The sprawling valley was filled with a dark army slowly advancing through the mountains. The dense black clouds resembled a heavy lead-grey curtain, rolling and oppressive, as if bearing the burden of an endless weight, ready to unleash at any moment.
In the Dark Demon Realm, the warrior known as Dark Sword was once a grand general under the fallen Overlord. However, he was often stationed at a fortress outside the Overlord City rather than in the city itself.
Not long ago, the news of the Overlord's fall spread throughout the Twelfth Dimension. Instantly, all dimensions were in chaos, and everyone with even a hint of power began to establish themselves as independent leaders, hoping to become the next Overlord.
In terms of personal level and attack power, Dark Sword wasn't particularly noteworthy—just a 4-star 1800 attack Mortal Bone. But he possessed a secret technique to ride dragons, skilled at commanding powerful ones from the Dragon Race for his purposes.
But he didn't simply plan to set up as an independent. He knew his forces weren't strong enough. Although he had many soldiers, in this world, military power alone wasn't enough to succeed.
What mattered most was being skilled in card dueling.
No matter how many troops you had, they only helped expand your territory. To hold onto power, however, you needed to be formidable in a duel.
The reason the Overlord once ruled the Twelfth Dimension was because he was unbeatable. He subdued anyone daring to challenge his authority through duels, becoming the king.
The Overlord's downfall was also due to this reason. It's said an even better duelist emerged from the Otherworld and defeated the Overlord, leading to his empire's collapse.
Dark Sword thought his dueling skills weren't bad. He believed they were not bad, but just "not bad" wasn't enough to ascend to the pinnacle of the Twelfth Dimension as the next Overlord. He figured he couldn't even defeat the Five People under the former Overlord. Since reaching the top was impossible, he chose to serve a new master and now became a grand general under one of the Five People.
Currently, he was on the way to the City of Vampires.
The City of the Blood Race had been a tough nut during the Overlord's reign, and he hadn't dealt with it personally due to its distance from Overlord City. Thus, the Blood Race there remained resistant.
Dark Sword received orders to gather with six armies sent by the commander to take down the unyielding vampires. Recently, they've been in a stalemate with two other factions claiming power, making the Blood Race Castle a crucial military point.
The commander ordered them to capture the City of the Blood Race, no matter the cost, to gain a significant advantage in upcoming battles.
Dark Sword was leading one of the six armies.
But as they reached the valley's center, shouts of attack suddenly rose from both sides. Dark Sword was startled, rising on his black dragon mount, but only saw dense smoke billowing from both sides of the valley as a mass of Elf Warriors charged down.
An ambush!
Dark Sword was astonished, drew his sword, and shouted orders to fight. However, the attacking forces were unknown and fierce in number and momentum. It was clear the enemy had prepared and used the terrain advantageously, catching them off guard with significant casualties as soon as they began the clash.
Dark Sword rode his dragon into the air, personally joining the battle, unleashing his Duel Disc to summon monsters, meanwhile loudly ordering a retreat.
Soon, an urgent report came in that enemies had flooded in from behind the canyon, blocking the retreat. Cornered in the valley, attacked from all sides, he feared continuing the fight would lead to complete destruction of his troops.
Dark Sword gritted his teeth.
This was unexpected. They hadn't received any intelligence on enemy forces deploying in this area. Where did these forces come from?
Only one path remained.
Dark Sword ascended higher on his dragon, activating his Duel Disc as he faced the enemy's approaching wave, shouting.
"Would the enemy general dare to duel me?"
Soon, someone flew out from the opposing lines, appearing to float in the air as if by the aid of wind magic, with a red scarf flaring like a cape around them.
That was a Human.
Wearing glasses and local armor, yet retaining an incongruous scarf, he hovered in the wind, pushed his glasses up, and smiled at the challenging Elf.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Ammon Galem."
Dark Sword frowned.
An unfamiliar name and seemingly not a local.
Was this the enemy general?
But seeing Ammon unfold his Duel Disc dispelled all doubt.
This was the rule of engagement in this world's military clashes, where every army must have at least one duelist to lead. Duelists were like generals in battle, with millions at their command, watching the duel unfold as if the real warriors fought it out.
The duel would decide victory with cards, superseding any force by the absolute rules of dueling—this was the law of the world.
Dark Sword snorted contemptuously.
Despite lacking confidence in reaching the top, he knew only a few in the Overlord Army could best him, and he knew them all. This guy, who seemed to have sprung from nowhere, would be dealt with quickly...
"..."
Three minutes later.
"...Attack of the Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye!"
Ammon issued the final strike command, the entire Elf army behind him shouting in unison, as if their morale peaked under the duelist's lead.
"Uwaaah——"
Dark Sword screamed.
"How can this be? How did I lose to...an unknown pawn...aah——"
[Dark Sword, LP 0]
The general had fallen, and the army under Dark Sword collapsed instantaneously. At Ammon's command, his forces surged forward, eliminating half of the enemy, while the majority surrendered.
From a nearby mountaintop, the Vampire Princess, holding a parasol and watching the scene, chuckled lightly: "The human chosen by the master...seems to have some skill indeed."
"Of course, Ammon Galem has the potential of a born king," Yugen replied.
"I told you, this is the place where he can truly fulfill his ambitions."
"And the master, despite never meeting him, has delved so deeply through background investigation..."
The Princess feigned admiration, looking as if she were shooting electricity from her eyes towards Yugen.
"Not too much," Yugen said calmly.
Honestly, he didn't even need basic background checks. A man who had read the script was always this confident.
"Now you can feel reassured, right?" he looked at the Princess.
The Princess nodded.
Her main concern, naturally, was her clan and the land of the vampire stronghold.
"Thank you, Master."
Yugen smiled: "I didn't do anything, thank Ammon. I only pointed him the way."
The Princess stubbornly shook her head: "I must express my gratitude to you, Master."
Yugen shrugged: "As you wish."
With that, he turned to leave.
But at that moment, he suddenly paused, his brow furrowing.
He had the sense of being watched.