"The duel is decided!"
Joey's eyes blazed with the fire of certain victory.
"I summon [Gearfried the Iron Knight] in Attack Position! And next—I activate the Spell Card [Shield & Sword]!!"
He slapped the two cards onto his Duel Disk in quick succession!
The Spell's power instantly swept across the field!
Vmm—!
A strange wave of light washed over Bonz's side of the field!
His three terrifying Zombie monsters—[Dragon Zombie], [Ryu Kokki], and [Reborn Zombie]—as if drained of their very life force, saw the deathly aura around them collapse in an instant!
Their once-menacing stances wilted, and their fearsome Attack Points, before everyone's stunned eyes, all plummeted to—
0!
"Impossible!"
Bonz screamed, his gaunt face twisted in utter disbelief!
Bandit Keith jolted upright beside him.
"Hmph! It's over!"
Joey mercilessly pointed to the three now-helpless monsters on Bonz's field.
"[Gearfried the Iron Knight]! Attack!! Finish them!!"
"Haaah—!"
[Gearfried the Iron Knight] streaked across the arena like a comet, his fist crashing down on the three defenseless Zombies!
[Bonz, LP: 0]
The Duel Arena let out a piercing buzz, declaring the match's end!
"Way to go, Joey—!!!"
Tristan's roar erupted like a volcano. He was the first to rush onto the arena, face flushed with excitement, fists pumping with all his strength.
"Awesome! We won!!!"
His booming voice nearly shook the cavern roof.
"I won... I won! I really won!!"
Joey stared at the opponent's Life Points reduced to zero, then looked down at the photo of Serenity in his hand. A wave of immense joy and relief flooded his heart, and he couldn't help but shout in triumph!
He suddenly lifted his head, eyes skipping past Tristan's cheers to find Yuto below the arena.
Yuto stood there, a gentle, approving smile on his lips. He nodded firmly to Joey, full of pride and acknowledgment.
Well done. You've proven yourself!
That silent affirmation filled Joey with more satisfaction and strength than any cheer.
This comeback victory owed everything to his friends' guidance and trust at the critical moment!
"Tch, useless trash... we're leaving!"
Bandit Keith spat in disgust at the defeated, dejected Bonz.
Without hesitation he turned and strode toward the dark passageway they came from.
His three shaken lackeys scrambled after him, like beaten dogs.
Just as the stars-and-stripes bandana on Keith's head was about to pass Joey—
"Stop! Bandit Keith!"
Joey stepped forward sharply, arms spread wide, blocking Keith's path!
His chest heaved, eyes sharp as blades, his voice edged with restrained fury and undeniable resolve.
"If you still think you're a true Duelist... then next time, you face me like a man and Duel fair and square!!"
"Fair and square?"
Keith halted, as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke.
He slowly turned his head, a mocking grin twisting his mouth.
"Heh... Kid, that naive thinking is downright funny."
He leaned forward slightly, voice low and dangerous.
"Card games? It's all about who cheats better! Who's more cunning! Who's got the sharper tricks! Listen up—in this survival-of-the-fittest world, the winner takes all! No matter what method you use, dirty or lowdown... if you win in the end, that's the true path to power! Got it? Naive little brat!"
"Keith—!!! You bastard!!!"
Joey's voice rumbled through the cavern.
"Remember this! I'm Joey Wheeler, and one day—I'll defeat you fair and square, with absolute strength, and shatter your twisted philosophy!!"
"You?"
Keith didn't even turn his head, just lifted a hand dismissively, as if shooing an annoying fly.
"Talk big when you've earned the right to stand before me! Know your place, punk!"
His figure disappeared completely into the tunnel's shadows.
"Damn it!!!"
Watching Keith vanish, Joey's chest burned with frustration. He whirled around and slammed a fist against the cold metal edge of the Duel Arena!
Yuto stepped forward and gently patted Joey's shoulder.
"Enough. He's not worth your anger. No need to hurt yourself over scum like that. By the way, Joey, how did you end up Dueling in a place like this?"
Joey rubbed his stomach, wincing slightly.
"Don't ask! I was at the waterfall taking care of 'business.' Just as I was pulling up my pants, those two creeps jumped me from behind! Next thing I knew, I woke up here on this arena!"
He jabbed a furious finger toward the Duel field.
"Woke up right in the middle of this!"
"Figures! Such underhanded, filthy tricks!"
Tristan spat on the ground, his disgust for Keith's gang deepening.
"By the way, Joey," Yugi asked with concern,
"How many Star Chips did you wager in this Duel?"
Joey looked down at his Duel Glove and counted the stars embedded on it.
"Uh... I staked all six... Ah! Wait!"
His eyes lit up.
"I beat Bonz, so his Star Chips belong to me now! That means..."
He did a quick calculation, a delighted smile spreading across his face.
"We have one extra!"
He swiftly attached four Star Chips to his glove, then plucked one glittering Star Chip from the spoils and tossed it to Yugi, keeping the last one in his pocket.
"Here, Yugi. Now we've all qualified!"
"Got it. Let's get out of this creepy place," Yugi agreed.
The six of them gathered themselves and started back down the path, eager to leave the trap-filled, malicious cavern.
However, when they neared the once-clear entrance they had used to come in—
"Huh? Wait..."
Leading the group, Yuto suddenly stopped, brow furrowing.
Ahead, the tunnel's exit was now sealed tight by a massive, perfectly fitted boulder!
"W-What the hell?!"
Tristan rushed up and pushed hard, yet it didn't budge an inch.
"There was no rock here before! What's going on?!"
A chilling premonition settled over the group once again.
...
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