Well, there's really no way to top last chapter, but I'll try anyway. And yes, there's a perfectly valid, supremely enjoyable story behind how the decks of the first-series gang got upgraded to feature Synchro/XYZ monsters and the likes of that.

Sadly, that's a story that'll never be told.

But if you want one, here's a little story must be told.

...

Duel Simulation: Engaging

Duelist 1: Yugi Muto (Silent Strength)

Duelist 2: Reginald 'Shark' Castle (Ocean's XYZ)

Finally, it was happening, Shark gleefully thought. After moments so tense that they felt like months, he would finally face Yugi Muto himself. While the teen and his egyptian alter ego had a mental discussion, the group noted that Yugi's facial features seemed to soften, while losing none of their determination and focus.

Reaching down to his belt, he opened a box, pulling out another deck, placing the one he'd used within it, and putting his new one in the Duel Disk. "Ready?"

Shark nodded, smirking. Itching to duel the King of Games, he drew his five cards, Hammer Shark, Skull Kraken, Deep Sweeper, Upswell and Splash Capture. He smirked widely, knowing that Yugi's XYZ monsters were as good as his.

Yugi's hand, however, was radically different from Shark's expectations, containing Silent Knight LV0, Sangan, Monster Reborn, Kuriboh and Witch of the Black Forest, adding in Divine Wind.

"I summon Sangan, in defense, set a card, and end my turn," Yugi declared. In a blaze of holographic light, a small, rotund critter with three golden eyes appeared before him, while a card appeared behind it. [1000/600]

Shark recognized the monster, focusing more on it than his drawn card. It was a classic, all the way from Duelist Kingdom and Battle City, decades ago. If he'd needed evidence that the teen was indeed Yugi Muto, this was it.

Still, he knew that Sangan served only a limited purpose, to fetch him another monster, so tactically, going on the offensive was ill-advised, yet his entire duel-style was geared towards a healthy offense, and that was without taking into account the set card, he knew.

With literally a single card, Yugi could turn the duel around, so he couldn't afford to attack before that obstacle was cleared, which he noted annoyedly that he currently lacked the means to do.

Cursing inwardly, Shark declared the summoning of Hammer Shark, along with a trio of set cards, ending his turn. Before him appeared a massive beast, with a body that strongly resembled that of its namesake, along with three brown cards.

However, the head and jaw both reminded Yugi of a hammer, wide and angular. The resemblance would've been perfect, was it not for a large maw with razor-sharp teeth. [1700/1500]

"My move!" Yugi hollered, studying his drawn card briefly, knowing that Delta Flyer wouldn't be much help, as the only Synchro monster he'd included in this iteration of his deck required two tuners.

He didn't really have many options in this situations other than to await Shark's attack or stall, so he simply declared the summoning of his Witch.

In a blaze of light, a woman in dark robes took her position beside Sangan. Protruding from her forehead was a third eye-ball, a sickly-green hue with a brown iris. [1100/1200]

Shark blinked at the sight; he knew their effects full well, but why did Yugi even use them? It wasn't as though he could bring forth either of his Dark Magicians with them?

He began to suspect that perhaps, this deck had a different ace-monster, before dismissing the possibility, as what sort of ace-monster was so weak in terms of battle-power that it could be fetched by either the sorceress or the demon?

Astral was however more interested what deterred Shark from attacking. Was Yugi's reputation truly so fearsome?

"Your turn," Yugi told him. Shark thanked him briefly, drawing Aqua Jet, and smirked.

Yugi had foolishly allowed to keep Hammer Shark on the field, and now, he would regret it sorely. "I summon Deep Sweeper, and use both of them to construct the overlay network. Arise, Bahamut Shark!"

Beside the hammerhead shark appeared now a crab-like creature, numerous claws jutting out of its shell. As soon as it had appeared, it dissolved into a marine-blue energy orb, as did the shark. Both energy-orbs swirled wildly around, before colliding, unleashing a blinding light.

As the light receded, the marine light twisted and reshaped itself into varyingly ocean-blue and clear-white skin, forming arms and four clawed fingers, forming a muscular abdomen and chest, forming a spiked head and a protruding neck, and lastly, four thin and sharp leathery white wings protruding from the humanoid shark's back.

The formidable creature roared in elation at being freed, while the twin energy-spheres that had composed it floated around him. [2600/2100]

"And I ain't done!" Shark hollered, as one of the orbs dissolved, and a carrier-like object appeared with a pair of blood-thirsty sharks mounted into it, its bright-orange color standing out beside the man-shark. [1900/1000]

Yugi blinked at the sight, surmising that the larger shark's ability had summoned the smaller pair.

"By detaching a single material from Bahamut, I can summon an XYZ monster from my extra deck, provided that its attribute is WATER, and its rank is one, two or three," Shark smirked. "In short, mister Muto, you're in for a world of hurt!"

Yugi winced as the carrier-array sent both sharks at his Sangan. "Since Sangan got sent to the graveyard, I can take a monster from my deck, as long as it has no more than fifteen-hundred attack points and I know just which one!"

