University campus, entrance.
It's the new semester season, the busiest time at the campus entrance. New students dragging luggage to register, returning older students, people coming and going endlessly.
The roar of the engine drew quite a bit of attention, bringing a blast of hot wind. A black shadow cut like a sharp blade, a sudden screeching of brakes, the tires stopping abruptly like a beast's claw gripping the grass.
Noticing the eyes of many around him turning his way, Youyu sighed softly on his motorcycle.
President Haima's taste is as ostentatious as he is, always eager to label everything around him with the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, like a silent brag. He's never been shy about being flamboyant; he only cares if his showmanship isn't on point.
So, the motorcycle he had custom-made for Youyu followed the same style. A flamboyant and unique streamlined design, paired with an engine roar akin to a king's, making it feel less like a vehicle and more like a raging beast.
More importantly, it's that unique "Masked Hero" styled design that makes riding it almost like having "I am the Duel King" plastered on your face.
Youyu, unlike Haima, doesn't enjoy being overly in the spotlight. Haima doesn't mind being followed everywhere by a group of frenzied fans, but Youyu does.
So he insisted on having the President install a "stealth mode" on his bike, which can hide all those flashy Hero features when activated, at least preventing him from being recognized everywhere he goes.
Though the engine is still a bit too flashy.
Many students outside turned their attention this way, feeling impressed.
What a great-looking bike!
What long legs!
Of course, this wasn't referring to Youyu, but the person on the back seat, Chinai. Her little head was still closely nestled against Youyu, her tiny hands gripping his waist tightly, afraid of getting thrown off with one careless move.
Chinai isn't tall, but her body proportions are quite good, making her leg shape look long and attractive.
"Hey, hey, you there?" Youyu turned around.
Chinai was a little dizzy, her small face under the helmet flushed: "Ar... arrived?"
"Arrived." Youyu sighed, "Can you let go of me now?"
"Oh."
Chinai released her grip and slowly got off the bike. She took off her helmet, her silvery long hair seemed to be finally freed, shimmering under the sunlight.
The flashy bike that looked like it came from a sci-fi movie, paired with a beautiful silver-haired girl, naturally drew a lot of attention.
It's just that Youyu didn't take off his helmet, otherwise his 95 charm attribute would surely cause another stir.
Yes, today is Chinai's first day for school registration.
From today onward, Chinai officially becomes a university student.
Though she's attending a local school, it's situated quite far, and the trip to the card shop takes some time, suggesting she might have to live on campus.
After bidding farewell, watching Chinai's back merge with the crowd, heading towards the university entrance, Youyu unexpectedly felt a bit sentimental.
Ever since he crossed over, Chinai had always been at that corner card shop. No matter when or where he returned, the small storefront was always lit up.
The silver-haired girl would always sit behind the counter waiting eagerly, and upon his arrival, stand up to say "You're back".
But now, she's no longer there.
Somehow, there's still a tiny bit of melancholy.
Youyu started the motorcycle again, ready to leave, when he suddenly heard her call out to him.
He turned his head, seeing Chinai who had just left, now running back towards him, her appearance somewhat cute.
"What's up? Forgot something?"
Chinai shook her head, a bit embarrassed: "Um... can you... come pick me up this weekend..."
Youyu: "?"
You haven't even registered yet and you already want to go back?
"Didn't you say you've remembered the route?" Youyu asked.
Though it's a bit far, the transit route isn't too complicated.
Chinai lowered her head: "I only remember the way here, not the way back..."
Youyu: "..."
He recalled a poem.
Viewed from the front it's a ridge, from the side a peak.
Maybe the world in the eyes of those directionally challenged is indeed magical and fantastic.
The same road, walking frontward or backward, during the day or night, is a completely different experience.
Can most people even do that?
"Alright." Youyu shrugged.
Fine, fine, a little extra effort it is.
After all, our Chinai is "hands-free missing"?
One moment you let go, the next moment she's gone...
"Then send me a message when it's time, and I'll come pick you up."
Chinai's eyes sparkled with excitement, nodding vigorously: "Okay."
...
After sending Chinai off to school, next Youyu had to report to Haima.
It's been two months since the launch of the new Duel Disc, although strictly speaking it likely wasn't a success.
After all, the press conference had an incident with Duel Monsters materializing and causing injury. Although it didn't result in casualties and the Duel King Youyu promptly intervened to stop it, avoiding the negative impact was inevitable.
Affected by this, the Duel Discs launched by Kaiba, which directly link with people's neural networks, were not immediately promoted, and the development progress of the Duel Link System was also impacted.
Many people questioned the safety of this brand-new technology. Due to pressure from multiple sources, the national government, which was almost invisible throughout, and even at one point seemed to have been replaced by the Kaiba Group in significance, finally had to step in and temporarily halt the development of the Duel Link project.
Youyu couldn't help but wonder, maybe this was Z-ONE's purpose?
To prevent the premature birth of the Duel Link System, to delay the course of history through human intervention?
Or was it just to come back and confirm the abilities of this era's Duel King?
