Chapter 461: One Soul Guides the Light, One Soul Guides the Darkness
[Super Magician of Chaos][Level 8 / DARK]
[Spellcaster / Fusion / Effect]
[3000 ATK / 2500 DEF]
"By Fusing a [Dark Magician] and a [Chaos Magician], two monsters with 2500 ATK actually Fused into a monster with the same ATK as [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]?"
Rafael looked at the [Super Magician of Chaos] slowly descending onto the Field, but he didn't feel it possessed the power to threaten him.
Even the [Quintet Magician] with 4500 ATK wasn't something he took seriously, so what threat could a monster with 3000 ATK pose? Furthermore, Mutou Yuugi only had one card left in his Hand.
And it was a card related to [Dark Magician] or [Dark Magician Girl] that Yugi had added from his Deck using the Effect of [Dark Magic Inheritance] earlier, in order to trigger the Effect of [Chaos Magician] to Destroy any card on the Field once per Turn.
It was probably a card like [Dark Magic Attack] or [Thousand Knives], nothing to worry about. Because of the Effect of [Dimension Fusion], his Field was currently filled with monsters. Even if [Dark Magic Attack] Destroyed [Guardian Power], which can Clear all Spell and Trap Cards on the Opponent's Field, the only one that would be Destroyed would be [Guardian Eatos].
To Defeat him, Yugi would have to Destroy the other four monsters in Defense Position on the Field one by one.
And the threat of [Thousand Knives] was even lower. [Thousand Knives], which can only Destroy one monster, could only consume one Spell Counter placed on [Guardian Power] due to its Effect. If Yugi wanted to Battle Destruction [Guardian Eatos], that Spell Counter would just return.
Furthermore, there was another point: the Activation of these two cards required [Dark Magician] to be on the Field. Although [Super Magician of Chaos] is a Fusion of [Chaos Magician] and [Dark Magician], it didn't Inherit the Effect of [Chaos Magician], so its name cannot be treated as [Dark Magician].
Rafael thought, glancing at the card on the top of his Deck.
Many cards in his Deck were worn out from long-term use. Although he had extended the lifespan of the cards by replacing card backs and other means, each card still had varying degrees of wear and tear.
Although his original intention wasn't to cheat in this aspect, by recognizing the wear and tear on the cards, Rafael could tell what card it was just by looking at the card back, like a professional magician.
[Monster Reborn] can Special Summon one monster from either player's Graveyard to the Field. Although it doesn't work on [Guardian Eatos], which cannot be Special Summoned without [Goddess Bow], he could temporarily use a monster from Yugi's Graveyard, such as [Dark Magician] and [Dark Magician Girl], and use Yugi's monster to Defeat Yugi.
As long as he waited until his next Turn and drew [Monster Reborn], the Duel would be over, and [Super Magician of Chaos] posed no threat to him at all.
"What kind of card could possibly—"
"What kind of threat could such a card possibly pose? That's what you're thinking, isn't it, Rafael?" Before Rafael could finish his sentence, Yugi actually predicted his thoughts and finished his sentence. "Do you think the power of [Super Magician of Chaos] is nothing special?"
"If that's what you think, then you're mistaken, Rafael."
Based on the power currently displayed on the Field, there was no way Yugi could Defeat Rafael. However, Yugi spoke as if he had already created victory, smiling as he pointed his finger towards [Super Magician of Chaos]: "The power created by Fusing the power of Chaos and Dark Magic is quite terrifying."
"If the Forbidden [Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End] Symbolizes the power of all boss monsters, then [Super Magician of Chaos] Symbolizes the power of the beginning, capable of guiding everything towards an unknown world."
"When [Super Magician of Chaos] is successfully Fusion Summoned, I can Special Summon one LIGHT or DARK monster from my Graveyard."
As Yugi's words fell, the Round Shield in the hand of [Super Magician of Chaos] flashed with mystical power. A magic circle of extremely rare complexity unfolded centered around the Round Shield of [Super Magician of Chaos]. The Passage to the Underworld opened, revealing a figure that Yugi was very familiar with.
"Earlier, I sent [Dark Magician] to the Graveyard. That was merely a necessary price paid for victory." Yugi looked at the magician holding a wand, striking a cool stance, and said with confidence, "Return from the Underworld! And fight alongside me until the last, [Dark Magician]!"
[Dark Magician][ATK 2500]
The mage holding the wand silently looked at the Pharaoh who had not yet regained his memory, just as he had a thousand years ago.
"[Dark Magician] is back with Yugi! Alright!"
Joey Wheeler subconsciously cheered, his gaze involuntarily shifted towards Rafael, Yugi's opponent.
However, despite being quite carefree, Joey Wheeler still understood how to read and analyze the situation. Even though Yugi had Summoned [Dark Magician] again, not all monsters in Duel Monsters can effectively Increase Battle Power when gathered together.
The appearance of [Dark Magician] with 2500 ATK had no Effect on the situation. Even it couldn't intervene in the Battle between [Guardian Eatos] with 4000 ATK and [Super Magician of Chaos] with 3000 ATK.
Yugi wasn't in a hurry to perform his so-called "Surpass". Instead, he looked at the [Guardian Eatos] on Rafael's Field and the [Guardian Power] Equipped to [Guardian Eatos], exclaimed sincerely, "Although you seem unwilling to speak, you must have a sad past closely related to this Duel Monster, [Guardian Eatos], Rafael."
"The feelings you have placed on this card, in my opinion, are closer to 'a card given by someone you care about' than 'a card you care about', 'your Deck's Ace Card', or 'a monster you like'."
Inside the [Millennium Puzzle], Yugi Mutou explained to Dark Yugi a feeling he had sensed from Rafael over the past few turns.
Although there was no evidence, the gaze Rafael occasionally directed towards [Guardian Eatos] was similar to Yugi's own gaze when looking at those precious cards representing bonds, except that there seemed to be a hint of sadness and pain mixed in.
