Chapter 214: I Activate Zoodiac Barrage
It didn't take long for the group to arrive at Heartland City.
Since the portal's landing point was randomly generated, their arrival location wasn't the relatively intact Orion District, but rather the old site of the Heartland City amusement park, which had been almost completely devastated by the war.
Although they had mentally prepared themselves to some extent, the desolate scene around them still had a significant psychological impact on the soldiers.
Various building debris scattered around indicated the area's past prosperity, but now only a sense of desolation permeated the air.
"I finally understand now why Shun Kurosaki and the others detest Duelists who use Fusion Summon so much," Gongenzaka said slowly, surveying the surroundings.
"Open your eyes and take a good look at what we've been through," Shun Kurosaki said coldly, looking at Yuya Sakaki beside him. "If you still intend to speak for our enemies, I don't mind eliminating you before the fighting even begins."
"Alright, alright," Sawatari quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over.
Shun Kurosaki snorted coldly, then turned and walked towards Yūga Hōzumi.
"Seriously… they're all so troublesome," Sawatari wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Fine, I'll go over to their side too. Yugo seems to be there as well."
After everyone had landed and regrouped, Yūga Hōzumi, Kaito, and the arriving Shun—the three locals—sat around a map.
"If the teleportation point is here, then it's a bit troublesome," Yūga Hōzumi said, distressed. "Walking from here to the Orion District would take at least half a day, and that's assuming we don't encounter any of the enemy's patrols."
"We have 5,000 people; a regular patrol squad shouldn't be able to stop us, right?" Shun Kurosaki said.
"That's true, they won't be able to stop us, but if we want our sudden addition of 5,000 people to utilize their full strength, it's best not to expose ourselves before the war begins. Otherwise, if the enemy prepares and deploys more troops from the Fusion Dimension, it will be very disadvantageous for us," Kaito said after a moment of thought.
"I've calculated that if we take a slight detour, we'll only pass by two small bases with no more than twenty people each. The three of us plus Serena can go ahead and eliminate these two bases, and our main army can then reach the Orion District without being exposed," Yūga Hōzumi said, pointing to a small path on the map.
After formulating the plan, Yūga Hōzumi called over Bruno, Jack, and Crow, who were leading the group, and informed them of the arrangements. Bruno and Crow had no objections, but Jack expressed some dissatisfaction with Yūga Hōzumi's arrangement for him to just watch.
"There will be plenty of opponents for you to face when the war truly begins. For now, please just follow our arrangements, alright?" Yūga Hōzumi quickly tried to appease him.
For some reason, after relinquishing his status as King, Jack's personality began to shift towards the tsundere version of Jack from 5D's. Yūga Hōzumi didn't know what to say about it and could only try to placate him, as the man was, after all, kindly here to help.
After appeasing Jack and leaving them the map, Yūga Hōzumi's group of four set off first.
Not long after, the four of them arrived at the first small base along the way.
To their surprise, this base didn't have the twenty people Yūga Hōzumi had estimated; instead, only two individuals were guarding this relatively unimportant intersection.
"What's going on?" Yūga Hōzumi wondered. "This shouldn't be right. Don't their bases usually have at least twenty people on duty?"
"If what Aster Phoenix said before he died is true, and the new Commander of this Obelisk Force is Ryo Marufuji, then it can be explained," Serena said.
"Did the rest go back in wheelchairs?" Yūga Hōzumi muttered, a random thought popping into his head upon hearing the name Ryo Marufuji.
Serena had long grown accustomed to Yūga Hōzumi occasionally blurting out incomprehensible remarks. So, ignoring his interruption, she explained to Kaito and Shun, "Once at the Academy, Ryo Marufuji and Aster Phoenix were known as the Twin Stars. However, the biggest difference between them was that Aster Phoenix's faction accepted anyone, even students from the Academy's remedial camp—Osiris Red—could join if they submitted an application."
"But Ryo Marufuji was different. His faction at the Academy had very strict assessment standards for every new member, precisely to ensure that everyone around him was an elite capable of fighting ten opponents."
"So, these two are strong?" Shun Kurosaki said coldly, hearing this, as he looked at the two Obelisk Force soldiers diligently standing guard not far away.
"That's right," Serena nodded. "Moreover, their masks are deep blue, meaning they're at least at the level of a former company commander. At the very least, they each possess their own unique Deck, not the standard-issue, Ancient Gear Fusion-specialized deck."
"Company commanders, huh? Doesn't sound too hard to deal with," Kaito said. "This base is yours and Serena's. Shun and I will go to the next one. Let's not waste any time. The sooner we clear the path, the sooner our guys from Neo Domino City can advance and still get dinner."
"Alright, it's decided then," Yūga Hōzumi nodded and, along with Serena, stepped forward.
"Who's there?" Yūga Hōzumi and Serena's sudden appearance quickly drew the attention of the two at the intersection, who activated their Duel Disks and approached.
"I've only been gone for less than two months, and already people don't recognize us?" Yūga Hōzumi shrugged.
"It's you? You're back?" One of them recognized Yūga Hōzumi and said with a frown, "There are still five days until the date Lord Kaiser agreed on for the war to begin. Are you planning to start it early?"
"Agreed on?" Yūga Hōzumi's brow furrowed at the words. "Since when did you people start playing by the rules?"
"Looks like he doesn't know anything yet," the other Obelisk Force soldier sneered. "There are only two of them. If we can defeat them, Lord Kaiser might reward us with better decks."
These words surprised Yūga Hōzumi even more. Even if they really were former duelists of the company commander level, as Serena had said, they absolutely wouldn't dare to speak so boldly to Yūga Hōzumi, who had already forged such a fearsome reputation.
However, the opponents' Duel Disks had already locked onto Yūga Hōzumi and Serena, so Yūga Hōzumi had no choice but to accept the challenge, initiating a 2v2 duel.
"Duel!" x4
"My turn!" Yūga Hōzumi took the first turn.
"I summon Utopic Onomatopeia in Attack Position!"
"I activate the effect of Utopic Onomatopeia! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one "Zubaba," "Gagaga," "Dododo," and "Gogogo" monster from my hand in Defense Position!"
"Right now, I activate a Trap Card from my hand: Infinite Impermanence! Since I control no other cards, I can play it directly! I'm targeting your Utopic Onomatopeia to negate its effect!"
Yūga Hōzumi: "???"
"See! This is the growth we gained after surviving Lord Kaiser's hellish training!" the soldier who activated the card said proudly.
Yūga Hōzumi fell silent for a moment. No wonder they were so confident now; they even got their hands on Infinite Impermanence. Well, in that case, he wouldn't hold back either.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Zoodiac Barrage!"
(end of chapter)