Inside the tent, Yuto, Joey, and Tristan were crammed together.
Téa shared another tent with Mai.
Outside, Yugi and Bakura sat on the ground, speaking in low voices.
Yuto dreamed of a past life.
It felt like a battlefield, a loud sound echoing.
"So noisy..."
Yuto rubbed his eyes and sat up.
No—he was awake, but the noise hadn't stopped.
He stepped out of the tent and looked outside.
A helicopter?!
Blinding lights flooded the campsite, the thunderous rotor noise waking the rest of the group one by one.
"Who the heck is that!"
Joey stormed out of the tent, clearly short on sleep.
His morning temper was on par with a secret agent's worst day.
"Who flies a helicopter in the middle of the night?!"
Tristan emerged too, shielding his eyes while shouting a few choice words at the aircraft.
The helicopter slowly descended onto the clearing outside the camp.
The door opened, and someone they never expected jumped down.
"Kaiba?"
"Long time no see, Yuto."
Kaiba carried a briefcase in one hand, the other hand in his pocket, greeting them with his usual arrogance.
Then he turned toward the jungle without another word.
Yuto casually pulled a Deck from his own pocket.
"As a duelist, how did you even let someone else take your deck?"
Kaiba snapped his head around, eyes locking on the Deck in Yuto's hand.
"The situation... was urgent."
"Here. Make sure you keep it safe this time."
Yuto slipped the Deck into Kaiba's coat pocket.
"...Thanks, Yuto."
"Kaiba, where have you been all this time? I heard from Mokuba that KaibaCorp is practically trying to push you out."
Kaiba lowered his gaze to the briefcase in his hand.
"I've been working on new equipment to deal with Pegasus... That's all I'll say. To protect Mokuba and KaibaCorp... I have to find Pegasus and duel him."
With that, Kaiba continued into the jungle.
Yuto didn't try to stop him—it was his choice.
Even so, Joey clearly thought otherwise.
He dashed forward to block Kaiba's path.
"Kaiba! Stop!"
Joey grabbed Kaiba by the collar, refusing to let him pass.
"On Duelist Kingdom, every duelist has their own dreams and goals! We fight to collect Star Chips, to earn the right to duel Pegasus..."
Joey's voice rose with passion, his last words a shout straight at Kaiba.
"Whatever your reasons, they're no excuse for ignoring the rules and taking shortcuts!"
Kaiba looked down coldly, pulling his free hand from his pocket to seize Joey's wrist.
In one smooth motion, he flipped Joey over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground!
"Ah!"
"Kaiba! That's too much!"
Yuto stepped forward to defend Joey.
"Hmph."
Kaiba slid his hand back into his pocket.
"You okay, Joey?"
Yugi hurried over to check on him.
"That jerk..."
Joey struggled to his feet.
Kaiba noticed the Duel Glove on Joey's hand.
"Joey... Don't tell me you're an invited duelist too?"
"Don't underestimate me! I made it to the Top 8..." Though it was only the regional qualifiers... Joey's voice grew less confident.
"If you were invited, the duelists on this island must be pretty weak."
Kaiba turned to leave again, but Joey blocked him once more.
"Kaiba! If you insist on going, then duel me first!"
"I don't duel stray mutts."
"Kaiba, Joey defeated Rex Raptor. He's not the same Joey he used to be."
Yuto couldn't stand to see his friend insulted and spoke up.
"Besides, Seto Kaiba—the great name itself—don't tell me you lack the courage to accept a duel?"
This time, Kaiba relented.
He stopped, turned, and faced Joey.
"Fine. I'll crush that so-called courage of yours. I accept your duel!"
"Kaiba."
Yuto gave him a meaningful look, and Kaiba gave the slightest nod.
"Don't worry."
Kaiba opened the briefcase, revealing two round devices.
"Perfect. I can test the newly completed Duel Disk system."
"New Duel Disk system...?"
Joey eyed the round device suspiciously.
Kaiba picked one up and tossed it to him. Joey caught it with a grunt.
"Heavy..."
Kaiba slid the other onto his own arm.
"Strap that onto your left arm!"
Joey followed the instructions as Kaiba pulled out his Deck.
"Insert your Deck into the slot!"
Kaiba slotted his Deck into place. A beep sounded as the Duel Disk lit up with Life Point displays.
"This is my new Duel Disk. Even without a Duel Arena, it can generate full holograms for a duel!"
Kaiba drew a card and snapped it onto the disk.
"I'll begin! My card is—[Battle Ox]!"
The Duel Disk spun rapidly on the ground. Countless points of light surged forth... then formed the familiar shape of [Battle Ox].
"I get it now! Duel!"
Joey followed Kaiba's lead, placing a monster on the disk.
"I'll decide this with this card! Go, [Armored Lizard]!"
"Joey! What are you doing?!"
Attacking a 1700 Attack monster with one that only has 1500... had he lost his mind?
"What's wrong, Yuto? Huh?!"
[Armored Lizard] charged in and was cleaved to pieces by [Battle Ox]'s axe, the card ejecting from the disk.
"Pay attention to Attack Points! This Duel Disk doesn't display them, so don't attack blindly!"
Yuto pointed at [Battle Ox].
"That guy's Attack is 1700. Remember it!"
"Got it!"
Joey nodded, recalling his Duel Disk and setting another monster.
"This time I won't lose! Go, [Flame Swordsman]!"
Yuto nodded. With 1800 Attack, [Flame Swordsman] should take down [Battle Ox].
[Flame Swordsman] raised its sword and charged.
Only to be chopped to pieces by [Battle Ox]'s axe again.
Why?
"Because... [Battle Ox] has an advantage over FIRE monsters..."
Yugi explained softly.
Yuto covered his face. Sure, Duelist Kingdom's rules were known to be loose and full of on-the-spot calls, but he hadn't expected an attribute advantage twist like this.
Over the next few turns, Kaiba easily defeated Joey.
"Joey, dueling me should have shown you the taste of fear."
Kaiba reclaimed the Duel Disk from Joey.
"I honestly don't know how a stray dog like you beat anyone else... My advice: go home early. Pegasus is far beyond your reach."
Kaiba looked toward the distant castle, beginning to speak of Pegasus's terrifying power.
...
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