"This... how is this possible?"
In the dimly lit chamber, a harsh beam of light fell on a solitary figure. A voice, filtered through synthetic distortion, echoed from a set of speakers.
"Armnile failed?" It was the voice of an old man, nearly devoid of breath, controlling some kind of machinery with trembling hands. "That's impossible..."
"He clearly underestimated Cronos and the others," came a flat response.
A bald man sat calmly in a chair, facing the speaker system. His fists were clenched atop his knees, his face expressionless.
Reiji Akaba was in conference.
"Underestimated their strength?" the old man repeated, incredulous. "Impossible! How could anyone be stronger than Armnile?"
He knew Professor Banner too well. Had watched him come back from the dead. The Sacred Beast ritual, the resurrection techniques—Banner had taught them to him out of gratitude. It was unimaginable that such a man could lose.
"When you're unprepared and your opponent isn't… losing isn't exactly shocking." Akaba remained calm, but inwardly, his suspicion burned.
He'd already been obstructed too many times by "Cronos." He hadn't seen Armnile's duel, so he couldn't know exactly what happened.
But if Armnile had lost, then Cronos had definitely been involved.
And in a way, Akaba had guessed correctly—Hikaru Amagi had only won that battle thanks to Professor Crowler's salvaged Fusion Recycling card.
Akaba didn't linger on the topic. Instead, brows furrowing like a loyal vassal, he asked, "Then, Chairman… if that's the case, you won't be able to collect all the keys. Should I dispatch a new team to retrieve the cards? I still have top-tier duelists in my private task force."
"No need."
Inside a life-support pod filled with nutrient fluids and the hum of delicate machinery, Kagemaru—the Academy Chairman—spoke slowly, his voice like wet gravel.
"You've misunderstood, Dr. Akaba."
"Our goal was never to take the keys. Our purpose… was to force their holders into true, all-out Shadow Duels."
He burbled another set of bubbles, then continued. "Armnile was a once-in-a-century genius. He designed the ritual to perfectly restore youth for me. Even without certainty that the other key holders fought at full power, he went on to duel almost all of them… and lit every key."
"So it's enough."
He couldn't help but praise his own foresight—choosing Banner all those years ago. If he'd been a moment too late, if KaibaCorp had found him first in their open call for alchemical experts, he would've missed out on a once-in-a-generation genius.
And yes, maybe Banner hadn't fully aligned himself with Kagemaru's ambitions. But that didn't matter.
What mattered was talent.
Just like Akaba—so long as someone had ability, he could tolerate almost anything.
"Now, all that remains is to duel Jaden Yuki, the one with the strongest connection to Duel Spirits. That alone will awaken the Sacred Beasts. I'll reclaim my youth! Even achieve immortality through Banner's ritual, rule the world!"
He grew so excited he strained his voice and burst out another stream of bubbles.
Originally, Banner had suggested something far simpler: an alchemical homunculus. Not true youth, but decades more life. That alone would've been impressive.
But once Kagemaru had Banner, once he'd seen the alternate dimensions, once the Sacred Beast cards were in his grasp—how could he settle for anything less?
He wanted the best. He wanted to be the strongest. He wanted to live forever and devour the world.
"So what you're saying is... the Sacred Beasts' cards can already be removed from their seal?"
"Not quite yet. I still need to duel Jaden Yuki—only then will they fully awaken." With eternity dangling before him, Kagemaru rambled, his voice assisted by machinery, "Once they're active, their power will spread, absorbing energy from Duel Spirits across the world, and in an instant I'll be young again, the most powerful duelist, ruling—"
"In other words, their influence can already affect and control Duel Spirits, correct?"
"...?" Kagemaru hesitated, caught off guard. "No, not yet. The cards can't revive completely without—"
"Draining the whole planet's Duel Spirit power, sure, but that's too loud a move," Akaba interrupted calmly. "I prefer the shadows. Using cards… using people. Quietly gathering strength."
