After Youyu and Judai arrived at Kaiba Company, worried little fans who were concerned about Judai's safety soon followed in droves.
Ed and Manjome naturally didn't need to be mentioned; they had been sticking with Youyu ever since the duel with the Supreme King began. Right after them were Asuka, Rei, Marufuji Xiang, Kenzan, and even John Anderson, whom they'd only just met a few days ago, all under the guise of "visiting a classmate."
While the professional team of the Kaiba Group was conducting the examination, the students waited anxiously outside the door, craning their necks, much like expectant fathers pacing outside a delivery room.
When the responsible doctor came out, his face grim, shaking his head, everyone's hearts sank.
Youyu roughly understood what had happened by this point.
The Supreme King's personality hadn't been eradicated but somehow separated from Judai's body through the recent duel.
But Judai himself is inherently the Supreme King; that dark personality was originally a part of him. Since birth in this life, he and the Supreme King have coexisted without separation, and no one knows what the consequences of a forced separation might be.
Even in the original anime, when Judai activated "Super Fusion" to fuse his soul with Yubel's, it was mentioned that he would give his power as the Supreme King to Yubel, but as a cost, the personality known as "Yuki Judai" would disappear.
"So," Youyu looked at Yubel who seemed ghostly beside him, "To wake him up, we still have to find a way to capture the Supreme King's personality... and seal it back into Judai's body?"
"Perhaps, I think that might be it."
Yubel didn't seem too sure either.
After all, she had never encountered such a situation, and no one dared to confidently say what had happened.
Upon hearing about the situation, Judai's friends eagerly volunteered one by one.
"I'll go!" Ed was the first to stand up.
Even though the new season of the professional league was about to begin, theoretically making Ed incredibly busy, Judai's physical condition evidently took precedence over the league.
In any case, they absolutely must save Judai!
"I'll go too." Manjome also volunteered.
But upon noticing everyone's eyes on him, his expression shifted slightly, yet he still pretended to be calm and explained, "Don't get the wrong idea. Whether Yuki Judai wakes up or not has nothing to do with me.
But! I have a score to settle with that guy known as the 'Supreme King.' This time, I'm determined to defeat him!"
Manjome spoke with such conviction, holding his head high, his coat billowing, that those present almost believed him...
Even Mokuba nodded slightly.
Well, alright, alright, he has the vibe of my brother.
Especially with that "Yuki Judai," Mokuba couldn't help but be reminded of his own brother's "Yugi"...
Ed quickly chimed in as well, "Me too! The honor of being a Professional Duelist doesn't allow me to tuck tail and run in defeat!"
Youyu glanced at the two of them, amused, but didn't expose them.
He felt that seeing these two was like seeing President Haima in the past...
...Okay, the present president doesn't seem all that impressive either, since the president hasn't really changed much over the years.
The main difference, perhaps, being that the current president has a wife...
"I'll go! I also want to help Master Judai!" Saotome Rei stepped forward.
"Hold on, as a first-year freshman, maybe you shouldn't get involved?" Asuka objected. "You'll only cause trouble for everyone if you go..."
Rei pouted unhappily, "Senior Sister Tenjouin, you just don't want me to be with Master Judai, do you? That's not fair competition..."
Asuka's face flushed red with anger, "You... What nonsense are you spouting? I'm just worried about him as a friend.
Moreover... moreover, you're a first-year student; your skills and experience are lacking, and that's a fact. Despite your good intentions, you'll only delay important matters by going..."
"Oh? Then Senior Sister Asuka will certainly be of assistance if she goes?" Rei smiled slyly.
"I..." Asuka was momentarily at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Kenzan and Xiang were also bickering.
"I got here first, Kenzan. You stay put while I go help Big Brother wake up!" Marufuji Xiang said.
"Does it matter who came first?" Kenzan countered, not yielding an inch. "In terms of enthusiasm for Big Brother, I definitely won't lose!"
John, nearby, also said, "Judai is my most important friend. If something happens to him, I absolutely cannot stand idly by! Everyone, let's take a trip together!"
He was clearly addressing his Crystal Beasts, who were like his family.
"No choice, but since you've decided, of course we'll support you," the Amethyst Cat said.
"We'll always be with you, John!" the Sapphire Pegasus added.
John's face lit up with joy, "Everyone! Let's help Judai together then..."
Youyu: "..."
Even though he claimed Judai was his "most important friend," if he remembered correctly, Youyu was certain they had only known each other for a few days.
Moreover, given how enthusiastic everyone was, willing to risk their own safety to help Judai, as a teacher, it was quite gratifying, yet they had no leads on where to find the Supreme King...
Mokuba had mentioned on the plane that during Youyu's duel with the Supreme King, there were severe dimensional distortions above Duel Academy Island, and perhaps a Dimensional Fissure appeared briefly.
Something might have come through that channel, or something might have gone through it.
Looking at it now, it's likely that the Supreme King seized the chance to pass through the fissure, back to a place among the Twelfth Dimension he ruled—a world where he should have been.
"That's all well and good, but finding him in twelve entire worlds is like searching for a needle in a haystack," Youyu said helplessly.
In the original story, when John Anderson got lost among the Twelfth Dimension, Judai dove headfirst into the Otherworld without any intel, literally a needle-in-a-haystack scenario.
The fact that they managed to rescue him could only be attributed to the protagonist's aura and the needs of the plot.
Youyu didn't believe blindly rushing into the Otherworld without a plan would by chance lead them to the Supreme King's castle.
"I might be able to help in that area," Yubel piped up again. "I have some memory of the power distribution within the Twelfth Dimension.
Though that was in a previous life, it should at least offer some reference."
Youyu nodded, then asked, "Do you have a way to send us to the Other Dimension?"
In the original anime, Yubel could lift the entire Duel Academy and transport it to the Other Dimension with a mere snap.
However, the Yubel here only glanced at him like he was an idiot.
"Who do you think I am? If I were that capable, I would've gone to find the Supreme King myself already," she retorted irritably, "But don't you have any method?
Your little mage girl can't perform some space magic? What about your Egyptian Gods? Your Phantasms? Are they just for show?"
"Each has its own expertise; they are gods and demons of Earth, not skilled at dimensional jumping," Youyu replied helplessly.
Speaking of dimensional jumps, the only expert in their entire dimension would be Aigami. But now Aigami was just like a salted fish, and the Quantum Cube's status is unstable, still being researched by the Kaiba Group...
"Oh, right," Mokuba suddenly remembered, "there's someone I forgot to mention who might be able to help!"
"Oh?" Youyu became interested, "Who?"
"Wait a moment!"
Mokuba ran out quickly and returned shortly afterward, dragging along a... crab-haired person?
Youyu wondered if he was seeing things.
How on earth could this guy be here?
The crab-haired person awkwardly waved, "Hello, Mr. Youyu, nice to see you again. I wonder if you remember me, I'm..."
"Fudo Yusei," Youyu said.