The last fragments of light faded from the dueling field.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Silas stared at his Duel Disk, its display still showing the final result. Zero Life Points. A defeated Valkyrion the Magna Warrior. A duel that had looked firmly in his favor only moments earlier had ended with a single direct attack from Freed the Brave Wanderer.
Across from him, Lazar lowered his arm.
Seven hundred Life Points.
He had won, but the lingering tension in his shoulders made it clear that he wasn't celebrating just yet. His heart was still pounding from the duel, and the thought of what might have happened if he had drawn a different card—or if Silas's final attack had connected—wasn't particularly comforting.
Still, he was alive.
More importantly, Ren was still free.
Silas finally lifted his gaze.
"Well played."
Lazar blinked.
"That's it?"
"What were you expecting? Tears? A dramatic declaration that you'll regret crossing me?"
"Honestly, I hadn't decided yet. I was hoping you'd at least make it interesting."
Silas gave him a tired look.
"Your sense of humor is remarkably persistent for someone who spent the last several minutes one attack away from being eliminated."
"Yeah, well. It helps with the nerves."
Silas glanced at the remnants of the holographic field before returning his attention to Lazar.
"You have earned your victory. The agreement stands."
He turned toward the other Collectors waiting near the entrance. The teenagers wore the same gray jackets, each bearing the white emblem of a circle intersected by three vertical lines. None looked particularly pleased, but none challenged the result either.
"The Collectors will leave this shelter alone for thirty days," Silas announced. "We will not interfere with its residents, its supplies, or its internal affairs during that period."
Lazar folded his arms.
"That includes Ren."
Silas's eyes shifted toward the bruised teenager standing a short distance behind Marcus.
"Yes. That includes Ren."
"And you won't send somebody else to do your dirty work?"
"Are you suggesting that I would violate an agreement immediately after losing a duel over the right to enforce one?"
"I'm suggesting I've met enough people to know that a promise doesn't mean much if nobody intends to keep it."
For the first time, Silas's expression became genuinely thoughtful.
"Then perhaps you should pay closer attention to the people who keep their promises, rather than assuming everyone is waiting for an opportunity to betray you."
"Perhaps. I'll add it to my list."
Marcus stepped forward before Lazar could continue.
"Thirty days. That's what we agreed on."
"Correct."
"And after that?"
"After that, your shelter will be free to make its own decisions."
Marcus snorted.
"That's a very generous way of saying you'll come back and make the same offer again."
"We offer protection, supplies, and stable trade. If your shelter decides those things are unnecessary, we will respect that decision."
"Your version of respect involves threatening to take Ren away."
"Your version of freedom appears to involve refusing every arrangement that makes survival easier."
The two stared at each other.
Lazar sighed.
"Can we save the philosophical debate for another day? Some of us would like to get back inside before we collapse."
Silas looked at him.
"You should be careful, Lazar."
There was no mockery in his voice now.
"The duel is over. Our agreement is binding. But you seem to believe that winning a duel and winning a conflict are the same thing."
Lazar's expression hardened slightly.
"I know they're not."
"Do you?"
Silas adjusted the cuff of his jacket.
"You have made enemies of two organizations in a remarkably short period of time. The Kings already know your name, and now the Collectors do as well. You may have won against our representatives, but that doesn't mean the people behind them will forget."
"Then they can get in line."
A faint smile touched Silas's face.
"That's precisely the kind of answer that gets people killed."
He turned and began walking toward the exit.
The other Collectors followed, though one of them glanced back at Ren with an expression that made the younger boy stiffen.
Lazar noticed.
He also noticed that Ren didn't look relieved.
He looked as though he had just escaped a room whose door he knew would eventually open again.
Silas paused at the entrance.
"One final thing, Lazar."
Lazar looked up.
"If you intend to keep protecting people, you should learn to recognize the difference between someone who needs your help and someone who intends to use your willingness to give it."
"And how am I supposed to tell the difference?"
Silas's smile returned, thin and unreadable.
"That is something you'll have to learn for yourself."
Then he left.
The shelter's entrance fell silent behind the departing Collectors.
For a few moments, Lazar watched the empty doorway.
Then he turned toward Marcus.
"Well, that was pleasant."
Marcus stared at him.
"You nearly got yourself killed."
"But I didn't."
"That's not a defense."
"It's the only one I've got."
Marcus rubbed a hand over his face.
"One day, you're going to make a decision that doesn't involve walking directly into danger."
"Sure."
"When?"
"Can't say. I don't want to make promises I can't keep."
Marcus looked as though he wanted to hit him.
Instead, he laughed.
It was brief, exhausted, and more than a little disbelieving, but it was a laugh all the same.
Lazar joined him.
For the first time since the duel began, the tension in his shoulders finally began to ease.
Then Ren spoke.
"He's right, you know."
The two turned toward him.
Ren was still standing where he had been throughout the duel, his hands clenched at his sides.
"About what?" Lazar asked.
"About the Collectors."
His voice was quiet.
"They won't forget this."
Lazar studied him.
"You're saying that like you know them pretty well."
Ren lowered his eyes.
"I do."
And just like that, the moment of relief disappeared.
They returned to the shelter before sunset.
The building was quieter than usual. Several residents had gathered near the entrance, clearly hoping to learn the outcome of the duel, and the news spread quickly once Marcus confirmed that the Collectors had left.
Some people cheered.
Others simply sighed in relief.
A few looked at Lazar with the kind of expression he was beginning to dislike: the look people gave someone they expected to solve their problems.
He wasn't sure when it had started happening.
Perhaps it had begun when he intervened against Jamal. Perhaps it had been after his duel with Marcus, or when he stepped forward to face Jimmothy Junior the III.
Regardless, people were beginning to look at him as though he could somehow make their problems disappear.
He couldn't.
He was seventeen years old, running on too little sleep, with a dwindling supply of Duel Points and no reliable way to keep the people around him safe.
He was simply a boy who happened to be good at a card game.
A dangerous card game, admittedly, but a card game nonetheless.
"Lazar!"
Emily approached from the other side of the room, her expression bright with relief. Several members of her group followed behind her.
"You won!"
"That's what the glowing victory message said."
She ignored his sarcasm.
"Are they really going to leave us alone for thirty days?"
"That's the agreement."
