"Final debugging complete."
"System energy values normal."
"President, the Duel Link System is now online and operating normally!"
"..."
Indeed, Kaiba actually managed to create such a global online dueling system...
The "Duel Links" system developed by Kaiba Company is different from the online game formats familiar in Youyu's previous world. This system does not rely on the internet but on the connection of human brainwaves, constructing a vast and boundless virtual space.
This is an unprecedented great attempt, even in the gaming industry, no one has ever tried to develop such an enormous system. The prototype of this virtual space is based on the Virtual World where Kaiba Noah once imprisoned players during the Duel City event. Once this system is completed, it will be a great achievement across centuries.
Imagine, transcending spatial restrictions, countless brainwaves linked through a common hub, where people communicate and interact directly with their minds, constructing a vast new world purely with mental power. It's a terrifying technology!
...Of course, such powerful technology should naturally be prioritized in the card game field.
This way, Duelists from different countries can play cards happily together, transcending barriers of region, race, and language!
Upon logging into the game, the developers of the Duel Links System couldn't help but marvel at the miraculous implementation of the technology, truly a miracle of the century.
Currently, Kaiba Company has globally invited over one million subjects for testing, and the company is busy collecting brainwave data and further improving the system.
Developers are spreading the word, celebrating with champagne. Everyone feels this is a massive success, a technological miracle... except for President Kaiba.
President Kaiba refers to the system currently in testing as a "half-baked semi-finished product."
Because his expectations for this system possibly stem from his initial intentions when building it, which were——
——to transcend dimensions!
Indeed, he wants to develop more than just a card game system that transcends spatial limits; he wants to transcend space-time!
He wants to synchronize the consciousness of Duelists from different dimensions and different fields all together to play cards!
By doing so, maybe he can ascend beyond the dimension of this world, finding that realm known as the "Netherworld" in a higher dimension...
...to find the man with whom he still has unresolved matters!
Coincidentally, today seems to be when that opportunity arises.
"..."
"Brother Dear!"
Mokuba, dressed like a little adult, hurriedly ran over from the direction of the experiment center with a tablet in hand.
"You must see this! The monitoring device of the Duel Link System has discovered unprecedented data!"
Mokuba swiped rapidly on the tablet a couple of times and handed it to Kaiba.
Kaiba took it and glanced at it, his expression slightly changing.
He saw readings he had never seen before; the brainwave data of the subjects was showing a highly synchronized state. Limited consciousness seemed to be guided by an invisible hand, steering countless waves of consciousness toward higher realms.
That was precisely the perfect reading in theory, which Kaiba pursued.
Following this rising consciousness, it might transcend dimensions!
"Prepare the equipment immediately!" Kaiba demanded, "I want to login to the Duel Link System personally!"
Mokuba quickly guessed what his brother wanted to do. He opened his mouth to warn him about the potential dangers of his upcoming attempt, risking permanently losing consciousness or even brain overload leading to death, but hesitated and ultimately didn't speak.
Because he knew saying it would be useless.
He recognized the expression on his brother's face.
It was the serious look of someone who has decided on something and is determined to see it through, unable to be swayed by ten wild horses.
Nothing—even if the world collapsed—could deter Kaiba Seto's determination to transcend dimensions and seek his arch-enemy!
As Kaiba watched a group of experts hurriedly prepare special login tools for him, Mokuba quietly retreated to the side, quickly opened his phone's "frequent contact" list, and sent a message to Youyu.
Youyu, come quickly!
Meanwhile, President Kaiba had already seated himself inside a certain device, which looked somewhat like a gaming pod, and somewhat like a cockpit of an alien spaceship.
Kaiba closed his eyes and flipped the switch.
In front of him, golden streams of light gradually began to appear, like countless particles forming a glowing river. He felt his consciousness being gradually extracted from his body, tossed into the river, becoming a drop of water in the rushing torrent, drifting forward with the flow.
His consciousness accelerated, the surrounding golden stream seemed like an endless river. His body felt weightless oddly, with a piercing sensation like countless sharp needles stimulating his nerves, and his brain emitting alarming signals frantically.
