Card Spirits. A very peculiar kind of existence.
Even though Youmi had been around 'Ten Thousand Dragon' for quite a long time, he still didn't know whether cards existed first or whether spirits did.
Some say spirits borrow cards to obtain bodies.
Some say spirits are born from the cards.
According to Ten Thousand Dragon, both are true; or perhaps they influence each other, forming an inseparable connection.
Back in the Yu-Gi-Oh! DM era, the existence of Card Spirits had already begun to show itself.
For example, Kaiba's three 'Blue-Eyes White Dragons,' or the 'Kuriboh' Noah casually picked out—those all counted. Kaiba's three 'Blue-Eyes,' as well as Yugi's 'Dark Magician' and 'Dark Magician Girl,' even involved elements of reincarnation.
Meanwhile, now, monsters like Jaden's 'Winged Kuriboh' are pure Card Spirits.
For various reasons, the Spirit World had begun to interfere with reality at Duel Academy.
The method Ten Thousand Dragon had shown Youmi was to explore this largely unknown world and bring spirits back to his own.
"So, the place that's most deeply connected to the Spirit World… is right here?"
Youmi returned to the old dorm after several days. It was here that he had once seen, with his unique vision, a vortex of power gathering. "I see… the space around here is unstable because of Nightshroud's ritual?"
Youmi released his own power, using his similarity to Card Spirits to sense the presence of the Spirit World's gate.
"Though you currently reside within 'Fallen of Albaz,' 'Fallen of Albaz' isn't a native spirit of this world. There's no guarantee you won't be rejected by the Spirit World.
"So, when you enter, I'll temporarily separate you from it. You'll enter the Spirit World in an unshaped spirit state, and then you'll likely attach to a spirit whose frequency matches yours."
The mini Ten Thousand Dragon appeared beside him and explained.
"So I'm supposed to call you considerate? What about 'Sphere Kuriboh' then?"
Youmi pressed his left hand against the not-yet-materialized gate to the Spirit World, holding 'Sphere Kuriboh' in his right. "It can't go in either?"
"Kuribohs are universal mascots across all worlds. There's no rejection issue. Of course, it can accompany you."
Ten Thousand Dragon shook its head, watching as ripples of energy began to appear at Youmi's fingertip. "The gate to the Spirit World is opening. Prepare yourself. I'm going to separate you from 'Fallen of Albaz' now."
To Youmi, it felt like nothing more than a moment of darkness. The body, identical to 'Fallen of Albaz,' still wearing a Duel Academy uniform, fell backward like a puppet, possibly concussing itself.
At the same time, Youmi himself became a streak of light and shot into the gate.
And just as Youmi's spiritual essence entered the Spirit World—
A white-haired girl in red walked over and lifted the collapsed "Youmi" like a lifeless doll. A twisted smile formed on her face.
"Don't move."
A blade gleaming with cold light touched her neck.
It was 'The Iris Swordsoul.' She held her sword with sharp vigilance, staring at 'Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous.'
"My dear 'Fleurdelis' onee-san, are you really treating your poor little 'Ecclesia' like this?"
Cartesia posed sadly, though her hand was slowly reaching toward "Youmi's" face. "Aren't you being too cruel? Even you want to fight me over Albaz…?"
Ignoring Cartesia's nonsense, Iris shifted her sword slightly, letting dark red blood slip down its edge.
It was a warning.
In a low voice, she said, "Stop joking. You and I both know he isn't Albaz, and we both know you can't be Ecclesia. The real Ecclesia is asleep in Youmi's dorm right now. Let him go—and state your purpose. Who exactly are you…"
"Just a traveler from the underworld, that's all fufufu"
Cartesia's form dissolved into red light and swirled around Iris. A black rapier materialized and thrust toward her vitals. "Why don't you join us instead?"
However, Iris's free hand moved first—snatching the red haze mid-air.
In an instant, the red light solidified into 'Ecclesia the Virtuous,' now caught by the throat. The black rapier clattered to the ground as she clawed desperately at Iris's iron grip—without success.
"Kh… such brute force, Fleurdelis onee-san. Even with all that strength… you still couldn't save anyone—ugh!"
Her taunt turned into a cry of pain as Iris tightened her grip. The arrogance vanished at once.
"So it seems I've lost… fine. But what of it~?"
Cartesia showed a beautiful yet sorrowful smile… which gradually twisted into something cruel.
"!"
Fleurdelis immediately threw her aside—but not fast enough. A streak of red slashed across her palm. Had she reacted a moment slower, she might have lost the entire hand.
"My apologies. Attacking without shouting first is certainly rude. Though being rough with someone important to me? That's unacceptable, isn't it, our dear Knight~?"
With a leisurely voice, 'Aluber the Dogmatika' appeared beside Cartesia. The attacker who had struck at Iris was his escort, 'Despian Proskenion.'
"Aluber…?"
The moment the attack happened, Iris leaped backward, snatching up the unconscious "Youmi" and creating distance. She had suffered terrible losses to Aluber and Proskenion before; she wouldn't be careless now.
Flicking his red hair with annoyance, Aluber said, "Such an unfriendly reaction. I'm hurt. But fine. I forgive your rudeness. Leave the one you're carrying behind, and I'll let you walk away~"
"Not happening. Even if I've left the Dragon Kingdom, I still have principles I cannot abandon as a Knight."
Iris hoisted "Youmi" onto one shoulder, stepping back, weapon raised in a defensive stance.
Giving Cartesia a subtle glance, Aluber said, "I see we won't be negotiating. Go on ahead. You may be guests, but without guests, there's no host to greet, after all. And remember—take our VIP back safely. No bumps or scratches~"
"You two… you intend to harm Youmi inside the Spirit World!"
Realizing their aim, Iris swung her blade.
A flash of lightning streaked forth—yet, it did not strike Cartesia as she slipped into the Spirit World's gate. Instead, it was blocked… by a massive red-and-black dragon.
"Now then—let us begin the kind of welcome one never forgets~" said Aluber, now transformed into 'Masquerade the Blazing Dragon.' "I'll make sure you understand how grave a mistake it was to reject my offer."
Facing both 'Despian Proskenion' and 'Masquerade the Blazing Dragon,' Iris adjusted "Youmi's" position on her shoulder and tightened her grip on her sword.
"If you can manage that, then try. And by the way, 'Aluber the Dogmatika,' was it? I've been wanting your head for a long time."
...
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