Author's Note: Time for another chapter! And for the story to really start heating up. Also, I'll be doing shoutouts to folks who leave reviews, as I appreciate ya'll taking the time to read my work.

ChroniclerDL: Glad you enjoyed the opening match! And don't worry – while they do share some traits with Yugi and Kaiba, both Cole and Simon will grow into their own characters.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Champions: Rise of Reshef

Chapter 2: 'Chaos on Two Worlds'

Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Champions…

Cole Yeager, aiming to surpass his father Robert and create his own legend as a Duelist, found his first challenge in Simon Kaiser. Not only is Simon the son of Will Kaiser – the tech magnate who funded the Duel Disks and 'Solid Vision' technology used to play Duel Monsters – but he's also the Pro Circuit Champion. In their first duel, Cole managed to use the power of his dragon slaying Buster Blader to overcome Simon's deck and score a victory.

A large crowd happened to bear witness to Cole's victory over Simon, including his friends Hana Hikari and siblings Eli & Eleanor Weston. Also watching was pro Duelist Britney Blaze, who took an interest in Cole – and saw that interest reciprocated. But Cole soon witnessed a strange medallion falling from the heavens…

On another Earth, Yugi Muto – known the world over as the 'King of Games' – had his own encounter with a mysterious key. Yugi and his best friend Joey Wheeler have had more than enough experience with the occult, having saved the world from dark forces. And it looks like they'll be put to the test as the power-hungry sorcerer Heishin has sent his agents out into the universe…

Domino City.

The Kame Game Shop.

Yugi Muto was no stranger to magic.

For the better part of three years, he'd been in possession of the Millenium Puzzle and shared his body with the spirit of the Pharoah Atem. He'd fought power mad millionaires with psychic powers, an ancient soul-sucking serpent, and the living embodiment of darkness itself.

And yet…he didn't know what to make of this obsidian key. It laid on his kitchen table as he and Joey Wheeler stared at it. There was a rather awkward silence before Joey spoke up. "So, Yuge…this ain't a prank is it?"

"I'm afraid not, Joey," the King of Games replied, stroking his chin in contemplation. "But the Millennium Items were lost during my final duel with Atem…and only a few people know about them. The question is, are there more like this? And why'd it come to me?"

"You kiddin' me? We're like magnets for this stuff." Joey leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets. "And just when I thought all this weirdness was behind us."

Another World.

Avalon City.

Cole Yeager stared at the coin lying on his bed, as if willing it to divulge its secrets.

"Where did you come from?" he muttered, picking it up and looking at it again. It was large enough to sit in the palm of his hand, and strange symbols were etched along its sides. But more than that…he could feel some sort of power radiating from the coin. And he wasn't sure whether to be intrigued or scared by it.

Maybe I can sell it, he thought. But then again, who's in the market for weird coins that fall from the sky? Shaking his head, Cole stuffed the coin into his pocket, then unfolded the piece of paper that Britney Blaze had given him.

"Moment of truth…"

He punched the number into his cell phone and waited. After a shrill ring, a familiar voice picked up. "Hello?"

"Hey there Britney. It's Cole. Cole Yeager. What's up?" Inwardly, Cole groaned. "What's up?!" Could you be any less smooth, Yeager?

Thankfully, Britney couldn't read his mind. "Oh, not much, just hanging around. And what's up with you, Mr. Dragon Slayer?"

"Dragon Slayer?"

"Word's going around about your duel with Simon Kaiser. And you do have a literal dragon killing card in your deck, so I'd say it fits."

"Cole the Dragon Slayer…I like it." A faint smile crossed Cole's face. "Well, I have some free time before meeting with my friends, and I was wondering if you wanted to hang out? See some of the Avalon that isn't in the brochures."

There was a moment's silence. But for Cole, it seemed to stretch on towards eternity.

"I'd love to! Meet me at the arcade in twenty minutes?"

"Sure!" The knight duelist silently pumped his fist in the air, then went to gather his clothes.

Cole bounded down the steps, wearing a black jacket over a dark red T-shirt with black jeans and red-and-black sneakers. He touched the side of his belt, where his deck holster was, and then adjusted his Duel Disk before knocking on the door of his father's office. "Hey Dad, I'm heading out."

The door opened to reveal Robert Yeager shuffling through his deck. The older man looked up. "Somebody looks fancy. What's her name?"

This threw Cole for a loop. "How do you know-?"

"A father always knows, son," Robert chuckled before slipping his deck into a box and standing up to straighten his son's jacket. "So who's the lucky lady?"

"It's Britney Blaze, and if anything, I'm the lucky one. She gave me her number Dad."