Maybe Kaiba Seto realized he might die, or perhaps the sheer excitement of possibly reuniting with that person made him forget about this.
He could feel it, the instant when consciousness transcends the constraints of the body!
Kaiba felt that using the supernatural explanation often favored by that guy, this might be what it feels like for the soul to separate from the body. He felt himself breaking free from the shackles of the physical form, his soul bursting through the cage. He saw a new world, glimpsed unknown possibilities, and a whole new dimension unveiling a silhouette before him.
Kaiba: It's very scientific.JPG.
In that brand new world, beyond the horizon shining with golden light, he saw the shadow of a man.
Majestic, solemn, as if an ancient ruler walked out from the river of time, a cone-shaped pendant gleaming on his chest, resembling an inverted pyramid with an open eye, scrutinizing the good and evil of every soul...
Kaiba's breathing momentarily stalled, his blood pulsing... Oh no, he's currently in a state similar to a Spirit Body, devoid of flesh and blood, so it can't be described this way.
But he indeed felt excited.
A feeling of elation, having endured hardships and sought for a lifetime, finally touching the distant shadow in his memory.
...Um, strictly speaking, it's been just a year since Atem left.
But the matter of card addiction... those who know, know.
You can't imagine what President Kaiba went through this year to relieve his card addiction.
(Youyu: You also can't imagine what I went through to relieve the president's card addiction)
Now he is finally about to find him! His original, and destined opponent!
Come on, Yu↑gi↓! Quickly...
The president hadn't even had time to feel satisfied before the scene suddenly changed. His pupils contracted, discovering that golden dignified figure rapidly moving away from him, the surrounding scene rewinding frantically as if in a video playback.
Behind him seemed to be a massive gravity, pulling his weightless soul back toward the cage of the body. He couldn't control himself, only able to watch as the person in front gradually disappeared, vanished into thin air.
He was rapidly retreating, returning along the original path. Countless images flashed past before his eyes, including fragments of his own memory and influences brought by other associated consciousnesses.
On the return journey, he also saw other unexpected things—
—Endless void, deep darkness, white light so strong one cannot look directly permeated the endless darkness, a silver-white dragon opened its eyes revealing blue-green pupils, roaring to the endless void.
Kaiba's pupils reflected a shadow surrounded by radiance, a womanly figure with long hair falling naturally and softly...
What was that!?
But before he had time to think, the image vanished in an instant.
The golden realm receded; he was kicked out of the firewall like a virus program caught by antivirus software. He slammed back into his body, the discomfort of sweat soaking into his flesh quickly surged over him.
Kaiba suddenly opened his eyes, hearing Mokuba calling his name beside him.
The glass pod door opened, and Kaiba "swoosh" stood up, furious.
"Who!? Who shut down the system?"
Kaiba actually knew that if the system hadn't been forcibly shut down just now, he might have been in danger; this forced termination was actually for his own good.
...But he didn't care.
Just a little more and he would have seen that guy, a little more and he could have completed their unfinished duel!
Dare to ruin this good thing by some clueless guy!
No need to say more, whoever shut down the system is fired, Mokuba pleading won't help!
Immediately, the president turned around and saw Youyu standing by the console, who had just forcibly pulled his network cable.
"You'll die, President." Youyu completely ignored Kaiba's anger, looking indifferent.
The researchers nearby draped in white lab coats slowly shuffled away from Youyu, each detached from the matter, almost pointing at Youyu saying to the president, "He pulled it, nothing to do with me".
It was despicable You↑yu↓!
"Hmph!"
Kaiba glared at him fiercely, turned his head, and said nothing.
Just now, that was definitely not an illusion.
That guy was right there, he could feel it!
Although he still couldn't play cards as he wished, this failed experience still made Kaiba's blood boil.
For the first time, he found proof that there's still a chance to find that guy.
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
A silver-haired girl slowly opened her blue-green eyes, the silver-white Dragon-Type king roared under the black sky.