Chapter 1101: The Factory's Altar
Chapter 1101: The Factory's Altar
"Unbelievable, sir!"
Yuan Xuan was seated in the Chief's office at the Security Maintenance Bureau. On the grand projection screen before him was a doctor in a white lab coat, his expression exaggerated and his voice sharp with excitement.
"Ever since you asked me to monitor the Duel between Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas at the Dueling Hall that night, Moment has reached an incredible peak in its operation!"
Moment, the name of the perpetual motion machine that serves as the heart of the new Domino City, is located in the underground facility of Kaibacorp, providing the city with an inexhaustible supply of energy.
The person currently speaking to Yuan Xuan was Dr. Akuazu, the head of the Moment department. Akuazu was a genius in perpetual motion research, so passionate about the machine that he often elongated the word "Moment" when he spoke, as if to express his deep affection for it.
"Although the numbers have dropped a bit since then, they are still very impressive", Akuazu said excitedly. "I have a feeling that our research on Moment might see a significant breakthrough soon!"
"Perhaps", Yuan Xuan replied calmly. "The Lucky Cup is starting in a few days."
"During the tournament, Moment will likely show even more significant reactions. I want you to monitor its operation closely and report any fluctuations to me immediately."
Akuazu snapped to attention. "Understood, sir!"
The operation of Moment is closely tied to Duels, and the Duels of the Dragon Markers, in particular, can significantly boost Moment's energy output. While a surge in energy is beneficial within limits, exceeding the capacity could lead to a disaster similar to the Zero Reversal incident, potentially destroying the entire city.
With the Lucky Cup approaching, a few Dragon Markers alone wouldn't be enough. Over the past few days, Yuan Xuan had also tasked Deputy Chief Yego with recruiting various Dueling experts from around the region to participate in the tournament.
While these experts are considered skilled, they aren't expected to defeat the main Dragon Markers. Their true role is to serve as experience points, stimulating the main characters' abilities through intense Duels or psychological tactics, whatever it takes to awaken their potential.
Yuan Xuan left the recruitment to Yego and focused on frequent visits to the card development department.
The 5D's era is marked by the rapid development of Synchro Duels, and most card research institutes are now centered around Synchro-related projects. Many well-known Synchro monsters and Synchro Decks were created during this period.
Amid the numerous projects with little promise, Yuan Xuan found a series he saw potential in: Scrap.
Despite its name, the Scrap Deck is far from worthless. During the early Synchro era, it was once a powerful T1 Deck.
The Scrap Deck's main strategy revolves around self-destruction, using the effects of "Scrap" cards to destroy other "Scrap" cards in the player's possession. These destroyed cards then trigger various effects, leading to a relentless offensive.
While the main Deck is strong, the Scrap Dragon, an eight-star Synchro monster, is perhaps the most famous card in the Scrap series.
Scrap Dragon requires one Tuner and one or more non-Tuner monsters as Synchro materials, with no restriction on the use of Scrap monsters. This flexibility allows it to be easily integrated into any mainstream Deck.
2800 Attack Power, with the effect of once per turn, simultaneously selecting one card from each player's field to destroy. In the early Synchro environment, this was almost the most versatile and powerful Synchro monster, extremely strong.
Additionally, if Scrap Dragon is destroyed by the opponent and sent to the Graveyard, it can revive a Scrap monster from the player's Graveyard back to the field, ensuring its sustainability. This made it an exceptionally powerful eight-star Synchro monster, and any mainstream deck capable of summoning eight-star Synchros would consider including Scrap Dragon.
Youxuan was in the Synchro Research Institute, not to stock up, but to inspect. He was enjoying himself in the warehouse when a muffled voice spoke from beside him.
"Hey, with all these 'Synchro Monsters' around, each one looking more useful than the last, you're not going to get a new crush and forget about the rest of us, are you?"
Youxuan glanced behind him. The speaker was the eye floating in mid-air. But everyone now knew it was Marshmallow.
"Of course not."
Youxuan chuckled as he added another card to his deck.
"To a Duelist, every card is unique and irreplaceable."
"You all are my wings."
Marshmallow squinted. "Eh, that sounds really unreliable."
"You came out just to say that?"
Youxuan continued sorting through the cards without looking up.
"Not exactly", Marshmallow said. "Just wanted to remind you that some ominous vibes have started appearing in your city."
Youxuan paused, frowning. "Ominous vibes?"
"Yup. Though, they're actually on the other side of the river", Marshmallow added. "Does that still count as part of the city?"
The other side of the river—the Satellite Zone.
Youxuan put down the card he was holding and pondered for a moment.
He remembered that the Satellite Zone was the main battlefield for the Dragon Markers and the Shadow Markers. The base of the awakened Shadow Markers seemed to be located there, and they were spreading their influence, brainwashing and controlling many residents of the Satellite Zone to use as soul fodder for summoning the Earthbound Gods.
But the Shadow Markers were supposed to start their activities after the Lucky Cup ended and the Dragon Markers had revealed themselves.
Could this be another deviation in history? Did the Shadow Markers start acting earlier than expected?
Marshmallow looked at him. "What do you think, boss?"
"Let's go check it out."
Youxuan headed for the door.
Meanwhile, in the Satellite Zone.
An abandoned factory, with moonlight filtering through the broken dome, casting a pale frost on the rusty conveyor belt. The air was thick with the smell of oil and damp moss.
Residents of the Satellite Zone passing by couldn't help but stop and stare, curious about the old factory ruins.
In the center of the factory, a dais had appeared.
A trapezoidal dais, situated in the middle of the factory, with long stone steps emerging from between the rusted stamping machines. Bronze braziers hung below twisted steel beams, their emerald flames licking at the faded safety slogans.
The residents exchanged puzzled glances.
Was that dais always there?
In the moonlit mist, a shadowy figure could be seen atop the dais.
The figure, cloaked and mounted on a horse, looked up into the distance, the cloak billowing behind like an ancient general.
The general's voice was weathered.
"They should be here soon."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
