"Hey Yugi, what do you think Pegasus is trying to do around here?" Joey asked. "I mean these things could really hurt people."

"Yeah, but until we get all ten star chips we can't get into Pegasus' castle." Yugi said just before another shadow flew past them in a block of ice. "What the?"

"Oh, it's you guys." Chie said. "Come on, we need to get out of here."

"What's going on, what are these creatures?" Joey asked.

"We can explain on the way, right now we have something more important to take care of." Akihiko said. "Chie these shadows are still coming."

The moment he said that, a group of shadows emerged from the forest only to vanish in a flash of golden light.

"What the, why did the shadows just vanish like that?" Chie asked.

"I don't know, but we should meet up with the others just to be safe." Akihiko said. "Fuuka, can you hear me?"

"Yes, and I have a feeling we're thinking the same thing right now." Fuuka said. "Everyone is meeting up outside of the castle to try and figure out what's going on."

"Right, we'll head over now. See you there." Akihiko said calmly.

"Well what are we waiting for, let's get going." Chie said.

"Hold on, are you telling me that Fuuka girl is a ghost?" Joey asked nervously.

"No, she's not a ghost." Akihiko said. "It might be easier to explain when we get to the castle, besides it's not safe here."

"You can say that again, let's get going." Yugi said.

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"There they are, Chie over here." Yukiko said with a smile.

"It's good to see you Akihiko." Mitsuru said calmly. "Of course there's quite a bit to discuss."

"You mean the shadows, do you have any idea what they might be planning?" Chie asked.

"I hope you guys don't mind me asking, but what in the world is a shadow?" Joey asked.

Suddenly Pegasus stepped out onto the balcony of his castle.

"Attention all duelists remaining in Duelist Kingdom, the second stage of the tournament is about to begin." Pegasus said calmly. "Starting from this moment, a group of my preselected duelists will be wandering the island, however should you manage to find and defeat them you'll be given a special black star chip. Should you and your partner both acquire one of these black star chips you'll automatically advance to the finals."

"Nice, so all we need to do is win a duel and we're in the finals." Kanji said. "Then we can get some answers out of that creep."

"Of course, there is a risk for such a duel." Pegasus said calmly. "Should you lose this duel, you will be eliminated from the tournament immediately, I leave the choice of whether or not to challenge these eliminators up to you, and I wish all of you luck in the rest of the tournament."

With those words Pegasus walked back into his castle.

"We should be careful, there's no telling who these eliminators are." Yugi said.

"I agree, but there's still the matter of the shadows on this island." Mitsuru said. "Yamagishi, Kujikawa, do you detect any possible source of the shadows?"

"Yeah, and you'll never guess where they're coming from." Rise said.

"The castle, that's just great." Yosuke said. "Well do you have any ideas how we can all get into that castle?"

"Well, there's always the direct approach." Kanji said. "We just need to bust down that door."

"No, that's not going to work." Akihiko said. "Only a few of us are strong enough to get in through brute force and if the shadows we've seen so far are any clue there's going to be even more inside the castle."

"Well there is another option, I can use the powers of my Millennium Puzzle." Yugi said. "Somehow the other me can send those shadows back to wherever it is they came from."

"That's true, but are you sure that's the best idea?" Yu asked. "You noticed it too right Mitsuru-san?"

"You mean his eye, there's definitely something unusual about it." Mitsuru said calmly.

"Well isn't this a surprise, I'm guessing some of you are up for a duel?" asked a figure in a dark cloak. "If any of you want to duel my partner should be here shortly."

"Alright, what do you guys think?" Joey asked. "Any of you up for this?"

"Very well, the sooner we can get into the castle the better." Naoto said calmly. "Yukari-chan are you willing to assist me in the duel?"

"Alright, sure let's take these guys down." Yukari said.

"If it's a duel you want the two of you are in well over your head." said the figure as a second one landed next to him.

"Do not underestimate these two brother, Pegasus warned us about this group." the second figure said as they took off their cloaks. "My name is Para, and my brother is Dox."

"Well Para, Dox, you two are about to lose." Naoto said calmly.

"I severely doubt that, now then brother let's introduce these two to the power of our labyrinth." Dox said with a smirk.

"I agree, now then what will the turn order be?" Para asked.

"I'll go first, followed by Para, then Naoto, and finally Dox." Yukari said. "Does that work for everyone?"

"Yes, now then it's time for our match." Para said calmly.

"Duel." said Naoto, Yukari, Para, and Dox simultaneously.

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"Mr. Pegasus, those two are engaging in a duel just outside the castle, should I prepare the cameras sir?" asked a man in a suit.

"Thank you Kemo, I wonder who decided to test their luck against the Paradox brothers." Pegasus said calmly as a monitor lowered in front of him. "I see, so it's Mitsuru's friends. Somehow I had a feeling you would be involved."

"Pegasus, what kind of joke is this?" Kaiba asked angrily.

"If you're talking about the black star chips I assure you that only the best duelists will come close to defeating my eliminators." Pegasus said calmly. "Why don't you have a glass of wine and watch the duel."

"I'll pass on the wine, the duel on the other hand, that might be interesting." Kaiba said calmly.

(Pegasus has altered the rules of his tournament, and Naoto and Yukari are preparing to face the Paradox brothers in a tag duel. Next chapter the duel will begin. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)