["Welcome to the Link System."]
["Identity verified. Deck scan complete."]
["Please enter your ID."]
ID, huh…
Kira pondered.
He was currently trying out the new device he'd received from Kaiba Corporation, with an upgraded Link System. Last time he and Mokuba logged in, it seemed they were using GM accounts or hadn't properly tested the login process, so no ID was needed.
He thought for a second, then casually typed: "JoyfulDuelist."
Simple and honest—the best way to express his approach to dueling.
He believed that, through this Link System, more and more people would come to appreciate the joy of dueling.
["Logging into Virtual Domino City. Countdown: ten… nine…"]
As the numbers hit zero, a blue current made of ones and zeros surged in, engulfing his vision. Kira felt his body suspended as if swept into cold waves. He spun along with the current, sinking into a swirling vortex.
His feet touched solid ground again. He landed in a half-crouch, looking down—his body was gradually changing from virtual to solid, and data ripples shimmered around him.
He remembered Mokuba's explanation. His body here was just virtual data—just a simulation. But his consciousness was projected into the system.
Classic KaibaCorp metaphysics.
Kira stood up and looked around. He found himself in a massive city.
Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, their designs blending streamlined and geometric aesthetics, with silvery surfaces glowing like flowing data.
In the center stood a giant energy tower, shaped like a massive crystal, covered in blue light. At its core was the KaibaCorp "KC" logo.
Yet the vast city was deserted, like a still life. No noise, no energy, and even time itself seemed slow and heavy.
"Well, it's still closed beta—a ghost town…"
He walked down the street.
He opened the player interface, which had basic features:
Deck editor for the current deck.
Search function for cards in your inventory.
City map, marked with key locations, friends, etc.
Most buildings weren't open yet, but he found a shop and a duel arena on the map.
He followed the map to a store.
"Welcome."
A young clerk smiled.
"Can I help you?"
"You guys did a great job here," Kira looked around, "It feels real."
The clerk kept smiling: "Can I help you with anything?"
Kira paused, then stepped closer to the counter, where several buttons appeared:
[Chat]
[Buy]
[Sell]
[Leave]
Kira: "…"
He'd just been admiring the realism, and suddenly it felt like an old-school RPG.
He tried talking a few times and realized the clerk was just an NPC, with intelligence about on par with a classic RPG NPC. Maybe KaibaCorp would upgrade her AI before the official launch.
"Buy."
He clicked.
There wasn't much—just regular cards you could buy at any real-world store, not nearly as rich as the Academy shop's selection.
He tried buying a card, but found he couldn't get it in-game—it would be shipped to him in reality.
Cards in the Link System weren't virtual data; you had to scan the physical cards before logging in.
Besides cards, the shop also sold clothing and accessories for use in Link World—even motorcycles and hoverboards.
You could buy these virtual goods with points earned from duels in Link World.
Kira didn't have any points yet, so he left and kept exploring.
The arena was open too—the Link System's core feature. Here, anyone could duel with players worldwide, regardless of location.
Mokuba said there were a fair number of beta testers. If he was lucky, he might even get to duel some pros.
As he walked toward the arena, the shadowy form of Black Luster Soldier materialized beside him.
"What is it?" Kira asked.
Spirits' powers worked in the virtual world too—he'd tested this with Mokuba before.
BLS floated there, pondering.
"Incredible," he suddenly said.
"What do you mean?"
"This place," BLS explained, "A space created by humans—so real…"
"Oh, this? It's a data world, it's all fake," Kira said. "It's hard to explain, but everything online is virtual."
"No," BLS shook his head.
"I understand what a data world is. But this? While it may be based on data, it's more than that."
Kira blinked. He realized—BLS had space-manipulating powers. Maybe he could sense things normal people couldn't.
"As I said, this is almost an independent dimension created by artificial means. Honestly, I can't imagine humans today could make something like this."
Kira didn't get it, but thought, Don't underestimate Kaiba.
After all, the president once managed to storm the afterlife to duel the Pharaoh. His tech is beyond normal comprehension.
"Compared to your usual world, this place is closer to ours," BLS said.
"The spirit world?" Kira asked.
"Yes. I can feel it now—from here, there's only a thin wall separating us from a certain spirit dimension."
BLS gestured with his sword.
"If you wish, I can show you."
You could enter the spirit world from this Link System?
Kira realized Kaiba's system might be more than just an online dueling simulator.
And BLS was just the right spirit to unlock its potential.
"Sure, let's take a look."
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