Episode 22: The Capumon King - Mokuba Kaiba
To think that only yesterday, Yugi was with his friends playing games at the arcade after school, doing normal things high schoolers tend to do at their age. Until this morning, when he and his friends were escorted to the newly opened Kaiba Land Beta and forced to become participants in Ultimate G.A.M.E Tower. A challenge set up with five different levels of various versions of games. Only by making it to the top and defeating the final floor, could Yugi and his friends get out of here freely and have the eldest Mutou returned into their care. So far, they had to face off against aliens in a sci-fi scenario with laser tag. Then they had to use their brains to solve five different riddles in a row, which they barely managed. And now, here they were on the third floor, in a large room where blocks were falling from the ceiling and landing on the ground. Apparently, this was an escape room simulation, but it was a far more deadly one. "Everyone, be careful!" Yugi warned as he still held onto Cosmo's arm, since he pulled her back before the block could have fallen on her.
"What kind of escape room is this!?" Jounouchi yelled at the ceiling. "Are you actually trying to kill us?!"
'As long as you pay attention to the floor, it will tell you where each block will fall.' The female voice explained to the group to try and help them out. Yugi wanted to question further, until he remembered something about the block that recently fell. The one square that turned red and began to flash before the shape descended onto the ground.
"Everyone! If you see a square that's red, stay away from it! That's where they will be coming!" Yugi warned. Everyone took that advice, knowing what they had to do to survive, but getting out of the room was the main concern.
"What are we supposed to do?" Honda questioned.
'As previously stated, this is an escape room. There is an exit in the vicinity and in order to pass the level, you all must make it out before the exit gets sealed off. Anyone who is left in the room when the opening is closed will be forced to be escorted out of the G.A.M.E Tower and watch the rest of the match.' She elaborated.
"So we have to find the exit and get out before we get sealed inside?" Anzu questioned. While the goal seemed simple enough, there was more to this puzzle than meets the eye. For now, everyone started to look around in an attempt to find where they had to get out.
"Everyone, over there!" Miho shouted as she pointed up to one of the walls. The eyes turned to the south end, seeing a large vent that was high up. "That must be where we have to go!"
"There's no way we can make it up there…" Cosmo noted. "It's far too high."
"How are we supposed to get to the exit?!" Jounouchi wondered.
Yugi admitted that it was far too tall for any one of them to get to. And the walls were too smooth, so there was no way of climbing up there. They didn't have anything they could use either, no ladder, rope or any equipment. The best option he could think of was for them to get onto each other's shoulders and make a human ladder. Though he wasn't sure if that would be a good idea, as it would most likely make them collapse. Yugi tried to think hard, as he needed to find a way to figure out how to get them all out of this floor. When he turned his eyes back over to Jounouchi, he noticed the tile that the blond was standing on had turned from jet black to crimson red. "Jounouchi! Move!" Yugi shouted.
Jounouchi heard his friend's warning, and did as he was told. Not a moment too soon, as a block fell on the spot he was on before. He had to suppress a shudder, to calm himself down. "Damn! That was close!"
Yugi scanned the room, noticing that the blocks were being dropped at an alarming rate. While there was a way to tell through a warning sign where they would land, their eyes had to be peeled to see what spot the cubes would fall. Right now, almost half of the board was covered and some of the squares were starting to stack on top of one another. The game fanatic looked between the towers that were forming and then at the hole. An idea popped into his head, as he tested it out. His hands reached up to one of the blocks, surprised with how easy it was to latch onto them. The sides weren't slippery and the soles of his shoes could easily climb up onto the surface. Now Yugi knew for certain that the blocks weren't just an obstacle for them, they were also the tools! "Everyone!" Yugi called out on the top of where he was standing. "Climb on the blocks! We can use them to get to the exit and escape!"
Honda and Jounouchi quickly began to reach up on some of the cubes, and once they were on top they could see the floor was now covered in a few of the stacks. "Now I get it!" Honda realized. "As the blocks fall, they build up so we can use them as a means to get to the exit!" As he finished explaining, a block fell down which added another level to the room.
