## Chapter 461: A Soul Guides Light, A Soul Guides Darkness
(Master of Chaos) [Level 8 / DARK Attribute]
[Spellcaster-Type / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK 3000 / DEF 2500]
"Fusing (Dark Magician) and (Magician of Chaos) – two monsters with 2500 ATK fused into a monster with the same ATK as (Blue-Eyes White Dragon)?"
Raphael watched (Master of Chaos) slowly descend onto Yugi's field, but he didn't feel it possessed the power to threaten him.
Even the 4500 ATK (Quintet Magician) didn't faze him; what threat could a 3000 ATK monster pose? Moreover, Yugi only had one last card left in his hand.
Furthermore, it was a card Yugi had added from his Deck earlier, after activating (Dark Magic Inheritance)'s effect to trigger (Magician of Chaos)'s once-per-turn effect of destroying any card on the field. This meant it had to be a (Dark Magician) or (Dark Magician Girl)-related card.
It was probably a card like (Dark Magic Attack) or (Thousand Knives), nothing to worry about. Thanks to (Dimension Fusion)'s Effect, his field was now teeming with monsters. Even if (Dark Magic Attack), which can clear all of the opponent's Spell and Trap Cards, destroyed (Guardian Power), only (Guardian Eatos) would be destroyed.
To defeat him, Yugi would have to destroy each of the other four monsters in Defense Position on his Field.
The threat of (Thousand Knives) was even lower. (Thousand Knives), which can only destroy one monster, due to (Guardian Power), could only consume one Magic Counter placed on it. If he wanted to destroy (Guardian Eatos) by Battle, that Magic Counter would simply replenish.
Furthermore, both of these cards require (Dark Magician) to be on the field to be activated. Although (Master of Chaos) is a Fusion of (Magician of Chaos) and (Dark Magician), it didn't inherit (Magician of Chaos)'s effect, and its name cannot be treated as (Dark Magician).
Raphael thought, glancing at the top card of his Deck.
Many cards in his Deck were worn from long-term use. Although he extended their lifespan by replacing card sleeves and other methods, each card still had varying degrees of wear.
He wasn't trying to cheat in this way, but by recognizing the wear on the cards, Raphael could identify what card it was just by looking at its back, like a professional magician.
(Monster Reborn) can Special Summon one monster from either player's Graveyard to the field. While it wouldn't work for (Guardian Eatos), who cannot be Special Summoned without (Celestial Sword - Eatos), he could temporarily use monsters from Yugi's Graveyard, such as (Dark Magician) and (Dark Magician Girl), to defeat Yugi.
Once he drew (Monster Reborn) next turn, the duel would be over, and (Master of Chaos) posed no threat to him.
"What kind of threat could such a card possibly—"
"What kind of threat could such a card possibly pose? You were thinking that, weren't you, Raphael?" Before Raphael could finish his sentence, Yugi had somehow predicted his thoughts and completed his words for him. "You think (Master of Chaos)'s power is nothing special?"
"If you think that, then you are mistaken, Raphael."
With the power currently displayed on the field, Yugi seemed to have no chance of defeating Raphael. Yet, Yugi, as if he had already conjured victory, smiled and pointed his hand at (Master of Chaos): "The power created by Fusing Chaos Power and Dark Magic Power is truly terrifying."
"If the forbidden (Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End) symbolized the power of all boss monsters, then (Master of Chaos) symbolizes the power of beginnings, capable of guiding everything to an unknown world."
"When (Master of Chaos) is Fusion Summoned successfully, I can Special Summon one LIGHT or DARK monster from my Graveyard."
As Yugi's words fell, a flash of magic energy emanated from the round shield in (Master of Chaos)'s hand, and an incredibly complex and rare magic circle expanded, centered on (Master of Chaos)'s round shield. A passage to the Underworld opened, revealing a figure Yugi was intimately familiar with.
"The reason I sent (Dark Magician) to the Graveyard earlier was merely a necessary cost for victory to arrive." Yugi watched the Spellcaster, staff in hand, strike a cool pose, and confidently declared, "Return from the Underworld! And fight alongside me until the very end, (Dark Magician)!"
(Dark Magician) [ATK 2500]
The staff-wielding Spellcaster silently looked at the Pharaoh who had yet to reclaim his memory, just as he had a thousand years ago.
"(Dark Magician) is back with Yugi! Alright!"
Joey unconsciously cheered, his gaze instinctively shifting to Raphael, Yugi's opponent.
However, despite his carefree nature, Joey understood how to assess the situation and analyze conditions. Even though Yugi had summoned (Dark Magician) once more, not all monsters in a duel can effectively increase their combat power when gathered together.
The appearance of 2500 ATK (Dark Magician) had no effect on the situation; even it couldn't intervene in a battle between 4000 ATK (Guardian Eatos) and 3000 ATK (Master of Chaos).
Yugi wasn't in a hurry to perform his so-called 'transcendence.' Instead, he looked at Raphael's (Guardian Eatos) on the field and (Guardian Power) equipped to it, and sighed sincerely: "Although you seem reluctant to speak, you must have a sorrowful past intimately connected to this Duel Monster, (Guardian Eatos), Raphael."
"The feelings you've placed in this card, to me, are closer to 'a card given by someone you care about' rather than 'a cherished card,' 'the Deck's ace card,' or 'a favorite monster.'"
Within the (Millennium Puzzle), Yugi Muto explained to Yami Yugi a feeling he had sensed from Raphael over the past few turns.
Although there was no concrete evidence, Raphael's occasional glances at (Guardian Eatos) were similar to how Yugi himself looked at precious cards representing bonds, though subtly mixed with a sense of sadness and pain.
"You, who harbor the desire for your Duel Monster never to leave, are using a card like (Guardian Power) to protect your monster."
