"...I lost, Yugi."
Mai's voice carried a faint trace of bitterness, yet far more acceptance.
She gave Yugi one last deep look, said nothing more, and turned to walk off the Duel Arena with brisk finality.
Her tall silhouette bore both the loneliness of defeat and the acknowledgment of the victor.
Yugi silently watched her go, his gaze complex.
This victory had not come easily—and it left him reflecting deeply on his earlier arrogance.
Her words and her strength had carved themselves into his heart.
"The first semifinal match, Yugi Muto versus Mai Valentine—the winner is Yugi Muto! Congratulations to Yugi Muto for advancing to the finals!"
The butler's steady voice echoed through the hall via loudspeaker, solemnly announcing the result.
Clap, clap, clap…
A slow, deliberate applause rang out.
Pegasus, seated comfortably in the main chair of the viewing gallery, clapped gracefully, a playful smile curving his lips.
"Well done, Yugi-boy. A comeback from the brink… such a delightful and splendid duel it was."
His gaze seemed to pierce into the soul.
Once the applause subsided, the butler stepped forward again, his voice resuming its gravity.
"Now, we will proceed to the second semifinal! Yuto Tenshou versus Joey Wheeler! Duelists, please take the stage!"
Yuto showed no hesitation. With a confident smile tugging at his lips, he was the first to stride onto the central arena.
His eyes swept the field, and without pause, he chose the blue side to stand upon.
'Haki Ten, you believe in this too?'
Joey took a deep breath, slapped his cheeks hard.
"Joey! You can do this! For Serenity!"
He growled to pump himself up, his eyes firm with determination.
With long, resolute strides, he mounted the platform, taking position in the red zone opposite Yuto.
Their eyes clashed in midair, invisible sparks flying.
"Both sides ready! Duel—begin!"
The butler's voice cracked like a starting gun.
Yuto's hands moved swift as lightning. His fingers slid across the top of his Deck, drawing six cards with precision.
His eyes swept across them:
[H.L.V.], [Operation British], [ACE!], [MS-06 Zaku II], [Tribute to The Doomed], [Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle].
A perfect opening…
Yuto's mind instantly formed a strategy.
"My turn!"
His voice rang loud and clear.
"Spell Card activate—[Operation British]!"
VMMM—!
The sky split open with two massive rifts!
With deafening roars of engines and waves of scorching heat, two enormous drop pods hurtled down like meteors!
BOOM! BOOM!
They crashed heavily into Yuto's field, throwing up clouds of smoke!
Two colossal drop pods stood like iron fortresses, radiating oppressive menace.
Joey's pupils shrank, nerves on high alert.
Of course—it's that opening! [H.L.V.]!
He knew Yuto's tactics all too well.
Those pods could not be allowed to survive into the next turn. Otherwise, they'd transform into powerful Mobile Suits—or worse, be tributed to summon something even more terrifying!
They had to be destroyed quickly!
Yet Yuto wasn't finished.
"Next…"
He set a Monster card face-down.
"I Set one monster!"
A giant card shadow appeared face-down on Yuto's field, beside the towering [H.L.V.] pods.
Joey's heart skipped a beat at this uncharacteristic move.
A Set monster?!
His brows knitted, his mind racing.
This guy almost never Sets monsters! His entire strategy was built on brute force and Special Summons… what was this card?
A bluff?
Or something far more dangerous hidden in wait?!
The unknown threat weighed heavier than obvious power.
This unexpected move instantly raised Joey's pressure, the board state turning murky.
"I Set one card in my back row and end my turn."
Yuto's voice was calm, as though everything was under his control.
The setup was complete: two dormant [H.L.V.] pods, a face-down monster, and a fresh Set Trap.
The invisible tension thickened.
"My turn! Draw!"
Joey's focus sharpened to a razor's edge. His eyes scanned Yuto's field—the three-card defense line.
His brain raced. What to take out first? Those [H.L.V.] pods were time bombs—they had to go!
Yet that Set monster… there was something fishy about it!
His judgment sparked in an instant.
His eyes narrowed sharply—he had to strike at the most obvious threat first!
"I Summon—[Armored Lizard]!"
A reptilian warrior cloaked in metallic scales appeared on his field.
"Then I activate Spell Card—[Double Summon]! This lets me Normal Summon again! Appear—[Gearfried the Iron Knight]!"
Two fighters took the field. Joey wasted no time pointing at Yuto's drop pods.
"[Armored Lizard], [Gearfried]—attack those [H.L.V.]s! Smash them!"
BOOM! BOOM!
The sturdy [H.L.V.] pods shattered into motes of light!
Not bad, Joey.
Yuto's eyes flashed with a hint of approval, though the smile on his lips only deepened—his plan was only beginning.
"My turn! Draw!"
Excitement laced his voice.
Glancing at the card he drew, his smile widened.
"Perfect. Now let's show you a trick, Joey! I flip my Set monster face-up in Attack Position!"
The massive hidden card flipped!
Appearing on the field was a somewhat retro armored vehicle, its turret bristling with a rotary vulcan cannon!
[Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle] Level 4│EARTH│Machine│300 ATK / 300 DEF
"Only 300 Attack?"
Joey froze, although his wariness didn't fade.
Yuto wouldn't play a weakling for no reason! This had to be a trap!
Yuto gave him no time to think. His finger tapped his Duel Disk.
"Next, I activate Spell Card—[Blustering Winds]!"
A fierce, wild current wrapped around the [Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle], its frame humming with energy.
"Its effect: until my next Standby Phase, [Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle] gains 1000 Attack!"
[Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle, ATK: 300 → 1300]
"Still, that's not all!"
Yuto's voice rose.
"Now I activate [Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle]'s special effect! Whenever its Attack or Defense changes, the value doubles! That means instead of gaining 1000…"
ROAR!
The vehicle's engine howled, its cannons spinning violently as its aura surged severalfold!
[Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle, ATK: 300 → 2300]
"2300 Attack?!"
Joey gasped. The weakling had instantly transformed into a massive threat!
...
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