"You, who have the idea of not wanting your Duel Monsters to leave, are using a card like [Guardian Power] to protect your monsters."
"Certainly, [Guardian Power] is a powerful card. It can Continuously Accumulate Battle after Battle and transform it into powerful power to protect the monster. However, that is merely being immersed in the past and only reminiscing. Even if you gather together infinite power, you do not have the ability to create the future!"
"And I will use [Super Magician of Chaos] to guide the future!"
As Yugi's words fell, [Super Magician of Chaos] raised the long sword, which was equivalent to a mystical power aggregate, created jointly by the aggregation of Chaos Power and Dark Magic Power, high above its head.
Beside [Super Magician of Chaos], the bodies of [A/D Changer] and [Magical Merchant], which Rafael had not taken seriously before, scattered into golden particles.
"What is that!?"
Rafael wasn't quite sure what was happening.
[Magical Merchant] has the ability to Grant Yugi an additional Tribute Summon ability for Spellcaster-Type monsters while it exists on the Field, and [A/D Changer] has the ability to Banish itself from the Graveyard to Change the Battle Position of one monster on the Field.
But the sight before him didn't look like they were Activating their own Effects at all. Instead, it looked more like they were sacrificing themselves to provide power to [Super Magician of Chaos]?!
"And if [Guardian Power] is a power that Continuously Accumulates the past and influences the present, then the power [Super Magician of Chaos] is about to Use is the ability to Use the present to influence the future."
Yugi raised his Hand, his palm facing the sky as if to grab something. "One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness, and then Gather this infinitely rotating Chaos Power onto this one sword. The slash swung out is the ultimate blade that Pioneers even the World itself!"
"The second Effect of [Super Magician of Chaos]: By Tributing the LIGHT Attribute [A/D Changer] and the DARK Attribute [Magical Merchant] on my Field, Banish all monsters on the Opponent's Field!!"
"Ultimate Chaos Slash!!!"
A pitch-black radiance flashed at the tip of the sharp blade. Although it was black color that swallowed all light, at that Instant, it indeed presented a shine like morning light.
Golden holy light surrounded this layer of pitch-black. Although light and dark were the most contradictory, at this moment they coexisted harmoniously in one place.
Putting down its shield and holding the sword with both hands, after watching the figures of [A/D Changer] and [Magical Merchant] completely disperse, and even the scattered particles were completely received by the sharp blade in its hand, [Super Magician of Chaos] stepped forward one step and then stood firm.
Then, it swung.
In that country in the East, there seems to be a saying like "One gives rise to two, two gives rise to three, and three gives rise to all things." Witnessing [Super Magician of Chaos] swing its slash, Rafael's thoughts were subconsciously somewhat distracted.
Although there were only two "colors", "Light" and "Dark", at the beginning, the Attack swung by [Super Magician of Chaos] Gave Rise To infinitely many brilliant colors that even exceeded the perception limit of human understanding, as if a World had been Crammed Into it.
First were [Summoner of Swords] and [Solar Warrior], then it was the turn of [Solar Guardian], followed by [Backup Gardna], and finally [Guardian Eatos].
There was no beam struggle scene like in Dragon Ball. Facing this slash as heavy as a World, none of the monsters filling Rafael's Field were spared. They were expelled from the Field one by one, just like the World Destroyer Blasted Away by the Emperor Sword.
Regardless of strength or weakness, regardless of Battle Position, even [Guardian Eatos], which was protected by [Guardian Power] and was the most cherished among all of Rafael's cards, was the same.
Then, Rafael, whose Field and Hand were empty, directly faced the [Super Magician of Chaos] and [Dark Magician] on Yugi's Field.
The victory or defeat was completely clear. Rafael confirmed the result of this Duel. Victory undoubtedly belongs to Mutou Yuugi, even though he hadn't yet Declared an Attack.
Glancing at the [Monster Reborn] on the top of his Deck, Rafael sighed. The gap between Life and Death was still as difficult to Cross as it was decades ago.
As for any feelings of unwillingness, Rafael didn't have any, because that strike from Yugi's [Super Magician of Chaos] had completely displayed Yugi's idea. From that slash, Rafael also deeply felt the Duelist's heart that belongs to Yugi, or rather, the "Nameless Pharaoh".
On a whim, looking at Yugi who hadn't yet given the Attack Command, Rafael spoke up instead: "After you Clear my Life Points with an Attack, according to the bet of this Duel, I will hand over the [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames] card, which is one of the cores of the anomaly."
"Before the Duel, that was the agreement, wasn't it?"
Yugi nodded, indicating that Rafael was correct. However, he didn't quite understand why Rafael suddenly brought this up.
Rafael gazed at Yugi: "Although you asked me before if I had the Duelist's dignity, at that time I answered that for That Individual, I could even give up my dignity."
"But indeed, even I would be dominated by such an inner impulse." A trace of a self-mocking smile appeared on his face, Rafael slowly said, "But, Nameless Pharaoh, although I don't know the principle behind it, that card is a trap aimed at you."
"A trap!?" Joey Wheeler beside him was quite excited. "Because of you, we spent so much time Dueling you. A trap? Does that mean that card isn't the core of the anomaly at all?!"
"No, [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames] is undoubtedly the core that initiated this anomaly surrounding the Kaiba Dome. You only need to take this card to the underground of the Duel Platform located at the center of the Venue to dispel one link of the anomaly."
Rafael paused: "But, the problem is, this card doesn't actually belong to me. It was given to me as a trade item by That Person. His trade request was to Lose this card to Mutou Yuugi, which is you, the Nameless Pharaoh, during a Duel."
Rafael confessed everything he knew about the deal with Bakura Ryo, from the contact with the Schroeder Corporation to the arrangement of the Kaiba Dome.
