The clock struck midnight as Andrew sat cross-legged on his bed, carefully examining the cards in his hand. A soft smile played across his face.
"Thanks for coming through, Dark Magician. You too, Dark Magician Girl. That duel against Max… I couldn't have done it without you two. As always, you were awesome."
He gently shuffled the Magian cards back into their deck box, his gaze drifting to a second box sitting nearby—well-worn from years of use.
"You guys too… my first deck. You were amazing in your own right."
Then he reached for the third deck—black-and-red sleeves with the word "HERO" emblazoned on top.
"And you guys… my Elemental Heroes. It's been a while. One of my all-time favorite archetypes. When I'm not using my Magians, you're my go-to team."
He checked the clock on the wall. 12:00 AM exactly.
A yawn escaped him. "Huh. Midnight already. Guess it's time to crash."
The Transition
As Andrew lay back and closed his eyes, a soft glow began to emanate from the deck beside him—specifically, the Magian Deck.
The glow intensified, and a faint hum filled the room. Dark Magician's scepter pulsed with arcane energy. From within the deck, a deep, calm voice echoed…
"This boy… he might be the one. The one who can turn the tide… stop that man from shattering the dimensions and ending our world…"
Awakening in a New World
Andrew stirred as sunlight poured across his face.
"Ugh… why is it so bright already?"
He sat up—only to pause as he noticed something around his neck.
"…Wait. What's this thing?"
Hanging from his neck was a golden puzzle similar to the Millennium Puzzle, attached to a black choker. On his right arm, he noticed a Duel Disk—sleek, with glowing purple and crimson accents.
"Okay… where am I?"
Two of his cards glowed in his nearby deck box—Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl—before their spirits manifested before him, faintly translucent.
Dark Magician nodded. "We can explain. You're familiar with the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime, correct?"
Andrew rubbed his eyes. "Sorta? That's the one with the different dimensions and… crazy fusions and invasions, right?"
Dark Magician Girl bounced excitedly. "Correct! And the way things are heading… the future doesn't look good. Academia's gonna win at this rate. So… we brought you here. To help change that."
Andrew blinked, then smiled with determination. "You think I can help change the fate of this world? Well… I'm in. I'll help however I can."
He glanced at the Hero deck still tucked into his bag. "But… what about my Heroes? My second deck?"
Dark Magician spoke calmly. "Your Hero cards will reach you when the time is right. But for now… you'll be working with us—your Magians."
Andrew grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I know I can count on you two to help me win."
He looked down at the golden puzzle around his neck. "So… I'm guessing this thing is just for show, right? No ancient Pharaoh spirit trapped inside?"
Dark Magician Girl giggled. "Nope! Just fashion flair. But hey, you do look the part."
She produced a mirror. Andrew blinked at his reflection.
"Whoa…"
His hair now resembled Yugi Muto's, except it was black with a single yellow streak. Around his neck, the choker held the glowing puzzle. He wore black chain cuffs on both wrists, and his outfit had a bold, duelist edge.
"Not gonna lie… I look good. No—I look awesome."
He stood confidently, wind picking up around him despite no breeze.
"Alright, new world… let's see what you've got."
Park Encounter
Andrew walked through the park, taking in his surroundings, trying to get his bearings.
"Wait a second… is that Yuya dueling Sylvio Sawatari?"
He narrowed his eyes as he spotted the duel taking place on the bridge. Sylvio was clearly holding hostages, and Yuya looked tense.
"This doesn't look good. I need to help."
A shimmer of light appeared beside him as Dark Magician Girl materialized.
"You should interfere. He needs help."
Andrew nodded and sprinted forward. He pulled a card from his deck and slapped it onto his Duel Disk.
"Let's go! I summon Big Shield Gardna!"
A massive warrior with a towering shield emerged. Andrew used Gardna's size to leap onto the bridge's ledge, pulling himself up.
Confrontation on the Bridge
Yuzu whirled around, holding a paper fan defensively. "Who are you?! One of Sylvio's goons?!"
Andrew raised his hands. "Nope! Just some guy who saw this whole kidnapping fiasco and figured I should step in so Tomato-Head over there can duel without worrying about his friends."
Yuzu studied him for a moment, then lowered her fan slightly. "…Okay. I'll trust you—for now."
Andrew nodded. "Thanks. Now—Big Shield Gardna, thank you for your service."
He held up a glowing card.
"I'll tribute you to summon the magician whose eyes shine with the knowledge of magic—Dark Magician Girl!"
DMG appeared in a flourish, twirling her wand with a smile.
"Dark Magician Girl, use your magic to create a safe path for Yuya's friends to get down!"
She waved her wand, forming a glowing magical bridge. Andrew gestured to Yuzu and the others to cross safely.
Once they were down, Andrew shouted up to the bridge: "Hey! Tomato-Head!"
Yuya looked around frantically. "Huh?! Where are my friends?!"
Sylvio sputtered angrily. "Who the hell are you?!"
Andrew smirked. "Your hostages are safe now, thanks to me. So, Yuya—go on and thrash that guy!"
DMG floated beside Andrew, taking his hand and gently guiding him down to the ground.
"Thanks for the ride," Andrew said softly.
DMG smiled before fading into sparkles. Andrew's Duel Disk powered down and entered standby mode.
After the Duel
Yuya rushed over to check on his friends, relief washing over his face. "I'm so glad you're okay…"
Then he turned to Andrew and extended a hand. "I'm Yuya Sakaki. Thanks for helping my friends. What's your name?"
Andrew shook his hand firmly. "Name's Andrew… Andrew Muto. Pleasure to meet you."
Muto… I hope I'm worthy of carrying that name someday.
"I just happened to be passing by when I saw what was going on. I couldn't stand by and do nothing."
He glanced up at the sky, the sun beginning to set. "Well, I should probably go find a place to stay for the night…"
As he turned to leave, Yuya called out: "Wait!"
Andrew paused and looked back.
Yuya smiled warmly. "How about you stay at my place tonight? It's the least I can do. I'm sure my mom won't mind."
Andrew blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Alright. Thanks—I appreciate it."
Sakaki Residence - Evening
After Yuya explained everything, his mom agreed to let Andrew stay the night.
Now, in the guest bedroom, Andrew sat on the edge of the bed and exhaled deeply.
"What a day…"
Dark Magician Girl appeared, floating cross-legged in midair with a smile. "Well, at least you have a place to stay for now."
Dark Magician followed shortly after, his presence calm and dignified. "Well done, Andrew. You handled the situation perfectly."
Andrew grinned. "Thanks. Time to get some rest. Tomorrow, they're taking me to enroll in You Show Duel School."
Kuriboh materialized with a soft chirp, floating down to nestle against Andrew's shoulder.
"Hey, little guy," Andrew said, gently petting the small creature. "You've been quiet today."
Kuriboh chirped contentedly, and Andrew felt a warmth in his chest. These weren't just cards. They were his companions.
As he lay back on the bed, the three spirits remained visible for a moment longer.
"Get some rest," Dark Magician said. "Tomorrow begins your true journey here."
"We'll be with you every step," Dark Magician Girl added softly.
Andrew closed his eyes, feeling their presence even as they faded. For the first time since arriving, he felt truly at peace.
LDS Headquarters
Elsewhere, within the sleek towers of LDS, Reiji Akaba watched a monitor displaying footage of Andrew's intervention at the bridge.
"Hm… Someone new has arrived."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"We shall see whether he proves to be a friend… or a threat."