"Try not to get surrounded!" Anzu advised. "If any of these blocks trap us, we'll be stuck here! Just listen to the rhythm!" Everyone turned to her in question, wondering what she meant. The brunette smiled as she had a familiar gleam in her eyes. One she had anytime there was the topic of dance. "There's a rhythm to the falling of the blocks. I've started seeing a pattern where they fall. It's like trying to dance on a certain square during a chorus to a song." To prove her point in a demonstration, she closed her eyes and began to hum to a certain tune she made up, focusing on the pattern. She was memorizing where the blocks had previously fallen, how long it took them to fall and land on the floor. Soon, her ears picked up the ringing. "Over there!" She pointed to a spot between Jounouchi and Yugi, as they saw the surface turn red then flashed as another cube landed on the one beneath it.
The blond of the group looked back at Anzu, smiling and praising her. "That's amazing! You were able to figure out where the block was gonna fall!"
Miho cheered for Anzu as well. "Amazing! That's incredible Anzu!"
The brunette smirked in satisfaction, proud she was able to get the pattern down. "As long as we know the pattern of where they will fall, we can use that to determine where to go next so we can climb up to the exit!"
"Great idea!" Yugi agreed. "With such a big game like this, the computer program has to be simple or it would be impossible to control." That explained why there had to be a pattern for the blocks. Chances are, this was all done via electronics, and since doing it randomly would result in a greater chance of fatality, they would need to have a certain system.
"That means winning and escaping will be a breeze now that we know how to tell where the blocks will land." Cosmo pointed out.
The others were in agreement, as they let Anzu tell them the pattern. Once they knew when and where the blocks would fall, it was just a matter of trying to jump from one higher cube to the other. That was the hard part, as they would have to help each other get up another flight, or wait until some more blocks came down to add another level to the room. There were also some tense moments like when Honda and Jounouchi nearly got crushed a few times due to how slow they moved. It took a lot of waiting, but eventually the stacks began to get higher and higher to the point they covered half of the room. At this point, they were high enough to reach the exit. Miho was the first amongst them to be lifted up into the vent, as Jounouchi was helping push her in.
"Everyone, hang in there!" The blond urged them. "We all are already at the exit!" Miho was helping him get up, while the others were still behind. Cosmo was a level ahead of Anzu, while Yugi and Honda were together a few floors down.
"Come on, Yugi." Honda urged, grabbing the smaller males hand and pulling him up on one of the blocks. "Just a bit further."
Anzu and Cosmo made it to the block which led to the vent. The green haired girl was pulled in by Miho and Jounouchi. Before Anzu could approach the others, her ears picked up the sound coming from above. She turned back towards the last two. "Honda, watch out!" She warned him. There was another square that landed, hitting the one close to the male brunet and Yugi. Everyone gasped as Miho covered her eyes, afraid to see the sight.
"Are you alright, Honda?" Miho asked, taking her hands away from her face.
The man sighed in relief as he had his back against the block that just fell. Yugi managed to climb up onto the same level that he and Honda were on, as the brunet looked over at the others with a reassured smile. "Somehow…"
"Be careful! The rhythm is getting faster!" Anzu warned as she crawled up into the vent.
"Alright, let's hurry!" Honda decreed, attempting to move forward but paused suddenly. Yugi didn't notice as he was trying to go further, but was stopped since another block had landed right next to him. The smaller high schooler practically fell off the level he was on, due to the sudden quaking. "Yugi, give me your hand! Hurry!" Honda urged, reaching his arm out to his friend.
Yugi managed to balance himself while staring up at Honda. "Honda, you have to keep going!" He urged, as he wanted his friend to get to everyone else.
The brunet however, was persistent. "Just hurry up! The exit will be closed off by the blocks if we don't get out of here!" Even though Yugi winced from the sudden tone, he didn't complain. He grabbed onto Honda's hand, being lifted up as he practically handed the smallest of the students over to Jounouchi. The blond took hold of his friend as the two males smiled at one another.