"...Dr. Akaba?" For the first time, Kagemaru sounded alarmed.
"Thank you, Chairman. It's been... enlightening working with you all these years." Reiji Akaba's rare smile broke through like frost.
"And now—goodbye."
With a swirl of his cloak, Akaba turned his back and walked out, not sparing Kagemaru a glance.
"W-what? Akaba—!" Kagemaru sputtered, hearing the whirring of gears and the hiss of flowing liquid. He couldn't see. Couldn't hear clearly. His body functioned solely thanks to machines. But now… now heat fled his limbs with terrifying speed.
It hit him.
He'd been betrayed.
"Dr. Akaba—! Reiji—! Reiji... Rei…"
His synthetic voice, slow but trembling with rage, faded into the shadows.
Rejuvenation? Eternal youth? Immortality? Ruling the world?
Fool.
Your ambition... was far too small.
Reiji Akaba drew back the curtains. The sunlight stung his eyes.
My ambition… is all the dimensions.
As time passed, the new semester began.
Ever since Professor Banner's unexpected outburst, Duel Academy had been strangely calm. Hikaru Amagi had half-expected things to spiral—sky full of spirits, random chaos, something.
But nothing happened. Not a single ripple, all the way to opening day.
He was baffled.
Where was Kagemaru?
Didn't he still want his youth back?
Beneath his confusion, he enjoyed a peaceful, productive break. But on the very first day of the semester, Principal Sheppard delivered grim news at the ceremony.
Duel Academy's Chairman—Kagemaru, over a hundred years old—had peacefully passed away during the break, unable to sustain life through machinery alone.
As the chairman, he had secured many benefits for the school within KaibaCorp, even enabling last semester's global exchange tournaments. He was said to have loved the school, respected education, cared deeply for the students...
Hikaru stopped listening at that point.
One thought dominated his mind.
Kagemaru's dead?!
Who was supposed to use the Sacred Beasts now?!
He was supposed to be the phase-one boss of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX!
Now what? Was Banner secretly this world's true "first arc final boss" instead?
No wonder Jaden lost to him.
Wait. Hold up.
Doesn't that mean... I don't have to use the Philosopher's Stone during the most awkward time possible anymore?!
Good, good, GOOD—thank you for dying, Kagemar—
No! No! Hikaru quickly shook off the thought.
Kagemaru hadn't done anything villainous yet in this timeline. He couldn't be judged just because of another version.
But still… the fact that he no longer had to burn the Philosopher's Stone in this uncertain, painful time window—that was a win. For him. For Jaden. For everyone.
And then Principal Sheppard delivered the real kicker.
"And finally, a mix of grief and celebration—due to Chairman Kagemaru's legacy, performance, and tireless contributions to Duel Academia and education, KaibaCorp has prepared a memorial tournament of the highest caliber for this semester!"
"And the grand prize... will be a Replica of a Legendary Monster !" Sheppard's voice shook with excitement. "It's said that this very monster once faced off against the Egyptian cards themselves in the hands of none other than Yugi Muto !"
"WHAAAAAT?!"
"NO WAY!"
"Chairman, no offense, but your death is the best thing that's ever happened to this school—!"
"I might… I might actually win a Legendary Monster card ?!"
"This academy is WORTH it !"
A roar of astonished excitement burst through the students. A Legendary Monster, one that had faced the Egyptian cards, once wielded by the King of Games ? Everyone went wild.
The past semester had already been full of wild events—and now they were opening with this?
Hikaru scratched his chin, thinking.
A card that once faced the Egyptian cards ?
That range was… kinda massive, wasn't it ?
Dark Paladin, Buster Blader the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, Magician of Black Chaos... tons of monsters could qualify.
Sheppard's description was way too vague. Hikaru couldn't pin it down—only recall the big names.
But whatever. Yugi's deck had tons of Fusion support. If it was something he could use, this event would absolutely be worth joining.