"And they can't take Ren?"
"Not without breaking it."
Emily released a breath she seemed to have been holding for several minutes.
"Thank goodness."
Ren looked uncomfortable at the attention. He shifted his weight and muttered something about needing water before disappearing into the crowd.
Emily watched him go.
"He's still scared of them."
"Wouldn't you be?"
"I guess."
She hesitated, then looked back at Lazar.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Depends. Is it going to involve another duel?"
"No."
"Then absolutely."
She gave him a small, irritated shove.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Emily took a breath.
"I still want you to teach us how to duel."
Lazar's smile faded slightly.
He remembered their conversation after the duel with Jimmothy. Emily had asked him to teach her group so they wouldn't always have to depend on somebody else to protect them.
He had agreed.
Then the Collectors had arrived, Silas had challenged them, and Lazar had nearly lost another duel.
He hadn't given the request much thought since.
"I haven't forgotten," he said.
"It kind of feels like you have."
That stung more than he expected.
Lazar looked away for a moment.
"You're right. I haven't made time for it."
Emily seemed surprised by the admission.
"But I will," he continued. "We can start tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Really. But I should warn you that I'm not a particularly patient teacher."
Marcus, who had approached in time to hear the last sentence, laughed.
"That's an understatement."
Lazar gave him a look.
"Nobody asked you."
"Nobody had to."
Emily smiled.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
She hurried back to her group, already talking excitedly about what they might learn.
Lazar watched her leave.
Marcus stood beside him for a while before speaking.
"You know you can't help everyone, right?"
Lazar frowned.
"Where's this coming from?"
"From the fact that you look like you're about to volunteer to teach every kid in this building, challenge every gang in the city, and personally solve the world's food shortage."
"I was thinking of starting with the food shortage."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Marcus sighed.
"You're not responsible for everyone here."
Lazar didn't answer immediately.
He wanted to agree. It would have been easy to tell Marcus that he understood, that he wasn't trying to be a hero, that he knew his limits.
But that wouldn't have been entirely true.
Every time he saw someone being pushed around, every time he heard about a shelter running out of food, every time somebody looked at him with the same desperate hope Emily had shown him, he found it difficult to walk away.
He knew he couldn't save everyone.
That didn't make leaving them alone any easier.
"I know," he said at last.
Marcus studied him.
"Do you?"
Lazar gave him a tired smile.
"I'm starting to."
It wasn't the answer Marcus wanted, but he seemed willing to accept it for now.
Then he glanced toward the other end of the room.
"There's something else we need to discuss."
"Of course there is."
"The debt."
Lazar's smile vanished.
Right.
The Kings.
Three hundred Duel Points.
Defeating Jimmothy had bought them no exemption from the debt. The shelter still owed the same amount, and thirty days of peace from the Collectors wouldn't stop The Kings from demanding payment.
"How much do we have left?" Lazar asked.
Marcus's expression grew grim.
"Not enough."
"Define not enough."
"Enough to keep people fed for a little while. Not enough to pay the debt and keep everyone alive afterward."
Lazar leaned against the wall.
"So we're still in trouble."
"We were never out of trouble."
"That's reassuring."
Marcus pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket. It was a rough map of the surrounding area, marked with shelters, trading posts, and several locations circled in red.
Lazar recognized it from their earlier conversation.
"What am I looking at?"
"Places where people have been getting supplies. There's a distribution point near the old train station."
Lazar examined the markings.
"Food?"
"Food, medicine, sometimes Duel Points. The rumors say they're giving some of it away."
"People don't give things away for free anymore."
"Exactly."
Marcus tapped the station on the map.
"That's why I want to know what's going on there."
Lazar looked at him.
"You want us to investigate?"
"I want us to find out whether the rumors are true. If there's a reliable source of supplies, we need to know about it. If it's a trap, we need to know that too."
"And if it's The Kings?"
"We walk away."
"That's a surprisingly sensible plan."
"I have those occasionally."
Lazar studied the map again.
The station wasn't far, but it lay in territory neither of them understood particularly well. The surrounding area had changed hands several times since the disappearance, and the people who controlled it now were rarely interested in visitors.
Still, they needed supplies.
And if the rumors were true, they couldn't afford to ignore them.
"Tomorrow?" Lazar asked.
Marcus shook his head.
"Tomorrow you're supposed to teach Emily's group."
Lazar looked at him.
"You're remembering my schedule now?"
"Someone has to."
"Then the day after."
Marcus nodded.
"Fine. But we're not going in blind."
Lazar folded the map and handed it back.
"Agreed."
Neither of them noticed Ren watching from the other side of the room.
The younger boy had returned with a cup of water, but he had stopped when he heard the words old train station.
His fingers tightened around the cup.
He knew that place.
And he knew exactly why people were being given free food there.
The following morning, Lazar discovered that teaching was considerably harder than fighting.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered.
Emily sat across from him at a battered table, looking far too pleased with herself.
"You said I should attack when I had an opening."
"I said you should look for an opening."
"And I did."
"You attacked the monster I deliberately left in attack position because I wanted you to think you had an advantage."
"Then why did you leave it in attack position?"
"Because I wanted you to think you had an advantage!"
Emily grinned.
"Then it worked."
Lazar stared at her.
Marcus, sitting nearby with his arms folded, burst out laughing.
"She's got you there."
"Nobody asked you to commentate."
"I'm not commentating. I'm enjoying the show."
Lazar rubbed his temples.
They had spent the better part of an hour going through basic strategies. Emily was enthusiastic, but she had a tendency to treat every turn as an opportunity to attack something. She understood that monsters had ATK and DEF, but she hadn't yet learned how to recognize when an opponent was deliberately presenting her with a tempting target.
Her friends were having similar difficulties.
One of them kept trying to summon the strongest monster available, regardless of whether doing so left him defenseless. Another played so cautiously that she refused to attack even when she had a clear advantage.
Lazar was beginning to understand why experienced duelists made teaching look easy.
Knowing how to win a duel and explaining how to win one were two very different skills.
"All right," he said, gathering the cards on the table. "Let's try something different."
Emily leaned forward.
"Another duel?"
"A demonstration."
He arranged several cards in front of them.
"Imagine your opponent has a monster with 2000 ATK. You have a monster with 1800 ATK and a Spell Card that can increase its strength by 500."