"Ah Britney…she gave me a run for my money in the last World Championship. And hey, a cute girl likes you! Maybe I'll have grandchildren after all," Robert said, winking.

"DAD!" Cole exploded. "We're just hanging out!"

Suddenly, there was a rapping at the front door. Cole walked over and pulled it open to reveal a kid his age, dressed in a blue long sleeved shirt and jeans. His light brown eyes, which matched his hair, were alight with confidence.

"Uh…can I help you?"

"Yeah! You can duel me, Dragon Slayer!"

Britney wasn't kidding about that nickname. "Look, whoever you are, I'm flattered but I'm meeting somebody. You can find me at the Duel Pod next week if you want to face off then-"

"What, too chicken to duel me?!" the brunette shouted. "I knew you beating Simon Kaiser was a fluke! You probably wouldn't last five turns in a duel with me!"

Angrily, Cole stepped forward – until he felt his father's hand on his shoulder.

"Then how about you see how long you last against me?" Robert said quietly, a hint of steel in his voice. The brunette gulped, before waving his Duel Disk. "Fine! Josh Jackson is gonna be the guy who took down the Ace of Cards! And you're next, Cole Yeager!"

"Good grief," Cole muttered as Robert walked outside, triggering his Duel Disk. He jumped down and raced toward the direction of the Avalon Arcade, shouting, "See you later, Dad!"

Robert gave a thumbs up before turning to Josh. "Are you ready?"

"BORN ready!" Josh shouted, causing the older man to flinch.

"Then let's duel!"

Robert: 4000 LP/ Josh 4000 LP

"I'm going first!" Josh shouted, snapping a card off the top of his deck. "Since I have no monsters on my side of the field, I get to special summon Kaiser Vorse Raider!" A inhuman beast with sea green skin appeared on his field, clad in a red vest and strange helmet. In one hand it held a massive halberd. (Level 5/Beast-Warrior/Dark/ATK: 1900/DEF: 1200). "Then I choose to special summon Gilasaurus!" A Velociraptor with dark brown scales appeared, snarling at Robert. (Level 3/Dinosaur/Earth/ATK: 1400/DEF: 400) "And then since I haven't normal summoned yet, I choose to summon Beast King Barbaros!"

A third monster appeared. This one was utterly frightening: it was a massive lion, clad in dark blue armor, wielding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. It bellowed out a frightening roar. (Level 8/Beast-Warrior/Earth/ATK: 3000/DEF: 1200). "But since I normal summoned him, his attack is cut down. (ATK: 3000 – ATK: 1900). Not that it matters, I'm still gonna win! I activate the spell card Meteor of Destruction!"

A massive, fiery meteor descended from the skies and struck Robert, sending him skidding back a few feet. He winced. "So this kid plays a power deck, huh?"

Robert: 3000 LP/ Josh: 4000 LP

"I end my turn. But now I'm totally gonna win!"

"I doubt it," Robert said as he drew a card. "You have a lot to learn about Duel Monsters, Josh. It's not about summoning the most powerful monsters; it's how you use them. And I think you need a reminder of that." He slotted a spell card into his disk. "I activate Royal Straight! Now by sending Queen's Knight, Jack's Knight and King's Knight to the graveyard I can summon Royal Straight Slasher!"

Playing cards began to rain down from the sky, and soon a warrior in bright green armor appeared. True to its name, said armor was decorated in the pattern of playing cards. A sword was sheathed at its hip. (Level 6/Warrior/Light/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1350)

"Big deal," scoffed Josh. "You can't take out all of my monsters!"

"That's where you're wrong." A smirk crossed Robert's face as he took his deck out of his Duel Disk, selecting five cards. "If I send five monsters of different levels to my graveyard…I can destroy every card on your field."

This was not what Josh wanted to hear. "Wait…wait what?!"

"I discard Big One Warrior (Level 1), Mystic Swordsman LV 2 (Level 2), Comrade Swordsman of Landstar (Level 3), Warrior Dai Grepher (Level 4) and Joker's Knight (Level 5) to my graveyard! Royal Straight Slasher, wipe out his monsters!"

Royal Straight Slasher pulled out his sword and slammed it into the ground. A shockwave erupted, disintegrating Kaiser Vorse Raider, Gilasaurus and Beast King Barbaros! "And for my next move, I play the spell card Megamorph!" Robert continued. "Now since my life points are lower than yours – thanks to your Meteor of Destruction – my Slasher's attack is doubled. (ATK: 2400 – ATK: 4800)"

"Wait! This isn't how this was supposed to go!" Josh shouted, waving his hands.