"Indeed, (Guardian Power) is a powerful card; it can accumulate battle after battle, transforming them into immense power that provides protection for the monster. However, that is merely indulging in the past, only reminiscing. Even if you gather infinite power, you won't have the ability to create the future!"
"As for me, I will use (Master of Chaos) to guide the future!"
As Yugi's words fell, (Master of Chaos) raised the longsword, a magic energy construct forged from the combined Chaos power and Dark Magic power, high above its head.
On either side of (Master of Chaos), the bodies of (A/D Changer) and (Magical Trickster - Reijin), which Raphael had previously disregarded, transformed into golden particles and dispersed.
"What is that!?"
Raphael wasn't quite sure what was happening.
(Magical Trickster - Reijin), while on the field, grants Yugi the additional ability to Tribute Summon Spellcaster-Type monsters. And (A/D Changer), while in the Graveyard, has the ability to banish itself to change a monster's battle position on the field.
However, the current sight didn't look at all like they were activating their own effects. Instead, it looked more like they were sacrificing themselves to provide power to (Master of Chaos)!?
"And if (Guardian Power) is the power that constantly accumulates the past and influences the present, then the power (Master of Chaos) is about to use is the ability to use the present to influence the future."
Yugi raised his hand, palm facing the sky as if grasping for something. "One soul guides Light, one soul guides Darkness, and then gathers this endlessly swirling Chaos power upon this sword. The slash it delivers is the ultimate blade that carves open even the world itself!"
"(Master of Chaos)'s second effect: by releasing the LIGHT (A/D Changer) and the DARK (Magical Trickster - Reijin) on my field, I banish all monsters on the opponent's field!!"
"Ultimate Chaos Slash!!!"
A pitch-black radiance flashed at the tip of the blade. Though it was a black that devoured all light, in that instant, it shone like the morning sun.
Golden holy light encircled this layer of pitch-black. Light and Dark, though inherently contradictory, coexisted harmoniously at this very moment.
Lowering its shield and gripping the sword with both hands, after watching (A/D Changer) and (Magical Trickster - Reijin)'s forms completely vanish, their scattered particles fully absorbed by the blade in its hand, (Master of Chaos) took a step forward and stood firm.
Then, it swung.
In that Eastern country, there was a saying, 'One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things.' Witnessing (Master of Chaos) unleash its slash, Raphael's thoughts were instinctively somewhat scattered.
Though initially there were only two 'colors,' 'Light' and 'Dark,' (Master of Chaos)'s attack produced an infinite array of vibrant colors that exceeded humanity's cognitive limits for color, as if an entire world had been crammed into it.
First, (Weapon Summoner) and (Warrior of the Sun), then (Guardian of the Sun), followed by (Backup Gardna), and finally, (Guardian Eatos).
There was no clash of energy beams like in Dragon Ball. Facing this world-heavy slash, none of Raphael's numerous monsters on the field were spared. One by one, they were banished from the field, like world destroyers struck down by an imperial sword.
Regardless of their strength, regardless of their battle position, even (Guardian Eatos), protected by (Guardian Power) and Raphael's most cherished card among all, was no exception.
Then, Raphael, with an empty field and hand, directly faced (Master of Chaos) and (Dark Magician) on Yugi's field.
The outcome was perfectly clear. Raphael confirmed the result of this duel; victory undoubtedly belonged to Yugi, even though he hadn't yet made an attack declaration.
Glancing at (Monster Reborn) atop his Deck, Raphael sighed. The gap between life and death remained as difficult to cross as it had been decades ago.
Raphael felt no sense of unwilling resentment or regret. Because Yugi's (Master of Chaos)'s recent strike had fully demonstrated Yugi's intentions. From that slash, Raphael deeply felt the duelist's heart that belonged to Yugi, or rather, the Nameless Pharaoh.
On a whim, Raphael, seeing Yugi had not yet issued an attack command, spoke: "After you attack and clear my Life Points, according to the stakes of this duel, I will hand over the card for (Uria, Lord of Searing Flames), which is one of the anomaly's cores."
"That was the agreement before the duel, wasn't it?"
Yugi nodded, indicating that Raphael was correct. However, he didn't quite understand why Raphael suddenly brought this up.
Raphael gazed at Yugi: "Earlier, you asked me if I had a duelist's dignity. At that time, I answered that for that lord, I could even abandon my dignity."
"But it seems even I can be swayed by internal impulses." A self-mocking smile appeared on his face as Raphael slowly continued, "However, Nameless Pharaoh, although I don't know the exact mechanism, that card is a trap intended for you."
"A trap!?" Joey, standing nearby, was extremely agitated. "Because of you, we spent so much time dueling you! A trap? Does that mean that card isn't even the anomaly's core at all!?"
"No, (Uria, Lord of Searing Flames) is undoubtedly the core that instigated this anomaly surrounding the Kaiba Dome. Simply taking this card to the underground duel stage at the center of the venue will deactivate one part of the anomaly."
Raphael paused: "However, the problem is, this card doesn't actually belong to me. It was given to me by someone as an item of trade. His request was for me to lose this card to Yugi, the Nameless Pharaoh, in a duel."
Raphael revealed everything he knew about his dealings with Bakura, from his contact with the Schroeder Corp to the arrangements made at the Kaiba Dome.
"I don't know what that person intends to do by giving you this card, but there's no doubt he harbors some ill will towards you, Nameless Pharaoh." Raphael gazed at Yugi, then retrieved the card for (Uria, Lord of Searing Flames) from his person. "Even without knowing what dangers lie ahead, will you still accept this card, Nameless Pharaoh?"
Yugi's smile was his answer.
"Ah, after all, my friends are still waiting for me." Yugi hadn't forgotten about Téa, and he firmly waved his hand, commanding, "Then, this is the end."