Once his shorter buddy was pulled into the vent and set down, Jounouchi looked back at his older friend. "Come on Honda, hurry up!"
Everyone else urged him to come forward. Unfortunately, Honda had a small grin on his face as he looked down. "Sorry everyone… this is where I stay." He told them in a defeated tone.
"What the hell are you-" Jounouchi wanted to protest as he tried to figure out what Honda was babbling about. He didn't finish his sentence as his eyes shifted to the block that Honda was leaning against. The others were in horror, seeing that his clothing had been stuck in-between the cubes stacked onto one another. "N-No!" Jounouchi gasped, understanding the situation. Frustration took hold of him in a flash. "Damn it, Honda! Take your shirt off!" The blond urged, seeing that there was a way for him to get out, yet he had given up too quickly and easily.
"It's too late…" As Honda spoke, the red light appeared on the block that was just outside the vent, already flashing due to the increased speed of the pattern. He looked up at everyone, with eyes that showcased hopelessness, but attempted to remain strong. He gave a thumbs up as he kept that small smile on his lips. "Good luck! Take care of Yugi!" They could only watch helplessly as the final block slammed down, cutting off the exit as only five of them had made it out, leaving one behind.
"Honda!" Jounouchi cried out, banging his fists onto the hard surface on the cube. He even attempted to push it but the mass outweighed him. Everyone else were in complete shock and disbelief as to what happened. Miho practically cried as her heart was aching.
"Honda… no… what do we do about Honda…?" Cosmo questioned, shaking as she could only look to where the room had been sealed off.
Jounouchi was the most upset in this situation, clenching onto his fists which had been bruised from the constant hitting of the block. "This can't be real! We can't leave Honda behind! There's no way that idiot would ever go down so easily!" He cursed as he tried to use his anger in an attempt to hide the pain.
Yugi could only stare at the ground, going on his hands and knees as he felt much smaller than before. Honda had been left behind. He let himself be held back for Yugi's sake. But why? Yugi could only ask himself as he felt his body shaking. Why did his friends have to go through all of this when it was him who should be suffering? At that moment, he could feel a strange yet familiar wave of hatred that was rushing inside of him. He could only blame one person for setting all of this up. The one who had taken his Grandfather from him and now Honda as well: Seto Kaiba! It was all his fault that this happened! It was Seto Kaiba's fault that they had to go through these games and pay the price for failing! But Yugi had to blame himself, for he allowed his friends to be part of this challenge with him.
"Honda! Hey, can you hear me?!" Jounouchi shouted, hoping that he would be able to listen to his yelling. After all, Honda always complained how loud he was, so he figured if he kept talking, the brunet would respond eventually.
Anzu reached over, grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled Jounouchi back to the group. As much as she hated the results, there was no way they could alter anything at this point. "Jounouchi… there isn't anything we can do…"
The blond didn't want to believe the situation or her words, but knew that even if he kept attempting with his screaming and punching, the effort would not show. "Damn it…"
"All we can do is keep moving forward." Anzu declared, trying to rally the remaining friends. "Honda has to be alive! They wouldn't allow anyone to die after all. If we can beat the other levels, then we can get Honda and Grandpa back." Jounouchi, Miho and Cosmo nodded. At this rate, all they could do was move forward. They were so close to the finish line, and if they could win the next two levels, surely they would be able to save the duo that had been trapped. It was a long shot, and even though they weren't certain what awaited them, they had to keep trying for the sake of everyone and everything on the line.
"Hold on!" Cosmo cried out, kneeling next to Yugi as she noticed him shaking like a leaf. "Guys… something's wrong with Yugi." The others saw how shrunken his eyes were, the sweat that produced from his skin, appearing defeated despite making it out of that round. His friends began to grow worried, wondering what was going through his mind.
"Y-Yugi?" Miho called to him. "Are you alright?"
"What's the matter, Yugi?" Jounouchi asked.
Cosmo placed a hand on his shoulder, attempting to snap him out of his trance. "Yugi please… talk to us." She begged.
