Showdown with the Mysterious Man!

Chapter 183 Showdown with the Mysterious Man!

After the dimensional invasion ended, the superdimensional landscape was completely restructured. The original three-way power struggle between the Professional League, the Academy League, and the Ash League was officially merged into one to resist external enemies.

All duelists, regardless of their origin or faction, train together at the same prestigious academy.

The once timid girl, with the support of her friends and the encouragement of You Ming, completely broke free from the shackles of social anxiety.

At this moment, Kurosaki Ruri is cheerful, bright, and has a sparkle in her eyes. Every move she makes is close to the original appearance of ARC-V. She loves to laugh, dares to speak, and will take the initiative to approach others. She will also openly ask Yu Ming for advice, spar, and sort out her deck.

"Yu Ming! I've tried this chain several times, but I'm always just one step short. Can you teach me again?"

Liuli moved closer to Youming, her eyes bright, her tone natural and intimate, without the slightest hesitation, only complete trust and closeness.

Yu Ming patiently bowed his head to explain, his fingertips lightly touching the deck, so close they could almost hear each other's breath.

All of this was observed by Kurosaki Hayabusa, who was standing against the wall not far away.

He crossed his arms, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the back of his arms, the cold hostility in his eyes gone.

All that remains is helplessness, indulgence, and a faint smile that says, "I saw through it all along."

Since losing that one-on-one match to You Ming and fully acknowledging him, Falcon's mentality has undergone a complete transformation.

From initially being wary of the "yellow-haired bastards," they have now come to accept them as "one of our own."

This is the most extreme aspect of a sister complex—

When there's a conflict, I'll do everything in my power to keep you out.

Once I approve, I'll protect you behind me without saying a word.

Once he considers you a friend, he will become your strongest and most unreasonable support.

Falcon gazed silently at the two, sighing inwardly, "These two guys—there's just no way to deal with them."

Just as this peaceful warmth reached its peak, a dark figure, devoid of warmth and killing intent yet strangely piercing, slowly emerged from the shadows around the corner of the corridor.

Their footsteps were as light as ghosts, not disturbing a single leaf, not stirring up a speck of dust; the silence was eerie, the naturalness unsettling.

It carried no gunpowder smoke, no hostility, yet its presence was like a block of ice, forcefully smashing into the warm air.

You Ming's nerves tensed up in an instant.

It wasn't the foul malice of a merged dimension, nor the bloodthirsty ferocity of the Obelisk Legion.

Rather, it is a kind of—

Extreme calmness, extreme focus, and a sense of oppression solely for verifying strength and weakness.

Almost instinctively, he turned sharply to the side, firmly protecting Liuli behind him.

His previously gentle features instantly turned cold, his gaze sharp as a knife, pointing directly ahead: "Who?"

The dark figure stopped three steps away.

The hood was pulled down very low, covering the entire face, revealing only a sharp, hard jawline.

Those exposed eyes were as indifferent as a deep pool of water, devoid of anger, murderous intent, or scheming; they held only a cold, scrutinizing gaze.

It's as if you're examining an object, a piece of data, or a specimen worth verifying.

"Are you a remnant of the dimensional fusion faction?" You Ming's voice deepened, carrying the instinctive wariness of someone recovering from battle.

At this moment when the fighting has just ended, any stranger who suddenly appears is enough to put people on guard instantly.

The shadowy figure remained silent.

He simply raised his arm slowly.

Click—

With a soft click, a silver-gray duel disk unfolded.

With its minimalist design, cool texture, and sophisticated aura, it lacks both the dark purple patterns that blend with dimensions and the standard engravings of the Super Academy.

It does not belong to any known faction.

But the next second—

A ring of transparent, pale pink light suddenly spread out, covering the entire corridor like a barrier.

Real-world imaging technology.

It is the same level used by the Obelisk Legion, Dennis, and Yuri.

You Ming's brows furrowed instantly, and his expression became extremely serious.

This is not a regular duel tower, nor is it a military area.

Someone who can use a duel disk of this caliber could not possibly be an ordinary student or an ordinary enthusiast.

Origin unknown, skill level similar, aura unfamiliar —

In an instant, all the insecurities rushed into my mind.

"You're not from a dimensional fusion world, yet you're using a Duel Disk of the same level as them."

You Ming's tone turned cold, and his hand protecting Liuli tightened slightly.

"Who are you? What do you want here?"

The shadowy figure finally spoke.

His voice was calm, flat, and without inflection, yet it carried a condescending, scrutinizing tone: "You Ming."

"A newcomer to the professional league, formerly a member of the Ash League."

"He should have been unremarkable, but he crushed Dennis and defeated Yuri and Kurosaki Shun in succession."

He paused, and a hint of barely perceptible doubt and provocation finally crept into his tone: "I'm here to confirm—what exactly is so special about you?"

You Ming felt a chill run down his spine.

Having investigated his identity and knowing his record, they came specifically to verify his strength.

They are not enemies, but they are more troublesome than enemies.

The shadowy figure said no more, coldly stating, "Enough with the nonsense."

"duel."

You Ming stared at the other person, his emotions gradually rising.

Peaceful days have lasted too long, making people almost forget that danger lurks in every corner.

The person in front of him had no known purpose or identity, possessed advanced technology, and clearly targeted him.

Liuli gently gripped the hem of his clothes from behind, her eyes filled with worry but no longer with fear.

Hayabusa straightened up from the wall, his eyes becoming completely serious, his hands slowly hanging down, ready to intervene at any moment.

The air condensed.

The warmth of daily life was abruptly severed.

The undercurrents beneath the calm surface have finally come to light.

You Ming slowly released his grip on Liuli, his eyes sharp as blades, and said, word by word, "Okay."

"I'll show you clearly—what makes me stand here."

【DUEL!】

A crisp electronic sound broke the silence of the corridor, and the two duel disks simultaneously emitted a dazzling light, causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly due to the surge of duel energy.

[Yu Ming, LP4000]

[Mysterious Person, LP4000]

You Ming lightly tapped the edge of his deck, deftly drawing out his first card: "I'll go first. Activate the Continuous Spell Card, Messenger of Peace!"

Within the halo, a phantom of a badge symbolizing peace slowly floated, and a soft white light enveloped the entire area, forming an invisible barrier.

Yu Ming glanced down at the board and said calmly, "While this card is active, all monsters with an attack power of 1500 or more on either player's field cannot declare an attack."

However, to maintain it, I need to spend 100 health points during each preparation phase.

This is a classic self-isolation and lockdown tactic from the early days of the Duel Arena. Compared to the rigid bans like Super Gravity Net or Level Restriction Area B, this card offers more initiative.

This is a new strategy that Youming recently came up with based on existing decks.

The purpose is quite simple.

Make your methods versatile in order to deal with enemies lurking in the shadows.

The mysterious man narrowed his eyes under his hood and crossed his arms: "You're using an attack to block me right from the start? Are you that afraid of my power?"

It seems your record is nothing but empty boasting.

He exuded a suppressed sharpness, clearly showing his utter contempt for this conservative fighting style and wishing he could crush You Ming's defense immediately.