"The first match is about to begin—Duelists, enter the arena!"
The butler's steady voice echoed through the grand hall via the sound system, carrying an undeniable sense of formality.
"Good luck!"
From the stands, Tristan, Téa, and the others cheered loudly.
"Yeah!"
Yugi nodded firmly, his eyes fixed on the Duel Platform ahead.
Across from him, Mai Valentine shed her usual playful charm, her eyes sharp as blades, lips parting.
"Yugi, the moment of truth… has come."
Yuto, Joey, Yugi, and Mai all stepped into the center of the hall, bathed in the spotlight.
Yuto and Joey moved aside to the spectators' bench, leaving the stage to the two duelists about to clash.
On the opposite side, Pegasus reclined lazily in a luxurious armchair. His long fingers elegantly cradled a glass of crimson wine as he swirled it lightly, the golden Millennium Eye watching the field.
The butler stood silently behind him, like a shadow.
"Fellow duelists, so full of fighting spirit!"
Pegasus suddenly spoke, his voice clear and carrying through the hall.
He placed the wine glass onto a silver tray with a crisp ding, then rose gracefully, spreading his arms wide as if embracing the entire chamber.
"Welcome to this sacred hall of duels!"
His voice swelled with fervor.
"Here! Today! The Duelist Kingdom finals begin! The victor shall claim the grand prize money, and…"
He paused deliberately, eyes sweeping over Yugi and Mai before settling on Yuto and Joey, his lips curling into a meaningful smile.
"…the supreme right to challenge me—Maximillion Pegasus, master of Industrial Illusions!"
"Hey, Pegasus!"
From the stands above, Tristan couldn't hold back.
"Quit stalling! What does the winner really get if they beat you?!"
"A good question, Tristan-boy~"
Pegasus relished the interaction, turning to address the stands, his voice dripping with temptation.
"The one who defeats me will not only win riches! He shall be crowned… the Duel King! A title that marks him as the supreme duelist of the world!"
He paused again, then dropped an even greater bombshell.
"And, as a symbol of victory, I shall transfer 51% of Industrial Illusions to the new Duel King!"
"Fifty-one percent…"
Mai's eyes widened. Even with her experience, the scale of that prize made her gasp.
It meant the victor would immediately become the majority shareholder of the Duel Monsters empire!
"Bring it on!"
Joey, not comprehending the full weight of shares, just shouted. To him, the prize money for Serenity's surgery was all that mattered.
"Well then."
Pegasus seemed pleased with the shock on their faces. He sat back down elegantly, wine glass in hand, once again the picture of control.
The butler stepped forward solemnly.
"Now then—the first semifinal match of Duelist Kingdom, officially begins! Duelists Yugi Muto and Mai Valentine, to the platform!"
The spotlight tightened onto the Duel Arena, and the air between Yugi and Mai filled with tension.
"Duel!"
Yugi declared, but in that instant his gaze flicked past Mai, locking instead on Pegasus in the spectator's seat. His eyes blazed with the true target of his battle.
Beside him, Yuto noticed the subtle shift, frowning slightly yet saying nothing.
'This guy… his focus isn't on his opponent. Mai won't go easy on him—he'll pay for underestimating her.'
"My turn!"
Mai's voice was clear and confident. She drew six cards, scanning her hand before smirking slightly.
She, too, had sensed Yugi's distraction.
"I summon Harpie Lady to the field!"
With her call, the winged warrior descended, claws gleaming as she landed in the arena.
"Next, I set two cards face-down. Turn end."
Two mysterious cards appeared behind her, lying in wait.
"My turn!"
Yugi drew his six cards, breathing deeply as he focused back on the duel. His eyes locked on Harpie Lady.
'Mai… sorry, but to finish this quickly, I'll crush your defenses with my ace!'
He slapped a card onto the field.
"I summon Gaia the Fierce Knight! Attack Harpie Lady!"
The armored knight thundered forth on his ghostly steed, lance leveled at the airborne Harpie Lady.
Besides Joey, Yuto clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked.
"Yugi's too careless. He's ignoring her set cards," Yuto muttered.
Before he finished, Mai's voice rang out.
"Trap Card activate—Mirror Wall!"
Whooom—!
A shimmering mirror-like barrier materialized before Harpie Lady. Gaia's lance struck, but the mirror absorbed and twisted the blow away.
"What?!"
Yugi gasped.
"Mirror Wall's effect is…"
Mai explained with a victor's smile.
"The attacking monster's Attack is halved!"
On Yugi's Duel Disk, Gaia's Attack dropped from 2300 to 1150—below Harpie Lady's 1300!
"No—Gaia!"
Yugi cried out.
"I'm not finished!"
Mai pointed sharply at her back row.
"Chain activation! I flip my face-down Spell—Cyber Shield! Equipping it to Harpie Lady!"
A gleaming aura wrapped around Harpie Lady, enhancing her strength.
"Equipped monster gains 500 Attack!"
[Harpie Lady, ATK: 1300 → 1800]
"Ugh…"
Yugi's face paled as the balance of power shifted instantly.
"It's over, Yugi!"
Mai swept her arm forward.
"Harpie Lady, counterattack! Talon Slash!"
Harpie Lady screeched, claws flashing as she dove at high speed!
Weakened, Gaia couldn't resist—the claws shredded him in a burst of light!
"Ugh!"
The virtual shock made Yugi stagger back as his Life Points plunged.
[Yugi, LP: 2000 → 1350]
"How…?"
He stared in disbelief at his fallen ace and dwindling Life Points.
"My Gaia the Fierce Knight… defeated in a single turn?!"
...
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