The early days of dueling were littered with unbalanced rules and cheaters. Granted duelists still cheat, but the skills taken to do so are more refined. It’s not so simple as drawing extra cards or using sleight of hand. We are talking about hacking full-system VR rigs and data mining. I suppose we will never truly get rid of the cheating. I believe that is because most high-level duelists are major assholes, willing to win at any cost. My advice to parents out there is to never let your kids’ meet duelists on the Pro Ladder, especially this season. They will surely be disappointed. The cost of meeting your heroes comes with great risk. The cost of winning, even greater.

  -Chafulumisa Mohamed CEO of the anti-cheating initiative

  Cyrus

  Inside the walls of Bowies Game Shop displayed a tension between two former rivals. Even reginal tournaments the shop ran was not met with nearly the same intensity. The two men stared at each other never breaking eye contact. The two young boys remained motionless. Cyrus did not think Seth Anderson knew someone like his father, let alone having his father be hostile towards Seth. Everyone basically worshiped Seth’s innovative skills. While Seth’s company didn’t create Duel Emblem, it helped make the game a huge success. Bowie was a great Duelist, but he wasn’t the playboy billionaire that Seth presented. Truth be told, Cyrus and Harlow idolized Seth and the way he lived life.

  “Well, Bowie. That isn’t the proper way to greet an old friend after all these years,” Seth walked towards Bowie with his head held high.

  “Friend!” Harlow yelled, running up to Seth and extending a hand to greet his hero.

  “Harlow No!” Bowie yelled.

  “What’s the matter Bowie, relax the kid just wants an autograph,” Seth extended his hand out to Harlow—They met in a firm handshake. Seth proceeded to reach in his trench coat and pulled out a card. “Here kid,” Seth Handed the card to Harlow.

  “This is the coolest day ever!” Harlow jumped in excitement. Cyrus was flabbergasted. He didn’t know why his father was so upset and hostile towards the coolest guy in the world. Everyone knew Seth definitely made the world a better place. His humanitarian efforts were well known. He even kissed babies, like politicians do. The boys thought Bowie was crazy.

  “Bowie,” Seth held his hands out in dramatic fashion. It was evident that Seth loved dragging things out like a theater major would. “I feel bad for how we left things last. So, I am here to make amends with you, by giving your son a full-ride scholarship at The Duelist Academy,” Seth bowed with his hands still extended.

  “What! Are you serious? Cyrus saw his dreams flashing before his eyes.

  “No, I will never compromise my integrity to a monster like you,” Bowie pulled out a shotgun from under the shop counter. “That’s not going to happen. You will back up slowly and walk your pompous ass out of my store,” Bowie cocked the shotgun with the full intention of using it.

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  “Dad how could you?” Cyrus cried.

  “Cyrus let me handle this, you need to leave, NOW,” His shotgun still focused on Seth.

  “Oh interesting, looks like your father hasn’t been truthful with you kid. I bet he didn’t tell you what happened to your mother,” Seth held his head down as if he was in pain. However, His hands were still in the air where Bowie could see them.

  “Shut the fuck up Seth,” Bowie spat.

  “You really don’t have it in you to shoot me. Remember you’re the man that gave up dueling. Now a peddler of insignificant cards, you’re weaker than I imagined. A loser even, but I see the drive in the son’s eye. I’ll gladly show him the path of a real duelist. Like a true father would,” Seth had a knowing smirk on his face.

  “No! You’ll never take him there! Bowie cried.

  BANG!

  The loud noise reverberated bouncing off the walls leaving Cyrus in unbearable pain. Blood dripped from his ears and a high-pitched ringing sensation followed. His vision was blurry as he got his bearings. Cyrus saw Harlow lying on the ground, hands over his ears. There was no sign of his father or Seth. What the fuck, Cyrus thought.

  Cyrus tried talking to Harlow. But couldn’t hear the words coming out from his mouth. The ringing noise finally started to become more tolerable. Cyrus peered behind the counter where his dad once stood but only saw the shotgun on the ground. No evidence his father was ever in the room. Cyrus staggered his way to Harlow making sure he wasn’t harmed.

  “What the fuck happened,” Harlow yelled repeatedly. “My ears,” Harlow glanced around and sat up after gathering himself, “Where are they?” Harlow rubbed his ears.

  “I don’t know.” Cyrus looked around his father’s store. He had so many questions for his father. Cyrus wanted to interrogate his father and Seth. If something else happened to his mother, he had the full right to know the truth. Did my father actually lie to me my whole life, Cyrus thought.

  His father told him that she died in a car accident going to work when he was a baby. Cyrus couldn’t fathom his father lying to his face; withholding information on the other hand was something Cyrus knew well. Because his father didn’t talk much about his earlier years. Cyrus felt that he never would. This left Cyrus frustrated because he didn’t have any memories of his mother. He felt robbed in a way.

  “Did your dad shoot like, one of the coolest people on the planet?” Harlow asked.

  “Well, there isn’t any blood. I’m not so sure Seth got shot. Besides, why would you say that Harlow, that’s not a gangster move, it was a crazy one,” Cyrus corrected.

  “Preferably before your dad kills Seth. If he didn’t already,” Harlow added ignoring Cyrus.

  “I don’t know, my dad is not a killer, it felt like Seth was taunting him,” Cyrus considered.

  “Dude, I knew that someday your dad was gonna snap, he’s always wound up so tight, like a Karren,” Harlow laughed.

  “Harlow! I know you’re a clown, but it’s not the time for jokes right now. Where do we even start? It’s like they just vanished right out of thin air,” Cyrus glanced around for any sign of evidence.

  “Dude that’s impossible, there has to be some explanation for what happened,” Harlow wiped the blood from his ears.

  Cyrus went over to where his deck lay and grabbed his cards, “Wait I thought I threw my Guardian card out when I was teaching Terra how to play,” Cyrus fanned the cards out going through them meticulously.

  “Dude why are you going through your deck? Your father is missing,” Harlow berated.

  “We don’t know that! My Time Mage is the only epic card I own that truly has value. That’s how I planned to pay for classes at the academy when I got accepted. And now it’s missing,” Cyrus panicked.

  “Well according to Seth you’re going for free,” Harlow raised his figure in a condescending way.

  “None of it makes sense, why would Seth do that and why did my dad pull out a fucking gun? I’ve never seen him act like that,” Cyrus added.

  “Beats me, but when someone offers free school, you never say no. Well, unless you’re Bowie,” Harlow attempted his best Bowie impression.

  “Harlow focus! We NEED to find Seth and my dad,” Cyrus sighed.