Season 0: Theme Keycard #1 C14: Pyromania (2)

The Monster's arrival was heralded by flames glowing with a pinkish hue as it raised its head and let out a piercing screech, the soundwave from which instantly made his eardrums ring and vibrate.

Quietly, Lenix got to his feet and channeled a small amount of Duel Energy to Nephthys, who responded with a roar of her own, jolting him from his stupor as the Hippogrif descended to the Field.

Hazy Flame Hyppogrif

Attribute: FIRE

Level 6

[Pyro/Effect]

Effect:

1. This card cannot be targeted with the opponent's card effects.

2. Once per turn: The Controller of this card can Tribute 1 other FIRE monster on their side of the Field; this card gains 300 ATK.

ATK: 2100

DEF: 200

The Beast stood on its hind-legs and growled at his Goblins.

Quite brave of it, considering how much weaker it was compared to the Goblin Attack Force. Even if the Fire Maiden activated its effect, its ATK would only rise as high as 2400; still 400 short of being able to overcome his Goblins.

"Pathetic..." Given its effects, it might become a threat if Lenix allowed it to grow but from a card game perspective, it's quite a lackluster Boss Monster overall.

While a breeze to Summon, its weaknesses were as clear as the Sun that rose overhead every day: From its low Stats, to the frankly miniscule 'Once Per Turn' Attack Boost that did next to nothing and even required a Tribute in a Meta where merely getting Monsters on the Field was a challenge.

Just off the top of his head, Lenix could name five superior options with all of the Hyppogrif's strengths and none of the shortcomings.

“You won't be able to Attack.“

“Even if I could, I'd not, my dear boy. It's so much better to have you on stage with me! I'll prolong this for as long as I need! I'll extend my Play by Special Summoning my Spirit of Flames!“

The ground where The Thing in The Crater had been sent upon its destruction suddenly cracked open, banishing the Monster residing within Nibiru so the Spirit could emerge.

Spirit of Flames

Attribute: FIRE

Level 4

[Pyro/Effect]

Effect:

1. Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must first be Special Summoned (from your hand) by banishing 1 FIRE monster from your Graveyard. 2. This card gains 300 ATK during your Battle Phase only.

ATK: 1700

DEF: 1000

“I'll Tribute my Spirit to my Hyppogrif,” The crackling fire from which it was Summoned hadn't even cooled before the Spirit was laid to rest as the Hippogriff gnawed on it until not a single bone remained.

ATK: 2100 » 2400

“Set one card, and pass it over to you, boyo!“

“My Turn (3)." Archfiend Emperor in his hand was soon joined by Fusilier - The Dual-Mode Beast after his Standby Phase.

Unfortunately, without Skill Drain, neither was particularly useful in this situation. For a moment, Lenix considered Summoning them anyways and going for Game, but decided against it when he noticed the unassuming face-down card in her Spell/Trap Zone.

Without proper Tributes or Skill Drain to negate their effects, they would just be easy-pickings for the Fire Maiden.

"Edison's better…"

Lenix concluded.

Now able to see the whole picture without the lenses of nostalgia to cloud his judgement, he had to admit Edison's superiority as a Format, at least from a gameplay perspective.

It's neither too fast nor too slow: Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

“What're you mumbling over there, boyo? Didn't get the card you needed?“

“Unfortunately. Welp, since there's not much else I can do, I'll move to the Battle Phase and have my Goblins attack your Hippogrif for 400 LP.”

"You'll do nothing of the sort!" The Set card flipped open, projecting an image of a spiked wheel clenched between the jaws of a carved copper Dragon.

Then, from within the dark, rusted iron on its sides came chains which latched onto the scrambling Goblins, and pulled the torture device toward the Fiends with an agonizing sluggishness.

The Goblins flailed in panic, pleading eyes begging to be released as the device began to stretch their tiny forms until even the most hardened of the Force couldn't keep a lid on his scream any longer. “When my Nightmare Wheel targets a Monster, it will not be able to Attack or change its Battle Position.“

Clapping at the spectacle, Lenix let loose a quiet, almost mocking oh. “Bravo, Hikaru-san! Amazingly done!"

"... I don't think I appreciate your tone, boyo.“

"Why?"

Lenix inquired, blinking innocently as he took the bottled water from his belt and emptied it with a satisfying gulp.

"I was complimenting you."

"Do not patronize me!" The Fire Maiden snapped. "After I've won, I'll request you from my Master, and then we can play all day long."

“You think you've won?“ She really might.

