"My turn—draw!"
Kaiba's Duel Disk whirred as the system tried to stabilize, but the pressure in the arena hadn't faded at all.
"Kaiba," Aoi said, eyes steady. "The God Card really is terrifying. But I want you to remember something."
"Even a God Card… is still just a monster."
Kaiba's brows shot up. "What? Don't tell me you're planning to defeat a god!"
He stared at her—then saw that unshakable certainty in her expression, and a thrill rose in his chest instead of doubt.
"Hah… interesting. Then show me how you plan to bring down a god!"
"I'm going in," Aoi said.
"Do it," Kaiba snapped back—almost like an order, almost like permission.
"I activate the Spell Dragonmaid Changeover from my hand! I fuse the Dragonmaid Ernus and Dragonmaid Tinkhec in my hand!"
"Fusion Summon—House Dragonmaid!"
A black-and-crimson dragon burst into the air, its wings cutting through the light like blades.
House Dragonmaid (3500 ATK / 2000 DEF)
Kaiba scoffed, but his eyes were sharp. "Even if you summoned House Dragonmaid, it's only 3500 ATK. There's no way it can take down Obelisk the Tormentor!"
Aoi smiled faintly. "Are you sure?"
Kaiba's mind raced. Her hand shouldn't have any direct ATK boosters left—so what is she—
"Activate the Graveyard effect of Life Invasion!" Aoi declared.
Kaiba's pupils tightened. "What?! That card… had a second effect?!"
"That's right," Aoi said. "While it's in the Graveyard, I can banish it—then target one face-up monster on the field. Until the end of this turn, that monster's ATK becomes equal to my Life Points!"
Kaiba's breath caught.
"My LP is 6500—so House Dragonmaid's ATK becomes 6500!"
House Dragonmaid (6500 ATK / 2000 DEF)
Kaiba stared at the number like it was a slap to the face.
"…So that's what you were doing," he murmured. "You kept cycling Dragonmaids and stacking recovery with that Continuous Spell—raising your LP over and over… just to cash it out into raw attack power at the end."
Aoi's gaze didn't waver.
"Exactly. And Kaiba—this is something I want you to learn."
"Don't rely on gods too much. Believe in your own deck."
Those words hit deeper than any effect damage.
Kaiba glanced at the two Blue-Eyes White Dragons behind him. Then he closed his eyes, as if engraving her words into his bones.
"Battle!" Aoi shouted. "House Dragonmaid—attack Obelisk the Tormentor!"
House Dragonmaid surged forward—
And just as the strike was about to connect…
A violent explosion erupted from the upper testing room. The computers detonated with a crack of sparks and smoke—and in the same instant, every hologram on the field flickered out and died.
"What happened?!" Kaiba's voice was icy with anger.
A trembling technician bowed repeatedly. "Kaiba—Kaiba, sir, we're very sorry! The energy output from your monsters and Miss Kisaragi's monsters was far beyond the system's tolerance. The core control unit couldn't withstand it."
"Can you fix it?" Kaiba demanded.
"Yes!" the technician blurted out. "Even though the system crashed, all duel data was recorded. We can improve it within three days—and after that it should be able to withstand any duel environment."
Kaiba clicked his tongue, but didn't press further.
Aoi walked up beside him, half amused, half regretful. "So close. I almost got to bring down a god."
"Next time, I won't let you defeat a God Card that easily," Kaiba said, eyes narrowed. "This test duel ends here."
"Next time?" Aoi asked, even though she already knew what he meant.
"Five days from now," Kaiba said, voice like steel. "I'll hold the Battle City Tournament in this city."
"And on that stage… you and I settle it."
Aoi answered without hesitation.
"Fine."
…
After the test duel ended, Kaiba immediately ordered Isono to publish Battle City information across the web and push notices to Domino City's government departments for full cooperation.
Back at headquarters, Kaiba stood with his back to the floor-to-ceiling window.