"(Master of Chaos), Direct Attack the opponent duelist!"
I felt a bit unwell and went to bed around seven. I missed yesterday's update ∑(Д)
(end of chapter)
The camera's perspective temporarily shifted, its focus now on the backstage of the Kaiba Dome venue.
Walking down the stairs, Tristan, who was supporting Téa in the middle of the group, turned his head to look behind him. "Can everyone keep up?"
Following Tristan were Rebecca and Mai Valentine, and Duke Devlin, who was carrying Mokuba as if he were a sack of rice.
At the very front of the group was Marik, in a remarkably excited state. Under his leadership, the group navigated the winding backstage passages of the venue, eventually entering this descending passage.
"But where exactly is Marik leading us?" Mai Valentine asked Tristan, glancing at Marik, who was leading the way and seemed more familiar with the route than his own backyard.
Due to the alteration of the world line, Marik had not faced Mai Valentine during the Battle City Match, so she hadn't endured the torment of a Shadow Game. Thus, she didn't harbor much ill will towards Marik.
Her impression of Marik was merely that of "a former mafia boss who seemingly 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 Stands, right?" Tristan shook his head, looking at Téa, whom he was supporting. "Those men in black suits inexplicably targeted those of us who could still move. I don't know what they're up to."
"But one thing's for sure: we absolutely cannot let them catch us."
Recalling the man in the suit and his (Double-Barreled Dragon) from earlier, Tristan couldn't help but feel a chill of fear. If Mai Valentine hadn't miraculously Summoned the (Harpie Lady Three Sisters) at that moment, they would probably have been victims by now.
For this reason as well, Téa and Mokuba were also taken along by the group. Although, based on their previous behavior, those guys in suits didn't seem interested in the majority of ordinary people who had lost their ability to move, just like Téa and Mokuba, no one could guarantee they wouldn't be attacked if left in the Audience Seating, nor could anyone feel at ease leaving them behind.
"Now? Of course, we're going to find the 'detonator' that triggered this Anomaly!" Marik, walking at the very front of the group, seemed to have overheard Tristan and Mai Valentine talking, and said without looking back. "Like the original source of a plague, I can feel that the starting point of this Anomaly is beneath the venue, and I can feel we're getting closer."
As he spoke, Marik stroked the (Millennium Rod) that had returned to his hand.
The familiar weight and feel, along with the Dark Magic from the (Millennium Rod) that had returned to him, made Marik's thoughts drift back to Battle City more than half a year ago.
Back then, he was still the leader of the Rare Hunters, obsessed with seeking revenge on the Pharaoh. Under the weight of his resentment, even familial affection was obscured; he ignored Ishizu's concern for him. Even Odion had been used by him at one point.
Although less than a year had passed, Marik felt as if a very long time had gone by. It wasn't that he yearned for that past; Marik was simply lamenting the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of the world.
Comparing that past life to his current one, Marik would unhesitatingly choose the present.
However...
Frowning, Marik glanced at the (Millennium Rod) in his hand. Along with the Dark Magic from the (Millennium Rod) that had returned to him, came a profound sense of weakness. And having walked for such a long distance, his breathing had also become somewhat heavy.
According to Marik's own conjecture, the specific method by which the Anomaly was being carried out seemed to be by draining the Life Points of everyone within its affected range. However, due to efficiency issues, for a short period, it would only manifest as a continuous drain on people's stamina, leaving most feeling weak and powerless.
As for the Duelists, they seemed to be somewhat resistant and could continue to move, perhaps due to strange things like "fighting spirit" or "Duelist's Soul." However, there were a few exceptions, such as Tristan, who wasn't a Duelist but acted normally, and Marik, who was a Duelist but felt weak and powerless.
Marik wasn't sure what was going on with Tristan, but he understood what was happening to himself.
As a former Split Personality patient, Marik had even accomplished things many other patients couldn't—despite being the Main Personality, he had been driven out of his body by his Alternate Personality, only to then defeat the Alternate Personality that had taken over his body and return. This was comparable to Fang Tangjing, who repeatedly jumped inside and outside the courtroom.
However, his near-death experience wasn't without its side effects. As the cost of his Alternate Personality, Dark Marik, dying, Marik's soul had suffered permanent damage.
Unlike physical injuries, even a single tear in the soul is an unhealable, permanent affliction. 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 went by, the loss of his soul would always accompany Marik.
Because of this, although he had been working out recently and had a sturdy physique, and could attract the attention of both sexes when cruising the streets on his motorcycle, Marik's underlying health was actually extremely weak. Even Dueling Monsters was somewhat strenuous for him. That's why he had given the (Millennium Rod) to Hayato.
But now, he was the only one among them who had experienced a Shadow Game. Though difficult, Marik still stepped forward, picking up the (Millennium Rod) once more. Only by using Dark Magic to enhance his body could he barely move normally.
It was precisely because of this action that Marik unexpectedly discovered something—the Anomaly wasn't just drawing Life Points, but Dark Magic was also within its range of absorption. It seemed to devour everything indiscriminately.
Furthermore, unlike Life Points, Marik could clearly feel his Magical Energy being drawn in a specific direction, much like dropping a large amount of blood into still water to reveal the direction of an underwater current.
"Before my Magical Energy can no longer sustain my advance, I must at least find the exact location for these guys, and then I'm going on strike."
Glancing at the others 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 had seen many KaibaCorp staff members who, drained of their stamina, could only lie weakly on the ground. However, rather than attending to each person they saw, they all knew that resolving the Anomaly as quickly as possible was the best way to help others.
The descending stairs finally came to an end. A classical wooden door, which didn't fit Kaiba's aesthetic at all—lacking any technological flair and looking more like it had been dug out of some forgotten corner—stood at the very bottom.
