Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"What exactly is that robot...?"

Stunned by the unexpected arrival of this intruder, everyone stopped in their tracks and began to cautiously examine the newcomer.

Or rather... a robot...

Its silvery-white steel body exudes a cold, mechanical luster.

And on that spider-like upright mechanical body, there was an upright petri dish.

The figure of an elderly man, emaciated and almost nothing but skin and bones, was submerged in nutrient solution and quietly protected in a petri dish.

The sound that had just blocked everyone's way came from the external speaker on the robot's surface.

"Hehehehehehe... Principal Samejima... Have you already forgotten my voice?" The giant robot, with its mechanical arm extended, walked up to the sealed pedestal and chuckled in a sinister tone, displaying its body to everyone without reservation.

"That voice is... Chairman Kagemaru!!!" Principal Samejima's eyes widened suddenly upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Unexpectedly, he actually made a personal appearance!

"Kagemaru..."

"...Chairman?"

Repeating Principal Samejima's explanation, Yusei and the others then focused their attention on the robot, Kagemaru.

"Hehehe... The time is ripe. The ritual to resurrect the Three Phantom Demons will now take place here!" With his arms raised high, Kagemaru began to emanate a strong negative aura.

Jaden Yuki: "...What on earth is going on?!"

Manjoume: "Why did the seal break on its own?! Wasn't it said that the Seven Star King had to defeat us first?"

Kagemaru: "Hehehe...that's because I planned everything in advance!"

Everyone: "...What?!"

Youxing: “…”

With his arms raised high and displaying the self-discipline of a villain, Kagemaru began to recount the whole story: "In the very beginning, it was this kind of mechanism! The one who sealed the Three Phantom Demon Cards here and then entrusted the seven keys to Principal Samejima was myself!"

"What? That means..."

"That's right, the so-called key... is just a pretext for me to collect duel energy so that you can fight the Seven Star King!"

425 Surrender to me, or die!

"Jie Jie Jie Jie..."

"That so-called sealing key to the Seven Star Gate... is nothing more than a pretext for me to collect the dueling energy needed for resurrection so that you people can fight against the Seven Star Kings!"

With a mechanical arm extending towards the pedestal, Kagemaru picked up the Three Phantom Demons cards from it and put them into his own hand. Finally unable to contain himself any longer, he began to laugh wildly: "Hahahaha!!! Years ago, with the help of Daitokuji, I obtained the legendary Three Phantom Demons cards, which are said to grant eternal life and world domination!"

"...The reason we joined forces with Kaiba to establish this academy was simply to train duelists suitable for resurrecting the three Phantom Demons!"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Asuka couldn't help but retort upon hearing this: "Are you saying that we've been used by you from the very beginning?"

"Yeah! You old codger... stop saying such nonsensical things!"

"We must create our own future!"

Following Asuka's words, everyone expressed their opinions.

What kind of international joke are you kidding?

Are we just tools for your Kagemaru?

...You're a liar, right?

"Heh..." Hearing the crowd's rebuttal, Kagemaru let out a mocking sound: "Pathetic fellows, completely unaware that you are just stepping stones!"

Without the slightest remorse, having obtained the Shadow Pill of the Three Phantom Demons, he unleashed all his evil aura into the surrounding space: "If you know what's good for you, obediently give up any thoughts of resistance and submit to me..."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for using you as my primary sacrifices after obtaining the power of the Illusionary Demon!"

You lowly beasts, just like the dead Daitokuji, obediently become sacrifices on my path to immortality!

Judging from Yingwan's current appearance, he clearly had no intention of pretending to be a benevolent chairman to gain so-called sympathy.

"Who wants to surrender so easily!" Yusei glared at the old scoundrel and decisively rejected his suggestion.

"In that case, in order to crush your ambitions, I will be your opponent!"

Extending his right arm, pointing directly at the smug-faced Kagemaru, Kaiser Ryo's face was filled with unwavering determination: "I am Kaiser of Obelisk Blue... Marufuji Ryo! I am more than enough to be your opponent!"

"No! This duel... must be accepted by me, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand Lightning Bolts!!!"

"Don't think you can just easily cover up the humiliation you've caused me!"

After learning that the seal was broken not because of him, but because of Kagemaru's prior preparations, Manjoume breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a surge of annoyance.

You old geezer... how dare you make me take the blame for you!

How dare you!

I don't care if you're the chairman of the Duel Academy or whatever, anyway... today I'm going to make sure you, old man, regret it!!!

"Manjoume, don't steal my thunder!"

Still dressed in a cool beach outfit, holding a violin, Tenjōin Fubuki patted Manjōme on the shoulder and announced her name: "This duel... should be your opponent, me, Blizzard Prince—Tenjōin Fubuki!"