"I don't know what That Person intends to do by handing this card over to you, but without a doubt, he harbors some kind of malice towards you, Nameless Pharaoh." Rafael gazed at Yugi, took out the [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames] card from his person. "Even if you don't know what kind of danger lies ahead, will you still accept this card, Nameless Pharaoh?"
And answering him was Yugi's smile.
"Ah, after all, my friend is still waiting for me." Yugi hadn't forgotten about Téa's situation. He firmly waved his hand and ordered, "Then this is the last."
"[Super Magician of Chaos], Direct Attack the opponent's Duelist!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 462: Successfully Prevented Rebecca's Duel
The camera's perspective temporarily shifted angles, focusing on the Backstage of the Kaiba Dome Venue.
Walking down the Stairs, Tristan , who was in the middle of the group supporting Téa , turned his head to look behind him. "Can you still keep up, everyone?"
"Ah, no big problem."
Following behind Tristan were Rebecca and Mai Valentine, as well as Otogi, who was carrying Keipei like a sack of rice.
At the very front of the group was Marik, who was in a state of considerable excitement. It was under his leadership that the group had wound their way through the Backstage Passage of the Venue and entered this descending Passage.
"But where exactly is Marik taking us?" Mai Valentine looked at Marik, who was leading the way and seemed more familiar with the route than his own backyard, and asked Tristan .
Due to the change in the Worldline, Marik had not faced Mai Valentine during the Battle City tournament, so she had not suffered the torment of a dark game. Therefore, she didn't hold much ill will towards Marik.
Her impression of Marik was merely that of a "former Rare Hunters Boss who seemed to have had a conflict with Hayato due to the ambiguous relationship between Hayato and Ishizu."
"I'm not too sure either, but it's better than staying in the Spectator Area, right?" Tristan shook his head and looked at Téa , whom he was supporting. "Those men in black suits unaccountably targeted those of us who could still move. We don't know what they're trying to do."
"But one thing is certain, we absolutely cannot be caught by those people."
Recalling the man in suit from before and his Blowback Dragon, Tristan couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. If Mai Valentine hadn't miraculously Summoned her Harpie Lady Sisters at that moment, they would likely have already been harmed.
It was also for this reason that Téa and Keipei were brought along by the group. Although the guys in suits seemed to have no interest in the vast majority of ordinary people who had lost their ability to move, like Téa and Keipei, no one could guarantee that they wouldn't be attacked if left in the Spectator Area, and it was impossible to feel at ease leaving them behind.
"Right now? Of course, we're going to find the 'trigger point' that caused this anomaly, like the initial source of infection of a plague. I can feel that the starting point of the anomaly is in the underground of the Venue," Marik said, walking at the front of the group. He seemed to have heard Tristan and Mai Valentine talking and spoke without turning his head. "And, I can feel that we're getting closer."
As he spoke, Marik stroked the Millennium Rod, which had returned to his hand.
The familiar weight and feel, along with the dark magic power that had returned to his side, caused Marik's thoughts to drift back to Battle City more than half a year ago.
At that time, he was the leader of the Rare Hunters, obsessed with getting revenge on the Pharaoh. Under the resentment, he had even been blinded to family affection, ignoring Ishizu's concern for him, and even Rishid had been utilized by him for a time.
Although less than a year had passed, Marik felt as if a long time had gone by. It wasn't that he was nostalgic for that past; Marik was merely exclaiming about the unpredictable nature of the World.
Comparing that kind of life to the present, Marik would choose the present without hesitation.
However...
Frowning, Marik glanced at the Millennium Rod in his hand. Along with the dark magic power on the Millennium Rod, a feeling of genuine weak constitution had returned to him, and because he had walked a long distance, his breathing was also a little heavy.
According to Marik's own conjecture, the specific method of the anomaly seemed to be extracting the life force of everyone within the covered range. However, due to efficiency issues, in the short term, it would only manifest as a continuous extraction of people's stamina, leaving most people weak and powerless.
As for Duelists, it seemed that because of strange things like "fighting spirit" or "duelist spirit," they were somewhat adapted and could still move for the time being. However, there were a few exceptions, such as Tristan , who wasn't a Duelist but was acting normally, and Marik, who was a Duelist but was weak and powerless.
Marik wasn't sure what was going on with Tristan , but he knew what was happening with himself.
As a former personality disorder patient, Marik had even done things that many fellow patients couldn't do—as the main personality, he was driven out of his body by his derivative personality, and then he killed the derivative personality that occupied his body and came back. It was comparable to Fang Tangjing repeatedly jumping in and out of the court.
However, the experience of narrowly escaping life and death was not without any byproducts. As the stakes for the death of the derivative personality, Dark Marik, Marik's soul had suffered permanent damage.
Unlike physical injury, damage to the soul, even if only a tear, is a permanent existence that cannot heal. What's more, Marik had permanently lost a part of his soul. Not to mention that only a little over half a year had passed; even if fifty or sixty years passed, the loss of soul would always accompany Marik.
It was also because of this that, although he had been fitness recently and his stats were quite solid, Marik could attract the attention of the opposite sex and even the same sex when riding his motorcycle on the street. However, in reality, Marik's weak constitution was extreme, and even Duel Monsters was somewhat difficult for him, which was why he gave the Millennium Rod to Hayato.
But now, he was also the only one among them who had experienced a dark game. Although it was difficult, Marik still stepped forward, picked up the Millennium Rod again, and with the reinforcement of his body by dark magic power, he could barely move normally.
It was precisely because of this action that Marik unexpectedly discovered something—what this anomaly was absorbing was not just life force; even dark magic power was within the scope of absorption, showing a rather indiscriminate attitude.
And unlike life force, Marik could clearly feel that his mystical power was being taken in that direction, just like dropping a large amount of blood into calm water to indicate the direction of the undercurrent.
Before my mystical power can no longer support me moving forward, I must at least find the specific location for these guys, and then I'm going on strike.
Glancing at the people behind him, Marik took a deep breath and continued to lead the way.