However, appearing before the group along with the stairs, was an oddly dressed young man, sitting cross-legged on the ground with his back to them, "staring blankly" at the door.
"Rex?"
Although the person didn't turn around, Mai Valentine recognized him at a glance.
It wasn't for any other reason; it was simply that Rex's attire was too peculiar. With elbow guards, gauntlets, and shoulder pads that were even rarer than the protective gear worn by stunt motorcyclists, he looked as if he could pick up a greatsword and go to another set to fight Sephiroth.
More than a modern person, he looked like a Warrior who had Transmigrated from a war-torn Western fantasy world.
As a formidable opponent Mai Valentine had encountered during the official KC Cup Match, and the one who had eliminated her, Mai Valentine harbored no resentment or dissatisfaction towards Rex. After all, she admitted her Dueling skill was inferior.
However, Mai Valentine had another reason for her deep impression of Rex.
"Miss Mai!?" Hearing his name called, Rex abruptly turned his head. He looked with surprise at Mai Valentine, who had just descended the stairs. He clearly hadn't expected to see her here. "What are you doing here!?"
"Shouldn't we be the ones asking you that?!"
Rebecca said, sounding somewhat agitated.
Although Duel Monsters was fun, Kaiba had gone overboard when building the Kaiba Dome. The Solid Vision wasn't set to a regular level, but to the specifications of Battle City's Semi-finals—the Duel Tower on Devil's Island. The projection of Duel Monster virtual images had been taken to the extreme.
In an ordinary Duel, the maximum size a Duel Monster could be enlarged to was the height of the Duelists standing on the high stage. However, the maximum size of Duel Monsters in the Kaiba Dome was the size of the venue itself. This was fully demonstrated in the opening Match between Joey and Rex.
Coupled with the panoramic effect of the top-tier sound system installed within the venue, the audience's immersive experience was quite exaggerated.
For all these reasons, although Grandpa Muto and Professor Arthur Hawkins had come to watch the Match on the first day, considering their age and the fact that Grandpa Muto had once fainted from fright because of Kaiba, they hadn't attended any subsequent Matches up until now.
Therefore, the two elders were quite fortunate not to have been affected by today's Anomaly.
Although neither her own grandfather nor Yugi's grandfather had been affected by the Anomaly, Rebecca was still exceptionally furious.
"You weirdo, you wouldn't happen to be behind this Anomaly, would you?! 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!" Rex grumbled discontentedly, but he also stood up from the ground and looked at the group. "This is a man's winning look; it's very cool. And why would you think I'm the mastermind behind all this?"
As he spoke, Rex scratched the back of his head, somewhat perplexed. He seemed to be wondering why his appearance, which he had designed after a hot-blooded manga protagonist, was being mistaken for that of an Antagonist.
"Huh? It wasn't you?"
Mai Valentine was somewhat surprised.
After that Duel concluded, Rex had once extended an invitation to her, wanting Mai Valentine to join a mysterious organization he belonged to. However, he said he would only reveal the organization's name and goals after she joined.
But Mai Valentine refused. Although what Rex said about gaining power that surpassed Yugi and Hayato was indeed tempting, Mai Valentine felt that she didn't need to look that far; simply surpassing Joey would be enough.
And for this process of surpassing Joey, gradually growing stronger through her own efforts was more suitable than relying on external power.
Upon receiving Mai Valentine's refusal, Rex was visibly disappointed. He seemed regretful that Mai Valentine hadn't joined the organization, but still stated that she could change her mind at any time. He also reminded Mai Valentine to leave the KC Cup quickly.
When she saw Rex appear in such a secluded place, Mai Valentine had thought that the organization behind Rex was responsible for instigating this Anomaly.
"Of course not me! The thing inside seems to be converting human Life Points into something that can enhance Duel Monsters. But my personal style has always been to solve any difficulties myself. I wouldn't think of relying on something like that."
Rex shrugged and patted the wooden door behind him. "However, I'm here because someone asked me to be the gatekeeper, not to let anyone past this point. So, let's both take a step back. I can pretend you were never here. Leave with your friends, Miss Mai."
"That, I refuse!"
The first to speak was Rebecca.
Rebecca had a pretty clear understanding of herself. She knew she was never a gentle person, one who considered others, or cared for and looked after them. If there was something she wanted, she'd find a way to get it, even if it meant being shameless.
But even she knew that harming others was wrong. Even if most of the victims of this Anomaly were strangers unrelated to her, and that annoying, big-chested woman who always tried to steal her darling, Rebecca still felt it was necessary to help resolve this Anomaly.
After all, she was the North American Duel Monster Champion. With great power comes great responsibility. And darling would surely be happy to hear it.
Stepping forward, Rebecca raised the Duel Disk in her hand. "If you won't move aside, then I'll defeat you!"
But just as Rebecca was about to put the Duel Disk on her wrist, Mai Valentine stepped in front of her. "No, I'll be his opponent."
Staring at Rex, Mai Valentine took a deep breath. "If we let a little girl battle, then we adults would be utterly unworthy. Besides, I still want revenge on this guy. I wasn't satisfied with losing to him last time."
"What do you mean by that?! I'm an adult too, you know!" But upon hearing Mai Valentine's words, Rebecca was far from appreciative. "Under Japanese law, I'm even old enough to get married!"
"Get out of my way, you fat woman with two lumps of flab!"
"Who are you calling fat?! This is the charm of a mature woman!"
"Move aside, you perfumed pickle-meat!"
"You flat-chested, freckled midget!"
Just moments ago, they had been united in their aura of shared indignation, ready to jointly confront Rex. Yet, because of a few choice words, Rebecca and Mai Valentine suddenly started bickering amongst themselves, attacking each other with "the art of language."
