Chapter 2: New Day
A few days had passed since the incident, after finding himself barely escaping the clutches of demise, at the blade of what seemingly was a real monster, Yuji remained apprehensive. In both curiosity and fear, he spent his days pondering as to what it was that Seker meant by his words.
"You've been invited to a gathering, one where the secrets of the Duel Monster's spirits will be revealed."
The words of the enigmatic entity echoed in the planes of his mind. Like a puzzle, he had been trying to find the answer to the endless questions he had found himself buried in. What is EGRESS? Who is Seker? Why were the monsters, real? None of the pieces fit, none of the keys opened a doorway, no matter how hard he tried. It was an incredible experience, the adrenaline, the rush, the sensation of the game was unlike anything Yuji had felt before, it was as if he was doing battle himself. The added possibility that his ace card, Pyressor Fighter, was potentially something even beyond his imagination, some sort of solemn so-called "Gate Card", also piqued his interest. The thought of a random card he had stumbled upon, that was seen as useless by others, actually being a one-of-a-kind rare card, was gratifying.
Akin to before, class had been dismissed, and Yuji had departed Duel Academy on a rainy day. He was in a rush once more, however this time, he went to obtain answers, instead of witnessing a conclusion. He hadn't spoken to Setsuna much for a few days. Those events that day shook him to the core, to the extent that he didn't even care about the championships, which otherwise he would have been raving about. He recalled what Seker told him before he vanished that evening.
"Return here in a week's time, all your questions shall be answered, and you will learn of your destiny." The words that had resounded as they disappeared with the cloaked man in a blinding luminosity.
Yuji arrived at the warehouse once more, where he had his duel with the leader of the Skull Servant Gang, Kyohei Kudo. His current whereabouts were unknown, all Yuji knew for certain was that if he faced him once more, he might not be as lucky to pull off a victory. Steeling himself for a potential trap, he took a deep breath.
"Alright, I've got this."
Scanning the Key Card given to him to enter, he slowly made his way into the dark interior of the warehouse. As the doors closed behind him, the lights suddenly came on as Seker appeared before him.
"Welcome, duelist. I see that you have arrived here unimpeded." Bowing his head, Seker greeted Yuji as he stood cautiously by the entrance.
Without missing a beat, Yuji could not contain his curiosity, and began to inquire the mysterious man before him.
"Hold it! Before we get all warm and bubbly here, I need some answers! Although I'm grateful for your help in getting back my card, I'm no fool. The fact that you happened to show up the moment my card got stolen, as well as inviting me here alone, how do I know you just don't want the card for yourself?!" Yuji brazenly exclaimed.
"I have no inten-" Attempting to reply, Seker was interrupted by Yuji as he continued his rant.
"Also, what the hell is "EGRESS" thing you told me about? Sorry, I'm not about joining cults if that's what it is, I mean, you're dressed for the part too! You also need to tell how the hell you managed to hack the duel disks to make the monsters hit hard for real, it's exciting, but also dangerous when I had time to think about it…"
"If you would just allow me t-" Seker was cut off from speaking once more.
"And about my card again, what is a "Gate Card", is it some sort of secret type of rarity? Or perhaps some type of legendary mon-"
Yuji stopped talking once he witnessed Seker glaring at him with a piercing gaze.
"Sorry." Yuji said as he took a step back and bowed his head.
"No matter, it's normal for one to not be trusting of a stranger when thrust in such an unusual situation in an otherwise mundane life, but if you truly wish to be enlightened, you will follow me." Turning around, Seker began to make his way to the wall on the other end of the room.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Yuji shouted in confusion.
Placing his hand on the wall, a golden radiance emanated from Seker as the wall began to shift and open, revealing a hidden stairway leading underground.
"This path will give you the answers you desire, if you truly have faith in yourself as a duelist, you will follow me, or you may leave. It is your choice." The shrouded emissary said as he began to descend the steps.
Conflicted for a moment, Yuji sprinted after Seker.
"Damn it! Wait up!"