After entering the Backstage of the Kaiba Dome Venue, they had actually been moving for a long time. Along the way, they saw many KaibaCorp staff who were lying weakly on the ground because their stamina had been drained. However, instead of taking care of each one they saw, everyone knew that resolving the anomaly as quickly as possible was the best way to help others.
And the descending Stairs finally reached their end at this moment. A classical style wooden door that didn't fit Kaiba's aesthetic at all, lacking any sense of technology and instead looking like something dug out of a forgotten corner, stood at the bottom level.
However, appearing before the group along with the Stairs was a strangely dressed youth sitting cross-legged on the ground, facing the wooden door and "spacing out" with his back to them.
"Valon?"
Although the other party didn't turn around, Mai Valentine recognized who he was at a glance.
It wasn't for any other reason; it was simply because Valon's attire was too strange. The elbow pads, gauntlets, shoulder pads, etc., were rarer than the protective gear worn by stunt motorcycle riders. He looked like he could take a greatsword and go to the adjacent Dimension to fight Sephiroth.
More like a warrior who had transmigrated from some war-torn Western Fantasy World than a modern human.
As a strong opponent whom Mai Valentine had faced in the KC Cup Main Tournament and the one who eliminated her, Mai Valentine didn't hold any resentment or dissatisfaction towards Valon. After all, she was simply not as skilled.
However, there was another reason why Mai Valentine had a deep impression of Valon.
"Miss Mai!?" Hearing someone call his name, Valon suddenly turned his head, looking at Mai Valentine, who had just come down the Stairs, with a look of surprise. He clearly hadn't expected to see her in this place. "Why are you here?!"
"Shouldn't we be the ones asking you that question!"
Rebecca said, sounding a little excited.
Duel Monsters was very interesting, but Kaiba had gone overboard when building the Kaiba Dome. The virtual projection system was not of a regular level but of the specification of the Battle City Semifinals, which was the Duel Tower on Duelist Island. The virtual projection of Duel Monsters solid vision was taken to the ultimate.
In a normal duel, the largest size a Duel Monster could be enlarged to was the height of the Duelists standing on the High Platform. However, the maximum volume of Duel Monsters in the Kaiba Dome was the size of the Venue, and this was fully demonstrated in the first match of the opening day, Joey Wheeler VS Rex.
Coupled with the panoramic effect of the top-tier sound system installed in the Venue, the audience's presence was quite exaggerated.
It was because of all these reasons that although Grandpa Solomon and Professor Arthur came to watch the match on the first day, considering their age and the fact that Grandpa Solomon had once been scared unconscious by Kaiba, they hadn't come to watch any subsequent matches until now.
It was also because of this that the two old men were quite fortunate not to be affected by today's anomaly.
Although her Grandpa and Yugi's Grandpa were not affected by the anomaly, Rebecca was still extremely angry.
"Could this anomaly be your doing, you weirdo? Do you know how many people are in danger because of you!?"
"Hey, hey, I know you can't appreciate my aesthetic, but calling me a weirdo is going too far. This is a man's winning look, it's very cool." Valon complained dissatisfiedly, but also stood up from the ground and looked at the group. "Besides, why would you think I'm the mastermind?"
As he spoke, Valon scratched the back of his head in a troubled manner, seemingly confused as to why his style, which was designed according to the Protagonist in Shonen Manga, was being treated as an antagonist by others.
"Huh? It's not you?"
Mai Valentine was a little surprised.
After that duel, Valon had invited her to join a Mysterious Organization he was in, but he said he would only reveal the organization's name and goal after she joined.
However, Mai Valentine refused. Although the power Valon mentioned, which could help her surpass Yugi Mutou and surpass Hayato Kobayashi, was indeed tempting, Mai Valentine felt that she didn't need to look that far; just being able to surpass Joey Wheeler was enough.
And the process of surpassing Joey Wheeler , rather than relying on external force, was more suitable for her to become stronger little by little through her own effort.
Upon receiving Mai Valentine's refusal, Valon was visibly disappointed at that time, seemingly regretting that Mai Valentine couldn't join the organization. However, he still said that Mai Valentine could change her mind at any time and reminded her to leave the KC Cup quickly.
When she saw that Valon would actually appear in this extremely remote place, Mai Valentine thought that the organization behind Valon had guided and formed this anomaly.
"Of course, it's not me. The thing inside seems to convert human life force into something that can strengthen Duel Monsters. But my personal style has always been to solve any difficulties myself; I would never think of relying on something like that."
Valon shrugged and patted the wooden door behind him. "However, I'm here because someone asked me to be the gatekeeper here and not let anyone pass."
"So, let's both take a step back. I can pretend you haven't been here. Leave with your friends, Miss Mai."
"That kind of thing, I refuse!"
The first person to speak was Rebecca.
Rebecca had a clear understanding of herself. She knew that she was never a gentle person who would think for others, care for others, or take care of others. If there was something she wanted, she would find a way to get it, even if it meant losing face.
But even someone like her knew that harming others was wrong. Even if most of the victims of this anomaly were minor characters who had nothing to do with her, and that annoying woman with the big chest who always tried to steal her Darling, Rebecca still believed that she had a responsibility to help dispel this anomaly.
After all, she was the North America Duel Monsters Champion. With great ability comes great responsibility, and Darling would definitely be happy if he knew.
Stepping forward, Rebecca raised the duel disk on her hand. "If you won't move aside, then I'll be the one to defeat you!"
But just as Rebecca was about to put the duel disk on her wrist, Mai Valentine blocked her path. "No, I'll be his opponent."
Staring at Valon, Mai Valentine took a deep breath. "If a little girl is fighting, then we adults are too unqualified. Besides, I still need to get revenge on this guy. I wasn't convinced at all when I lost to him before."
"What do you mean by that? I'm an adult too, okay!" But upon hearing Mai Valentine's words, Rebecca didn't appreciate it at all. "According to Japan's law, I've even reached the marriage age!"
