Emerging from the space portal opened by the Great Opening, there was another dizzying, cloud-riding sensation of illusion. When the disordered five senses were restored, Yugen found the scene around him had changed completely.
The environment seemed to have turned to night. A blood-red crescent moon hung in the pitch-black sky, its moonlight cascading onto dilapidated rooftops, with the mottled cobblestone road reflecting a dark red sheen.
On either side of the street were ancient, medieval-style buildings, with doors and windows tightly shut, and not a trace of human presence. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would waft by, causing the curtains by the windows to sway softly and make rustling noises, like strange whispers.
"Is this the world of the Elves?"
Yugen frowned, looking down to examine his own body.
It was an indescribable feeling, but there was a slight sense of dissonance.
"Doesn't this place seem a bit different from the previous Elf Realm?" he asked, tilting his head.
The Pioneer's Envoy appeared beside him, looking at him with a somewhat peculiar expression, and after a moment spoke: "No, it's not that the Elf Realm is different. It's..."
He paused.
"...it's you who are different."
"Me?"
Yugen clenched his fist. The sensation was real; everything he saw, touched, and smelled felt so real, but the dissonance in his heart wouldn't go away.
"Yes. To put it succinctly... you're actually not here, just in some form of a projection," said the Chaos Warrior, "similar to how we elves usually appear in your Duelists' world."
He hesitated, his expression becoming even more peculiar.
"Is it because of the consciousness projection device... it's truly incredible. Even I am witnessing such a situation for the first time..."
Yugen had some guesses.
It was because of Kaiba Company's black technology, the "Link System."
The Link System was originally developed based on the high-tech Duel Disc from "Dark Side of the Dimensions," a device that projects the user's mind onto a certain shared virtual platform for gameplay.
As a result, while Yugen was in a logging-in state, he combined with the rare spatial abilities of the Great Opening, and unexpectedly projected into the Elf Realm as if glitching in a game...
And now the image he was using was his virtual image from the Link System, and his body was a fake one shaped by the Link System based on his consciousness.
He didn't know whether Kaiba Company had realized that their high-tech device had such a use. Clearly, their technology was powerful enough to work normally even in an Otherworld, and he could log out of here at any time by cutting the link, and return to his own body in the Yellow Dormitory.
As the Chaos Warrior said, it was a bit like how elves appear in the human world usually. Except elves normally need to use a corresponding card as a medium.
With this, it was much more convenient for him to explore the Elf Realm now, with much lower risk. He didn't have to personally go to the Elf Realm each time. Plus, he could log off anytime, attend classes at the Academy during the day, and return online in the evening to continue where he left off yesterday...
The town he was in appeared abandoned. As Yugen walked along the street, it was desolate and empty.
After about ten minutes, he turned into another street and finally saw figures at the far end. A group of armored bizarre figures, who he did not recognize, but their style made it evident they were likely from the Demon Race.
The demons noticed him and immediately began shouting.
"Over here! There's a live one!"
"Halt!"
"Don't run!"
A group of demons immediately seized their blades and rushed toward him noisily.
However, they gradually slowed their steps halfway, exchanging bewildered glances with one another.
Because they realized this person was calmly standing in place, not intending to run at all.
The demons closed in and surrounded Yugen, looking at each other.
This man not running seemed to have confused them a bit.
"Hmm, should I have run just now?" Yugen pondered.
It made everything awkward for everyone...
A demon fiercely flashed a gleaming knife: "Come along."
Yugen shrugged.
Sure, let's go.
In his current state, similar to elves in reality, he was nearly immune to harm unless it was the consciousness-directly-injuring Dark Game. So even a knife to the face posed little psychological pressure.
As he moved along with the group of demons, Yugen took the opportunity to inquire about the map's background: "Can I ask, where are we headed?"
The demons seemed perplexed by his calm disposition in such a dangerous situation.
However, a kind-hearted demon responded: "Naturally, to the stronghold."
"Ah, the stronghold," Yugen nodded, "Could you remind me what exactly is the stronghold?"
A demon looked at him incredulously, apparently finding his question unreasonable.
"I'm an outsider, just passing through," Yugen explained.
The demon assessed him, considering his uniquely styled outfit, and found he indeed didn't resemble a local, so he snickered.
"Ha, an outsider, are you?" the demon sneered, "Now that you're here, don't think about leaving."
"The stronghold is a sanctuary blessed by the True God, a concentration camp for rebels, the hell for anyone daring to defy the will of God," a demon shouted loudly.
True God...
Yugen thought, I bet your god is also just another Cheating Snake, isn't it?
Goodness, it seems that Orichalcos's Cheating Snake really has far-reaching plans, embedded into various Elf Dimensions no less.
Apparently, this group of demons might have been elves already enlisted by Orichalcos. This empty town might have originally been a place where elves resided, evacuated during the invasion by dark forces.
The stronghold that these demons mentioned was likely one of Orichalcos's outposts here. From the demons' description, it seemed to also serve as a prison.
The elves who originally lived in this town might be detained in there, similar to a prisoner camp.
Last time in the Elf Realm, Yugen had also visited an Orichalcos outpost and had quite a pleasant experience.
The enthusiastic outpost leader, White Bone King, had hosted Yugen with his entire family and, after a joyful duel, entrusted his wife and children into Yugen's care.
Another outpost leader, Beetle Armored Knight, went out of his way to meet Yugen, bringing all his belongings for an eager reception, even though Yugen hadn't visited him.
The duel there was also very enjoyable, and the gains were substantial.
Currently, Yugen had a rather favorable impression of these generous Orichalcos sub-branches established in the Elf Realm. Hence, upon hearing of this, he immediately grew curious about the stronghold the demons spoke of.
In the Elf Realm, there's a chance to obtain new card series that people in the outside world haven't even touched yet.
"How much further?"
"How long do we have to walk?"
"Why aren't we there yet?"
"..."
Yugen asked every few steps, causing the escorting demons to be somewhat bewildered.
No, why does this captive seem more eager than we are today?