Nagisa Hikaru merely needed to draw a Monster and it could spell the end of him, which's why Lenix was entertaining her in the first place.

Unlike the hundreds of Master Duels he had played, Duel Monsters had a lot in common with poker.

Bluff was an essential part of both games.

Example?

It's only thanks to bluffs and his deranged confidence that Marik managed to overcome Joey, despite the fact the latter would have won easily if he had just grown some balls.

“Where does this confidence stems from, I wonder? Is it your Hyppogrif's ability to be untargetable by card effect? Neat trick, I'll give you that. It'll be a nice addition to the Deck I'm building.“

“You! How did you know?! I just got my Hyppogrif yesterday!“

"That's for me to know, and for you to figure out," Lenix said with a sly, dispassionate smile. "I end my Turn."

Focused, Lenix tipped to the side as current surged from the custom-fitted devices.

The electricity cascaded around him, writhing like living serpents that caused Lenix to involuntarily twitch.

Each jolt felt like hot iron being inserted in his bone; while the heat from Nagisa's effect boiled his blood from inside out, but he was prepared this time. With Mimic at the ready, he absorbed, adapted, and mitigated the biting voltage, rendering the fearsome torture device a harmless trinket.

Lenix Owens: 2000 » 1500 LP

“That all you've got?“

Thunderous roars from the crowd penetrated even the soundproof walls of the area, but their voices were nothing more than a distant rumble to Lenix as he clashed gazes with his shellshocked opponent.

“Wha–How?!“

"Don't look so surprised. If you can laugh and moan while being shocked, I can too." He replied, as though he hadn't just shrugged off 90mA of eletricity it, and met their astonished gaze with a playful smirk. "What's the matter? It's your Turn (4), Nagisa Hikaru!“

Over on her side, Nagisa trembled slightly, her eyes fixed intently on the Set card before her.

It couldn't be helped, the trauma of attacking into a Mirror Force had been deeply ingrained into every Duelist.

Few things were as devastating as seeing your Monster Zone obliterated in an instant, except perhaps attacking for game into consecutive Magical Cylinders.

"It can't be that, can it?"

Bitting her lip, fingers hovering over her cards, Nagisa's eyes briefly flickered toward Lenix, whose nails were silently grazing the Set traps in his Duel Disk.

He stopped it immediately, but she'd be a fool to Attack into him after that.

That didn't mean she's out of tricks.

With Salamandra and Solar Flare Dragon, she could turn her Hyppogrif into an insurmountable mountain and let her Nightmare Wheel and Solar Flare Dragon finish the job. Mind made, the Fire Maiden proclaimed, “Since I can't end you, I'll just Summon my Solar Flare Dragon in Attack Position instead!“

Solar Flare Dragon

Attribute: FIRE

Level: 4

[Pyro/Effect]

ATK: 1500

DEF: 1000

Her justification for Summoning such a seemingly weak monster quickly came to Lenix in the form of text below it.

Effect:

While the Owner of this card controls another Pyro-Type monster, this card cannot be attacked. During each of the Owner's End Phases: Inflict 500 damage to their opponent.

The Serpentine Dragon coiled gracefully, its flicking tongue splattering orange-hot magma that made the arena's floor sizzle. 'It's just a hologram.' Lenix had to remind himself as he took two steps back.

Looking at her board, the Fire Maiden howled with laughter.

“You have only prolonged your suffering, Owens! Before ending my Turn, I'll Equip my Hyppogrif with Salamandra!“

ATK: 2400 » 3100

Lenix had always wondered how certain Monsters could be equipped with gear that clearly wasn't made for them. How could a Hippogriff even begin to hold a Flaming Sword, he'd ponder.

He needed to no longer, not after seeing the Level 6 Monster secure Flaming Swordsman's weapon between its beak.

"Now that's just lazy," Back even straighter than before, Lenix snorted as he another surge of electricity surged through him. “My Turn (5).“

Lenix Owens: 1500 » 1000 LP

"I hope you enjoy lit cigarettes in your eyes, you cocky little bastard... I've made tougher men scream before, and you'll be no different. You will scream.“

“Does it make you feel powerful, threatening me, Ms. Nagisa? Does it distract you from the fact that at your core, you're just a scared and scarred girl?“

“What did you say?!“

“Scarred, ginger, rabid and deaf? You've really gone all-in with the disability-maxing, haven't you?“

Lenix had had troubles experiencing strong emotions since Skullie shoved the 'Third-Party Sofwares' into Vorona, so imagine his surpsie and excitement when pure, unadulterated joy blossomed in his chest as he mockingly jeered. “In your next life, pick a struggle and stick with it!“

Duel Energy converging to the tip of his fingers, Lenix let loose a roar and, “DRAW!“

[Normal Spell: Destiny Draw (2/10)]

You can only Destiny Draw equals to the Level of this Skill Card per Duel.