"Get out of the way, you fat woman with two lumps of flab!"
"Who are you calling a fat woman! This is the charm of a mature woman!"
"Get out of the way, you fat meat marinated in perfume!"
"You Airport Freckles Shorty!"
Just moments ago, they had the aura of cooperating to subdue Valon with shared hatred, but because of a few wording issues, Rebecca and Mai Valentine suddenly started a quarrel, using the 'art of language' to attack each other.
"You really have aura, Miss Mai." Watching Mai Valentine standing with her hands on her waist and cursing, Valon wasn't in a hurry to interrupt them. He watched the show with his arms crossed over his chest, looking helpless. "But why is my opponent a woman again?"
"Little girl, get out of the way, I'm enough!" Mai Valentine used her long leg advantage to firmly block Rebecca, but her hand reaching for the Card Box at her waist was firmly held by Rebecca, preventing her from taking out her Deck.
Rebecca held onto Mai Valentine and wouldn't let go. "No way! It's rare for me to have a chance to shine, how could I give it up to—ouch, my duel disk!"
Just as the two women were arguing, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed the duel disk that Rebecca was holding but hadn't put on, and put it on and fastened it casually.
"The size is a little awkward, a child's version duel disk? As expected, you're just a child." Marik ignored Rebecca, who was stomping her feet behind him because her duel disk was snatched and she was called a child. He took out his Deck and put it into the duel disk. "Hehehe, if you don't want to duel a lady, then I'll be your opponent."
"I'm not interested in those ordinary games. Let's have a pleasant dark game!"
The green gem pendant on Valon's chest flashed with a light. He seemed to sense a mystical power that enveloped the surroundings, and his eyes lit up. "Oh, you were hiding such a big shot. That's truly an accident."
"What a coincidence, I'm actually not very interested in ordinary Duel Monsters games either. A duel where we go all out, that's truly something to look forward to!"
Without needing to discuss anything with the others, Marik and Valon had already decided to make each other their opponent.
Looking at Marik, Tristan , who was supporting Téa , showed a worried expression. "Marik, I remember Hayato mentioning to me..."
"Can't I duel? That kind of thing doesn't matter. Anyway, I've never cared about life and death, whether in the past or the present, whether it's someone else's or my own." Marik fastened the Millennium Rod at his waist and took a deep breath. "Besides, whether I have the Millennium Rod or not has a big influence on me."
"More than that, walk through that gate. Didn't you want to save your Companion?"
"Huh?" Tristan was taken aback when he heard this and looked at Valon, who was standing to the side. "But this guy hasn't been..."
"Heh heh, anyway, this guy is satisfied as long as he has a duel. He doesn't care about guarding the gate at all, right?"
Looking at the flash of golden light that swept across the Millennium Rod, Valon raised an eyebrow with interest. "Mind reading? No, it's not observing the current idea but analyzing the way of thinking? That's amazing."
"But being exposed by you like this, even I feel a little awkward. If my friends heard that I wasn't taking my work seriously at all, I don't know what they would think."
"Heh, you won't care anyway, right?"
"That's true."
Valon nodded and moved aside. "Hmm, because I had to fight a strong enemy who was intruding, I fought with full power without slacking off, but was caught in an opening and they intruded. Is that a good reason?"
"But since I'm cooperating like this, don't disappoint me, white hair otaku."
"I'm not an otaku, I just have deep love for anime/manga." Marik corrected him, smoothing out the wrinkles on his clothes.
Seeing this, Tristan said no more. He turned his head and signaled Rebecca and Mai Valentine to open the gate. Then Otogi, carrying Keipei, led the way, while he walked at the last.
Looking back at Marik, Tristan saw only full confidence and pleasure on his face. He decided to trust his strength and followed the others, supporting Téa .
Behind Tristan , the voices of Marik and Valon could be heard—
"Duel!" x2
Chapter 463: The Word 'Second' Doesn't Exist in Kaiba's Dictionary, Just Like G Fat Can't Count to Three
"Leon von Schroeder."
After defeating Leon von Schroeder, Kaiba's voice suddenly rang out from the mobile phone in Hayato's pocket.
Taking out his mobile phone somewhat strangely, Hayato found that his phone had somehow dialed Kaiba's number by itself and even turned on speakerphone. Even though he had turned off the phone's screen, there shouldn't have been any possibility of accidental touch.
"Seto?"
Hayato replied to the phone doubtfully, "How did my phone call by itself?"
"Hmph, just a small trick in electronic communication technology, easier for me than breaking a roadside branch with my finger," Kaiba paused on the other end of the phone, then continued, "Since you've already defeated that guy named 'Leon von Schroeder', it also means that the card, [Golden Castle of Stromberg], has been destroyed by you, right?"
Hearing this, Hayato turned his head back.
Leon von Schroeder was defeated by the Divine-Beast Card's attack. Although there was no physical damage, his Duel Disk's internal precision structure was destroyed by the powerful impact. After he finished organizing his deck, he took off his Duel Disk and temporarily placed it on the ground.
Also placed down with it was the card, [Golden Castle of Stromberg].
"Although [Golden Castle of Stromberg] had been tampered with to some extent, it was still no match in front of a Divine-Beast Card and has already been destroyed by me."
Hayato picked up the [Golden Castle of Stromberg] card. On the card effect description, the few lines of effect that Zigfried had added were precisely burned into a few black marks due to the electric current overflowing when the Duel Disk was destroyed.
Kaiba wasn't surprised to hear this; instead, he said as if it were obvious, "Hmph, after all, it's [Obelisk the Tormentor] that I once used. It's only natural that it could do something like this."
Hayato nodded subconsciously, then suddenly realized something was wrong.
"Seto, I should have just said 'Divine-Beast Card', right? I didn't mention [Obelisk the Tormentor] at all," Hayato's expression was strange. "You, since when have you been eavesdropping on me?"
