Tens of thousands of Crystal Stones were drained down to the bottom again, and the new card deck build was also adjusted. Youyu didn't linger and set off directly, arriving at the Industrial Illusions Society's Domino Branch.
Although the Duel Monsters card game was designed by Pegasus, the city known as "Duel City" is actually Domino. This city plays a crucial role in the development of Duel Monsters games, so much so that it's not an exaggeration to say it serves as a transportation hub in the Duel World.
It's only natural for Industrial Illusions Society to have a branch in such a place. However, since the local top dog Kaiba Company suppresses it, the Domino Branch of Illusions Society usually has a low profile.
By the time Youyu arrived at the Illusions Society, night had fully fallen.
The Society's building was pitch black, and the towering skyscraper stood like a dark stone monument between heaven and earth. There was not a flicker of light behind the thick glass curtain walls, no sign of life.
Yet, the door wasn't locked. When Youyu reached the bottom of the building, he gently pushed the door open. At the same time, a row of lights lit up on the ceiling of the hall, reflecting a dim gloss on the mirror-like marble floor tiles.
It felt as if it was deliberately welcoming him.
Pegasus mentioned the itinerary was arranged, so theoretically, someone should be here to greet him.
However, let alone a reception, there was no trace of life in the entire Industrial Illusions Society building. Standing in the poorly lit hall, Youyu felt a constant cold wind blowing from an unknown corner, whispering past the back of his neck, as if someone was murmuring quietly.
No matter how you look at it, an empty office building this large is too strange, and the atmosphere is off.
Could it be that the chairman, sensing impending doom, announced a week-long holiday for all employees?
Having walked forward not more than two steps, Youyu stopped in the hall.
Dark Magician Girl floated out defensively in front of Youyu, holding her Magic Staff horizontally: "Be careful, master."
A shadowy figure stepped out from the dark corner.
It was a man who looked middle-aged, with a creepy appearance akin to a shady uncle lurking at a train station, his piercing gaze honed through hundreds of times of peeping beneath skirts.
From experience, Youyu inferred that this person belonged to the type that would automatically cast a force field of stranger repulsion in a crowd and instantly make one feel "absolutely don't get involved with this person."
"The Duel King indeed, as sharp as the rumors say," the creepy man approached slowly, wearing a strange smile, "so soon you've sensed something is off?"
"I bet you weren't sent by Pegasus, right?" Youyu asked.
The man emitted an unsettling cackle that could frighten off any female regardless of age within a 300-meter radius.
"Correct, definitely not."
The man sneered, suddenly releasing a blinding dark green radiance from the pendant on his chest. Simultaneously, green light appeared on his forehead, forming circular lines, hanging distinctly like a brand.
Orichalcos Seal!
"My name is Bourbon, sent by the great God of Orichalcos, a faithful warrior to the glorious 'Doma,'" the man claiming to be Bourbon sneered, "Industrial Illusions Society is finished. Pegasus has fallen into the hands of our great Doma; his power is being systematically eradicated from the planned map and will soon be entirely purged."
He raised his arm, activating the deep green Duel Disc, specially crafted by the Doma Organization.
"Let's duel," Bourbon said calmly, "Duel King Youyu! There is no place for you in Doma's future blueprint. By the order of the great God of Orichalcos, I will seize your soul and snatch the Egyptian God Cards you possess!"
"Be careful, master," warned Dark Magician Girl, "He harbors an exceedingly powerful dark power... but it feels hazy, I'm not sure what it is."
Youyu nodded: "I know."
Having become a Duel King, a battle against Doma is inevitable, something Youyu was mentally prepared for.
At the moment he accepted the duel, a brand new task in the list simultaneously began.
"Main Quest Activated: Doma Begins Action!
Task Description: The terrifying organization Doma, lurking in the shadows of the world for millennia, has finally begun taking action. Investigate Doma's true objectives and defeat as many duelist agents sent by Doma as possible!
Task Reward: Unknown."
The panel displayed "Task Reward Unknown," but Youyu manually filtered it as "Special Doma Edition Duel Disc and Card Deck."
After all, it's a gamble for lives; the loser's soul goes directly GG, so the card deck is presumably useless.
Youyu inserted his card deck, and likewise activated his Duel Disc.
"Duel!" x2
[Bourbon, LP 4000]
[Youyu, LP 4000]
"I'll go first, draw card!" Bourbon seized the first move, "First, activate Magic Card - Reinforcement of the Army! Add a Level 4 or lower Warrior-Type Monster from the deck to my hand.
I'll add 'Marauding Captain' to my hand!"
Skilfully, Bourbon extracted a card from his deck, flipping it to reveal it to Youyu.
"Next, summon 'Marauding Captain,' Attack Mode!"
[Marauding Captain, ATK 1200]
"Marauding Captain, activate effect!" Bourbon revealed a second card from his hand, "This monster is successfully summoned, special summon another Level 4 or lower Warrior-Type Monster from my hand.
I'll summon the second 'Marauding Captain'!"
A spectacle of light and shadow, another blonde captain in blue armor appeared on the field. One captain casually resting a longsword on his shoulder, the other crouched, guarding Bourbon on either side.
"A lockdown strategy, I see." Youyu understood.
"Exactly." Bourbon sneered, "While Marauding Captain is present on my field, the opponent cannot select another Warrior-Type Monster as an attack target.
And now I have two Marauding Captains on my field, which means..."
"Can't select either as an attack target, huh," Youyu said calmly.
Warrior-Type Deck, one of the top choices for novice players at Youyu Store.
Given that many players choose this deck, its combination appears frequently in preliminary matches in Duel City.
Post-match analysis by local duelists in DM seemed to regard these peculiar players—despite their strange antics and cryptic speech, some even donning bizarre outfits and nonsensical helmets—as having compelling deck builds.
Thus followed many NPCs who copied the players' novice deck builds... Youyu thought Bourbon might be one of them.
But then again, the opponent is bolstered by the Orichalcos power, duelists level unknown. High-level NPCs, even with normal monster decks, can exhibit extraordinary combat strength, not to mention replicating players' deck builds.
Facing devotees imbued with Orichalcos power, a momentary lapse may lead to losing one's soul. Naturally, Youyu exercises utmost caution in the battle.
"My turn ends," Bourbon chuckled smugly, "Let's see you crack this defense, Duel King!"