The city of Dravanos was heavy with rain, the kind of downpour that seemed endless and relentless. The sound of water hitting the cobblestones echoed through the narrow streets and dark alleys, creating an eerie rhythm that matched the tension in the air. Dark shadows stretched across the pavement, twisting and bending in the light of the flickering street lamps. The rain reflected the neon signs of the nearby shops and businesses, casting an otherworldly glow on the scene.
Two figures stood across from each other, facing down in the dim alley between two crumbling buildings. The first, a tall, imposing figure wearing a long hood, a deep scar running across his face. The second, a middle aged man, his clothes soaked but his expression unyielding, clutching a small device tightly in his hands.
The night felt colder now, the air thick with impending danger. Between them, invisible to the eye yet ever-present, were dark, twisted entities that seemed to dance and writhe in the space between the two combatants. Their outlines blurred, like dark smoke, the sound of their movements faint but unsettling, as if the monsters themselves fed off the tension building between the men.
A sneer curled on the hooded man's face."It looks like you're about to die. Why don't you just hand over the drive? At least I can make it painless."The man's voice was cruel, dripping with arrogance, as he smiled in a way that didn't reach his eyes. He chuckled darkly.
"Don't even think about it. I will never let people like you lay a hand on it."
The young man's voice was firm, though his hands trembled slightly. He stood ready to fight, but doubt gnawed at his resolve. His gaze never wavered from his opponent, even as the rain poured harder, soaking them both.
A few seconds passed. The air was thick, heavy with the sound of their breaths and the relentless rain.
"Damn it... what should I do? If I don't draw a good card, I'm finished."
His mind raced. He reached for his deck, fingers trembling. The cards felt cool against his skin as he drew one, his heart hammering in his chest."Yes!"His eyes lit up as he looked at the card he had drawn.
"When there is a Level 5 or higher monster on your field, I can Special Summon Junk Giant!"A small grin appeared on his face as he placed the card onto the field."And I Normal Summon Attack Gainer!"
The two monsters materialized on the field, massive and imposing.
"Now for my ace card. With this, you are finished!"He placed the final card in his hand onto the field."I Synchro Summon Celestial Wolf Lord, Blue Sirius! Thanks to Junk Giant's effect, no player can activate cards or effects when I Synchro Summon using it. And with Attack Gainer's effect, I can reduce the ATK of one of your monsters by 1000. I choose your Giga Gagagigo."The colossal monster on hooded man's side began to flicker and dim, its strength weakened as middle-aged's attack soared.
"Now, Blue Sirius, attack Giga Gagagigo! Celestial Slash!"The wolf-like creature launched itself at Giga Gagagigo, the air itself seeming to ripple with the force of the attack.
"Hehe, I knew you were impatient. I activate my Trap! Magic Cylinder!" Before the middle-aged man could react, a massive cylinder appeared in front of the hooded man. It glowed with a bright, ominous light, and as the beam shot out toward Blue Sirius, it negated the attack. In a flash of light, middle-aged man was knocked backward, collapsing to the ground with a groan.
"That's why you should have listened to me."The hooded man stepped forward, looming over the middle-aged man's unconscious form. His eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction as he reached down and began searching his pockets. He retrieved the device, holding it triumphantly in his hands.
Suddenly, a cell phone rang."Yes... I got it. Don't worry, no one saw it. Yes, I'll be there soon."He hung up, the smirk on his face growing wider. "With this, we're one step closer to our goal."
[Scene change]
The following morning, the rain had finally stopped, though the sky remained overcast and heavy. The streets of Dravanos were eerily quiet, a silence that seemed to hang in the air like a warning.
A young boy sat on a worn-out couch in a small apartment, the TV flickering in the background. The news anchor's voice filled the room.
"Yesterday, one of the scientists from Kristen Corps was found dead near the alleys. After an investigation, it was determined that...
The boy on the couch groaned and reached out to switch off the TV.
"Another one this week. I wonder when this will stop happening... Hopefully, they'll sort this out. Well, time's running out for school, I gotta go." He stood up, grabbing his school bag. As he walked toward the door, he looked out the window, his eyes narrowing.
"My name's Ray. It's been fifteen years since I came to this world. Yep, you heard that right. I came from Earth." He paused, running a hand through his messy hair."I don't remember much about how it happened. I was helping a lady cross the street when a black cat ran across the road. A truck was coming, and... well, the next thing I know, I was a baby. Who my parents are? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care."
Ray smiled faintly to himself as he pulled on his shoes."According to those isekai novels, most people like me are orphans, right? But honestly, that doesn't bother me. I grew up in an orphanage, same as everyone else. Life was fine. But now, as a grown-up, it's time to focus on the future."
He adjusted his backpack and walked out the door, the sound of the city humming around him as he made his way down the alley, toward the school he was supposed to be at in the next ten minutes."Today marks my fifteenth year here... So maybe today is the day. Maybe I'll awaken my card soon."
His heart quickened with anticipation, the thoughts of what card he might receive spinning in his mind."Utopia, perhaps? Or maybe something like a Hero deck?"He grinned to himself. "Well, let's see what happens."
And with that, he disappeared into the morning mist of Dravanos, his fate, just like the city, uncertain, yet inevitable.