Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

If we go back a little further in time, the former Obelisk Blue dormitory is now the headquarters of the Society of Light.

Having transferred to Duel Academy, Saiou naturally has a spacious and luxurious private room all to himself.

One evening, with a determined heart, Ed came alone and knocked on the door of the King of the West.

“Ed... I felt it was about time you came.”

Even without turning his head, the Prince of the Palace, who was in the room, had already realized who the newcomer was.

While washing the tarot cards in his hands, he curled the corners of his mouth and announced the identity of the person who came after him.

"Saiou, what exactly are you planning to do? Why did you specifically establish the so-called Society of Light in this Duel Academy? Do you really intend to use this to rule the world?"

Pushing open the tightly closed door, Edward saw the familiar back of the King of the West.

A series of questions poured out of Edward's mouth. With many questions in her heart, she vented all her confusion to the culprit in front of her.

“…Ed, you have too many questions.”

"It's been so long since we last met, and all you're doing right now is blaming us?"

Without directly answering Edward's question, Saiou, still with his back to her, spoke slowly, "Speaking of which, I'm the one who wanted to ask you this: after knowing all this, why do you still stay in this Duel Academy?"

"That's because if I stay here, I can see you."

Ed narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly, giving the answer he had already prepared.

If they were outside the island, even Edward wouldn't be able to pinpoint Saiō's exact location.

However, the situation is completely different on the island where the Duel Academy is located.

What's abundant here are the lackeys and followers of the Jai King; you can find out the Jai King's exact location by grabbing any passerby in a white uniform.

In the Duel Academy today, Saiou Takuma is that famous.

"Is that so? Is this your answer? You came all this way just to see me?"

Without giving a direct answer to Edward's question, Saiō stopped shuffling the cards: "I think... the real answer isn't like that, is it? The reason you're still here is because... this is your destiny!"

"...My destiny?"

"That's right, the reason you and I came to this Duel Academy is for the same reason... Our fates, which were originally in a stagnant state, have been drawn into a vortex of violent change at this destined point in time... And the person who can transcend the fate I have pointed out has also created his own vortex in this academy..."

Those who transcend fate refer to the overlord chosen by the darkness of the universe. This refers to the wandering star who has found his own path, and also to the future overlord, Judai!

Gazing at the Tarot card representing the Wheel of Fortune in his hand, Saiou then began to recount the results of the divination: "Yusei, Yuki Judai... and even you, Edward, with you heroes at the center, all the pieces have begun to gather on the chessboard."

Edward: "...a chess piece?"

Prince Zhai: "Hmm... In the face of fate, even I am but an insignificant pawn."

With a soft sigh, Prince Sai let out a self-deprecating sigh: "...Ed, as long as we are both pawns, our relationship will remain one of equality..."

"That's not what I want to hear!"

Frowning, Edward noticed the conversation seemed to be veering off-topic and quickly waved his hand to interrupt Saiou, who was about to speak: "...Saiou, what I want to know is about the Society of Light!"

"Why? Why didn't you tell me about this? Is our friendship really just this much?"

"In your eyes, my value, my strength... are they not as good as Manjoume and Asuka?"

Edward still remembers the figure of Saiō Takuma, who held up a large umbrella to shield him from the wind and rain at his father's funeral, and who was like an older brother to him.

The grief of losing someone important, the anger at one's own powerlessness, and the regret for the irretrievable past.

At that time, King Jai was able to deeply empathize with the suffering that Edward had experienced, and was able to shed tears filled with sorrow from the bottom of his heart.

It was with the help and encouragement of the Sai-o siblings that Edward was able to emerge from the shadow of his father's death and thus strengthen his resolve to seek revenge and become stronger.

“Ed... if you truly feel the friendship between us, then remain silent now and peacefully submit to the guidance of fate.”

Without comparing Edward to Manjoume and the others, Saiou said this with a tear of sorrow welling up in one of his eyes: "One day, you will have your chance to appear... Until that time comes, please wait patiently."

"So, you mean I should stay silent and not say anything?"

Upon receiving this unsettling reply from the King of the West, Edward instinctively frowned.

However, at this moment, she wisely gave up her plan to continue questioning the King: "I understand... Your Majesty, then let me observe what you plan to do next!"

Since the King of Jai doesn't want to talk, staying here any longer is pointless.

Realizing this, Edward immediately turned and left without hesitation.

Next, it will be up to her to investigate the inside story of this series of events herself.

……

Time returns to the present.

On the first day of Shura's journey, at the port, Misawa Daichi questioned Edo about Saiou's purpose.

"...What on earth is that Prince Zhai thinking?"

Misawa Daichi's words revealed his doubts about Saiō himself.

From the moment he appeared, everything began to go wrong.

"Heh... Saiō's thoughts are probably beyond the comprehension of a duelist of your caliber, aren't they?"

After giving Misawa Daichi a somewhat disdainful look, Edward uttered a casual remark.

Although she was also unaware of Saiō's true intentions at this moment, it did not prevent her from making a one-sided personal evaluation of Misawa Daichi.

Before the [Hero of Destiny] who possesses her own will, the duelist named Misawa Daichi is no match for her.

No wonder the King of Jai would place him at the very bottom of the priority list.

"...What? What do you mean by 'at my level'?"

Pointing emphatically at himself, Daichi Misawa continued defiantly, "...Ed, don't underestimate me! You should know that I possess the power to travel to Obelisk Blue at any time!"

