The event seemed to happen in just an instant.
A dramatic phenomenon of heaven and earth unfolded, and then the sun split into three, blazing hotly in the sky. The lonely ruins stood under the scorching sun, covered in the dust of ages and mottled moss.
When they came to their senses, everyone was already in the center of the ruins, surrounded by a large group of ancient soldiers emerging from nowhere.
Teacher Dade Temple raised his hands and screamed, "What is going on, nya!?"
"Weren't you the one who brought us here, Teacher?" Marufuji Shou also cried out in surprise, "Aren't you supposed to explain what's happening now?"
"I have no idea, nya!"
Of course, it was all an act. Dade Temple naturally knew they had arrived in the Elf Realm, the resting place of the Royal Family guarded by the Duel Monster Spirits of the "Tomb Guardian Race". As uninvited intruders, they were desecrators trespassing into a forbidden land, destined to be turned into mummies and remain in this place of eternal rest forever.
Coming here was part of his original plan.
According to his script, his cat would seem to accidentally trigger the mechanism buried under the ruins, causing dimensional distortion that brought them to this Elf Land. But unexpectedly, Yugen took the initiative...
While performing in a state of panic, Dade Temple kept glancing at Yugen from the corner of his eye.
From their first encounter, he felt something off about this student. The more time they spent together, the stronger that feeling became instead of fading away.
Sometimes he truly felt like he couldn't fully understand this student.
He himself was a behind-the-scenes mastermind-type character with a belly full of secrets, yet sometimes he inexplicably felt this person knew no less than he did.
No, sometimes he even thought this student might be acting too. Perhaps he was an even bigger boss than himself...
Of course, he only occasionally thought so. Such thoughts seemed too absurd, and he quickly dismissed them.
"Here they are again, those who trespass into the forbidden land of the Royal Family."
A squad of soldiers armed with spears surrounded them, while the speaker emerged from behind the soldiers.
Yugen immediately recognized the leader of this graveyard, the Duel Monster Spirit "Tomb Guardian", who dueled Judai in the animation.
Yugen's lips slightly curled.
The target found.
"What!" Judai frowned, "You don't look like someone from Duel Academy, mister."
Marufuji Shou cried desperately, "Brother, isn't that obvious from just looking...?"
The Tomb Guardian coldly swept his gaze over them, seemingly unwilling to say much, and waved his hand, "Take them away, turn them into mummies and bury them."
"Eh!?" Marufuji Shou nearly wet himself, "How can this be?"
Dade Temple also put on a desperate performance, "Help, I don't want to die, nya!"
The Tomb Guardian ordered his subordinates to deal with them and turned to leave. But Yugen spoke with a smile, interrupting him, "That's not good, is it, Chief of the Tomb Guardian, Duel Monster Spirit 'Tomb Guardian'."
The chief paused, somewhat surprised, and turned back.
"You know where this is." He squinted his eyes.
"Indeed." Yugen replied, "It just seems like the chief doesn't quite remember."
"Oh?"
"The honorable Tomb Guardian Race never denies a warrior the chance to fight for themselves." As Yugen spoke, he gestured at the Duel Disc.
The Tomb Guardian showed an expression of surprise, "You know the rules of the Sacred Ceremony?"
The fate of those who trespass into the Tomb Guardian's domain is usually death, but there are exceptions. Over the years, countless have entered, some innocents who wandered in, curious explorers, and even thieves with ill intentions.
Most of these people were executed and buried in the Royal Family's Resting Place, with just one exception.
That exception was Fubuki Tenjouin, Asuka's brother. He won a duel against the Tomb Guardian, earning the chance to leave.
"Aiming to fight for a chance at survival, are you." The Tomb Guardian said deeply, "Heh, interesting. Among all those who've come here, you are the first to dare challenge me to a ceremonial duel."
"Then let's set the stakes, shall we?" Yugen said.
"The stakes? Naturally, if you win against me, you get to leave alive." The Tomb Guardian said coldly, "If not, like all who came before, you shall rest here eternally."
"Is that so? But doesn't that sound quite unfair?" Yugen smiled, "According to that rule, doesn't it mean the stake for us in this duel is the lives of all our companions?
But the stake on your side doesn't sound quite equivalent."
"Are you questioning the rules of the Valley of Eternal Rest?"
The Tomb Guardian frowned. He stepped forward, seeming to want action, but in an instant, he sensed some extraordinary pressure from the young man in front of him.
In a trance, he seemed to see a warrior's shadow flash past behind the opponent. A warrior of a higher realm than himself, wielding a cold and sharp blade, gazing at him from across the void.
The Tomb Guardian's pupils contracted, instinctively taking a half-step back.
"You...?"
"I think the rules here are somewhat overbearing." Yugen was still speaking, "They could use some adjustments."
The Tomb Guardian: "..."
Initially, he wanted to say, your lives are in my hands, with a mere snap of my fingers, my soldiers can take your lives. The battle ceremony is a mercy granted by the Royal Valley, why should I negotiate with you?
But before the words left his mouth, upon seeing the shadow just now, he suddenly began to reflect, perhaps he spoke a bit too loudly.
Moreover, he hadn't noticed until now, looking again at those surrounded by soldiers' spears, they didn't seem quite ordinary.
The spectacled man holding a fat cat, continually shouting "we're doomed", seemed pathetic at first glance.
But looking carefully now, there seemed to be a special ripple within him. Not obvious, but perhaps intentionally suppressed, not easy to deal with in reality.
Next, he looked at the red-clad jellyfish-head person beside him and sensed a similar latent potential. Also seemingly plain, yet possessing untapped potential within them, which could explode at any moment, making them difficult to suppress.
The blond girl in the blue attire, though not as strong as the others, also resonated with some power. As a spirit, the Tomb Guardian sensed some spirit power residing in that card deck.
Even when he looked at the chubby koala-like guy, though very weak, he felt a faint protective spirit aura...
Brother Hayato from the animation was also later found to have the talent of spirit affinity, the "Death Tree Bear" in his deck was also a spirit. His spirit affinity talent was simply weak; he couldn't see spirits but could hear them.
So, every one of this group had special skills?
Finally, the Tomb Guardian seriously regarded the people before him, then cautiously moved his gaze to Marufuji Shou, sizing him up...
...Hmm, he seemed utterly ordinary, just a deadbeat.
The Tomb Guardian couldn't help but wonder.
Your teammates have made quite the impression, so how did you end up joining this ride?
"Alright, what do you propose as a stake?" The Tomb Guardian asked gravely, "If you find it unfair, using my soul as the stake is fine."
Yugen shook his head, "No need for that, I'm not one to delight in claiming others' lives, it benefits me none.
If I win, not only do you let us go, but also agree to become friends from now on. When needed, lend me your strength, is that okay?"
The Tomb Guardian Race each bears the mission of guarding the King's Valley. To spirits, leaving this sacred place to serve another master might be worse than death.
Thus, Yugen didn't want the spirits themselves, merely the Tomb Guardian Race's card deck.
The card to spirits is analogous to an avatar. They continue to guard the sacred land, just lending their power to a duelist in card form.
"Friends... interesting."
The Tomb Guardian chuckled lightly.
"Then it depends on whether you can prove yourself worthy of that opportunity."
He turned and gestured for the soldiers to lower their spears.
"Follow me," the Tomb Guardian said, "to the Sacred Battle Ground."