Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"If I win, you'll have to return the stolen deck and apologize to Professor Chronos... If I lose, you're free to leave tonight, and we won't chase after you..."

281 This is the path I have chosen!

"Oh...? So... you're willing to let me go?"

Upon hearing Yusei's words, Kagurazaka showed an expression of interest.

His gaze passed over Yusei opposite him and fell upon the group of people behind him.

Misawa Daichi: "Emmm... Yusei, are you alright? That's Yugi-sensei's deck!"

Marufuji Sho: "That's right! Even Yusei... can't do anything about that monster!"

Jaden Yuki: "Don't worry! Since Yusei did this, he must have his reasons. We just need to patiently watch over him!"

Misawa Daichi and Marufuji Sho both wore worried expressions, while only Yuki Jaden had complete faith in Yusei.

As for Hayato... Hayato says he doesn't understand anymore...

Youxing: “…”

Kagurazaka: "...?!"

Seeing that Yuki Judai and the others did not express any objection, Kagurazaka's arm, which was originally intended to throw the deck into the sea, suddenly froze in mid-air.

"...What good would it do me to duel you?"

Seeing the situation reverse and his threats seemingly having some effect, Kagurazaka's expression became playful.

Even the heart that was extremely irritated by the physical pain suddenly felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Now, it is you who are begging me to duel, not the other way around.

Well then, show me some sincerity! You bastard!

...How can this little bit of benefit be enough?

Modo modo! Give me more!!!

"Tsk... You think that's not enough?"

Having seen through Kagurazaka's greedy thoughts, Yusei pondered for a moment before slowly speaking again: "You must have heard what Marufuji Sho said earlier, right? Don't you want to reign supreme at the top of Duel Academy? Defeating me is equivalent to defeating Caesar... Don't you want that honor that everyone admires?"

At this point, Yusei changed the subject: "Or... are you afraid to duel me? Do you think you'll lose to me in a duel?"

"Hahahaha...Scared? Me, scared of you?"

As if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, Kagurazaka burst into laughter, reinserted his deck into the Duel Disk, and then forcefully pointed his finger at Yusei: "Osiris Red trash... I know how you beat Caesar... but! Since you're so eager to die... then I, Lord Kagurazaka, will mercifully grant your wish!"

"Speaking of which... your name is Yusei, right? After you go to hell, you'd better remember that the one who defeated you was me, Lord Kagurazaka!"

With a fierce fighting spirit shining in his eyes, Kagurazaka's thoughts were pulled back to the duel by Yusei.

Taken the bait...

Professor Kunonos, this time you owe me!

With this thought in mind, Yusei immediately raised his Duel Disk: "Since it's decided, let's go!"

"Hmph! You don't need to say anything more!"

With a cold snort, Kagurazaka, his face darkening, drew five cards from his deck and shouted loudly in Yusei's direction, "Duel!"

Seeing this, Yusei calmly shouted the slogan to announce the start of the duel: "Duel."

(LP of Kagurazaka: 4000)

(Yusei's LP: 4000)

"Since you initiated the challenge, then... it's my turn to choose who goes first!" Kagurazaka's expression gradually twisted as he placed his finger on his deck.

"...Do as you please."

Yusei simply shrugged indifferently at Kagurazaka's little scheme.

Whether he attacks first or second, it doesn't make much difference to him now.

Moreover, Yusei's opponent was not Yugi Muto himself, the King of Duel, but Kagurazaka, who used his deck and was a pathetic person whose soul was corrupted by Duel Monsters, leading him to his own doom.

Even with a terrifying weapon like the [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Knight] in his hands, I have no reason to lose to such a duelist.

At his most triumphant moment, in his area of ​​expertise—duel—he utterly defeated him!

Kill the heart, cut off the mind, destroy the soul...

Let it fall into an endless abyss...

This is Yusei's plan.

……

“Then… I choose to go first!” With a smirk, Kagurazaka drew a card from her deck: “My turn, draw!”

(Kagurazaka's hand: 5→6)

"Hehehe... I'll show you the infinite possibilities contained in this deck!"

