"Ugh…"
In a shadowed corner, Dark Marik doubled over, retching.
"So the moment I finally come out, I get played like this… Kisaragi Aoi—I'll remember this. In the finals, I'll bury you completely in darkness!"
Yugi, Jounouchi, and Mai had all collected six Locator Cards and discovered the Finals location. They piled into Mai's sports car and sped toward the venue.
WHOOOOM—WHOOOOM—
A helicopter roared overhead.
"That's Kaiba's helicopter," Yugi said, looking up.
Inside the helicopter, Kaiba and Kisaragi sat together. Kisaragi waved cheerfully down at them.
Kaiba, on the other hand, stared with a blatantly provoking look—like he was announcing a victory before the match even started.
"Hmph. Keep following the tracks I've carved into the dueling road," he muttered.
"Oi! Kaiba got ahead of us again!" Jounouchi yelled at Mai, as if shouting would make a car sprout wings.
"Idiot," Mai snapped. "A car can't chase a helicopter!"
Domino Stadium
Only duelists who cleared the Battle City preliminaries were allowed into Domino Stadium.
Kaiba's helicopter descended and touched down smoothly. Standing before them was a massive airship—its hull gleaming, its scale absurd.
Ishto (Isono) and his colleague Hachisuka (the round-faced staffer people jokingly called "Fugu-chan") approached with formal efficiency.
"President Kaiba. Miss Kisaragi. Congratulations on passing the preliminaries. These are your Duelist IDs—No. 1 and No. 2."
He handed them two cards stamped clearly: 1 and 2.
"Has anyone arrived before us?" Kaiba asked.
"Not yet. You two are first."
Mokuba pointed toward the stadium entrance.
"Brother—Yugi and the others are here."
Kaiba and Kisaragi turned. Yugi, Jounouchi, and Mai walked in, each holding their completed set of Locator Cards.
"Confirmed. Here are your Duelist IDs."
Yugi: No. 3
Jounouchi: No. 4
Mai: No. 5
Kaiba's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Three more… and one of them is Marik," he thought.
The Sixth Duelist Appears
A slow clap echoed.
"Heh heh heh… looks like everyone's gathered."
A man stepped forward—calm posture, familiar presence.
"Rami?!" Jounouchi blurted.
"No," Kisaragi said at once. "He's not Rami."
"Then who—?"
Kisaragi's gaze hardened.
"He's Marik. The leader of Rare Hunters."
Kaiba's expression tightened. "So that's the man with The Winged Dragon of Ra…"
The newcomer smiled—wrongly. Too sharp. Too pleased.
"Seems I'm not welcome," he said. "But the 'unpleasant things' done to you weren't really me, you know."
His laugh spiraled, darker with every breath.
"The original was too gentle. If it were me—HAHAHAHA—"
Anzu and Shizuka unconsciously rubbed their arms, visibly unsettled.
Jounouchi stepped forward, fists clenched.
"You're the one who brainwashed me and made me duel Yugi! I'm not letting you walk—"
The Millennium Puzzle flared.
Yami Yugi appeared, eyes cold.
"…You're the dark personality inside Marik."
Dark Marik's grin widened.
"Finally, someone with sense. Nameless Pharaoh—my host's wish is simple. I'll help him bury you. And you—"
His eyes slid to Kisaragi.
"You made me suffer last time. After I finish the Pharaoh, you're next."
Kaiba moved instantly—half step forward, body shielding Kisaragi.
"As the tournament organizer, I could revoke your eligibility," Kaiba said, voice like steel. "But I won't. I'll defeat you myself and take your God Card. So don't try anything unnecessary in the finals."
Dark Marik ignored him completely, walking past to Ishto and placing his six Locator Cards down.
"Congratulations. Duelist ID No. 6."
Bakura Arrives
A gentle voice followed.
"Hello, everyone."
"Bakura?" Jounouchi said, startled. "Are you even okay? You were badly hurt!"
Bakura smiled—soft, harmless, almost too harmless.
