Kaiba Group, headquarters.
"The energy storage device is functioning well."
Keihei stood in front of the console, holding Yugen's duel disc, and returned it to Yugen.
Just earlier, he had performed routine inspections and maintenance on Yugen's duel disc, and adjusted and added some new module components.
Half a month ago, Yugen specifically came here to request a special component, which is the energy storage device just mentioned.
It's a rare device, but the technology itself isn't particularly extraordinary. Its operating principle is similar to the bracelet that Professor Cobra in the anime's Other Dimension chapter forcibly required all Duel Academy teachers and students to wear.
In the anime, that professor required students to wear the bracelets he distributed, which was later revealed to be part of his scheme. Once worn, the bracelets couldn't be removed, and during each duel, the bracelets would absorb the energy generated by the duel, along with the life force of the duelist's body.
The energy extraction terminal was located in a secret lab built by Professor Cobra on the island. The energy generated by all the school's teachers and students engaged in duels was absorbed into the body of the dueling spirit housed in that device.
That spirit was Yubel.
At that time, Yubel had struggled to return from the stars and was in a heavily damaged state, with her strength reduced to a fraction and unable to form a solid entity. So she mentally manipulated Professor Cobra, using him to help her absorb energy to achieve complete revival.
Inspired by Yubel's strategy, Yugen inquired separately at the Dark Web black market and with Keihei, seeking devices with similar functions. Subsequently, he discovered that there truly were such devices.
"Unbelievable."
Keihei inspected the energy storage device mounted on Yugen's duel disc, surprised.
"In just half a month, you've managed to gather so much energy... What kind of intense duels have you been having?"
"Haha, just high-quality duels, perhaps," Yugen smiled.
However, during these two weeks, he indeed frequently dueled, engaging in nightly activities in the Elf Realm and facing the Seven-Star in reality, most of which were Dark Duels.
A Dark Duel generates significantly more energy than an ordinary card game, and with enough matches, the energy naturally accumulates quickly.
"I've recorded all the data, the duel disc has been adjusted pretty much to perfection, and I've also done some maintenance," Keihei smiled. "Now it should be like new."
"Thanks."
Yugen received the duel disc from him and put it back on.
"Haha, no worries, I should be thanking you," Keihei smiled. "After all, the product is still in the testing phase, and the data you've gathered is precious for future development."
He paused, a bit curious, "But why did you suddenly think of collecting duel energy? What do you need so much energy for?"
"Well."
Yugen gave a mysterious smile.
"Once I'm done, you'll naturally know."
Collecting energy is, naturally, for the Three Phantom Demons.
As previously mentioned, the seven keys to unlock the Phantom Demons were just a decoy; the real way to unseal the Phantom Demons is through duels. In the original story, it was the Dark Duels that the students at Academy Island conducted with the Seven-Star that awakened the Three Phantom Demons.
Theoretically, as long as you gather enough duel energy and then inject it all at once into the Phantom Demon Sealing Array, it should also unseal the seal.
By then, even if Kagemaru can't be found, as long as you snatch the Phantom Demons before that old man, he would be stupefied.
"By the way, what about those victims from last time?" Yugen asked casually.
Keihei was momentarily stunned, then he understood, "Oh, you mean them."
They were the ones Yugen rescued from the underground market on the Dark Web, the souls sealed within cards.
While using dark forces to release the seal will naturally return the souls to their respective bodies, many of those souls have been absent for so long that their bodies have become ownerless shells, perhaps for several years. Even if the souls return, recovery isn't guaranteed.
As with Joey back in Duel City, relying on the bonds of friendship and willpower to awaken from darkness is a rarity, not something everyone possesses the resilience and determination to overcome.
"Oh, most of them have been found in person and received the most advanced medical assistance from the Kaiba Group. Several of them have already woken up.
But many are still in a coma, and the medical team is doing their best."
"I see."
"Yugen is indeed unexpectedly righteous," Keihei smiled at Yugen, "Not everyone would choose to help unfamiliar souls."
"Just happened to pass by. If President Kaiba happened to be there, surely he wouldn't have stood by either."
As Yugen said this, he was already heading out, waving a hand behind him.
"Alright, I have to leave. There's class tomorrow... Contact me anytime if there's any news."
"Okay."
Keihei watched his departing back with a slight smile, feeling inexplicably comforted.
Having a new Duel King like him might just be this world's fortune.
...
...
After finishing his activities as Revolver, Yugen returned to the Academy and went straight to rest that night, an uneventful night.
The next day, after finishing a day's course schedule, he was halfway through dinner when Judai had already impatiently sent several messages.
"Finished eating yet?"
"Why are you not done yet?"
"Come online."
"..."
Under Judai's repeated urging, Yugen leisurely finished his meal, returned to his room, and then logged in with Judai.
Link System, start!
Returning to the Elf Realm, the two mounted their Land Bird and continued traveling.
With the Vampire Princess, a local, joining them, the two now had a sort of local guide for directions, no longer needing to stop and ask a lucky passerby every so often.
With the Princess's guidance, they finally found an entrance and exit of this dimension. The two passed through the Gate of Dimensions and arrived in a higher new dimension, one step closer to Overlord City.
Passing through the dazzling Gate of Dimensions, they were struck by a blinding white light that made it impossible to open their eyes, followed by a dizzying spin. Upon landing, both felt a scorching heat sweep over them.
When they steadied their gaze, the previously dim wilderness had vanished, replaced by an endless desert.
The sky was a vast blue, with the sun scorching hot in the center, seemingly baking everything into golden hues. The ground's fine sand resembled a golden ocean, wave after wave extending to the horizon, unseen in its entirety.
"So hot!"
Judai leaped up, looking around, muttering.
"Is the Overlord really in such a place? His choice of location is really terrible."