As consciousness gradually returned, Yugen seemed to feel the warmth of the sunlight, a slight breeze, mixed with a hint of fragrance.
He slowly opened his eyes, momentarily blinded by the sunlight, instinctively raising his arm to shield his face. He could feel that he seemed to be sitting on some kind of damp grass.
As he tried to sit up, a hand supported his arm, helping him up.
"Hmm?"
Yugen stood up and turned his head, quickly turning around, and to his surprise, it was the Silent Magician supporting him, her white robe fluttering, with a hint of concern in her gaze.
She might be worried that her master has fallen and hurt himself.
But as soon as their eyes met, the girl was startled, letting go as if electrocuted, clutching her Magic Staff nervously stepping aside.
At least she didn't turn and run back into the Card Deck, Yugen thought this might count as progress in their relationship...
...wait, something's not right.
Yugen sensed something was amiss. He furrowed his brows and seriously stepped in front of the Silent Magician.
Then he tried to pinch her face, as white as first snow.
The feel was soft, and it was warm, so realistic, just like a real person...
Not scientific.
Silent Magician: "???"
She clutched her Magic Staff, a bit at a loss, as if she couldn't understand what her master intended to do.
"I see, the Elf can be touched physically..."
Yugen looked around at the surrounding environment.
The golden sunbeams, like fine strands, scattered on the ground through the dense forest, forming mottled light and shadow. The tall and strong trees with lush foliage were like giant green umbrellas.
Although Elves can materialize, in reality, it's usually difficult to dispel the Spirit Body and it's hard to maintain for long. Considering his Elf being quite introverted, yet she didn't turn into a Spirit Body or burrow back into the Card Deck, it's very likely...
"Am I in the Elf Realm?" Yugen boldly guessed.
The Silent Magician nodded.
So that's it.
The reason Yugen could make such a guess right away was because similar things happened in the original story. For example, Yugi and Ousama were teleported to the Elf Realm and were asked by the Black Mage Girl to defeat the God of Orichalcos to save the Elf Realm, as well as the plot in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's where the little girl Luna goes to the Elf Realm to rescue the Ancient Fairy Dragon.
"Is the tablet in the ruins a gateway to the Elf Realm?" Yugen pondered.
Yet the research team excavating the ruins seemed completely unaware. Could it be that it was his only approach that triggered the reaction?
Moreover, he was certain he heard a voice saying "here" from the direction of the tablet before entering.
Something was calling to him.
While pondering, he suddenly heard rustling sounds behind him in the forest. Turning back, he saw several humanoid figures, black and shiny, with spear-like weapons in hand, emerging from the shrubs.
They looked like some kind of black-skinned goblin.
"Human!"
The leader of the black creatures shouted in surprise.
For a moment, he was amazed that he could understand elvish speech, but then quickly recalled in Yu-Gi-Oh! various Dimensional creature languages seemed to be common with humans, nothing surprising.
Yugen was also very certain that it was a warning similar to discovering an invader, rather than a warm welcome to guests.
Then immediately more shouting responded from all directions, a large group of dark creatures surged out, holding spears as if intending to turn him into an extra meal tonight.
Yugen was alarmed. Goodness, these natives have no sense of card ethics, straight-up summoning themselves for a gang-up without even giving the chance for a card duel?
The Silent Magician rushed out in the lead, her Magic Staff swiped lightly, instantly drawing a circle of light, blasting the first wave of goblins in an explosion.
"Take down that Magic Guard first!"
The goblins were not deterred, only charging more fiercely. The Silent Magician's Magic Staff tapped continuously, Magic Light Bullets exploding everywhere. But the number of enemies was overwhelming, with goblins throwing javelins and shooting arrows emerging from the sides.
The natives even have different military branches.
The Silent Magician was constantly casting spells to fight the enemy, also needing to mind her master's safety, feeling immense pressure.
But Yugen's thoughts raced, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Wait, if this is the Elf Realm where card powers can manifest...
The situation was urgent, no time to think deeply, he swiftly drew the top dozen cards from the Card Deck, quickly scanned them, and promptly drew a card, slapping it onto the Duel Disc.
The summoning light effect appeared before him, forming a summoning light circle, a warrior in red armor, with a flying cape, leaped out, shield in his left hand, swiftly drew his sword in his right, charging into the enemy ranks, with the sword light flashing as he slashed through them.
Magical Warrior - Destructors.
Indeed, just like in GX's Other Dimension Chapter, even monsters without Elves innately can manifest physically.
And not just monsters alone.
Yugen directly spread out the Card Deck, selecting a card and inserting it into the Duel Disc.
"Gnoll!"
A goblin soldier screamed in the woods, drawing his bow and arrow to shoot. The arrow flew straight, but when it was still a meter away from Yugen, it was as if it hit an invisible wall, forcibly halted.
A semi-spherical Protective Shield, initially transparent and invisible to the naked eye, seemed to be triggered by this arrow, revealing itself.
Divine Protective Shield - Reflective Mirror Force!
Indeed, Yugen discovered that in the Elf Realm's environment, there were basically no rules when not in a card duel state.
A Duelist's cards are weapons, like magic spells that you can slap quite freely. The Magic Card Fireball Technique summoned as a fireball, Tornado summoned as a Storm Technique, there's no casting incantation, no skill delay, theoretically, you could even unleash five different skills simultaneously at once...
Having realized he could counter these attacks, Yugen breathed a sigh of relief, waving his hand jubilantly: "Feel Hanuo's sublime power and fall into the endless abyss!"
Well, after all, no one else would see it in the Elf Realm, a bit of Cosplaying as Leader Revolver to express joy.
Oh, the Silent Magician saw it. But no problem, at this moment she's gazing at her master's scene of the Divine Shield's full-screen light rain sweeping across the ranks with admiration...
The invisible Protective Shield unleashed incredible power, with a vast blue radiance bursting outwards, radiating into a sky full of light rain, densely sweeping across the entire forest.
A full-screen AOE, for those goblins waving swords and bows, it's simply a dimensional reduction strike. The first rank of goblins at the forefront bore the brunt, crushed to bits by the light without any resistance.
The subsequent goblins were even more terrified, turning and fleeing.
"Duelist! There's a Duelist!"
"Oh my, retreat quickly! Run away..."
Indeed, it seems in this world, the term "Duelist" apparently also signifies a very fearsome entity.
From the viewpoint of the Elves, a "Duelist" is someone carrying a portable arsenal, who with a single draw, could summon a massive monster with 3000-4000 Attack Power to crush, various large-scale annihilating magical spells struck like they cost nothing...
Only a Duelist can sanction another Duelist.
The only means for two Duelists to determine life and death, is the legendary "Ritual of Holy Combat."
Commonly known as playing cards.
Having instantly cleared the field and resolved the crisis, Yugen felt slightly calmed.
Well, it turns out I'm quite formidable in the Elf Realm too.