As the two travelled lower into the underground passage, Seker had remained silent.
"So uh...how long do we have to walk for?" Yuji asked as he tried to break the ice.
"We are already halfway there, it is a quick venture." Seker calmly replied.
Still uneasy, Yuji asked yet another question. "Who are you exactly, other than a psychic supernatural stalker?"
"No need to jest. I am but a mere enforcer of sorts. Our organization is a secret one, I serve only to manage those who are a part of it, and to bring in new members. I make sure no one gets out of line. Of course, that only is within our group. Occasionally, someone will drag their affairs into the public as well. I'm not supposed to intervene in those events, but with you, since you possessed a Gate Card, I made an exception." Seker reached the bottom of the flight of stairs, and began to walk down a narrow corridor with Yuji following close behind.
Upon hearing what Seker had said, he was reminded of Kyohei. "So that's why you stopped Kyohei from attacking me then, what happened to him? Where is he now?"
"He gave into his hatred, which allowed his Undead Dullahan, a Gate Card similar to yours, to control him. Using a monster's abilities on the outside is forbidden. I sent him away to another dimension, until the effect of his monster's control wore off. He is well, or however you may define it, but if you encounter him I suggest avoiding him for obvious reasons."
As Yuji wore a bewildered look on his face from everything he had just heard, he stopped as Seker halted in front of him. At the end of the corridor was a large room, which looked far more advanced than the warehouse that was laid on the surface. Having a sleek silver metallic floor and walls, as well as a mysterious ball of light on the ceiling which lit up the room, there was a large, strange circular area in the middle of the room. It seemed to be some sort of platform with places for people to stand.
"We have arrived." Seker said as he walked towards the circle in the middle of the room.
"Huh?! There is nothing here at all!" Yuji scolded.
"Stand here in the circle, across from me." Gesturing for him to step forward, Yuji stepped onto the circle warily.
"Alright, I did it. What now?"
"Hold out your Key Card."
Pulling out the card from his pocket, he dramatically raised it into the air as if it were a shining draw in the heat of a duel.
"Ok. Now wha-HUH?!?!"
The circle beneath Yuji and Seker's feet began to glow in a radiant blue light. The two proceeded to find themselves falling through a breach in reality, a portal that was whisking them away to an unknown location. Yuji screamed as he flailed about in this sudden interdimensional travel, while Seker calmly levitated throughout the journey.
Reaching the end of the tunnel, Yuji was thrown out onto the ground with Seker landing skillfully beside him.
"Yuji Nensho, welcome to EGRESS."
Looking around in awe, Yuji took in his surroundings. What he was seeing was an alternate world from the one he had known. In the middle of a grand plaza, with several duelists taking part in matches, as well as other activities. It was like a city, almost identical to Roulette in size. Despite the world being similar to the real one, it had its differences. There was no sun in the sky, nor a moon, but a massive, endless spacial void that pulsated with energy. Some of the architecture and technology around him seemed to be beyond state-of-the-art, futuristic even.
"Woah, this place is almost like LINK VRAINS, but there is something different about it. Looking up from here, those buildings, and how it lines up with the sky...it looks exactly like the card Future Fusion!!"
Seker nodded. "This is an alternate space created solely for Gate Card holders. All the people here are duelists that have been brought to this dimension in a similar fashion to you. But unlike the game you mentioned, this place has a different purpose. It merely serves as a bridge, a gateway into the world where our allies reside."
Yuji turned to face Seker. "Wait, another world?!"
"Yes, but only those who have proven themselves can enter it. If you wish to go there, you must pass a trial first." Seker affirmed.
"Tell me Seker, I'm ready for anything! I've already come this far, I'm not about to back away now!" Yuji declared as he began burning with anticipation.
"You must win a single duel here in EGRESS. Then you may have the permission to enter worlds as you please, it will also be where all your questions will finally be answered." The enforcer avowed.
Letting out a small chuckle, Yuji began to put on his duel disk. "That's all?! Ha! I've practically got this in the bag!"
