Following the passage forward, Hayato and Kaiba could feel that they were gradually descending, though the slope was gentle. After a few minutes, the two finally reached a large door at the end of the passage.
The large door was ajar halfway. Just as they reached it, before even pushing it open, Hayato heard several voices speaking from inside:
"Epimetheus-sama, if this subordinate remembers correctly, it shouldn't be time to hand over the profits yet, right?"
"Idiot! Didn't you hear what that guy, Seto Kaiba, announced today?!"
"Uh, Pandora-sama, are you talking about the Battle City event? KaibaCorp has already sent the Duel Disks to the shop."
"Once Battle City begins, instead of spending money to buy cards in Card Shops, those Duelists will be more inclined to hunt on the streets. What kind of business do you think you'll have then? Besides, these are just fake cards; they'll be exposed sooner or later!"
"Pandora, it seems your subordinate isn't very clever."
Hayato and Kaiba exchanged a glance. After listening for a while, they could largely confirm that there were only three people talking in the room. It sounded as if two of them were of equal rank, while the third was their subordinate, answering to the one named "Pandora," and very likely the owner of this Card Shop.
The other person was named Epimetheus. Judging by the name, one could guess that he and Pandora were usually partners in the same team.
Hayato raised a finger, signaling "3." Kaiba nodded. As Hayato's fingers curled back one by one into a fist, the countdown reached zero. Hayato and Kaiba moved in perfect synchronicity, simultaneously kicking the large door, actually kicking both panels completely open, sending them crashing to the ground!
What surprised the two was that among the three people talking, one of them unluckily got hit by the kicked-down door and was directly pinned to the ground, unable to move. The other two in the room sprang up from their respective positions like startled cats, looking warily at the two unexpected intruders: "Who are you?!"
"Just two passing Duelists, remember that." Clapping his hands, Hayato stepped over the fallen door panel and walked into the room, looking at the two masked men in front of him. Hayato had already suspected when he heard the name "Pandora." Upon entering, it was indeed Pandora, the magician who, in the original timeline, would have a chainsaw Duel with Yugi.
As for the other person, Hayato didn't have much of an impression. After all, the Rare Hunters was an international theft organization. It would be strange if its members were only those Hayato knew.
The person pinned under the door panel, with Hayato's added weight, couldn't help but let out a wail. But Hayato didn't care if he was in pain or not. Jumping off the door panel, he coincidentally crushed the pinned shop owner's fallen glasses, and Hayato gave him an extra kick, knocking him unconscious.
"Rare Hunters members? Hmph, I should've figured. Hiding their faces like cowards." Kaiba looked around the room. Seeing no traps triggered by Hayato's entry, he also entered the room, looking at the two masked men with an arrogant expression.
"Pandora," wearing his magic top hat, frowned. He had already recognized the two intruders: "One of Duelist Kingdom's two Duelist Kings, Hayato."
"And the (Blue-Eyes) user, Seto Kaiba?" Epimetheus, next to Pandora, also narrowed his eyes. "How did you find this place? I thought our disguise outside was perfect."
Hayato pointed one hand at the fluorescent light on the ceiling: "Grandma said, 'Those who know the truth cannot be deceived by illusions.'"
Pandora's mind raced, and he came up with an idea. Although the Rare Hunters' leader had assigned them the quest to hunt famous Duelists after Battle City began, the Deck he used—a Spellcaster-Type Deck—was specifically tuned for Yugi. Someone else was assigned by the leader to deal with Hayato.
Although Epimetheus happened to be assigned to hunt Seto Kaiba, the timing wasn't ideal right now. If possible, it would naturally be better to avoid battle.
"Actually, we're not—"
"To think you actually discovered us, impressive! We are indeed the elite cadres of the Rare Hunters, Epimetheus and Pandora, known as the Doomsday Duo!"
With an expression as if Pandora had eaten excrement, Epimetheus actually directly revealed their identities: "As two of the elite cadres of the Rare Hunters, now that you've discovered our identities, we can't just let you leave so easily!"
"Hmph, I should be the one saying that!" First, during a Duel, Hayato almost stole his winning line. Now even a Rare Hunters minion dares to steal his lines? "Are you ready to face the wrath of (Blue-Eyes)?!"
"Tch, that idiot!" Pandora looked at Epimetheus, who had faced off against Kaiba and activated their respective Duel Disks. He also noticed that Hayato had likewise activated his Duel Disk.
"I despise these impromptu battles. A Duel should be like a magnificent magic show, beginning only after careful preparation. How inelegant!" After shuffling his Deck once, he inserted it into the Deck Zone of his Duel Disk. Pandora looked at Hayato in annoyance.
