After chatting with Young Petty Magician for a bit longer ("Just call me Ruby!") You made your way back to the others, Ruby disappearing for some reason even though she told you nobody else should be able to see her.
After a quick breakfast with the others you all eventually came to the agreement to go your separate ways, you had more than enough Star Chips to enter the castle by now but Yugi, Joey and Mai still needed to collect a few mores, so with that decided the gang eventually set off, though you swore you saw Ruby appear behind Tea for just a moment and whisper something in her ear, causing her to jump and look around wildly.
Soon enough though it was just you and Mai left.
"...Welp, we certainly tossed away the meeting with each other next in the finals agreement fast." You chuckle awkwardly, not quite sure what else to say.
Mai just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I suppose we did…" As an awkward silence over you both eventually you felt Ruby appear on your back, arms wrapped around your neck.
"Psst! Walk over to her, lift her chin up and kiss her! And then say you'll see her at the finals! Maybe a comment about how you're looking forward to after the tournament more though!" Ruby hissed in your ear, trying to push you forward.
…Well, no harm in trying.
You walk up to Mai who was looking to the side awkwardly and then cupped her cheek and turned her to face you.
"...Still though, nothing's changed, I'll still meet you up there in the finals, though I have to admit, I think I'm looking forward to what'll happen after the tournament more." You say with a smirk, before leaning forward and brushing your lips against Mai's in a chaste kiss even as she blushes and looks away.
"...Could have added more tongue and maybe a grope or two but that works!" Ruby cheered from behind you, but you just ignored her as you focused on Mai, who finally fought her blush down.
"...Hmph! I guess we will! But you better not get all pouty on me when I beat you!" Mai said with a huff as she turned and began to walk away.
As you chuckled and turned to begin your trek to the castle you heard Mai call out from behind you.
"...Just look after yourself Handsome, I swear if you do something stupid before I get the opportunity to grind you into the dust no amount of magic powers are gonna save you."
You just kept walking, throwing your hand up in one final wave as you hopefully made a cool exit.
"...You know she didn't turn around either, both of you were just trying to look cool as you left." Ruby commented idly from her place hanging on your back as you blushed.
…Well, at least no one saw that then.
As you finally made your way up the god awful stairs (that really should have given away Pegasus was evil now that you thought on it) listening to Ruby's ever so colorful commentary along the way you finally came upon the entrance to the castle, a man who very well may be Tristan's father standing by the door with a familiar trunk in hand.
.
------->
.
.... What the fuck was gonna happen now?
"Welcome Makoto Yuzuki, it is my pleasure to inform you that you are the first to qualify for the finals, but before you enter I have been told to inform you about an offer from Master Pegasus." Sharpy informs you seriously.
Your eyes narrow at him. "Yeah? And what does this so-called offer entail then?" You say, skepticism in your voice, expecting some kind of trap.
"Its quite simple, Master Pegasus believes there are too many participants still left in the tournament, and after some tragic accidents involving some of our hired Eliminators he feels the need to ask for assistance to "clean up" so to speak."
…Okay, that seemed surprisingly clear cut, and it would keep you out of the castle even longer which was a bonus, but still…
"What's in it for me exactly? Why should I go out cleaning up your guy's mess instead of relaxing in that fancy castle before the finals begin?" You couldn't just immediately fold, that wasn't how negotiations worked.
In response Sharpy just shrugged. "500 DP and a reminder that the Wildcard fusion system implemented for this tournament shall have all fusion monsters made into actual cards and then sent to any duelist that used them." He said matter of factly, gesturing to your trunk as his side.
…Okay, that was a pretty clear cut offer, was there any reason to turn it down?
-x-X-x-
Ultimately, you'd be a fool not to take the deal. Free DP and the chance to test and acquire fusion monsters as actual cards in the future? Talk about a sucker's deal.
After a very productive day, you make your way back to the castle just as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. Your pocket is stuffed with Star Chips—more than enough to secure your spot in the finals.
Maybe you should've asked for one of those massive Duel Gloves.
As you ascend the stairs—those fucking murder machines—Spikey smirks when he sees you.
"I've heard you've had quite the productive day," he remarks, voice smooth. "Honestly, it's been pretty boring around here until recently. If you want a real show, I suggest heading up to the top of the castle." He nods toward a nearby staircase.
"…Ominous," Ruby whispers in your ear from her usual perch hanging off your neck.
Whatever he's alluding to, knowing what's happening is always better than not, so you turn and start making your way toward the battlements of the castle.
Your heart nearly stops as you arrive and see Yugi dueling Kaiba. The scene is tense, and from the looks of things…
.
------>
.
.... Kaiba isn't doing so well.
You stand stunned in the background, watching Kaiba desperately trying to stay in the fight. Nobody else seems to notice the mounting desperation on Kaiba's face—except you. Your eyes are locked on him, seeing the fear and almost trembling resolve before he suddenly steps backward.
What the fuck is he doing?
Your blood runs cold as Kaiba walks onto the edge of the castle.
"If you attack Yugi, the shockwave will send me hurling over the edge to my doom," Kaiba says disturbingly calmly, staring at Yugi. "It's your choice how this ends."
NO… NO, NO, NO!
This isn't like him!
Kaiba, the proud, cunning, and often arrogant Duelist, wasn't supposed to resort to pity or cowardice. He always defeated his opponents with overwhelming strength, sharp strategy, and indomitable pride—not this desperate, pathetic act.
Yugi orders Celtic Guardian to attack Kaiba's decaying dragon, and that's when the floodgates break.
"FUCKING STOP!/YUGI, DON'T DO THIS!" you and Tea scream, rushing forward, but Tea is faster—she runs onto the field, desperation etched on her face as Yugi falls to his knees.
Your stunned gaze follows as Kaiba uses Monster Reborn to revive a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, then uses it to wipe out the remaining Life Points of Yugi's Duel Monster.
The world seems to blur as your mind struggles to process what just happened—how Kaiba, of all people, could sink so low.
Unable to hold back anymore, you surge forward and grab him by the collar, dragging him right in front of you. He only stares back with that dead, unbothered expression.
"What the FUCK was that?!" you roar. "That wasn't how you win! That was pathetic and cowardly! It... it wasn't you!"
H-He was suppose to be better than that! Better than you-!
He looks at you, completely unbothered, as if your words are meaningless. "You're right. It was pathetic. Sad, even. But I don't care. I will do whatever it takes to get Mokuba back—no matter how humiliating it is."
Your anger boils over. Without thinking, you throw your arm back and punch him square in the face. His head tilts, blood trailing down his lip, but his expression remains the same—dead and emotionless.
Unable to look at him anymore, you shove him aside and turn away, teeth clenched so tightly it hurts.
You hear him walk away, and your fists tremble with rage and helplessness.
...Ignore him. Check on Yugi.
You step closer to Yugi, who's wailing and clutching his head tight. As you approach, his eyes widen when he sees you.
"M-Makoto! You wanted the Millennium Puzzle, right? Just take it then! I can't be trusted with it anymore!" he yells, fumbling with the Puzzle and holding it out to you.
You feel the weight of the decision—both the physical weight and the spiritual pressure—coursing through you. The spirits of Hades and the Ring scream in your mind, urging you to take it, to seize the power, to claim the ultimate control.
It would be so easy. A single decision, and the Puzzle could be yours forever….
No... just because Kaiba was a pathetic waste of space who'd compromise to fulfill his goals doesn't mean you have to be anymore.
If he wasn't the person you thought he was, then you'd just have to be that someone yourself—someone who wins through power, cunning, and pride, not through backhanded compromises.
"...No," you state firmly, looking down at Yugi. "Keep it for yourself. If I ever do come for your Puzzle, I'll win it off you. I don't take hand-outs."
You feel the spirit of the Ring and Hades recoil at your words, as if insulted by your refusal.
Yugi's spirit seems to collapse almost entirely after that, retreating into himself. You offer him five of your spare Star Chips, but he refuses to speak, his spirit broken.
…You're not exactly sure how to cheer someone up—too used to being a loner, after all.
Before long, Mai appears and makes her own attempt to help Yugi, but he remains distant, until she finally insults him, which seems to set Tea off. She steps forward and challenges Mai to a duel.
From the sidelines, you get a front-row seat to what looks like a pro versus an amateur, and honestly? It's exactly what you expect.
"...Imagine them dueling for the right to get fucked first," Ruby whispers in your ear, causing you to blink in surprise.
Huh. She did disappear during the Kaiba fiasco, didn't she?
"It's certainly not a bad thought," you comment idly, watching as Mai's Harpie Lady destroys another of Tea's monsters.
"...You feeling better? That was kinda scary for a minute there," Ruby asks, rubbing her cheek against yours.
"...Yeah, I am. I guess it was just…" You trail off, not really wanting to get into how you're feeling about Kaiba right now.
"It's okay. Why don't we talk about how nice Tea would look in a little angel cosplay?" she purrs in your ear, mischievous.
