Late night.
Unlike the dazzling lights of skyscrapers or the bustling crowds of commercial streets, the park was quiet.
The clamor of smoke and fire couldn’t reach here.
The stone paths, untouched by anyone, were spotless, as if washed by rain.
The streetlights cast a faint glow.
It wasn’t midnight yet, and occasionally figures could still be seen on the benches along the path.
Most of them were elderly people, out playing with their grandchildren, resting on the benches when they got tired.
Black Flame Dragon sat alone on a park bench, wearing a trench coat, arms spread wide, a coffee lollipop dangling from his mouth.
Why was he sitting here?
As a man more accustomed to greeting computers than humans, he rarely left his home.
His feet hardly touched the ground; his keyboard was his weapon, and caffeine was his life.
Every time a man like him went out, it was with a strong purpose—either to buy groceries at the supermarket or to handle paperwork.
Generally speaking, such a man would never get entangled with a beautiful girl.
Yet, a beautiful girl had set her sights on him.
She was the girl next door, a college student.
A few years ago, her parents had died.
Black Flame Dragon took pity on her, supported her through high school, and even tutored her.
During the summers and winters, she worked to earn tuition and living expenses for college.
When she turned of age, she went off to university.
The university was local, so they could still see each other often.
On weekdays, they rarely had a chance to sit down peacefully or meet up.
Only on weekends could she call him to a café for a chat or a family restaurant for a meal.
Then, Black Flame Dragon would ask about her life at college, but never delve too deep, never interfering in her life.
Just as he never entered her room, he never let her enter his.
Helping her was a whim; continuing to help was his personal principle.
Their ages differed, and they had known each other for a long time.
So Black Flame Dragon had always regarded her as a younger sister he’d never met.
A sound of boot steps: tap, tap, tap.
Black Flame Dragon looked up, following the noise, and saw a girl.
She was young, just over twenty, wearing brown boots, a deep black pencil skirt with black tights, a white turtleneck sweater, a beige women’s trench coat, and a small red artistic hat on her head.
Winter was approaching, and the weather was getting cool.
The autumn wind swept up her waist-length black hair.
Black Flame Dragon remained seated on the bench, calmly watching her.
“So, you called me out late at night. What’s the matter?”
Ding Nan asked.
Moths fluttered around the lights.
“Teacher, I like you. You’ve always known that, right?”
Black Flame Dragon was momentarily stunned.
“Yeah.”
“So what’s your answer? Will you be with me?”
She clenched her small fists in front of her chest.
Her chest, a landscape of ridges and peaks, rose and fell with nervousness.
“I refuse.”
Black Flame Dragon said without hesitation.
“Don’t you see the age gap between us?”
“Is that all? Just that?”
“Besides, it’s about my job and reputation. Do you want to ruin your teacher’s teaching credentials?”
Black Flame Dragon squinted helplessly.
“You’re a good girl. You’re young. You’ll definitely find someone better in the future…”
She lowered her head and fell silent.
Black Flame Dragon remained silent as well.
“Yeah, that’s what you said when I graduated high school,” she murmured.
Black Flame Dragon just watched her quietly, still not speaking.
Since he had refused, there was no need to say more.
Saying more might make her think he was holding onto her.
Thus, they were silent for another dozen seconds.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go,” Black Flame Dragon said.
“No, you can’t go.”
Her voice was low.
As she spoke, she raised her hand, holding a golden object.
The Millennium Eye of Horus in its center was clearly visible.
Black Flame Dragon recognized it as something from Egypt at a glance.
Suddenly, a strange wind blew.
The surrounding streetlights flickered a few times, then, beyond their light, darkness like ink seemed to be shrouded in a black mist.
Black Flame Dragon sensed something amiss.
“What have you done?”
“No, how about a game?” she said.
The Black Flame Dragon, who had been full of doubt, suddenly grinned.
“I’m the best duelist in the village!”
As he spoke, he pulled out his Duel Disk and strapped it onto his arm.
The cold wind blew.
‘How did I suddenly start dueling?’
Black Flame Dragon thought in shock.
“First turn, I’ll take it!” she declared.
“Hey, shouldn’t we rock-paper-scissors?”
But because of the card draw, the Duel Disk had already confirmed her first turn.
“Teacher, I’m sorry. Today, I’m going to make you respond to my love.”
“You mean, if I win, I become your partner? And if you lose?”
“Then I won’t bother you anymore.”
Fair conditions.
“Hmph, you dare to defy your teacher and challenge me, the legendary duelist?”
Black Flame Dragon crossed his arms.
He remained seated on the bench.
With a slap, she slammed a card onto the Duel Disk: “No harm in trying.”
“I activate a Spell Card, searching for one ‘Ship Girl’ monster and Special Summoning it.”
“Then I activate a Field Spell, ‘Ship Girls’ Port.'”
“Activate Continuous Spells: ‘Port Hot Spring,’ ‘Ship Girls’ Amusement Park,’ and ‘Hot Spring Milk Production Line.'”
“Set one card.”
On the field stood four monsters, all Big Thunder Ship Girls, with attack and defense over 3000—one magic/trap negate, one monster effect negate, one full immunity, and one lockdown monster that prevents Special Summons.
Three Continuous Spells, one Field Spell, and two set cards.
Looking at her end board, Black Flame Dragon broke into a sweat.
He stared at the two negates in his hand: the magic/trap negate and the monster effect negate.
“Is this… even legal?”
The card text didn’t have “once per turn”…
No “once per turn”!
How could such powerful cards exist!
Black Flame Dragon stood up—there was no choice but to play standing now.
He had a Spell Card that destroyed all monsters and a Dark Seal Sword to flip them all face-down, but without resolving that absurd monster, he couldn’t use any Spells.
In this situation, he could only trust the Kaiju in his deck.
“My turn, draw!”
“I activate the Trap Card, ‘Suppression’! Send the card you just drew to the Graveyard.”
Good news: he drew a Kaiju.
Bad news: it was gone in an instant.
“Activate Quick-Play Spell, ‘Rest Time’ from my hand! Randomly pick one card from Teacher’s hand and banish it. After three turns, it returns to its owner’s hand.”
“When a Spell Card is activated, chain ‘Port Hot Spring’ and ‘Ship Girls’ Amusement Park’: pay 1000 Life Points, seal two of Teacher’s Monster Zones, then Special Summon two ‘Ship Girl’ monsters and Synchro Summon with them.”
“Next, activate Continuous Spell ‘Hot Spring Milk Production Line’: during your Draw Phase, place a counter for each Synchro ‘Ship Girl’ monster on the field. For every two counters, remove them and destroy that card, then draw three cards!”
“Activate Quick-Play Spell ‘Hot Spring Eruption’: both players take 2000 damage.”
It was supposed to be his turn, but he watched as she went through several minutes of combos, and two more lockdown bosses descended.
Staring at his completely locked-out board—outmatched in both mechanics and stats—how was he supposed to play?
Black Flame Dragon’s arms slumped in defeat.
Her smile was as brilliant as summer fireworks: “Teacher, please enlighten me.”