Sho & Hayato: "King...Prince?"

"Me too..." Seeing everyone's fighting spirit, Jaden Yuki also tried to extend his arm, wanting to say the words of challenge.

However, Kagemaru simply waved his mechanical arm in front of him and said, "No! My opponent is not you... but Yusei, who has defeated the Seven Star Kings the most!"

Kagemaru directly rejected everyone's challenge requests, opened his cloudy eyes from the petri dish, and looked at Yusei: "Yusei, if my opponent is not you, who possesses the strongest spirit power, then everything is meaningless!"

"So... this duel already had a pre-selected opponent?"

Yusei, who had been called upon by Kagemaru, shrugged and walked to the opposite side of him.

At the same time, golden lightning began to emanate from the tops of the seven obelisks that emerged from the ground.

These electric lights intertwined with each other, connecting at the tower's apex, and gradually enveloped Yusei and Kagemaru, who were located in the center of the circular crater.

Aside from the two of them, those who hadn't been invited, such as Manjoume and the others who had rushed out with Yusei earlier, were suddenly repelled by an inexplicable force and thrown to the outside of the seal...

"From now on, this place will be transformed into a dueling arena."

Pointing to the surrounding rings of electricity, Kagemaru continued, "...If you refuse my challenge or forcibly leave this place, then this island... will sink directly as I previously planned!"

"Varied……!!!"

"...What?!"

"Simply...sink directly???"

"Really? This is no joke!"

Upon hearing Kagemaru's words, the onlookers all showed expressions of shock.

How did a perfectly normal game of cards suddenly become related to the survival of the island?

Is your next step to save the world by playing cards?

"Heh... It's alright, as long as I defeat you." Under everyone's gaze, Yusei confidently raised his Duel Disk with an air of ease: "...Duel!"

Enough with the chit-chat, let's get straight to the duel!

For a mastermind like Kagemaru, the mastermind behind the chaotic evil faction, no amount of empty talk can compare to a direct, physical attack that cuts to the heart.

There's nothing that a single corrective punch can't solve.

If so, let's have two!

Jaden Yuki: "...Oh! Yusei! Let's count our share and teach that old man a lesson he won't forget!"

Manjoume: "Hmph! I won't allow you to lose like this! Get serious!"

Asuka: "Yusei... let's put an end to all the events that have happened recently."

"Ha...a bunch of ignorant brats, they don't know the immensity of the world!"

"Yusei, let me look forward to... your miserable, tearful appearance after your defeat!"

Disdainful of Yusei's arrogant remarks and the others' childish reactions, Kagemaru sneered and simultaneously activated the Duel Disk on his mechanical arm: "...Alright! Let's begin our Dark Duel!"

"...Duel!!!"

(Yusei LP: 4000)

(Kagemaru LP: 4000)

"My turn, draw a card!"

Looking around at the space affected by the power of the phantom demon, Yusei, who took the initiative to attack, swung his arm and suddenly pulled out the top card of his deck, then displayed it in front of him.

"……coming!"

Kagemaru: "Oh?"

Looking at the card he had just obtained, Yusei smirked, raised his Duel Disk, and placed the card in the side area of ​​the Duel Disk: "...Field Spell [Rampage Magic Circle] activated! As part of the activation process for this card, I add one [Summoner Aleister] from my Deck to my hand."

A crimson magic circle, engraved with strange patterns and emitting a faint glow, rapidly expanded outwards from Yusei's feet as the magic card was activated, eventually encompassing the entire area surrounded by the obelisk.

At the same time, Yusei also retrieved Aleister from his deck.

"Next, I summon [Summoner Aleister] in Attack Position and activate his effect to search my Deck for another [Summoning Spell]!"

The white-robed mage, wielding the Holy Codex of Magic and a staff of twin serpents, slowly revealed himself at Yusei's call.

At this moment, a frivolous and mocking smile was on his face, as if he were laughing at the idiotic old man opposite him who was overestimating his abilities and trying to control the three Phantom Demons by himself.

[Summoner Aleister] (Attack Power: 1000)

"Ha... a monster with an attack power of 1000, what trash... You dare to make that kind of face at me?!"

With a look on his face that said, "You're the worst class I've ever taught," Kagemaru then turned his mocking gaze to Principal Samejima behind Yusei: "Samejima, is this the strongest student you've ever taught? This performance... is truly disappointing!"

"Uh……"

Principal Samejima, who was innocently caught in the crossfire, wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked helpless: "...I never taught Yusei...he figured out all his duels on his own."

The strength that Yusei has shown during this period alone has already reached the level of a professional duelist.