When everyone heard Keith say that, their expressions darkened—especially Kisaragi. Her cold face carried a clear, simmering anger.
Seeing their reactions didn't make Keith shut up. If anything, he got even more carried away.
"When he lost, he kept shouting someone's name—something like Ki… Kisaragi. Yeah, I think that's what it was." Keith glanced around as he spoke.
"Don't tell me someone here is actually named Kisaragi?" he said, wearing that I-live-for-drama look.
Everyone turned to look at Kisaragi in unison.
"So you've got guts," Kisaragi said coolly. "Then you'd better be ready for what happens when you're beaten."
"Hahahaha! Big talk. Don't you go crying tomorrow," Keith shot back.
"I've never seen Kisaragi this angry," Jounouchi muttered under his breath.
"Of course she is," someone replied. "She nearly lost control earlier because Kaiba's soul got sealed—and now this Keith guy is rubbing salt into the wound. Anyone would snap."
Just as the tension hit a breaking point, an elderly steward arrived with two bodyguards.
"Duelists who have passed the preliminaries—congratulations on entering Mr. Pegasus's castle. Please proceed to the dining hall. A lavish dinner has been prepared for you."
With that, the steward turned and left.
"Awesome—dinner!" Jounouchi said. "These past two days on the island, we haven't eaten anything decent!"
Kisaragi wasn't interested at all. She didn't say a single word.
Mai promptly smacked Jounouchi with her fist.
"Idiot! Is this really the time to be saying that?"
"Ow! What was that for?!" Jounouchi yelped.
"Look at Kisaragi," Mai snapped. "She's still hurting over Kaiba's loss, and you're standing here talking about food?!"
Jounouchi glanced at Kisaragi's downcast expression and finally shut his mouth.
"Kisaragi… are you okay?" Anzu asked softly.
Hearing Anzu's voice, Kisaragi forced herself to straighten up.
"Sorry for worrying you," she said. "Let's go eat."
And with that, she headed to the dining hall alone. The others exchanged looks but followed quietly.
Inside the dining hall, a massive table overflowed with food. Of the eight people seated there, only Jounouchi and Honda were devouring everything in sight.
"So good! You guys should eat too!"
At the front of the room, the steward stepped forward.
"Tomorrow, the Duelist Kingdom elimination round begins. Tonight, please rest well and enjoy the meal."
"And one more announcement."
Everyone's attention snapped to him.
"Before participating in tomorrow's elimination round, each of you must be sure you have the two cards issued to you before the tournament."
As he spoke, he held up two cards.
"These are 'Glory of the King's Right Hand' and 'Glory of the King's Left Hand.' Without the Right Hand, you cannot receive the championship prize money. Without the Left Hand, you will lose the right to challenge Mr. Pegasus at the end."
Good thing I grabbed "Glory of the King's Right Hand" when we landed… and I've got Bonz to thank for it. Bandit Keith thought to himself with a cold chuckle.
"There's also something else. Please look at the soup in front of you."
Everyone stared down. Only five bowls had a little Millennium Eye model floating to the surface.
"What is that?!"
"That's disgusting!"
"Mine doesn't have anything!" Honda said, stirring his soup with a spoon.
"Please open the Millennium Eye in your bowl."
Kisaragi opened hers—inside was a slip of paper with the letter A.
Keith had B. Yugi had C. Mai had D. Jounouchi had E.
Then the steward produced a large sheet of paper showing a tournament bracket: A vs B, C vs D, and E alone.
"Tomorrow's first match: Kisaragi Aoi vs. Keith Howard."
"The first match is Kisaragi versus Keith… I can already see how this ends," Honda said.
"Heh heh heh. Tomorrow I'll show you the darkness of the dueling world," Keith sneered.
"Let's see if you can stay that calm tomorrow," Kisaragi replied icily.
"The second match is Yugi Muto vs. Mai Valentine. And Katsuya Jounouchi receives a bye and advances directly to Round Two."
"I'm facing you, Yugi," Mai said. "I'll be in your care tomorrow."
"Yeah," Yugi nodded. "We both go all out."
"Man, Jounouchi's luck is insane—straight into Round Two," Honda grumbled.
After that, the steward bowed.
"When dinner ends, rooms have been prepared for each of you. Please rest well tonight. If you need anything, inform the staff. Excuse me."
He left the dining hall.
After dinner, the group arrived at the guest quarters.
"Alright, I'm going back to my room," Kisaragi said, turning to enter.
But as she was about to close the door, she paused—realizing something—and looked back.
"Everyone… stay in your rooms tonight. Rest. Don't wander around without a reason. This is Pegasus's headquarters—if you go poking around, something could happen."
"Got it," everyone answered.
"Good night." Kisaragi closed the door.
"Kisaragi… she okay?" Jounouchi whispered. "Ever since Kaiba happened, it's like she's become a different person—moody, unpredictable."
"Idiot," Mai snapped. "That's a girl's private feelings. The person she likes got taken like that—of course her emotions are unstable."
"Then… would you be like that too, Mai?" Jounouchi asked without thinking.
Everyone stared at him like he'd just detonated a bomb.
"Moron! I'm going to my room to adjust my deck!" Mai snapped, her cheeks faintly pink as she hurried inside.
"Hey, Jounouchi," Honda said with a wicked grin. "Don't tell me you've got a thing for Mai."
"I-I don't! Don't be stupid!" Jounouchi's face went bright red as he fled into his room.
"Alright, everyone—get some rest," Yugi said.
"Yeah."
One by one, they all returned to their rooms.
In Kisaragi's room, she sat on the bed, staring at the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card in her hand.
"What's wrong with me…?" she whispered. "Why am I so angry that Kaiba's soul got sealed? And what is this sadness…?"
Tears slipped down her face.
Then she remembered the things Keith had said that day—and the anger surged back up again.
She pulled out her cards and began tuning her deck.
"Bandit Keith… I don't care if you're the U.S. champion. I'll make you shut that instigating mouth of yours—forever."
Outside the castle, the night was still as water, broken only by the occasional insect call.
But inside, the five duelists—each chasing a dream… or feeding a ambition—kept preparing in their own way.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 26
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