Pay Duel Energy to draw one card of your choice, the cost to activate this Skill Card at Level 1 is 50% and decreases by 5% every subsequent Level Up.

DE: 7750 » 3875

Revealing the card, Lenix grinned.

“I've drawn Graceful Charity… You know what that means, right?“ The familiar Angel descended from a Palace of Light and blessed his Deck, disappearing in motes of light, though not before throwing him a playful wink. “I GET TO DRAW THREE!“

DE: 3875 » 1937

"Due to the cost of Graceful Charity, I'll have to discard two. Thanks for the wait. I have what I need now." And the cards he had chosen to send to the GY were none other than Archfiend Emperor and Fusilier, leaving on his Hand Giant Trunade, Call of the Haunted and Breaker the Magical Warrior.

“To kick things off, I'll Summon Breaker in Attack Position!“

Breaker the Magical Warrior

Attribute: DARK

Level 4

[Spellcaster/Effect]

Effect:

1. If this card is Normal Summoned: Place 1 Spell Counter on it (max. 1). Gains 300 ATK for each Spell Counter on it.

2. You can remove 1 Spell Counter from this card, then target 1 Spell/Trap on the field; destroy that target.

ATK: 1600 » 1900

DEF: 1000

“Next, I'll activate his effect to get rid of your Nightmare Wheel!“ Dropping to the floor, the gaggle of Goblins, now freed of the medieval torture device, sent him a thankful glance, then snarled as they readied for combat.

ATK: 1900 » 1600

While no longer as deadly without his Counter, Breaker's more than enough to deal with that pesky Dragon of hers.

“So what if you destroy it? Your monster's still too weak to destroy my Hippogrif, you little bastard!“

"If you're that eager to lose, I'll oblige. Here's a Giant Trunade."

Although it wasn't the most optimal play—since he couldn't bounce back his Call of the Haunted—it was the only move he could make. The Trap wouldn't have been activatable due to Spell Speed anyhow.

“Oh, well, one shouldn't be too greedy… Getting rid of your monsters will suffice.“ One Counter, one Giant Trunade to strip three of his opponent's resources sound like a steal. “Goblin Attack Force, Breaker—you know what to do—!“ A sudden headache stabbed at his brain as he finished, accompanied by a voice Lenix's unfortunately all too familiar with.

“—You know what it is, don't you, Lenix?“

Truth be told, he's still unsure what Skullie had done to him and even less sure what the voice in his head was: A mere replay of that night, or the man himself being the proverbial Devil on his shoulder.

What Lenix's 100% certain about was that he wanted it and Semi-Gamer's Mind out of his head. '[Observe] can stay.' He and it were tight. “Destroy her Hyppogrif!“

Goblin Attack Force

ATK: 2800

Hazy Flame Hyppogrif

ATK: 2400

Pacing around the now vulnerable Hyppogrif, the Fiends banged their weapons together to 'soften' and disorient their prey before jumping in for the kill.

Usually quick andnefficient hunters, surprisingly enough, the Goblins instead decided to take it slow on account of the Nightmare Wheel they were forced on. One by one, they took a cut from the Beast, ripping it into burnt glass shards as it's sent to the GY. But, with it came a cost. Exhausted by the frenzy, the Goblins regrouped in their Monster Zone and switched to Defense Position, as dictated in their effect.

DEF: 0

Nagisa Hikaru: 2200 » 1800 LP

“ARGH—! My-My Hyppogrif!“

“Now, Breaker! Deal with that pathetic excuse of a Dragon!“ Dressed in wine-red armor trimmed with gold, Breaker raised his shield to block the feeble flame spat by Solar Flare Dragon.

In spite of the seemingly tiny 100-point difference in their ATKs, when enforced by the rules of Duel Monster, that gap might as well have been an insurmountable mountain for the dragon as Breaker carved into its charred flesh.

Nagisa Hikaru: 1800 » 1700 LP

“I'll end my Turn here… You better Draw a nice one, or next Turn will be our last.“

Glossing over her Hand, eyes hidden behind her fiery amber bangs, the Fire Maiden shakily placed her fingers on her deck. "It's not over… I still have 1800 Life Points left!"

