Most of the eight finalists stayed in their rooms, tuning their decks and running through lines in their heads.
Then, the television screens inside every duelist's room flickered on. Isono appeared on-screen.
"Finalists, please assemble in the main hall."
Kisaragi stood and stepped out into the corridor—just as Kaiba's door opened.
"Kisaragi," Kaiba asked, eyes scanning her fast, "rested?"
"Of course. I'm fully recharged," she said with a grin.
"Then we go together."
He walked straight toward the hall without looking back. She fell in behind him.
The Duelist Airship Main Hall
Nearly everyone was already there. The hall was packed with round tables, each piled with high-end dishes—steak, seafood, desserts, the kind of spread meant to remind you you'd made it to the finals.
"Yugi, the finals are finally starting!" Mai said, leaning forward with a confident smile. "This time, I'm definitely beating you!"
"When we face each other," Yugi replied calmly, "let's duel fair and square."
"That's the only way," Mai said.
Nearby, Jounouchi carried a plate toward Shizuka.
"Shizuka! Try this—this is seriously good—"
He nearly walked straight into someone lounging against the wall: Dark Marik.
Jounouchi's face hardened instantly.
"…Marik. I'm settling that score in a duel."
Dark Marik didn't answer. He only smiled—a slow, ugly grin that made the air feel dirty.
Jounouchi turned away, still glaring… and promptly bumped into Bakura.
"Ah—sorry, Bakura! Didn't see you there."
"It's fine," Bakura said, smiling gently. "The finals are about to start… I'm a little nervous."
"Yeah, no kidding. By the way—what deck are you running?"
Bakura's smile stayed soft.
"A supernatural deck."
"Supernatural—?!" Jounouchi stiffened. "Like… ghosts and curses and stuff?!"
"Yeah. I like that sort of thing," Bakura said with a friendly laugh.
To Jounouchi, it sounded like a threat delivered politely.
"Okay… cool… see you later then…"
He backed away fast—straight back to Anzu and Shizuka.
"You look pale," Anzu said. "You okay?"
"Y-Yeah! I'm fine!" Jounouchi laughed too loudly, then glanced across the hall and spotted Kaiba and Kisaragi.
"Kaiba! How are we picking matchups?!"
Kaiba didn't even bother turning his head.
"Can't you wait quietly?"
Kisaragi added, casual but pointed, "People are basically here. Start it already."
Kaiba paused—then reached into his coat and spoke into a tiny concealed mic.
"What's taking so long?"
A voice answered through the channel:
"President Kaiba, we're still waiting on the eighth duelist. They haven't arrived in the hall."
Kaiba snapped his fingers.
"Don't wait. Begin."
Jounouchi muttered to Anzu, half-amazed, half-annoyed:
"See? When I say it, he ignores me. When Kisaragi says it, he moves instantly."
Anzu shrugged, smiling.
"What can you do? They're close."
The Bingo Machine Draw
The lights cut out.
A platform rose at the front of the hall, lifting a bingo-style draw machine—a glossy cylinder with balls rattling inside.
Jounouchi blinked. "That thing is—"
Kisaragi's eyes narrowed slightly.
So it really is the GO!GO! raffle machine…
Isono stepped beside it.
"Finalists. We will now conduct the draw for the first match of the elimination round."
"We will draw two numbered balls. Those two duelists will compete first. After the winner is decided, we will draw again—until four duels are complete."
"In other words—until the draw, no one knows their opponent."
The machine whirred to life. The balls bounced chaotically.
A ball rolled into a decorative Blue-Eyes-shaped chute and popped out.
"The first number is… 7. Duelist Seven: Bakura."
Bakura smiled politely. "Oh. So I'm up first."
The machine spun again. Another ball emerged.
"The second number is… 3. Duelist Three: Mutou Yugi."
Isono raised his voice.
"Therefore, the first elimination match will be: Bakura vs Mutou Yugi!"
A ripple went through the hall.
Bakura laughed lightly. "Facing Yugi first… what bad luck."
Yami Yugi's gaze sharpened immediately, locked onto Bakura.
"Bakura…"
Kaiba watched, expression unreadable.
Show me what you can do.
Jounouchi exhaled like he'd dodged a bullet.
"Thank god it's not me…"
Honda and Otogi teased Bakura from the sidelines.
"Dude, you're done."
"Yeah, that's basically a speedrun loss."
Bakura's smile didn't change.
"Is it, though?"
Dark Marik's eyes gleamed.
"A Millennium duel right out of the gate… how entertaining."
To the Arena
Isono continued:
"The first match will begin immediately. Duelists, please take the central elevator to the duel arena. Spectators may watch at their discretion."
Bakura, Yugi, and Isono boarded the central elevator. It rose through the airship's spine—up, up—until it opened onto the top deck.
A duel platform had already risen into place.
"This is the Sky Duel Arena," Isono announced. "Please take your positions."
Yugi and Bakura stepped onto opposite ends. Isono remained in the center as referee.
Spectators filed in behind them.
Jounouchi stared around, awe creeping into his voice.
"So this is… a duel arena in the sky?"
Shizuka hugged herself. "It's freezing…"
Mai clicked her tongue. "We're dueling in wind like this?"
Kaiba answered, tone flat—almost proud.
"The airship is at 1,000 meters. In this arena, the duelists endure cutting high-altitude winds. The finals are conducted under harsh conditions."
Kisaragi suddenly sneezed.
"Ah—!"
Kaiba moved instantly—pulled off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. It is cold." She tugged the coat closer, then looked up. "What about you? You'll freeze."
"I'm fine."
Then Kaiba turned toward Isono, voice leaving no room for debate.
"After this match, send heavier coats and hot soup to Kisaragi's room. And have medical staff run a basic check."
"Yes, sir. I'll arrange it immediately."
Kisaragi frowned, half embarrassed.
"That's overkill."
"Do it," Kaiba repeated—firm, but his eyes were pure concern.
She grabbed the edge of his coat tighter, cheeks turning pink despite herself.
Jounouchi clicked his tongue.
"Kaiba's actually… kind of caring. Gross."
Shizuka leaned in close to her brother, whispering with a grin, glancing meaningfully toward Mai.
"Big brother… maybe you should worry about someone near you, too."
Jounouchi's ears went red instantly.
Shizuka giggled quietly—already enjoying the chaos.
Above them, the sky roared with wind.
On the platform, Yugi and Bakura faced each other—one calm, one smiling.
And the first duel of the finals was about to begin.
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 139)
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 (Chapter171)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter100)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter184)
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 168
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 156
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 105
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 185
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 160
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 150
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 76
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 97
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 116
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 75
Uma Musume: I Want All 93
I Can Copy Unique Skills 79
Summoning an Evil God, but the 55
Supernatural Multiverse 75
My Harem Is Indescribable 68
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 70
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 66
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 69
Still playing traditional Honk 49
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 53
What Should I Do After Switchi 42
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 50
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 38
Transmigrated as Sukuna 35
Checking In in Demon Slayer 40
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 55
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