"Enigma" (035)

"ENROKONAI CITY," a vast civilization teeming with Duelists vying for the top spot.

The 'Dueling Systems' itself are the most popular pastime in such a setting.

The Dueling Academy is recognized for producing the best Duelists, with newcomers rising through the ranks to become pros! People learn their essentials at this "School," which is filled by thousands of Duelists, but the most current activities are their training sessions, which are scheduled three times a week.

The Academy is made up of people of many races, with the bulk of them being Humans and a small number of them being Half-Demons. Dueling is a part of their traditional training sessions, often known as the 'War Race' or 'Five Versus Five.'

Despite the fact that the world appears to be in a state of chaos, the Dueling is mostly for entertainment, and no one is murdered. (Thanks to the 'Zero Watches' for casting Spiritual Shields.)

And the majority of Duelists are tasked with eliminating the top three Duelists!

- Number 3 on the leaderboard: whose title is "King" and whose true name is Tsuji Rokuro.

Then there's;

- Number 2 on the leaderboard: whose title is "Devil" and whose real name is Sakata Hisako!

And their top tier duelist, the legend himself and Number 1;

"Silver," whose real name is Takei Shigeo, managed to reach the highest ranking between both "King" and "Devil" for a massive amount of Battle Score.

Their championships are a sign of good luck, as none of them have ever lost to lower-tier ranks.

The three champions are known as the "Dueling Masters," and they battle with one another in order to maintain or lose their reign as champions.

- Spiritual Realm (Zero Dimension/World), Saturday, 12:30 pm -

Tim and Codey came to a standstill in front of the Society's headquarters to observe their surroundings.

"It's a lot different now than the last time we came here..." The structures were more up-to-date, and the streets were a little broader.

Someone approached from the front, looking puzzled. "Tim, Codey, what's up? What are you doing here?" Saraki was there, and he seemed to be older.

"Oh, Saraki... I didn't expect you to be the first person that we'd encounter."

"Wait a moment... What's your age? I swear you were twenty-five and twenty-four at the time..." Tim and Codey had to glance up at Saraki when he blinked numerous times.

"You know, I wasn't expecting to see someone who was taller than me..." Codey rubbed his head when Tim felt unamused since he was the shortest.

"Well... Y-Yeah, we were, but then came this 'Black Storm,' and we went back a few years."

"Wait... You're both here, but Tim, where's your wife?" A shaky question mark emerged. "Wife?" you might wonder.

Saraki smiled and nodded.

"It's true, Ayuka." Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a pebble slammed against Tim's forehead, causing him to smash back.

"My wife?" With squiggly eyes, he maintained his stance.

"... Uh... Yeah, you married her and she gave birth to your daughter."

"Daughter??" A pebble slammed against Tim's forehead once more, but this time he grabbed it. "Can you tell me what you're talking about?! Ayuka? Daughter? You've gone mad!"

Saraki, on the other hand, grew irritated. "No... you're the one who's crazy... Who would overlook his own wife or daughter?

Codey immediately swung his head to the side, his hands resting on his hips, making a chibi.

"And you thought I was stupid, asshole!" Codey yelled down at Tim, who jiggled next to him, and saliva spilled from his mouth.

"How was I expected to know, moron!"

"You could've simply listened to what I said back then!" Saraki, who had been transformed into a chibi, was staring at them, unamused.

"They didn't change..."

"No, I'm not going to accept that until I'm certain! Saraki, you mentioned that as a joke, right?" Tim thought forming a fist.

"... no... after you made out, you married her... like two years later" When Codey slid over him and started shouting, another pebble smashed into Tim's skull, sending him falling to the ground.

"Ha! I might have lost in a Duel! However, I am always accurate." While feeling anxious, stars began to circle above Tim's head.

"No, no, no... Hey, tell me how that's possible! She has a much better rank than I do!" Tim sat up and pushed Codey's armpit to the side as he stood up.

"Do I have to...?"

"Yes! I have to be sure you're not lying!" When Saraki sighed, Tim became tense. "I guess she liked you and got connected to you over time... and that's what happened in the end."

When Tim raised his arm, his eyes were spinning. "... She was kidnapped together with two other girls..."

Saraki became enraged and ran forward, grabbed Tim's collar, and shaking him from the side - to - side.

"You stupid smartass, how can you call yourself a competent Spiritual Duelist when you lose your wife right in front of you?" Tim's eyes were squiggly and Saraki had a red mark on his face as he continued shouting.

"... She left your life three, no, four! Five god damn times! How is THAT even possible that this is still happening to you?!" Saraki screamed, and Tim was uneasy.

"I know... I'm terrible at this..."

"And you made a PROMISE to her?! While you are ALWAYS losing her! God f-ing damn it! You're a hopeless case!" Tim simply continued nodding as he listened to the facts.

"Saraki, please, let him go... I'm sure she'll be OK... She is, after all, a member of my Clan!" Alexis chuckled as she spoke, and arriving at the scene.

"Trying to rescue her, I battered her down..." Alexis became annoyed at that point.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Both Alexis and Saraki continued to shake Tim and shout after that.

"Why would you do something so heinous to your own wife? Damn jackass, I entrusted her to your care!"

Tim continued to nod, soaking in all of the facts.

On the other hand, Codey took a step back and whistled.

- Spiritual Realm (Zero Dimension/World), Saturday, 12:32 pm -

Alexis' long blue trench coat, which was swaying and her hand was resting on her brow.

"...I'm still baffled as to how you've managed to lose Ayuka so many times... It's as if it's become a monthly routine..."

