Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"..."

Looking at the smile on Caesar's face, Marufuji Sho felt a sense of unease.

It was as if he was about to lose his closest family member...

"elder brother……"

"...Shut up, you brat!"

With a flick of his finger, Camilla silenced Marufuji Sho's words. After waiting for half a day, Camilla finally took action.

"Caesar~ I don't need to tell you what to do next, right?"

“If you want to save your brother, then exchange yourself for him… Surrender and show me your sincerity… Otherwise…” Camilla narrowed her alluring eyes and looked at Caesar, her face showing not only a threatening expression but also an uncontrollable pleasure.

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Caesar!

I admit... in a duel, I am indeed inferior to you...

But... when will a dark duel ever be fair to you?

I may not be able to beat you, but so what?

In the end, isn't the victor still me, Camus?

Do you really want to achieve some kind of victory by sacrificing your own brother's life?

Even if I do nothing next, would you dare to attack me?

You wouldn't dare!!!

Then, I have won!

"Caesar! Your soul... I shall take it!"

Lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the window, and at the same time, a dazzling light burst forth from Camilla's eyes.

She triumphantly stretched out her arm to Caesar, who had given up resistance.

A purple flame shot out from her palm and drifted towards Caesar.

Then, like Professor Chronos who had been defeated earlier, Caesar, whose body was enveloped in purple flames, disappeared into the deep ancient castle along with the monsters on the field.

"...Caesar!!!"

"……elder brother!!!"

"……Bright!"

As gasps of surprise rang out, the blank doll in Camilla's hand, which had absorbed Caesar's soul, slowly transformed into a chibi version of Caesar.

Naturally, the second key to the Seven Star Gate, which Caesar possessed, also fell into Camilla's hands.

"I'll take his doll."

Holding Caesar's doll carefully in his arms, Camilla, who had won by despicable means, beckoned to the crowd with a triumphant declaration: "Don't worry, as my most precious doll... I will definitely take good care of him~~~"

“...Camus! Murray!”

With a palpable rage burning in his eyes, Jaden Yuki, who had witnessed Caesar's final moments, clenched his fists and roared in defiance, "Caesar... he didn't lose!!!"

Professor Chronos, Kaiser Ryo...

Their true strength was clearly far greater than that of this vampire, yet they were forced to leave the stage in bitterness for various reasons.

How could he possibly accept such an outcome?

Shouldn't duels be something that brings joy to everyone?

Why... do I feel so much pain?

Unforgivable!

I will never forgive... the person who started this duel... and caused everyone pain!

I must win... and bring everyone's souls back!!!

"Jūdai... don't forget what Professor Chronos said at the end!"

Seeing that Jaden Yuki seemed to be showing signs of turning to the dark side, Yusei quickly patted him on the shoulder, pulling him back from the edge of the abyss.

The Great King Judai, it's not your turn to make an appearance yet!

"Hahahaha...Say what you want..."

"...Close the door and see the guest out!"

Laughing and waving his arm, Camilla, having secured his second victory of the night, vanished like a gust of wind, leaving the crowd speechless and silent...

……

"Seven doors...have two already been opened?"

Inside the principal's office, feeling the tremors coming from underground, Principal Samejima, with his hands behind his back, gazed worriedly at the distant sky.

The night was pitch black, without a single ray of light, just like the darkness in his heart at that moment.

Although Yusei defeated Darkness, the vanguard of the Seven Stars, through his efforts, he lost two important comrades when facing the second Seven Star, Camilla.

"...Isn't it a bit too cruel to subject them to such a trial?"

Along with this sudden sound, a black and white image suddenly appeared on an LCD screen not far behind Principal Samejima.

On the other side of the screen, an elderly figure, whose features were obscured, was speaking in a leisurely tone, offering words of persuasion to Principal Samejima: "Samejima... why don't you just hand over the remaining five keys to me? That would save us from further pointless sacrifices..."

"...Becoming a vampire's 'work of art' isn't a pleasant experience!"

"……I reject!"

Without even a second thought, and without even turning his head, Principal Samejima rejected the man's proposal without hesitation: "The outcome of the duel will not be known until the very end!"

"Hmph! This time even your prized disciple, Marufuji Ryo, was dealt with! Don't you care at all?"

"That's Liang's choice, and I have no right to interfere."

"Even Marufuji Ryo couldn't handle Camilla... who are you planning to send to their death next?"

"This... you don't need to worry about it."

"..."

"..."

After a round of their usual banter, both sides tacitly fell silent.

Got it!

If this argument continues, it will never end.

I'm here to persuade them to surrender, not to start a fight!

On the other side, Principal Samejima, who had remained silent, unconsciously frowned as he pondered the series of recent events.

A mysterious dueling group that calls itself the King of the Seven Stars, possesses dark artifacts, and holds certain information about their side.

If... then the enemy was inside from the very beginning, then it's easy to understand.

"Chairman Kagemaru... are you that afraid of your own death?"

A rather unfamiliar name came from Principal Samejima's mouth.

...Kagemaru.

Or rather, the chairman of the Duel Academy, Kagemaru.

That mysterious figure, whose name is only heard but never seen, seems to exist only in public places such as student handbooks.

The person on the screen behind him was none other than the mastermind hidden behind the Seven Stars—Chairman Kagemaru!

This old friend of his, this man who had once created countless glories, and who shared the same dream as him...

However, in his old age, driven by his own selfish desires, he premeditated and instigated such a far-reaching attack!

...How foolish!

Admittedly, Duel Academy itself was established by Kaiba Corporation, but in addition to the president Seto Kaiba, that legendary man, there are also some wealthy and powerful bigwigs who invest as members of the board of directors.

After all, no matter how powerful a seahorse is, it can't take care of everything on its own; it always needs someone to share some of the pressure.

His allies include his lifelong nemesis Yugi Muto, his wife Kisara (the spirit of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon), Pegasus, Yui Amamiya, his younger brother Mokuba whom he grew up with in the orphanage, and Isono, who is his bodyguard, butler, referee, enforcer, and confidant...

(Isono:......)

Perhaps, we should also add that eyesore of a mere mortal—Katsuya Jonouchi…

But relying on them alone is far from enough.

Therefore, even a proud company like the Seahorse had to accept cooperation from some conglomerates, such as the Manjomo Group, during its development and expansion.

The previous farce caused by Manjoume's two older brothers was a result of a compromise to some extent, stemming from their cooperation...

Or perhaps it's just Haima's personal quirky sense of humor.

Heh heh...Trying to stir up trouble, huh?

Oh well, it's okay! Go ahead and cause trouble!

If you slink back in with your tail between your legs, don't blame me, Seto Kaiba, for not giving you any face!

...Hmph!

352 Heroes always make their appearance at crucial moments!

The real power of the Duel Academy is mostly in the hands of these council members.

As for Kagemaru, he is the chairman of the council, and his status in Duel Academy can even be said to be second only to Kaiba!

If he hadn't faded from the public eye due to aging, the one who now holds the reins of the Duel Academy wouldn't be the bald Samejima, but him.

Anyway...

As the principal, Samejima is the Samejima Instructor who teaches "Cyber ​​Flow" at his own dojo, but at Duel Academy, he is just the Samejima Principal who doesn't have much of his own opinion.