Headquarters of the Light Association.
"Defeated?"
Takuma Saio sat as usual in the glaringly bright hall, fiddling with Tarot Cards in his hands, but rare signs of a frown appeared on his face.
In front of him was a computer engaged in remote communication. On the other side of the screen was his sister, Saio Mizuchi.
"Yes."
Mizuchi said calmly.
"I dispatched Raimaru and Hyoumaru together. Based on the situation, it seems that the two of them were facing one opponent but still were not a match.
Both have been defeated, and the Emperors they each carried are missing. Suspected to have been confiscated by the enemy."
Saio furrowed his brows tightly, remaining silent for a moment.
"Brother."
Mizuchi said calmly.
"Your foreseen destiny..."
"It's just a minor episode, nothing to worry about."
Saio abruptly interrupted her.
But soon his expression returned to its usual calmness.
"As I've said before, Revolver is just a minor character. He doesn't have much impact on the Association's plans; we'll discuss this matter later."
"...Okay, brother."
Mizuchi didn't say any more.
But she didn't voice what she was thinking in her heart.
A minor episode?
Her brother's prophecies have always been spot-on and have never failed. When have there ever been "minor episodes"?
Though Hyoumaru and Raimaru are considered elite in the Association, by Saio's standards, they're still just small fry. The fact that these two were defeated doesn't inherently explain anything, nor does it prove that the opponent's strength is troubling to Saio.
But what truly causes unease is the failure of the prophecy.
Revolver didn't get defeated according to the prophecy by the two of them.
"We'll set this matter aside for now, Revolver can be handled later. Compared to this..."
Saio laid open a Tarot Card, squinted his eyes, and said gloomily.
"Our true enemy... has almost arrived."
...
...
A meteor streaked across the sky, domineeringly breaking the atmosphere, dragging a long burning tail as it sliced through the night sky.
Its light illuminated the entire stretch of nighttime forest, the outlines of trees becoming sharp and clear in the bright light. A deep, powerful rumble filled the air, initially resembling distant thunder, but soon rushing in like a thousand horses charging forward.
Birds and beasts in the forest fled in panic. The brilliance in the sky clashed with the darkness of the earth, as meteors, with blazing flames, swept through the forest with unstoppable force. Dust and rocks were lifted by the massive impact, forming towering columns of dust.
A giant sphere of light flickered in the crater created in the mountains, faint golden rays illuminating the flying dust particles in the air.
After a while, shafts of spotlight began piercing the forest.
Aircraft bearing the KC insignia began landing slowly. Staff members set up barricades, sealed off the surrounding area, and established a camp.
Receiving the news, Keihei Kaiba personally arrived near the camp. Dressed in protective gear, he stood among the team, listening to specialists explain this meteor that had descended from the heavens.
"A miracle! It truly is a heaven-sent miracle!"
The expert pointed to the complex readings on the equipment display.
"Immense vitality, this meteor is absolutely alive, we simply haven't found the correct way to observe and contact it."
Currently, they were conducting various safety tests on the meteor, and no one dared to approach it recklessly. After all, something that comes from beyond the skies could potentially carry unknown viruses, hazardous cosmic radiation, or it might be innately dangerous.
"But look here, this reading... It's unmistakable, it's definitely Duel Monster Spirit readings!"
Keihei looked at him, surprised.
"You mean, inside this meteor... is a Duel Monster Spirit?"
"I believe so."
"A spirit fallen from the sky?"
"It should be correct."
"Cosmic People?"
Keihei started scratching his head.
To this day, the Kaiba Group has been developing Duel Monsters for over a decade. If Keihei has learned anything during these years, it's that everything could be a card.
This is not an exaggeration. The more their research progresses, the more they discover that cards are practically the essence of the world. Initially, ancient monster magics were sealed in cards, and then phenomena like flames, ice, storms, lightning, etc., could also be made into cards, as could modern technological creations, even cities and islands...
But aliens?
This still sets a new record.
Could it be that aliens also play cards?
Keihei unconsciously imagined an alien from the old movie "ET" with a Duel Disc on its hand, shouting "My turn, draw!" in alien language, and suddenly found it oddly adorable.
"This will surely be another monumental advancement shaking the world!"
The researcher was extremely excited.
"If we could communicate with Cosmic People and transform them into the power of Duel Monsters..."
"Hmm, it's quite tempting."
Keihei put down the equipment, thinking.
"Get me in touch with the Duel King."
At this point, he thought of the current Duel King, who wasn't just adept at card games. Although this person might not excel in the detailed operations and basics of card-making, Keihei dared to say in terms of research and creative scientific ideas, no one in the world could match this individual.
Using Cosmic People to create cards would definitely be a fresh field, perhaps Yugen might have some groundbreaking ideas. Even if not, sharing such a peculiar event with him would be valuable.
Keihei's decision was very correct. Because Yugen indeed understood what was happening.
Almost after hearing from Keihei on the phone, Yugen had roughly guessed it.
After hanging up, Yugen immediately headed to the Osiris Red Dormitory, found Judai, who was fishing by the shore, and dragged him onto the plane without explanation, flying straight to the camp where Keihei was located.
During the second year at the GX, extraterrestrial beings descended from the skies... Although the timing compared to the original seemed slightly ahead, it was enough for Yugen to mostly ascertain what it was.
It was certainly the Cosmic Elemental Hero coming to Earth after pursuing a vicious cosmic monster from the distant M78 Nebula...
Ah no, accepting the Dark Fluctuation to pursue the evil Light of Destruction arriving on Earth.
Back then, the Kaiba Group launched an event, hoping to use cosmic radiation to create cards and invited ideas from children who adored dueling.
At the time, young Judai participated in the event and designed a card based on his favorite TV hero image. It accepted the Dark Fluctuation countering the Light of Destruction, and today returned from space.
Thus called the returning Ultraman...
Ah no, it's Elemental HERO Neos.
Of course, Yugen was just guessing. Before arriving at the scene, he wasn't certain if it was indeed that.
However, this suspicion was quickly confirmed.
Within a minute of the two disembarking from the plane and entering the Kaiba Group camp, the researchers immediately became restless.
"The target is emitting intense energy fluctuations!"
Someone shouted.
"It looks like... like it's waking up!"