Tea manages to fight back and go on the offensive, destroying Mai's Harpie Lady and causing Mai to surrender. Though, considering the suspiciously prominent set card Mai had on her field when she gave up, you're not quite convinced she couldn't have kept fighting.
Yugi seems to notice this as well, and as Tea expresses how much her friendship with Yugi means to her, it finally snaps him out of his funk. He accepts the Star Chips from Tea, a faint glimmer returning to his eyes.
As everyone begins ascending the stairs—hopefully for the last time—you hang back with Tea for a moment.
"Good job back there," you say softly, awkwardly scratching the back of your head. "In case it isn't obvious, I'm not exactly the best with people. I have no idea how I'd have snapped Yugi out of it."
She looks at you with a sweet smile, cheeks slightly flushed. "Thanks. Honestly, I have no clue how I managed to win against Mai of all people."
You chuckle and pat her back gently. "Believe it or not, I genuinely think you have talent. Your deck could probably use some improvements, but if you ever took dueling more seriously? I think you could give anyone here a run for their money."
Tea's eyes widen in surprise, tilting her head. "...You really think so? I mean, I beat Joey a lot before he really learned how to duel, but I've never beaten Yugi or anyone really skilled."
You shrug. "How many people have you dueled before this?"
She looks away, blushing. "...Joey and Yugi."
"So, your skill level is somewhere between a complete amateur and one of the best players around. And you beat Mai, which is no small feat. I'm not trying to pressure you, just saying—if you ever decide to take dueling more seriously, I'd be happy to play a game with you."
And honestly, part of that wasn't just about dueling. Ruby's lewd whispers echoed in your mind, adding a mischievous undercurrent.
"...I'll think about it. For now, we need to go and save Yugi's Grandpa," Tea says cheerfully, starting to jog up the stairs.
But just as she begins to move, Ruby suddenly appears behind her, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. Without warning, she reaches out and gives Tea's (admittedly very nice) ass a playful smack.
Tea freezes, eyes wide, face turning bright red.
…She really just threw you in the deep end, didn't she?
"...Sorry about that," You say, awkwardly. "Used to hanging around guys, so I guess you just did the classic cheer and… you know."
You bullshitted harder than you had ever bullshitted before.
"...Ah, that makes sense, I guess," Tea mumbles, cheeks still flushed. She reaches back and rubs her ass awkwardly.
Before the silence stretches further, Tristan calls out from in front of you, as he and the others finally reach the top.
"Hey! Hurry up, we're burning daylight here!"
"Y-Yeah! We'll be right there!" Tea responds, hurriedly jogging ahead, and you get a glimpse up her skirt at her cheeks still tinged pink.
.
----------->
.
. ..... It really was a nice ass.
You shake that thought from your head—Ruby's influence was definitely corrupting your innocent mind—and jog to catch up behind Tea.
Soon, everyone is gathered at the doorway to Pegasus' castle. You can feel the weight of the moment—once you step through that door, there's no turning back.
Part of you expects to be nervous, but somehow, with the others beside you, it doesn't feel so daunting.
…Did Tea's friendship speech get to you as well?
Either way, you take a deep breath, ready to face whatever comes next.
-x-X-x-
After some shenanigans at the doorway with Spikey and the others, you finally make your way inside the castle and start moving through the labyrinthine halls. Eventually, you find yourselves on a balcony overlooking a grand Duel Arena.
Your eyes are drawn downward, and your stomach tightens as you see Kaiba standing on one side of the arena.
"Welcome, finalist. I am Croquet, the chief tournament liaison," a voice calls out, pulling your attention away from Kaiba.
A man steps forward—one of Pegasus' agents—and begins speaking. Congratulating you all on making it here and explaining that as a reward Pegasus has prepared a special exhibition match against Seto Kaiba.
Your mind races. Is this the deal? Kaiba defeats Yugi, and Pegasus offers him a duel—his brother's freedom on the line?
But even as that thought lingers, a surge of anger and frustration boils within you.
Your fists clench tightly on the stone railing as you stare down at Kaiba, feeling that familiar heat of resolve.
There had to be a better way—an option where Kaiba didn't have to shame himself like he had.
"Yo, Kaiba!" you shout out, voice loud enough to carry to him startling the others in the process.
Kaiba blinks, turning sharply to look up at you from the arena.
"You better not fucking lose this!" you roar, eyes burning with intensity. "After everything you did to get this opportunity, you can't afford to lose! Don't tarnish my victory over you more than you already have!"
He stares at you for a long moment, silent. Then, after a brief pause, he looks away, clicking his tongue—though you swear you catch a faint smirk flash across his face before it vanishes.
"...Like I needed your encouragement to save my brother," he says calmly, voice steady but with a hint of underlying defiance.
Just then, Pegasus finally appears, stepping onto the arena with an air of confidence and menace. The tension thickens as he makes his appearance.
-x-X-x-
Watching Kaiba and Pegasus interact, your stomach clenches as Pegasus drags out Mokuba in chains. Judging by Pegasus' words, it's clear he's taken Mokuba's soul—using his brother's body as a puppet. And to then have that empty husk try to duel for him? That's just dirty…
As the Duel Arena roars to life, you can tell Kaiba is visibly shaken—something Yugi also notices, calling out to him with concern. But Kaiba just brushes him off, the fire in his eyes flickering but not dying.
It's obvious he needs someone who speaks his language.
"Hold up, asshole!" you suddenly yell out, leaning against the railing, startling everyone except Kaiba, who blinks up at you with a growl.
"What!?" he practically snarls, clearly tired of the interruptions.
"I know you're not the type to believe in the Heart of the Cards or all that other stuff Yugi preaches," you shout back, voice loud and unwavering, "but right now you can't afford to lose! Not just for your brother, but for yourself!"
Your fists tighten on the stone. "If you lose and taint my victory any more, I swear I'll come down there and rip your soul out the old-fashioned way!"
The others look at you, confused and concerned, but you don't care.
"So listen—get in there and don't just win. You fucking demolish him! Wipe away the shame, the taint, the humiliation—so overwhelming, so unbelievable, that no one will remember how you got here. And to do that, you'll need these."
You reach into your deckbox and pull out the Rites of the Underworld, Advanced Ritual Art, and your most precious card—Hades, Lord of the Underworld—and toss them to Kaiba.
His eyes widen as he catches them, inspecting the cards with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"But these—"
You cut him off sharply. "Just think of them as assurances. But if you embarrass me by losing with them, whatever Pegasus has planned will be nothing compared to what I'll do to you."
Kaiba scoffs but takes the cards, shuffling them into his deck with a determined look.
Behind you, Mai sighs. "Men."
"Men," Tea echoes, with a resigned tone.
"Men~," Ruby moans from behind, and you turn just in time to see Tea glancing around frantically, trying to find where the voice came from.
Before you can say anything, the duel finally begins.
But honestly? Calling it a duel might be generous. Pegasus is practically toying with Kaiba—playing with Toon World, using cheap tricks, and making a mockery of the whole thing.
You growl in frustration as Pegasus tricks Kaiba into attacking his Dragon Piper, infected with Kaiba's Crush Card.
"Kaiba!" you scream, sick of watching him humiliate himself again and again. "Stop this bullshit!"
Kaiba's eyes suddenly widen, and he quickly reaches for the cards he set aside earlier.
"Before the virus can infect my deck," he roars, "I activate Advanced Ritual Art! Sending my last Blue-Eyes from the deck to the Graveyard to Ritual Summon Hades, Lord of the Underworld!"
Hades rises onto the field, dark and imposing. Pegasus just sighs and shrugs, as the Crush Card begins destroying Kaiba's remaining monsters, leaving only Hades standing.
"I suppose being Lord of the Underworld would make one immune to common viruses," Pegasus sneers, "but Kaiba-boy, what's your plan? All my monsters are practically invincible inside my precious Toon World. All you've done is set the stage for poor Yuzuki-boy to watch his favorite monster become one of my Toons. So let's hurry this along—I draw—"
Pegasus begins to reach for his card, but Kaiba cuts him off with a sharp glare.
"I'm not done!" Kaiba snaps, voice filled with fierce determination. "Ever since I landed on this damn island, it's been one disaster after another. I'm sick of it! I'm winning this—right here, right now—and taking Mokuba home!" He clenches his fist, voice snarling with conviction.
"Oh? And how do you plan to do that? Should we take a look—" Pegasus suddenly blinks, confusion flickering across his face as he activates his Millennium Eye. But in response, the aura surrounding Hades grows even more intense, pulsating with dark power.
Kaiba, however, remains laser-focused, seemingly too in the zone to notice Pegasus's reaction.
"I'll tell you how!" Kaiba declares. "That Jar of yours isn't protected by your cursed book—that means it's my key to victory!"