"How did it go?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," Isono replied. "The Battle City announcement has been posted online. We've also notified the city's relevant agencies to coordinate with Kaiba Entertainment Group."
"Good. And the customized Duel Disks for me and Kisaragi?"
"They're complete," Isono said. "They've already been delivered to your villa."
Kaiba gave a short nod. "Leave."
"Yes, sir."
…
Kaiba's villa.
"Whoa!" Aoi gasped the moment she saw it. "This Duel Disk is insane!"
It was a one-off custom build—only two existed in the world. The whole frame was silver-white, with Blue-Eyes motifs everywhere: wing contours, claw-like detailing, and dragon-scale accents that made it look like it belonged to a dragon knight.
She couldn't help muttering under her breath, "You really are the world's biggest Blue-Eyes fanboy—your Duel Disk is Blue-Eyes-themed too."
…
Online, a single message spread like wildfire:
"Duelists, gather. Come to the city where ancient duels and card engravings sleep."
In no time at all, Domino City began filling with duelists from everywhere.
…
Downtown Domino City.
Only Yami Yugi and Anzu were there.
Since returning from Duelist Kingdom, Yami Yugi had been unusually quiet, weighed down by something he wouldn't say aloud. To pull him out of it, Yugi had asked Anzu to "go on a date" with him—though neither of them realized the city was about to become a battlefield.
"Yugi! Anzu!"
Mai Valentine ran up, grinning.
"Mai?" Anzu blinked. "Mai Valentine?"
"Long time no see since Duelist Kingdom!" Mai laughed, then leaned in with a shameless sparkle in her eyes and pulled Anzu aside. "So? You and Yugi on a date?"
"It's not like that!" Anzu said, flustered.
"Uh-huh. Sure," Mai teased. "I get it. I get it."
"Mai," Yami Yugi cut in, voice steady. "Why are you here?"
Mai's expression sharpened, the playful edge fading. "Because of Battle City."
"So that's why there are so many duelists in town…" Yami Yugi murmured.
At that moment, every large screen in the city lit up with the same broadcast.
Seto Kaiba appeared on-screen.
"Kaiba?" Anzu breathed.
"All duelists—listen well!" Kaiba's voice boomed through the streets. "One week from now, Kaiba Entertainment Group will hold a Duel Monsters tournament in this city!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
"There are two entry requirements," Kaiba continued. "First: a forty-card deck that includes rare cards."
"Second: our newly developed Duel Disk."
He raised the new model for everyone to see. The crowd buzzed instantly.
"What is that? A new Kaiba product?"
Then Kaiba's smile turned razor-thin.
"This tournament uses an ante rule."
"The loser must hand over the rarest card in their deck to the winner."
The street exploded into reactions.
"You're gambling rare cards?!"
"Kaiba's insane!"
"That means the champion collects the most rare cards!"
As Kaiba finished speaking, a helicopter swept into view behind him. He stood at the open door, one hand braced against the frame—while Aoi sat just behind him inside the cabin.
Yami Yugi's eyes narrowed. "Kaiba… and Kisaragi."
Kaiba's gaze swept the city below, sharp and predatory. So you're here too, Yugi. We didn't duel at Duelist Kingdom… but I know you're strong. This time, I'll see what you're really made of.
He lifted his left hand and pointed to the sky.
"The battlefield is all of Domino City."
"One week from now… this city will become Battle City!"
…
Elsewhere—somewhere unknown—hooded figures gathered in a dim chamber.
"Battle City…" the man seated at the highest position murmured.
"Yes, Master Marik," someone answered. "Duelists from across the country are gathering in Domino City."
Marik's lips curled as he gripped his staff.
"Heh… if the prey gathers in one place, nothing could be more convenient."
"Recall every rare-card hunter in the Ghouls organization. Bring them all back."
"Yes!"
"Our next target… is Domino City."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 126)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter89)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter1165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 84
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 150
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 53
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 52
Uma Musume: I Want All 55
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 27
Supernatural Multiverse 27
My Harem Is Indescribable 26
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