Witnessing his determination, Seker cracked a smirk. "Such passion within you, I was right to bring you here. Although I was hoping to bring your friend along as well."
For a moment, Yuji paused, before bursting into laughter. "I guess you must've seen Setsuna with me on that day while you were watching, but you would have wasted your time trying to recruit her! Unlike me, she doesn't like Duel Monsters at all, she doesn't even have a deck!"
"Hmm. Is that so?" Seker mumbled.
"...What?" Yuji replied.
"It's nothing. I will leave you to it then. If you wish to leave, merely use the transportation circle in the center of the plaza, and you will be sent back to Roulette City. Until we meet again." A golden light encompassed Seker as he vanished from sight.
"That guy, he's weird…" Yuji muttered to himself. "Well, I guess I'll just have to find an opponent then…who wants to get royally defeated by me?!" Shouting amidst dozens of duelists, multiple gazes met him as he beaconed his challenge.
"Oh look, it's a newbie." One of the duelists whispered.
"Doesn't look like anyone special."
"This clown is really screeching for a duel rather than asking for one like a normal person, yikes…"
"What's wrong with his hair?!"
"I'd duel, but if you run a burn deck…"
"Seker really needs to stop bringing in these wannabe duelists."
After a moment of evaluation, Yuji's plea was ignored as the other duelists began to resume their activities.
"You all aren't deaf, are you?! Come on, someone face me!!" Yuji started to dash towards any duelist he could find, only for them to avoid him, either in fear, or in sheer disinterest. Eventually, he found himself alone as he had chased everyone out of the plaza. Frustrated and crestfallen, he made his way to a nearby bench, crossing his arms as he sat down defeated.
"Maybe I got too excited, but there is still no excuse for them to have treated me like that. I bet when each and every one of them were new in EGRESS, they got a warm welcome! Next time I see them I'll show them warm alright, when my Pyressor burns their life points to zero!!!"
Maniacally laughing before sighing and sinking back down into his seat, Yuji looked up at the sky, watching the dimension shift like an aurora. "I was never good at making a lot of friends anyway…"
"I accept your challenge!" A disembodied voice declared, which caused Yuji to jump to his feet in response.
"What, who?!"
"Me."
Turning around to face the unknown challenger, Yuji locked eyes with mother duelist. It was a young man seemingly around his age, he had short, brown hair and hazel colored eyes. He wore an orange hoodie with a green t-shirt underneath, along with blue jeans and red sneakers. On his right arm was a silver standard duel disk in standby mode.
"Finally, someone with some actual guts! Tell me your name!" Yuji enthusiastically shouted.
"My name is Darby...Darby Stronghold. I am the strongest duelist here in EGRESS!!!" Darby proudly declared.
Shocked, but intrigued, Yuji found himself ecstatic about Darby's claim. "The strongest? A bold claim I'll say, but I'll have you know the best duelist is standing right in front of you...well soon to be anyway."
"Enough chit-chat." Darby pulled out his deck from his pocket and loaded it onto his duel disk. "There is only one way for us to settle this...ready to lose?"
Following his opponent's lead, Yuji also prepared himself for battle. "After you, of course."
"DUEL" The ceremonial words spoken, the game commenced between the two as their duel disks went into duel mode.
Yuji: 8000 LP
Darby: 8000 LP
"I heard you were new, so I'll go first to show you the ropes!" Darby said as he drew his starting hand.
With a grin, Yuji returned the banter. "How kind of you, let's see what you've got!"
"You have no hope of…." Darby cut his words short as he gaped at the cards in his hand. He paused, standing awkwardly, not making any moves.
Scratching his head, Yuji stood impatiently. "Um, you're supposed to make a move! What, did something happen?"
"I can't believe this is happening!" Darby said to himself. Something had happened, something that all duelists feared even more than even deck destruction...he "bricked." In his hand was nothing but high level monsters, none of them which he could summon without tribute. He knew at this rate he would lose, and his facade would be exposed.