"Do I need to notify a Judge for slow play? Draw already!"

“I DRAW (6)!!!“

'That light…' Even a blind man could see she was Destiny Drawing. “Oh, no. Not on my watch."

Having used Destiny Draw twice, Lenix had no qualms about activating [Destiny Defied] and denying his opponent cards that might win her the game. 'Oh my God... I have been infected.' (A/N: If you know, you know.)

[Continuous Spell: Destiny Defied (MAX)]

You cannot Destiny Draw after activating this card.

Once per Duel, halve your DE to activate this card, placing Spell Counters on it equal to your Destiny Draws this Duel. If your opponent Destiny Draws, remove two Counters from this card to negate it.

Spell Counters: 2 » 0

DE: 1830 » 915

The dazzling light fizzled out instantly as Nagisa's face paled, but the weaker she looked, the more manic the gleam in her eyes became. “I activate Pot of Extravagence from my Hand, banishing 5 Monsters from my Fusion Deck to Draw two!“

"What the fuck? How?!"

Did he hallucinate negating her Destiny Draw? Was the timing incorrect?

Had he misunderstood Destiny Defied?

"How did you draw that?!"

Unlike her peppy-self earlier, Nagisa didn't quip back, still reeling from the sudden loss of her Duel Energy.

“Again!“ Infernal Flame erupted from the Deck as she yet another Destiny Draw.

“Tsk…”

'Finally.' The two she drew were Infernal Flame Emperor and UFO Turtle, both parts of a Combo that had helped her build somewhat of a reputation in the Gutter. The latter would allow her to stall and search for Flame Ruler as as Tribute for Infernal Flame Emperor, who'd clear his backrow and that damn Field Spell.

Her plan was foolproof.

UFO Turtle

ATK: 1400

Goblin Attack Force

DEF: 0

“Not if I flip this!“

Finally getting a chance to shine, Final Attack Orders,

The Goblins grumpily switched to Attack Position, which stopped her dead in her track. “When this card's Face-Up, all Monsters must switch to Attack and cannot change their Battle Positions.“

Goblin Attack Force

ATK: 2800

UFO Turtle

ATK: 1400

"Looks like your Turtle ain't enough anymore. Better figure out something quick."

“—Don't you, Lenix?“

'GET OUT OF MY HEAD!'

"Overconfidence isn't a nice trait, boyo. Though it's a bit regretful to waste Salamandra like this, but..." At its core, Duel Monsters was a game of chance.

If her opponent drew a Monster with higher ATK than UFO Turtle, she'd be done for. "No. I have to. Thanks for bouncing my Salamandra back! I'll equip my UFO Turtle with it,”

The Turtle's hungry yellow eyes locked onto Lenix's Breaker, unfortunately, the Battle Phase had already passed. “And end my Turn.“

"Looks like the cards you drew have reignited your hope… Allow me to douse water on it."

Nagisa growled, then reluctantly ended her Turn.

“It's my Turn (7). I Normal Summon Zombrya the Dark,”

Zombrya the Dark

Attribute: DARK

Level 4

[Warrior/Effect]

Effect:

This card cannot attack your opponent directly. If this card destroys a monster by battle: This card loses 200 ATK.

ATK: 2100

DEF: 500

“This Duel's gone on long enough! I'll enter the Battle Phase by clashing Zombrya with UFO Turtle—!“

Colliding with a boom, the Monsters vanished in a blaze.

“When UFO Turtle is destroyed, I can Special Summon a FIRE Monster—”

“With 1500 ATK or less from your Deck in Attack Position, I know! I'm counting on it!“

Hurling themselves at the copy of UFO Turtle, the Goblins tore into the Beast with a vengeance, eager to cause harm to the woman who had Wheeled them.

Nagisa Hikaru: 1700 » 300

Another UFO Turtle's Summoned, but just as the last two, it's sliced apart by his Breaker.

Nagisa Hikaru: 300 » 100

The electric shock sent the Fire Maiden crumpling to her knees, a screaming, twitching mess, yet the smile on her face only widened as Flame Ruler was Summoned to the Field.

Nagisa could envision Victory already, though she doubted it'd be nearly as sweet as the real thing.

Flame Ruler

Attribute: FIRE

Level 4

[Pyro/Effect]

Effect:

This card can be treated as 2 Tributes for the Tribute Summon of a FIRE monster.