Emily nodded.
"You use the Spell, your monster reaches 2300 ATK, and you destroy theirs."
"That's one option. But what happens if your opponent has a Trap Card?"
"You lose your monster?"
"Maybe. Or maybe you force them to use the Trap now, when it can't stop something more important later."
Marcus nodded approvingly.
"That's the part most beginners miss. They think about what their cards can do, but not what their opponent wants them to do."
Lazar glanced at him.
"Exactly."
Emily looked between them.
"So I shouldn't just ask whether I can make a good play. I should ask why my opponent wants me to make it."
Lazar pointed at her.
"Now you're getting it."
For the next several minutes, they continued the lesson. Lazar explained how to recognize traps, how to conserve resources, and why a strong monster wasn't always the right answer. Marcus occasionally interrupted with an alternative approach, sometimes agreeing with Lazar and sometimes challenging his reasoning.
The discussion became more lively than either had expected.
For a while, the shelter felt almost normal.
Then Ren approached the table.
"We need to talk."
Lazar looked up.
"About what?"
"The train station."
Marcus's smile disappeared.
"You know something about it?"
Ren hesitated.
"I know enough to tell you not to go there."
Lazar leaned back in his chair.
"That's not particularly helpful."
"It's the truth."
"Then give us the rest of it."
Ren glanced at Emily and the others.
"Not here."
Lazar studied him for a moment, then gathered the cards from the table.
"All right. Marcus, come with us."
Marcus stood.
Emily frowned.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Just to talk," Lazar said.
"About the station?"
Lazar paused.
"How did you—"
"Marcus showed us the map last night. We heard you talking about it."
Lazar exchanged a glance with Marcus.
Emily folded her arms.
"If you're going somewhere dangerous, you should at least tell us."
"We're not planning to do anything dangerous."
Marcus coughed.
Lazar shot him a look.
"Traitor."
Emily didn't smile.
"Just be careful, okay?"
Lazar's expression softened.
"We will."
He hoped that would be enough.
They gathered in a small storage room at the back of the shelter, far enough from the others that their conversation wouldn't carry.
Ren remained standing near the door.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he took a breath.
"I used to work for the Collectors."
Marcus's expression hardened immediately.
Lazar remained silent.
Ren continued before either could interrupt.
"Not as a duelist. I wasn't important enough for that. I was a runner. I carried messages, tracked people who owed them Duel Points, and helped locate shelters that needed supplies."
"You helped them find people?" Marcus asked.
"Yes."
"People they later took away?"
Ren flinched.
"I didn't know what they were doing at first."
"That's convenient."
"Marcus," Lazar warned.
"No. I want to hear this." Marcus turned toward Ren. "You told us the Collectors were dangerous. You told us they took people. But you never mentioned that you helped them find those people."
Ren lowered his eyes.
"Because I was ashamed."
The answer seemed to take some of the anger out of Marcus, though it didn't erase his suspicion.
Ren continued.
"When everything first happened, the Collectors seemed like one of the few groups that had any idea what they were doing. They had food, medicine, people who could organize supplies. They offered protection to shelters that couldn't defend themselves."
"And in return?" Lazar asked.
"Information. Work. Sometimes Duel Points."
"That doesn't sound particularly unusual."
"It wasn't. Not at first."
Ren looked down at his hands.
"Then I started noticing things. People who signed agreements and couldn't pay what they owed. Children who lost duels and were told they could work off their debts. People who disappeared after being transferred to another location."
He swallowed.
"The Collectors called them assets."
Lazar's expression darkened.
"Assets?"
"That's the word they used. People who could be traded, assigned, or used to settle debts."
Marcus's hands curled into fists.
"And you kept working for them?"
Ren didn't answer.
The silence was answer enough.
"For a while," he admitted. "I told myself I wasn't responsible for what happened after I delivered a message. I told myself that if I quit, someone else would take my place. I told myself a lot of things."
His voice grew quieter.
"Then I saw a group of children being taken away after their shelter failed to meet an agreement. One of them was younger than Emily."
Lazar said nothing.
"I had helped identify that shelter. I'd delivered the message that brought the Collectors there. I thought they were going to negotiate another agreement."
Ren looked up.
"They weren't."
The room fell silent.
"I tried to find out where the children had been taken. I wasn't allowed to ask questions. When I kept pushing, they started watching me. So I ran."
"And now they want you back," Marcus said.
Ren nodded.
"They know I remember the routes, the records, and some of the people involved. They don't know everything I've seen, but they know enough to think I'm a liability."
Lazar leaned against a shelf.
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"
"Would you have trusted me?"
Lazar considered the question.
"Probably not."
Ren gave a bitter laugh.
"Exactly."
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't have told us."
"I know."
For the first time, Ren looked directly at Lazar.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me. I just don't want you walking into that station thinking you're going to find a group of people handing out free food."
Marcus glanced at the map in his hand.
"So the rumors are true?"
"Yes."
"Then why warn us away?"
"Because the food is the bait."
Ren took a breath.
"The Collectors use it to find children who are desperate enough to accept almost any agreement. They record their names, their shelters, their debts, and what kind of duelists they are. Then they decide which ones they want to recruit."
"And the ones who refuse?" Lazar asked.
"Some are left alone. Others aren't so lucky."
Marcus looked toward the door.
"Then we need to know exactly what's happening there."
Ren stared at him.
"You didn't listen to a single word I said."
"I listened. That's why we're going."
"You can't fight an entire organization."
"We're not planning to."
Lazar glanced at Marcus.
"Yet."
Marcus ignored him.
"We need supplies, and if the Collectors are targeting vulnerable children, we need to know how far their operation reaches."
Ren shook his head.
"You don't understand. They don't have to beat you in a duel to win. They can offer food to someone in your shelter. They can offer protection to a desperate family. They can make people believe that joining them is the only way to survive."
He looked between them.
"And once those people sign an agreement, the Collectors can use it against them."
Lazar thought of Jimmothy Junior the III and the debt that still hung over the shelter.
He thought of Silas's calm explanations and the way he had framed the Collectors' offer as a reasonable arrangement.
For the first time, he understood why Ren had been so frightened.
These people didn't need to threaten everyone openly.
They could make people believe they had no other choice.
