In the middle of a boundless desert.
Three suns hung high in the sky, looking as if they had been plucked from ancient myth and legend. The sky emitted a spectrum of rainbow light, adding a touch of fantasy to the halos surrounding the three suns.
A pyramid, towering high enough to pierce the clouds, stood like an island amidst the sands. Its sharp peak, encircled by the three suns, appeared exceptionally sacred and inviolable.
"This... where is this?"
Waking slowly from her unconscious state, Alexis Rhodes looked up at the strange sky, her expression filled with shock.
"It looks like we've been transported to a Different Dimension."
An indifferent voice rang out from beside her. Alexis turned her head and saw Jaden Yuki standing at the edge of the island, silently gazing out at the vast White Desert.
Alexis scrambled up from the ground, just about to ask Jaden if he was injured, when he turned his head expressionlessly toward the pyramid. Within his sharp pupils, a dark golden light flickered.
"Jaden..."
This was the first time Alexis had ever felt such an alien sensation from him. It was as if the Jaden standing before her was an entirely different person from the one she knew.
Though Jaden was usually somewhat aloof, his gaze had never been terrifying to this extent. That look... it was the gaze of a King. A dictatorial King!
"Jaden, are you... are you okay?" Alexis asked cautiously.
"How could the Supreme King be in trouble? You just stay hidden right here, miss. Leave the rest to us!"
Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit suddenly materialized in front of Alexis, startling her so much that she stumbled back several steps.
"Huh?! What is this? A Duel Spirit?"
"That's right! I am the number one warrior by the Supreme King's side, Ghost Ogre!" Ghost Ogre crossed her short, stubby arms and tilted her head back with a proud smirk.
Before she could finish, Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries brought a fist down hard on Ghost Ogre's head.
"Stop talking nonsense. I can already sense the presence of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and the others. Let's move."
"Hey! Did you have to hit me that hard?! We aren't in our soul forms right now; you'll kill someone with that much strength!" Ghost Ogre shouted angrily, a red bump throbbing on her head.
"Hmph." Ghost Reaper gave a cold snort and turned away.
"You two, stop fighting..." Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion floated out from behind Jaden, looking at the pair with a helpless expression.
"Another one? Yet another Duel Spirit?" Alexis was dazed by the scene before her.
What was going on? Why were there so many Duel Spirits around Jaden? She had always assumed Jaden was a lone wolf at the academy, a solitary figure who kept to himself. As it turned out, his life was incredibly crowded.
"Jaden, I've found the location of the three spirits. Also, your Professor Lyman Banner is there as well."
At that moment, Yubel and Winged Kuriboh flew in from the distance. Seeing the utterly bewildered Alexis, Yubel arched an eyebrow, a hauntingly beautiful smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Well, look at this little girl's expression. She looks like she's questioning her entire life."
"For an ordinary person, things like Duel Spirits are probably a bit too broken to handle." Yubel walked up to Alexis and crossed her arms. Her heterochromatic orange and green eyes stared down at the stunned girl.
"This is the true Jaden Yuki. He isn't the shallow man you imagined, someone who only knows how to duel. He is the 'King' who carries the burden of both spirits and humans."
The King... What on earth did that mean?
Alexis felt her head spinning. She couldn't process this much information all at once. However, Jaden didn't give her any time to digest it. His only purpose in coming here was to recover the remaining three Duel Spirits.
"So Ash Blossom and the others were actually captured by the Gravekeeper's?"
"Ah, that's right. I heard they were outsiders caught in the outer regions a few days ago. They're about to be offered as sacrifices to the Pharaoh sleeping in the tomb," Yubel said with a smile.
"Though, I'm not sure if they're lucky or unlucky. This ritual apparently requires seven souls. Counting Lyman Banner and that fat cat, they only have five people so far."
"Seven lives?" Jaden's eyelids drooped slightly. If he and Alexis were counted, that would make exactly seven.
"What's more, your Professor Lyman Banner is quite 'loyal.' The moment he was caught, he sold the two of you out," Yubel added, unable to stifle a giggle. "Right now, the entire Gravekeeper's clan should be searching for you everywhere."
"Eh?" Alexis's eyes widened. She hadn't expected that outcome.
However, this was already within Jaden's expectations. After all, this was the trial Lyman Banner had set for him. Banner would surely find every possible way to force Jaden into a direct confrontation with the Gravekeeper's.
"Besides, the only one who has ever faced the Gravekeeper's head-on and won was Atticus Rhodes," Jaden murmured in a low voice.
He glanced at Alexis and decided not to explain everything to her just yet.
"Ghost Ogre, you stay here and look after Alexis. We will go and rescue Ash Blossom and the others."
Jaden took his Duel Disk from his waist and snapped it onto his left arm.
"Understood! I guarantee the Supreme King's orders will be carried out!" Ghost Ogre immediately straightened her back and shouted solemnly.
Is this little brat learning how to suck up now? She's completely different from the version in my memory...
Jaden thought to himself before leading the remaining Duel Spirits toward the pyramid.
"Jaden..."
Watching Jaden walk away, Alexis lowered her head in dejection. She never realized Jaden carried so many secrets. She had known nothing at all, yet she had thought she could keep up with him.
"Well, don't look so down, little girl," Ghost Ogre said, glancing at the depressed teenager and giving a cheeky grin. "Don't let the Supreme King's cold exterior fool you. Actually, he's already being quite gentle with you."
"..." Alexis remained silent, her head still bowed.
"Besides, wanting to be the Supreme King's consort is no easy task. The position by his side is something countless female spirits dream of."
"On top of that, look at him. He's clearly the type whose career comes first. A man like that is hard to catch. You might as well wake up and give up early," Ghost Ogre said with an air of mock seriousness, swaying her head.
"Wh-What are you talking about!" Alexis's face instantly flushed crimson.
Hmph, playing pretend again.
Ghost Ogre rolled her eyes. Whenever the Supreme King went to class, certain people's eyes never left him. Did they really think the spirits didn't notice?
Seriously. Human girls were such a pain.
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