Under the guidance of Professor Banner, Jaden Yuki and Alexis Rhodes made their way toward the ruins located near the Duel Academy volcano.
Duel Academy Island was exceptionally large. By the time they finished trekking through the wilderness to reach their destination, several hours had already passed.
"We're finally here," Alexis said, wiping the sweat from her forehead and letting out a long sigh as she gazed at the dilapidated, crumbling structures before them.
The surrounding area had been reclaimed by the forest. Only a few stone pillars remained, standing as silent witnesses to the ancient glory that once graced this island.
"Jaden, be careful. I can sense a powerful force nearby."
Yubel's phantom appeared at Jaden's side, silently observing the surroundings. As a High-level Duel Spirit, she was acutely sensitive to the potent Shadow Energy lingering in the vicinity.
"Yeah. The mechanism to enter the World of the Gravekeepers should be around here somewhere," Jaden replied. He walked past the remnants of trees and stone pillars, his eyes searching the area.
He remembered from the original story that it was Pharaoh, that fat cat, who had accidentally triggered an Ancient Medallion buried underground, activating the gate to the Gravekeepers' spirit world.
But...
"Why can't I find it now that I'm here?" Jaden felt a bit frustrated. Was Pharaoh truly the key to unlocking the plot?
"Anyway, we've been walking for so long. Everyone should take a break and have some lunch, meow~"
Compared to the exhausted Alexis, Professor Banner appeared exceptionally energetic and high-spirited.
"Professor Banner is certainly full of energy... I feel like he hasn't shown a hint of fatigue this entire way. It's almost as if he isn't human..." Alexis sighed, muttering under her breath.
Then, her gaze turned toward Jaden, who was still pacing relentlessly around the ruins.
"This guy is even more ridiculous."
Are these two even human? Alexis felt a wave of helplessness. She considered herself a well-rounded student top-tier in morals, intelligence, and physical fitness. In PE class, her stamina crushed most of the boys. But in front of these two, there was simply no comparison.
"I even have a special bento from Ms. Dorothy at the canteen, meow Let's get some good rest before we explore the ruins" Professor Banner hummed a little tune as he rummaged through his backpack.
"Jaden, come over and rest for a bit."
Seeing Jaden still searching, Alexis spread out a picnic mat she had prepared and called out to him.
"Alright." Hearing her voice, Jaden realized he was indeed a bit hungry, so he temporarily set aside the thought of finding the mechanism.
Returning to Alexis's side, Jaden sat cross-legged and placed his backpack on the mat. He pulled out a package of stuffed bread, intending to tear it open for lunch.
Seeing the food Jaden had produced, Alexis furrowed her brows. She reached out and snatched the bread from his hand.
"Hey..."
"You should eat less of this kind of bread. I prepared plenty of food; let's eat together," Alexis said with mock sternness, tucking Jaden's bread into her own bag.
She then pulled several containers of exquisite side dishes and a few fragrant, perfectly shaped rice balls from her backpack, setting them before Jaden. The portion was clearly far more than a single girl could eat. Furthermore, she had brought exactly two pairs of chopsticks.
"Did you make all of this yourself?"
Jaden picked up a rice ball and took a bite. Feeling the sweet and sour taste inside, he frowned slightly. "There are pickled plums in here..."
"Don't you like plums?" Alexis sat kneeling beside Jaden, eating her rice ball elegantly. From time to time, she peeked at his reaction.
"It's not that. It's just that it would be better if there were meat." Jaden chewed the rice ball, his voice a bit muffled. "Anyway, it's delicious."
"Hmph." Alexis gave a soft snort. Though she acted indifferent, she silently made a mental note. So, Jaden is a 'carnivore' type of guy...
"Aaaaah!"
Just as the two were enjoying their lunch, a scream from Professor Banner suddenly rang out.
The pair turned their heads sharply, only to see Professor Banner kneeling on the ground in tears. From his backpack, Pharaoh poked his head out, mouth full of rice, and let out a loud, satisfied burp.
"My bento! It's all been eaten!" Clutched his cheeks, Professor Banner looked like he was about to have a breakdown.
"Pfft." Alexis couldn't help but let out a giggle. She turned to look at Jaden, only to find his gaze fixed intently on Pharaoh.
"Jaden, you really like cats, don't you?" Alexis asked softly, blinking.
"Ah, they're okay," Jaden responded flatly, snapping out of his thoughts to take another bite of his rice ball.
"Oh, I see..." Alexis lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
As she was thinking, a teary-eyed Professor Banner shuffled over to sit between them.
"Eh? Professor Banner?" Alexis was startled and subconsciously moved away a little.
"Jaden-kun, Alexis-chan, I was hoping you could share a bit of your bento with your teacher, meow~" Professor Banner pressed his hands together in a pleading gesture, looking pathetic.
Alexis and Jaden looked at each other.
"Well, though I made a lot of rice balls, there's only enough for two people..."
"Oh, right. If you don't mind, Professor Banner..." Alexis pulled Jaden's bread back out of her bag and smiled. "You can use this as a substitute for now."
Professor Banner: "..."
Sitting to the side and gnawing on the bread, Professor Banner felt an inexplicable sense that he was a third wheel.
"I can't help but feel that the relationship between Jaden-kun and Alexis-chan is indeed a bit unusual..."
"..."
"Wait, where's Pharaoh?" Suddenly, Banner realized his fat cat was nowhere to be seen. "Pharaoh?"
Banner scrambled to his feet, calling out the cat's name loudly. Jaden and Alexis noticed as well, standing up to look into the distance.
"Meow-woo."
In the tall grass further away, Pharaoh's nose was twitching as he sniffed the ground. He seemed to have sensed something beneath the surface. Pharaoh's paws began to frantically dig at the dirt.
By the time Jaden and the others reached him, a small hole had been excavated in front of the cat.
An Ancient Medallion appeared before the three of them. Suddenly, a blinding green light burst forth from the jewelry.
"Watch out!"
Jaden immediately lunged forward, shielding Alexis with his body. In that instant, a dull golden light flickered within his eyes.
However, even with that power, the green light swallowed the three humans and the cat entirely.
"Wh-What's happening, meow!"
"Jaden!"
"Don't be afraid, hold on to me!"
"Meow-woo!"
Vroom
Once the light dissipated, the area was empty. Everything was as silent as if nothing had ever happened.
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