Outside the door, Tristan quickly clamped a hand over Joey's mouth before he could cry out, nervously glancing around.
"Shhh! Keep it down! You want the crew to hear us?"
He pushed Joey into the room as he whispered.
At the same time, a figure darted past Tristan and rushed into the tiny bathroom—it was Téa! Clearly, she had been holding it in.
Yuto and Yugi, woken by the noise, stared in surprise at their uninvited guests.
"So…"
Yuto rubbed his brow, looking at Téa emerging from the bathroom and Tristan wearing a "don't ask me" face.
"Why did you stow away?"
Téa lowered her head, hands twisting nervously like a child caught misbehaving, her voice barely a murmur.
"Because… I couldn't rest easy… letting you go so far alone… and also, I just wanted to be with you…"
Yuto sighed, his tone softening.
"Don't do something dangerous like this again. If you want to come, just tell me. Sneaking in a container is reckless."
"Mhm…" Téa nodded softly, cheeks tinged red.
Yuto yawned widely, exhaustion hitting harder. He flopped onto the sofa, shifting inward and patting the empty space beside him.
"It's late. Let's sleep. We'll deal with it tomorrow."
Yugi, Joey, and Tristan all squeezed into the single bed.
The tiny cabin, now crammed with five, bore a burden it was never meant to.
By dawn, as the first rays pierced the horizon, all five stood at the ship's bow.
The sea breeze carried a chill, whipping through their hair.
Ahead, an island thick with green vegetation came into view, a grand castle silhouette faintly visible, glowing in the morning sun.
"Duelist Kingdom…" Joey clenched his fists, eyes blazing.
"We're here!" Yugi's voice brimmed with resolve and excitement.
Yuto smirked with quiet confidence at the sight of the island.
Industrial Illusions' shares—I'll make them mine!
The ship's anchor dropped, and the cruise liner slowed to a halt.
A gangplank was wheeled into place, and duelists disembarked, stepping onto the soil of Duelist Kingdom.
As everyone gathered at the port, a staffer in a black suit approached.
"Duelists!"
He raised a hand and pointed toward the distant castle.
"There lies Lord Pegasus's castle, your gathering point!"
Guided by the announcement, Yuto's group made their way toward the castle.
"Why no road? These endless stairs will kill us!"
Yuto grumbled.
"Relax, this is a ridge. Just take it slow."
"Guess we have no choice."
They walked on, enjoying the scenery, until Téa suddenly stopped.
"What is it, tired already?" Yuto asked.
She shook her head. "No, I thought I saw Bakura standing there."
"Bakura?"
Yuto followed her gaze, but no one was there.
To him, knowing the story, it could only be the dark god lurking—but the Pharaoh would handle it.
"No one's there. Come on, maybe you just saw someone who looked like him."
"Mhm…"
They continued onward.
After climbing seven or eight hundred steps, they reached the castle gates.
But the gates remained shut, not opening to admit them.
"Attention! Lord Pegasus will now explain the rules!"
From a balcony above the gates, a staffer announced.
Then Pegasus, clad in a red suit, appeared at the center, hands behind his back as he gazed down at the crowd.
"Well, well, well! Welcome to Duelist Kingdom!" Spreading his arms, he revealed the island designed for dueling. "Now, let me explain the rules!"
"Each duelist starts with 2000 Life Points. Direct attacks on players are forbidden!"
"You each received Duel Gloves and two Star Chips beforehand. The glove has ten slots. Fit your Star Chips into them."
He held up a Star Chip between his fingers.
"This Star Chip is proof of being a duelist."
"You'll wager them in duels—minimum one, no maximum. The entire island is your battlefield—duel anywhere!"
"Only those who collect 10 Star Chips on their glove may enter the castle and fight for the prize and title of King of Games!"
"Duels begin in one hour, with a 48-hour time limit. Exceeding it, or losing all your Star Chips, means expulsion."
"Duelists, I wish you victory!"
With that, Pegasus turned and left.
The crowd dispersed.
One hour later, a signal flare burst in the sky—the tournament had begun.
However, with no duelists nearby, Yuto's group wandered aimlessly.
Then Yuto spotted a figure in the forest.
It was Weevil Underwood, runner-up of Japan's Duelist Championship!
"He's mine!"
Yuto sprinted over.
"Yuto, wait—"
Before Yugi could finish, Yuto was already in front of Weevil.
"Weevil Underwood! I challenge you here and now!"
"Fine, fine! Beating Kaiba gives you the right to face me!"
"Enough talk—Duel!"
Rumble—!
The clearing split apart, raising a duel arena like the one in KaibaCorp Tower. Yuto stepped up first, Weevil taking the opposite side.
'Yuto Tenshou, your recklessness will be your downfall!' Weevil thought, placing his Deck.
They faced off. Yuto removed two Star Chips from his glove.
"Let's make it big—I'll wager all my Star Chips! Do you dare?"
"If you're so eager to hand them over, why would I refuse?"
Weevil placed his two Star Chips on the table as well.
"Wager confirmed. Duel begin!"
The arena projected a forest map.
"My turn, draw!"
Weevil summoned a monster.
"I summon Killer Needle in Attack Position!"
"Turn end!"
"My turn!"
Yuto drew, then frowned.
'Damn, a dead hand.'
The only usable card was a Zaku II.
No matter… summon first. Killer Needle had 1200 Attack, Zaku II had 1400.
The advantage was his!
"I summon [MS-06 Zaku II] and attack!"
The iron giant fired its machine gun, but Killer Needle dodged swiftly and pierced Zaku's cockpit with its stinger.
Yuto's Life Points dropped from 2000 to 1840.
"What?!"
...
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