Pegasus just smirked, quickly regaining his composure. "Hmm, that is true. Unfortunately, my Dragon Capture Jar is still treated as a Trap, so my Toon World can't make it any more cuddly. But how does that help you? It's still in defense mode, and if I remember correctly, I don't think I gave Hades's piercing damage. Plus, every other monster in your deck is in your Graveyard," he taunted, eyes narrowing with confidence.
Kaiba's eyes narrowed sharply. "Not all of them," he roared, slamming his card onto the field. "I activate Monster Reborn!"
Pegasus threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, Kaiba-boy! Did you forget? Monsters destroyed by your Crush Card can't be revived—"
"I'm not reviving one of my monsters," Kaiba cut him off sharply. "Instead, I'm summoning your Dragon Piper!"
As Kaiba declared it, Dragon Piper appeared on his field, and Pegasus's eyes widened in sudden realization.
"That's right, Pegasus! I still have one monster not in the Graveyard—the Blue-Eyes White Dragon trapped in your Jar! Go, Dragon Resonance!" Kaiba declared, as Dragon Piper began to blow on its eerie flute, producing a disturbing, hypnotic tune. Slowly, Kaiba's Blue-Eyes was released from the Jar, emerging on his side of the field, eyes burning with renewed fury.
Pegasus frowned, the first signs of genuine concern flickering across his face. He finally seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. "...Even so," he said cautiously, "it means nothing. You still have no way to get past my precious Toon World."
But you could see the worry behind his confident facade—that was a sign he knew he was in trouble.
Good. He was right to be worried.
Kaiba's smirk only grew wider. "Maybe if this was all I had, you'd be right. But now I activate my Polymerization!"
A familiar vortex of energy spun into existence, and your heart skipped a beat as you recognized what was about to happen.
"I fuse my Blue-Eyes White Dragon with Hades, Lord of the Underworld to create—" Kaiba announced, voice filled with intensity.
You knew you had to do something. You needed to be as involved as possible, to channel your power into this moment.
Without hesitation, you push—the Ring from its slumber on your chest stirs, and you compel it to lend its strength.
In response, you feel the Spirit of the Ring smirk from deep within you. '...I suppose I can be of assistance. Weakening the wielder of the Eye is only good for us,' she murmurs softly, and you feel an overwhelming surge of dark energy flow into the vortex.
Your eyes catch a glimpse of Yugi, who looks at you with concern from the corner of your vision, but your focus remains on the spectacle unfolding below. The majesty and destructive power of what's happening command your full attention.
"—Blue-Eyes! Abyssal Sovereign Dragon!" Kaiba roared to the heavens, his voice echoing with raw fury.
The monstrous form tore itself free from the vortex of Polymerization, emerging with a relentless hunger, as if it couldn't wait even a second longer to rip Pegasus's throat out.
.
----------->
.
Pegasus took a cautious step back, eyes wide with panic as he looked up at the towering form of Abyssal Sovereign Dragon, realization dawning in his frantic gaze.
"...T-This shouldn't be possible! It's far too strong for a being made from just Hades!" he scrambled, desperately trying to comprehend the overwhelming aura radiating from the monstrous dragon.
Kaiba's expression hardened, his stare turning even frostier. "I told you, Pegasus," he said coldly, "I would make you pay for everything you've done—trying to steal my company, humiliating me, using me in your schemes, taking and humiliating my Blue-Eyes. And worst of all, ever thinking you could harm my brother."
His voice dripped with fury and resolve. "This monster is my rage and hatred—all the emotions I've had to swallow to get here. And right now, I'm going to unleash every bit of it on you, Pegasus."
Kaiba's words echoed with unyielding promise, a warning that the storm of his wrath was about to be unleashed.
Even as the others around you spoke in shock and awe, their voices barely registering in your ears, you could hardly blink for fear of missing a single moment of what was unfolding below.
Kaiba closed his eyes for a brief moment, drawing a deep breath, then continued with unwavering resolve. "By paying half of my remaining Life Points, I can have my Abyssal Sovereign Dragon gain attack equal to all the monsters in my Graveyard. And thanks to Crush Card, that's all of them," he stated firmly.
The entire arena seemed to hold its breath as everyone watched in disbelief. The colossal dragon's attack power skyrocketed from an already impressive 4000 to an unimaginable 35000, its dark form towering even higher and radiating an aura of pure destructive fury.
But Kaiba wasn't finished. He fixed an even more intense glare at Pegasus, who was now trembling visibly. "But that's not all," Kaiba declared, his voice unwavering. "I activate my Negative Energy Generator from my hand! This allows me to triple the attack of one Dark monster I control!"
Your heart nearly stops as Kaiba's Abyssal Sovereign Dragon's attack power surges to an astonishing 105000. Its dark form erupts with a terrifying, almost palpable energy, towering over everything around it.
You begin to shake uncontrollably, your hands clenched so tightly around the railing that you're sure it should have shattered.
This is it. This is the man who beat you—who wins with overwhelming strength, cunning, and unshakable resolve. Not that pathetic, broken figure on the battlements. No—this is who Seto Kaiba truly is.
"I-I-It doesn't matter how strong your dragon is! With Toon World up and my Dragon Capture Jar in defense, I still won't take any damage!" Pegasus managed to stammer, desperation creeping into his voice.
"...Didn't I tell you before, Pegasus?" Kaiba said coldly, eyes blazing. "That Jar of yours will be the cause of your defeat. My Abyssal Sovereign Dragon has one more effect—when it attacks a defense-position monster, the difference between its attack and your monsters defense is dealt to you as damage."
Your eyes, along with everyone else's, widened in shock as the realization hit you.
That would mean…!
"This duel ends now! Go, my dragon! Annihilate him—Deep Blue Abyssal Wrath!" Kaiba roared with unrelenting fury as a dark blue energy began to surge from his monster's mouth, the air thick with the promise of destruction.
The others quickly backed away, bracing for the inevitable impact. But you didn't move. You couldn't. If you missed even a second of this, you knew you would never forgive yourself.
Just as the attack launched, an intense gold glow erupted from Pegasus's Millennium Eye, clashing fiercely with the dark beam of energy. For a brief moment, the two forces fought to dominate, flickering wildly against each other.
Then, Kaiba's attack tore through the resistance like a tidal wave, laying waste to everything on Pegasus's field. The destructive energy slammed into Pegasus himself, knocking him back against the wall with a thunderous impact. He slid down unconscious, blood streaming from his head as his goons hurried to his side, frantically administering medical aid amidst the chaos.
For a moment, everything seemed to pause—until suddenly, a glow erupted from one of Pegasus's pockets. Without warning, a beam of energy shot forth down the dark hallway from which Pegasus had come, illuminating the shadows with an eerie light.
Just before the hologram flickered and disappeared, you made sure to take in the form of Kaiba's monster one last time.
…He was coming for you now. After witnessing this power, he would want Hades for himself more than anything. The weight of that realization settled heavily on you as the chaos around you continued to unfold.
And you felt the same way. After witnessing that immense power, you knew you needed his Blue-Eyes White Dragons for yourself. You wouldn't rest until he lay broken before you, and you had claimed his dragons as your own. The desire burned fiercely within you as the Spirit of the Ring whispered in your ear that all would be yours with her help, fueling your resolve to seize what you now knew should be yours.
And instead of the expected dread—of knowing that Kaiba would not rest until he had defeated you and claimed Hades for himself—the only thing you felt as a grin stretched your face so wide it hurt was excitement!
After managing to calm yourself, you decided to make your way back down to the entrance, the others following closely behind. You needed to get your cards back—there was no way in hell you'd let Kaiba get Hades that easily.
As you waited in the lobby, Kaiba finally entered, Mokuba unconscious and cradled protectively in his arms. He stopped when he saw you and the others, but his eyes remained locked firmly on you.
"…I think you have something that belongs to me, no?" you said with a smug smirk.
Kaiba scoffed at that, carefully maneuvering Mokuba onto one arm while reaching into his deck box with the other to hand your cards back to you. Without a word, he turned and strode past, heading toward the entrance.
You stood perfectly still, smirking and waiting for it—until you heard him speak from behind you.
"…Thank you," he muttered quietly, through gritted teeth. "But this changes nothing. Now that I've dealt with Pegasus, you and Yugi are next on my list. So enjoy this while you can, and make sure not to lose here and taint my inevitable victory."
With that, you heard the door close behind him.
Ah, a thank you from anti-social Seto Kaiba—really, you should have recorded it.
Your thoughts are interrupted as Mai walks up beside you, raising an eyebrow.
"...That was certainly something. I didn't think you were the type to lend out your cards like that," she said casually, inspecting your face.
In response, you just shrug. "What can I say? I was worried about Mokuba. And that loser would have lost without my help."
For some reason, she just rolled her eyes. "If that's what you got to tell yourself, I suppose…"
Before you could question her remark, Croquet approached again, informing you all that Pegasus had woken up and the tournament would continue as planned. For the moment, a feast had been prepared in your honor.
As you were led to a grand dining hall, your eyes were drawn to two portraits hanging above the door. One depicted an incredibly beautiful blonde woman, and the other an Egyptian man wearing a turban and robes, with a golden key-shaped object hanging around his neck.