"Hmph, just since you activated [Monster Reborn]."
"Isn't that the same as monitoring from the very beginning!"
Back then, Hayato intentionally kept the communication with Kaiba going by turning on the speakerphone on his mobile phone beforehand, leaking Bakura's deal with him to Kaiba. Without violating the restraint, this allowed Kaiba to get the information in advance and be prepared.
At that time, his excuse was that bastard Kaiba was actually eavesdropping on him.
He didn't expect that his excuse from back then would actually become true now. So this guy Kaiba was really monitoring him. How perverted.
Hayato quickly changed the subject: "You... Forget it, let's not talk about this. Rex told me you went to the Kaiba Land building? How did you handle that Trojan program?"
"Hmph, who do you think I am? Those third-rate technicians? My past academic qualifications aren't just for show," Kaiba said as if showing off. "In the field of hacking, even within the entire KaibaCorp, I'm one of the best."
"Academic qualifications? You, the guy who only went to school for one day?" Hayato ranted, but he couldn't deny the richness of Kaiba's various miscellaneous skills, even to a tragic extent.
Electronic information, handicrafts, chemical reactions, lathe machining, artistic appreciation—Kaiba had unique achievements in fields that were vastly different from each other. Whether inventing new things or improving old ones, he could achieve something. He was almost omnipotent except for always losing in dueling in various ways. Hacking skills were naturally one of his strong suits.
The reason Kaiba had to limit it to KaibaCorp was because he still remembered back during the Battle City Top 4 group stage, the incident where Noah Kaiba, who became an AI after dying, usurped control of the "St. Ann" ship, which the participants were riding and whose program was jointly written by the Kaiba Brothers.
Although Noah wasn't human and had already sunk into the sea with the Seafront Fortress and disappeared forever, the fact that he was once surpassed was undeniable. Kaiba wouldn't think he was the strongest hacker just because Noah was gone.
And he also said he was one of the best hackers within KaibaCorp. Another reason was that Keipei's talent in this area was actually not weaker than his, perhaps even stronger. If he were a few years older, Keipei's hacking skills surpassing Kaiba Seto would be incredibly easy.
Of course, it would be as hard as ascending to heaven to make Kaiba say something like "Mai is the second strongest hacker in KaibaCorp," because it's well known that the word "second" doesn't exist in Kaiba's dictionary. "First" and "three Blue-Eyes" are quite common.
"Hey~, Hayato!"
"Hayato-kun!"
Two voices came from behind Hayato. One of which you could tell was good at rolling dice and flipping coins just by hearing it, and the other sounded like he was about to unleash Hanoi's Sublime Power at any moment. Even without turning around, Hayato guessed who the two people were.
Turning his head, it was indeed Joey Wheeler and Yugi, walking from the distant Spectator Area towards the center of the venue.
Joey Wheeler's steps were a bit faster than Yugi's. He walked down the stairs one step ahead of Yugi and came to the edge of the Duel Field, looking at the few people on the field.
Hayato holding a mobile phone, a young boy looking at Hayato's back with a look of admiration in his eyes, and a flamboyant pink-haired youth who was tied up.
Joey Wheeler did remember that young boy; he was Hayato's opponent in the duel arranged in the same field. And this sudden anomaly also began after this young boy, who seemed to be named "Rayne", activated a Field Spell Card. However, it seemed it wasn't his subjective idea but that he was being used.
That pink-haired person, Joey Wheeler had some impression. He seemed to have seen him in some duel, but couldn't remember who exactly he was.
"Hayato, are you okay?"
Compared to the duels of others in other places, Hayato and Rayne's duel had the largest number of audience members. After all, they were on the Duel Field in the very center of the venue. Earthbound Immortal and even [Obelisk the Tormentor]—Hayato even brought out monsters that surpassed the regular duel level in this duel. One can imagine how intense the battle was.
"Completely fine," Hayato spread his hands, looking at Yugi who followed closely behind Joey Wheeler. He looked him up and down and said doubtfully, "Strange, Yugi, you seem to have a familiar aura on you."
"Could it be, you—"
"That's right, Yugi defeated a strange guy and got the card that seems to have caused this anomaly, [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames]."
Joey Wheeler put his hands on his hips proudly and answered Hayato. Looking at his posture, most people who didn't know would probably think he was the one who got [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames].
But Hayato also looked at Joey Wheeler and strangely felt that the "Phantom God" aura on Joey Wheeler was indeed a bit stronger than on Yugi.
In the mobile phone that hadn't hung up, Kaiba heard Joey Wheeler's words but frowned. "Hmm? The Normal Monster said Yugi has already gotten the card that caused the anomaly?"
"I have already shut down the Trojan program, and Hayato also destroyed [Golden Castle of Stromberg]. Logically speaking, shouldn't this anomaly have been resolved?"
With Kaiba's reminder, Joey Wheeler couldn't help but nod. "But, many of the audience members on site still haven't recovered?"
"If you can't figure out the situation, wouldn't it be fine to ask someone who knows?"
Hayato said, turning to look at the tied-up Zigfried.
Because of Hayato's one sentence, the pink-haired person, realizing that everyone present was looking at him, couldn't help but shrink his neck and took a step back. "W-What do you guys want to do!?"
"Oh my, the physique is quite solid. Been working out lately?" With a strange smile on his face, Hayato held the rope with one hand, not letting Zigfried leave. "Be good, let me take a look!"
"Ughhhh, no!"
Chapter 464: Wouldn't It Have Been Better to Use the Red Form from the Start?
Although it sounded like it was heading in the direction of "This is a secret between us" or "I miss you so much," the sound Zigfried, who looked incredibly pretentious, made when he cried out, "Hmph hmph uh ah ah ah," stank like marsh gas.
But Hayato was actually just having Joey Wheeler hold Zigfried down and tickle him.
While Zigfried was left lying on the ground by Joey Wheeler, looking completely broken, Hayato and Yugi also received the full information.