The young boy gasped, suddenly coming back to the harsh reality he found himself in. "I-I…" He gasped, frustration, distress, sadness, confidence, kindness… all of these feelings were meddling together into one as he felt the coldness of his Millennium Puzzle through his shirt. A familiar sensation that he knew too well, especially what would come after. "I can no longer suppress it…"
Cosmo blinked at that statement. "Suppress what?"
"This feeling… this urge inside of me…"
"Yugi, what the hell are you going on about?" Jounouchi wondered, as everyone else were beginning to grow scared due to the way he was talking.
Yugi kept his gaze onto the floor, his body still shaking. Everything in his mind told him to not spill, but he could no longer keep such a secret anymore. He knew that if he was going to get everyone through this, he would need to unleash this 'power' he was given. But to do that, he had to tell them the truth, even if that meant they would turn their backs on him, he owed his friends the truth. "I… have been hiding something from all of you for so long now." He began.
"Yugi?" Anzu blinked, as she could hear the trembling from his voice.
"What are you talking about?" Miho asked.
The short high schooler held his head, trying to keep himself grounded while he elaborated. "There's something inside of me… There are times where I feel like another version of me takes over my body and takes care of my problems… It's something that happens every time I black out. I forget what happens but I know that this other version of myself takes care of the problems."
Out of everyone, it was Anzu that wasn't that surprised by Yugi's confession. The brunette finally learned that he did notice there was the existence of another version of him. One that was far more confident and cocky, that had come to her rescue, and his friends. She thought he didn't believe in that, but maybe because it was occurring so often, he began to put the pieces together.
"Another you?" Jounouchi questioned. "But how is that possible?"
Yugi looked down at his chest, where his treasure rested against his shirt. "Ever since I completed the Millenium Puzzle, I began to fade out of consciousness, especially during times where my friends were in danger. I believe those are the times where I change into that 'other me'. The one who is more confident, who is great at games and always managed to save the day."
"Yugi…" Cosmo's eyes softened after hearing his confession. She wasn't upset with him, but she was worried for his sake. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" She asked out of concern instead of fear.
"Because I was scared…" He clenched his hands into fists, all the while tears began to fall out of his eyes and down his cheeks. "Even though we're friends, I thought if you all found out, you would have left me! I didn't want that to happen so I kept quiet!" He shook his head, unable to face any of them in case the fantasy he was afraid of would come to fruition. He could feel their eyes staring at him, as he let all of the secrecy he was saving for many months finally get out of his system. At first, none of them knew what to make of the revelation. They were trying to wrap their brains about the concept of 'another Yugi', one who had been able to save them in desperate times, yet always remained allusive.
Jounouchi looked at his friend as he was by his side. The very person who defended him before their friendship even though he was terrible to him in the beginning. The one who always believed in him no matter how many mistakes he made. "Yugi…" Jounouchi breathed as he looked directly at his friend, who was always there for him and wanted to return that favor. "Listen to me. Whether there's another Yugi in you or not, it won't change anything." He began to smile. "Whatever it is, we'll always remain friends." This caused Yugi to look up at the blond, blinking away his tears as his ears processed those words. Did he really mean that? Jounouchi didn't see him as a freak despite what he told them?
Cosmo gave a reassured grin his way as well. "Yugi, you have been the kindest and selfless person I've ever met. You always put your friends first, even if it means you have to go through such a dangerous mission on your own. The fact that you were able to tell us this secret shows how much trust you have in us. It couldn't have been easy though, considering you had to hide it for so long. But it's only fair we return your bravery by staying at your side."
"Jounouchi… Cosmo…" Yugi looked between them, touched by their words. "But… are you really sure you want to keep being my friend?" He questioned. Part of him was hesitant to fully believe their words, as he was worried they would change their minds later on.
"Why would you even ask that?" Jounouchi asked.