"Heh... If that's the case, then why haven't you been targeted by the Society of Light yet? As far as I know... Yusei, Jaden Yuki, and even Kenzan have members of the Society of Light challenging them, but you... you've been completely ignored by them~"

Having ruthlessly punctured Daichi Misawa's pride, Edward propped his cheek on one hand, tilted his head adorably, and continued his merciless attack: "Speaking of which... I remember Saiou saying that he would admit duelists into the Society of Light according to their intrinsic value. It seems that it's still not your turn yet~"

"Ugh...!!!"

Tired of Edward's poignant words, Daichi Misawa immediately turned around, intending to seek help from Jaden Yuki and the others: "Hey! Jaden, don't just stand there watching, say something for me... Hmm? Where are they?"

"...Hey! Jaden, Yusei, Sho, Kenzan!!! Where are you guys?"

While Daichi Misawa was discussing matters related to Saiou with Ed Phoenix, Yusei and his group, who were not interested in the topic, had already left the port and headed to where they wanted to go.

Therefore, after Edward shook his head and left, all that Misawa Daichi, left alone, could see was the empty air around him.

……

"Big Brother Judai, and Big Brother Yusei! Look... over here, over here, this is where Yugi Muto and his best buddy Jonouchi are having their death match!"

At another port.

Walking at the front of the crowd, Kenzan pulled out a guidebook similar to the one Marufuji Sho was holding, adjusted his non-existent glasses, and said with a mocking smile, "Full of romance and friendship, and the clash between justice and evil... this is undoubtedly a legendary place!"

"Ah... Kenzan, you actually stole my lines! Unforgivable!" Sho Marufuji, who was a step too slow, watched helplessly as Kenzan said what he originally wanted to say, and immediately complained, "I'm the tour guide now, you better get out of my way!"

"Hehehe~~~ Who told you to be so slow, Marufu-senpai? Judging by this, I should be the one to be the tour guide!"

"Ughhhh!!! Damn it!!! Kenzan... I'm your senior, shouldn't you, as my junior, show me some respect?"

"Huh? What did you say? I didn't hear you?"

"What the hell..."

"..."

The closest point to the port is a location where a famous scene once took place.

In the past Duel City era, Malik, the mastermind behind it all, used Jonouchi's sister Shizuka as leverage to force him into a life-or-death duel with Yugi Muto.

Witnessed by Seto Kaiba, Kyoko Masaki, and other close friends and family, in order to awaken Jonouchi's heart, which was being manipulated by Malik using the Millennium Item, the kind-hearted girl followed the traditional superpower of Yugi-ou and confessed her feelings to Jonouchi in front of everyone (literally). Then, she resolutely chose to sacrifice herself and jumped into the seawater by the harbor.

Meanwhile, Jonouchi, who was awakened, broke free from the restraints imposed by Malik and, with the help of his sister, rescued Yugi Muto.

The group, bound by friendship, successfully thwarted the six-year-old's scheme...

535 The Great Dao is enraged

Malik Ishtar, the "King of Facial Expressions," was born a rebellious youth who refused to submit to his fate. In order to end the thousand-year mission of the Tomb Guardians, when he saw his brother Rishid being beaten unconscious with a red-hot iron, his dark personality awakened. He then used the dagger hidden in the Millennium Staff to kill his father with his own hands. Afterwards, he established the Duelist Hunter Group, which focused on stealing, robbing, and selling rare cards—"Gurus."

After the Duel Kingdom arc, taking advantage of the gap period when Pegasus disappeared, Malik once again ventured into the field of fake card manufacturing, printing a bunch of Dark Wizard parts and distributing them to his subordinates.

After that, taking advantage of Seto Kaiba's Duel City event, he laid a series of traps for Domino, using one of the Egyptian God cards, the Sky Dragon of Osiris, as bait, in an attempt to take the life of the nameless Pharaoh, thus triggering a series of incidents.

He awakened his dark personality at the age of ten, and at the age of sixteen, this personality was shattered by King.

As the young master of a tomb-guarding clan, Dark Malik, a "six-year-old" who wielded the strongest of the three Egyptian Gods, the Winged Dragon of the Sun, and held the Millennium Staff, lived a short life filled with mysterious legends.

The place where he once fought against duelists such as Yugi and Kaiba has now naturally become the place that Yusei, Jaden Yuki, and the others must go to this time.

After Judai Yuki resolved the dispute between Sho Marufuji and Kenzan, the pedestrians began their walking tour of Domino City as planned.

After passing the riverside under the overpass where the traitorous dragon galloped and the building of the Kaiba Group where the giant soldier once stood, the group finally arrived at their destiny's place, Chicken Sauce... which is also the card shop of Yugi Muto's grandfather, Sugoroku Muto.

"...It's back, everything is back."

Looking up at the familiar scenery before him, a strange light flickered in Yusei's eyes.

When Yusei first came into this world, he earned his first pot of gold here and also met the benefactor in his life.

It was precisely because of this material foundation that he, as a transmigrator, was able to quickly adapt to life in this world and truly have a place for himself in an unfamiliar environment.

Therefore, upon returning here, Yusei felt a mix of emotions, more so than Jaden and the others who were filled with curiosity.

"Waaaaah~~~ Is this Mr. Game's house?"

Standing in front of a small green villa next to the shopping street, with a "GAME" sign hanging at the entrance, Jaden Yuki's face showed an extremely excited expression: "Look! Yusei, this is the legendary place! I wonder if I can see the fourth Blue-Eyes White Dragon card that President Kaiba tore off here!"

"...Blue-Eyes White Dragon is alright."

Hearing Jaden Yuki's innocent and harmless sigh, Yusei couldn't help but touch his chin.