After a brief chat, Kira learned that Mai hadn't been here much longer than he had, and didn't know much more, either.
She'd arrived two days ago, looking for Joey. But she hadn't found him—only the warm welcome of the locals.
"You're sure Joey is here?" Kira asked.
"Pretty sure," Mai replied offhand.
"What do you want with him?"
But she didn't answer, changing the subject.
"This way—through here, you'll reach the town. Not that it's any safer there."
Exiting the forest, they soon saw buildings—a town. But the streets were just as empty, as though even the wind was afraid to disturb the silence. The streetlights glowed weakly in the gloom.
No one in sight, but every window and shadow seemed to conceal watching eyes. Kira followed Mai down the empty street, their footsteps echoing on the pavement.
Mai indicated a narrow alley.
It was probably a shortcut, but if she hadn't pointed it out, Kira would have missed it—the space was so tight, it barely looked like a real path.
Especially for someone of Mai's... stature. He doubted she could squeeze through.
Mai turned sideways, her ample chest pressing against the rough brick wall as she inched her way into the narrow alley.
Kira followed after her.
On the other side, a building that looked like a train station. Behind it, an old clock tower—the clock long since stopped.
Mai led him inside. The air smelled musty. The station was empty, dust covering the benches. It felt more like a barrier than a building, as if there was no way out.
But toward the platform, there was a faint light, like a lonely star in the darkness.
Rows of train cars, a bit old—light from the windows left hazy reflections on the damp platform.
And someone came out to greet them.
It was another woman—messy black hair, dress torn, face covered in dust and fatigue, but still pretty beneath it all.
"Huh?" She noticed Kira behind Mai and looked surprised. "Mai, you brought a guy back?"
"Why does it sound so weird when you say it?"
Mai brushed past her toward the train car.
"He's a duelist, and a good one. He should be able to help."
The woman greeted Kira warmly.
"If he's not your man, Mai, I might just take him for myself."
She marched over and offered Kira her hand.
Kira shook her hand with a blank expression out of politeness, then stepped around her to catch up with Mai.
"What is this? Some kind of survivor base?"
"Sort of. It's the only place we know of in town. All the remaining duelists, and a few protected civilians, are gathered here."
Mai led him into the train car.
Left behind, Mizuki pouted. "He ignored me!"
A chubby guy nearby chimed in: "Mizuki, he ignored you! Are you just going to take that?"
Mizuki huffed, then grinned.
"Well, he's handsome and apparently strong. I'll let it slide."
"Huh?" Fatty was stunned. "You weren't when I arrived."
"Duh," Mizuki said with absolute confidence.
"Are you half as good-looking as he is?"
Ouch. But he couldn't argue.
By the seats, a burly man was sitting. He stood up, raising an eyebrow at the newcomers.
"This is Iwao—basically the leader around here," Mai introduced.
"I see. Duelist, huh? Well, that's what we need right now. But..."
Iwao walked up to Kira, eyeing him suspiciously.
He was over two meters tall—a real wall of a man. Kira had to look up to meet his gaze.
"You look young. Like a student."
"Kind of a skinny scholar type. Are you sure you can fight?"
Dueling isn't a fistfight—do you have to look like a thug to be good at it?
Before Kira could answer, Mai put her hands on her hips. "If you'd seen him duel, you wouldn't ask."
Iwao looked surprised. "He's that good?"
"It's not about good or bad. His dueling is... special. Hard to describe. But if you want, you can see for yourself."
"Oh, interesting... Fair enough."
"I'm not sending an unarmed kid to the front lines unless you prove yourself to me."
He raised his Duel Disk, inviting Kira.
"Tomorrow is the big day. If you want to join the plan, prove your strength in a duel. If you can't, you'll stay behind with the old and the weak, waiting for our news."
He paused. For a moment, his fierce face looked sad.
"I don't want to see anyone else fall in front of me."
Kira met his gaze for a moment.
Hmm, pretty classic tough-guy hero. Seemed decent enough.
So he nodded and activated his Duel Disk.
As a sign of respect for a warrior ...
He'd let him taste the true joy of dueling.
"Duel!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N0veI.Fiɾe.net
A few minutes later, after several turns...
"Guardian Sphinx, Flip Summon. All your monsters return to your hand."
"And with its effect, Sphinx can set itself face-down again each turn."
Kira was all politeness.
"Continuous Trap 'Ordeal of a Traveler.' When your monster attacks, you have to guess the type of a card in my hand. Wrong, and your monster bounces."
"Too bad, wrong again. Back to your hand."
"Guardian Sphinx, direct attack."
The golden Sphinx smacked Iwao silly, stars spinning before his eyes, his LP dropping to zero.
He looked down at his hand, full of cards that kept bouncing back, unable to do a thing, and fell into deep thought.
Kira walked over, politely asking, "So, did I pass the test, Mr. Iwao?"
Iwao looked at him for a long moment, then gritted his teeth.
"Pass! Absolutely pass! Now, even if you don't want to come, you're coming."
He stood, dusting himself off.
"Keep this up, and help me wipe out those damn zombies!"
PS: Bonus chapter at 500 PS