"Scared? Then you're welcome to put down your Deck and surrender." Hayato nodded towards the Duel Monster Spirits who had returned from patrolling the room. Before entering this room, Hayato had sent (Ojama Yellow) and its companions to check the room.
After all, this was someone else's lair. Even if there weren't traps as exaggerated as a (Self-Destruct Button), chainsaws, (Trap Hole)s, and similar things weren't impossible. However, based on the spirits' preliminary observations, there seemed to be none.
"Don't misunderstand, Duelist King. The reason I say this is purely because I am not a person who enjoys conflict. The game of Duel Monsters accomplishes nothing on its own." Shaving cards, using the special 'Takui Wuniang' (CENSORED) shuffling trick, Pandora drew a pretty good hand of cards. "However, if a competition is unavoidable, I won't lose to anyone!"
"Duel!" (x2)
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
[Pandora: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
"First turn is mine! Draw!" Pandora was a step faster, drawing a card. Without even looking at what card he had drawn, Pandora seemed to have already figured out the sequence for using his cards. He activated a card from his hand. "Spell Card, (Double Summon)! This turn, I can perform two Normal Summons!"
"I Normal Summon (Diozoa)! Then I Release it as a Tribute to perform a Tribute Summon!"
[(Diozoa) [Level 4 / DARK Attribute]]
[Zombie (Type) / Effect]
[1700 ATK / 1650 DEF]
Two conjoined ghost-like figures—(Diozoa)—as soon as it appeared on Pandora's Field, despite its relatively good stats, it was Tributed by Pandora without hesitation to Summon an even stronger Monster.
Dark Magic gathered into a crimson Magic Circle. From within that Magic Circle, a figure Hayato was quite familiar with slowly emerged.
Its originally luxurious black Magician's Robe was dyed a reddish-brown like congealed blood. Its soft golden long hair had also turned a dry, pale white. The (Dark Magician) standing on Pandora's Field had darker skin compared to Yugi's white-skinned version of the (Dark Magician). Its face also bore the same evil, twisted smirk as Pandora.
[(Dark Magician) [Level 7 / DARK Attribute]]
[Spellcaster-Type / Normal Monster]
[2500 ATK / 2100 DEF]
"Behold, Hayato! This is my Deck's Ace Monster, the top-tier master of magic, (Dark Magician)! How do you feel now that your partner—Yugi's Monster—has appeared on my Field?!"
"My feelings? It feels quite strange hearing you speak with the same voice as me, and also, 'Black Magician, get lost.'" Hayato retorted.
Although Pandora's (Dark Magician) was identical to Yugi's (Dark Magician) in all other aspects, Hayato was a looks-obsessed person. This "black-skinned (Dark Magician)" art was too avant-garde for him to accept.
"Tch, your arrogance won't last much longer!" Pandora was annoyed that he didn't see a surprised expression on Hayato's face. "I Set two cards, and my turn ends."
[Pandora: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[(Dark Magician) [2500 ATK]]
[Set Card x2]
"My turn, draw." Hayato drew a card. His eyebrow raised, and he let out a smug laugh. "Hee hee hee, watch closely, Pandora, this is the struggle I make for victory!"
"I activate the Spell Card, (Graceful Charity)! I draw three cards. Then I send (Gaia the Fierce Knight) and (Curse of Dragon) from my hand to the Graveyard. Next, the Spell Card (Dragon's Mirror)! This card can only be used to Summon Dragon-Type Fusion Monsters, but its Fusion Material can be chosen from the Graveyard!"
"Descend in a new form, my Soul! (Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion)—"
"—GAIA!!!"
On Hayato's Field, a pillar of flame shot up from the ground. A sharp lance swept through, clearing away all the surging flames, revealing the figure of (Gaia), resurrected from the Graveyard.
Resurrected bathed in flames, even (Gaia)'s mount, (Curse of Dragon), had evolved. Its bright yellow body was dyed an orange-red, like the infernal flames in its mouth.
[(Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion) [Level 7 / WIND Attribute]]
[Dragon-Type / Fusion / Effect Monster]
[2600 ATK / 2100 DEF]
"(Dragon Knight Gaia)?! This isn't the form mentioned in our intel at all!" Pandora's eyes widened. "This overwhelming presence!"
"You bastard!"
Pandora's words were cut short. That last remark wasn't from him, but from beside the two.
Kaiba's face was contorted in a ferocious expression. He glared at Epimetheus, who was Dueling him, as if he had seen his father's murderer.
However, Hayato could understand his feelings. Because on Epimetheus's Field, directly across from Kaiba, there was actually a (Blue-Eyes White Dragon) with a slightly greenish tinge on its body, lurking there!
(end of chapter)