"Then we need to see it for ourselves," Lazar said.
Ren stared at him in disbelief.
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
"You just fought Silas yesterday!"
"And won."
"With seven hundred Life Points left!"
"Still counts."
Marcus shook his head.
"He's impossible."
"You're welcome to stay behind."
"And let you two wander into Collector territory without me? Not a chance."
Ren looked between them, seemingly searching for some sign that they understood how dangerous this was.
Eventually, he sighed.
"If we're going, we go together. And we don't start a fight unless we have no other choice."
Lazar extended his hand.
"Deal."
Ren looked at it before reluctantly shaking.
Marcus folded the map and tucked it into his jacket.
"Tomorrow morning?"
Lazar nodded.
"Tomorrow morning."
None of them noticed the footsteps passing outside the storage room.
None of them noticed the figure that paused briefly beside the door.
And none of them knew that, somewhere across the city, a Collector was already writing down the name of the shelter they had come from.
The next morning, the three of them left before the shelter fully awoke.
The city was quiet at that hour. The streets were lined with abandoned cars, broken storefronts, and the occasional makeshift barricade erected by people who had learned that an unlocked door could be an invitation to disaster.
Lazar walked with his hands in his pockets, watching the buildings pass.
Marcus carried the map. Ren led the way.
They didn't talk much.
The closer they came to the old train station, the more signs of organized activity they encountered. Fresh footprints crossed the dust. Several abandoned buildings had been cleared of debris. A group of teenagers unloaded crates from a handcart while another pair stood watch at the intersection.
None wore the insignia of The Kings.
All wore gray jackets.
Ren slowed.
"We're close."
Lazar looked ahead.
The station's main entrance was partially obstructed by a barricade, but people were moving through it in an orderly line. Some carried empty bags. Others held children by the hand. A few looked exhausted enough to collapse.
And at the far end of the platform, several tables had been set up beneath temporary lights.
Crates of food and medicine were stacked behind them.
Marcus frowned.
"They weren't lying about the supplies."
"No," Ren said. "They weren't."
A young boy emerged from the line carrying a bag of food. He couldn't have been more than ten. His face brightened when he saw what was inside, and he hurried toward a woman waiting beside the entrance.
For a moment, Lazar felt relieved.
Then he noticed the registration table.
Every person receiving supplies was being asked to provide their name, age, shelter, and Duel Points. Some were also being asked about their decks.
A Collector recorded the answers in a thick ledger.
Another checked the information against a stack of papers.
Lazar watched as a teenage girl hesitated when asked about her cards.
The Collector smiled at her.
"There's no need to be nervous. We're simply determining what kind of assistance would suit you best."
The girl glanced at the food on the table.
Then she answered.
Lazar's jaw tightened.
"That's how they do it?"
Ren nodded.
"They make it look like a choice."
Marcus watched the line.
"Some of those kids don't even understand what they're agreeing to."
"That's the point," Ren replied.
They moved farther along the station's outer wall, keeping their distance from the main entrance.
From there, Lazar could see a second table behind the registration area. It was covered with papers, maps, and several lists of names. Two Collectors stood beside it, discussing something in low voices.
One of them pointed at a map.
The other marked a location.
Lazar recognized the symbol beside it.
A shelter.
He couldn't read the name from where he stood, but the mark was unmistakable.
The Collectors weren't merely recording who came to collect food.
They were mapping the people who depended on them.
Marcus leaned closer.
"We need a better look at those records."
Ren grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Marcus looked down at the hand gripping his sleeve.
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Yes. We leave."
"And then what? Pretend we didn't see any of this?"
"If they catch us snooping, they'll know I'm here."
"They already know you escaped."
"They don't know how much I remember."
Lazar looked between them.
"Both of you, quiet."
A voice came from behind them.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
The three turned.
A teenager in a gray jacket stood a few steps away, his hands tucked into his pockets. He looked around their age, with neatly combed hair and a small emblem stitched onto his collar.
His gaze settled on Ren.
Recognition flickered across his face.
Then he smiled.
"Ren."
Ren went pale.
The Collector tilted his head.
"Look what the wind dragged in."
Marcus stepped forward, placing himself between them.
"Do we know you?"
The boy ignored him.
"I was wondering when you'd show your face again."
Ren's jaw tightened.
"I have nothing to say to you."
"That's a shame. We have quite a lot to discuss."
The Collector glanced at Lazar, then at Marcus.
"And you've brought friends."
"We're leaving," Lazar said.
"Are you?"
The boy's smile widened.
"That depends. I believe we have some unfinished business with your friend here."
Ren took a step backward.
"I don't owe you anything."
"On the contrary. You left without settling your account."
"I never agreed to—"
"Perhaps we should settle this properly."
The Collector reached for his Duel Disk.
Lazar's eyes narrowed.
"You're challenging him?"
"Of course. We are civilized people, after all."
Marcus scoffed.
"Is that what you call yourselves?"
The Collector finally looked at him.
"If you'd prefer to settle this with something less civilized, you're welcome to try."
Marcus's expression hardened.
Lazar recognized the look. He had seen it during their own duel: that familiar spark of competitiveness, the refusal to back down when someone challenged him.
But this wasn't a friendly rivalry.
This was exactly the kind of situation Ren had warned them about.
The Collector activated his Duel Disk.
"One duel. A simple wager."
He looked directly at Ren.
"If you lose, you return with us and settle your outstanding obligations."
Ren's face tightened.
"And if I win?"
The Collector's smile never faltered.
"Then you may leave."
Lazar stepped forward.
"No."
The Collector turned toward him.
"No?"
"He's not your property. You don't get to decide where he goes."
"Then perhaps you'd like to challenge me instead."
Lazar's hand moved instinctively toward his Duel Disk.
Marcus caught his wrist.
"Wait."
Lazar looked at him.
Marcus stepped forward, his expression calm but resolute.
"If this is a duel you want, then you've got one."
Ren stared at him.
"Marcus, don't."
Marcus didn't look back.
"Lazar's fought enough duels for all of us. It's about time someone else stepped up."
The Collector regarded Marcus for a moment, then smiled.
"Very well."
He extended his arm, and his Duel Disk unfolded with a mechanical click.
"Let us see what you're capable of."
Marcus activated his own Duel Disk.