Yugi looked back down to the floor, ready to break again. "Because… it's my fault you all ended up in this mess. You all are suffering because of me… First Grandpa and now Honda. If it wasn't for me, then none of this would be happening…"
The blond began to get fed up with the way Yugi was talking. He grabbed his friend by the collar so they were face to face. "Damn it, Yugi! Stop uttering this bullshit!"
Jounouchi!" Anzu went to try and stop him before he made any moves. Cosmo however, stopped the brunette. Shaking her head to indicate that this could be something Yugi needed to hear. The three girls watched as the boys were dealing with their feelings.
"Jounouchi…" Yugi trailed off as he looked up at his friend. Those harsh honey-brown eyes looked like they were coming off as demanding, but deep in the light of those pupils Yugi could see good intentions.
"Did you forget why we all came with you to face off against Kaiba?! We came here because you needed the support of your friends! It was our choice to join and back you up so you wouldn't have to face this alone! And even now, we are not going to let you take on the final two challenges without supporting you one way or another!" The grip Jounouchi had on Yugi was released, making the smaller one stand up. Jounouchi took a knee as he held onto Yugi's shoulders, still having more to say. "Yugi, before we became friends I was just a rough-housing laid back kind of guy. Because you believed in me, I was able to grasp something better for myself. You reminded me that I was worth living, that I could shape my own destiny and not let others make me out what they see me as! That is what friends do! They help pick one another up when they are down, and in return they are there when you need them the most! That's why no matter what, we're sticking together! If you are ever in pain or you're suffering, then I'll take some of that burden off of you. That's what being a friend is all about! A true friend!"
Yugi was speechless after hearing Jounouchi's vocals. All he could do was look up at his friend with glossy eyes. He never would have thought that he would stick with him this long, especially with all of the hardships they had faced together. The tears once again came to his eyes, but they were not ones of grief. Instead, they were being shed due to happiness.
Anzu stepped forward, holding out her hand towards them. "No matter what happens, we are going to face it together!" She declared.
Cosmo nodded, placing her hand on top of Anzu's. "As long as we are here, you won't be facing any fears alone."
Miho nodded, giving a smile as she placed her hand on the group next, followed by Jounouchi. They only waited for Yugi, as they looked over to him. The short boy looked back at the hands, and knew that he couldn't let them all down now. He reached over, placing his palm at the very top. Jounouchi added his other hand, to represent Honda who would do the same if he were here. They had stayed together up to this point, and there was no way they would back down now.
"Jounouchi is right, no matter what happens we will all remain friends. Right, Yugi?" Anzu questioned.
He gave a small nod with a wide smile. "Yeah, no matter what happens next, I'll be happy knowing you guys will be there to cheer me on." The others gave Yugi an expression of reassurance, as they promised they would be with him and fight by his side.
'Congratulations to those who have made it past level three! You may now head up to level four!' The robotic voice called out to them even in the vents. They didn't have much of a choice, as the floor beneath the group began to shake, before they could feel the floor rise up as it was heading towards the ceiling. They were on their way to the second to last floor, which meant this would be the final challenge before facing off against Seto Kaiba. As of now, there was no turning back.
"Here we go!" Jounouchi declared, as he and the others were rising up to take them to their new destination and game. They were blinded by light, but once they felt the floor settle and their eyes adjusted, they found themselves on a new section of the G.A.M.E Tower. This level consisted of an arena, with a small walkway on either side of the room. In the center was a large glass box that held two chairs and a table. The main attraction of the room was below them, as they could see a strange set up with dark and light green square tiles along with what appeared to have been brown rock formations around some areas.
"What is this place?" Jounouchi wondered, as he looked down where the stage was beneath them.
Cosmo gasped as she recognized the setup of the stage below. "That looks like a Capumon battlefield! From the board game!" She noted. Yugi checked it out as well and realized she was right. Was that the theme of this level?
The doors on the other side of the arena opened, showing a young kid who stepped out that had black, fluffy hair and piercing, determined eyes. "Welcome to G.A.M.E Level four! This is my stage!" He declared.
