"I'm teasing you. Of course, I know it's impossible. But seeing your expression? You actually took me seriously."
Asuka Tenjoin chuckled softly as she turned toward the setting sun, interrupting You Feng's thoughts with a knowing smile.
"..." You Feng.
For a second, he genuinely believed Asuka had seen through him completely—was about to call him out on his hidden knowledge and secrets.
But then she dropped that final line, and it turned out to be a joke.
Was she always this sharp? That was almost unfair.
"Not staying the night?"
You Feng asked casually, hoping to keep her around just a little longer.
"...???" Asuka blinked, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
---
Domino City – Industrial Illusions R&D Lab
Inside a secure server room under the KaibaCorp tower...
"President Kaiba, we've checked these five top duelists you marked, but none of them show clear database matches. The digital traces are minimal," said Isano, tapping away at a keyboard.
Kaiba Seto turned his back on the screen, folding his arms. "Understood. Then begin investigating the profiles with the strongest public duel records first."
He wasn't chasing phantoms—he was building prestige. And to do that, he needed to defeat the best duelists publicly.
He also had to be the one to claim the Duel King's title for himself.
---
At that same moment, a surge of notifications reached duelists across multiple regions.
"Beep—Beep!"
"Huh? A Duel Kingdom invitation?"
Mai Kujaku raised an eyebrow at her phone.
"Winner's prize—ten million yen. Runner-up—three million. Third place—one million?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Duel Kingdom? Pegasus is back in play... That sounds like a challenge worth accepting. A month to prepare? Bring it on."
Even as she smirked, duelists like Weevil Underwood, Bandit Keith, Ryuzaki, and Jun Manjoume received similar messages—personal invites to the newly launched tournament.
Southern Duel Academy students also got alerts. So did a dozen satellite duelists from the outer districts.
With such grand rewards, the top fifty were invitation-only, but another fifty spots remained—for those who passed a brutal audition phase.
"Wait—there's a new Duel Kingdom? Hosted alongside the Kaiba Group's own tournament?" a student exclaimed.
"Too much money to ignore. Let's get moving. We can't lose to the Illusion Society's original deck core."
---
Duel Academy Campus
Ryo Marufuji's phone buzzed quietly as he stood alone in a shaded corridor.
"An invitation... from the International Illusion Society? Duel Kingdom?"
He studied the digital card before closing the screen silently. Without replying, he turned and walked toward the main dormitory. Something was off.
---
Meanwhile, in a bustling card shop on campus…
"Whoa! These ultra-rare cards are insane!" Shou Marufuji exclaimed, face lit up with admiration. "These top-five duelists must be monsters."
Then he blinked, realizing something.
"Big bro?!"
Judai Yuki, his usual sparring buddy, had quietly slipped away.
Judai had been lured into the forested back mountain—by none other than Titan, one of the Seven Stars. In his hand: a puzzle piece imbued with Millennium energy.
The duel had already begun.
---
Elsewhere, You Feng stood on his dorm balcony, gazing at three shimmering cards in his hand—his Wangli Magic Library.
"These aren't just rare—they're divine."
He sighed, slipping them away into his deck box.
"But I still don't have the full Exodia set... Once I do, this Instant Kill combo will be unstoppable."
"You Feng!!"
A sudden shout broke the night's quiet.
You Feng peered down from the Obelisk dorm—only to see none other than Yugi Mutou and Katsuya Jonouchi.
"Do you guys not sleep?!"
He was startled, but chuckled and headed down anyway.
"You Feng, have you gotten your invitation yet?"
Yugi asked without preamble.
"What invitation?"
You Feng tilted his head.
Yugi showed his phone—highlighting the Duel Kingdom tournament, hosted by Pegasus himself.
10 million yen to the winner. It was huge.
You Feng frowned.
He hadn't gotten an invite. Then again, he'd only been in this world for a short time. If he hadn't crossed paths with Yugi that day, he might still be a nobody.
"You don't have one?" Jonouchi asked, puzzled. "With your skill?"
"Doesn't matter," You Feng shrugged. "But I assume this isn't why you came looking for me?"
"No... Anzu's missing!"
Yugi's expression turned serious.
"We thought she might be with you," Jonouchi added.
"What?! Why would she be here?"
You Feng blinked hard, then scowled. "You're looking for a missing friend, and the first thing you ask me about is an invitation?"
"Let's go!"
He bolted into the night. The others scrambled to follow.
---
You Feng dashed through the woods behind Duel Academy.
"Hey! Where are you even going?!" Jonouchi panted. "You're too fast!"
Just then—
"Skreeeee!"
A burst of bats flitted overhead, forming eerie patterns.
"Bats...?"
You Feng narrowed his eyes.
There was only one duelist he knew who used bats like that.
Vampire Camula.
"Come on. I know where she is."
He clenched his fists.
The Seven Stars might've pulled back temporarily, but now they were going after innocents again. He wouldn't let them get away with it.
"You already know?" Yugi asked, catching up beside him.
"Follow the bats. They'll lead us to Mazaki Anzu."
A new voice joined from the shadows.
"Big bro!"
Shou Marufuji and Hayato Maeda sprinted into view. Misawa Daichi and Asuka Tenjoin weren't far behind.
"You Feng?!"
Asuka blinked in surprise. She had just come from his room moments ago. Yet here he was, charging into the night.
Without hesitation, she joined the group.