…That was a Millennium Item, wasn't it? It may not have the familiar eye symbol, but you recognized it instantly.
'Quite astute of you,' the Ring's voice echoed in your mind. 'Yes, that is the Millennium Key. It allows the user to traverse into another's very soul as if it were a physical place—to learn their deepest, darkest secrets.'
You all took seats as a grand feast was laid out before you.
Croquet then informed you of the requirement to present your *Glory of the King's Hand* and *Glory of the King's Other Hand* cards—an understandable request. Still, you couldn't help but notice Joey sweating from his place beside you for some reason.
After that, Croquet continued. He revealed that Pegasus had played a nasty trick, placing a fake Millennium Eye in the soups of all the participants holding tournament brackets. Then, a screen descended from the ceiling and began to randomize who would duel whom.
Hmm, you knew you wanted to face Yugi in the finals. Call it dramatic, but after your previous duel, it would feel anticlimactic to have to crush him in the semifinals. But as for who else you'd like to face…
Well, you and Mai had promised to meet in the finals. It would be satisfying to get another shot at her, especially now that her deck was really starting to shine with an actual Duel Arena.
But you hadn't even seen Joey duel yet, and part of you enjoyed the idea of having defeated all the other finalists outright.
Still, it wasn't up to you. All you could do was wait and see where the die fell.
"C will duel D!" Croquet announced, drawing your attention to Joey, who was staring seriously at you.
"Just so ya know, Makoto," Joey said, his tone suddenly shifting to something more serious. "I won't be goin' easy on ya. Even if you promised to help my sister, that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try and help her myself."
You just smirked, leaning back in your chair. "That's good to hear, Joey. If I thought you were going easy on me down there, I might have to call off the duel and turn it into a good old fistfight." You joked with a grin.
Joey returned your grin. "Careful now! You might give me a little trouble on the duelin' field, but if you tried to box me, you'd be down in seconds!" he boasted, thumping himself on the chest.
As everyone turned back to their meals, Croquet suddenly addressed you again. "Ah, for one Mr. Yuzuki, Master Pegasus has requested your presence in his personal quarters. There are some things he'd like to discuss with you."
The dining hall fell silent, everyone knowing that Pegasus wouldn't call you up just for a friendly chat.
Back before entering the castle, you might have felt dread. But after witnessing Kaiba wipe the floor with Pegasus, a lot of his menace had dissipated.
You looked at the others, who wore worried expressions, and smirked. "It's fine, guys. I think Pegasus is too busy dealing with that concussion. Besides, I've been meaning to talk to him about a few things."
They didn't seem particularly reassured, but no one argued as you all finished your meal.
When you stood up to leave, Mai suddenly grasped your hand.
"...Don't do anything stupid, okay Handsome? I know you think you're the toughest guy around, but if even half the things I've heard about Pegasus are true, he's not someone to underestimate. Got it?" she said curtly, concern evident in her tone.
You smiled at her, a warm feeling rising in your chest. You brought her hand up to your lips and kissed the back of it.
"I'll be fine, I promise. Besides," you winked, "you still gotta hold up your end of the bargain for me beating Kaiba, so nothing bad can happen to me until then."
Mai huffed but didn't let go.
Bidding the others farewell, you followed Croquet as he led you toward Pegasus' private quarters.
As you walked, your focus shifted to the Ring dangling invisibly from your deck.
'So, since you seem to know the most about the Millennium Items and are actually talking now, give me the rundown of Pegasus' Eye. What does it do exactly?' you telepathically inquired.
Suddenly, you felt a tap on your shoulder. Expecting Ruby to try and get your attention, you turned, only to be greeted by a female version of Bakura.
.
------------>
.
. ... Okay, you could question that another time. For now, your focus was on the potential megalomaniacal madman you were about to meet.
She smirked, clearly catching your reaction but choosing not to comment. "The Eye is one of the simpler Millennium Items. It allows the user to read the minds of others, and it can also visually detect magic and other hidden things. I imagine you won't be able to hide the Ring from him when you approach," she explained.
Annoying, but at least knowing you had a Millennium Item of your own might prevent him from trying anything—though you had no idea how to use it yet.
Suddenly, a familiar presence latched onto your back: Ruby appeared and glared at the Spirit of the Ring.
"...I don't trust this bitch," Ruby hissed. "No matter how nice her tits are."
The Spirit grinned maliciously. "Aww, I only wish to serve my new wielder and help him fulfill his goals. Am I truly so untrustworthy?" she said, licking her lips.
You weren't naive enough to buy that load of shit—no matter how perfect her tits looked.
For now, your focus was on the task ahead. 'Look, we'll have a long talk later about who you really are and what you want. But for now, I need to deal with Pegasus. As long as you don't interfere, we're fine,' you mentally assured her.
The Spirit of the Ring just shrugged and shot you an innocent smile before disappearing.
"...I hope you know what you're doing, 'Koto,'" Ruby whispered. "I'm all for fucking evil bitches, but she gives me the shivers."
Right as she vanished, you and Croquet arrived at Pegasus' door. Croquet gave you one final nod and then turned to leave.
You took a deep breath, reached out for the door handle, and stepped into Pegasus' private sanctuary.
The first thing you noticed as you stepped into the room was Pegasus sitting casually at a balcony, a glass of wine in hand, swirling it leisurely. The second thing was the large bandage wrapped around his head—though judging by the relaxed smile on his face, it didn't seem to bother him much.
He turned as you entered, a greeting on his lips, but then paused, his eyes flickering to your chest.
"…Well now, I suppose this shouldn't be unexpected. Would you like to take a seat, Yuzuki-boy? Some wine, perhaps?" he said cordially, gesturing to a chair beside him.
You simply sat down and sighed, waving off his offer of wine. "So, let's cut all the pleasantries and get to the point. Or should we talk about how nice a day it is?" you said sarcastically.
Pegasus sighed at that and shrugged. "I normally enjoy pleasantries, but after my duel with Kaiba-boy, it's best we skip to the chase. I have quite the headache."
He then explained the true history of Duel Monsters and the Millennium Items—how he came to possess one, his goal of reviving his wife by collecting all seven, and opening the gateway to the afterlife. He laid it all out plainly.
You sat quietly, digesting his words and pondering everything.
"…And why are you telling me this? And what's with the Hades? I met that little suicide bomber down in the catacombs," you said frostily, glaring at him.
Pegasus took a sip of his wine, swirling it thoughtfully. "Ah, sweet Stratos. Not quite as clever as he liked to think, unfortunately. An associate of mine asked me to allow one of his men to come to the island as an Eliminator—someone to make contact with you. I agreed. I'd hoped to learn more about the Olympus XIII and their power after witnessing Hades in the Nationals."
He paused casually. "As for the Olympus XIII themselves—after acquiring my Millennium Eye and learning the true history of Duel Monsters, I became curious if any other cultures had similar entities that could aid my plan to revive Cecilia. Most leads were dead ends, but I did find something intriguing in Greece—thirteen stone tablets, similar to those I found in Egypt, depicting ancient gods. When I beheld them with my Millennium Eye, I saw they contained a great and terrible power."
He took another sip of wine before continuing. "So naturally, I turned them into cards. But as I did, I was flooded with visions from the past—images of Greeks slaughtering innocents by the thousands, feeding blood into the tablets in a desperate attempt to create a power rivaling the Millennium Items. They failed, of course."
He grinned. "Until one day, seemingly for no reason, the tablets activated—summoning thirteen guardian spirits. Imagine the Greeks' joy... until the spirits turned hostile, attacking everything in sight—men, women, children—all in a desperate search for the Millennium Items. The Greeks' obsession tainted the tablets, and the spirits rampaged for days before disappearing back into their prisons. They've been locked away ever since—until I found them."
You processed all of that, realizing Hades' obsession with the Millennium Puzzle made more sense now.
Your question was simple. "And my first question? Why are you telling me all this?"
Pegasus shrugged, finishing his wine. "It's quite straightforward—a sort of alliance. You want the Millennium Items, judging by the one hanging around your neck. I want them too. Out of the kindness of my heart, I offer to help you—"
He cut himself off with a theatrical shrug. "Well, more accurately, if you gather more of the Items, it saves me time hunting them down myself. Then I can defeat you and take them—or vice versa. An elegant arrangement, don't you think?"
The temptation was strong—power, knowledge, and the promise of more. You still weren't sure what you'd do with the Items, but the allure was undeniable.
"Hmm, I can see you need time to mull over my offer, my boy," Pegasus said with a smirk. "You can tell me your answer after I defeat Yugi-boy and claim his Puzzle for myself. But, as a show of good faith, I shall give you a little gift."
He paused, eyes gleaming. "Back in Egypt, where I first claimed my Millennium Eye, the Scales still lie unclaimed—simply waiting for a 'worthy' wielder to come along and claim them."
