Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Upon hearing the suggestion, Misawa Daichi frowned: "Let me tell you upfront, we're very strong, you know? If you guys couldn't even pass the entrance exam, you could very well be defeated by us in an instant!"

"Hmph! Don't treat us like fools! Being weak is a thing of the past. We are not what we used to be!"

Still showing no sign of backing down, after listening to Misawa's kind advice, the red-haired youth's fighting spirit intensified even further: "Hehehe~~ If the elites of the Duel Academy were defeated by us, they might never be able to recover!"

"you……"

"Let me make this clear from the start: we're now considered some of the strongest duelists in Domino City!"

Pointing to himself and then to the burly man still sitting beside him, the red-haired youth arrogantly declared, "Let's return that sentence to you! In a real duel, you'll be defeated by us in an instant!"

"Oh? You guys are this strong? Interesting... Come on, let's duel!" Hearing the two's words, Yuki Judai, who longed to duel with a strong opponent, immediately stood up excitedly.

After glancing back and forth at the two people opposite him, an eager look appeared on his face.

"Forget it, we are really strong."

Seeing that Yuki Judai seemed to want to challenge them, the burly man spoke up and expressed his thoughts.

As guests invited here, they really had no reason to bully these students who had not yet graduated.

"How will we know if we don't try? This is so exciting! Come on, come on!!!" With no intention of giving up, Jaden Yuki once again proposed the idea of ​​a duel.

"An interesting fellow... Since you've put it that way, then I'll have a go at you!"

Infected by Jaden Yuki's emotions, the burly man, who originally had no intention of fighting, also stood up after a slight smirk: "Let's make this clear, I'm not going to hold back, you know?"

"...No need to hold back!" Patting his chest, Jaden Yuki said with a smile, "Duel is something you have to do your best in!"

……

Thus, at the suggestion of Jaden Yuki, the duel between the burly man and the red-haired youth began.

The two, now wearing their duel disks, followed the crowd to a spacious spot away from the throng, where they began preparing for their duel.

"Iwamaru, it's my turn next round!"

Standing behind the burly man with his arms crossed, the red-haired youth, feeling his role had been stolen, urged him on.

"Okay, I understand, Enmaru."

Nodding to the red-haired youth named "Enmaru," the burly man named "Iwamaru" reached out and placed his deck into the Duel Disk.

Having made his preparations, he then looked in the direction where Jaden Yuki was.

"Huh? Iwamaru and Enmaru, huh? Your names are so similar! Sounds so cool!" After learning their names from their conversation, Yuki Judai couldn't help but tease them.

Needless to say, Yusei and his friends were standing next to Jaden Yuki at this moment, playing the role of bystanders.

"Speaking of which..."

Having prepared for the duel, Iwamaru raised his head and looked towards where Jaden Yuki was, asking curiously, "Boy, we still don't know your name."

"……me?"

After a slight pause, Judai Yuki smiled and introduced himself: "My name is Judai Yuki!"

Enmaru: "...What!?"

Iwamaru: "Yushiro Judai?!"

Upon hearing Yuki Judai's self-introduction, the two of them were momentarily stunned.

Enmaru, who was standing to the side, immediately showed an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, while the willows you plant without intention may thrive...

Just as the two carrying out Saiou Mijuchi's orders were feeling frustrated because they couldn't find Yuki Judai and Yusei, Yuki Judai took the initiative to find them.

Furthermore, they even invited those who were on the opposing side to their camp.

Unaware of each other's identities, the two unexpectedly embarked on a friendly duel...

Is this astonishing coincidence some kind of destiny?

543 Enmaru: What about me?

"What?! That's Jaden Yuki?!"

"Really? Are you really that Jaden Yuki?"

Upon hearing Yuki Judai's self-introduction, both Enmaru and Iwamaru showed expressions of shock.

After learning the true identity of his opponent, the red-haired Enmaru gave up his plan to watch the battle and came to the side of the burly Iwamaru.

"...Huh? What...what happened?"

Seeing the unpredictable expressions on the two people's faces, Jaden Yuki, with a row of question marks on his head, scratched his head in confusion.

What's going on? Why the sudden change of attitude? I don't think I've ever seen them before.

"Heh...you ask why?"

Iwamaru, his attitude drastically different from before, let out a cold snort and frowned as he said, "That's because we are subordinates of Saiou Mijuchi, one of the Imperial Guards!"

"...The Ice Ball and Thunder Ball that you defeated before were our comrades! After losing that duel, they were sealed in a mirror by Lady Misuzuchi, losing their imperial power... And now it's our turn! Now... do you know why?"

Yusei: "...So that's how it is? These two people with 'Maru' in their names are also in that group..."

