As everyone knows, in the Yu-Gi-Oh World, any villain who tries to conquer the world and unify the universe ultimately ends up being forcefully dragged into card duels by opponents with bizarre hairstyles. After losing the duels, their plots are shattered, and if they're unlucky, they might even vanish completely.
But what if someone tried to take a different route and conquer the world without playing cards?
No need to think about that, it would definitely be an insignificant weakling that wouldn't cause any trouble even if left alone.
That's exactly what Youyu thought while looking at the smug Gozaburo—
—use your electronic brain to think it over, in this world, is it possible to conquer the world without playing cards?
This isn't an exaggeration. Even if Skynet or Ultron came to the Yu-Gi-Oh side with ill intentions, they would likely have to obediently play by the rules. What makes you think, old man who didn't even manage to die, that you can just skip the process and take off right away?
Missiles and aircraft carriers are just for fun; to accomplish something big, you still have to rely on card games.
Gozaburo's face darkened, feeling mocked: "So it seems you don't plan on accepting my invitation?"
"Assist a deranged computer with its evil plan to conquer the world? Sorry, not interested." Youyu shrugged.
"Is that so? What a pity." Gozaburo didn't seem angry, as if this response was within his expectations. "My son, although I loathe him for taking my company and forcing me down this path, I can't help but acknowledge his talent.
Since you're someone he has taken an interest in, that in itself means you must have something special about you..."
As Gozaburo spoke, his expression changed, his gaze turned icy.
"...Since that's the case, I can't let a variable like you exist!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the image of the old man in a red suit vanished from Youyu's sight, replaced by a rapidly expanding, claw-waving red demon.
Gozaburo transformed into an abstract demon, lunging at Youyu with claws, as if trying to tear him apart.
"This virtual world is under my complete control! I will erase your consciousness, seize your body! You will be annihilated from the root of existence!"
He wasn't wrong. In this data-driven world, as a computer program, Gozaburo might indeed be invincible. He could erase Youyu's consciousness at will, which means in the real world, Youyu would be left as nothing but an empty shell.
However, in the anime, when Noah attempted to seize Dark Yugi's body, Dark Yugi's Millennium Pendant reacted, unleashing powerful energy to forcibly eject Noah.
This indicates that even in this Data World, Divine Artifacts like the Millennium Pendant, which surpass ordinary explanation, can still have an effect.
But here, Youyu obviously didn't have a Divine Artifact like the Millennium Pendant on hand. His Dark Magician Girl spirit, which usually stayed by his side for protection 24/7, was also back in the real world and couldn't protect him here in the Data World.
But—it doesn't matter!
Youyu also possesses extraordinary power that can break the barrier between reality and virtuality and be brought into the Virtual World!
—Slifer, save me!
"Roar!!!"
From the center of Youyu, a red light exploded outward, forming a transparent shield less than half a meter in front of him. Gozaburo slammed into the barrier with a scream, getting bounced back, his body flickering like a poorly-tuned image.
"Wha... what!?" Gozaburo was stunned, "What did you do? What is this program?"
"It's not a program." Youyu said indifferently, with his hands in his pockets, "It's a god."
The transparent red image swirled around him, gradually solidifying into the shape of a dragon. The dragon, its body crimson, appeared ghost-like and transparent beside Youyu, opening a massive mouth as if to roar at Gozaburo's program from the void.
Slifer the Sky Dragon!
Fittingly, the Sky Dragon that appeared now sized itself down, resembling a transparent ghost, coiling its body protectively around Youyu.
The Dark Magician Girl card, with its residing spirit, Youyu acquired in the DM Native World, so he couldn't bring it into the Data World from the real world.
But the "Slifer the Sky Dragon" card in his hand, with the effect of a Physical Card, was a system reward, directly sent to his System Card Library.
The all-powerful system had bound the entire card pool for him and brought it into this Virtual World, including this Sky Dragon card.
Even Gozaburo, now a computer program, felt a sense of fear when faced with this dragon image, a fear that he might be deleted by an unknown force if he wasn't careful.
Gozaburo had previously mentioned that he rarely encountered things beyond his understanding in his current state.
And now, he was facing exactly such a thing.
The Three Egyptian God cards are not like ordinary Monster Cards. Even with many Replica Cards, each Egyptian God is unique in this worldview; there cannot be a second of any of them.
Especially after obtaining two Slifer the Sky Dragons, Youyu began to speculate about the one with the Physical Card effect from the system rewards.
This weakened Sky Dragon was very likely an extension of the original, a sort of avatar. Though weaker than the original, it was the genuine Slifer and not a replica.
After all, a god would never allow a replica of itself to exist, and any attempt to copy a god would bring Divine Wrath.
Since the genuine Sky Dragon was turning a blind eye to the existence of this Physical Card version in Youyu's hand, it's quite probable that this card is indeed a part of itself.
However, Youyu quickly realized that, even as an avatar, the Physical Card Sky Dragon in his hand seemed to have its own independent consciousness separate from the original.
And why is that...
...Because after sending Gozaburo flying, this downsized ghostly Sky Dragon turned its head to "roar" at him, shaking its tail proudly.
With his level ten Dragon Language skills, Youyu guessed it might be saying, "How about that, am I awesome or what?"
...It felt like a child.
Well, there was nothing wrong with that. The other Sky Dragon in his hand wasn't nearly as easy to deal with. That one was arrogant, completely uninterested in Youyu.
Hmph! So what if you have my body?
My heart still belongs to the Pharaoh!
And with that attitude, Youyu didn't dare to forcefully Summon the god during duels. If he angered it, he might get struck by lightning...
Comparatively, this Sky Dragon was much more adorable!
"Impossible, there shouldn't be cards of the Egyptian God in my world, why is this here...!?" Gozaburo gritted his teeth.
By now, he had started contemplating letting Youyu go and making a run for it.
After all, he was essentially a program. In the vastness of the computer world, Youyu couldn't possibly catch him if he wanted to escape. If he locked down all the exit points in this Virtual World, no one inside could leave...
But perhaps his intentions were seen through, as Youyu soon spoke: "Alright, I'll give you another chance."
Gozaburo: "?"
"Let's duel." Youyu raised the Duel Disc on his hand, "If you can beat me, maybe I'll consider your previous terms."