You crossed your arms. "And why haven't you taken them yet?" you asked, suspicion evident. "If they're just lying there for the taking, surely you would have already gone after them."
Pegasus chuckled softly. "Ah, you see, when I attempted to claim them myself, their guardian, Shadi, informed me it was impossible. He said the Scales had already deemed me unworthy. So, I am left with little choice but to wait for someone else—someone truly deserving—to claim them first, and then I will take them from them. Do you see why I need you now, my boy?"
You simply nodded, considering his words.
Without warning, you stood up. "...I'll think over your offer," you said, voice steady. "But don't assume Yugi will beat me here. If luck's not on your side, I might just be the one dueling you in the finals."
Pegasus's malevolent smile deepened. "Ooh, I very much look forward to that," he said with dark anticipation as you turned to leave.
-x-X-x-
After embarrassingly wandering around like a blind chicken for a bit you eventually swallowed your pride and asked one of Pegasus' men for directions to your room.
As you open the door to your room a part of you is tempted to try and see which one was Mai's and maybe have a little fun, but well, if you did that you wouldn't be getting much sleep, and you needed all the rest you could get for tomorrow.
After some last minute deck edits, for the tournament tomorrow you jumped into bed, and it didn't take long until you were out like a light.
—------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruby POV
…Bored, bored, bored, bored.
God why did people have to sleep! It was so tedious! And such a waste of time, don't they know they should be out there having fun and enjoying every moment of their youth while they could?!
…At least 'Koto looked cute while he was sleeping, and it was always fun watching him get hard in the night, but still, that left you with nothing to do for hours!
Hmm, maybe you should mess with Tea, she should be close enough for that, you could project some lewd thoughts in her head and then watch her wet dreams.
Oooh maybe you could make her think about getting stuffed to the brim by three copies of Makoto's! Or maybe some roleplay thing?
.
------------>
.
You blink as you float into Tea's just to see her having a late night rendezvous with the twink that bitch was taking the form of and the tan muscly guy.
You nearly got excited for a second thinking you were about to get a first class seat to Tea getting doubleteamed but unfortunately for you they apparently just thought Pegasus was cheating in his duels, unaware of the full extent of his Millenium Eyes power.
..Oh well, this should still be somewhat entertaining at least, and as long as you stay near Tea you should be able to get further away from your card than you usually would.
Still go, as you followed along as they inspected the Duel Arena you found yourself growing bored yet again.
Geez, maybe you should just head back to 'Koto and see if you could get that bitch to talk, that at least be more entertaining than this.
Though before you could float off you perked up as they announced they were going to attempt to break into one of the more heavily guarded towers.
Oooh, this could be fun! Secret billionaire island and a guarded tight tower? Gotta be a sex dungeon!
As they made their way up the tower and began to climb to a nearby window with a grappling hook you decided to reward the two gentlemen for so chivalrously deciding to let Tea go first to save her if she falls, concentrating as hard as you can to quickly manifest for a moment and flick her skirt up for a moment.
Even as Tea let out a yelp you pouted as you saw the two boys were too busy bickering to notice.
God, when you try to do something nice…
Though as they all entered the room and you saw it just contained a giant picture of his (admittedly VERY hot) wife you let out another sigh.
Come on! At least have some nude photos of her up here or something!
Before you could contemplate leaving you suddenly went tense as you felt the approach of a Millenium Item.
…Oh fuck, this could be bad.
As Pegasus appeared and was about to do something to the trio you quickly moved in, flying in from the window as Tea let out a yell in surprise from your sudden appearance.
"STOP!" You yelled out as you spread your arms (for once) in front of the trio, protecting them.
"Oh? One of Yuzuki-boys spirit companions? I didn't think you could travel this far away from him." He said casually, his Millenium Eye still glowing.
"Well you see, Makoto happens to be VERY fond of these guys, so he sent me to look after them on this little adventure of theirs." You bluff, this guy obviously wanted Makoto on his good side for now, so you could use that to make sure he lets these three go.
"W-Who are you?!" Tea asks from behind you, but you just ignore her as Tristan and the twink ask her what she was talking about.
"Is that right? And I suppose that means I should let these three go then? After they've been snooping around in my home?" He asked sarcastically, while you felt yourself begin to sweat.
Come on bitch, you've talked your way out of worse situations before.
…Though considering he hadn't even glanced down at your perfect tits (which you had totally not increased the size of after seeing the pair on the Ring bitch) you didn't think your usual method of persuasion would come in handy here.
"If you want 'Koto to take you up on your offer? Then yeah, you will, if not I'm telling you here and now Makoto won't let you leave this island alive." You said seriously, staring at him desperately trying to convey the truth of your words.
After a few more seconds of staring, the glow in his Eye died down as he sighed. "Fine, I suppose I can accommodate him on this." He suddenly shook his head. "And people say I'm a cruel man, now run along and take those three with you, but I can assure you, if they do anything but immediately return to their room I won't be as nice next time." He threatened before turning and making his way back down the stairs.
You let out a sigh when his presence was well and truly gone.
…That was stressful, you didn't think trying to persuade someone who didn't wanna fuck you would be so hard.
Turning around you see Tea staring up at you as Tristan and the twink just keep asking her what the hell was happening.
While a part of you wanted to gush now that you had revealed yourself to her properly you should probably be serious, if only for a moment.
"...Okay, I'm sure you have a LOT of questions, but right now it's probably best if you all got back to your room." You said with a gentle smile as Tea just nodded shakily in response, before informing the others to follow her.
As you all made your way back to the guest quarters you felt Tea's eyes burning into your back, and not just because you had a great ass.
Looking back to her you just smile again. "Hmm, it's probably best if this got explained to you properly in the morning, when you wake up go to Makoto's room and me and him will explain everything, okay?" You said, a part of you was tempted to tell her to knock in just her underwear but you kept yourself under control for now.
…There will be plenty of time for that in the future.
As you make sure all the others make it back to their room, waving at Tea one final time as she leaves you float back into 'Koto's room.
What a night, you better not get any grey hairs from the stress…
.
----------->
..
As you enter and see 'Koto still passed out on the bed for once in your life you felt actually tired.
…Hmm, you suppose you could give this sleeping thing a try,
Floating over you lay your head down on his thigh, facing his crotch and making sure you breath runs across his dick as you close your eyes.
Hmm, this was nice….
-x-X-x-
The first thing you noticed as you woke up was you were rock fucking hard for some reason, more than typical for some morning wood.
…Maybe you should have seen if Mai was up for some fun last night.
The second thing was someone was frantically knocking at your door, practically trying to bust it down.
Getting up you rapidly pull on some pants, not bothering to put on a shirt as you run over to answer the door, fearing something has happened, but as you open the door you just raise an eyebrow as you see Tea standing there, shifting nervously.
"...Uh, everything good Tea? Nothing's happened, has it?" You ask, worry in your tone as you look up and down the hallway.
Tea, just shifted nervously at that, and for some reason seemed to look over your shoulder into your room' "Umm, maybe? She said to come to your room in the morning and you'd explain."
Your eyebrows furrowed at that, but you stepped back and held the door open for Tea to step inside, but as she squeezed back your bare chest her cheeks reddened for a moment.
As she entered and you shut the door you nearly jumped out of your skin and you heard a sudden squeal behind you.
"BESTIE!!!" You watched in disbelief as Ruby suddenly manifested and tackled Tea onto your bed in an enormous bear hug as she rubbed her face into Tea's chest.
"O.M.G Bestie! You have no idea how happy I am to finally introduce myself properly!" She said as she continued to nuzzle Tea who just looked vaguely freaked out.
You just awkwardly make your way over and take a seat at the nearby desk. "Uh, I see you've met Ruby? But I'm not really sure how you can see her…" You trail off, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Ruby suddenly perked up at that, floating off of Tea and with a puff of smoke suddenly appearing in a classic sexy teacher outfit, glasses and all.
.
---------->
.
"That sounds like my que!" Ruby purred out, suddenly manifesting a clipboard.
From there Ruby explained who she was to Tea, as you just nodded along already knowing this information.
"-As for why Tea can see me, if you'll remember during the duel against that bitch- I mean, the Spirit of the Ring, Yugi had no choice but to fuse us together in order to save Tea, and in doing so me and Tea now have a spiritual bond, which means she can see me, I can interact with her physically." She suddenly teleported to Tea and ran her finger across Tea's lip and then booped her on the nose as she just blinked. "And a low-tier bit of telepathy, I can convey images to Tea, and with some practice she could learn to do the same to me." She explained before closing her eyes as Tea's eyes suddenly widened and her cheeks were set aflame.
"D-Don't just put that in my head without my permission!" She suddenly yelled out, clearly embarrassed as she shyly glanced your way for a moment.
Ruby just pouted at that before disappearing and reappearing by Tea, her arms wrapped around her. "And why not?! We're besties! We should share everything together~" She said in a sing-song tone rubbing her cheek against Tea who just squirmed for a moment.