The two devices illuminated the abandoned platform, their holographic projectors humming to life.
Lazar stood beside Ren, watching as the two duelists took their positions.
For the first time since arriving at the station, he wasn't the one standing at the center of the conflict.
And he had no idea whether that was a good thing.
The Collector raised his hand.
"Shall we begin?"
The Collector raised his hand.
"Shall we begin?"
Marcus stepped onto the cracked platform opposite him, rolling his shoulders as the duel disk locked around his arm. The device flickered twice before its holographic display stabilized, casting pale blue light across his face.
"Sure," Marcus said. "But I hope you have something better than a speech prepared. I get bored easily."
The Collector smiled.
He looked to be around seventeen, perhaps a little older than Marcus. His dark hair was neatly combed despite the dust and grime covering the station, and his gray jacket bore the same white emblem Lazar had seen on Silas: a circle intersected by three vertical lines. Unlike the other Collectors working among the supply tables, this one carried himself with the relaxed confidence of someone who believed the outcome had already been decided.
"Marcus, was it?" he asked, glancing at the name displayed on his duel disk. "I've heard a little about you. You travel with Lazar, the boy who has recently developed an unfortunate habit of interfering with other people's business."
Marcus smirked.
"Funny. I've heard that people who spend too much time talking usually have something to compensate for."
A few children watching from the nearby tables snickered. The Collector's smile didn't move.
"Then I shall endeavor to keep this brief."
Both duel disks activated.
DUEL START!
Marcus: 4000 LP
Collector: 4000 LP
Turn 1- The Collector
The Collector drew his opening hand and examined it without any visible hurry. He didn't appear particularly concerned about Marcus's reputation. If anything, he seemed amused by it.
"My turn."
He drew a card.
"First, I'll activate the Continuous Spell Card Trader."
A holographic card appeared above his duel disk. A small mechanical trader materialized beside him, its body covered in gears and metal plates. Its eyes glowed as it turned a card over in its hands.
Marcus glanced at the Spell.
"Card Trader? So you're planning to fix your hand as the duel goes on."
"Very good. You can recognize a card's purpose. That puts you ahead of certain people I've met."
"Careful. Keep complimenting me and I'll start thinking you like me."
"Hardly. I simply appreciate knowing when my opponent understands the basics. It makes the disappointment more interesting when he loses anyway."
The Collector placed another card onto his duel disk.
"Next, I'll Normal Summon Chthonian Soldier in Attack Position!"
A dark warrior emerged from a burst of crimson light. Its armor resembled blackened steel, and its face was hidden behind a menacing helmet. A wicked blade rested in its hand as it settled onto the Collector's side of the field.
Chthonian Soldier — ATK 1200
Marcus studied the monster for a moment.
"One monster. Not exactly terrifying."
"Perhaps not," the Collector replied. "But a monster doesn't need to be terrifying to defeat you. It merely needs to be standing when you run out of options."
He placed another card face-down in his Spell and Trap Zone.
"I'll set one card and end my turn."
The holographic Chthonian Soldier stood motionless between the two duelists, its blade angled toward Marcus.
The Collector folded his arms.
"Your move. Let's see whether your reputation is based on skill or merely on the fact that Lazar keeps rescuing you from situations you can't handle yourself."
Marcus's grin remained, but his eyes had sharpened.
Lazar noticed the difference immediately. Marcus enjoyed taunting opponents. He enjoyed making them lose their composure even more. But the Collector's words had struck close enough to make the humor in Marcus's expression turn colder.
"That's a pretty elaborate way of saying you're scared of what happens when I get a turn," Marcus answered.
"Scared?" The Collector tilted his head. "No. I'm simply curious. I've seen plenty of duelists who mistake confidence for competence. They tend to make the most interesting mistakes."
Marcus glanced down at his opening hand.
"Then pay attention."
Across the platform, Ren watched without saying a word. His gaze kept drifting toward the station's record tables, where the other Collectors continued distributing supplies as though nothing unusual were happening.
Lazar stayed beside him, watching Marcus's opponent rather than the monster on the field.
The duel had only just begun, and already the Collector was trying to dictate how Marcus would play.
Lazar knew Marcus well enough to recognize the danger.
Marcus wasn't going to back down.
The question was whether he would let the Collector provoke him into making a mistake.
Turn 2 — Marcus
Marcus drew a card.
"Alright. Let's see what we're working with."
He glanced at his hand, then selected a monster.
"I'll Normal Summon Wolf Axwielder in Attack Position!"
A muscular warrior appeared on Marcus's side of the field, gripping a massive battle axe in both hands. Its wolf-like armor gave it a savage appearance, and it lowered its stance as though preparing to charge.
Wolf Axwielder — ATK 1650
The Collector examined the monster and gave a faint, unimpressed smile.
"An ordinary warrior. How fitting."
"Yeah? Let's see how ordinary it looks when it swings."
Marcus pointed straight at the Collector's monster.
"Wolf Axwielder! Attack Chthonian Soldier!"
Wolf Axwielder charged across the platform, raising its axe high before bringing it down with tremendous force. Chthonian Soldier attempted to meet the attack with its blade, but the difference in strength was overwhelming.
The axe crashed through its guard.
Chthonian Soldier shattered into crimson fragments, its holographic body dissolving into the air.
For a moment, Marcus looked satisfied.
Then the Collector laughed.
"Did you really think it would be that simple?"
The remnants of Chthonian Soldier suddenly ignited with dark energy. The crimson fragments converged, forming a ring of energy that shot toward Marcus before he could react.
"Chthonian Soldier's effect activates! When it's destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you take the same battle damage I would have taken!"
The energy struck Marcus, forcing him backward half a step. His duel disk flashed red.
Marcus: 4000 → 3550 LP
But the Collector's duel disk flashed at the same time.
Collector: 4000 → 3550 LP
The Collector's smile faltered only slightly as the damage registered.
Marcus straightened and glanced at the two Life Point displays.
"Looks like your little trick comes with a price."
"A price I'm perfectly willing to pay," the Collector replied. "After all, your monster had to attack mine to activate it. You chose to take that risk."
"And I chose to destroy your monster. Seems like a fair trade."
Marcus picked up another card and slid it into his Spell and Trap Zone.
"I'll set one card face-down and end my turn."