The group were confused at first, as they saw the elementary schooler coming out. Was that supposed to be the opponent for this floor? "A kid?" Miho blinked.
"Wait…" Yugi noticed the younger child, seeing something familiar in the way he was presenting himself. "Didn't those kids from yesterday say that Kaiba had a younger brother?"
Anzu heard what Yugi said, looking between the young child and him as she put the pieces together. "So that must be Mokuba…"
The youngest pointed directly over to where Yugi was, a sly grin spread on his face.
"Yugi Mutou, I challenge you one-on-one to a game of Capumon! Step up to the battle box and we will begin!" The child declared as he walked into the glass cage, already sitting at the table to prepare for his match.
Yugi looked over, his eyes wide as he knew what he had to do. This time, he would not let fear overcome him, and would know what was going to happen. "Hold on!" Jounouchi went up to Yugi's side, as he was complaining. "That brat wants to face you all on your own?"
"Capumon is a game where only two people can play." Cosmo told the blond. "Not to mention that box doesn't seem big enough for us all to fit into." Her eyes looked back over to the cage, as it was tight enough with the table.
"No way! How are we supposed to be by his side if we can't be near Yugi?!" Jounouchi questioned, as he hated how this was turning out. It was clear Mokuba was only interested in facing Yugi alone, most likely due to what happened with his older brother. Still, Cosmo was right, Capumon was a match between two players. Yugi gazed at where he would have to go, knowing what would be waiting for him. He could not afford to be nervous, especially now that he was holding the treasure that would give him the confidence he needed to reach the winning goal. "I'll be alright. This is something I have to do alone."
"Y-Yugi…" Jounouchi looked to his friend, worried for him as he didn't trust this kid who was related to Kaiba.
The short high schooler turned back to his buddy, smiling at him. "Don't worry. I have you guys watching over me, so I won't truly be alone." That statement surprised the blond, as he couldn't believe how brave Yugi was despite how he broke down earlier. "You were right, Jounouchi. You and everyone else have helped me to become stronger and better as a person." Yugi added, looking over at his friends who had encouraging expressions and wide eyes. "So now, it's time that I return that favor by showing off the courage you all taught me."
The high schooler gazed down to his Millennium Puzzle, clenching it as he knew what must be done. "I… I won't be afraid of the 'other me' anymore." He whispered to himself, closing his eyes and taking some deep breaths. He could feel his body being consumed by a familiar glow coming out of the artifact, encasing him in the powers that were held deep within. In return, the other 'Yugi' was let out, gaining control of the body once more. When he turned to face his friends again, they all had shocked expressions. Then again, it was natural they would be stunned upon seeing the 'Other Yugi' for the first time in a clear way.
"Jounouchi…" 'Yugi' gave a smile as his crimson eyes shone, appearing shaper in shape. "Anzu… Cosmo… Miho… I'll definitely win." He promised. The blond of the group felt his pupils waver, experiencing the sudden shift in 'Yugi'. What was this? Where did this sudden new attitude that was brimming with confidence came from? Was this really the same Yugi, or something more?
Cosmo looked up at 'Yugi', giving him a nod. "If anyone will be able to win in Capumon, I know it's you!" She said with certainty, after all he was the one that taught her the basics.
'Yugi' smiled back at her. "Thank you, Cosmo. Leave this to me! I'll win and get us to the final level."
"We've got your back!" Anzu declared, raising her fists in the air. The other three did the same, showing off their cheering. 'Yugi' began to make his way over to the battle box, preparing himself for the confrontation. As he was approaching, he could hear the people in the crowd speak as they were in for a show.
"No way, is that guy going to face Mokuba Kaiba?"
"There's no way he'll be able to win!"
'Yugi' ignored their comments, as it didn't matter what they thought. It would not dissuade him in his goal to win. Once he walked into the glass, he took a seat opposite to where Mokuba was. The child glared at his opponent, yet was excited for the fight that would take place. "You did very well to have made it all the way to level four of Ultimate G.A.M.E. Yugi." Mokuba admitted. "I'll give you credit for that."