"...Sorry about her, she's very, umm, "affectionate"" You explain awkwardly rubbing the back of your neck as with the current angle Ruby ample behind was shaking in your direction.
Tea just continued to squirm for a moment, before reluctantly wrapping an arm around Ruby and beginning to rub her back. "I-Its okay, I mean, she can't be all bad, she did save us last night." Tea said as Ruby squealed in delight.
"Ooooh! I knew you'd come around bestie! I can't wait, we can stay up all night talking about boys! And make-up! And our favorite sex toys-"
You cut her off before she could get too much further.
"Ruby enough for now, I want to hear about you apparently saving her last night, this is the first I'm hearing of it." You say seriously, if something like that had happened you needed to know the specifics.
Ruby pouted but began to explain, with Tea actually chiming in with what you thought was a more credible version of the story (You doubted they were out looking for Pegasus' sex dungeon or that Ruby had Pegasus on his knees begging for mercy as he licked her feet)
As they wrapped the story up you just sighed.
",.,,Good girl Ruby, genuinely, you did a good job." You said as Ruby suddenly perked up with stars in her eyes and teleported over to you, rubbing her cheek against yours.
"Ooooh! You know I'll always look out for you 'Koto! But if you want to reward me I have a couple thoughts in mind~" She purred in your ear as you felt yourself beginning to stir.
"...Maybe later, for now we have a tournament to focus on." With all your will power you suddenly stand up as Ruby just pouts, maneuvering herself to her normal location on your back as you begin to look around for a shirt.
Though as you do, Tea has a questioning look on her face. "...One last thing, last night Ruby managed to make Pegasus let us go by saying it'd make you angry and that you wouldn't take him up on his "offer" She said, a hint of something in her voice.
You froze for a moment, before turning to her and giving her a heavily edited version of your interaction with Pegasus last night, telling her he had made you an offer to collect the Millenium Items with the plan for you two to fight once you had collected them all.
After you finished explaining though for some reason Tea just smiled at you. "That's good, I know you have your problems Makoto but deep down you're a good person, I know you'd never work with Pegasus."
You feel uncomfortable at Tea's complete faith in you, knowing that a part of you was seriously considering taking Pegasus up on his offer, but you just smiled at her and nodded to your door as you finally got your shirt on (After a pouting Ruby vanished for a second and then reappeared) as both you and Tea made your way to wake the others.
-x-X-x-
After waking the others, you all made your way to the Arena. You, Yugi, Joey, and Mai eventually arrived at a waiting room, while the others headed up to observe from the balcony.
As you lean against the wall, you can't help but smirk at Mai.
"Feeling confident, gorgeous? You and Yugi are the opening act after all. It'll only be televised across the entire country." You tease her, and she just rolls her eyes before leaning beside you.
"Of course. After I beat Yugi, you're next, Handsome. Then Pegasus, and after that, I walk away with the prize money and can forget this whole mess of a tournament," she says confidently, inspecting her nails.
"Oh? Hope you won't forget all of it," you whistle with a grin. She just rolls her eyes again with a sardonic grin.
"I swear… you're practically salivating, Handsome. But don't worry, once this is all finished, I'll give you a day you'll never forget. After that?" She shrugs, trying way too hard to be casual. "We'll see where things go. If you ask nicely, I might even let you take me out on a date."
Before you could reply, the eyes of a nearby Pegasus statue seem to glow, and the wall begins to open up, revealing the Duel Arena and Pegasus sitting on the sidelines with a smirk.
After a short introduction and a reiteration of the bracket, Mai and Yugi are called forth. While Joey decides to head up to the balcony with the others, you decide to stay where you are.
As the duel begins, you have to admit, you're surprised. You knew Mai was a talented duelist, but while you'd never admit it to her, you had fully expected Yugi to steamroll her. However, as you watch, it's the opposite: Yugi is playing like an amateur, while Mai is bringing her A-game. She has him on the ropes.
At a certain point, Mai narrows her eyes at Yugi, then glances at you, biting her lip for a few moments before turning back to Yugi and beginning to deride him—very obviously trying to get his head in the game.
It takes a bit longer, but eventually Yugi seems to snap out of whatever funk had come over him, beginning to play with his expected skill. Still, with how much of a lead Mai had over him, it might not be enough.
As the duel continues and Yugi stalls with his Swords of Revealing Light, on his very last turn before they dissipate, Yugi manages to draw his Black Luster Ritual and summon his Black Luster Soldier, destroying Mai's Harpie's Pet Dragon.
As Yugi ends his turn, you see Mai grimace.
Damn, does she not have any removal in hand? If so, that's bad. While Duelist Kingdom rules allowed the Harpies to act as one in many ways, that also meant Yugi could destroy them all at once.
Mai seems to consider her options, then casts a final glance at you. You respond with what you hope is a reassuring grin. She then takes a deep breath, draws, and slowly opens her eyes to inspect her card.
Her face suddenly lights up in a smirk.
"Heh, don't count me out yet, Yugi! While you may have beaten my Pet Dragon, don't underestimate my girls! I activate Polymerization!" she roars. Her Harpie Ladies smirk and lick their lips before diving into the vortex.
Suddenly, a figure, consumed in light, steps out. As the glow dissipates, the figure is revealed:
.
--------->
.
..... Someone should probably check the Duel Arena's AI—this, combined with some of the fusions involving Ruby, suggests whoever made it knew what they were doing.
A Harpie wearing a BDSM dominatrix costume emerges, long flowing blonde hair the same shade as Mai's, carrying an electric whip.
"...Damn, I'd let her whip me~," Ruby moans in your ear as she suddenly appears on your shoulder. You swear that Mai's monster looks over at you and Ruby, shooting you both a wink.
Before you can contemplate that further, Mai continues.
"My Harpie Mistress isn't just a pretty face, Yugi! Her effect allows her to take control of one of your monsters as long as I banish three Harpie Ladies from my Graveyard. Go, Eternal Bondage!" she yells, throwing her hand forward.
Suddenly, a collar with a long chain leash appears in the hands of Harpie Mistress, who flings it directly at Yugi's Black Luster Soldier, attaching the collar around his neck. Mistress then drags him over to Mai's field.
…Welp, this is going to be some poor(?) kid's sexual awakening.
As Mistress forces Yugi's Black Luster Soldier to kneel at her feet, she smirks as Mai throws her head back, laughing.
"Haha! I have to admit, I thought this fusion mechanic was just a dumb gimmick, but after watching yours and Handsome's duel, I decided to give it a shot, and I don't regret a thing! Your oh-so-precious Black Luster Soldier is now just another part of my Harpie's Pet Collection!" Mai says with the smuggest grin imaginable, and Yugi just grits his teeth.
"Aww, why the long face, hun? Some men would pay for this kind of treatment, you know," Mai taunts, as her Harpie Mistress yanks the leash and caresses Black Luster Soldier's helmeted face, licking her lips all the while.
You hear Ruby whistle from her place on your back. "Damn, I don't know whether I want to be her or be leashed up by her!" She suddenly stopped and hummed. "Hmm, both is good!"
Yugi takes a deep breath through his nose to calm himself, then places a hand on his deck and draws, smirking at what he's just pulled.
"I'm afraid this is the end, Mai. It was an excellent duel," Yugi says confidently.
Mai narrows her eyes.
"...You're bluffing again. Sorry to say, hun, but even if you manage to destroy my Mistress, your Soldier won't return to your field. And you don't have a card in your deck that can deal with both," she explains, trying to figure out Yugi's plan.
Yugi chuckles.
"Who said anything about destroying either?" He throws down a spell card. "To start, I'll activate my Living Arrow! Using it to copy your Monster Reborn!" Yugi announces as his arrow fires.
Your eyes widen—was he going to revive his Dark Magician? Maybe he redrew his Catapult Turtle and planned to resurrect Harpie's Pet Dragon, then destroy his own Black Luster Soldier—but then he'd take the damage….
You can't think about it anymore, though. Your eyes widen again as the monster that appears on Yugi's field surprises you.
"I resurrect my Mystical Elf, in attack mode!" Yugi yells.
…Why? Maybe summoning her in defense mode would be a stall tactic since Shadow of Eyes didn't affect female monsters. But why summon her in attack mode?
You're about to get your answer when Yugi smirks, then picks up another card and places it down.
"Next, I activate my Mystic Box! While I control a Spellcaster-type monster, this card allows me to switch the position of two cards on the field. I choose my Mystical Elf and Black Luster Soldier."
Your eyes widen for a final time as you realize Yugi's plan. You hadn't even considered him trying to regain control of his monster!
The boxes appear, covering both the Mystical Elf and Black Luster Soldier. Suddenly, both boxes open—Black Luster Soldier steps onto Yugi's field, while Mystical Elf appears on Mai's, chained up by Harpie's Mistress.
.
--------->
..
".....Lucky slut." You hear Ruby mutter in your ear.
