Aoi and Kaiba stepped out from the camper's shadow.
"Yugi," Aoi said, voice calm but absolute, "let me take the duel with Rafael."
Yugi frowned. "But he named me in the challenge. If you go instead, Professor Hopkins might—"
"It's fine," Aoi cut in gently. "Rafael's target includes me anyway. He won't refuse."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "Aoi… you're really going?"
"Yes." She didn't blink. "I'm going. Seto—take me there with the jet."
Kaiba held her gaze for a beat, the concern in his eyes barely hidden beneath his usual chill. "Understood. But be careful."
Rebecca suddenly laughed.
"I heard Kaiba Seto was cold as ice," she teased. "But seeing him like this… that's new."
"Tch." Kaiba shot her a flat look, then turned and left with Aoi without another word.
Rebecca watched them go, amused. "So the 'gentle' version only shows up in front of Miss Aoi…"
Then she leaned toward Yugi. "Hey… does Kaiba like her?"
Yugi smiled a little. "Yeah. And the only one who can control Kaiba is Aoi."
His expression shifted—serious.
"But I'm still worried. Rebecca, lend me your horse. I want to watch that duel with my own eyes."
Rebecca nodded. "Okay!"
At the edge of Death Valley, Rafael stood alone, waiting.
A low thunder rolled over the cliffs.
VROOOOM—!
A Blue-Eyes-shaped jet descended and landed near the ravine. Kaiba and Aoi jumped down.
Rafael's eyes narrowed. "You're… Duel King Aoi Aoi. Why are you here?"
Aoi stepped forward. "I saw your invitation. I'm here to duel you in Yugi's place."
Rafael's face twisted. "That brat told someone else?!"
"I overheard it," Aoi lied smoothly, without a flicker of guilt. "Besides, you wanted my soul too, right? I'm giving you the chance. Let's see if you actually have the skill."
Rafael's gaze sharpened. "…Fine. I'll settle you first. Then I'll duel the Nameless Pharaoh."
He turned and walked toward the center of the valley. Kaiba moved to follow.
"Kaiba Seto," Rafael said without looking back. "You stop there."
Aoi glanced over her shoulder. "Seto, it's fine. Wait for me. I'll win and come back."
Kaiba's jaw flexed. He didn't argue.
Rafael and Aoi crossed a narrow hanging bridge into the valley's heart—sheer darkness yawning on all sides.
Rafael removed his coat.
Two axes shot out like hunting falcons.
"AOI!" Kaiba shouted from afar.
But the axes didn't strike her.
They flew past her shoulders and—CHUNK! CHUNK!—severed the ropes behind her.
The bridge collapsed into the abyss.
Aoi's back went cold, a thin line of sweat sliding down her spine.
Rafael smiled. "Now neither of us can run."
He snapped his Duel Disk open.
Aoi's eyes went flat. "You're proud of that?"
She activated her own Duel Disk and slid her Deck in.
Rafael LP 4000Aoi LP 4000
"Duel King," Rafael said, "I'll take the first move."
"My turn. Draw."
"I activate Continuous Spell 'Guardian's Treasury'—discarding five cards to activate it. I draw two cards, and while it remains on the field, my normal draw becomes two cards each turn."
Aoi's expression didn't change. A draw engine. Cute.
"I Normal Summon 'Backup Guard' in Attack Position!"
Backup Guard (500/2200)
"I activate 'Pot of Greed'. Draw two."
Rafael's mouth curled. "Duel King Aoi Aoi… my companions are excited. They want to meet you."
"Oh?" Aoi's voice was polite. "I'm honored."
"I equip 'Gravity Axe – Grarl' to Backup Guard. It gains 500 ATK."
Backup Guard (1000/2200)
"Then I Special Summon 'Guardian Grarl'!"
Guardian Grarl (2500/1000)
"Because Gravity Axe guides it—when it's the only card in my hand, it can be Special Summoned."
Aoi's eyes flicked once to his empty hand. So that's the line.
"Backup Guard's effect—transfer one Equip Card it has to another valid monster."
He moved the axe.
"I equip Gravity Axe – Grarl to Guardian Grarl!"
Guardian Grarl (3000/1000)Backup Guard (500/2200)
"I end my turn."
Rafael's field was suddenly oppressive—two bodies, one of them at 3000 with an equip that could lock movements.
Hoofbeats pounded the rocky ridge.
Dark Yugi rode in, reins tight, eyes locked on the duel circle. Kaiba remained at the far edge, watching like a predator forced to stay outside the cage.
"Kaiba—how is it?" Dark Yugi demanded.
"It's only turn one," Kaiba answered coldly.
Rafael's head tilted toward the newcomer. "Nameless Pharaoh… after I finish Aoi Aoi, you're next."
"Where is Professor Hopkins?" Dark Yugi asked, voice dangerous.
Rafael answered casually, "I released him. He should be home by now."
Kaiba's irritation deepened. He hated the way Rafael spoke like he owned the situation.
Aoi's hand slid to the deck. She drew.
She looked at her cards—then smiled.
Rafael snapped, "What are you smiling at?!"
Aoi's tone stayed light. "Nothing. Since you brought your 'friends' to welcome me… I'll return the courtesy."
She lifted her gaze, blue eyes sharpening into something cold and ceremonial.
"I'll guide you into my Silver Castle."
"Silver… Castle?" Rafael repeated, wary.
"First, let me introduce your guide."
Aoi slapped a card down.
"I Normal Summon 'Arianna the Labrynth Servant' in Attack Position!"
A cheerful maid appeared, twin-tails bouncing, holding a pink candelabrum like it was a royal scepter.
Arianna the Labrynth Servant (1800/1100)
Aoi continued without pause.
"Arianna's effect—by sending one Normal Trap from my hand or set cards to the GY, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Fiend from my deck in Defense Position."
She slid a card from her hand to the Graveyard.
"I send 'Welcome Labrynth Labyrinth—Welcome Welcome Grand Welcome' to the GY."
Rafael's eyebrows twitched. "You're throwing away cards already?"
Aoi didn't answer the provocation.
"I Special Summon 'Ariane the Labrynth Servant' from my deck in Defense Position!"
A second maid appeared—quieter, single ponytail, holding a green key like she could unlock the world.
Ariane the Labrynth Servant (1600/2100)
Rafael scoffed. "Duel King—two maids won't beat Guardian Grarl."
Aoi's smile didn't reach her eyes.
"I told you. They're only the guides."
She tapped her Duel Disk once, as if knocking on a door that didn't exist yet.
"Now… let them lead you into my Silver Castle."
And for the first time, Rafael felt it—the strange pressure of a duel that wasn't about brute force, but about walking into a place where the rules themselves belonged to someone else.
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 165)
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 (Chapter220)
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I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
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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 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
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 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 75
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 100
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 60
The Uma Musume Who Became 60
I'm Definitely Not the King of 80
After Maxing Out Every Class 80
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 57
I, the Elden Sword Saint 50
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 43
No One Knows Pokémon Better 50
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 45
From Trilobites to Titans 45
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 55
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 60
An Anime Heroine Darkened 55
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