Or perhaps... it was a warning bell for them?
But Kaiba only listened to the oral report of these matters once, snorted, and didn't pay much attention.
His mind was entirely elsewhere now.
Aigami and his companions handed over the Quantum Cube and decided to return to the poor hometown where they grew up, determined to use their Plana power to improve the place.
Even without the Quantum Cube, as long as the Pharaoh hasn't returned, their Plana still possesses extraordinary power. They gave up the chance to ascend, determined to use this power to change the world.
However, the Quantum Cube in Youyu's hands—sure enough, it turned out to be mere decoration without usage permission, so he could only leave it to President Haima for research.
So Youyu watched Kaiba develop a Dimensional Travel Device in a mere two months. According to his calculations, this device should be able to break the spatial barriers and directly fly to the dimension called "Netherworld."
And today is the time for its official completion and actual testing.
Although it's extremely dangerous technology, President Haima firmly disagreed with having volunteers conduct this first shuttle experiment; he insisted on doing it himself.
"Are you sure you really want to do this, President?" Youyu watched Kaiba stubbornly sit into the cockpit and couldn't help saying, "The dimensional realm is the part of human technology that has never been explored, it might be very dangerous..."
Although he thought that the president probably shouldn't be in trouble... but what if?
The movie ended with Kaiba successfully shuttling to the dimension beyond to meet Atem, but didn't explain the follow-up content.
What if the president's trip is one-way?
Or he goes to the Netherworld, gets addicted to playing cards with Atem, and never returns?
Then wouldn't Youyu miss out on grabbing the biggest and strongest golden thigh?
"The dimensional realm is the key focus of our company's next development step." Kaiba said coldly, "We already know there are other worlds beyond the dimension, so our primary task now is to build the bridge to other dimensions.
The Duel Link System will continue to evolve; sooner or later we will be able to achieve mutual links with strong individuals from other dimensions, dueling with Duelists from countless different worlds and different times and spaces. This is to expand Duelists' future."
"But there's really no need to be so urgent, President. It's not advisable to rush things. Besides, there are already many powerful Duelists in this world. Speaking of which, you haven't beaten me yet..."
Kaiba immediately turned his head reflexively, glancing coldly at him with a look that said "thought of playing cards again?"
Youyu wisely shut up.
You're just eager to explore your future; you're obviously itching to find the King...
"Alright then, be careful, President. Remember to come back." Youyu said helplessly.
"Nonsense." Kaiba sat in the cockpit, buckled his seat belt, still wearing his perpetual poker face, "You wait for me, Youyu. Once I've beaten that guy, you're next!"
The Spirit Body of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon girl floated out. She hesitated at the windshield of the shuttle, and softly said, "Then... Seto, be careful."
Kaiba also looked at her, his tone slightly softened: "I will come back."
Youyu: "..."
Difference in treatment.JPG.
"Dimensional Travel Device, launch!"
The entire satellite began to roar, the shuttle engine ignited at the rear, and the white body shot along steel rails into the sky like an arrow, disappearing into thin air quickly with a ripple.
Kisara floated in the air, dazedly staring at his disappearing figure for a long time.
Youyu's Dark Magician Girl spirit silently approached: "White Dragon sister's master is so fierce, he seems like a scary person, it must be hard usually, right?"
Youyu didn't know specifically what was going on, but he noticed that his Dark Magician Girl had apparently gotten along quite well with Kisara over these days, like a pair of good sisters.
"Nothing like that." Kisara shook her head, "Actually, Seto is a nice person, he's just not great at expressing..."
Commonly known as a tsundere, those who understand will understand. Youyu thought.
The sharp, piercing sound suddenly echoed throughout the entire space station, sounding a bit like a fire alarm.
"What's happening?" Youyu frowned.
He didn't know much about the space station's facilities, but he also knew this couldn't be good.
All the operators in the space station began bustling about, fingers typing away on keyboards. Mokuba hurriedly appeared in front of Youyu, bringing a terrible news.
"Brother Youyu, it's Monster Spirits!" he said anxiously, "On Earth, an ultra-large Monster Spirit has materialized and is causing a disaster!"
Youyu frowned.
Monster Spirit? What spirit?
The space station operators quickly accessed the footage, casting the real-time image onto the big screen. Youyu looked up at the screen, seeing a giant dragon seemingly covered in red armor, entwined with lightning, spiraling within the dark clouds.
It was hovering high above the city's coastline, electric light emanating from it exploding along the land, and the crowd along the streets fled in terror.
The enormous body, the overwhelming presence felt even through the lens, and the red shell...
...nearly made Youyu want to take out the "Slifer the Sky Dragon" card in his pocket and ask if this was its long-lost brother.
Well, he certainly knew it wasn't, and he knew what the dragon boiling up in the footage was.
Uria Lord of Searing Flames!
One of the Three Phantasm in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX—the most powerful spirit!
"Brother Youyu!" Mokuba turned toward Youyu.
"Interesting." Youyu's mouth curled into a smile as he stood up, "Lend me an airplane, Mokuba. I'm going to meet this guy."