"Quite the aura, Miss Mai," said Rex, watching Mai Valentine scolding with her hands on her hips. Rex wasn't in a hurry to interrupt them; he watched the scene with his arms crossed, a helpless expression on his face. "But seriously, why is my opponent a woman again?"
"Little girl, move aside! I'm enough!" Mai Valentine, leveraging her long legs, firmly blocked Rebecca. However, her hand reaching for the Deck box at her waist was tightly held by Rebecca, preventing her from drawing her Deck.
Rebecca clung to Mai Valentine, refusing to let go. "No way! It's rare for me to have a chance to shine, how could I possibly give it to—Oh, my Duel Disk!"
Just as the two women were arguing, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Rebecca's Duel Disk, which she hadn't put on but was merely holding in her hand. It was casually put on and fastened.
"The size is a bit subtle, a children's Duel Disk, huh? Just a kid after all." Marik ignored Rebecca behind him, who was fuming at having her Duel Disk snatched and being called a child. He took out his Deck and placed it into the Duel Disk. "Hehehe, if you're unwilling to duel a lady, then I'll be your opponent instead."
"I have no interest in ordinary games. Let's have a delightful Shadow Game!"
The green gemstone pendant on Rex's chest flashed with a light. He seemed to have sensed a Magical Energy enveloping the surroundings. His eyes lit up. "Oh, so there was such a big shot hidden here. How surprising."
"What a coincidence, I also have no interest in ordinary Duel Monster games. A real, serious Duel is truly exciting!"
Without needing to consult anyone else, Marik and Rex had already decided to take each other on as opponents.
Looking at Marik, Tristan, who was supporting Téa, showed concern on his face. "Marik, I remember Hayato mentioning to me..."
"That I can't duel? That doesn't matter to me. I've never really cared about life or death, whether in the past or present, whether it's someone else's or my own." Marik secured the (Millennium Rod) at his waist and took a deep breath. "And whether or not I have the (Millennium Rod) makes a huge difference to me."
"More importantly, go through that door. Aren't you trying to save your comrades?"
"Huh?" Tristan was startled by this, and looked at Rex standing to the side. "But hasn't this guy been..."
"Heh heh, for this guy, a duel is all that matters. He doesn't care about guarding the door or anything like that, right?"
Seeing a flash of golden light sweep across the (Millennium Rod), Rex raised an eyebrow with interest. "Mind Scan? No, it's not observing current thoughts, but analyzing thought patterns, isn't it? That's really something. But to be called out like that by you, even I'm a bit embarrassed. If my friends heard that I wasn't taking my job seriously at all, I don't know what they'd think."
"Heh, it's not like you'd care anyway, right?"
"That's true."
Rex nodded and stepped aside. "Hmm, 'I was fighting an invading formidable foe with all my power, not slacking off at all, but they exploited a momentary opening and invaded.' That's a good reason, isn't it? But since I've been so cooperative, don't disappoint me, you white-haired otaku."
"Not an otaku. I just have a profound love for 2D media." Marik corrected him, smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes.
Seeing this, Tristan said no more. He turned and gestured for Rebecca and Mai Valentine to open the door. Then Duke Devlin, carrying Mokuba, led the way, while Tristan walked at the very back.
Glancing back at Marik, Tristan saw only confidence and pleasure on his face. He decided to trust Marik's power and, supporting Téa, followed the others.
And from behind Tristan, came the voices of Marik and Rex—
"Duel!" (x2)
(end of chapter)
## Chapter 463: Kaiba's dictionary doesn't have 'two', just like Gaben can't count to three
"Hayato."
After defeating Leon Wilson, Kaiba's voice suddenly rang out from the phone in Hayato's pocket.
Hayato took out his phone, a little puzzled, and found that it had somehow called Kaiba's number on its own, even activating the speakerphone. He was certain his phone screen was off, so an accidental touch shouldn't have been possible.
"Seto?"
Hayato replied to the phone, confused, "Why did my phone make a call by itself?"
"Hmph, just a small trick of electronic communication technology. For me, it's easier than breaking a roadside branch with my finger." Kaiba paused on the other end of the line, then continued, "Since you've defeated that guy named 'Leon Wilson', that means the (The Golden Castle of Stromberg) card has been Destroyed by you, right?"
Hearing this, Hayato turned his head.
Leon Wilson had lost due to the God Card's attack. Although he had no physical injuries, the intricate internal structure of his Duel Disk was destroyed by the powerful impact. After organizing his deck, he removed his Duel Disk and placed it temporarily on the ground.
Alongside it, he also placed the (The Golden Castle of Stromberg) card.
"Although some manipulations were made to (The Golden Castle of Stromberg), it still couldn't withstand the God Card's power and has been Destroyed by me."
Hayato picked up the (The Golden Castle of Stromberg) card. On its Effect Description, the few lines of Effect that Siegfried had additionally added were scorched into several black marks by the stray current that flowed out when the Duel Disk was destroyed.
Kaiba wasn't surprised by this; instead, he said matter-of-factly, "Hmph, after all, it was (Obelisk the Tormentor), which I once used. It's only natural that it could do such a thing."
Hayato nodded subconsciously, then suddenly realized something was amiss.
"Seto, I only said 'God Card' just now, didn't I? I didn't mention (Obelisk the Tormentor) at all." Hayato's expression was strange. "When did you start eavesdropping on me?"
"Hmph, only since you Activated (Monster Reborn)."
"Isn't that just like eavesdropping on me from the very beginning!"
Back then, Hayato had intentionally kept his phone on speakerphone to maintain communication with Kaiba, leaking Bakura's deal to Kaiba, allowing Kaiba to gain advance information and prepare without violating any constraints.
At that time, his excuse was that the bastard Kaiba was actually eavesdropping on him.