He picked up his deck, looking through it for the two monsters, before starting to second-guess his decision. He'd planned to use Marshmallon to stall but when he paused to consider it, he saw several alternatives, though Marshmallon seemed the best for the current situation.

"I'll take Marshmallon!" Yugi declared, after a bit of pondering, placing it in his hand. Shark cursed inwardly. While he didn't know anything about this 'Marshmallon' card, it had to be a powerful one if it was in Yugi's deck.

Reluctantly, he finished his turn, and Yugi drew Five Star Twilight. At this point, the legendary duelist knew his options to be limited; he could stall for a bit, but not much beside.

He knew that his four Silent monsters could defeat literally anything, given a few turns, which Shark wasn't likely to afford him, so he had to drag it out for a bit. Declaring the placing of a monster in defense mode, Yugi ended his turn.

Shark studied his drawn card and scowled in frustration, as Eagle Shark was just about the worst card for this situation, though he doubted that anything else would've been more helpful against the seemingly-invincible Yugi...

"Now, I'll attack with both of my sharks!" He hollered, but to Shark's shock, one of Yugi's monsters survived, despite it having visibly lower defense-points. [300/500]

Suddenly, the shapeless white creature that Bahamut had mauled pulled itself back together, while his life-points audibly diminished.

"You just triggered the effects of both of my monsters," Yugi informed him, shuffling through his deck for the small swordsman. "Since you attacked Marshmallon, you lose a thousand life-points, and you know what Witch does."

Shark scowled, as he ended his turn. So far, Yugi was living up to his reputation. Even with both of those low-level monsters, he was practically untouchable. Even worse, he recognized only two monsters from Yugi's new deck.

Yet, he didn't understand where the Dark Magician was right now. It was Yugi's signature monster, reputed to be invincible, so why hadn't he summoned it yet? Shouldn't it be on the field by now?

"I'll end my turn," Shark muttered, deciding to play it safe.

Yugi drew a familiar card, the image on it almost completely identical to his Kuriboh, save for the ash-white fur. Though it had its uses, he knew that now was not a time that its power would be of use. "I'll end my turn too."

Shark wracked his brain, trying to figure out what Yugi's strategy was, as he drew Drill Barnacle. He contemplated whether Marshmallon was simply on the field to stall him, or whether it had other purposes.

Regardless of what Yugi had planned, Shark cursed inwardly at the fact that currently, he had nothing that could overcome that Marshmallon. "I'll end my turn too..."

"Thanks," Yugi nodded, hoping to draw something that could break the stalemate. His drawn card, however, was Monster Recovery. He knew that the Spell would prove useful in a pinch, but the current situation was ill-suited for it.

Shark couldn't help but feel a bit dismayed at the current duel; certainly, it was against Yugi as was every Duelist's dream, but Yugi's plays simply weren't what he'd come to expect from such a legendary duelist.

"I'll set a card, and end my turn," Yugi proclaimed.

Shark drew another card, seeing Double Fin Shark, noting that yet again, the card he'd drawn simply wasn't useful in this situation. "Turn end..." Shark muttered.

Yugi drew, hoping for a card to decide the duel. What he drew was Sand Fortress, the only Field Trap in his deck, reawakening faded memories of Yako, and Gekko, and the Card Professors, and outer space.

"I'll set another card, and end my turn," The Duel King smirked at Shark. "It's your move."

Shark was wary of Yugi when he drew his card, not bothering to even sneak a glance at Shocktopus; he knew perfectly that a confident Yugi was a force to reckon with.

"I'll summon Shocktopus in defense mode!" Shark proclaimed. Beside his two monsters appeared now an orange-hided octopus, with a machine-like shark welded where its head ought to have been. [1600/800]

"That's all for this turn, Yugi!" Shark hollered, ready for the duel to heat up.

Yugi stood calmly, as he drew his card. As he'd expected to see, the Spell card he'd drawn depicted a pocket-watch sinking into desert sand. "First, I'll summon Silent Swordsman LV0!" Yugi declared.

Beside Marshmallon, Shark and the on-lookers saw appear what looked like a toddler or a dwarf in a blue-and-white attire, brandishing a small sword. On further inspection the infant appeared to be just an extremely short ten-year old. [1000/1000]

"Next, I'll activate the Spell Card, Turn Jump, skipping this duel ahead by three whole turns," Yugi spoke. "This activates my Swordsman's special ability; for each passing turn, he gains one plot-level and five-hundred attack points!"

Before Shark's eyes, the boy changed appearance, growing from the glowing outline of a twelve-year old, to the glowing out of a fourteen-year old, and finally reaching a sixteen-year old, tall-and-muscular body, his blade having grown tremendously in size. [2500/1000]

"Behold, Shark, the Silent Swordsman LV3!" Yugi spoke solemnly.

Shark smirked, knowing that he had the upper hand now. Bahamut Shark was still stronger than the Swordsman.

"First, he'll take out your Carrier Aero Shark!" Yugi instructed. The Swordsman heeded the command, charging at the shark-wielding machine.

"Not so fast!" Shark smirked, as his set Trap revealed itself, and the machine fired a jet of water, pushing the swordsman back.

