"That ridiculously loud, high-pitched laugh…"
Joey turned toward the sound, and sure enough—it was her!
Mai Valentine stood with hands on her hips, chin tilted high, her signature proud posture making her stand out from the crowd.
"We meet again, Joey."
Her voice carried a deliberately drawn-out lilt.
Since losing to Joey last time, Mai had gone over the duel carefully.
In the end, she concluded the reason for her defeat was… Joey's friends giving him advice from the sidelines!
This time, she decided to strike first and cut that off.
"Tell me," Mai looked him up and down with disdain, "are you still clinging to others like a little duckling?"
She even waddled mockingly like a duck, drawing snickers from the crowd.
"Joey, don't tell me you're the reincarnation of a duck?"
"Wha—what did you just say?!" Joey's fists clenched, knuckles white, veins bulging at his temple. The naked humiliation made his blood boil.
Mai's sharp eyes quickly caught sight of the six Star Chips gleaming on Joey's Duel Glove.
Six? Looks like this punk's been lucky… Perfect for exploiting his pride.
Her lips curled into a calculating smile.
"Did I say something wrong?" Mai's voice rose, dripping with accusation, echoing clearly in Joey's ears. "Aren't those Star Chips of yours only thanks to your 'good buddies' helping you out? Without them, what could you do alone?"
Her words pierced Joey's deepest insecurities like poisoned arrows.
His face flushed crimson, lips trembling but unable to utter a rebuttal, chest heaving violently.
Mai, delighted, pressed harder.
"Yugi Muto, Yuto Tenshou!" She swept her sharp gaze over Joey's strongest allies. "You think the same, don't you? That Joey's a burden holding you back! If it weren't for him, you two would already be in that castle, wouldn't you?"
"That's nonsense!" Yuto stepped forward firmly, voice ringing with conviction. "Joey is our friend! His effort and his strength—we all see it!"
Yugi puffed out his small chest, face earnest, about to speak up: "Joey, he—"
"Enough!!!"
A furious roar, seething with anger and resolve, cut him off.
Joey suddenly threw out his arm, blocking his friends. He gritted his teeth, eyes blazing with fire, finger stabbing toward Mai like a blade.
"Cut the crap, Mai! Duel me! Here and now! I'll prove that Joey Wheeler is no one's burden!"
But Mai just waved lazily, her smile full of confidence.
"Heh, don't be hasty, reckless duckling. This time, your opponent isn't me."
She clapped her hands twice.
"Come out! My loyal servant—it's your turn!"
At her call, a figure shuffled out from the crowd.
When everyone saw his face, their eyes widened in shock!
It was the third-place duelist of the National Championship, known for his Dinosaur Deck—Rex Raptor!
"Servant…?" Joey's gaze shifted past Mai to the short figure in the knit cap behind her.
Tch… serving such a gorgeous woman—why do I feel jealous…?
"—No! Snap out of it!" Joey shook his head violently, banishing the thought.
"Fine! I accept! Bring it on!" He puffed his chest and shouted.
Yugi stepped closer, voice low with concern. "Joey, your opponent's the National Championship semifinalist—his Dinosaurs…"
But Joey cut him off, unusually firm.
"Yugi! Everyone!"
He looked around at his friends, eyes sharper than ever.
"This duel—I'm going to win on my own strength! Please… let me do this!"
Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the Duel Arena with determination.
"All I need… is your cheers! I'll prove—Joey Wheeler is no 'dead weight'!"
Seeing his resolve, Yuto, Yugi, and the others exchanged worried but trusting glances. In the end, they respected his choice.
"Joey! You can do it! You'll win for sure!"
"We believe in you, Joey!"
Their encouragement filled him with warmth and power.
His eyes hardened as he placed his Deck on the Duel Arena.
"I wager 4 Star Chips!"
Across from him, Rex Raptor stepped up as well.
"Four? Hmph…"
He glanced at the three Star Chips left in his possession.
"What's wrong?"
Rex ground his teeth, glaring at the six Star Chips glittering on Joey's glove.
"Fine… I'll wager! But not Star Chips—I'll bet this card—[Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!"
"Deal!"
"Duel—start!!"
The arena's voice declared.
"I'll take the first turn! My turn, draw!"
Joey quickly drew and scanned his six-card hand: [Baby Dragon], [Time Wizard], [Gearfried the Iron Knight]…
No immediate powerhouse to open with…
Wait—didn't Yuto say something about [Baby Dragon] and [Time Wizard]…?
Alright, let's go with that!
Joey made his choice.
"I Normal Summon [Baby Dragon] in Defense Position!"
A small, orange dragon curled up on Joey's field, crouching defensively.
"Then I Set one card and end my turn!"
Across the field, Rex Raptor blinked, dumbfounded. This punk started by turtling with a weakling dragon?
His face twisted in disdain. It felt like an insult to Duel Monsters.
"Hmph! That's all?" Rex slapped down a card without hesitation.
"I Normal Summon [Two-Headed King Rex] in Attack Position! Crush that pitiful reptile!"
The monstrous dinosaur, twice [Baby Dragon]'s size, roared onto the field and stomped down with its massive foot!
Boom!
[Baby Dragon] shattered into light.
"Hey! Joey!" Rex crossed his arms, shouting in mockery. "What are you doing, surrendering already? Who puts a monster in Defense Position to just die? Use your brain, kid!"
His sneer echoed across the plain, some bystanders chuckling along.
But Joey didn't protest—he acted instead.
"N-no way?!" He put on an exaggerated face of panic, even stumbling back a step, his voice trembling. "How could this happen?!"
Just as Yuto taught—play up the bluff, make the information gap work!
Seeing Joey's "fright," Rex became even more arrogant, not sparing the Set card a second thought.
"Pathetic! Turn end!"
He ended his turn carelessly.
At that moment, Joey's "panic" melted away, replaced by a sly grin.
"Just as I thought—you're an idiot!"
He raised his hand dramatically toward his Set card.
"Flip open my Trap! I activate [Call of the Haunted]!"
"Its effect brings [Baby Dragon] back from my Graveyard!"
The orange little dragon reappeared, letting out a tiny roar toward Rex's dinosaur.
"And that's not all!" Joey slammed down another card from his hand.
"I Normal Summon [Time Wizard]! Then activate its magical effect right away!!"
"Wh-what?!" Rex's smug grin froze, eyes wide with horror.
A terrible premonition seized his gut!
...
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