"Gloat all you want for now, Mokuba. But not even you know how this will end." 'Yugi' told him.
The younger Kaiba giggled as he waved his hand. "I'm not the loser here. But, before we begin, I'll tell you something. Look over to your right." Mokuba's eyes looked in that direction, as 'Yugi' did as he was ordered. There were double metal doors in that direction, with bolded words 'G.A.M.E L-5' written on it. "That elevator over there will take you to the final stage above us. That is where my older brother is waiting for you. That elevator over there will take you to him. But, I can't let you get to it without a fight."
'Yugi' looked back over at Mokuba. "So you're saying that the only way to make that road open is to defeat you." He knew it wasn't going to be an easy task, but he would ensure to go all out regardless.
Mokuba pointed at him with those threatening eyes. "This will be the level where you will fall. Now then, let the game begin! In this stage, it will be a Capsule Monster Chess battle. This challenge will be enhanced with the giant field below us using virtual reality." He gestured to the board below the battle box. "And the loser will face a punishment game, to be exposed to hellish nightmares."
"Seems like a terrible fate for the loser." 'Yugi' noted.
"Now then, let's begin pulling our Capsule Monsters. We have an assortment here in the box, you may take up to five of any level." Mokuba instructed as he gestured to a large crate on the right side of the table that had many of the capsulized creatures. They were still sealed up, but they could pick the cap off and look at the monster inside, as well as know what they could do in terms of abilities. 'Yugi' had to be smart in creating his own army, as he knew Mokuba would choose the ones based on strength, so he could use that to his advantage. They each took turns pulling out one monster at a time until they had the total number they needed. Mokuba chose four level five's and a single level four. While 'Yugi' picked three level ones and the others were level two. Normally, with such a difference in levels between opponents, one would have considered there was unfair play involved. But since they each chose their monsters with no random chance, it only baffled the crowd further.
Even Mokuba was confused by the difference in levels of their monsters, considering 'Yugi' could have gotten ones that were much higher. Even so, once he got a second look at 'Yugi's' monsters, he couldn't help but laugh at the pathetic arsenal. "Those are your monsters? They can hardly stand a chance when face to face with my buffed ones."
"Levels aren't the only thing you need to win at Capumon. A true expert would know that." 'Yugi' stated, not looking worried.
Mokuba glared back at him with slight hatred. Was he calling him out? What did he know about the game that Mokuba didn't? No, he couldn't let this nobody get to him. It was as his brother warned, he was more cunning than he let on. He wasn't going to be bested at a game he was champion at, he would learn from his older sibling. After all, he had the upper hand with the more powerful monsters. All he had to do was wipe out all of 'Yugi's' and he could win. Even if this disadvantage 'Yugi' put himself in was a trap, he would use it as best he could. "Very well, let's set up our monsters on our side of the field."
'Yugi' looked down at the field on the table, pondering his moves. 'I have my Capumon… but now I need to figure out how to set them up. The characteristic of this field is that there are two paths to take, since the middle of the board has some rock formations. There are evolution squares in our territory, on the lower left side.' He examined the board, taking note of what was there and how he could use that to help him. He began to set up his monsters with three in the front and two in the back, sticking close together. Mokuba set his monsters up the same, but there was one square of distance between them. Once the monsters were set down, the shells would come off to reveal their forms.
"That's the formation you're using? All I see is a bunch of weaklings sticking together, nothing is more pathetic than that." Mokuba mocked, as he already believed he had this match in the bag while laughing in triumph. 'Yugi' was one step ahead though, knowing full well that Mokuba had mostly very high leveled Capumon, but they didn't have any abilities. "Well then, shall we begin?"
"Yes, let's start!" 'Yugi' declared. Upon that command, the virtual reality that was below the two players began to take effect. The monsters appeared on the larger board for the audience to see, that way they would know where the pieces would be moving. The four high schoolers were cheering from the side, telling 'Yugi' to give it his all and fight with everything he's got.
'The Capumons have now appeared on the virtual board below the battle box. The match has officially started!' The automatic lady in the speakers told the crowd.
