Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Overwhelmed with shock, Bingmaru, upon seeing the result before him, blurted out a crude exclamation.

While he was still stunned by the tragic outcome, the trap card he had activated earlier, "Head Judgment," was destroyed because of Jaden Yuki's correct choice.

Entangled in purple lightning, the trap card turned into golden specks of light and was sent to the graveyard of the Ice Ball.

At the same moment, the bullet from the musket in the arquebusier's "Life Start Again" gun pierced the surrounding air and accurately struck [Escher, a retainer of the Hyotei].

With a loud, violent gust of wind, [Escher, the retainer of the Ice Emperor], who was acting as the tank, was bounced directly back into the Ice Ball's deck...

540 Seto Kaiba, a living legend!

While Yusei and Yuki Judai were fighting against Hyomaru and Raimaru, on the other side, Manjoume, who had broken away from the main force, arrived at the shrine where his sister, Saiou Mijuchi, was located after receiving instructions from Saiou.

"As per Lord Saiō's orders, Lady Mijuchi, I have come to fetch you."

Entering the dimly lit cave deep in the mountains, Wan Zhangmu, with one hand on his chest and his body slightly bowed, displayed an extremely humble attitude towards the black-haired shrine maiden before him.

As the younger sister of Saiou, Misuchi held a position second only to Saiou in the hearts of the members of the Society of Light.

Therefore, even Manjoume, who is currently a member of the society, is inferior to her in terms of status.

"Um... You've worked hard."

With a soft voice, Saiō Mijuchi nodded slightly in the direction of Wan Zhangmu.

Then, she turned her gaze to the distance beyond the ancestral hall.

She could sense that after she used the power of the emperors to create a barrier sealing off Domino City, Hyomaru and Raimaru, who had previously received her orders, were now engaged in a duel with Jaden Yuki and Yusei...

……

At the same time, the headquarters of Haima Group was shrouded in dark clouds.

Just as Manjoume was meeting Mijuchi, Saiou Takuma, traveling alone, arrived at the Haima Group building in a long, luxurious sedan.

For the sake of his next plan, he had to come here to get someone's permission in person.

"The president is waiting for you."

"Ah, thank you for your hard work. Now, please take me there."

The moment he stepped out of the car, the black-clad bodyguards from Haima Group came forward to greet him, intending to take him to the president's office on the top floor of the Haima Group building.

Nodding to the bodyguards with a playful smile on his face, Zhai Wang then followed behind them, passing through the corridor and elevator, and arrived at the top floor of the Haima Group.

Even someone like Saio couldn't help but feel a little nervous about meeting Seto Kaiba.

With this mindset, Zhai Wang entered the room and immediately spotted the man in the white trench coat standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window with his back to everyone.

As a living legend, a man who dared to face the divine might, even if he did nothing but stand there in an ordinary manner, he brought an inexplicable and enormous pressure to the King of the West.

When it arrives, scorching winds will sweep across the land, and the living will become corpses! When light and darkness meet, the ritual to summon the obelisk will begin!

Without a doubt, the man before him was the real Seto Kaiba, the wielder of Obelisk the Tormentor, one of the three Egyptian God cards!

"As expected of the legendary duelist chosen by the God Cards, Seto Kaiba... This man is indeed..."

"...You, are you Saiou Takuma, the leader of the Society of Light?"

Just as Saiou was stunned by President Kaiba's aura and began to think about the appropriate words to say next, President Kaiba, who was facing away from everyone and wearing his signature white trench coat, turned his head in the next instant, looked behind him, and took the initiative to speak to Saiou who had entered the room.

King of the West: "..."

He stood ramrod straight, radiating an aura of royalty, and behind him, a white sprite seemed to float faintly.

This was Saiō Takuma's first impression of Seto Kaiba.

Although Saiou could not see the existence of the Duel Spirits, he vaguely sensed that Seto Kaiba, like Jaden Yuki and Yusei, was a very special duelist favored by the Spirits.

With his ambition to conquer the world, Saiou will one day face off against a legendary duelist like Seto Kaiba.

As someone who would one day stand before Seto Kaiba, Saiou always harbored a slight fear of the renowned Seto Kaiba.

Therefore, before that day arrived, Prince Sai was also thinking that this meeting would be the first confrontation between the two.

Let Seto Kaiba take this opportunity to experience firsthand just how magnanimous he is!

"Oh ho ho ho~ What an honor! I never imagined that the legendary duelist—President Seto Kaiba—would know the name of a country bumpkin like me~"

Shaking his head and letting out a self-deprecating laugh, the King of the West then said something with a smile that carried a hint of mockery.

Facing President Kaiba, feeling that he lacked presence, he voluntarily lowered his stance.

"Hmph! No need for such excessive modesty!"

Kaiba shifted his gaze slightly, fixing it on Saiou's body, and then spoke calmly: "The Society of Light... lately, even if you don't want to hear it, you have to hear this name. Saiou... you, who have established your own power in Duel Academy, seem to have sensed something like destiny guided by the gods, right?"

"Oh dear, how disrespectful! I have always been filled with awe and reverence for God!"

Blinking, Saiou, who was being stared at by President Kaiba, frowned and put on an innocent look: "...In my opinion, everyone, including myself, is just a prisoner of fate...and what I am doing now is just guiding those who are lost and confused!"

"...Because I possess some unique powers, I can sometimes glimpse glimpses of future destinies through the cracks of the Gate to the Future. That's why those who yearn for the truth willingly follow me... What special things can I do?"