Yusei, who was standing behind Jaden Yuki, also showed a look of certainty after hearing the two's explanation.

Originally, after he first learned their names, he had suspected that their identities might be related to the previous Bingwan and Leiwan.

However, at that time it was just a suspicion.

However, after the two revealed their identities, his doubts turned into certainty.

"Iwamaru, Enmaru... So this time the opponent is the Emperor of Fire and Earth attributes, is that right?"

Stroking his chin and pondering his opponent's deck composition, Yusei uttered his guess: "Judai, this duel looks like it's going to be interesting!"

"Ah...that's what I was thinking too!" Jaden Yuki waved to Yusei behind him and then got ready for the duel again.

There's no turning back once the arrow is released; no matter what... this duel will continue.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The mastermind behind the scenes, Saiou Mijuchi, whose true form is located inside the shrine, also uses the mirror artifact in his hand to constantly monitor Enmaru and Iwamaru's every move.

Upon noticing that they were about to duel with Jaden Yuki, Misuzu's lips curled into a pleased smile: "Oh? Iwamaru... seems to be making things interesting! I didn't have any expectations for him originally."

"But... the situation is still a bit boring. I can't sense any sense of crisis from them at all~"

"Let me put some pressure on them."

With a glint in her eyes, as if she had thought of something interesting, Miyuki gently waved her arm.

The sleeves of the red and white shrine maiden's dress swayed gently, and as Misuzuchi moved, an identical mirror suddenly appeared on the head of the red-haired man Enmaru, who was on the other side of the mirror.

As it appeared, a strange white light began to emanate from the mirror.

Before Enmaru could react, he was completely bewildered and sucked into the light...

"...Enmaru? Master Mijuchi?!"

Seeing his companion being absorbed, Iwamaru immediately broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat on his forehead.

Realizing that this scene was the work of Misutomo, his heart couldn't help but clench with anxiety.

The confident look that had been on his face was gone; now, all that remained was terror.

"Alright! I'm giving you Enmaru's cards, now your deck is perfect... Now use this power to defeat Jaden Yuki!"

The ethereal voice of Misuzu echoed in everyone's ears.

Upon hearing this instruction, Iwamaru hesitated slightly: "But... if that's the case..."

"Hmm? You have a problem with it? You don't want to?"

Seemingly sensing Iwamaru's inner thoughts, Misuzuchi on the other side began to add a threatening tone to her words: "Are you trying to say... that your power is something so boring that it's not even worth watching?"

"This...I..." Realizing that if he continued to resist, he would follow in his companions' footsteps, Iwamaru wisely shut his mouth.

After a moment of struggling thought, he made his decision, his brow furrowed as he pointed his Duel Disk at Jaden Yuki: "...Duel!!!"

As Iwamaru shouted, the Duel Disks unfolded one by one on his arm.

"……very good!"

Seeing the change in Iwamaru's aura, Misuzu, on the other side of the mirror, nodded in satisfaction.

Indeed, pressure is a motivator.

It was only after witnessing Enmaru's fate that Iwamaru was able to truly demonstrate his determination to fight!

"It seems that reasoning with them won't work..."

Gazing at Iwamaru's resolute expression, Jaden Yuki paused, then simultaneously unfolded his own Duel Disk: "...Duel!"

(Yujo Judai LP: 4000)

(Iwamaru LP: 4000)

"...I'll attack first. It's my turn. Draw a card!"

Taking advantage of the moment when Iwamaru's mind was disturbed by Misuzu's antics, Jaden Yuki shouted and seized the initiative, drawing a brand new card from his deck.

After looking at his hand, he pondered for a moment, then placed a monster card from his hand onto the Duel Disk: "...Normal Summon [Neo-Spacian Connector] (Warrior/LIGHT/Level 4/ATK: 800/DEF: 1800), and activate her effect. When this card is successfully Summoned, Special Summon 1 [Neo-Spacian] monster or 1 [Elemental HERO Neos] monster from your hand or Deck in Defense Position!"

"...Come on! NEOS!"

A white female Ultraman with a chibi-style figure, from the same nebula as the New Universe Warrior, appeared on his field as Jaden Yuki shouted.

With a gentle extension of its right index finger, a dazzling seven-colored light shone from the monster's palm.

Guided by this light, Jaden Yuki's ace monster, Elemental HERO Neos, with an attack power of 2500 and a defense power of 2000, appeared in front of Jaden Yuki in a defense-positioned state.

With his thick arms crossed and his body crouching, Shin-Uchi became Jaden Yuki's strongest shield, taking the brunt of the impending damage in his place.

"Next, I'll lay a trap, and the turn ends!"

Unable to attack in the first turn, Jaden Yuki quickly ended his turn after summoning his ace monster, handing the initiative to Iwamaru.