The holographic panel dimmed as the turn passed back to the Collector.
The Collector's gaze briefly shifted to Marcus's set card.
"Interesting. You've learned to be cautious."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"No. I just don't like showing all my cards to strangers."
"Wise. Though I suspect keeping secrets won't help you when you're outmatched."
Marcus grinned.
"Then I guess you'd better make sure you don't get outmatched first."
Behind Marcus, Lazar watched the Collector carefully. Chthonian Soldier had been a disposable monster, but the Collector had clearly anticipated Marcus destroying it. The effect had cost both duelists 450 Life Points, leaving Marcus with a monster on the field but no decisive advantage.
It wasn't a devastating opening, but it was a deliberate warning.
The Collector wasn't merely trying to win.
He was trying to make Marcus regret every decision he made.
Turn 3 — Collector
The Collector drew his card.
"Now then, Marcus. Let's see how you handle a little pressure."
Marcus stood with his arms folded, his grin still in place.
"Pressure? You spent your first turn hiding behind one monster. I'm starting to think you're all talk."
"An understandable mistake. Most people judge a duelist by what they can see."
The Collector glanced at the Continuous Spell on his field.
"First, I'll activate Card Trader's effect. During my Standby Phase, I can shuffle one card from my hand into my Deck and draw a new card."
He selected a card from his hand and returned it to his Deck. The mechanical figure projected by Card Trader whirred as it processed the exchange.
The Collector drew his replacement card.
A smirk spread across his face.
"Ah. Much better."
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
"Something tells me I'm not going to like whatever you just drew."
"Your instincts are improving."
The Collector reached toward his back row.
"I activate my face-down Trap Card: Call of the Haunted!"
A green glow spread across the platform. Chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around a figure rising from the Graveyard.
"Return to the field, Chthonian Soldier!"
The dark warrior emerged once more, its blade gleaming beneath the station's flickering lights.
Chthonian Soldier — ATK 1200
Marcus looked at the revived monster.
"Bringing back the same monster? I already showed you what Wolf Axwielder can do."
"Indeed. And that's precisely why I brought it back."
The Collector raised another card.
"But I haven't finished."
He activated a Quick-Play Spell.
"Infernal Reckless Summon!"
The Spell's energy swept across both sides of the field.
"When I Special Summon a monster with 1500 ATK or less, this effect allows me to Special Summon as many copies of that monster as possible from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard! You can do the same with copies of a monster you control!"
The Collector pointed toward Chthonian Soldier.
"Bring them forth!"
Two additional copies appeared beside the first, each carrying the same wicked blade and wearing the same dark armor.
Collector's field:
Chthonian Soldier — 1200 ATKChthonian Soldier — 1200 ATKChthonian Soldier — 1200 ATK
Infernal Reckless Summon's effect reached Marcus's side of the field as well. Since he controlled Wolf Axwielder, he Special Summoned another copy from his Deck.
A second wolf-armored warrior appeared beside the first, hefting its axe.
Marcus's field:
Wolf Axwielder — 1650 ATKWolf Axwielder — 1650 ATK
Marcus stared at the opposing formation.
"So that's the plan. Flood the field."
"Now you're beginning to understand."
The Collector picked up yet another card.
"And now, let's make those numbers count."
He activated an Equip Spell.
"Chthonian Alliance! I'll equip it to one of my Chthonian Soldiers!"
A dark chain wrapped around the chosen warrior. The other two copies stood on either side of it, their crimson energy pulsing in unison.
"Chthonian Alliance increases the equipped monster's ATK by 800 for every other copy of that same monster I control!"
The equipped Chthonian Soldier's armor began to glow. Energy flowed into it from its two identical counterparts.
"Two additional copies. That's an extra 1600 ATK!"
Equipped Chthonian Soldier — 2800 ATK
Marcus's grin finally faded.
"That's a pretty big jump."
"Three identical monsters working together," the Collector replied. "An idea you might appreciate, considering how fond you are of having someone else fight alongside you."
Marcus ignored the jab.
The Collector activated another Spell Card.
"Next, Block Attack! I'll change one of your Attack Position monsters to Defense Position!"
A wave of energy struck one of Marcus's Wolf Axwielders. The warrior planted its feet and raised its axe defensively as its stance shifted.
Marcus's field:
Wolf Axwielder — 1650 ATKWolf Axwielder — 1000 DEF
The Collector smiled.
"Now we can begin."
He pointed toward Marcus's remaining Attack Position monster.
"Battle! My Chthonian Soldier, equipped with Chthonian Alliance, attacks your Attack Position Wolf Axwielder!"
The empowered Chthonian Soldier charged forward. Its blade glowed with dark energy as it swung at the warrior.
Wolf Axwielder raised its axe to block, but the attack overwhelmed its guard. The warrior shattered beneath the blow.
The force of the attack carried through to Marcus.
Marcus: 3550 → 2400 LP
The Collector didn't give him time to respond.
"Next! Chthonian Soldier, attack the Wolf Axwielder in Defense Position!"
The second warrior lunged at Marcus's remaining monster. Its blade struck the defensive warrior's guard, overpowering its 1000 DEF and destroying it.
Because Wolf Axwielder was in Defense Position, Marcus took no battle damage.
The Collector's final Chthonian Soldier stepped forward.
"And finally, a direct attack!"
The last warrior rushed toward Marcus, blade raised.
Marcus braced himself as the attack connected.
Marcus: 2400 → 1200 LP
The Collector lowered his hand and placed one final card face-down in his Spell and Trap Zone.
"I'll end my turn."
The three Chthonian Soldiers stood in formation across the field. The empowered warrior's dark aura pulsed around its armor, its ATK now more than double that of either of its counterparts.
The Collector folded his arms.
"Go ahead, Marcus. Show me what you can do with an empty field."
Marcus looked down at his duel disk.
His monsters were gone. His Life Points had been cut dramatically, and his opponent still had three monsters, a powerful Equip Spell, and a face-down card.
Behind him, Lazar's expression had hardened.
The Collector had transformed a single revived monster into an entire attacking force. He had multiplied his advantage, then carefully dismantled Marcus's field before delivering a direct attack.
It was a vicious combination.
But Marcus wasn't looking at the Collector anymore.
He was studying his hand.
And the grin slowly returned to his face.