"A Trojan program implanted within KaibaCorp, the card that activates the Trojan program, and [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames]which causes the anomaly. These are the three necessary conditions for this anomaly to occur," Yugi said with a serious expression. "Furthermore, connecting the three is a certain device located underground at the Kaiba Dome Venue."
"To stop or interrupt the anomaly, eliminating the first three is a necessary condition, but the most important and final step is to go to where that device is located and destroy the running device."
"Is it like in an RPG game, where the heroes collect keys to open the gate leading to the demon king's castle?" Joey Wheeler tried to summarize in his own way. "But speaking of which, I didn't see Tristan and the others when we came back."
Hayato replied, "As for Tristan and the others, they went ahead of us to find that 'device' underground. Marik helped lead the way. If it really is an RPG game script, Tristan is more like the hero who saves the world than us tool persons who helped break the sealing barrier."
"Huh?! I was planning to brag to Tristan about how Joey Wheeler the Great saved the world again after resolving the anomaly, but that guy stole a march and hogged the spotlight?!"
Hayato was just joking, but Joey Wheeler spoke seriously, seemingly genuinely wanting to seize this opportunity to show off. He said somewhat anxiously, "No way, Tristan has already taken a step ahead. Hayato, Yugi, let's hurry over too!"
Although it looked like he was anxious about Tristan stealing the spotlight, both Hayato and Yugi could see that Joey Wheeler was actually saying one thing but meaning another. He was rushing because he was worried about Tristan and Téa.
While speaking, Joey Wheeler naturally didn't forget Kaiba.
"Although compared to Tristan, we seem to be a step late, looking at it from another perspective, at least we're faster than a certain someone." He didn't name names, but Joey Wheeler's eye never left Hayato's mobile phone. "Hmphahaha, we'll be going ahead now, Kaiba."
"Hmph, boring. As expected of you, mediocre person."
Kaiba didn't take Joey Wheeler's provocation seriously at all. "Compared to that, the mediocre person did say one thing correctly, and that is Hayato and Yugi, you'd better hurry up and end this farce sooner."
"All sorts of messy things are piling up. Even I feel a bit of a headache, no wonder Keipei thinks I should experience how tired he usually is."
At the KC Cup hosted by KaibaCorp, there was an incident where a large number of audience members fell. Even though public accountability and 911 rescue haven't arrived yet, Kaiba could imagine how troublesome the public relations and disaster recovery situation would be later.
More importantly, Kaiba hadn't forgotten that Keipei was still inside the venue and hadn't left. He might not care about others, but he had always cared about his younger brother.
However, Kaiba's personality had never had anything to do with being "frank." And even if he did say he was worried about Keipei, it wouldn't be to Hayato and Yugi. He didn't want to show his emotional side to duelists he acknowledged.
Kaiba Seto only needed to be a duelist without feelings.
Underground at the Kaiba Dome Venue, Bakura pulled back the hood on his head and looked at a blank card before him with interest.
"How wonderful. It can revive with just pure duelist's will and ordinary human life energy. Even I am somewhat envious."
"Huh? It still requires a key? Tsk, it's not as simple as I imagined after all, it's even a bit more troublesome."
"Heh heh, you can rest assured. I have no interest in humans, and since I said I would help you, I will definitely keep my word. Since we have no profit conflicts, it's not an exaggeration to say we're a best match."
Although there was no other sound in this place besides Bakura, Bakura talked to himself as if someone was communicating with him, looking at the blank card with a smile.
Just then, the keenly perceptive Bakura suddenly frowned. As if sensing something, he turned his head and looked at the door behind him.
On the other side of the door, Kujaku Mai and Rebecca were supporting Téa and Keipei respectively, while Tristan and Ryuji Otogi were both pushing against the door with all their might, trying to open it. But no matter how hard they pushed, veins bulging on their foreheads, the door remained motionless.
"I say, can you two grown men actually do it?"
"Don't question me!" Otogi replied reflexively. "Whether a man can do it and a woman's age are forbidden questions!"
Saying that, he exerted force again, and Tristan also burst forth with him, but the motionless door seemed to be mocking their effort, which was all for nothing.
"Honestly, why are you men all so concerned about saving face?" Kujaku Mai pouted, leaning Téa against Rebecca beside her. "Help me hold her for a moment, little girl."
"That's why I'm not a little girl, you old woman!"
Rebecca's protest was completely ignored by Kujaku Mai. With her hands free, Kujaku Mai raised the duel disk she was wearing. "Duel monster materialization or whatever, I don't understand the specific principle, but I'm a pragmatist!"
"Come out, My Ladies, [Harpie Lady Sisters]!"
Just like a certain ace pilot who, after learning from a colleague that "the red form can defeat opponents," particularly favored the red form, Kujaku Mai completely gave up thinking after learning that Duel Monsters could actually materialize, and happily played the Harpie Lady Sisters card again.
Compared to Otogi and Tristan, who struggled for a long time without being able to shake the door, the Harpie Ladies simply kicked it and pushed the door open with extreme ease.
Honda and Otogi, unprepared, also stumbled forward. Otogi was fine and managed to stop himself in time, but Tristan couldn't stop his momentum at all and lunged into the doorway.
Because he sensed that the arrivals behind the door had used duel spirit power to open the door, Bakura calmly set up a dark magic defense field against card spirits beforehand. He struck a cool pose behind the door, ready to greet everyone.
He could lose other things, but not his aura.
Bakura, who had a strong sense of being a villain boss, was about to say something when he saw an opening kicked into the door.
Then, in the next second, as if the convergence of timelines, Tristan's fist struck the Rabbit-Eared Great Demon King's nose bridge.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 465: The Invincible Rabbit-Eared Great Demon King Has Fallen
As everyone knows, in any proper RPG game, the Demon King, as the planner of all conspiracies, always waits at the very end of the Hero's journey for the Heroes to arrive, and then makes their appearance in the most arrogant, cool, and awesome form imaginable.