You're unsure if shes talking about Mystical Elf or Mistress to be honest…
Mai grits her teeth as she realizes what's about to happen.
"Now, go, my Black Luster Soldier! Attack—Chaos Blade!" Yugi declares. His Black Luster Soldier rushes forward, while Mai's Harpie Mistress desperately tries to use the Mystical Elf as a human shield. The Elf continues her calm chant, a smile on her face even as Black Luster Soldier slices through both her and Mai's Mistress, reducing Mai's Life Points to zero.
As the others cheer from above, you watch Yugi thank Mai for her earlier encouragement. She simply walks away, throwing a confident thumbs-up behind her back.
…It looks like you and Yugi will get to finish your duel from yesterday after all.
You were looking forward to showing him once and for all his place was under you.
You felt a wave of anticipation and approval from the Ring still hanging silently on your chest at that thought.
-x-X-x-
After a few words from Pegasus congratulating Yugi, Croquet immediately announced the beginning of the next match: you versus Joey.
Welp, it was time for the true star of the show to take the field now that the audience was warmed up.
As you made your way through the winding hallways backstage toward the Duel Arena, you couldn't help but smirk when you saw Mai leaning against the wall next to the door.
Hmm, you could probably take a few minutes to talk with her.
"Shame we won't get our rematch, gorgeous, but I saw what you did. If not for you, Yugi probably would still be lost in his own head up there with the rest of the spectators, as you prepare for our match," you say, bumping your shoulder against hers as you lean beside her.
She rolled her eyes at that but also looked away with a faint dusting of red on her cheeks.
"...It would've been kinda pathetic if the only reason I won was because he wasn't taking the duel seriously. I didn't want to win like that."
You chuckled lightly. "Heh, what happened to the woman who sprayed her cards with perfume and pretended to be psychic? You almost sound honorable," you tease lightly, expecting Mai to bite back. Instead, she just looked up at the ceiling seriously.
"...I guess I've changed a bit. I would've shown no mercy whatsoever if it had been the me who stepped off the boat up there. Hopefully, it's a change for the better," she trailed off, clearly lost in her own thoughts.
…Damn, she was taking this seriously, wasn't she?
Looks like you weren't the only one who had changed on this island.
In any case, you didn't want to leave your talk with Mai like this, so it was probably time to change tracks.
You bump shoulders with her again, a cocky grin spreading across your face. "So, any reason you decided to wait back here? Come to wish me luck? I do have quite the gauntlet to run here," you say.
Mai just smirked at that, the serious air between you two dissipating. "I suppose you do, little Joey. Then Yugi, and finally the big man himself. Who knows if you have enough stamina for it," she teased.
Your grin widens.
"Ah, I don't think you need to worry about my stamina. I've always been able to satisfy. Although…" You exaggeratedly tap your chin as if contemplating something. "I wouldn't say no to a good luck kiss from a gorgeous lady before I start. That always seems to help. Do you know any around here?"
Mai just rolls her eyes before turning and suddenly wrapping her arms around your neck, leaning forward and pressing her lips against yours.
.
--------->
.
.... Hmm, now THIS was the kind of boost you needed before duels.
You and Mai continue to make out for a few minutes, slipping your tongues into each other's mouths before you reluctantly push her off.
"...Sorry, gorgeous. If we kept this up any longer, I might just get disqualified," you joke, a grin spreading across your face.
Mai chuckled at that.
"Heh, we'd hate for that to happen. Now get out there, Handsome. And don't you dare lose, or I might need to rethink the deal we made," she said with a wink as she began to walk away, swaying her hips as you watched her leave.
Heh, what a minx.
Shaking your head to get back into the zone, you take one last deep breath before pushing through the double doors onto the Duel Arena, where Joey is anxiously waiting opposite you.
"About time! What's the hold-up!?" he perked up as he saw you.
You chuckle at his question, placing your deck down.
"Heh, Mai was just wishing me luck. Sorry about the wait," you say with a cocky grin, and Joey suddenly blushes, obviously thinking about how exactly she had wished you luck.
"A-Anyway! Are ya ready or what?! If you don't take this seriously, I'll knock you flat in three turns!" Joey shouts, fired up.
You just smirk in response.
"Oh, I can assure you, Joseph, I'm going to take this very seriously," you reply with a cold smile, slipping into your dueling mood.
Joey gulps as Croquet steps forward. "Duelists, please present your qualification cards!" he says.
You reach into your pocket and pull out both your cards, while Joey only shows the prize money card.
"Excellent. Now, let's begin the second semi-final match between Makoto Yuzuki and Joey Wheeler! Duelists, begin!" Croquet announces, and the first duel of the gauntlet begins.
"I'mma start us off!" Joey announced, ripping the top card from his deck with a grin as he looked at it.
"Alright! Now that's what I'm talkin' about! First, I summon my Warrior Dai Grepher!"
At his words, a well-built man wielding a glowing blue sword appeared on his side of the field.
"And then I set one card face-down and end my turn!" Joey said, as one of his backrow slots began to glow.
Hmm, why place him in attack mode? Joey knows you have some ferocious beasts in your deck, and Grepher's defense is only 100 less. That set card must be some sort of trap then. But he was a thousand years too early to think you'd fall for such an obvious bait.
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You smirk as you draw and get Mirror Force.
Heh, it looks like the universe really had it out for Joey.
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You look up at Joey, making sure he can see the smirk on your face.
"I don't know who the scrubs were that you beat for your Star Chips, Joey, but I can assure you, you'll have to do better than that pathetic trap if you want to give me a challenge!" you taunt with a grin, setting your Tomato and Magic Jammer before ending your turn.
Joey clicks his tongue, irritation flickering across his face.
"Oh, just you wait, pretty boy! By the time this is through, you'll be wishin' you'd attacked!" Joey retorts as he prepares to start his turn.
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Even with all his bravado, Joey seemed unsure as he inspected your board.
"Eeeh, I set one monster face-down and end my turn! Don't think I'm stupid enough to run into the monster you used to beat Kaiba! I'm just gonna keep building up my board with some of my heaviest hitters until you go on the offensive!" he announced.
…Annoying. Even though your set wasn't Ruby, you'd still have preferred if he'd attacked.
But still, what could he possibly be hoping to achieve here? With the Duelist Kingdom ruleset, flooding your board could be disastrous. Was it just a rookie mistake, or was he building toward something?
Either way, he'd learn soon enough that there was a world of difference between dueling you and the rest of the fodder on this island.
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----------->
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You draw and get Solemn Judgment.
Sheesh, you were almost starting to feel bad for Joey. With this, along with your Magic Jammer and Mirror Force, your defenses were practically airtight.
…Still, you needed some offense quickly—defense alone wouldn't win the game.
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For now, though, you just set Solemn Judgment and smirk at Joey, purposely trying to rile him up.
"Come on now, Joey! Surely you can do better than just playing defense here. I thought you were trying to save your sister? Or was what you said before just an act? Gotta put on a show to try and boost your pride, but you're content letting the better man come to her rescue. It's understandable, really—I'd feel the same way if I were you." You taunted, going straight for the jugular by bringing up his sister.
You watched as Joey visibly clenched his teeth and began to glare at you.
"Why you—!" Joey growled, but was interrupted by a shout from the stands.
"Joey! Don't let him get to you, man! He's trying to rattle you so you make mistakes!" Tristan reassured him, clearly attempting to calm him down.
"Yeah! Don't let his words get to you, Joey!" Tea chimed in as well.
As you watched Joey relax slightly and take a calming breath, you couldn't help but smirk.
…Well, you couldn't let that stand now, could you?
You forced yourself to start laughing, clapping your hands in the air as if utterly amused.
"Yes, yes, Joey! Listen to your owners like a good doggy! Be a good boy now!" you chuckled, continuing to clap.
Joey's glare flared up again. "Who are you calling a dog?!" he growled, even as his friends tried to keep him calm.
You simply smirked. "You, of course. Do we need to get you to a vet? Always such a good boy, listening to your betters and waiting for a pat on the head and a treat afterward. I'm sure there's a biscuit around here for after I beat you." You suddenly paused and began to hum, tapping your chin. "...I wonder if your sister's the same—"
Before you could finish, Joey finally exploded.
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------------>
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"OH, NOW YOU'VE DONE IT! I'M GONNA WIPE THE FLOOR WITH YA!" Joey shouted, drawing his card with such force that you were surprised his deck didn't catch fire.
Heh, it was always satisfying to see a plan come together.
Joey ignored his friends' shouts from the stands, clearly just seeing red.
"Go Dai Grepher! Wipe out his monster now!" he yelled, throwing his fist toward you.
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You just smirked as his monster ran to your field and cleaved your Tomato in two.
"Bad dog! Don't play with human food!" You continue to pile it on as your Tomato's effect activates.
"Don't you know that human food is bad for animals, Joey?! You could get a disease!" you joked as you summoned Giant Germ. Joey's eyes widened in realization.
