Normally, people from one world cannot cross into another.
Jaden Yuki's existence as the King of Man was already an exception among exceptions. In the end, it was the wish left behind by the final King of Man that disrupted the timeline and caused a flaw in history itself. Because of that flaw, later Kings of Man gained an ability that should have been theoretically impossible.
And because that ability existed-
Crossing worlds, something that should never have been possible, became reality.
Kaiba's crossing this time relied on that very fact.
Unlike his trip to the afterlife, this time Jaden was actively present in the Baki world, building influence and acting as a clear coordinate. Because of that, Kaiba arrived safely and naturally.
He didn't gain a ready-made identity like Jaden did.
But by the time Jaden found him, Kaiba had already adapted to this world, secured funds through his own methods, and was calmly drinking coffee in a café.
"Old Man Kaiba," Jaden said as he sat across from him, "looks like you've already gotten a handle on this world."
Kaiba set down his coffee cup and nodded.
"More or less. And since I arrived, the preparations I need to make here have already begun."
He paused, then looked at Jaden.
"So, Jaden, there are some things Yugi and the others originally planned to explain to you slowly, step by step, so you could ease into them."
"I'm not doing that."
Kaiba's expression was the same as ever, but Jaden could hear a trace of concern in his voice.
"Jaden, Yugi and the others haven't told you exactly what they need your help with, have they?"
"The reason is simple. They were afraid of putting too much pressure on you all at once, worried that it might interfere with your normal growth and push you into making a foolish choice."
"At first, I didn't know you well enough to object."
"But I've been paying attention to your recent actions."
"And I don't think you're the type who would make the wrong decision just because of pressure anymore."
"At least... the current you isn't."
Kaiba had originally shared the same view as Yugi and Atem.
Based on what he knew of Jaden Yuki at the beginning, placing too much responsibility on him too early might have backfired. It could have driven him into choices they didn't want to see.
But after Jaden returned to the past and resolved the matter of the King of Man-
Kaiba felt it clearly.
Jaden Yuki had grown.
In every sense of the word.
He was no longer the kid Kaiba had initially perceived.
So-
Kaiba believed that for the current Jaden, learning some things earlier might actually help.
"Jaden," Kaiba continued, "just like you suspected before-if this were a normal Duel, the opponent wouldn't stand a chance against the three of us."
"But the situation now is that the opponent has deliberately severed the path of Duelling itself."
Hearing that, Jaden paused for a moment.
"Old Man Kaiba," he said, "I looked into this a bit."
"For something this large-scale, it's called a Duel, but in essence, it's a Shadow Game, right?"
"As long as a Shadow Game is established, whether it's a Duel or not shouldn't matter. The game itself doesn't matter-the Shadow Game does."
"So if Duelling is blocked, why can't another game be used as the medium?"
Hearing Jaden directly grasp the core of the Shadow Game, Kaiba was slightly surprised.
But he still answered.
"You're right. The essence of a Duel is the Shadow Game, and the form itself doesn't matter."
"The problem this time is different."
"The opponent may have originally been human-but now, it is a Duel Spirit."
"When a human faces a Duel Spirit, the Shadow Game must take the form of a Duel. There is no alternative."
"And the opponent has sealed that path."
"A Duel Spirit...?"
"Yes."
"The opponent's original identity no longer matters."
"I'll send you the details later."
"For now, you just need to know this."
"During the time I was in the afterlife, someone used the cards of the Three Phantasms."
"That act absorbed most of the Duel Spirits in the world."
"And it directly caused the end of the Duelist era."
"By the time we reacted, the opponent had already transformed into a Duel Spirit."
"And to avoid duelling us, it detached itself from the world, created a small world similar to your Court of the King of Man, and established its own rules within it."
Kaiba closed his eyes briefly.
"The first time I went to confront it, after it initiated a Shadow Game, I was confident I would win."
"But I never had a chance."
"I couldn't defeat a body fused from the Three Phantasms."
He opened his eyes and looked straight at Jaden.
"So this is what the three of us need your help with."
"According to the plan, the three of us will simultaneously suppress the small world where Chaos Phantasm-Armityle-resides."
"From this world."
"From the original world."
"And from the afterlife."
"We'll suppress its shadow power to the lowest possible level, preventing it from activating certain abilities."
"And after that..."
"We need you to defeat it in the Shadow Game using the form it has specified."
"Fighting."
Jaden raised an eyebrow, then nodded.
"I see. So that's how it is."
"I'm fine with that."
"But before that, I need to ask something."
"If the three of you suppress its shadow power across three worlds... will there be side effects?"
Kaiba froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected Jaden's first concern to be that.
He shook his head shortly after.
"There will be side effects."
"But the three of us will each wield a God Card."
"With the power of the three God Cards combined, all darkness will be repelled. Whatever side effects exist will be nullified."
"So instead of worrying about us..."
"You should worry about yourself."
"You'll be facing Chaos Phantasm directly."
Jaden smiled.
"It's good that the three of you won't have any problems."
Then he met Kaiba's gaze.
His expression was calm.
No arrogance.
No recklessness.
And not the slightest hint of worry.
"I wouldn't want to win and come back only to find that something happened to you."
"I'll win."
"But if the three of you are harmed, then that victory means nothing to me."
"That's the only way I could fail."
"So as long as you won't have problems..."
"Then I will definitely win."