He hadn't expected that his excuse from back then would now turn out to be true. It turned out that Kaiba was actually eavesdropping on him. What a pervert.
Hayato quickly changed the subject, "You... never mind, let's not talk about that. Rex told me you went to the Kaiba Land Tower? How did you handle the Trojan program?"
"Hmph, who do you think I am? Those third-rate technicians? My past academic achievements weren'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 achievements? You, the guy who only attended school for one day?" Hayato retorted, yet he couldn't deny Kaiba's extensive, almost tragically diverse range of miscellaneous skills.
Electronic information, handicraft, chemical reactions, lathe processing, artistic aesthetics—Kaiba had unique attainments in various vastly different fields. Whether inventing new gadgets or improving old ones, he could achieve something. He was almost omnipotent, except for constantly losing duels in spectacular fashion. Hacking was naturally one of his strong suits.
The reason Kaiba specified "within the KaibaCorp" was because he still remembered the incident during the Battle City Top 4 Seeding Match, where Kaiba Noah, who had died and become an AI, usurped control of the "S.S. St. Ann" that the Kaiba brothers had meticulously programmed together, aboard which the participants were riding.
Although Noah wasn't human and had sunk into the sea with the Sea Fortress, disappearing forever, the fact that he had once been surpassed was undeniable. Kaiba wouldn't consider himself the strongest hacker just because Noah was gone.
Moreover, he also said he was one of the best hackers within the KaibaCorp. Another reason was that Mokuba's talent in this area was actually no weaker than his, perhaps even stronger. If Mokuba were a few years older, his hacking skills would easily surpass Seto Kaiba.
Of course, getting Kaiba to say "Mai is the second-strongest hacker in the KaibaCorp" would be as hard as ascending to heaven, because as everyone knows, the word "two" isn't in Kaiba's dictionary; "First Place" and "three (Blue-Eyes)" are much more common.
"Hey~, Hayato!"
"Hayato!"
Two voices came from behind Hayato. One of them, he knew from the sound alone, was good at throwing dice and coins. The other sounded like he was about to Activate Hanoi's Sublime Power at any moment. Even without turning around, Hayato guessed who the two people were.
Turning around, it was indeed Joey and Yugi, walking from the distant Audience Seating towards the center of the Venue.
Joey's steps were faster than Yugi's. He walked down the Stairs ahead of Yugi and arrived at the edge of the Duel Field, looking at the people on the Field.
On the field, they saw Hayato, holding his phone; a young boy gazing admiringly at Hayato's back; and a young man with flamboyant pink hair who was tied up.
Joey remembered the young boy; he was Hayato's Duel Opponent, arranged for the same Match. And this sudden Anomaly also began after this boy, who seemed to be named "Leon," Activated a Field Spell Card. However, it seemed it wasn't his subjective intention, but rather he was being used.
Joey had some impression of the pink-haired man, vaguely recalling seeing him in a Duel somewhere, but he couldn't remember who he specifically was.
"Hayato, are you alright?"
Compared to other duels happening elsewhere, Hayato and Leon's duel had the most spectators, as they were on the central Duel Field of the Venue. Hayato had even brought out monsters that surpassed conventional Duel Levels, such as an (Earthbound Immortal) and even (Obelisk the Tormentor), so the intensity of the battle could be imagined.
"Completely fine." Hayato spread his hands, then looked at Yugi, who was following closely behind Joey. He sized him up and down, then asked in confusion, "Strange, Yugi, you seem to have a familiar aura about you."
"Could it be that you—"
"That's right, Yugi defeated some inexplicable guy and got the (Uria, Lord of Searing Flames) card, which seems to be the cause of this Anomaly."
Joey answered Hayato, his hands on his hips proudly. Looking at his stance, anyone who didn't know better would probably think he was the one who got (Uria, Lord of Searing Flames).
But Hayato also sized up Joey and inexplicably felt that Joey's "Sacred Beast" aura was indeed stronger than Yugi's.
Over the still-active phone call, Kaiba heard Joey's words and frowned. "Hmm? The Common Bone said Yugi already got the card that caused the Anomaly?"
"I've already shut down the Trojan program, and Hayato has Destroyed (The Golden Castle of Stromberg). Logically, shouldn't this Anomaly have been resolved?"
At Kaiba's reminder, Joey couldn't help but nod. "But, many of the spectators here still haven't recovered?"
"If we don't understand the situation, why not ask someone who does?"
Hayato said, turning to look at the tied-up Siegfried.
Because of Hayato's words, the pink-haired man noticed everyone present looking at him and couldn't help but shrink his neck, taking a step back. "You, what do you want to do!?"
"Oh, your physique is quite sturdy. Have you been working out lately?" With a strange smile on his face, Hayato held the rope with one hand, preventing Siegfried from leaving. "Be good, let me check!"
"Ahhh, no!"
(The year is over, finally no more boring socializing.)
(Huh? Why do I suddenly have to go to someone else's house for dinner on the fourth day of the New Year?!)
(end of chapter)
Chapter 464: Why didn't you just use the red form from the start?
Even though it sounded like it was heading in the direction of "This is a secret between us" or "I miss you," Siegfried, that ostentatious guy, made a "hmph, ugh, ah, ah, ah" sound so foul it was like he was spraying swamp gas.
However, Chumley had actually just told Joey to hold Siegfried down and tickle him.
While Siegfried lay on the ground, cast aside by Joey with a completely broken expression, Chumley and Yugi received the full intel.
"A Trojan program implanted within KaibaCorp, the Golden Palace of the Rushing Rapids Card that activates the Trojan program, and Uria, Lord of Searing Flames which brings about the Anomaly—these are the three necessary conditions for this Anomaly to occur," Yugi said with a serious expression. "And, what connects these three is a certain device located beneath the Kaiba Dome Venue."
