The sharp crack of metal on flesh echoed through the forest clearing. Kirei, his expression serene, wielded a metal pole with brutal efficiency, striking every inch of Kaiba's body. Kaiba stood firm, his feet rooted in a Baijiquan stance, his jaw clenched so tight it ached.
A grunt was forced from his lips with each impact. He was forbidden to voice his pain, just as he was forbidden to use mana to shield himself. Kirei's order had been absolute. All he could do was endure, each blow a lesson in agony that seeped deep into his bones.
When it was finally over, Kaiba crumpled to the forest floor, his body a single, writhing mass of pain. He couldn't move, couldn't think, could only exist within the fire of his own nerves.
"This is only the beginning," Kirei's voice cut through the haze. Kaiba looked up to see the man smirking, a glint of unmistakable pleasure in his eyes. The sight sent a chill down his spine, even through the pain. If he's anything like the Kirei from the Fate stories, Kaiba thought, clinging to the logic like a lifeline, then this cruelty has a purpose. I have to trust him.
"I'm not giving up," Kaiba gasped out.
The rest of the day was a blur of further torment: dodging real blades to hone his reactions, drilling martial arts forms until his muscles screamed, and theoretical lectures on mana infusion. By the time he staggered back to the church grounds, he was a mess of bruises and shallow cuts.
A collective gasp met him. The nuns, priests, and even the children froze, their faces painted with horror. Sister Theresa rushed forward, her hands already glowing with healing magic as the other nuns converged.
"By the gods, child, what happened to you?" she breathed, her voice trembling.
"Training," Kaiba managed through swollen lips.
The air grew cold. "Kirei," Theresa whispered, her gentle features hardening into a mask of fury. She had expected him to be rough, not to bring the boy to death's door.
As if summoned by her anger, Kirei walked calmly into the courtyard. All eyes turned to him.
"Heal him," Theresa commanded the nuns, her voice like iron. She then marched up to the priest. "What in heaven's name were you thinking? You could have killed him!"
Kirei's gaze was infuriatingly calm. "I was thinking of arriving back at the church."
"Do not mock me!" Theresa snapped. "He will not be training with you again."
"No!" Kaiba pushed himself up on trembling arms. "I can handle it."
"You cannot, and you will not," Theresa said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She turned back to Kirei, but Kaiba's voice stopped her.
"Please. I need this."
Theresa looked at the determined fire in the boy's eyes, a stark contrast to his broken body. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. "If you continue with him," she said, her voice heavy with sorrow, "you cannot continue with me. The risk is too great. You must choose."
Kaiba didn't need a second. The painful, terrifying lessons with Kirei offered a path to real strength, the kind Sister Theresa's safer tutelage never could.
"I choose Father Kirei."
A profound sadness filled Theresa's eyes. "Then you are on your own." Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Kaiba alone with his painful choice and the priest who seemed to savor it.
After being moved to his room to finish recuperating, Kaiba was left alone once the nuns had completed their work. He lay in the silence, staring at the ceiling as a resolution solidified within him.
Driven by this sudden need, he pushed himself from the bed and headed for the door. As he stepped into the hallway, a nun stopped him. "Where are you going? Your healing has only just finished."
"I need to speak with Ironclad," Kaiba said. "I can't work with him anymore."
"There's no need for that tonight," the nun replied, her tone firm yet kind. "I will deliver the message. Your only task now is to rest."
"Thanks," Kaiba mumbled. Too weary to argue, he retreated to his room and surrendered to an exhausted sleep.
. . . .
Five months had melted away,
Each day etching its lessons into Kaiba's body and soul. The change was staggering. Gone was the boy they had known; in his place stood a young man, lean and corded with muscle, his posture radiating a new, quiet confidence.
He now wore the same dark, severe fit as his master, Kirei, complete with the vestment, though the absence of a cross necklace felt like a silent statement. On his right hip, resting in a worn leather holder, was his grimoire.
A small crowd of children clustered around him, their voices overlapping in a chorus of farewell.
A young boy, trying to sound older than his years, puffed out his chest. "You have to become the strongest, okay? Don't you dare lose!"
"Don't forget about us!" a little girl chirped, tugging on his vestment.
Another girl, her eyes shimmering, whispered, "Kaiba-nii, you'll come back to visit, won't you?"
"Don't embarrass our church," the first boy added, though his stern expression wavered. "And make sure you pass!"
Kaiba's smile was gentle, a stark contrast to the harsh lines of his new attire. He knelt, bringing himself to their level, and ruffled their hair. "I'll do my best to live up to all your orders. I promise."
Then, an older nun approached, her steps measured. She didn't speak at first, simply reaching out to pat his arm, her wrinkled hand resting there for a long, meaningful moment. "The world is not always kind," she said, her voice soft as worn velvet. "Please be safe."
"I will," Kaiba replied, placing his hand over hers. "I'll be careful."
