The three [Labyrinth Tank]s charged their cannons and roared as their engines thundered, ready to unleash a simultaneous barrage!
"Now!"
A flash of determination lit up Yugi's eyes. He yanked a card from his left arm's Deck, raised it high above his head, and shouted loudly.
"Trap Card, activate—[Magical Hats]!"
BZZZZ—!
A gigantic black magician's hat appeared out of thin air, like an upside-down bowl, instantly enveloping the five startled people beneath it!
Inside the hat wasn't darkness, but a swirl of colorful vortices and twinkling starlight. A powerful spatial distortion swept through them!
Whoosh!
The enormous hat, along with the five inside it, vanished without a trace—as if erased by an invisible hand!
All that remained were the blasts from the three [Labyrinth Tank]s pounding mercilessly into the empty stone floor, carving out huge craters and clouds of smoke.
...
The dizzying sensation vanished. The five stumbled and collapsed in a tangled heap onto another section of the maze's cold, hard floor.
"Ugh... We—we made it..."
Joey was the first to struggle upright, patting his chest in relief, his face pale. The pressure of those cannons aimed right at them still left cold sweat running down his back.
However, before anyone could catch their breath—
BOOM... BOOM... BOOM—!!!
The thunderous rumble of treads crushing stone and the savage roar of engines echoed again—like a curse that clung to their bones—reverberating through the labyrinth's layered walls, coming from afar... and from multiple directions!
The ground began to quake violently. Small bits of rubble fell from the towering walls.
"Damn it! Those metal monsters followed us!"
Yuto quickly stood, eyes sharp as he scanned the area—before them stretched several nearly identical narrow corridors, the tall, icy walls fading into dim, unknown darkness. There was no way to tell which direction to take.
"Darn it, which way?!"
Just as despair started to rise again, a faint, familiar, and warm light flickered from around the corner ahead.
It was... it!
The tiny spirit that had once guided them through the graveyard mist was now flitting about anxiously, its small arms waving frantically in one direction while it cried out urgent, faint "iiya" sounds—beckoning them to follow!
"You again! Little guy!" Joey exclaimed in delight.
"No time to hesitate!"
Yuto made the decision instantly, charging after the spirit.
"Then we're counting on you to lead the way again!"
The five followed the small, glowing light that shone like a guiding beacon in the dim maze, running swiftly through the winding passages.
They had no idea how many turns they made or how many intersections they passed when the leading spirit suddenly slowed and lightly landed on someone's shoulder.
The figure stood with her back to them at the end of the corridor, in a somewhat open area.
She wore an ornate, frilled dress in shades of pink and white, trimmed with ribbons and lace that still gleamed softly even in the faint light.
What drew the eye most, though, was the golden tiara on her head—simple yet regal, gleaming faintly.
She seemed to be gently soothing the spirit on her shoulder, her voice calm and tender.
"Good work, Aerie..."
"Mokuba?!"
Joey instinctively turned to the boy beside him—then whipped his head back, his eyes nearly popping out.
"Wha—what the—?!"
Yuto stared at the girl's profile—the uncanny resemblance to Mokuba was unmistakable. He glanced at the actual Mokuba beside him, still frozen in shock and dressed in boy's clothes, then pinched the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh.
"...Tch. I'm now completely certain—the guy who designed this twisted game is one perverted lunatic with very... unique taste."
Mokuba stepped forward, facing his look-alike.
"Was it you who screamed earlier in the maze?"
"You're..."
The girl seemed about to ask who they were.
Yet Joey couldn't contain his frustration and anxiety. He rushed forward, right up to the "princess Mokuba."
"Wait! Forget all that! Do you know where the exit to this damn maze is?! Those metal freaks are right behind us!"
The girl in the frilly gown blinked, her expression pure and clueless, then shook her head slowly but certainly.
"Exit? I don't know."
"HUH?!"
"What... no way..."
Joey and the real Mokuba instantly deflated like punctured balloons, despair written all over their faces.
Their only hope... gone just like that?
However—
The girl looked at their fallen expressions, then, as if recalling something, spoke softly and unhurriedly while pointing to the fluttering spirit on her shoulder.
"Aerie knows the way. It can lead us out."
The air froze for a beat.
"..."
A vein twitched on Yuto's forehead.
'Sister! Can you not drop bombshells like that halfway through your sentences?! Say it all at once! You're gonna give us heart attacks!'
Fortunately, the spirit—Aerie—was dependable.
With a chirp, it fluttered off her shoulder, turning once again into a trail of light leading down a corridor.
"Follow it!"
This time, no one dared to hesitate. The five immediately chased after that warm glow.
Surprisingly, with Aerie's guidance, the maze that had once seemed endless and confounding now appeared simple and direct.
Left, right, avoiding dead ends—before long, a new sight opened before them: no more oppressive stone walls, but a vast open space, and ahead... a massive arched gate bathed in faint light—the exit!
"The exit!"
Joey shouted in joy.
"Finally!" Mokuba sighed in relief.
Their hearts lightened, steps quickened—they burst out of the suffocating maze and into the chamber beyond.
Yet their relief lasted barely three seconds—
A giant shadow, towering and vast enough to fill the entire passage, slammed down before them like a living wall!
That hulking figure formed from three mighty beasts... that ancient, imposing armor... those cold, merciless eyes that looked down on them like insects...
The moment they recognized their foe, Joey let out an instinctive roar.
"Why the hell is this guy here too?!"
Standing between them and freedom was the Paradox Brothers' ultimate barrier—[Gate Guardian]!
Its colossal body fully sealed off the only exit. A single crimson eye glowed with ruthless light, as if it had been waiting for them all along.
...
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