"That was my Trap card, Yugi!" Shark smirked widely. "It's called Zeus Breath. It's ability is to negate a single attack, and then inflict eight-hundred points of damage if I have a WATER monster on the field."

"Not bad," Yugi complimented. "But I've got a trap too! Activate Divine Wind. With this card, I take no damage from your trap, but you take double the damage!"

"What?!" Shark exclaimed, watching the jet of water change direction away from Yugi and towards him, reducing his life points substantially. [Shark: 1400]

"I'll set a card, and end my turn!" Yugi spoke.

Shark drew another Double Fin Shark, debating whether attacking Yugi was a wise move to make. Through the entire duel, Yugi had countered nearly every move he'd made, and benefited from some of the ones he had been able to.

The violet-haired male doubted that he could successfully manage to destroy the Swordsman; the chances that Yugi's two set cards would cause trouble were too much against his favor. "I... I'll end my turn..." Shark spoke slowly.

"Alright," Yugi responded, unsure of why he seemed so hesitant to attack. He looked briefly at his drawn card, Safe Zone, while Silent Swordsman changed into the eighteen-year old LV4. [3000/1000]

"No way..." Shark breathed, disbelieving of the sight. "He changed again?!"

"Yeah, he did," Yugi smiled. "And now, he'll take out Bahamut Shark!"

The adult warrior charged at the humanoid shark, appearing behind it, immediately before it exploded into a cloud of dust. Shark winced as his life-points dropped further. [Shark: 1000]

"Yes," Shark whispered, snickering slightly. Though the duel had started off slow, it was rapidly getting better and better. "You're as good as the stories say, Yugi..."

"If you liked that, you'll love this!" Yugi grinned. "Next, I'll sacrifice Silent Swordsman LV4, to summon his true form, Silent Knight LV0!"

The Swordsman retained his stoic demeanor as he dissolved into golden fragments. In his place appeared now a new monster that was completely identical appearance-wise, though different strength-wise. [2000/2000]

"What gives?!" Yuma and Anna exclaimed from the sidelines. "Why would you give up a stronger monster for a weaker one?"

"Silent Knight isn't weaker," Yugi countered. "The Silent Knight grows faster than the Silent Swordsman, gaining five-hundred attack and defense points during either player's standby-phase."

"I can't wait to beat that Knight," Shark smirked wildly.

"Give it your best shot," Yugi grinned back. "I end my turn."

As Shark drew his Negate Attack, the Silent Knight changed to the twenty-year old LV1. [2500/2500]

Anna stared in awe at the sight, realizing how powerful a duelist Yugi truly was. To be able to achieve victory no matter what cards he used... He was truly a Duel King, in every sense of the word, and soon it was her turn to have a crack at him. She could barely contain her excitement at the prospect.

Shark wondered briefly why Anna was suddenly sporting a goofy grin, but considered it irrelevant, as he had a duel to win. "I'll set a card face-down, change Aero Shark to defense mode, and end my turn."

As Yugi drew his Gold Sarcophagus, the Knight changed to his twenty-two-year old form. [3000/3000]

"Now, Silent Knight, attack Aero Shark with Silent Buster Slash!"

The Knight did as instructed, but his blade struck an invisible barrier, generated by Shark's revealed Trap. "Nice try, Yugi, but not good enough."

"I end my turn," Yugi responded.

As before, the Knight accumulated more power, from reaching LV3. [3500/3500]

Shark drew Overlay Connect, and laughed, as the trap had come at the best possible time. "One set card. That's all for this turn."

The Knight gained another LV as Yugi drew Mask of Darkness. [4000/4000]

"I'll set a monster, then Silent Knight takes out your Aero Shark," Yugi spoke, hoping that the attack would go through this time.

To Shark's frustration, he lacked any cards that could prevent the attack. The swordsman's blade effortlessly sliced the machine into pieces.

"Your move," Yugi told Shark. He scowled when he saw Break Stream, knowing that none of his monsters came anywhere close to matching Silent Knight's forty-five-hundred attack-points.

His only chance to win was if Yugi attacked Shocktopus, he knew, but leaving it as his only monster might tip Yugi off. "Since you've two monsters on the field, I'm allowed to summon Eagle Shark in defense mode, without having to tribute. End turn."

"I draw," Yugi declared, and Silent Knight reached LV6, gaining enough power to rival the Five-Headed Dragon and the Master of Dragon Soldier. [5000/5000]

"No way!" Bronk was incredulous at Yugi's Knight's massive attack and defense points. "How strong can that thing get?!"

Anna, Yuma and Tori could only agree with him; even the magenta-haired girl's Rocket Arrow Express wasn't that powerful.

"There's no upper limit," Yugi revealed. "In ten turn, Silent Knight'll have ten-thousand attack points."

"I'll just surrender now, then," Shark deadpanned, seeing no way to overcome such a strong monster. At least, he now understood why Yugi was considered the King of Games, even if the history books mentioned neither his Silent Swordsman nor his Silent Knight.

Well, that concludes the long-awaited duel between Yugi & Shark. Hopefully, it was satisfactory.