"... I'm giving it my all, and to be honest, it's not easy, even though I've been watching her the whole time..." Others looked to be irritated as a result.

"... We understand, and we are fully aware that dealing with it is not an easy process. But I've always been curious. Just... what compelled you to make a vow to her? You've only been friends with her for a month after meeting her for the very first time..." Saraki was baffled, and Tim sighed.

"I just felt it was necessary to do it... There is no other explanation... And, if what you're saying is true, it's just strengthened my resolve to keep her safe... I know she's tough on her own, but I'm the one who made this catastrophe, and I'm going to solve it..."

Then Codey started talking. "Actually, we came here to see if you might provide us with any information... If it's possible? They were kidnapped by a guy named Genpaku, who was clothed in crimson..."

"Hmm... Not that we're aware of... Duelists did claim, though, that someone had gone by earlier. We simply assumed it was a tourist, but now that you mention it, we're quite sure it was him."

"We need to track him down. I'm certain that the two of us can take down the guy and save our friends." Tim's confidence was appreciated by both Saraki and Alexis.

"Gladly... We'll ask around. After we have some answers, we'll send you a Text message over the Zero Watch. For the time being, you and your partner should prepare by having a little break in the nearby restaurant." Alexis explained, and our two Heroes agreed.

"I'll see you later..." Just as they were about to run, Alexis lifted her hand and waved pleasantly. "Make sure you retrieve them! And don't bring up the fact that she's your wife!"

Tim smiled and waved his hand behind his back. "You got it!"

- Spiritual Realm (Zero Dimension/World), Saturday, 1:10 pm -

Tim and Codey sat in the back of the restaurant, studying the paper they had just gotten a few moments before.

Tim wondered as he clenched his chin. "Yes, the photographs clearly show that the individual in question was Genpaku. It's too bad it doesn't mention which way he went..."

"My only assumption is that he could have left the society." Because the other set of clothing was extremely sweaty, they both wore different clothing.

"Or he's still around and attempting to deceive us..." Tim donned a black T-shirt and a white blazer, while Codey wore his old red sweatshirt and black jeans.

With a smile, the waitress moved forward. "Hello, what would you like to order-" But suddenly the girl was completely still. "Tim..?" Tim glanced at her puzzled as he raised his head.

The girl's hair was shorter, covering her right eye, and she had blue eyes. "Do I... know you?" When the girl shook her head, Tim was puzzled. "It's... Risa, don't you remember me?" Our Hero, on the other hand, had no idea.

"Well... I'm guessing you're someone I've met before..."

"Uh... forget it... What bad happened to you? You were an adult the last time I saw you. Don't tell me you're the same person just from a different time?"

"No... After the 'Black Storm,' I've suddenly become younger... We're looking for an antidote to restore the World's chronology to its original state..."

"That's interesting... Perhaps you don't remember me because we just met when we were both 20..."

"Tim... She's serious about this... I believe you may recall her from the future..." While resting his arms on the table, Codey asserted.

Tim ruffled his hair and tried to concentrate. "Maybe if you provide me with some additional details. Then maybe I'll remember..."

"I guided you in your training... The 'White Flame'..." Something occurred to him at that very moment.

"... Well... owing to the screwed-up time, I can't use it any longer... until..." Finally, he came up with an idea. "Risa... I'm curious about your name... Let me rephrase that... Ryuzaki?" Risa smiled approvingly. "That's it... Ryuzaki Risa?" Tim returned his gaze to her, his palm resting on the table.

"Yeah! That's right! I knew you'd remember! But, honestly, what occurred on the surface of the planet?"

"You have no idea... Even though you lived there, right? So why aren't you mindful of it now?"

"After a few years, I and the rest of the crew decided to relocate to the Spiritual Realm in order to take our duties more seriously... We've broken up, so I'm not sure where the others are."

"I think I've figured it out now, Tim."

Codey made a snapping motion with his finger.

"The Black Storm had to have occurred only on Earth. Because the Spiritual Realm is in a separate reality, no one here was affected by the 'Time Breaker', thus they remember everything while we don't."

Tim sat back in his chair. "I'm not sure... Why would it only affect the outer world, but not the multiverse? Don't you think that's a little strange?" Tim wondered.

"I guess you have a point, though it appears that everyone here is normal; how old are you, Risa?"

"I'm 25... Five years have passed since the last time I saw Tim, why?"

"If she's 25 and you were 25 in the proper timeline, then there's no doubt... Only Earth fell under the 'Time Breaker,'" Codey explained as Tim reached for the paper and turned the page.

"Well, that certainly altered my perception... We got younger, but our abilities remained unaffected. It's clear that the 'Time Breaker' threw everything off." Tim glanced at Risa and shouted.

"What happened to your ability, now that you mention it? It was termed Phantasm for you..." While Tim gazed at Codey, he wondered.

"It most likely swapped places with the 'Blue Flame'... There was nothing else I could use when I started using it, not even the Orange Flame... I'm only able to use this one..."

"Well... Because you had previously depended heavily on that ability, it was most likely factored into the equation."

"Maybe... Yo, Risa. Do you believe we could place an order?" Tim pondered, the back of his head resting on his folded arms.

"That is, after all, my responsibility. What are your proposals?" She took out her phone.

"Can you just give us two portions of 'Bubble Meat' and some water?"

"Sure, I'll take care of it... I hope you're able to sort out this incident." She walked away, noting the new directions to the chefs.

"Let's dig a little further into this now..." As Codey stated, Tim agreed.

To be continued...