"VERY GOOD!!"
Pegasus rose elegantly from the viewing gallery, his trademark smile—piercing as if it could see into the soul—fixed on his face as he clapped with enthusiasm.
"Bravo! What a magnificent duel! Both sides pushed their belief and tactics to the limit—an artwork in itself! Joey-boy's uncanny luck and comeback spirit were stunning, while Yuto-boy's razor-sharp calculation in the face of despair and that decisive 'finishing blow' were strokes of genius!"
The butler followed, his solemn voice ringing clear.
"This concludes the semifinal! The winner—Duelist Yuto Tenshou! Next…"
He continued.
"Both Duelists may take a short rest to recover their strength. The final match—Yuto Tenshou versus Yugi Muto—will commence shortly!"
As the applause died down and Yuto prepared to step off the stage, a cold, mechanical chime echoed in his mind—only he could hear it:
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have earned one booster pack from this duel. Please specify a keyword; the pack will be delivered to your room.]
Another pack… that made six already.
Yuto's heart stirred. Almost without realizing, he raised his eyes toward his upcoming opponent—Yugi Muto.
Yugi stood not far away, silently watching him.
Gone was the warmth of earlier. Now, deep within those violet eyes burned an invisible flame—calm, yet fiercely blazing with fighting spirit.
His lips pressed tight, his expression grave. The Millennium Puzzle at his chest glowed faintly.
He was like a sword about to be unsheathed—its edge hidden, yet already locked on its target.
Yuto could feel the weight of it—that silent declaration of challenge from the King of Games.
The air already reeked of the final battle's smoke.
In his private resting room, Yuto closed his eyes, fingertips resting lightly on his Deck, his mind replaying the tense moments of the semifinal. He fine-tuned his Deck with extreme care—just one card swapped, one order adjusted, could decide the final's outcome.
The twenty-minute break passed in a blink.
When he returned to the blazing lights and suffocating tension of the hall, the stage for the final was ready.
Pressure hung thick in the air.
"Now begins the Duelist Kingdom Final!"
The butler's voice echoed through the loudspeakers.
"Yuto Tenshou versus Yugi Muto!"
Spotlights flared, illuminating both ends of the platform. Yuto took a deep breath and stepped onto the arena with steady strides.
This time, he was assigned to the symbolic red zone.
Red… it felt ominously unlucky. He pushed down the uneasy thought and lifted his gaze.
Yugi already stood in the blue zone.
His head was slightly bowed. Beneath his golden-highlighted bangs, his violet eyes now blazed with pure, unshakable resolve.
The Millennium Puzzle glowed with a warm, undeniable light, sheathing him in a sacred halo that mirrored his burning spirit.
The pressure he radiated was like a lion awakening.
"Yuto!"
Yugi's voice rang clear and unwavering, carrying absolute conviction as it pierced through the arena's noise.
"Come! Let us give our all—leave no regrets—and settle this!"
Faced with such a resolute challenge, Yuto's heartbeat quickened with excitement.
"Yeah!"
He nodded firmly, his own gaze sharpening.
"I understand, Yugi! I'll fight with everything I've got!"
He slotted his meticulously adjusted Deck into his Duel Disk. The crisp snap echoed with his fighting will.
"DUEL START!"
The butler declared the final's beginning.
"I'll take the first move! Draw!"
Yugi's motions were swift and resolute, six cards sliding into his hand.
His eyes scanned them, and without hesitation, he played one.
"I Summon [Celtic Guardian] in Attack Position!"
Light flashed—the warrior with the steadfast gaze and sword once again stood tall on the field.
Not his ace, yet a vital piece of his defense.
For now, also destined to be cannon fodder.
"Next."
Yugi swiftly placed another card face-down in his back row.
"I Set one card! Turn end!"
His play was clean, decisive, without waste.
Though simple, the pressure fell instantly onto Yuto!
Before the Pharaoh, he could not afford the slightest carelessness.
"My turn! Draw!!"
Yuto pulled his six opening cards, his eyes flashing over them.
[Newtype Sensing], [Colony Drop], [Card of Sanctity], [Card of Sanctity], [ACE – Black Tri-Stars], [FF-B/2 Flying Manta Bomber]
Two [Card of Sanctity]?
Yuto frowned slightly. It looked like plenty of resources, yet none of the core starters.
Just the [Flying Manta Bomber] and a conditional [Black Tri-Stars] weren't enough against Yugi.
And [Colony Drop] required the right field to unleash its full devastation.
I have to fix my hand! The thought surged instantly.
Without a second thought—
"I activate Spell Card—[Card of Sanctity]!"
A colorful mallet spun into being.
"I return two cards from my hand to the Deck, then shuffle!"
He returned [Colony Drop] and the extra [Card of Sanctity]. The Duel Disk hummed as it shuffled.
"Then I draw two cards!"
All hope now lay in these two draws!
Yet when he checked them, no spark of joy came.
Yuto quickly assessed, his mind racing for the best route with what he had.
The improvement was slight, albeit still no definitive finisher or safe starter.
Against Yugi, any reckless attack risked disaster—especially with that Set card!
He chose the most cautious strategy.
"I Set one monster in Defense Position!"
A card slid facedown into his Monster Zone, concealing its identity.
"Then…"
His eyes lingered on the Trap radiating psychic force.
"I Set one card! Turn end!"
He laid [Newtype Sensing] into his back row.
Now his field showed just one unknown monster and one unknown back row. Conservative—yet like a hidden web, waiting for its prey to stumble in.
...
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