In the royal palace's grand hall, the Duel that looked one-sided was drawing toward its end.

"What the hell is going on with this guy? This isn't normal at all!"

Inside the Shadow Game, Deion Kaiser's expression was strained—not just because of the toll on his mind. As the Empire's proud Second Prince, even with his Cyber Dragons fighting at full strength, he had never endured such a bizarre and suffocating Duel.

It was as if every move he tried to make, every tactic he formed, even every card he set, was seen through entirely by his opponent.

Grinding his teeth, Deion forced a bitter smile. "So this is the legendary Imperial Marshal? Really over the top."

Locke Slint—the current head of the Slint family. A superpower across the continent, known as the Imperial Marshal.

Despite being a white-haired centenarian leaning on a golden cane, the pressure he exerted in the Duel far surpassed any opponent Deion had ever faced.

Every card hit the most lethal point, every move forced Deion tighter into a corner. Against such an opponent, there was no thrill—only a suffocating despair.

"Young man, you're far too hasty."

The aged voice carried a ruler's authority. Even a prince was nothing more than a child before the Imperial Marshal.

"But I can understand. To have such strength at your age is enough to make you arrogant. Yet pure power alone is of no use to me."

Throughout the Duel, Locke Slint's Millennium Eye stared unceasingly at Deion Kaiser.

As one of the Millennium Items, the Eye's greatest ability was to pierce a Duelist's heart.

Thoughts, intentions, even the hidden knowledge of set and hand cards—everything that was never meant to be revealed in a Duel was laid bare.

That was why Deion felt as if he were utterly transparent.

It wasn't an illusion—it was fact.

In some ways, the Millennium Eye was the most suited artifact for Dueling. And with its power, Locke had climbed to his unrivaled position, his name feared as Imperial Marshal.

"No, it's not over yet!"

Rallying himself after an entire Duel of humiliation, Deion roared.

"If raw strength means nothing to you, then I'll just show you strength enough! I promised my brother—I won't fall here like some underling!"

For the Marshal of the Varian Empire to assault Livorden's royal palace alone—it was incomprehensible even to Crown Prince Homar Kaiser.

Such reckless action. But Locke Slint, this hundred-year-old monster, alone had the right to be reckless.

His confidence was absolute: no one could stop him.

To beat the Imperial Marshal in a fair Duel was nearly impossible. Even if Deion and Homar fought together, they would most likely fall together.

That's why Deion had volunteered to buy time—so his brother could rush to inform the old Kaiser King of this unprecedented crisis.

If anyone in the capital could truly face the Imperial Marshal, it was the king himself, holder of the Five Supreme Cards.

"Youthful confidence is fine, but overconfidence will only bury you."

The Millennium Eye glowed. Even Deion's counterplay—his declaration of resistance—was already seen through.

[Deion Kaiser, LP: 2000]

[Locke Slint, LP: 4000]

Locke's field: 1 Defense Position monster, 2 face-down cards.

Deion's field: 1 Cyber Dragon. It was his turn.

The problem was Locke's defender—

[Marshmallon] Level 3│LIGHT│Fairy│300 ATK / 500 DEF

[This card cannot be destroyed by battle.]

The unbreakable Marshmallon lay in wait. No matter how high Cyber Dragon's stats were, it was like punching uselessly into cotton.

Even so, this turn, Deion had found his breakthrough. At the crucial moment, it was time to call on an old friend.

"Spell Card—Power Bond, activate!"

[Fusion Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck using monsters from your hand or field as material. It gains ATK equal to its original ATK. During the End Phase of this turn, you take damage equal to that ATK increase.]

A Fusion Spell that doubled the Attack of the Fusion Monster it summoned.

Using the 3 Cyber Dragons in his hand and on the field, Deion could fuse into Cyber End Dragon—8000 ATK and piercing damage.

"With this eternal light of evolution, I'll crush your so-called invincibility!"

"As I said, too hasty."

Calmly, Locke raised a robed arm and revealed one of his set cards.

"Trap Card—Lightforce Sword!"

[Banish 1 random card from your opponent's hand face-down. During your opponent's 4th Standby Phase after activation, return it to their hand.]

Chaining to Power Bond, a blade of light struck down one of Deion's hand cards, pinning it to the ground.

"I'll take your leftmost card. Until your fourth Standby Phase, it's gone. Let me guess—that was a Cyber Dragon."

There was no guesswork. The Millennium Eye had already revealed it. He had sealed away a crucial Fusion material.

What should have been Cyber End Dragon at 8000 ATK with piercing power…

Now, one Cyber Dragon was missing. Power Bond couldn't be undone. Deion could only adjust the Fusion.