"To stop and interrupt the Anomaly, eliminating the first three is a necessary condition, but the most crucial 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 to the Demon King's castle?" Joey tried to summarize in his own way. "Speaking of which, I didn't see Tristan and the others when we came back."
Chumley replied, "Tristan and the others have already gone ahead of us to look for that underground 'device.' Marik helped them find the way. If this were truly an RPG game script, Tristan would be more like the hero saving the world than us, who are just tools helping break the sealing Barriers."
"Huh!? I was planning on bragging to Tristan about how Joey the Great saved the world again after we resolved the Anomaly, but that guy actually snuck off to steal my thunder?!"
Chumley was just joking, but Joey said earnestly, seemingly genuinely wanting to seize this opportunity to show off, and said anxiously, "No way, Tristan has already gotten a head start! Chumley, Yugi, let's hurry over too!"
Although it seemed like he was anxious about Tristan stealing his thunder, both Chumley and Yugi could tell that Joey was actually saying one thing but meaning another; he was anxious because he was worried about Tristan, Téa, and the others.
As he spoke, Joey, of course, didn't forget Kaiba.
"Even though it seems we're a step behind that guy Tristan, if you think about it another way, at least we're faster than someone," he said, not mentioning any names, but Joey's eyes never left Chumley's phone. "Hmphahaha, we'll be heading off first, Kaiba."
"Hmph, how tiresome. You truly are a Mediocre Duelist."
Kaiba completely disregarded Joey's provocation. "Compared to all that, the Mediocre Duelist actually said one thing right: Chumley and Yugi, you two had better hurry up and put an end to this farce quickly."
"All these messy things piling up, even I'm getting a headache from them. It's no wonder Mokuba would want me to experience how tiring his usual work is."
An incident where a large number of spectators collapsed occurred at the KC Cup, hosted by KaibaCorp. Even though public criticism and 911 rescue had yet to arrive, Kaiba could already imagine how troublesome the public relations and disaster aftermath handling would be.
More importantly, Kaiba hadn't forgotten that Mokuba was still inside the Venue and hadn't left. He might not care about others, but he always worried about his own brother.
However, Kaiba's personality had never been associated with "frankness." Even if he were to voice his concerns for Mokuba, it certainly wouldn't be to Chumley and Yugi. He didn't want to show his emotional side to Duelists he respected.
Seto Kaiba only needed to be a Duelist without emotions.
———————A Maiden's Lifespan Shortening———————
Beneath the Kaiba Dome Venue, Bakura pulled back his hood, looking with interest at the Blank Card before him.
"How wonderful. It only takes a Duelist's pure Will and ordinary human life energy to revive. Even I'm a little envious."
"Huh? It still needs a key? Tsk, it's not as simple as I imagined after all, even a bit more troublesome."
"Heh heh, rest assured, I have no interest in humans. And since I said I'd help you, I'll definitely keep my word. With no conflict of interest between us, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we're a Best Match."
Although there was no other sound in the place besides Bakura, he spoke to himself as if someone were conversing with him, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at the blank Card.
Just then, the keenly perceptive Bakura suddenly frowned, turning his head as if sensing something, and looked towards the large door behind him.
On the other side of the large door, Mai Valentine and Rebecca were supporting Téa and Mokuba respectively, while Tristan and Duke Devlin both pushed against the door, trying to open it. But no matter how much they strained with all their might, veins bulging on their foreheads, the door remained unmoving.
"I'm telling you two big men, can you even do it?"
"Don't question me!" Duke Devlin retorted instinctively. "Whether a man can do it or a woman's age are both forbidden questions!"
With that, he pushed again, and Tristan also joined in with renewed effort, but the door, which didn't budge an inch, seemed to be mocking all their futile efforts.
"Honestly, why are you men all so stubborn about your pride?" Mai Valentine pouted, leaning Téa against Rebecca. "Help me hold her for a bit, little girl."
"That's why I'm not a little girl, you old hag!"
Rebecca's protest was completely ignored by Mai Valentine. Freeing her hands, Mai Valentine raised the Duel Disk she wore. "As for Duel Monster Solid Vision and all that, I don't understand the exact principles, but I'm a pragmatist!"
"Come forth, My Ladies, Harpie Lady Sisters!"
Just like a certain ace pilot, who was completely overwhelmed in battle, developed a special fondness for a "red form that can eliminate opponents" after learning about it from a colleague, Mai Valentine, upon realizing that Duel Monsters could actually achieve Solid Vision, immediately stopped thinking and very happily played the Harpie Lady Sisters Card once more.
Compared to Duke Devlin and Tristan, who had struggled for ages without budging the door, the Harpie Ladies only needed one kick to push it open with extreme ease.
Unprepared, Tristan and Duke Devlin both stumbled forward. Duke Devlin managed to stop himself in time, but Tristan couldn't control his momentum and tumbled right through the doorway.
Sensing that the newcomers behind the door had used the Power of Duel Monster Spirits to open it, Bakura calmly set up a defensive barrier composed of Dark Magic against Card Spirits, striking an imposing pose behind the door, ready to greet them.
He could lose anything else, but not his imposing aura.
Bakura, keenly aware of his role as an Antagonist boss, was just about to open his mouth to say something when he saw the door kicked open.
Then, in the very next second, as if the Timeline had converged, Tristan's fist connected with the nose bridge of the Rabbit-Eared Devil King.
(Author's note: Please vote for this chapter!)
(end of chapter)
Chapter 465: The Invincible Rabbit-Eared Devil King Falls
It's a well-known fact that in any proper RPG game, the Demon King, as the mastermind behind all schemes, always awaits the arrival of the heroes at the very end of their journey, making an appearance in the most overwhelmingly cool and awe-inspiring manner.
