Kaiba Mansion.
After returning from the finals, Kaiba, Kisaragi, and Mokuba discovered a package left at the front door.
"What is this?" Kaiba asked.
The sight of it made Kisaragi inexplicably think of a horror movie she'd watched before she transmigrated—back when she'd found it boring enough to fall asleep halfway through.
"Open it and see," she said.
They carried it into the living room. Kaiba tore the wrapping off.
Inside was a box identical to the one Kisaragi had received at the venue—except this one contained an extra item:
A videotape.
"So Pegasus is trying to lure me into his little trap—make me enter that ridiculous Duelist Kingdom tournament?" Kaiba said, his voice icy.
"Brother, there's a tape!" Mokuba said excitedly, already holding it up. "Let's play it!"
"Mokuba, wait—" Kisaragi reached out instinctively to stop him.
But he was too fast.
The tape slid in. The VCR whirred to life. The screen filled with static—then Pegasus appeared.
His left eye gleamed as he revealed the Millennium Eye.
Kaiba saw it instantly: Kisaragi and Mokuba froze in place, rigid and unmoving—like someone had hit pause on them.
"Kisaragi! Mokuba!" Kaiba barked, turning toward them.
On the TV, Pegasus smiled.
"Kaiba-boy. By the time you see this recording, I will have already reached a truly delightful agreement… with the Big Five of your Kaiba Entertainment Group."
"Them?" Kaiba's expression darkened. "What deal did you make with those parasites?"
Pegasus chuckled.
"Quite simple. If I defeat you and seize the shares of Kaiba Entertainment Group held by you and your dear brother… they will provide me with the data for your company's newest virtual system."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed.
"So that's why you want me in Duelist Kingdom. But if I refuse to participate, your deal can't be completed—and you'll never 'defeat' me."
"Is that so?" Pegasus said lightly.
Then the Millennium Eye flashed.
A beam of light shot toward Mokuba.
A small spark surfaced within Mokuba's chest—then tore free like a stolen flame, streaking straight into the television.
Pegasus raised a card to the camera.
On its face, Mokuba's image appeared.
"Pegasus—what did you do?!" Kaiba roared.
"Nothing excessive," Pegasus said, almost amused. "I merely took the soul of the person you treasure most."
Kaiba's blood ran cold.
"If you want your brother's soul returned… come to Duelist Kingdom and find me."
"You bastard… using Mokuba to force me into your tournament!"
Pegasus's smile sharpened.
"And if even that isn't enough… I can also take the soul of the lovely Miss Kisaragi."
His eye flared again.
But then—
"You really do whatever you want, don't you, Pegasus."
Kisaragi suddenly moved.
She stepped forward, freed from the binding, and walked right up to the television.
Pegasus's expression snapped from smug to shocked.
"Y-You—how did you break free?!"
"That has nothing to do with you," Kisaragi replied flatly.
Pegasus's surprise lasted only a moment before he recovered into a grin.
"I see. So you possess mysterious power as well."
He tilted his head, satisfied.
"Very well. I have already taken Kaiba-boy's brother's soul. Kaiba-boy—if you truly care for Mokuba's soul… then enter the tournament."
The image dissolved back into static.
Mokuba's body collapsed to the floor.
"Pegasus! Don't run—give Mokuba back!" Kaiba slammed his hands against the TV, shouting into the snow.
Kisaragi grabbed him by the arm and forced him to stop shaking the set.
"Kaiba—calm down. The priority now is getting Mokuba's soul back."
Her voice cut through the rage like a blade through fog.
Kaiba's eyes cleared.
"…You're right."
He lifted Mokuba carefully, carried him upstairs, and laid him on the bed in his room.
Kaiba looked down at his brother's sleeping face, jaw clenched.
"Looks like I have no choice. I must participate in Duelist Kingdom."
Kisaragi stood at the doorway.
"Then we can't waste time. We've got three days—use them to rebuild your deck. I'll help you."
As she spoke, a thought struck her—sharp and wrong.
Wait… in the original story, this videotape was sent to Yugi Muto. Why did it come to Kaiba instead?
Did my beating Kaiba cause the timeline to drift?
Over the past two days, Kisaragi had checked her System Space. Winning the National Duelist Tournament had unlocked a lot—especially key pieces for her Blue-Eyes White Dragon deck.
And she'd shared plenty of those cards with Kaiba.
Kaiba's strength now wasn't what it had been in the canon storyline.
Kisaragi exhaled softly.
"I'm starting to look forward to this Duelist Kingdom trip."
Three Days Later — Domino City Pier
The pier was packed with duelists.
As the National Duelist Tournament's champion, Kisaragi boarded first, with Kaiba following immediately behind.
A black-suited bodyguard stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
"Miss Kisaragi. President Kaiba. Welcome."
"What is it?" Kaiba asked curtly.
"Mr. Pegasus has instructed us: as the champion, Miss Kisaragi has a private room aboard this ship. You won't need to sleep in the communal bunks with the other duelists."
Kisaragi nodded once, then added smoothly:
"Kaiba is with me. Can he stay there too?"
"Of course," the bodyguard replied without hesitation. "You may have anyone you wish stay in your room."
"Then lead the way," Kisaragi said.
The bodyguard turned and began escorting them.
Behind them, a familiar voice called out:
"Kisaragi—Kaiba!"
They turned.
It was Yugi and Joey.
"Yugi, Joey—are you joining the tournament too?" Kisaragi asked.
"Yes," Yugi said, but his expression tightened, unnatural. "Because of… something. I have to."
Kisaragi already knew exactly what that "something" was.
Two Millennium hostages meant two forced participants—Yugi and Kaiba were both guaranteed to come.
Her gaze flicked to Joey's gear: the gloves and two metal star chips.
"Joey… I didn't expect Pegasus would invite you too," she admitted, genuinely surprised.
The bodyguard answered in Pegasus's place.
"Mr. Pegasus watched your duel against Miss Kisaragi. He believes Mr. Joey Wheeler is a strong duelist—so he was sent proof of entry as well."
Joey puffed up instantly, thumping his chest.
"Hear that?! Of course! I'm a big deal!"
Kaiba poured cold water on it without blinking.
"Hmph. If trash like you can enter, this tournament's quality can't be much."
"Kaiba! You wanna go?!" Joey lunged forward—only for Yugi to grab him and pull him back.
"Joey. Calm down."
Kisaragi lifted a hand.
"Since we ran into each other, come to my room. Talking out here isn't convenient."
Kaiba's head snapped toward her.
"Kisaragi—are you insane? How can you let those two into your room?"
"It's fine," she said, completely unbothered. "Better to have one more friend… than one more enemy."
…
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 30
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 30
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