"I...I end my turn." With great hesitation, Darby passed his turn.
Infuriated, Yuji gritted his teeth. "This guy...he thinks he's so good that he doesn't need to do anything on his first turn! That arrogance...I'm going to wipe that goofy smirk off his face! I draw!!!"
Turning over his card, it revealed itself to be Pyressor Fighter. "Perfect! This is the best hand I've started out with yet!" Yuji thought to himself. "Darby! You say you are the strongest duelist here, but get ready, because I'm about to dethrone you!"
With a nervous grin, and his eyes twitching, Darby attempted to keep a strong poker face. "Yeah...y-you wish! Bring it!"
"I will! I'll summon my strongest monster right off the bat!" As Darby heard Yuji say those words, he gulped and broke into a cold sweat as he felt a wave of despair wash over him.
"Cursed controller of flames, deliver the rite of vengeance that courses through your veins!!! Let's explode! Come forth, Pyressor Fighter!!!"
Pyressor Fighter / Level 8
Fire / Pyro / Effect
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000
Erupting from the earth, and levitating above the two duelists with its wings of flame and imposing armor, Darby began to panic.
"How did you summon such a powerful monster just like that?! That should be imposs-" Cutting himself off once more, Yuji looked at Darby confused as he gazed at his opponent, blankly staring at the life point gauge on his duel disk. Darby slowly began to burst into laughter as he fell on the ground rolling.
"Wait, d-don't tell me! You need to pay HALF your life points to summon that monster?!"
Yuji: 4000 LP
Darby: 8000 LP
"S-so what?!" Yuji stuttered. "Don't make fun of it! This is my best card, no, the strongest monster to ever be summoned on this earth!"
Dusting his clothes off as he tried to stand, Darby kept snickering uncontrollably as he continued to quip. "That's the best card alright, at getting you to halfway lose on your first turn!"
"You shouldn't be talking, your field is empty and I'm just getting started!" As Yuji prepared to make another move Darby was snapped back into reality as he realized that Yuji did not use his normal summon yet for the turn.
"Come forth, Warressor Soldier!!!"
Warressor Soldier / Level 4
Earth / Warrior / Effect
ATK: 1900 / DEF: 1500
A barbarous, axe-wielding warrior entered the battlefield, with armor that was torn from countless fights. The monster had an eyepatch covering his right eye.
"Time for double the trouble! I place two cards face down, and then enter the battle phase! Pyressor and Warressor, attack him directly! Ignite Slash!!"
Charging forward with its giant axe, the warrior lunged its weapon at Darby, as the pyromancer alongside it sparked a flame within its fist and thrust forward with a meteoric punch. The blow from this dual impact sent Darby hurling backwards as he crashed into the ground.
Yuji: 4000 LP
Darby: 3600 LP
"How did that dirt taste, champ?!" Yuji boasted.
"Shut up! It isn't over yet, you just got lucky that's all!" Darby jumped back up to his feet, wearing a furious look on his face. "Unfortunately unlike you, I don't have the luxury of top decking! End your turn already you cheater!"
"I'm not cheating...I'm just lucky! Yuji scoffed. "At this rate though, I doubt you'll have another turn after this! I end my turn!"
As a drop of sweat rolled down his back, Darby realized he was done if he could not summon a monster this turn. In that moment, he put all his faith into his draw, the deciding factor for the outcome of this game.
"I draw!!" Without looking, Darby swiped a card from his deck, turning it over slowly, afraid of what it might hold, he revealed it to himself. It was a monster, one he could bring on the field. But not one that would grant him victory.
"I set a monster face-down...I...I end my turn…" Sulkily declaring the end of his turn, Darby slouched as he was left with minimal defenses.
Noticing his opponent was distraught, Yuji knew his victory was around the corner. Eager to learn about the "other world" Seker told him about, he quickly drew a card, and without missing a beat, entered his battle phase without making any new moves.
"All that talk is gone now it seems, this duel was a piece of cake! Attack his face-down monster, Warressor! Mighty Slash!"