"Next time, pick your opponent more carefully," Robert said as he folded his arms. "Royal Straight Slasher, attack! Blade of Spades!" The Royal Straight Slasher flung his sword up into the air…and seconds later, a hail of swords rained from the sky, striking Josh!

Robert: 3000 LP/ Josh: 0 LP

Robert deactivated his Duel Disk, walking over to the other boy and extending a hand. "Good game, Josh. Though I'll tell you my son would have given you just as much of a challenge as I did. Work on your deck-"

Josh viciously slapped his hand aside. "I don't need your pity!" He got up and stalked off, leaving the Ace of Cards alone. Robert could only shake his head.

Another World.

Domino City.

The streets were quiet…until a crackling bolt of black energy split open the sky. Two figures, one in a dark blue robe and the other wearing a golden mask, descended from the heavens.

Secmeton pulled out a round black stone and held it in his palm. "This will tell us if one of the Century Items is here."

Marthis could only scoff. "That's what you said in the last dozen dimensions. Yasuke probably hid them too well…"

Suddenly the stone started to shake and spin, halting the masked mage in mid-sentence.

A dark smile crossed Secmeton's face. "Good things come to those who wait, Marthis."

Yugi and Joey left the Kame Game Shop, with Yugi waving good bye to his grandfather Solomon. "See you later Grandpa!" Seated behind the counter, Solomon waved back. "Say hello to Tea and Serenity for me!"

"So we don't talk about that freaky key until Tea and Serenity's visit is over, right Yuge?" Joey asked his best friend. The King of Games nodded. "That's right, Joey. And given our luck, it's more than likely the answers will come to us."

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck inches from the two friends' feet, sending them skidding to a halt!

"GAH!" Yugi shouted.

"Da hell?!" Joey growled, before looking up and seeing Secmeton and Marthis standing in front of them.

"…I really hate it when you're right, Yuge."

"So this is the boy the Century Item came to," Marthis snickered, looking over Yugi. "I'd thought he'd be taller."

Yugi bristled. "What do you want with the Key?!"

"Our business is none of your concern, runt," the masked mage sneered. He flung back his robe, revealing a strange vest around his body. The shape of the vest made it look like a Duel Disk carved from stone. "But the law of the Items state that I must win them in combat…or what you'd call a duel, child."

Yugi set down his backpack, opening it to reveal his Duel Disk. "Joey, go ahead. I'll make this quick."

"No way I'm leavin' ya to face these creeps alone, Yugi!" Joey pulled his deck out of his pocket, turning to Secmeton. "All right, ya Dungeons and Dragons reject! How 'bout you take me on?!"

"Spirited aren't you?" Secmeton growled, raising his arm. A golden Duel Disk unfurled, with the body forming a lion's head. "I'll take pleasure in breaking you with my Sea Deck."

"Talk's cheap, back it up with your cards," Joey retorted.

All four shouted, "LET'S DUEL!"

Yugi: 4000 LP/ Marthis: 4000 LP

Joey: 4000 LP/ Secmeton: 4000 LP

Another World.

Avalon City.

Cole finally made it to the arcade…five minutes later than he told Britney he'd be. "Oh great," he muttered. "Freaking Josh…I swear if you cost me time with Britney I'm going to take my Duel Disk and shove it right up your-"

"Well, well, well. I didn't you know were that creative when it comes to violence."

Cole turned…and his heart skipped a beat. Britney was standing in front of him, dressed in a red vest and matching skirt over a dark blue top and dark blue knee-high boots. A slight smile was on her face. "Hey! Sorry, some guy was trying to hold me up for a duel."

"Oh, I've been there," Britney said nonchalantly, waving a hand. "Guys think I'm an easy victory because I'm a girl…or I'll go out with them if they beat me. They all learn."

"Guess I'm smarter than I look," Cole smirked, causing Britney to giggle. "Oh don't sell yourself too short, you don't look that bad." She threaded her arm through his. "Shall we?"

In the distance, Josh Jackson angrily kicked an empty soda can down the street. "Stupid razzin' frazzin-almost had him-"

Suddenly he stopped and stood straight up, his eyes glazing over. A glowing golden eye appeared on his forehead.

Another World.

The Kingdom of Godai.

In the throne once occupied by Yasuke, Heishin sat, holding his Century Rod. "Now, my puppet…find the Century Medallion. And claim its champion's soul for Reshef!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Next Chapter: "Return of the King"

Yugi and Joey face off against Marthis and Secmeton, and to the winner goes the Century Key! Meanwhile, Cole tells Britney more about the reasons why he became a Duelist…unaware that a Heishin-controlled Josh is stalking him in order to grab the Century Medallion.