"An empty field, huh?"
He lifted his eyes toward his opponent.
"Careful what you wish for."
Turn 4 — Marcus
Marcus drew his card.
For a moment, he stared at it in silence. Then the corner of his mouth curled upward.
The Collector noticed.
"Something amusing?"
Marcus reached toward his back row.
"Actually, yeah. I was wondering how long you'd keep smiling if I started using your own cards against you."
He flipped his face-down card.
"I activate Graverobber! With its effect, I can take a Spell or Trap Card from your Graveyard and use it myself!"
The Collector's smile tightened.
Marcus pointed toward the Collector's Graveyard.
"I'm taking Call of the Haunted!"
The Trap appeared in Marcus's Spell and Trap Zone, its holographic chains flickering into existence.
"Now, Call of the Haunted! Bring back Wolf Axwielder!"
A burst of green light erupted across Marcus's field. Wolf Axwielder rose from the Graveyard, its axe gripped firmly in both hands.
Wolf Axwielder — ATK 1650
The Collector scoffed.
"Recycling a monster that couldn't even survive one attack? Is this your grand comeback?"
Marcus's smile widened.
"No. This is the part where you start regretting that you let me take my turn."
He raised another card.
"I'm Tributing Wolf Axwielder to Tribute Summon Manticore of Darkness!"
Wolf Axwielder dissolved into light. A massive, beastlike warrior descended onto the field, its muscular frame covered in dark armor and its mane bristling around a snarling face. Its claws dug into the platform as it turned toward the Collector's monsters.
Manticore of Darkness — ATK 2300
The Collector looked at the new monster with renewed interest.
"Better. Though still weaker than my strongest Chthonian Soldier."
"Who said I was finished?"
Marcus activated another Spell.
"Double Attack!"
The card's energy surrounded Manticore of Darkness, and the beast roared as a second surge of power coursed through its body.
"This lets Manticore attack twice this turn, provided I discard a monster from my hand with a higher Level than Manticore!"
Marcus revealed a card.
"I'm discarding Mystical Knight of Jackal, a Level 7 monster!"
The knight's image flickered above the card before it disappeared into the Graveyard.
Manticore of Darkness lowered its body, preparing to strike.
The Collector laughed.
"Two attacks? How ambitious. But remember something, Marcus. If you destroy one of my Chthonian Soldiers by battle, you'll take the same battle damage I take!"
Marcus pointed at the Chthonian Soldier that wasn't equipped with Chthonian Alliance.
"That's why I'm attacking that one first! Manticore of Darkness, attack Chthonian Soldier!"
Manticore charged.
The Chthonian Soldier raised its blade, but the beast's claws tore through its armor and sent it crashing into the platform. The warrior shattered into crimson fragments.
The Collector's duel disk flashed.
The difference between Manticore's 2300 ATK and Chthonian Soldier's 1200 ATK amounted to 1100 battle damage.
The Collector grinned as dark energy gathered around Marcus.
"Now you'll take 1100 damage as well!"
But Marcus was already holding another card.
"Not this time! I activate Hanewata!"
A small winged creature appeared above the card, scattering sparkling feathers across Marcus's side of the field.
"For the rest of this turn, I take no effect damage!"
The dark energy struck the protective aura and dispersed harmlessly.
Marcus's Life Points remained unchanged.
Marcus: 1200 LP
But the Collector's duel disk flashed again.
The battle damage Chthonian Soldier would have inflicted on Marcus was reflected onto its controller.
Collector: 3550 → 2450 LP
For the first time, the Collector's expression showed genuine irritation.
"You prepared an answer to Chthonian Soldier's effect?"
Marcus shrugged.
"I prepared an answer to you."
Manticore of Darkness turned toward the Collector's remaining Chthonian Soldier. This was the copy equipped with Chthonian Alliance, and it was still standing on the field.
Marcus pointed at it.
"Manticore of Darkness, attack the last Chthonian Soldier!"
The Collector's eyes widened.
"Wait! If you destroy it, you'll take the same damage I do! You have only 1200 Life Points left. If you attack me directly, you'll take 1100 damage and be left with just 100. But if you destroy my soldier, you'll take that same damage—and if you attack again, you'll lose!"
Marcus grinned.
"That's assuming I haven't already taken care of the problem."
Manticore charged, slamming into the remaining Chthonian Soldier. Its claws tore through the warrior's armor, shattering it into crimson fragments.
The Collector braced himself for the reflected damage.
But Marcus's Hanewata was still protecting him from effect damage.
The difference between Manticore's 2300 ATK and Chthonian Soldier's 1200 ATK was another 1100.
Collector: 2450 → 1350 LP
The last Chthonian Soldier disappeared, but Chthonian Alliance remained equipped to it, its chains now hanging uselessly in the air. With no other Chthonian Soldiers on the Collector's field, the Equip Spell granted no additional ATK.
The Collector stared at his empty monster zones.
Marcus lowered his arm.
"Funny. You spent your whole turn building an army, and I spent mine taking it apart."
The Collector said nothing.
Marcus placed his hand down.
"I'll end my turn."
Manticore of Darkness stood proudly on Marcus's side of the field, its claws flexing as the last traces of Hanewata's protective light faded.
Behind Marcus, Lazar allowed himself a faint smile.
Marcus was still in a dangerous position. His opponent had more Life Points, a face-down card, and Card Trader. But the Collector's carefully constructed formation was gone, and Marcus had survived the entire counterattack without losing a single Life Point.
The Collector looked at Manticore of Darkness, then at Marcus.
"Enjoy your little victory. You haven't won yet."
Marcus grinned.
"Good. I'd hate for this to end before you get embarrassed properly."
TURN 5 — THE COLLECTOR
The Collector drew his card.
His eyes moved across the field. Marcus had managed to turn the duel around, destroying two of his Chthonian Soldiers and surviving their reflected battle damage thanks to Hanewata.
But Marcus was standing at just 1200 Life Points.
The Collector still had 1350 Life Points.
And now, only one monster remained on his field.
The Collector glanced at his Spell and Trap Zone.
"Unfortunately, these cards have become rather useless."
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
"Oh? Giving up on your little tricks?"
"Hardly. I'm simply making room for something better."
The Collector placed his newly drawn card onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate Storm Draw!"