The face-down monster was revealed, it was a blue-skinned female elf with long, blond hair. It wore a regal crown as well as a green dress.
Mystical Elf / Level 4
Light / Spellcaster / Normal
ATK: 800 / DEF: 2000
"A delicate elf that lacks offense, but has a terrific defense backed by mystical power."
Upon attacking a card with defense higher than his monster's attack, Yuji shielded himself as he took damage.
Yuji: 3900 LP
Darby: 3600 LP
"It...can't be, a normal monster?!?!" Yuji's jaw dropped as he realized what had just impeded his attack. "Damn it! Pyressor Fighter, destroy Mystical Elf! Ignite Knuckle!!!"
The armored monster struck the holy elf with a punch, shattering it into pieces. The shockwave from the blow created a gale that swept over the room. If Yuji had attacked first with Pyressor, he would have been able to deal battle damage to his opponent. But in his haste, he had neglected the possibility that the face-down monster was strong enough to withstand an attack from a powerful level four monster.
For Darby's face-down monster to also be Mystical Elf, one of the first cards ever to be released, also a card that hasn't seen play in decades, stunned Yuji completely. "What kind of opponent am I facing?" Yuji thought to himself.
Regaining his composure, Yuji placed a card from his hand onto his duel disk. "I set one monster face-down, turn end. Now you've got me intrigued. Let's see what you've got!"
Relieved that he managed to survive the turn without taking damage, Darby readied himself for his turn. He knew his opponent would not make the same mistake twice and attack a set monster recklessly. Going on the offense was the only option. There was only one card that he could use, his ace monster.
"I draw!!!" Darby shouted as he pulled a card from his deck, revealing it to himself, it was a spell card.
Witnessing his adversary pause after making his move, Yuji knew he didn't get the card he needed. "So I guess it's over for you then, isn't it?"
Darby smirked. "No, you're wrong. I've got exactly the card I need!!! I activate the spell, Reload, from my hand!!"
Placing the cards in his hand into his deck, his duel disk began to shuffle the cards randomly.
"This card allows me to draw the same amount of cards from my deck equal to the amount I've sent back! It all comes down to this!" Drawing five cards from his deck, Darby grinned as he stared at Yuji with malicious intent.
"Time for the ultimate comeback! I activate the spell card, Ancient Rules, from my hand! This card lets me special summon a level five or higher normal monster from my hand! It's time for you to bear witness to my Gate Card!"
"Gate Card?!" Yuji uttered as he was reminded of Undead Dullahan and it's power, causing him to fearfully anticipate the monster that was about to be summoned.
"For truth and justice! Don the weapon that will cut the path to a new day! I call on you, Dawning Arms Legend!!!
Dawning Arms Legend / Level 6
Earth / Warrior / Normal
ATK: 2300 / DEF: 2000
"This lone warrior wanders lost battlefields, searching for the sword it once wielded."
A humanoid knight in golden armor stepped onto the field. It held no weapons, wielding only its fists.
"Another normal monster?! Well, it doesn't matter, your monster doesn't have enough attack to match my Pyressor, and it has no effects, you're cornered!"
Darby laughed. "Don't underestimate my cards! I activate the equip spells, "Axe of Despair" and "Big Bang Shot" to my Dawning Arms Legend! Axe of Despair boots my monster's attack by one-thousand! Big Bang Shot boosts its attack by an additional four-hundred, and generously allows it to deal piercing damage!"
A giant axe descended from the sky, as the golden knight reached for it and clutched it in his hands, he was surrounded by a fiery aura.
Dawning Arms Legend
ATK: 3700 / DEF: 2000
"Thirty-seven hundred attack points?!" Shocked by the sudden increase in Legend's attack, Yuji braced himself for its imminent attack. However, despite the daunting challenge before him, the young duelist was sure of victory. Even if Pyressor Fighter was attacked, it would inflict four-thousand points of damage on its destruction.
"I'm not done yet!"
"What?!"
