The night had deepened, and the deep blue-black drape slowly spread across the sky, with sparse stars dotting the horizon.
An intense beam of light suddenly pierced through the boundless darkness.
The jet, like a poised silver dragon, broke free from the chains of gravity, streaking across the sky like a meteor. Amidst the night curtain and starlight, it seemed to merge into the vast cosmos, its long tail flame turning into a bridge connecting heaven and earth.
"Check Duel Academy's alarm system," said Yugen.
His jet, a product of the Kaiba Group, was equipped with the Kaiba Group's most advanced AI. The Duel Academy's system, also a product of the Kaiba Family, could be accessed remotely.
"No anomalies."
The AI's emotionless electronic female voice said.
"There are currently no triggered security alarms at Duel Academy, nor have any anomaly reports been received."
"Continue to monitor the situation, full speed ahead," Yugen ordered.
Zik, fleeing at high speed, suddenly appeared, sitting in the back of the cabin, asking curiously, "Why are we suddenly returning? Didn't the clues point to the International Fantasy Association?"
"Just a hunch," Yugen shook his head, "Don't you all find the situation suspicious?"
The Black Scorpions appeared one by one, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Prison No. 7 was attacked; the assassins from the dark web had hacker programs with Kiku Lloyd's personal characteristics. Then just as I mentioned preparing to return to the academy, immediately someone redirected the clues towards the International Fantasy Association..."
The Black Scorpions remained puzzled, seemingly not understanding what he wanted to express.
"Well, in fact, there's no evidence," Yugen shook his head, "You could say it's just my intuition.
But I feel like there is someone who doesn't want me to return to Duel Academy."
"I see."
The ghostly form of Artificial Human Soga floated mid-air, nodding slightly in understanding.
"Does it feel like luring the tiger away from the mountain?"
It's as if someone wants to do something at Duel Academy but wants to avoid encountering Yugen, so they deliberately create some trouble to keep him occupied.
At this time, President Kaiba happened to be handling business abroad. Causing some duel-related troubles for the Kaiba Group would mean Yugen, who has an allied relationship with Kaiba, would likely not stand idly by.
If viewed this way, then attacking the Kaiba Group is just a facade. Using the spirit of the deceased Kiku Lloyd as a pawn, controlling the card professor of the Pegasus Nightwalker Foundation with dark forces, all the harassment and attacks on the Kaiba Group were just to draw attention... or at least part of it was for drawing attention.
Perhaps that person was also interested in the Kaiba Group.
Of course, it's all random speculation with no basis, as Yugen said, merely his intuition.
But soon, it seemed he found the basis for that intuition.
"Warning, unidentified aircraft approaching."
The plane's AI issued a cold warning.
Yugen frowned.
"Approaching? Us?" He turned to the console, "Mark it on the radar for me."
The dot quickly appeared on the radar, not far behind, rapidly approaching the jet.
The next moment, the plane shook a bit.
As if it was hit, like a meteor hammer striking the outside of the cabin, the fuselage shook violently.
"Is it an attack from them?"
"Unable to detect..."
The jet provided by Kaiba, though top-notch, couldn't equip weapon systems for him. After all, flying around everyday with an armed fighter was quite exaggerated.
Of course, he didn't need any weapon systems. He didn't know how to operate them, nor were they easy to use.
Before Yugen could order, the Silent Magician had already autonomously left the body, covered in a milky white aura, flying out of the cabin.
Then she saw the enemy at a glance.
The aircraft trailing them maintained a distance, hanging far behind, yet from it dispatched a vanguard.
The white monster, amidst the clouds, appeared as if riding the wind and breaking the waves. It had a white shell, a conical head, and another face on its chest.
It was a grotesque visage, like a skull, with deep, hollow eyes and sharp fangs, appearing as if grinning maliciously on its chest face.
The Silent didn't recognize this monster, but if Yugen could fly out of the cabin to see, he would recognize at a glance who this highly distinctive monster was.
Greedy Star.
[Greedy Star
Level 7, Attack Power ?, Defense Power ?
Effect: This card's original Attack Power and Defense Power become this card's Level x300. As long as this card exists in the Monster Zone, this card's level is increased by the original level value of any monster destroyed by this card in battle.]
Of course, these are the standardized effects after being made into a physical card. In the original comic version, though the effects execution was similar to the physical card, it was more unique.
According to the settings of the Quasar deck in the comic, under a specific Field Spell effect exclusive to this deck, all Duel Monsters possess something called "Life Star."
Each monster's initial Life Star is equal to its original Star Level, but as turns increase, each monster loses one Life Star per turn.
When Life Stars reach zero, the monster's life expires, naturally perishing.
And in the comic, Greedy Star is the ace of this deck. It possesses the ability to devour other monsters' Life Stars for limitless longevity, allowing it to infinitely strengthen itself, a ferocious beast that plunders life.
And at this moment, this giant beast was charging full throttle towards Yugen's aircraft.
The Silent Magician fearlessly advanced, and without a word, sent magic from her staff across the air, a white light bullet spinning towards the giant creature.
Yet the Greedy Star didn't dodge at all, its mouth on its chest suddenly opening wide, swallowing the magic light bullet. The full force strike from Silent sinking into it without a trace.
The Greedy Star roared, accelerating forward, its claw striking directly at Silent. In haste, Silent raised her form to avoid, flipping above its head, firing a light bullet from above down.
The Star leaned sharply back, laying down, the giant mouth on its chest opening again, swallowing the light bullet effortlessly. Then, from that blood-red mouth, a flash of white light, a magic light bullet bounced back.
Startled, Silent swiftly held her staff horizontally before her to block. The magic light bullet rippled on the transparent array, and Silent quickly retreated.
"A communication request from the other side."
Meanwhile, inside Yugen's aircraft, a communication request was received from the pursuer.
"Interesting, let's connect and see," Yugen said.
Connection established. An arrogant-looking man, appearing somewhat punchable, appeared on the other end of the screen.
"Duel King, Fujiki Yugen, hey... returning to Duel Academy won't be that easy. You'll have to get past me first."
As he spoke, he gestured at the Duel Disc on his hand.
"So, dare to try me?"
"Flying Duel."