time passed, he realized the Professor's actions didn't match his words. He wasn't conquering dimensions for unification—it was simple ambition.
Ambition was fine.
Whatever.
They were all the same.
What bothered Yuri was how the Professor's power and thoughts had grown stranger. Ever since talking with that guy from the Xyz Dimension, he seemed even more chaotic.
Destroy other dimensions, grow stronger, rule more people? Sure. Whatever.
That said, wanting everything? That was just weird.
How could the world work that way?
That duelist from the Xyz Dimension was just boring.
"So dull... completely dull."
Disappointment colored Yuri's face.
Though the Light Force within him had grown stronger, it hadn't influenced his thinking.
"Yeah, it's only fun if I follow my own ideas."
The Professor was old. He'd failed once. Lost his drive.
Yuri chuckled softly, turning around. Light Force spread across him, amplifying his terrifying purple shadow.
He had long since figured it out.
No need for complications.
Just duel. Use duels to make everyone in the world your friend. Use duels to turn everyone into cards. Then you'd be the only one left in the world. No more doubts. That would be fun.
Now that was "Fusion."
He absorbed the Light Force back into his body.
He wouldn't give power to anyone else. He would devour everything.
Although for now, he'd play along. At least the Numbers were amusing.
Days later—
Light and darkness, mingled by wind, flowed into a river, then surged into the forest.
Hikaru shielded his head with a hand and checked their heading.
It had been two days. They had reached the Forest Zone. Though they encountered a few Dark World demons, Tierra easily dispatched and purified them, saving their remains for material components.
Hikaru considered detouring to find the Aromage mages and asking about their situation. However, since they were already here and Aroma Garden didn't seem compromised, he decided to proceed toward the cave.
They descended slowly from the sky and reached the cave entrance noted in the records. Hikaru unfolded a map and double-checked it.
A labyrinthine cave system.
He looked up and saw a small wooden sign by the entrance.
"Looks like this is the place."
He called to Celina. The two stepped into the cave. At the same time, that intangible presence quietly slipped in with them.