"I use my final equip spell, Drain Armor! I'll equip it to your Pyressor!" Darby declared as he cockily smiled.
"You're putting it on my monster?! What are you planning?!" Yuji angrily inquired.
"A monster equipped with Drain Armor cannot be destroyed by battle! However...it has its effects negated!!!"
"Why wouldn't you use that on your own monster? Since it has no eff...OH NO!!!" Yuji shouted as he realized what had just happened.
"So you finally get it." Darby said as he scratched his nose. "Even though your Pyressor has a ridiculous summoning condition, I knew it had to have a powerful effect to make up for it! Now it's helpless. And since it can't be destroyed by battle, I'll just keep attacking over it until you lose!"
Elsewhere, downtown of Roulette City, Setsuna was strolling home alongside her friends from school. In the corner of her eye, she saw a mysterious individual watching her from afar. Quickly ending the conversation with her acquaintances, she waved farewell as they parted ways.
"Greetings, Setsuna."
"What do you want, Seker?"
The girl turned around to face the cloaked emissary, who smirked at her irritation.
"You still ignore your calling. Fate should be faced, not avoided."
Setsuna scoffed. "I don't want anything to do with duel monsters, no matter how many times you try to drag me into this, the answer will stay the same. Leave me alone!"
Turning away, Seker paused for a moment before continuing to speak. "I know you've seen the future. The horrors to come. Only the combined might of the chosen can stop it."
"...I know. But it isn't my problem." Setsuna murmured as she lowered her head .
"Of course. Others will deal with it. But how many will be lost in the process? Letting your past haunt you is a sign of weakness." Seker reproached.
"Enough! Leave! Don't ever show your face to me again, or I'll show you the monster you want to see…"
Setsuna chided.
Without a word, Seker began to walk away from Setsuna, before stopping once more.
"If you want to help your dear friend Yuji, you'll reconsider that decision."
"What did you say?!" As Setsuna quickly turned to face Seker, he vanished in a flash of light.
The duel between Yuji and Darby continued, with Darby preparing to turn the tides on his opponent.
"Break through, my legend! Attack his Pyressor Fighter!"
Bounding into the air with it's axe, Dawning Arms Legend slammed down it's weapon into Pyressor Fighter, causing an explosion. Due to Drain Armor, it was not destroyed, but Yuji still took the damage.
Yuji: 2700 LP
Darby: 3600 LP
Brought to his knees from the force, Yuji found himself enjoying the duel. "That was an amazing combo, I was really caught off guard by that."
"I don't need your patronizing! At this rate you are finished, you can't hope to match a whopping thirty-seven hundred attack points! My Dawning Arms is the strongest! I end my turn! Your move!" Darby jeered.
"No, I really did mean it. You are a great duelist." A sly smirk emerged on Yuji's face. "But you've still got a long way, because I've already won."
Darby took a step backwards. "What?!"
"My turn, I draw!!!" Triumphantly drawing a card from his deck, Yuji leaped to his feet in exhilaration as he revealed the card to himself.
"Let's go! I flip over my set card, Ressoriboh!"
Ressoriboh / Level 3
Fire / Fiend / Effect
ATK: 300 / DEF: 500
"I can special summon this card from my hand by tributing two "ressor" monsters on my side of the field. I sacrifice my Warressor Soldier and my Ressoriboh! Stamp out their fire, Suppressor Sentry!!!"
Suppressor Sentry / Level 5
Light / Machine / Effect
ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1000
A gargantuan metal golem stepped onto the field.
"Now, I activate its special ability! Once per turn, I can negate the effect of a face-up card on the field! I choose Drain Armor!"
"How did I let this happen?!" Darby wailed.
"You were so focused on beating my ace with yours, that you neglected to attack my other monsters, despite the fact you would have been able to deal more damage! Also, if you had destroyed one of my monsters, I wouldn't have been able to summon Sentry without tributing Pyressor...and then I wouldn't be able to use its effect to beat you!" Yuji yelled.
