The Life Points dropped to zero, and the black-clothed man's body was sent flying far away. His body hit the moldy, dilapidated wall in the scene, sounding like some heavy metal falling.
He rolled several times amidst the rubble and debris, crashing into a cloud of swirling dust, and lay still there.
The game was over, the victor decided, and the endless cycle of the sealed space returned to normal.
Several bystanders were dumbfounded, engrossed in a duel beyond their imagination for a long time. Young Judai stood proudly with his hands on his hips, stating that of course Teacher Youyu was the best, accomplishing such a feat was only natural.
Only then did the bystanders realize this young fellow was the direct disciple of the Duel King, and they naturally held him in reverence, starting to praise him for being so talented at a young age with such advanced card skills, assuming that he too would have the demeanor of a king, just like his teacher in the future...
Youyu ignored them and stepped forward to check the condition of the opponent he had just defeated.
From the brief exchange and limited conversation, it was apparent that this guy was targeting him. Moreover, the cards he held—every single one a Rare Card that could cause bidding wars among the wealthy on the market, including a card Youyu had never seen before, "Swift Scarecrow," were truly intriguing.
Thus, as the First Duel King, manager of the Duel Monsters department at Kaiba Company, and an honorable duelist with a sense of justice, Youyu felt it necessary to confiscate and take this card deck for examination...
Of course, he was equally curious about the opponent's identity.
Youyu bent down, flipping over the lifeless form sprawled like a dead pig on the ground. Even the simple action elicited a crisp sound from within the body, like something cracking.
A black ball rolled swiftly across the floor.
It was the person's head.
His neck had snapped, and the head rolled out like a soccer ball.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
Some timid girls screamed aloud. The muscular boyfriend of one quickly turned to hide behind his girlfriend, yet he moved even faster, having already hid behind her.
Girlfriend: "..."
Youyu picked up the head, from which several wires protruded from the severed neck, emitting sparks.
"Robot." he exclaimed.
"Huh?"
The already panicked bystanders finally regained their composure.
"So it was a robot..."
"Scared me to death, I thought someone had died."
"I was saying, how could anyone die in a duel..."
The muscular bystander stood up with boldness: "I knew it, I realized something wasn't right just now..."
Perhaps he was trying to salvage his image that had sunk into the eighteenth layer of Hell, but only received a scornful look from his girlfriend—estimated to be his ex-girlfriend soon...
Youyu turned the head over and found model and serial numbers behind the safety helmet it was wearing.
A Kaiba Company duel robot equipped with artificial intelligence from the early man-machine duels Kaiba faced during the Duel City period. However, as technology upgraded, such machines have long been obsolete, now only stationed at various Kaiba Lands for dueling tourists.
It was evident someone had been controlling this machine.
The identity of the person is temporarily unknown, but at least they generously left behind a card deck worth a fortune. Since the individual didn't attend in person, Youyu naturally had no reason to be polite to this scrapped robot.
Confiscate immediately!
Although he didn't know who the manipulator was, Youyu couldn't resist thinking, "The boss is generous," sending him so many good brothers.
Frankly speaking, as his card pool grew increasingly rich, Youyu found it hard to stir any genuine interest in plundering card decks now.
Unlike Duel City times battling Marik and his subordinates, where every victory was a bountiful harvest. Mr. Marik kept sending people to challenge him, delivering them door-to-door with free shipping, it was one of the few remaining warmths in this materialistic world.
Two minutes later, staff from the haunted house finally arrived and led them to the exit.
Soon after exiting, Youyu saw President Haima... frankly, it was hard to ignore him. The entire demeanor exuded arrogance, automatically forming a "strangers keep away" aura when standing amidst a crowd.
Youyu glanced at his watch, stepping forward: "President, you arrived early today, the opening ceremony is still a while away."
Usually, the president makes a grand entrance post the opening ceremony, descending in a helicopter?
Mokuba immediately spoke: "Yes, he was supposed to come for the opening ceremony. But hearing about your incident, my brother immediately set aside other matters..."
"Don't misunderstand." Mokuba was promptly silenced by his brother, who snorted distantly: "Simply, there were other matters to attend before the opening ceremony, happened to check in on you."
He cast Youyu a side look.
"Hmph! If you can't handle this minor incident, you're undeserving of the 'Duel King' title!"
Mokuba: "..."
Honestly, Mokuba never quite understood why his brother couldn't just genuinely express concern, whether towards Yugi or Youyu?
They have experienced so much together, being life-and-death companions already, aren't they?
Incomprehensible.
"So, what really happened inside?" Mokuba inquired, "In the surveillance, you suddenly vanished, and staff couldn't find you... where did you all go?"
Having some regard for the Kaiba brothers, naturally, Youyu freely explained the scenario inside, including the mysterious individual borrowing Kaiba Company's machine to duel him.
"Someone using our duel robots for such activities?" Mokuba raised his brows.
"Yes." Youyu pondered briefly, "Perhaps it's wiser to remain cautious for this tournament. Who knows what someone might be plotting."
Not that it's Kaiba Company's problem, "every tournament invites trouble" is almost a staple in similar genre works.
Nonetheless, the president seemed unfazed.
"Hmph! Mere rodents are they, let them come if they dare!" Kaiba exclaimed in arrogance, "It will be their greatest mistake ever!"
After speaking, he didn't wait for Youyu's reply, dismissing with a flick of his coat: "Let's go, Mokuba."
Appearing as if "we have important matters and no time to waste here," genuinely seeming he was just passing by.
"But bro, don't we have nothing planned before the opening ceremony?" Mokuba queried, "Maybe... let's join Youyu?"
Haima: "..."
One day, putting this brother up for online sale.JPG.
Anyway, Youyu had no intention to engage in other activities either, having been through such an ordeal, he lacked energy for anything else, choosing to accompany the Kaiba brothers to the venue.
Soon enough, they returned to the square they passed earlier, seeing the signboard displaying the "Kaiba Land Map."
They were surprised to find the girl still there.
She stood, baffled by the map, looking almost... like a student heading to a calculus exam unprepared and apprehensive.
The girl noticed them and shyly waved a little, face flushed.
Youyu: "..."
Could she have... still not found her way?