"Looks like Kisaragi's gotten completely serious," Honda said.
"Of course," Mai replied. "Bandit Keith said something way out of line yesterday. But honestly, it's his own fault—of all people to provoke, he just had to provoke Kisaragi."
Bandit Keith couldn't even force out a single word now. With no way to resist, he could only end his turn in humiliation.
"My turn—draw!"
"Battle! Floowandereeze × Empen, direct attack!"
Kisaragi stared down at Keith with open contempt. "Remember this: some things aren't yours to say lightly. Got it?"
"AAAGH!"
Keith Howard LP: 500 → 0
Kisaragi Aoi wins!
"The winner—Kisaragi Aoi!"
Applause rang out from Pegasus's seat. Kisaragi turned her gaze on him.
"Miss Kisaragi—watching you duel is truly a delight. I'm looking forward to seeing you advance," Pegasus said.
Kisaragi didn't answer. She just kept staring at him—cold and unblinking.
"I can't accept this!" Keith slammed his fist down on the dueling platform.
Pegasus didn't even want to look at him. He waved a hand, and two guards dragged Keith away.
But halfway off, Keith snapped—beating the guards down, lunging back to Pegasus, and yanking a gun out. In a heartbeat, the barrel was pressed against Pegasus's temple.
"Bandit Keith," Pegasus said calmly, "you really are irritating."
"Shut up! Give me my prize money—now! Or I'll blow your brains out!" Keith snarled, jabbing the gun against Pegasus's head for emphasis.
"To think the former prize-hunter has fallen this far," Pegasus said coolly. "It seems losing to me cost you the spirit of a duelist."
"Enough talk! Where's the money?!"
"You trash… go where you belong."
Pegasus stepped on a mechanism beside him.
The floor vanished.
A deep pit yawned open—and Keith dropped straight into it.
Inside was a long chute. Keith slid down the pipe… and was dumped into the sea outside the castle.
Just then, the gray-haired attendant by Pegasus's side stepped forward.
"After a short break, the second duel of the elimination round will begin: Yugi Muto versus Mai Kujaku!"
Inside Yugi's mind—
"Other me… can you let me take this one?" Yugi asked.
"Aibo?" the other voice replied, surprised.
"I know it's sudden, but after watching Kisaragi's duel… I can feel it. I want to fight too."
"I understand," the other Yugi said. "This duel is yours. If anything goes wrong, I'll step in."
"Thanks."
Yugi and Mai stepped onto the duel stage and faced each other.
"Please present your entry cards!"
Mai produced Glory of the King's Right Hand.
Yugi produced Glory of the King's Left Hand.
"Very well. Elimination Match Two: Yugi Muto vs. Mai Kujaku—begin!"
Pegasus chuckled. "Heh heh… so the other Yugi isn't coming out? Then I suppose I'll enjoy watching how strong this 'vessel' really is."
"Duel!" ×2
Mai Kujaku LP: 4000
Yugi Muto LP: 4000
"I'm taking first turn, Yugi~" Mai purred, tossing him a flirtatious wink.
Yugi nodded. "Okay."
"I Normal Summon Harpie Lady in attack position!"
Harpie Lady spun gracefully in the air before landing neatly on Mai's field.
Harpie Lady (1300/1400)
"I set one card. Turn end." (Cards in hand: 4)
"My turn—draw!"
Up on the second floor, Kisaragi arrived to watch with everyone else.
"Kisaragi, congratulations on your first win!" Anzu said.
"Thanks," Kisaragi replied, eyes on the field. "Looks like it's the other Yugi playing."
"The other… Yugi?" everyone echoed, stunned.
Kisaragi realized she'd slipped—and clamped her mouth shut.
"So it wasn't my imagination," Anzu said slowly. "Sometimes Yugi really does feel… different."
Down below, Yugi heard the conversation and decided to address it.
"So… the Yugi on the duel stage is a spirit living inside the Millennium Puzzle?" Honda blurted.
"But no matter what," Jonouchi said firmly, "Yugi's still our friend!"
"Yugi… sorry. It's my fault—I talk too much," Kisaragi said.
Yugi shook his head.
"It's on me too. I should've explained it earlier… but I'm curious—how did you figure it out?"
Kisaragi smiled. "Call it a duelist's intuition… or maybe a woman's intuition."
Mai clicked her tongue, impatient. "All right, are we done chatting? I don't care which Yugi you are—duel already!"
"Right."
"I Normal Summon Gaia the Fierce Knight—Awakened!"
Gaia the Fierce Knight—Awakened (2300/2100)
"You summoned a Level 7 monster without tributing?!" Mai gasped.
"As long as you control more monsters than I do," Yugi explained, "I can Normal Summon Awakened Gaia without tributes."
"Battle! Awakened Gaia attacks Harpie Lady—Spiral Spear Strike!"
Gaia spurred his mount forward, lance driving straight toward Harpie Lady—
"You fell for it!" Mai snapped. "I activate the Continuous Trap Mirror Wall!"
A shimmering wall of mirrors rose in front of Harpie Lady.
"Mirror Wall halves your monster's ATK!"
Yugi smiled. "Does it?"
"What—?!"
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Mystical Space Typhoon from my hand! I destroy Mirror Wall!"
The mirror wall shattered under a raging gust. Gaia's charge went through cleanly—Harpie Lady was destroyed.
Mai Kujaku LP: 4000 → 3000
"So you saw through my trap," Mai said, narrowing her eyes.
Yugi didn't answer.
"I set four cards. Turn end." (Cards in hand: 0)
Kisaragi's mouth twitched. "Four backrow… so this is 'heavy-trap little Yugi,' huh."
"Didn't expect Yugi to go that bold," Jonouchi muttered.
"Mai has Harpie's Feather Duster, right?" Honda said. "If she plays it, Yugi's entire backrow gets wiped in one shot!"
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
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 32
Uma Musume: From Beginner 26
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