Yumie stepped forward then, holding out a simple traveling broom. "For you. So you always have a way home."
Kaiba took it, his fingers curling around the familiar wood. "Thank you, Yumie. This means more than you know."
"You're welcome," she said, offering a small, sad smile.
But Sister Theresa remained apart, a silent statue of disapproval. Her arms were crossed, her gaze fixed on a point somewhere past his shoulder.
With a quiet sigh, Kaiba walked toward her. The children and other nuns fell silent, watching the tense exchange. He stopped before her, but she refused to meet his eyes.
"Sister," he said softly.
When she didn't respond, he simply opened his arms and pulled her into a firm embrace. For a heartbeat, she remained rigid, unyielding. Then, a shudder ran through her, and her arms came up to clutch at his back, her resolve crumbling.
"Thank you," he murmured into her shoulder. "Without you, I wouldn't have survived. I would never have become me."
She pulled back, her eyes glistening, and finally managed a small, genuine smile. "Foolish boy. Just… send us a letter."
"I will," he vowed.
As they separated, he walked to the center of the courtyard and placed the broom on the cobblestones. He stepped onto it, and with a whispered command, it lifted him effortlessly into the air.
"Take care, everyone!" he called down, waving once before turning his gaze toward the horizon.
A chorus of "Goodbye!" and "Be safe!" followed him as he soared away, a solitary figure against the vast sky.
Only when he was a speck in the distance did Sister Theresa finally let the mask fall completely. Her shoulders slumped as she muttered under her breath, the old wound aching anew. "Where is his beloved master? He should be here, seeing him off."
She was, and always would be, a little pissed that Kaiba had chosen Kirei over her.
The wind whipped past Seto Kaiba as he cut a swift path through the sky on his broom. The sprawling town of Kikka stretched out below him, a mosaic of rooftops and streets teeming with life.
'I can see it,' he thought, his focus narrowing on his destination. He wasn't alone in the air; dozens of other aspirants from across the Common Realm streamed toward the town, a scattered flock on their own brooms.
Yet, none could match Kaiba's breakneck pace. He leaned forward, urging more speed from his broom, a blur leaving the others in his wake. The relentless flight didn't even wind him.
He descended at the main entrance, landing with practiced ease and dismounting in one fluid motion. His path forward, however, was immediately blocked, not by a wall, but by a long, shuffling line of hopefuls waiting to get in. He watched with a simmering impatience as others, flashing polished insignias or accompanied by entourages, were waved through by the guards without a second glance. Nobles, he assumed. Privilege had its perks.
When his turn finally came, a guard eyed him critically. "Here for the Magic Knights Entrance Exam?"
"Yes," Kaiba replied, his voice even.
"State your name, realm, and town of origin."
"Seto Kaiba. Common Realm. Nairn."
"Your grimoire," the guard commanded.
Kaiba clicked open the leather holder at his hip, revealing the ancient book within. The guard passed a glowing magical device over it, which emitted a soft, approving chime. A nod from the guard, and Kaiba was finally through the gate.
The cacophony of the town hit him immediately, the shouts of merchants, the buzz of countless conversations, the clatter of cart wheels on cobblestone. The place was overflowing with people, all drawn here by the same event. A wry thought crossed his mind. 'It looks exactly like it did in the anime.'
Ignoring the distractions, he pushed through the crowd, his gaze fixed ahead. And there it was, rising above the bustling streets: the colossal colosseum where his future would be decided.
Kaiba stepped into the colossal colosseum, where a bustling crowd stood conversing in excited murmurs. As he made his way toward the main stage, spectators lining the path cheered for the various participants.
"Go on, do your best!"
"You are the Clover Kingdom's hope!"
Suddenly, a voice called out to him directly. "Father, do your best!"
Kaiba shook his head in exasperation. His priest-like attire had clearly made him a target for the crowd's fervor.
"Take them down with your holy power!"another voice shouted.
Choosing to ignore them, Kaiba pressed on. He arrived at a second checkpoint, where participants were required to register. At the counter, he presented his grimoire. The book resembled the glowing tome from the trap card "Hidden Spellbook," though his own remained dull and inert.
The attendant used a quick spell to examine it, then said, "You're contestant 222. Next."
Finally, Kaiba entered the inner sanctum of the colosseum. The area was packed with participants, each accompanied by one or more small, fluttering birds. These were Anti-Birds, creatures drawn to low magical power. The weaker the mage, the more birds would swarm around them.
A single bird landed on Kaiba's shoulder. He let out a weary sigh. 'I trained so hard, and there's still a bird on me.'
— X —
Question: Which squad should Kaiba enter?
Quickly answer and cast your vote before I make my final choice. Also, list the reasons why he should enter that squad.
For those asking which card he will get, it is based entirely on randomness. The card he pulls is completely randomized.
RNG determined this storyline based on the card he pulled. I did not choose which card he would get. I used the YGO Pro simulator and pulled a random card.