Upon hearing Gozaburo's words, Kaiba was initially taken aback and stood speechless for several seconds, then couldn't help but tilt his head back in laughter.
"Is this another one of your clumsy jokes, Gozaburo?"
Gozaburo didn't get angry, he simply said, "Of course, Seto, I already predicted your reaction. However, that's only because you haven't yet freed yourself from the shackles of flesh, unable to view matters from a higher perspective.
But don't worry, I will help you see clearly."
He extended his hand, data streams converged upon his arm, transforming into the shape of a Duel Disc.
"Oh, interesting." Kaiba squinted, "Are you challenging me to a duel?"
"Back when you were a child, you defeated me in the field of chess that I was most proud of, earning yourself the opportunity to step into the Kaiba Family,"
Gozaburo said.
"And now, I challenge you in the field you are most skilled at. What do you say, Seto, will you accept?"
"Heh, interesting. That's exactly what the other you said before he died."
Kaiba chuckled lightly.
"I said, I am not the same as the defective products of the old era," Gozaburo said plainly, "The intelligence, dueling, and calculating abilities we possess have surpassed your imagination."
He paused and chuckled lightly.
"Fujiki Yugen, I've noticed you're keeping an eye on that young man. You see his potential, don't you?"
"Is that why you've targeted him?" Kaiba asked, "Just because of my interest?"
"That's one aspect of it." Gozaburo paused, "Coincidentally, he's now entered our field. The best performance AI I've created should have already found him.
Let me show you the strength of our new generation of evolved intelligence."
Gozaburo made a sweeping motion, and soon a projection appeared in the space.
It was an image of Yugen and Delta dueling, like a live broadcast.
Yugen: "'Wind Emperor Leiza', return 'Dark Storm Dragon' to the top of the opponent's deck!"
"..."
Yugen: "Trap Card 'Wind Spirit Technique - Ya', return 'Dark Storm Dragon' to the bottom of the opponent's deck!"
"..."
Yugen: "Trap Card 'Phoenix Wings' Bursting Wind', return 'Dark Storm Dragon' to the top of the opponent's deck once again!"
"..."
Yugen: "Trap Card 'Dark Upper-level Summon', resummon 'Wind Emperor Leiza' and return 'Five Emperors Dragon' to the fusion deck!"
Delta: "Ugh ahhh!!!"
The AI was on the verge of meltdown, wearing a mask of agony.
But the torment wasn't over yet.
"Recruitment Order," Yugen said, "Special Summon the 'Dark Storm Dragon' from the top of your deck onto my field."
Delta had lost the will to live.
Gozaburo silently cut off the live feed.
Hmm, I must have opened it the wrong way.
Kaiba, however, was very pleased with Yugen's performance, a smile uncontrollably forming at the corners of his mouth. Although the broadcast was cut, there was no suspense left in the duel. He turned to Gozaburo with a mocking smirk.
Is this it? Is this what you call the best performing new generation intelligence?
"Hmph, what a devious little brat." Gozaburo muttered.
"As you can see, Gozaburo. You know nothing about real duelists. But since you're so earnestly seeking to meet your end, I don't mind sending you on your way once more."
Kaiba likewise activated his Duel Disc.
"Whenever, whoever it is, as long as there's a challenge to a duel, I will always accept. Bring it on!"
"Fine. Then the wager of this duel is you, Seto. If I lose, the program carrying my soul will be destroyed in this realm.
But if you lose, your consciousness will be digitized, remaining by my side forever as my right-hand man."
Kaiba confidently smiled: "Hmph, if you win, then by all means."
"Duel!" x2
[Seto Kaiba, LP 4000]
[Gozaburo Kaiba, LP 4000]
Gozaburo: "I'll go first, draw."
Kaiba calmly scrutinized the opponent.
This guy... what tricks will he use this time?
Last time when battling Gozaburo's spirit in the virtual world, Gozaburo used the Dark Mage "Exodia". Because that was Kaiba's most painful defeat at the time, his first loss in a duel was to Yugi's Exodia.