"I'm fine. I'm here to participate."
He held out his six Locator Cards.
"What?!"
Yami Yugi's eyes narrowed—his instinct screaming.
Bakura received ID No. 7.
Dark Marik watched him with open interest.
"He gathered six that fast…?"
Isono's Announcement: The Duelist Airship
Ishto stepped forward, raising his voice so it carried across the hangar.
"Seven finalists. I have an announcement."
"This—Domino Stadium—is not the true finals venue."
He gestured behind him. The airship loomed like a floating fortress.
"The finals will take place aboard the airship behind me: the Duelist Airship."
Gasps rippled through the group.
"The dueling site is located at 1,000 meters in the sky."
The airship's hatch opened with a deep hydraulic groan.
"Please board. When the eighth finalist arrives, we will depart. Rooms have been prepared—only your Duelist ID cards can open them."
The finalists began boarding one after another.
But as Anzu and the others moved to follow, Ishto held out an arm.
"Anyone without a Duelist ID is prohibited from boarding the Duelist Airship."
"What?!" Anzu's face fell.
Shizuka looked crushed.
Kisaragi stepped forward calmly—smiling, but her eyes offered no warmth.
"Rules are dead. People are alive. Whether they board or not doesn't affect the tournament."
She turned her head slightly.
"Right, Kaiba?"
Kaiba didn't hesitate.
"Do as Kisaragi says."
Ishto's face went pale. Sweat beaded at his temple.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Kisaragi's voice remained light, but it was unmistakably an order.
"Also—key players are here. We can depart once the eighth arrives."
Anzu exhaled in relief.
"Thank you, Kisaragi!"
Shizuka beamed.
"Now I can watch my brother duel!"
Teasing, Embarrassment, and a Brief Peace
Mai slid beside Shizuka with a grin.
"Shizuka—if I beat your brother in three moves, don't cry, okay?"
Jounouchi flared instantly.
"Who're you calling easy?! I won't embarrass myself in front of my little sister!"
Mai laughed behind her hand.
Shizuka tilted her head, innocent.
"Mai-oneechan… you seem to care a lot about my brother."
The air went dead silent.
Mai's face went bright red.
"I-I don't care about him at all!"
She flailed so hard it looked like she might fall off the ramp.
Jounouchi froze, then panicked.
"Wait—no—what she means is—!"
Kisaragi chuckled softly.
"This is… kind of fun."
Kaiba clicked his tongue.
"Pointless."
He caught Kisaragi by the wrist and tugged her forward.
"Come on. Rooms."
Assigned Rooms: Neighbors
Kaiba and Kisaragi received:
Room 1 — Kaiba
Room 2 — Kisaragi
Adjacent rooms.
Kaiba spoke in a lower tone—businesslike, but careful.
"Go in and rest. I'll call you when it's time. If you need anything, contact the crew from Room 1 or use the room phone."
"I got it," Kisaragi replied.
The Eighth Finalist
Outside, Ishto and his colleague exchanged uneasy looks.
"What do we do…?"
A figure approached—quiet, confident—holding six Locator Cards.
"Congratulations," Ishto said, recovering his professional face. "You are the eighth finalist. Here is your Duelist ID."
The newcomer took the card and boarded without a word.
Ishto turned to the crew, voice ringing out.
"Battle City Duelist Airship—takeoff!"
Engines thundered.
The massive vessel began to rise, carrying the finalists—and the storm waiting for them—into the sky.
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 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 139)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter171)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter100)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter184)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 168
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 156
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 105
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 185
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 160
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 150
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 76
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 97
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 116
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 75
Uma Musume: I Want All 93
I Can Copy Unique Skills 79
Summoning an Evil God, but the 55
Supernatural Multiverse 75
My Harem Is Indescribable 68
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 70
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 66
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 69
Still playing traditional Honk 49
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 53
What Should I Do After Switchi 42
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 50
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 38
Transmigrated as Sukuna 35
Checking In in Demon Slayer 40
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 55
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