"Darkness, be gone—Chaos Pulverizing Cannon!!"
The Chaos Cannon blast pierced the fog and roared across half the royal capital. The explosion's effect streaked through the skies above Aisha and Ren.
"!!!"
"Wh-what the heck is that?!"
Aisha's ahoge curled up tight from the overwhelming firepower, afraid even of the cannon's lingering heat.
"It's the Professor—Professor Field!"
Perhaps due to still being affected by the fog, Ren's sight reached farther than Aisha's.
"The Professor won!"
Through the haze, she could just make out Professor Field's upright figure, and the Shadow Duelist collapsed unconscious from the Shadow Game. As they drew closer, they saw the duelist's body smoking, scorched by the Chaos Giant's cannon.
Aisha cried out, "Thank goodness! I knew the Professor would win! You're safe!"
Miles said, "In more ways than one, I'm not sure I'd call that 'safe,' Professor Field."
From inside the Millennium Puzzle's Soul Room, Miles could sense things more keenly than the body alone. Outwardly, Professor Field was uninjured… but the toll on his spirit and soul was staggering. Miles was shocked that he was still standing.
Could sheer willpower really overturn reason?
"So, Ren and Aisha are safe." Professor Field smiled faintly. "Ren seems to have taken a few minor hits to the face, but in this situation, that's a blessing."
It really was minor—just a few sharp slaps, leaving her cheeks slightly swollen.
"Let's head back. It's not safe out here."
He took a step forward, but suddenly winced, nearly collapsing.
"Professor?!"
Ren's reflexes caught him just in time.
Miles said, "So he has reached his limit after all. Professor Field is still human."
"How disgraceful, to show such weakness before my students."
"It's fine, Professor. You were hurt for my sake. Even if I have to carry you, I'll get you back! I've got the strength for it!"
Ren puffed her chest, regaining her righteous hero tone.
"No need to carry me… just support me a little. If I were ten years younger, scum like that could never have slowed me down."
The retired veteran sighed at the cruelty of time. Then his Beaconbug glowed at his waist. With Ren's support, Field checked the message—its pale green light deepening his frown.
"What is it, Professor?"
Though his face was always stern, Aisha could tell the news was grave.
"The royal palace has fallen. I don't know which force is behind it, but clearly the royal family is their target."
If they chose Livorden's capital, the ruling Kaiser family was the obvious goal.
"But isn't the palace the most heavily guarded place in the capital? How could it fall so easily? Are you joking, Professor?"
Aisha could hardly believe it. She had only just left the palace an hour ago, after saying goodbye to little Princess Nova. To hear it had already fallen, despite all the royal guards… it was impossible to accept.
"Only one explanation," Field said grimly. "A traitor. Someone with high authority in this nation, this capital, colluding with the enemy."
"A traitor…"
If the palace had fallen and the royal family was the target, then the most vulnerable was obvious. Prince Deion with his Cyber Dragons, Prince Homar with his unknown deck, even the aging Lord Kaiser himself—all could fight back.
However, Princess Nova—who had never truly dueled, who didn't even have a complete deck—was defenseless.
"Princess Nova!"
The worst possibility flashed before Aisha: the memory of Nova's innocent smile as they parted. "Then it must be very important to you. All right… I'll wait for you here."
"No! I have to go to the palace now!"
Ren stopped her. "Now? All the enemies are there—it's too dangerous!"
"I promised Princess Nova I'd return for her! If I run now, and she's hurt, I'll regret it forever!"
"Aisha…"
As a teacher, Field should have stopped her from risking her life. But he couldn't. Forcing a student to break her promise and live in cowardice would scar her future more than the danger itself. And somehow, he believed in her—this first-year girl, still just a beginner, yet a spark of hope for the nation's survival.
Perhaps that was a veteran's intuition.
"Aisha Yuna Carlos—go! Go to the palace! Do what you believe is right!"
"Yes, Professor!"
"But… I…"
Ren wavered. If Aisha went, she wanted to follow. Yet, leaving Field here helpless in the fog, with Shadow Duelists still lurking, was abandoning him.
"Ren-chan. It's fine. I'll go alone." Aisha saw her conflict. "Getting the Professor back to the manor and warning everyone there is just as important."
Ren nodded. The temporary manor gathered duelists from many noble families—it was vital to mobilize them.
Still reluctant, Ren drew a card from her thigh deck holder.
"Take this, Little Ai. It might help when you need it most."
[Tuner Monster: Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit]
It was a card Ren had taken from Megan during their Shadow Game.
"Ghost Ogre…" Aisha inspected the card with Mokey Mokey's signature expression, then suddenly her eyes snapped open in shock, "I've seen this before!"
The silver-haired, twin-tailed girl with her burning charm in hand—it felt like fate that the card had come to Aisha now.
It had once belonged to Marquis Barrett's son Villy, who bought it with family wealth and used it against Aisha. He lost it to Alice in their Shadow Game. Alice gave it to Megan as payment for saving her. Megan used it against Ren—and now Ren gave it to Aisha.
After all its turns, the beloved hand-trap Tuner had returned to the girl it first opposed.
Miles shouted, "Take it, Aisha. Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit is invaluable!"
Not just for its effect, but as a Tuner, it opened new possibilities.
"Thanks, Ren-chan." Aisha accepted it. "Miles says it's amazing too!"
"Amazing… if he likes it, then that's fine…"
...
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