ATK: 1500

DEF: 1600

She was ready to cheer, but Lenix's amused voice cut her off. “Sorry to tell you, but this Turn's the last. I activate Call of the Haunted to Summon to Summon Archfiend Emperor from my GY!“

Maybe it's the Spell's visuals, or the Archfiend being Summoned, but Lenix could've sworn he just saw Hell itself being brought bare. 'Here's your chance to show off, you arrogant bastard.'

Archfiend Emperor, the First Lord of Horror

Attribute: DARK

Level 8

[Fiend/Effect]

Effect:

1. You can Normal Summon this card without Tributing, but its original ATK/DEF become halved. If Summoned this way, this card is destroyed during the End Phase.

2. You cannot Special Summon any monsters, except Fiend monsters.

3. Once per turn: You can banish 1 "Archfiend" card from your hand or GY, then target 1 card on the field; destroy it.

ATK: 3000

DEF: 2000

'Tsk, what a mouthful.'

The Archfiend looked impressive, and could have been a worthwhile addition to the deck, if not for his crippling first effect.

While Skill Drain could negate the halving of his stats, it apparently couldn't stop his self-destruction during the End Phase.

It didn't make much sense, but Lenix had learned this the hard way when he attempted the same strategy in a Duel, only to be bamboozled halfway and nearly lose.

The experience had, understandably, left him with a lot of negative emotions toward the Archfiend. It didn't help that the First Lord of Horror seemed to believe he was the center of the universe and treated every Spirit under Lenix's command extremely poorly either. Nephthys had even pitted herself against him, sadly, she too proved no match to him in her current Form.

"No! How could you have had that card?! Why didn't you use it sooner?!!"

"And miss that look on your face?" Lenix responded, lips lifted in a mocking smirk as a blackened, ornate Throne rose from the Abyss; occupied by none other than the First Lord of Horror. "Any last words?“

“Don't you?“

Floating beside his ear, the memory of Skullie urged.

“That is not a 'She,' IT is EXP and LOOT!“

Although he's referring to the slumbering Sachi then, Skullie's words were as relevant now as they were that night.

He felt no emotional tie to Nagisa, and could kill her almost guilt-free.

In fact, ridding the world of this sadistic, psychotic pyromaniac, who's directing her frustrations at the world like it owed her something could even be considered a service.

But then, what would that make him? Lenix hadn't stumbled into this place by accident.

He had actively sought out the 'Gutter' for days, or rather, nights in a desperate pursuit for power so he'd not feel so… Small.

What right did Lenix have to judge her?

“Grow some damn balls! Kill! Loot! We are Gamers, for fuck's sake! Why allow irrelevant human constraints to get in your way of Godhood?!“

While stone-faced outwardly, Lenix's fighting a war against his own desire—a war he's disheartened to report he's losing badly.

"Archfiend Emperor, finish her off—" The Spirit lazily rose from his Seat of Power and yawned as he brandished his crimson-red blade from which emanated the stench of the countless Souls it had torn asunder while being wielded by its Owner, who himself also reeked.

Even a good meter away, Lenix could taste the metallic tang clinging to the Archfiend on the tip of his tongue. 'What a pathetic Tribute you have given (Royal) Us, Mortal, but We suppose it'll have to suffice.'

“EDICT OF DAMNATION!“ The First Lord of Horror raised its blade, the motion as graceless as the Spirit making it, then with a single slash, cleaved apart the Flame Ruler and Nagisa both.

Nagisa Hikaru: 100 » 0

'Dea—' And like so, her life and death were no longer hers to control.

Whether it was the realization itself or the high voltage coursing through her, the Fire Maiden collapsed.

Her manic howls no longer had the edge to it.

They sounded weak…

They sounded pitiful.

They were not howls at all, but fearful, desperate cries for the pain to stop.

“I grant you… Mercy.“

Penalty Games or Shadow Duels were a prominent aspect of the franchise. Though it later transitioned to Psychic Duels and real-mass technology, everyone remembered Yami Yugi versus Kaiba and the penalty Yami Yugi had chose for his rival: [Mind Crush].

An ability that shattered Kaiba's soul, forcing him to piece the fragments back together and ultimately making him a better person.

It'd suffice.

Maybe it would even restore the girl's mental state to what it was before the accident that left her forever scarred, though Lenix wouldn't count on it.

[XP: 981 (Shadow Duel Multiplier: ×20)]

[Penalty: Mind Crush]

For the briefest moment, he was transported to a mansion eternally alit, where he saw Nagisa dangling from the railing, her gaze fixed on the car driving away from them both.

