The Sword Fighting Beast's card deck was stolen.
The incident happened very suddenly. On the same day that Yugen heard about it, the unexpected took place. It was said that the European branch of the International Fantasy Association was attacked, and an unknown duelist captured the card deck.
However, to say that isn't quite accurate, because the "card deck" of the Sword Fighting Beast doesn't even exist yet. What the International Fantasy Association discovered was merely a stone tablet, with the card deck still pending further development.
Yet the intelligence from there confidently stated that what was taken was indeed a card deck.
Then there's only one explanation for this.
The visitor must have used the power of the stone tablet on the spot to create the card deck by hand.
This is not impossible. Using scientific research to turn stone tablets into cards is just the most common method. But there are people in the world, people strong enough, who don't need any technology or research, and don't even need to understand the principles; they can create a card deck by hand as long as the atmosphere is right.
Such cases are countless in any generation of Yu-Gi-Oh!, often seen among the top-ranked duelists of each era. While the legendary top alchemists are said to be able to turn stone into gold, at least there's a stone involved. But the top duelists seem to need nothing, conjuring new cards out of thin air, which is quite unreasonable.
If it's someone with enough power, it's indeed possible to create a Sword Fighting Beast deck from scratch.
That night, Pegasus Moonwalker immediately set out for Europe. Although Keihei wanted to go upon hearing the news, he was already swamped with work at the company due to his brother's absence. Realizing he might not be of much use even if he went, he decided against it, opting to just let Yugen take a look.
The next morning, they first visited the hospital and met the Professor Card who was present at the scene.
Tilamuk was still alive. However, her face was blank, and her beautiful golden hair had shockingly turned white overnight, becoming pure white without any impurities.
"So strong..."
"That guy... that Sword Fighting Beast deck is incredibly powerful beyond ordinary concepts..."
As Moonwalker and Yugen entered, Tilamuk slowly raised her head and said dazedly.
"He said he was just testing the card deck, verifying his own strength, otherwise he wouldn't even bother to duel me... Now I believe it, what he said is true. We don't belong to the same dimension of existence...
...I think it also had something to do with him sparing my life. He let me live so that... so I could deliver a message..."
"To whom?" Moonwalker asked.
Tilamuk's gaze fixed directly on Yugen.
"To me?" Yugen asked.
She slowly nodded.
"Duel King Yugen, he knew you were coming. And he said... he looks forward to it."
Yugen squinted his eyes.
So who is the mysterious adversary this time?
Well, as the saying goes, big trees attract the wind. Now, holding the title of Duel King, countless people worldwide are looking for trouble with him; finding a suspect is almost impossible.
At this moment, a staff member in a black suit entered the room from outside. He respectfully greeted both individuals.
"What's the matter?" Moonwalker asked.
"There's been a discovery in the investigation," the person in the black suit said. "Our informant reports seeing someone using Sword Fighting Beast monsters in an underground illegal card dueling arena."
Moonwalker raised his eyebrows.
"So audacious?"
The card deck was just taken, and here, locally, someone immediately dared to participate in illegal underground dueling? This is disregarding their intelligence system entirely.
"Immediately arrange a team," Moonwalker said in a deep voice. "I want to see for myself."
Since the other party specifically mentioned his name through Tilamuk, Yugen couldn't be absent and accompanied Moonwalker's team to the location.
However, arriving at the address, they were somewhat surprised by what they found.
The underground facility was lit, suggesting the place was still operational. But upon entering, they found the large hall deserted.
Their path was entirely empty, not even a ghostly shadow in sight until they reached the deepest underground level, at the underground duel arena.
A burly man, with a skull pendant hanging in front of his chest, sat cross-legged in the center of the arena. The spotlight shone on him, making him stand out significantly.
He slowly opened his eyes, a grin forming at the corners of his mouth, as his gaze swept lazily over the group before him.
"You finally arrived. I've been getting bored waiting."
"Who are you?" Pegasus Moonwalker asked.
"Me? My name is Repack... but that's not important," Repack said. "I'm just a nobody. But even a nobody has the ambition to challenge the pinnacle."
As he spoke, he squinted, looking at Yugen.
"Duel King, Fujiki Yugen."
Everyone looked at Yugen.
Moonwalker frowned and said to Yugen, "You don't have to pay him any heed. We don't necessarily have to..."
"It's okay."
Yugen smiled slightly.
"This person deliberately waited for us here; even if he didn't steal the card deck, he's most likely involved. A duel is just right. As long as I win, he'll naturally start talking."
"That makes sense..."
Moonwalker nodded.
He opened his mouth, initially wanting to caution Yugen about the peculiarities of this person and to be careful, but on second thought, felt it was unnecessary and somewhat laughable to advise the Duel King, so he stayed silent.
"Then let's begin."
Yugen jumped onto the arena.
Repack stood up.
"Finally, the Duel King... an opponent of such caliber should suffice. I've been looking forward to today, hehe..."
"Duel!" x2
"Then I'll start with the first move."
Repack saw the indicator light on his duel disc light up first, meaning he had the right to choose the first or second turn. Facing the king, he wasn't taking any risks and promptly took the first turn.
"My turn, draw a card!"
He drew a card and placed it on the duel disc.
"First, I'll cover a monster in face-down defense position."
He then drew two more cards.
"Next, I set two cards to the back field and end the turn!"
Yugen calmly observed.
A set monster and cover cards, a very standard opening move for the first turn. But this opening provided no further information.
Even if it were Sword Fighting Beast, such an opening isn't impossible.
But instinctively, he felt it wasn't.
According to reports from the International Fantasy Association and witnesses who saw the attacker, the person was described as wearing a well-tailored white suit, exuding elegance with a rather flashy demeanor.
Yet the current person appeared rough and brutish, with a seemingly wild demeanor.
Well, in any case, they'll know once they start. If it truly is Sword Fighting Beast, being able to face the world champion's card deck from the past, Yugen is quite looking forward to it.
"Then I'll start by activating this card from my hand..."
Yugen waved his hand grandly, and a Magic Card appeared.
"Magic Card 'Power Combination'!"