"Ah……"

Kaiba simply smiled faintly at Saiō's remarks.

Clearly, he did not believe the fate that the prince spoke of, nor did he believe that the students, who seemed to be possessed, had voluntarily chosen to submit to the prince's command.

However, even though he was aware of the king's actions, he had no intention of taking action.

After all, the current era belongs to the younger generation, and there is no need for established veterans like him and Yugi Muto to deliberately steal the spotlight from the younger generation.

The current situation regarding the Destroyer of Light no longer requires his extensive intervention.

Just like when Yugi Muto first gave Jaden Yuki the Winged Kuriboh.

President Kaiba only needs to make a fleeting appearance and offer Yusei and the others a few hints and assistance; that will be enough.

The proud White Dragon Envoy, whose soul is engraved with the word "awesome," has never wronged anyone, and leaves others with only the impression of being arrogant, cool, and awesome.

This has been true in the past, and it will be true in the future.

Women can affect the speed of drawing cards, but Duel Spirits can't!

The duelist named Seto Kaiba has already found his own star, and found the one he can spend his whole life with...

He's very busy right now, in every sense of the word.

"Ahem, let's leave this topic here... Actually, I came here today because there's something I'd like to ask you, President Kaiba."

"...Oh? Tell me about it."

“Okay.” Clearing his throat, Saiou ended the previous conversation and stated his purpose: “Actually, regarding the school trip currently underway at Duel Academy, I would like to borrow the president’s Kaiba Park for a bit…”

"...Seahorse Paradise? Ha...use it as much as you want!"

Seto Kaiba immediately sensed Saiou's ulterior motives.

However, he didn't care.

Turning back to look at the scenery outside the window, President Kaiba casually agreed to Saiou's request.

!【[

"I'm relieved to hear that! Well, since I have nothing else to do, I'll take my leave now!"

Like an employee meeting the company president, Saiou, filled with trepidation, bowed respectfully to Seto Kaiba's retreating figure.

Having achieved his goal, he smirked and quickly left, returning to the limousine he had been riding in.

"Things are going more smoothly than I expected... Seto Kaiba, whom I regarded as a formidable enemy, has lost his former passion, hasn't he... It seems that I was just worrying too much."

Having distanced himself from Seto Kaiba's aura, he regained his rhythm and returned to his previous relaxed state.

Even though Seto Kaiba realized something was wrong, he didn't intend to stop his plan.

Analyzing the information he had gathered from his previous observations of the seahorse, he finally came to this unexpected conclusion.

“Sai-o is pondering… Ha, what a reckless man!” On the other side, after Sai-o’s figure disappeared, Kaiba’s lips curled into a pleased smile.

Yusei... let me witness this as an observer. Can you resolve this crisis...?

"President, should we keep an eye on him?" Isono, the man in black who serves as Kaiba's personal butler and driver, asked considerately about how to deal with Saiou.

"No need. Let him do whatever he wants. I have no interest in his motives." Shaking his head slightly, the seahorse then turned his gaze to the distant view outside the window.

Just as Yusei and the others sensed, Kaiba had also long ago noticed the sealing array erected by the Emperors surrounding Domino City.

On the same high-rise building where he and Yugi once fought side by side, duelists of a new era are now battling against the apostles of the Society of Light for the sake of world peace and beauty…

……

"【Archer Castel】's effect activated successfully! Ice Ball, and Thunder Ball... Now there are no monsters on your field!"

In a battle of luck against Jaden Yuki, who is blessed with the protagonist's aura, Hyomaru suffered a complete and predictable defeat!

As the trap card was sent to the graveyard due to its own effect, the [Ice Emperor Retainer Escher], which was being used as a meat shield in front of him, was also bounced back to the deck by the effect of [Archer Castel].

Now that they're in an empty arena, they're about to be met with a hero combo from Jaden Yuki!

"【Archer Castel】 has an attack power of 2000, but Ice Ball & Thunder Ball still have 5600 HP left... In that case, Big Brother and the others will have to continue the deployment, right?"

Observing the situation on the field, Kenzan, who was watching the game, shared his opinion.

At this point in the duel, the situation on the field has become quite clear.

After struggling for a while, Ice Ball and Thunder Ball have exhausted all their methods. Next, Jaden Yuki and his team only need to simply stack their attack power to achieve an unquestionable victory.

In this situation, if Marufuji Sho were to take the lead, it would be much harder for him to make a mistake.

“…Next, I activate the Spell Card [Fusion] from my hand!” As expected, Jaden Yuki pulled out the Hero's Soul Card from his hand: “I will send [Elemental HERO Mist Lady] and [Elemental HERO Neos] from my hand to the Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!”

"...Come forth! [Elemental Hero - Valiant Neo-Universe Warrior] (Attack Power: 2500)!"

New Universe Warriors, now clad in red and purple battle armor, descend from the sky accompanied by the light of a fusion summoning, their new form marked by the indicator light on their chest changing from blue to green.

At this moment, his fists were clenched, and his body was surrounded by layers of dazzling starlight.

"The attack power of [Elemental HERO Neos Brave] will increase the attack power of [Neo Slider] and [Elemental HERO] monsters in my Graveyard by 100 points!"

In Jaden Yuki's graveyard, in addition to the previously destroyed [Neo Space Hero: Radiant Moss] and [Elemental HERO: Nendoroid] which were sent to the graveyard as super materials, there are also [Elemental HERO: Shadow Mist Lady] and [Elemental HERO: Neo Space Hero] which were sent to the graveyard as fusion materials.