Unless the RPG game you're playing is one where the Hero defeats various Monster Girls along the way and then discovers that the wife by their side is actually the Demon King, in which case it's an 18X RPG.
Because of this ingrained thinking, Tristan , who had accidentally knocked out Bakura, began performing emergency rescue on him at this moment.
"Why did Bakura inexplicably appear in this place?!" Tristan , who hadn't learned first aid properly, didn't know how to press the philtrum or perform chest compressions. However, he watched a lot of television shows, so he used the most common method seen in movies and TV dramas—shaking Bakura by the shoulders desperately and shouting his name loudly.
Otogi had no recollection of Bakura, only having seen him utterly crushed by Kaiba's **Obelisk the Tormentor** with absolute power during the Battle City Quarterfinals.
"Do you know this person, Tristan ?"
"Ah, Bakura is a classmate. Oh, right, Otogi, you don't know Bakura, do you? He transferred schools before you transferred here." Tristan turned his head to speak to Otogi, but his hands didn't stop for a moment, continuing to frantically shake the unconscious Bakura, whose nose was bleeding.
Watching Tristan 's so-called "first aid," which was actually not much different from murder, Rebecca quipped, "If you guys are classmates, he must have owed you a lot of money before, or you owed him a lot of money, right?"
"Are you sure you're not trying to commit murder to silence him?"
Honda, Otogi, and Rebecca were gathered around Bakura, attempting first aid, but Kujaku Mai didn't join them.
Kujaku Mai, who felt she had the composure and experience of an adult, first retrieved the **Harpie Lady Sisters** card she had used earlier to break down the door, and carefully observed the surroundings of the Room they had entered.
Logically speaking, a Room like this, built underground and serving as the starting point of an anomaly, should at least have some unique features, even if it wasn't particularly eerie or terrifying, or had some sci-fi or fantasy art style. It shouldn't be so ordinary that a Player in a potential RPG game would complain that the difference between the final boss room and an inn is less than the difference between an inn and a weapon shop.
However, the Room the group entered was, at first glance, quite ordinary. Besides a blueprint of the Kaiba Dome Venue on the wall opposite the door, the Room was completely empty. However, the ceiling and the floor were inlaid with flashing small light bulbs.
But Kujaku Mai couldn't figure out how these light bulbs were powered and lit up. There wasn't even anything resembling a switch in the entire Room.
Other than that, the only thing left in the entire Room was a card slowly rotating in the very center of the Room, floating in mid-air.
Looking at the blank card face revealed as the card rotated, Kujaku Mai felt a bit confused.
"Is this place really the starting point we're looking for that caused the anomaly?"
"Besides that card, there's nothing else here at all."
Although she had seen many strange things along the way, Kujaku Mai still felt that the anomaly might have been caused by some kind of magnetic field generating device or a virus spreader, like something that could turn people into mutants or lizard people. But all that was here were three things—
A card, light bulbs, and a map.
Otogi looked up at her words, surveyed the surroundings, and also frowned. "That doesn't seem right. We finally found this hidden Room underground, and there was even someone guarding the door. No matter how you look at it, this should be the place."
"In a situation where all other possibilities have been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how unbelievable, must be the only possibility. Although it's hard to understand, I think the key to resolving this anomaly should be in this Room."
"And..."
Saying this, he lowered his head and looked at Bakura, whose neck was almost shaken off by Tristan . "Honda, although you might not be able to accept it, I think this Bakura is very likely the culprit behind the anomaly, or at least one of them."
"Huh? Bakura? How could such a weak mastermind exist? I knocked him out with one punch..."
Although Tristan said this, there was a hint of hesitation on his face, and his shaking of Bakura did indeed stop. After a moment of hesitation, he chose to believe Otogi and threw Bakura back onto the ground.
"Thud."
It seemed his head hit the ground hard.
Although Tristan and Joey Wheeler were known as the idle duo in class, often getting into fights like delinquents and having bad grades, that didn't mean he was stupid. On the contrary, Tristan 's mind was actually very flexible, he just didn't use it for studying.
In such a Room full of suspicion, let alone the person who appeared being Bakura, the mysterious guy from class, even if it were the Homeroom Teacher, it would be equally suspicious.
Honda and Otogi helped Keipei and Téa , who had completely passed out, from Rebecca and Kujaku Mai, helped them sit on the ground, and also began to examine the inside of the Room.
The small light bulbs on the ceiling and floor were called "light bulbs," but upon closer inspection, they were actually just semi-circular glass containers. The glowing material inside was not a filament but some kind of liquid, occasionally bubbling up.
On the wall hung the blueprint of the Kaiba Dome Venue. Although it was marked with a lot of data and scales, it looked like nothing more than a simple blueprint. The data didn't seem to contain any puzzles. The only thing that was somewhat noteworthy was that about twelve red points were marked around the Venue, connected by green lines into an unusual hexagram.
After inspecting various parts of the Room, the four ultimately found nothing else and had to turn their attention to the strange card in the center of the Room.
"Mai, Otogi, and Rebecca, please step back a little." Tristan took a deep breath and walked towards the blank card with determined eyes.
Compared to the others, who were Duelist and had a certain amount of battle power, Tristan had no power (referring to knocking out Bakura with one punch). So, rather than letting the others test this blank card and potentially fall into danger, Tristan thought it would be better for him to test it.
Otogi didn't say much. Exchanging a look with Tristan , he guessed Tristan 's idea and simply positioned himself in front of Rebecca and Kujaku Mai.
Kujaku Mai and Rebecca also obediently stayed put. Although they were both proud female Duelist, they knew that "protecting a man's dignity is a woman's reserve." At a time like this, they would let Tristan have his moment.
However, Kujaku Mai also had a card ready, and she would summon a Duel Monster if anything happened.
Under the tense gaze of the four, who were holding their breath, Tristan 's hand touched the blank card.