"They abandoned me… I was 15 and disfigured, so they abandoned me. None of my younger siblings even knew I existed by the time I found them."

Lenix's mouth opened and closed in rapid succession, but he chose silence, not trusting himself to avoid saying something foolish.

"I tried to reconnect, but having me around would ruin their perfect family. They didn’t say it outright, but...“ Pausing, she chuckled—a hollow sound that seemed to speak more than words could possibly have. “I'll admit, I got angry. I became bitter. So, one day, I decided to make them feel what I felt. You’d be surprised how far you can go with just a tank of gasoline and a match. I only came to my senses after the act.“

“Did they die?“

"No... That's the funniest part—they weren't even harmed! Sure, they suffered a bit of lung damage, but the only thing I managed to destroy was the mansion... this mansion." Tearfully, a younger-looking Nagisa turned to look at Lenix. Green eyes meeting the white of her mask, he sighed. It was no longer just an accessory, but an extension of Nagisa herself.

Reaching for the mask, he stopped as her hand latched onto her wrist. “Don't!“

"Be still. I don't bite."

Her chin was slightly slouched, the skin around her eye pulled a bit too tight, likely from previous reconstruction attempts, her features were partly melded and her hair was patchy in places—alone, these traits were not too bad, but together, it was a hard sight to stomach.

Thankfully whatever repulsion he might have felt was quickly murdered in the cradle by [Semi-Gamer's Mind].

"Disgusting, right?"

"Yes... But treatable."

Perhaps not on his Earth, but in this world?

Her condition was definitely curable.

All she needed was a little splash of Magic, and voila, good as new.

“How? Every doctor I've seen had said the same thing: This is how I'll look for the rest of my life.“

"You already know the answer... If you'd just increase your efficiency with your gift instead of—" The world suddenly shook, urging him out of the mindscape. "My time here's over. Pull yourself together first, then we'll talk."

The next time he blinked, the mansion's nowhere to be seen.

Lenix's back in the arena again, in front of his opponent who had sunk to her knees; motionlessly staring at the bulbs overhead. Prying the collars from his neck and wrists, he snaked his arm around her shoulder and helped the girl up. The first person to greet him was his Recruiter, who smiled and clapped excitedly like a child in a candy store. “Nice match, Mr. Owens!“

The second was the store owner who sullenly slapped a remote in his hand.

“There… That slave's yours. Bastard can't do shit right anyway.“ Shying away from Lenix's intense gaze, the man roared out of shame, fist going straight for the catatonic girl. “Useless bit—”

“I want to Duel for her as well. I bet my freedom and 50Mil DP.“ Lenix said as he caught the man's wrist.

“Mr. Owens, you have another match lined up.“ The Recruiter reminded with an awkward smile.

"Give me 10 minutes.“

The recruiter's smile faltered, but after meeting Lenix's annoyed glare, he quickly stepped asides.

He had seen Lenix withstand high voltage just moments earlier and wasn't too eager to push his luck over a mere 10 minutes.

"Please hurry.“

Needless to say, he won that too, 3 minutes early than the agreed duration, in fact.

After Dueling with the Examiner and winning, he freed the Gambler and had Mr. Recruiter—Tanaka Hoshio—tend to Nagisa's needs.

By the time he got home, it's already 2A.M. He had expected a quiet night until he noticed two silhouettes—one slumped against the bus stop in front of his building, the other hidden within a bush like a thief.

One was male; the other, female.

Choosing to ignore the snoring red-haired man, he approached Sachi and gently tapped her forehead.

"What the Hell were you thinking, sleeping outside?"

“Lenix, you're safe!“

—/—/——/——/—/—

Duelist Profile

Name: Lenix Owens

Title: The Mimic

Level: 6

XP: 20,910/36,000

Duel Energy: 7750/19,200 (Regen: 32 Unit/Sec)

Bonded Spirits (Max. 5): Scared Phoenix of Nephthys (8.9%), Hand of Nephthys (13.2%), Mimicking Man-Eater Bug (19.6%), Grasschopper (9.1%)

Spirit Enhancement(s) / Skill(s): Destiny Draw (2/10), Spirit Vision (3/10), Pyromancy (2/10), Destiny Defied (1/10), Shadow Initiation (1/10), Chosen of Nephthys (MAX), Observe (MAX)

Third-Party Softwares: Semi-Gamer's Mind (MAX)

Duel Points: 29,516

Duel Record: 145 Total / 145 Win – 0 Loss – 0 Draw

Win Ratio: 100%