The Princeton Group wasn't using Duel Academy's dimensional portal this time.
No — they brought their own.
Suspended beneath four roaring helicopters, a massive, gleaming metallic dimensional gate was hauled across the ocean and lowered onto Duel Academy Island, rattling the earth when it smashed down onto the clearing.
Students gasped and stumbled back, a sea of stunned voices rising up, as Chazz Princeton's older brother leapt down along a dangling rope line like some ridiculous action hero.
"Wait, Chazz's brother can do that too?" Syrus Truesdale blinked in amazement, standing in the crowd.
"...They're amateurs," Chazz muttered, staring at the ground.
"Even non-duelists have moves like that?" Jaden Yuki whistled, impressed.
"Alright, Chazz. Get your butt up here already!"
His brother — Slade Princeton — called out with a wide, taunting grin.
"You're coming too, Slade?" Chazz frowned, brows knotting tight. "This isn't some trip for amateurs."
"Hahahaha! Still as clueless as ever, Chazz!" Slade burst out laughing.
"While you've been playing patty-cake with little kids at Duel Academy, we've been upgrading Princeton Group's dimensional tech! Now even regular civilians — yeah, even without Duel Spirit powers — can travel safely into alternate dimensions!"
As he spoke, he clapped his hands. A crew of Princeton Group workers wheeled a massive object covered in a white cloth up to the dimensional gate. Slade yanked the cover off dramatically, revealing a dazzling silver-white transport pod, its surface gleaming like the inside of an obelisk.
"For real?! Even non-spirit users can cross dimensions now?"
"Man, Princeton Group's serious business!"
Chazz opened his mouth to say something, but then just shut it and gave a slow, reluctant nod.
"So, what's this duel even for?" One of the students finally voiced the question bubbling up from the stunned crowd.
After all, Hikaru Amagi and their friends knew the truth, but they hadn't gone around blabbing. The rest of the Academy was totally clueless.
"I heard it's because the Academy owes some company a huge debt..." someone whispered.
"WHAT!?"
"If Chazz loses... the whole Academy becomes property of that company!"
"No way!"
Slade didn't care about the rumors buzzing through the crowd. He just crossed his arms, glaring down at Chazz, sneering openly.
"The Princeton Group exists to dominate the world — business, politics, and the world of Duel Monsters!
Your second brother and I have already conquered the other fields, Chazz — why the hell are you still stuck at this pathetic level!?"
"We spent fortunes backing you — funding tournament after tournament, making you a household name! And now you're wasting your time chasing 'personal pride' at this ridiculous Duel Academy?!"
Slade threw out an arm sharply, cutting the air.
"If you lose today, I'll take over as the Academy's new chairman personally. You'll be fired, Chazz — and after that, you'll make your 'debut' as the world's top entertainment duelist! Like a clown on strings!"
Hikaru shivered instinctively.
"No way — even if it's Chazz's brother, that's just too much!" Jaden shouted, stepping forward. "Chazz is a proud duelist! You can't just decide his fate like that — not even if you're family!"
"Hmph. That guy said the same thing," Slade grunted.
His mind flashed back to a meeting with Seto Kaiba at KaibaCorp — when discussing ownership stakes in Duel Academy.
"Chazz? Hmph. I don't care. Entertainment duelist, show duelist, pro duelist, whatever. If they want to decide it by dueling, fine. That's the way it should be."
Slade smirked and raised his right hand theatrically.
"That's what Kaiba said."
"...Ah crap."
Jaden visibly deflated. Even the other students — those brave enough to want to shout — found themselves shut up. If Chazz's family and Kaiba himself agreed, what could they say?
Only Chazz had the right to speak now.
"It's fine, Jaden," Chazz said coolly, stepping forward. "This is my fight.
I'll prove to everyone — my future, and Duel Academy's, are in my hands!"
Chazz Princeton — standing proud.
Even Hikaru had to admit, Chazz looked damn cool right then.
