Dawn broke over the horizon, the first line of light spilling across the sea and striking the cruise ship.
Kisaragi yawned as she stepped out of her room—and immediately saw Kaiba sitting on the sofa, nodding off.
So this is Kaiba Seto's sleeping face… she thought, oddly stunned. That's unfairly handsome.
Almost without thinking, she walked over and gently draped the blanket that had slipped off him back onto his shoulders.
Kaiba sensed someone close.
His eyes snapped open, and in the same instant he seized her wrist—fast, sharp, instinctive.
But the moment he recognized her, he let go in a fluster.
"S-sorry. Did I hurt you?"
"I'm fine," Kisaragi said, cheeks warming. "Your blanket fell off. I was just putting it back."
"…Thanks."
"Morning!" Téa appeared, stretching as she stepped out.
"Did you sleep okay? Was it cramped?" Kisaragi asked.
"No, it was fine. I'm just grateful you took us in—otherwise we'd be out there freezing."
Then the ship's broadcast crackled to life:
"We will soon arrive at Duelist Kingdom. All duelists, please gather on deck!"
Kisaragi turned to Kaiba. "Kaiba, let's go."
"Yeah."
As they stepped out, the door next door opened too—Yugi, Joey, and Tristan emerged. The six exchanged looks and headed for the deck together.
A huge crowd of duelists had already gathered. Kisaragi looked toward their destination.
On the island, the most striking landmark was a yellow castle standing in the center like a beacon.
"I'm guessing that's where we're headed," she said.
No one replied. They simply stared at the castle.
The ship docked. Staff directed duelists down the gangway, and a large group of black-suited guards waited at the pier to receive them.
But the moment Téa and Tristan stepped off, they were stopped.
"You two aren't participants, are you? Non-contestants are forbidden from entering the island. You'll return on this ship."
Tristan forced a grin. "We're the cheer squad. Come on—cut us some slack."
"No. Non-participants are not allowed."
Kisaragi watched the guard refuse to budge, then stepped forward.
"They're with me. If you're worried about responsibility, contact Pegasus—I'll speak to him personally."
The guard's attitude changed immediately.
"So they're people brought by Miss Kisaragi… my apologies. Mr. Pegasus instructed us to do our utmost to accommodate your requests. If they're with you, then they may enter."
Téa exhaled in relief. "Kisaragi, thank you. If it weren't for you, Tristan and I might already be sent back."
"It's fine," Kisaragi said. "And with you two here, Yugi and Joey will duel with less to worry about."
Yugi and Joey looked genuinely happy.
Kaiba, on the other hand, said nothing.
The duelists were guided along the island paths until they reached the gates of Pegasus's castle. Once everyone had assembled, Pegasus stepped out slowly from within—followed by a white-haired elderly man who looked like a butler.
Pegasus scanned the crowd, lips curving into a thin smile.
"Miss Kisaragi… Kaiba Boy… and Yugi Boy… you've finally arrived!"
He lingered a heartbeat longer on those three—then shifted his gaze to the rest.
"Welcome! Welcome to Duelist Kingdom!"
He spread his arms wide on the castle platform. The crowd erupted with cheers.
"Now, allow me to explain the rules. All duels will be conducted using Duel Monsters cards. Bring forth your strongest decks and battle to your hearts' content!"
He continued:
"All contestants should have a duel glove and two metal Star Chips. Your glove contains ten slots—insert your Star Chips into them."
"These Star Chips serve as proof of entry, and they will also be the wager in duels."
So the loser hands their chips to the winner… and once you lose all your chips, you're eliminated, the Pharaoh thought inside Yugi's mind.
Pegasus went on:
"The entire island is your battlefield. Only those who gather ten Star Chips will earn the right to enter this castle."
"Duels will begin in one hour. You have forty-eight hours. Any duelist who fails to collect ten Star Chips within that time will be deemed a failure—and will be forcibly removed."
"Now, duelists… I wish you triumph!"
With that, Pegasus turned and walked back into the castle, laughing quietly to himself.
Miss Kisaragi… Kaiba Boy… Yugi Boy… if you want to face me, you'll have to survive this island first.
After the speech, the duelists dispersed, searching for opponents.
Yugi's group clustered together.
"Yugi… what do we do? Just start dueling people?" Joey asked.
"We have to," Yugi said. "It's the only way to collect Star Chips."
Kisaragi stepped into their circle. Kaiba stood a short distance away, watching—clearly uninterested in "joining" them. If Kisaragi weren't here, he'd already be moving alone.
"Yugi," Kisaragi said, "I have a proposal."
"What is it?"
"I listened carefully to the rules," she said. "You collect Star Chips by dueling… but he never said you must wager your own."
Kaiba's eyes sharpened first, instantly catching her meaning. Yugi also understood. Joey and the others, meanwhile, looked lost.
"What does that mean?" Tristan asked.
"We have four duelists," Kisaragi said. "So we act as a team. In a duel, the one who duels can wager not only their own Star Chips, but also Star Chips from the rest of us. That forces the opponent to put up more chips too. We'll reach ten faster."
Yugi nodded. "That would accelerate collection a lot."
"I refuse," Kaiba cut in.
"That's too risky. If the duelist loses, you don't just lose your own chips—you lose everyone's at once. I don't know Yugi's true skill level, and I won't trust that third-rate duelist."
His stare tilted toward Joey.
"The only person I trust is you."
Then, without hesitation:
"If it's my Star Chips for you to use, I'd hand them over without the slightest doubt."
Kisaragi's heartbeat kicked up involuntarily.
Joey exploded. "Kaiba! You're saying me and Yugi are trash?!"
"Hmph. Aren't you?" Kaiba said with effortless contempt. "You're the one who lost to me."
"You—!"
Kisaragi raised a hand, cutting the argument off before it turned into another shouting match.
"Then we do it this way," she said evenly. "Let Yugi and Joey duel first. You watch the duel—then decide whether you can trust them."
…
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 30
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 30
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