Unless the RPG you're playing is an 18X RPG where the hero defeats various monster girls along the way only to discover his wife is actually the Demon King.
Because of this ingrained way of thinking, at this moment, Tristan began to perform emergency first aid on Bakura, whom he had accidentally knocked unconscious.
"Why is Bakura suddenly here?!" Tristan, who hadn't learned proper first aid, didn't know how to pinch the philtrum or perform CPR. However, he watched a lot of TV dramas, so he used the most common method seen in film and television: shaking Bakura violently by the shoulders and shouting his name.
Duke Devlin had no impression of Bakura, only having seen him utterly crushed by Kaiba's Obelisk the Tormentor with absolute power in the Battle City Top 8 tournament.
"Do you know this person, Tristan?"
"Ah, Bakura is a classmate. Oh, right, Duke Devlin, you don't know Bakura, do you? He transferred out before you transferred in," Tristan said, turning his head to Duke Devlin, but his hands didn't stop moving, continuing to vigorously shake the unconscious Bakura, whose nose was bleeding.
Watching Tristan's so-called "movie-style medical treatment," which he called "first aid" but was practically indistinguishable from murder, Rebecca quipped, "If you're classmates, he must have owed you a lot of money, or you owed him a lot, right?"
"Are you sure you're not trying to silence him permanently?"
While Tristan, Duke Devlin, and Rebecca gathered around Bakura performing their "life-saving efforts," Mai Valentine didn't join them.
Mai Valentine, with her self-assured adult composure and skill, first retrieved her Harpie Lady Sisters cards, which she had played to force entry, and then carefully observed the surroundings of the room they had entered.
Logically, a room like this, built underground as the starting point of an Anomaly, should be somewhat eerie and terrifying, or at least have a sci-fi or fantasy aesthetic. It ought to have some distinctive features, so that a potential RPG player wouldn't complain that the final boss room had less difference from a hotel than a hotel had from a weapon shop.
However, the room the group entered was quite ordinary at first glance. Besides a blueprint of the Kaiba Dome venue on the wall opposite the door, the room was completely empty. Curiously, small, twinkling light bulbs were embedded in the ceiling and the floor.
However, Mai Valentine 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 remaining in the entire room was a single card slowly rotating, floating in mid-air at the very center of the room.
Mai Valentine looked at the blank card face that was revealed as the card rotated, feeling somewhat puzzled.
"Is this really the starting point of the Anomaly we're looking for?"
"There's nothing here but that one card."
Although she had seen many wondrous things along the way, Mai Valentine still believed that the Anomaly was caused by some kind of magnetic field generator or virus spreader, the kind that could turn people into mutants or lizardmen. Yet, here there were only three things—
Cards, light bulbs, and a map.
Duke Devlin heard her words, looked up, surveyed the surroundings, and frowned. "That doesn't make sense. We went through so much trouble to find this hidden underground room, and there was even someone guarding the entrance. By all accounts, this should be the place."
"In a situation where all other possibilities have been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how incredible, must be the only possibility. While it's hard to understand, I believe the key to resolving this Anomaly is in this room."
"And..."
Saying this, he lowered his head and glanced at Bakura, whose neck looked like it was about to snap from all the shaking. "Tristan, you might not want to accept it, but I think Bakura here is very likely the culprit behind this Anomaly, or at least one of them."
"Huh? Bakura? How could such a weakling be the mastermind? I knocked him out with one punch..."
Tristan said this, but a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. He indeed stopped shaking Bakura. After a moment's pause, he chose to trust Duke Devlin and tossed Bakura back onto the floor.
"Thud."
It seemed he hit his head quite hard.
Although Tristan and Joey were known as the idle duo in their class, often getting into fights like delinquents, and his grades weren't good, that didn't mean he was stupid. On the contrary, Tristan's mind was quite sharp; he just didn't apply it to his studies.
In such a highly suspicious room, it wouldn't matter if the person who appeared was Bakura, who had always been mysterious in class, or even their homeroom teacher; they would be equally suspicious.
Tristan and Duke Devlin then took Mokuba and Téa, who had completely passed out, from Rebecca and Mai Valentine. They helped them sit on the floor and also began to examine the room's interior.
The small "light bulbs" on the ceiling and floor were called light bulbs, but only upon closer inspection could one see that they were actually just semi-circular glass containers. The luminous material inside wasn't a filament but a type of liquid, occasionally bubbling.
On the blueprint of the Kaiba Dome venue hanging on one wall, although many data and scales were marked, it appeared to be nothing more than a simple diagram. The data didn't seem to present any new puzzles. The only thing that caught their attention was that approximately twelve red dots were marked around the venue, connected by green lines to form an unusual hexagram.
After thoroughly searching all corners of the room, the four ultimately found nothing and could only turn their attention to the peculiar card in the very center of the room.
"Mai, Duke Devlin, and Rebecca, please step back a bit," Tristan said, taking a deep breath, his gaze resolute as he walked towards the blank card.
Compared to the others who were duelists and possessed a certain amount of battle power, Tristan had no power (referring to his ability to knock out Bakura with one punch). So, rather than letting others test this blank card and potentially fall into danger, Tristan figured it was better for him to do it.
Duke Devlin didn't say much. After exchanging a glance with Tristan, he guessed Tristan's intentions and simply positioned himself in front of Rebecca and Mai Valentine.
Mai Valentine and Rebecca also honestly stayed put. Although both were proud female duelists, even so, they understood that "preserving a man's dignity is a woman's modesty." At a time like this, it was fine to let Tristan show off a bit.
However, Mai Valentine also had a card ready in her hand; if anything happened, she would Summon a Duel Monster.
Under the watchful eyes of the four, who were holding their breath in tension, Tristan's hand touched the blank card.
(end of chapter)