"Calm down, Joey! If you want to have any chance of saving your sister, you need to keep your head in the game. Don't let him get in your head!" Yugi advised, leaning against the bannister.
"Yeah, yeah. Listen to your master, Joseph. Though I'm surprised Yugi's the one holding the collar. I'd have thought, with the performance during Mai's duel, he'd enjoy being leashed right alongside you," you said with a wink up at the stands, causing Yugi's face to redden.
If you wanted to keep him off balance, with his friends' support whispering in his ear, you knew you had to press his soft spots hard. Both his sister and his friends were major weak points.
Joey clenched his fists tightly, clearly trying to keep his composure. He laid one card face-down and ended his turn.
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You hum softly as you draw, a smirk creeping across your face when you see Pre-Preparation of Rites in your hand.
"Where's all that fire gone, Joe? Are you trying to come up with an excuse for when I beat you?" you taunt casually, your attention not even lingering on Joey as you consider your next move. You hear him growl in frustration, clearly annoyed by your nonchalant demeanor.
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------------>
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You click your tongue in mild disappointment.
"Ah well, I suppose if you're not gonna play along anymore, I may as well end this," you say confidently, aiming to sound as cocky as possible.
"First things first—how about saying hello to old reliable?" A surge of satisfaction runs through you as Joey's eyes widen in reaction.
"That's right! I activate Pre-Preparation of Rites!" You grin as you announce your move. "This allows me to add Rites of the Underworld from my deck to my hand, and then I summon my Ritual Raven. I think you remember him from my duel against that dead man!" You pause for effect. "Ritual Raven's effect lets him act as all the materials needed for the Ritual Summon of a DARK monster!"
Your raven begins to glow, absorbing into a familiar summoning circle.
"So, I use him as a sacrifice for my Rites! Come forth and show the dog he's out of his league—Hades!" You laugh as your partner materializes from the summoning circle on the ground.
"But that's not all! I also activate the secondary effect of Rites of the Underworld. When I use it, I can send one DARK monster from my deck to the Graveyard, but I take damage equal to its level." You grimace internally as you feel your Life Points drop, even as a ghostly form of your Red-Eyes briefly appears behind Hades.
Joey's expression isn't quite so hidden—he clearly understands your plan after witnessing your duel against PaniK.
"Heh, I see you know what's coming, but for now, Hades will be more than enough! Go, Hades! Underworld Judgement!" you command, as a dark shadow shoots from Hades toward Joey's Dai Grepher.
"Not so fast, pretty boy!" Joey growls. "I activate my Shield & Sword!" He activates his spell.
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----------->
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Why? A part of you had expected some form of removal, but this won't save his Dai Grepher. Is he just trying to mitigate some of the damage?
"Ha! You really are stupid, dog!" you taunt, watching as the ATK and DEF stats of all monsters flip. You decide to let his Shield & Sword go through—either he's desperately trying to mitigate the damage or he's got something else in mind.
"Not for long! Next, I activate my Lightning Blade!" Joey cheers as a blade materializes in his Dai Grepher's hand. "That increases his ATK to 2400! More than enough to deal with your Hades!"
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-------->
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Heh, clever. If your only defense had been Polymerization, you wouldn't have been able to save Hades here— considering it's the Damage Step now. Looks like Joey's got some skill after all.
Unlucky for him, though...Polymerization was far from your only defense!
"Not so fast!" you exclaim with a grin. "I activate my Magic Jammer! By discarding one card from my hand, I can negate your Lightning Blade!"
You watch in satisfaction as the blade in Dai Grepher's hand suddenly shatters.
"What?!" Joey yells in surprise as Hades' shadow envelops Dai Grepher, crushing him before a shadowy Dai Grepher takes his place. It turns and slashes Joey across the chest, dealing 600 damage as he grimaces.
"That wasn't a bad move, Joey! Maybe you're worth a damn after all!" you compliment, watching him catch his breath.
"H-Heh, didn't feel like a good move considering how it ended," he responds lightly. You decide to throw him a bone—after how much you'd ragged on him, might as well give him some encouragement.
You stare at him seriously, making sure he knows you're about to say something important.
"No, it was. Considering what you saw, you were probably expecting me to use Polymerization, right? And you tried to exploit the fact that only cards that can boost stats can be activated in the Damage Step to get around that. That's some advanced strategy. The only flaw was assuming I didn't have anything to negate your spell." You smirk, slipping back into your cocky attitude. "Understandable, really. I doubt someone like you had even heard of a negate."
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--------->
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Instead of getting angry, Joey just looks at you with a tired expression.
"…You know I'm gonna have to punch you in the face after this, right?" he says matter-of-factly.
…Fair enough, but that's for afterward. For now, though…
"Heh, guess you have to make up for your lackluster dueling skills somehow," you say as you set your Polymerization and end your turn.
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---------->
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TRAIT ACTIVATES!
Joey swallows hard as he reaches for his deck to draw, obviously nervous. Before he can, his attention is caught by his friends.
"Joey! You can do this! Remember the first lesson Grandpa taught you—before anything else, the only thing you have to do is trust your deck!" Yugi calls up from the balcony.
"Yeah! Don't let him keep making a fool out of you, dude! I know you can do this!" Tristan chimes in with his own encouragement.
"Your sister's counting on you, Joey! I know you can do it!" Tea cheers, pumping her arm up.
Before you can decide whether to butt in, you sense a presence behind you.
"Hm, I know Bestie is just supporting her friend and all, but she really should be cheering us on instead—preferably in a short skirt with some pompoms," Ruby says lazily into your ear. Judging by the way Tea looked your way, it's clear she heard that.
Your attention shifts back to Joey as he chuckles softly.
"Heh, what else am I supposed to do now but win this? It'd be kinda pathetic if I threw in the towel now. Better get ready, Makoto—the real game starts here!" he declares confidently as he draws, smirking as he looks at the card.
"To start with, I'm activating my Copycat! This bad boy lets me copy one card from your Graveyard, and I think I'll copy your Tribute to the Doomed!" Joey announces. His Copycat appears before him, mirror-like and shimmering. The Tribute to the Doomed is reflected in its surface, and bandages shoot forth toward your Hades.
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---------->
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"Ha! You should know what's coming next, Joey!" you declare confidently. "I activate my set Polymerization, and with Hades on the field, I can fuse him with one card in my Graveyard. And I choose—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
You watch as Hades narrowly avoids the bandages, soaring into a vortex along with a ghostly apparition of Red-Eyes, before your Stygian Dragoon Hades steps forth onto the field.
"Let's see if you can handle my Dragoon better than PaniK did, Joey! If not, you might not like how this ends!" you threaten with a feral grin, your excitement and sadism rising at the sight of your Dragoon.
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------------>
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For some reason, though, Joey just smirks.
"Heh, you don't need to worry about me, Makoto. I'm more than good enough to take that monster and his ugly mug down on my next turn!" he says confidently.
Your eyes narrow, annoyance bubbling in your chest.
"...Show me then, if you're so confident," you reply coldly. "And you'd better not disappoint me. If this is all false bravado, I can assure you—you won't like what happens afterward."
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---------->
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You draw your card, feeling the weight of the moment. Your boys are there, cheering you on, but your attention isn't on them. Instead, it's fixed on Joey's confident smirk, a challenge in his eyes.
He had better be ready. If he thought he could mock you with mere bluster and bravado, he was about to regret it.
But for now, it was your turn.
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----------->
.
"Get ready, Joey! I'm not gonna hold anything back. If you can't keep up, I'll kick you down into the dirt!" you growl, your voice filled with menace, before shifting your focus to your Dragoon.
"Dragoon! It's time to show Joey what the big leagues look like! Underworld Enslavement!" you roar as your Dragoon channels its crimson energy into its lance. With a fierce dive, it skewers Joey's set card, revealing Warrior of Zera.
"Heh, and now my Dragoon's effect activates! When it destroys a monster by battle, I can special summon that monster to my field. Come now, Warrior of Zera! Serve your new master!" you command. Warrior of Zera pulls itself off of Dragoon's lance, a black and red aura swirling around him as he kneels on your side of the field.
"How's that, Joseph?! Your monster now serves me. Let's see if you can fulfill your promise of dealing with my Dragoon now, shall we?!" you taunt with a grin, sadism practically dripping from your tone as Joey begins to get serious.
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--------->
.
Joey takes a deep breath, closes his eyes for a moment, and then places his hand on top of his deck. With a steady motion, he draws a card, slowly lifting it to his face. His eyes widen as a grin spreads across his lips, clearly pleased with what he sees.
"Ah, right! This is exactly what I needed! Now, let's go! Come on out, Battleguard King!" Joey yells, his voice full of energy and confidence. The ground trembles as a massive ogre-like creature, wielding a colossal club and boasting 3000 ATK points, materializes on his side of the field.
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--------->
.
You sense the intensity of his move. This might be the moment to use your Solemn Judgment—an opportunity to halt him before he can fully deploy his monster and turn the tide of the duel.