"Damn it! Then I'll fuse two Cyber Dragons—Power Bond, Cyber Twin Dragon!"

[Cyber Twin Dragon ATK: 2800 → 5600]

Fused and doubled—two-headed Cyber Dragon at 5600 Attack.

Normally, such a monster could finish almost any Duel.

That said, Locke's defender was Marshmallon, immune to battle destruction. The mighty Cyber Twin Dragon couldn't even break one tiny monster.

Every move, even the location of his Cyber Dragon in hand—everything had been exposed.

Deion's sweat ran cold.

"I told you. Your strength is useless to me. Overconfidence only dooms you. At the End Phase, you'll face Power Bond's backlash."

Everything had been predicted—the futility of power, the recoil from Cyber Dragon fusion.

2800 was Cyber Twin's original ATK boost, and thus the damage Deion would take.

With only 2000 LP, he couldn't withstand it.

His only choice…

"I Normal Summon Cyber Kirin in Attack Position!"

[Cyber Kirin ATK: 300]

[Tribute this card; until the End Phase, you take no effect damage.]

"I Tribute Cyber Kirin to nullify all effect damage this turn!"

"Heh. Not so fast, young man."

Locke smiled coldly and revealed his second set card.

"Counter Trap—Solemn Judgment!"

[Pay half your LP; negate the activation of a Spell/Trap, or the Normal/Special/Summon of a monster, and destroy it.]

"I pay half my Life Points to negate your summon of Cyber Kirin. Today, I'll teach you: the price of recklessness is inescapable!"

[Locke Slint, LP: 4000 → 2000]

Every card struck Deion's weak point. Solemn Judgment erased his last defense, sealing the Duel's fate.

"Without Cyber Kirin's effect, do you still dare to end your turn, young man?"

"…..."

It was as though chains from the abyss bound Deion's limbs, immobilizing him completely. For the first time, he felt the unbridgeable gulf before the Imperial Marshal.

Such an opponent… could never be beaten.

"Let me be kind, then. If you surrender, the Shadow Game's pain will lessen."

"No need. I, Deion Kaiser, am not the sort who can't accept defeat. The cards I play, the debts I owe—I'll bear them myself. My turn… ends!"

Resolutely, he ended his turn—his Duel.

Lightning coursed over his massive frame as Power Bond's backlash exploded.

2800 damage in the Shadow Game ripped through flesh and soul alike.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!"

[Deion Kaiser, LP: 2000 → 0]

On one knee, his royal pride held him upright even in defeat before his nation's enemy.

"Your nature is just like the old Kaiser King. You could have been promising. Regardless, fate is cruel. Your path as a Duelist ends here."

The Millennium Eye gleamed. The Shadow Game's barrier tightened around Deion, and the Sacred Beast within Locke's Deck stirred restlessly.

Seizing the royal Spirit Eyes was the deal. And their fate would be Locke's to decide.

To feed them to the Sacred Beasts and extend his own life.

"The first step to eternal life—at last, I've reached it!"

Greed overflowed in his eyes.

"Hold your hand—!"

Miles, having already switched control with Aisha beforehand, arrived just in time.

To his shock, the outcome was just as Luca had foretold. By the time he arrived, Kaiser had already fallen.

"Oh? The Millennium Puzzle."

Rather than Miles himself, Locke's gaze fixed immediately on the Puzzle hanging from Aisha's chest.

To him, whoever came didn't matter. The outcome would be the same. The Puzzle's allure was far greater.

"Brother!"

The little princess ran toward Deion, kneeling, but the Shadow Game's barrier still bound him tightly.

Aisha said, "So this is the head of the Slint family? The Imperial Marshal… already so old."

As a native of the Spirit Continent, she had grown up hearing tales of Locke Slint's exploits. To see him now, so different from the legends, was jarring.

Even the Imperial Marshal couldn't escape life's cycle. Unless he chose to forsake his humanity.

Miles tried to reason with him. "For the Imperial Marshal to bully juniors with a Shadow Game—don't you find it shameful?"

"Aisha Carlos, is it? My granddaughter mentioned you. Pity your relationship with her wasn't better. I had hoped she'd make a friend after transferring."

"You jest, Marshal. With a girl like your granddaughter, no number of lives would be enough to survive being her friend."

"But if you're here with the Third Princess, then I assume my troublesome granddaughter has already been dealt with?"

"Sharp as ever!"

Through Aisha's slender fingers, Miles snapped crisply.

At the cue, three Mokey Mokeys flapped forward from behind—carrying none other than the tightly bound Luca Slint.

"Hehehe… sorry, Grandpa. I might've lost."

...

If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!

[Patreon.com/RedZTL]