Slade snorted, then clapped again, barking orders. The crew immediately started setting up the transport system.
Meanwhile, Slade's gaze swept across the crowd — and landed on Hikaru.
"So it's you — the kid who won that city tournament in Tsutono, huh?"
Recognition flashed in Slade's eyes.
Hikaru gave a simple nod.
"Top of your year. Already famous worldwide while still in school.
Interested in joining Princeton Group?"
Hikaru shook his head without hesitation.
Slade didn't look offended — he just chuckled and turned back to Chazz.
"Don't think bringing the strongest classmate with you will make this easy, Chazz.
Don't forget — the contract with KaibaCorp says only you can duel!"
Chazz sighed.
"I know, Slade."
"Good."
Preparations continued: rigging up cameras, prepping the transport capsule.
Meanwhile, Hikaru finally had a quiet moment to chat with Chazz.
"Our Princeton Group... shouldn't have been able to build something like that," Chazz said lowly, eyes narrowing at the glinting transport pod.
"Our company's goal is domination through business, politics, and Duel Monsters.
We don't do high-level scientific research. We don't even have an R&D division."
Hikaru raised a brow.
"Recently... the men Kaiba sent to investigate told me they're backing off.
Because they found out that Professor Leo Akaba is cooperating with Princeton Group."
Professor Leo Akaba — a name from another world, one thick with secrets and ambitions.
In this world — a treasure trove of Duelists and maniacs — of course Leo Akaba would find partners like Princeton Group.
"Yesterday I thought it was just about dimensional transport," Chazz muttered, voice tight.
"But now that I've seen that capsule... I think it's something bigger."
"Allowing ordinary people — people without any spirit connection — to travel across dimensions...
What are they planning?"
Hikaru shrugged slightly.
"Hey, Hikaru."
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to become the President of Princeton Group."
Hikaru blinked, surprised.
Chazz stared at him with burning eyes.
"Just like my mentor... I'm going to take control — and make Princeton Group mine."
Holy crap.
Hikaru thought he had already overestimated Chazz.
Turns out he hadn't even come close.
"I suspect... whatever secret Slade and those scientists are hiding in that dimension... it's important. Hikaru, when we get there — can I ask you to investigate personally?"
Now it made sense.
No wonder Chazz had insisted on him — not Jaden.
Because some jobs couldn't be shouted about in the open. Some missions... needed someone like Hikaru.
"You sure you don't want backup?" Hikaru asked, tilting his head.
"Going into an unknown dimension, shackled to monsters with under 500 attack points — it's dangerous."
"A Duelist doesn't fear danger!"
Even though sweat rolled down his face, Chazz's eyes burned bright.
"Big bro, you're awesome!!"
Right as Hikaru felt the urge to clap, three weird little creatures popped out of nowhere beside Chazz — one yellow, one green, one black, each wearing nothing but underwear and grinning like idiots.
"Ugh—"
Hikaru froze mid-applause.
He knew this would happen... but seeing it live? Still hard to keep a straight face.
"Shut up, you idiots!!"
Chazz flailed, smacking the Kuribohs away.
"What's Chazz doing?" Syrus muttered, confused.
"Uh... I got nothing," Jaden said, staring at the flailing spectacle.
After a few minutes of yelling at his own cards, Chazz stood tall again, trying to reclaim his dignity.
"I researched it! There's a dried-up well on the island — a dumping ground where students toss unwanted cards. I found these losers there!" he declared proudly.
"Big bro, you can't call us losers~!"
"Yeah, that's mean~!"
Meanwhile, Hikaru quietly turned away, pretending to study the crew installing the portal and cameras.
"HEY! DON'T YOU LOOK AWAY TOO!!"
Chazz's frantic shouting echoed across the clearing.
At last, preparations were finished.
Slade shook his head at his idiot brother and barked out final orders:
"Alright, Chazz! Enough fooling around!
Prepare for transport!"
"Target — Allied Hangar!!"