It was [Change of Heart].
"A card that can make monsters switch sides…" Yugi held the Spell, brows furrowed, expression complex.
"Hah?" Joey sneered. "Bakura, you really like those weird cards, huh!"
Bakura only kept that unreadable smile, his gaze slowly sweeping across the group by the fire.
"Speaking of which… how about a duel? Of course…" He lightly shook his Deck. "Just for fun—no Star Chips at stake."
"Oh, that sounds fun!" Yuto leaned forward, intrigued. "But… who'll duel?"
Everyone looked at him. Yuto quickly waved his hands. "Don't look at me. For a friendly match, it should be Yugi. My Deck's all about blitzing, not exactly 'friendly.'"
Really, he just wanted to summon Zakus.
In the original, Téa and the others had their souls enter the duel, becoming Duel Monsters themselves.
"Alright, I'll do it!" Yugi agreed warmly.
Bakura's eyes turned to him, tone almost coaxing. "In that case, why don't we put everyone's favorite card into your Deck? That would make it more fun."
"Oh, that's a great idea!" Joey clapped enthusiastically.
"Yeah, let's do it!" Yuto nodded. "A friendship Deck built from all our favorites!"
They immediately got to work. Téa and Tristan handed their cards straight over. Joey added his [Flame Swordsman] with supporting Equip Spells. "Here, these go together—without them, my swordsman's not at full strength!"
When it came to Yuto, things were trickier. "My [ACE – Char the Red Comet] needs support…" He picked out several cards and huddled with Yugi. "Two [MS-06 Zaku II] for tribute, plus one [H.L.V.] for Special Summon—that should run smoothly."
Yugi carefully removed a few of his less essential cards to make room for the additions. After adjustments, the special Deck—everyone's favorites combined—was ready. Yugi set it solemnly on the tree stump that served as their Duel Arena.
"Ready!" He took a deep breath.
"Do your best, both of you!" Téa cheered.
"Yeah! Though, no way you'll beat Yugi," Joey added. "But good luck, Bakura!"
"Joey!" Yuto scolded. "Never assume before the duel ends—anything's possible."
"R-right, sorry Bakura!" Joey scratched his head sheepishly.
Bakura only shook his head, a faint curl on his lips. "It's fine. After all, Yugi is the national champion. Winning… would be unlikely."
Then he slowly raised both hands to his chest.
Ding… ding-ling…
A faint, icy chime of metal rang out, piercing through the crackle of the fire.
Ding… ding-ling…
The sound was eerie, everywhere and nowhere, sending chills up their spines.
"What's that…?" Téa hugged herself, shivering.
"Heh-heh-heh…" A low laugh spilled from Bakura. A golden glow flared beneath his shirt, and an ancient, strange golden wheel floated free—the Millennium Ring, shining with ominous light!
"That's…!" Yugi gasped, but before he could finish, darkness fell. The fire was snuffed out as though by an invisible hand. The jungle around them was swallowed by a black void.
Only the stump and their small circle remained.
The suffocating darkness sealed them in, cutting off all sound from the outside.
"A Shadow Game," Yuto murmured evenly, feeling the tug against his soul. He didn't resist—instead, he surrendered to it, eager for a chance to summon his Zakus.
A strange sensation—he could see his own body collapse to the ground. Then his consciousness was pulled into the Deck on the stump.
Thud!
Almost at the same time, Joey, Tristan, Téa, and Yugi also fell unconscious.
Bakura rose, the Millennium Ring's glow illuminating his cold smile.
"Hah… so easy…" He strode toward Yugi, eyes gleaming greedily at the Millennium Puzzle. His hand reached out—
But the Puzzle blazed with golden light, blasting his hand back!
"What?!" Bakura reeled, stunned, as Yugi rose—no, a different presence entirely. Sharp eyes, regal and cold aura.
"Your soul should've—"
"This Shadow Game—your opponent is me!"
"So this is the other 'Yugi' they spoke of… very well." Bakura's eyes flickered warily, but he stepped back, the Ring glowing brighter.
"What's your goal, Bakura?!"
"You should know, Yugi." Bakura's face twisted with zeal. "Gathering all seven Millennium Items grants the ultimate power—power to control everything!"
"Empty ambition," Yugi replied coldly.
Bakura pointed into the void. "If you win, I'll release their souls. But if I win…" His finger jabbed at the Puzzle. "It's mine!"
"So be it!" Yugi drew.
"Duel start! My turn! I Summon [Command Knight] in Defense Position!" A cautious move, protecting his Life Points.
But when the card touched the stump, light flared—Tristan emerged, clad in the Command Knight's uniform, rifle in hand!
"Tristan?!" Yugi gasped.
"Huh?! What the—why am I dressed like this?! And Yugi, why are you so huge?!"
Yugi's eyes widened as realization dawned. "Could it be… everyone's souls have entered their favorite cards?!"
...
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