As Kagurazaka said this, he drew a card from his hand and showed it to Yusei opposite him: "From my deck, I send a Level 6 or higher Spellcaster monster to the Graveyard. I activate the effect of the monster card in my hand - [Magician Twin Souls] (Spellcaster/DARK/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0)!"

"Send this card to the graveyard, or Special Summon this card from your hand."

"A mage-type monster of 6 stars or higher...?" Yusei raised an eyebrow.

"That's right, the monster I chose to send to the graveyard is a 7-star mage-type monster—[Dark Magician]!"

A card was automatically ejected from the deck. Kagurazaka, who drew this card and sent it to the graveyard, then sent the "Magician's Twin Souls" card that he had been holding in his hand to the graveyard as well.

"Kagurasaka... what exactly is that guy trying to do?"

Seeing Kagurazaka's actions, which were different from those in the previous duel, Marufuji Sho couldn't help but show a puzzled expression.

Infinite possibilities?

Could this be yet another new combination?

"The follow-up effect of [Magician's Twin Souls] activates! When this card is sent to the Graveyard by its own effect, I can Special Summon 1 'Dark Magician' or 'Dark Magician Girl' from my Graveyard."

Marufuji Sho: "What...?!"

“In other words…” Kagurazaka continued, his face contorted as he flicked his finger, “Through the effect of [Magician's Twin Souls], I essentially Special Summoned a [Dark Magician] directly from my deck!”

"Come forth! Supreme magician, the king's most loyal servant!"

"Special Summon - [Dark Magician]!"

As Kagurazaka finished speaking, a black and gold circular magic circle unfolded in front of him.

Within that, the dark magician Mahad, dressed in a purple robe and holding a cyan magic wand, once again revealed himself.

"Attack power 2500... Is that the protagonist monster's exclusive attack power?"

Looking at the dark magician Mahad who was staring at him silently, Yusei couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"..."

Mahad's expression became somewhat subtle upon reappearing in the dueling arena shortly afterward.

Just as he was sighing slightly in disappointment, a strange feeling suddenly arose within him.

In the darkness, the black magician Mahad seemed to sense a strange yet familiar aura.

It wasn't the Blue-Eyes Girl who was his nemesis, but something else entirely, an existence that could rival his ultimate form—the Super Magical Dragon Knight…

"One...no! Two indomitable wills...?!"

With a surprised expression, Mahad began to speak in human language right there in the dueling arena.

This voice was different from the sound transmission of the chestnut ball; everyone present could hear it clearly.

Upon seeing this scene, not only everyone present, but even Kagurazaka, who was in control, was stunned.

What exactly is going on?

Why do Duel Monsters possess their own will?

"Black Magician...you..."

"...!"

Just as Kagurazaka was about to say something more, she suddenly noticed the black magician's glance at her out of the corner of her eye.

Kagurazaka, caught in that glance, was like a lamb being stared at by a lion, unable to put up any resistance...

"...Is this the same place as before? But this time...there are a few more people..."

After threatening Kagurazaka and scanning the surrounding scenery, Mahad finally fixed his gaze on Yuki Jaden and Yusei.

The boy with the jellyfish-shaped hair in the back exudes an aura similar to Seto Kaiba, suggesting that one day in the future, he might very well embark on a path of dominance without hesitation...

But! An even stronger talent emerged in another boy who was his opponent.

"Young man... what path have you chosen?"

With his eyes fixed on the direction of Yusei, Mahad, who had not yet discerned Yusei's path, couldn't help but ask himself a question.

Unlike the Pharaoh's (Yugi Muto) benevolent rule, unlike Seth's (Seto Kaiba) domineering style...

What I sensed in this young man was a completely different path...

"My path..."

Upon hearing Mahad's question, Yusei fell into a state of deep thought.

It seems the duel can't continue without an answer...

Is it the path of life?

So you mean what you plan to do in the future, and the direction you're working towards, right?

So……

"The harem system?...No, no, no!!! You can't just say that outright..."

"Domineering? That's the tyrant's business... What does it have to do with me? Besides, I already said back then that I don't need to follow the same path as him..."