Chapter 93: A Task from the Master
Chapter 93: A Task from the Master
Dark Duelist Titan, despite his self-proclaimed title, was exposed by Jaden (Judai) as nothing more than a fraud during their duel. He relied on hypnosis-like tactics to make his opponents believe they were engaging in a Shadow Game, wagering their souls. Afterward, he would forcibly take their rare cards.
Such individuals are not recognized by either side of the law as true Dark Duelists but are known as "Rare Card Hunters," a universally despised group.
In the story, Titan was hired by Professor Crowler specifically to deal with Jaden, a problematic student. This is a major blemish on Professor Crowler's character, as revealed in the Seven Stars arc when he encountered Titan for the second time. At that time, Professor Crowler didn't believe in the existence of Shadow Games and was primarily focused on expelling Jaden.
"Oh, what a rare opportunity! How about a duel, You Xuan?" Jaden, itching for a duel, said, "I've been wanting to see when I'd get a chance to duel again."
"Huh? Here?" Hayato scratched his head, "That doesn't seem like a good idea."
Shou Marufuji: "Speaking of which, I heard that if you're caught trespassing in this area, you'll be expelled. Big brother, let's just go back."
"It's fine," Jaden replied confidently, hands on his hips. "Look, even a good student like You Xuan is here, aren't they?"
You Xuan's heart said no, but he figured that even if they were caught, he would probably be fine. Only Jaden and his group would be expelled. In the anime, Jaden and his friends were clearly caught trespassing in the restricted area along with Asuka, but in the end, only Jaden and his group faced punishment. Asuka even volunteered to take responsibility with Jaden, but her offer was refused.
Duel Academy is a place where strength and academic performance determine everything.
Moreover, he also had Kuyo's contact information, which was essentially equivalent to having an insider connection on the school board. Getting expelled wouldn't be that easy.
Once again, the sound of snapping twigs rang out behind them.
"Ah! This time it's a real ghost!" Hayato and Shou hugged each other in fear.
However, when they turned to look, it was Asuka.
"What are you guys doing here?" Asuka asked in surprise. "And..."
She looked at You Xuan curiously.
"Aren't you from the Yellow Dorm? What are you doing with Jaden and them?"
"Just taking a night walk and happened to run into them," You Xuan replied.
"This isn't a place for a stroll," Asuka said sternly. "Haven't you heard? Many students have gone missing in this area!"
"We've heard, and that's why we're here to explore," Jaden said nonchalantly, his nerves made of steel. "Those are just rumors, nothing to worry about."
"They're not just rumors," Asuka said gravely. "Many students have truly disappeared from this place. And it's off-limits; the school finding out would cause a commotion."
Jaden, brimming with confidence, replied, "Oh, if you're scared of stuff like that, you can't go on adventures."
"Are you even listening to me?" Asuka said, annoyed. "This is serious; it's not a place to mess around."
"What about you? What are you doing here so late at night?" Jaden asked, puzzled.
"Forget it, do what you want."
Asuka huffed and turned to leave, but after taking a few steps, she paused and took a deep breath.
"My brother is among the students who disappeared from here."
Without another word, she walked away.
Jaden's smile faded, and he furrowed his brows in thought.
"Big brother, it doesn't sound like she's making up the story about the old dorm," Shou said softly.
"Yeah. It's fine, let's just go in and take a look," Jaden said, already stepping past the blockade. He glanced at You Xuan. "You coming too?"
You Xuan shrugged and followed.
The sprite's reaction suggested that the answer was inside, so there was no harm in taking a look.
The man pushed open the creaky, old wooden door and stepped into the dilapidated dormitory. He was a formidable figure, with a broad build, donning a flowing black robe, and a tall, round hat. A metallic mask covered half of his face, and he wore a Duel Disk, a rare type affixed to his chest.
This man, who called himself a Dark Duelist, was Titan, a Rare Card Hunter.
And today, he had come for a student by the name of Yuuki Juudai.
The interior of the old dormitory was especially eerie. Broken beds, chairs, and tables lay scattered across the floor, covered in thick layers of dust and cobwebs. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and the occasional gust of wind sent shivers down one's spine, carrying with it strange, unearthly echoes.
Of course, he had heard the terrifying rumors about this old dormitory—stories of students going missing and vengeful spirits haunting its halls. But he scoffed at these tales, confident that a tough guy like him couldn't be scared by such intangible ghost stories.
"Hmm?"
Titan wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he caught a glimpse of a white-clad figure flashing by a broken windowpane.
Startled, Titan spun around, his heart pounding. But when he looked in that direction, he found nothing but an empty, dark corridor, save for the broken window frame rattling in the chilly breeze.
"Must've been my imagination."
But as he turned back, he caught another glimpse, and this time, it sent shivers down his spine.
It was just a fleeting moment, but he could have sworn he saw a woman.
A woman as pale as snow, her white clothing billowing, stood out eerily in the dim surroundings. Her long, white hair flowed freely, and she seemed to exude an aura of negative energy. The howling wind sounded like the wails of a tormented soul, sending chills down his spine.
"Waaah!"
The tough guy screamed.
Titan let out a cry, taking a step back as he stared at the figure in horror. But as he focused his eyes, he realized that there was no one there, not even a hint of a ghostly presence.
Even with his self-proclaimed strong will, he felt a chill run down his spine, and his breathing became labored.
"Damn, the ghost stories are true!" This terrifying encounter shattered his staunch materialistic worldview, cultivated over decades, into tiny pieces.
Come to think of it, he had heard that the ghosts here were the spirits of students who had gone missing from the old dormitory.
Mustering his courage, Titan stammered, "L-look, I'm just passing through. I didn't do anything to you. But rest assured, once I get out of here, I'll make sure someone comes to investigate and clear your names."
Having said that, he couldn't bear to stay any longer and turned to flee.
He decided to forget about the job and the rare cards. This academy was too creepy, and he vowed never to return to this place as long as he lived.
But just as he turned to leave,
he found the white-clad female ghost right in front of him, her face inches from his own. The sudden, unexpected appearance of her face, coupled with the surge of negative energy, sent him into a state of sheer terror, causing his heart and lungs to seize up.
"Ahhhhhh!!!!"
". . ."
The Silent Magician, her silver hair styled in a messy fashion by her master, peeked at the man with curiosity.
Hmm, he seems to have fainted.
She adjusted her hair, pouting in dissatisfaction, and removed the Duel Disk from Titan's body.
To be honest, she wasn't very happy about this situation.
As a noble Light Magic sorceress, she found herself forced to play the role of a ghost and steal a deck of cards. It felt like she had boarded the wrong ship, partnering with a Duelist whose style clashed with her own.
Oh well, oh well.
It was just a task from her master.
(End of Chapter)
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