Tenjo Hikari, along with his companions, left the cave. The spirits of the swamp tribe were somewhat reluctant to part with Muddy Mudragon. Initially, Muddy Mudragon cheerfully waved goodbye, but eventually, unable to withstand the children's reluctance, it transformed into a card and flew into Tenjo Hikari's deck, thus avoiding the children's pursuit.
Nonetheless, Tenjo Hikari could tell that it seemed somewhat sad as well.
After all, having been a leader for so long, bidding farewell to the children was inevitably sorrowful.
Tenjo Hikari asked the students to get on the bus, and called out to Tierra. Tierra casually summoned a Satan and was about to get on the bus when Tenjo Hikari suddenly froze at the door.
"What's wrong, Tenjo Hikari, did you forget something?"
Like he was entranced, Tenjo Hikari retracted the leg he had stepped onto the bus and hurriedly ran back to the cave alone. The students exchanged puzzled glances and quickly got off the bus to chase after Tenjo Hikari into the cave.
The cave was still the same as before; the spirits were saddened by Muddy Mudragon's departure. When they saw Tenjo Hikari suddenly appear, they were startled but then began to greet and welcome him.
The new leader Muddy Muddragon flew before Tenjo Hikari and asked puzzledly, "What's wrong, Polymerization Warrior, did you forget something?"
At that moment, the students hurriedly caught up, panting, leaning on their thighs or the walls, and asked, "Minister, is there still something unresolved?"
Tenjo Hikari did not speak, looking around intently, furrowing his brows tightly.
"Master, is there something abnormal?" Although Serena was relatively short and not yet fully grown, she had exceptional physical conditioning, so she wasn't gasping.
Tenjo Hikari still did not speak, but instead carefully observed the surroundings again.
This puzzled even Tierra.
She casually snapped her fingers, summoning several grayish-white Archfiends that flew around the entire cave, startling the Muddy Muddragons.
These Archfiends, each possessed a threat no less than that of an Earthbound Prisoner. Did this polymerized human truly have such formidable spirit companions?
"There's nothing abnormal, Tenjo Hikari, what exactly are you looking at?" After Tierra had the Archfiends scour the entire cave, she retracted them and asked again.
Tenjo Hikari stroked his chin, saying, "Since you said there's no abnormality, there shouldn't be any issues."
"However..." he furrowed his brows again, saying with some doubt, "But I still feel there's something strange."
"Strange?" Tierra curiously glanced around.
"That must be it!" Kagurazaka clapped his hands and said to Tenjo Hikari, "I've handled Mr. Yugi's deck before, so I know — that's it! Strong duelists can sense things that don't exist, achieving feats other beings can't, relying solely on instinct and intuition."
It must be the minister's instincts warning him!
Instinct?
Tierra furrowed her brows tightly.
She didn't understand dueling very well, but she knew a lot about the supernatural. She also knew that powerful duelists were always blessed with powerful forces.
Like Ed Phoenix and Saiou Takuma, who were aided by Destiny. The Diamond Man can always draw Normal Spell Cards, and coin flips always cater to their wishes. Some special duelists always possess special powers.
She also knew Tenjo Hikari was blessed by Alchemy, and ordinary Alchemy was effortless for him.
Thus, she was quite happy to believe Tenjo Hikari in this regard.
After all, it seemed like "duelist instincts" were something all powerful duelists had.
After investigating for a while longer and ensuring there was nothing abnormal, Tenjo Hikari apologized to the spirits and eventually left the cave.
As Tenjo Hikari departed, a wisp of black air slowly emerged above the cave entrance.
"So close, so close." A voice, neither male nor female, like a spirit or an Evil God, echoed.
"No wonder you are a friend recognized by Judai; indeed, you possess capabilities beyond mortals."
Yubel's lingering soul thought idly.
While pondering, she quickly flew upward, transforming into a phantom and leaving the forest, soaring to the sky.
Currently, she was merely a remnant soul, not fully resurrected. But this had its advantages—if she hid well, even demons of the same rank couldn't detect her.
Conversely, this meant—at this level, facing Otherworld God head-on might result in instant death, with no room for resistance.
Even though she hid well, she dared not gamble.
The human named Tenjo Hikari possessed extraordinary duelist intuition, and even though she hadn't exposed herself, sheer instinct nearly led him to discover her. If she hadn't slipped out of the cave after the duel, she would have been discovered by that Otherworld God.
If that happened, there would have been no escape.
She could sense that the Otherworld God was also in a half-dead state, and if caught, he would surely be eager to assist.
Having found Judai again was hard-fought, and she couldn't let herself be captured now.
Consequently, she felt regret.
She initially intended to seize the body of Tenjo Hikari's closest friend, but reality taught her—
Dare do, dare die.
Thus, she could only settle for the next best thing.
The cave was definitely not the place to seek a body; otherwise, if Tenjo Hikari returned, she would have no escape.
Therefore...
She waited midair for a long while, when suddenly several Archfiends flew over, shouting, "Hurry, hurry, follow, Lord Raenn is going to duel Lord Grafa!"
"Coming, coming!"
"What about Lord Divine Soldier?"
"He's injured and still recovering!"
Silva, is it?
Yubel chuckled sinisterly.
Truly the most loyal Knight to Judai. Since that's the case, then surrender your body to me.
First, resurrect my body, then proceed with the next step.
She transformed into a black whirlwind, sweeping several Archfiends with their cries, flying in the direction they were coming from, with one Archfiend struggling in the wind and screaming for a moment.
"What's wrong?" its companion called out.
"N-nothing... I'm a bit worried about Lord Divine Soldier, do you know where he is?"
"Oh, he's at..."
Even Archfiends, despite being Duel Monsters spirits, are "pure." They might use tricks, but they would never suspect companions of the same camp.
Elsewhere, Tenjo Hikari sat on the bus, glanced back a few times in the direction of the cave, but did not speak.
He flipped through his deck and took out Netherworld Dragon.
Netherworld Dragon shimmered with light. He closed his eyes, gently focusing his Dueling Power on Super Polymerization, and instantly, a card slowly materialized above Netherworld Dragon.
Earthbound Prisoner Ground Keeper.
Not a simulation card of Muddy Mudragon, but the real deal!
Netherworld Dragon could truly absorb the power of the Earthbound Immortal!
He collected the card, reclined gently in his seat, furrowing his brows, contemplating the future.
Regardless of whether it's Netherworld Dragon or Muddy Mudragon warning him.
After the tournament ends, this S Dimension must be visited.