What will it be this time?
"Normal Summon 'Skilled White Mage'." Gozaburo said.
[Skilled White Mage, Attack Power 1700]
"As long as 'Skilled White Mage' is on the field, it gains a Mana Indicator every time a Magic Card is activated by either side."
Gozaburo then revealed another card from his hand.
"First, activate the Magic Card 'Angel's Charity', draw three cards from the deck, then discard two from your hand.
And at this moment, 'Skilled White Mage' gains a Mana Indicator."
A light lit up on the White Robe Mage's body.
"Then, activate the Magic Card 'Magic Mastery'," Gozaburo said, "give a card on your field that can hold Mana Indicators one more indicator.
Since you activated a Magic Card, 'Skilled White Mage' gains an indicator. Then, due to 'Magic Mastery', it gains another indicator.
Thus, the Mana Indicator on 'Skilled White Mage' increases to three."
Three lights lit up on the White Robe Mage's body.
"Then, I can add another 'Magic Mastery' from the deck to my hand."
Gozaburo drew a new Magic Card from his deck.
"Then, I'll offer up 'Skilled White Mage' with its three Mana Indicators as a sacrifice!
Offering up 'Skilled White Mage' with three indicators allows me to Special Summon this card from my hand, deck, or graveyard..."
Gozaburo raised his arm high, declaring.
"The legendary Dragon Slayer Knight—
—Destruction Swordsman, summon!"
[Destruction Swordsman, Attack Power 2600]
"Destruction Swordsman, huh." Kaiba scoffed.
Of course, he wasn't unfamiliar with this thing.
After all, it was also one of the trump cards used by his only rival back then, Dark Yugi. During the fateful battle in the Sky Arena, his White Dragon was defeated by the fusion of Black Mage and Destruction Sword.
"Indeed, Seto, it's the warrior most suited to counter the current you." Gozaburo said.
Kaiba sneered: "Is that so? If it's 'that guy's' Destruction Sword, perhaps there's something to be wary of. But can a third-rate duelist like you really handle it?"
Gozaburo didn't respond: "I set three cards face-down and end my turn."
"My turn, draw!"
Kaiba drew a card.
"Firstly, activate the Magic Card 'Dragon Awakening Melody'! Discard a card from your hand, then add up to two monsters with 3000 or more Attack Power and 2500 or less Defense Power from your deck to your hand!"
He discarded a card, and then drew two cards from his deck into his hand.
"Then reveal 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' from your hand, and Special Summon 'Blue-Eyes Sub-White Dragon'!"
[Blue-Eyes Sub-White Dragon, Attack Power 3000]
"Destruction Swordsman has an effect where its attack power increases by 500 for each Dragon-type monster on the opponent's field and in their graveyard," Gozaburo said, "You summoned a Dragon-type, so its attack power increases by 500."
[Destruction Swordsman, Attack Power 2600→Attack Power 3100]
"No matter." Kaiba sneered, "Blue-Eyes Sub-White Dragon's effect allows it to destroy an opponent's monster once per turn at the cost of forgoing its attack.
Even a Dragon Slayer Sword is futile in the hands of a third-rate swordsman."
Kaiba waved his hand.
"Destruction Sword, leave the field!"
"Then activate the set card, Trap 'Skill Imprisonment'," Gozaburo said, "Select a card on your field, and the effects of monsters targeting that card are negated this turn.
I use 'Skill Imprisonment' to protect 'Destruction Swordsman'. Thus, the effect of 'Blue-Eyes Sub-White Dragon' targeting Destruction Sword is negated."
It was as if an invisible shield covered Destruction Sword, and the light bullet fired by Sub-White Dragon hit the barrier but failed to deal any actual damage.
"Looks like it won't be that easy, Seto."
Gozaburo said.
"Well then, the attack of White Dragon has been blocked, and Destruction Sword's attack power has already surpassed 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon', summoning more Dragons will only make it higher. What will you do now?"