Dark clouds gathered above the station as a violent gust swept across the platform.
"Storm Draw destroys every card in my Spell and Trap Zone, then lets me draw one card for every two cards destroyed!"
Marcus watched as the Collector's face-down card began to glow.
It shattered first, revealing its identity for the first time.
Chthonian Polymer.
Marcus's expression changed.
"A Trap that counters Fusion Summons? So that's what you had waiting for me."
The Collector gave him a thin smile.
"It's a shame you'll never get to see it used."
He pointed toward his remaining cards.
"Card Trader! Chthonian Alliance! All of them are going!"
The Continuous Spell vanished in a flash of light. The Equip Spell's dark chains snapped apart, leaving the Chthonian Soldier without its support.
Finally, Storm Draw itself began to glow.
"And naturally, the card that started this storm goes with it!"
The Spell shattered.
Four cards had been destroyed: Chthonian Polymer, Card Trader, Chthonian Alliance, and Storm Draw itself.
The Collector drew two cards.
Marcus watched his opponent's hand carefully. After all the plays he'd made, the Collector had only one card remaining in his hand.
"Finished clearing your back row?" Marcus asked.
"For now."
The Collector looked toward his remaining monster.
"Now, let's get rid of the last obstacle between me and victory."
He raised his hand.
"I Tribute my Chthonian Soldier!"
The final Chthonian Soldier disappeared from the field, its body dissolving into dark energy.
"Rise! Chthonian Emperor Dragon!"
A massive dragon emerged from a storm of black flames, spreading its enormous wings above the ruined railway platform.
Chthonian Emperor Dragon — 2400 ATK
Marcus looked up at the creature.
The Collector pointed directly at Manticore of Darkness.
"Chthonian Emperor Dragon! Attack Manticore of Darkness!"
The dragon surged forward, its claws wrapped in dark energy.
Manticore met the charge head-on, but the difference in their strength was enough to decide the battle. The dragon struck, overwhelming the beast and sending it crashing to the ground.
Manticore of Darkness was destroyed.
The shock wave swept across Marcus's side of the platform.
2400 ATK vs. 2300 ATK.
Marcus took 100 points of battle damage.
Marcus LP: 1200 → 1100
The Collector lowered his arm.
"Your comeback was entertaining, Marcus. Brief, but entertaining."
Marcus steadied himself, refusing to look away from the dragon.
The Collector's smile widened.
"And on my next turn, I'll Normal Summon Chthonian Emperor Dragon again. That will awaken its special ability, allowing it to attack twice during each Battle Phase."
He gestured toward Marcus's empty field.
"Then we'll see how long you can keep smiling."
The Collector ended his turn.
TURN 6 — MARCUS
The Collector's Chthonian Emperor Dragon spread its wings, its claws scraping against the ruined platform.
Marcus stood before it with only 1100 Life Points remaining.
His field was empty.
The Collector had one card in his hand, and his dragon was ready to attack twice on the next turn.
"You know," the Collector remarked, "you could always surrender. I'd even consider letting you keep your dignity."
Marcus lowered his head.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he drew his card.
His eyes settled on it.
A smirk slowly crept across his face.
"Sorry. I don't remember agreeing to lose."
The Collector's expression tightened.
Marcus raised a card.
"I activate Monster Reborn!"
A brilliant flash illuminated the ruined station. A swirling vortex opened above Marcus's Graveyard, and a familiar monster emerged from its depths.
Mystical Jackal King!
The jackal-headed monarch landed on the field, its imposing golden armor gleaming beneath the light. Its eyes burned with renewed power as it turned toward the Chthonian Emperor Dragon.
Mystical Jackal King — 2700 ATK
The Collector's confident expression faltered.
"Where did that come from?"
Marcus grinned.
"From the Graveyard. You know, that place where monsters go after you destroy them?"
"Don't get clever with me!"
"Too late."
Marcus reached for another card.
"And I'm not finished. I Normal Summon Rampaging Rhino!"
A ferocious rhinoceros warrior charged onto the field, scraping its hooves against the broken concrete.
The Collector glanced between Marcus's two monsters and his own dragon.
For the first time that turn, he looked genuinely uncertain.
Marcus pointed toward Chthonian Emperor Dragon.
"Jackal King! Time to put that overgrown lizard back where it belongs!"
Mystical Jackal King raised its weapon. Golden energy gathered around its blade, growing brighter with every passing second.
"JACKAL KING—ROYAL JUDGMENT!"
The monarch lunged forward, unleashing a devastating slash of golden energy.
Chthonian Emperor Dragon roared and spread its wings, attempting to withstand the attack.
But the difference in their strength was too great.
2700 ATK vs. 2400 ATK.
Mystical Jackal King's strike tore through the dragon's defenses. Chthonian Emperor Dragon shattered into fragments of dark light, its roar fading into the wind.
The Collector staggered as the battle damage struck him.
Collector's LP: 1350 → 1050
His dragon was gone.
But Marcus still had another monster.
He turned toward Rampaging Rhino.
"Your turn!"
The Rhino lowered its head, its horn gleaming as it charged straight toward the Collector.
"RAMPAGING RHINO! GORE THROUGH! DIRECT ATTACK!"
The Collector's eyes widened.
"Wait—!"
The Rhino struck with overwhelming force.
The impact sent the Collector crashing backward as the remaining Life Points vanished from his Duel Disk.
Collector's LP: 1050 → 0
The Duel Disk sounded its final confirmation.
DUEL OVER.
MARCUS WINS!
For several seconds, the old station fell silent.
Marcus exhaled, then looked toward the Collector.
"Now, about that promise you made."
The Collector slowly rose to his feet, brushing dust from his gray jacket. His expression had lost its earlier amusement.
Marcus pointed at Ren.
"You said if I won, we could leave without being pursued today. So that's exactly what we're doing."
The Collector stared at him before giving a thin, irritated smile.
"A rather impressive comeback."
Marcus returned the smile.
"Yeah. You should try having one sometime."
He turned away from the Collector, Mystical Jackal King and Rampaging Rhino fading from the field as the duel ended.
"Come on," Marcus called to Lazar and Ren. "We're leaving."
Behind them, the Collector remained motionless.
He had lost the duel.
But the look in his eyes suggested that the matter between them was far from settled.