"It doesn't matter what effect it has, my monster is still stronger!"
"We'll see about that. Battle!"
Extending his arm forward, Yuji got ready for his final move.
"Pyressor Fighter! Attack Dawning Arms Legend! Ignite Knuckle!!!"
The restrained pyromancer dashed forward, with its wings of flame jetting it across the field like a missile towards its target. Coating its fist in inferno, Pyressor hurled an explosive punch at the warrior.
"You'd destroy your own monster?! What are you planning?!" Darby fearfully asked as the two monsters clashed.
"When Pyressor gets destroyed by battle, it leaves behind a little gift! You take damage equal to the amount of life points I used to summon it! In other words, four-thousand points of damage!" Yuji proudly declared.
"That's...that's...that's broken!!!" Pyressor's armor began to shatter, and like an eruption, the monster detonated, resulting in a massive explosion of fire. Enveloping everything on the field, Darby was sent flying backwards as he had lost the duel.
Yuji: 1500 LP
Darby: 0 LP
Winner: Yuji Nensho
Sighing in relief for a brief moment, Yuji jumped into the air in exhilaration as he celebrated his victory.
"Yes! I won a duel! Now I can travel to that other world, I can't wait to see it!"
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Yuji glanced over at Darby, who was sobbing on the ground. Walking over to the fallen duelist, he reached out a hand to his former opponent. "That was a good duel."
Swiping away Yuji's sportsmanship, Darby began to boil with rage.
"You don't get it! All that talk before was a lie! I've never won a duel here!"
Reeling back his outstretched hand, Yuji stood in silence as Darby continued.
"Ever since I first got into Duel Monsters...I've loved normal monsters. They symbolize what I enjoy the most about the game, the stories that are made. In and out of the game. I always enjoyed reading the text on the monsters and learning more about them, it made me feel a connection to them."
Pausing for a moment as he choked on his own words, he resumed.
"But nowadays, normal monsters rarely see play, because they don't have effects. They are considered a waste of space. That made me mad. I thought to myself, this game has lost a lot of heart, didn't it? People only care about ending duels as fast as they can, or getting obsessed with how many summoning methods they can abuse in one turn...it shouldn't be about that! It should be about having fun, and creating bonds!"
"I...understand what you mean. It's not exactly the same thing, but I know what it's like to have someone call your cards useless. But it isn't true!" Yuji shouted.
"I believed that, I still do. But every now and then, in moments like this I've wavered. In the past, I've tried to use effect monsters, and I actually managed to get some wins, but it never felt satisfying. I wanted to be a true duelist, I wanted to be the champion, the one that demolished the hierarchy with normal monsters, and them alone! But it's just a dream..." Darby muttered as he lowered his head to the ground.
"Shut up!" Yuji yelled. "It isn't a stupid fantasy, I've seen it in your duel with me! You caught me off guard with your skill, and your valor and pride in your cards was daunting! Yeah, you did lose pretty badly, but all I think you need is some fine tuning to your deck, I think it can work, you just need to find a way!"
"You..really think so?" Darby said as he wiped tears from his eyes.
"Yes! I also wish to be champion someday! But to be honest, I'm not the best duelist myself, I just get lucky." Yugi said as he let out a light chuckle. "But I think it's fate that we met, rogue duelists, trying to make it to the top! I think if we join forces, we can help each other get stronger, what do you say?!" Reaching out his hand once more, Yuji awaited a response.
"Interesting. Yeah, let's do it!!!" Darby took Yuji's hand and raised himself up, the two grinned at each other before bursting into laughter.
Yuji's duel disk suddenly lit up as a holographic map hovered above it.
"This must be where I have to go next. Time to learn what this place is really about."
"Can I come along?" Darby asked.
"Sure thing! I'll also help you out, I'll make sure you get a win so you can enter the other world too! Leave it all to me!" Yuji shouted as he began to sprint to his destination.
"Wait up! I can't run fast after losing a duel! Hitting the ground like that hurts!" Darby yelled as he ran after his new ally.