"You don't mind if I go first, do you?" Mokuba asked not-so-politely.
"By all means, I prefer to go second." 'Yugi' reassured him.
"Very well," Mokuba picked up one of his monsters, a dinosaur-like creature that had a tough shell with spikes on its back. "I'll move Armorzaurus first." When Mokuba moved his monster, the hologram from below roared, taking a step forward as it mimicked the real board in the box. "Alright, your turn now." Mokuba declared as he pointed at 'Yugi'. However, the 'Other Yugi' remained silent. He kept his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes were closed. When Mokuba noticed this, he was a bit annoyed. "Hey, didn't you hear me? It's your turn!"
"I'm fine holding this formation for now."
"What's that?" Mokuba's annoyance was replaced with genuine confusion. 'Yugi' was skipping his turn? Was it because he knew that there was nothing for him to do? No… he must be up to something. Mokuba was sure there was a trap waiting for him, but whatever it was, he would make sure to dig a deeper hole for his opponent. 'Whatever you're planning, it won't work on me!' He thought to himself. 'For now, I'll advance my monsters into your territory and get a better range of attack. If I can manage to split up my monsters with the two paths, I can attack from the inside and outside, giving you no room to escape.'
That was the plan Mokuba had. It was a full proof one, at least he believed so. He kept making his overpowered Capumon advance more towards 'Yugi's' territory. All the while, 'Yugi' kept his monsters where they were, skipping his turns. 'It appears that Mokuba Kaiba's opponent has not made any moves to advance his monsters at all. Meanwhile, Mokuba Kaiba's Capumon are advancing into enemy territory.' The lady told the crowd.
On the sidelines, 'Yugi's' friends were watching in both awe and worry. "What's he doing?" Jounouchi questioned as he watched the monsters on 'Yugi's' side remain in the spots where they started. "I know he has a disadvantage, but it's like he isn't even trying!"
"Maybe he doesn't know what to do?" Miho wondered.
"Yugi… just what are you up to?" Anzu questioned, seemingly in disbelief as even she was questioning the tactics her friend was using.
"No!" The three jumped and turned to see Cosmo, gripping onto the railing as she glued her eyes to the giant board below them, where the monsters were. "I know Yugi! He's far better at Capumon than I have ever seen. No matter what, he always manages to turn the tables when you least expect it. There's a reason for his madness… I am certain that he already knows his plan of attack. He's just waiting for the right opportunity to strike." She sounded confident, as if she was certain that 'Yugi' had already plan this out. Why else would he pick such weak leveled Capumon as opposed to ones that were powerhouses?
The blond raised a brow at what she was saying. "You mean this is all part of his plan?" Cosmo looked up at Jounouchi and nodded, before looking back at what move the two would make next.
"Here I go!" Mokuba declared. "I'll be flooding the enemy territory!" He placed his final monster on the new square, having all of his Capumon surround 'Yugi's' army.
'Impressive! Mokuba Kaiba's monsters have completely surrounded Yugi Mutou's Capumon, trapping them all!'
Mokuba smiled wickedly as he managed to put his plan into motion. "Looks like this match will be over soon!" He declared, already tasting his sweet victory.
Upon hearing that, 'Yugi' opened his eyes, reaching down and taking hold of one of his Capumon. He picked up a worm-like monster, moving it a few squares. 'What's this? Yugi Mutou has advanced one of his pieces for the first time in this game! Looks like he isn't giving up on the game yet!'
"Finally moving, are we? But it's too late for that!" Mokuba shouted, putting his spiked dinosaur Capumon onto the field. "I'll have Armorzaurus attack your Blobber!" With that order, the crowd watched the holograms below the battle box, as it displayed the show of Mokuba's monster breathing fire and setting a flame 'Yugi's' pink blob, destroying it in the process in smoke and embers. "That punny Capumon of yours never stood a chance!" Mokuba mocked, while 'Yugi' watched one of his monsters become fried from the attack. But, that wasn't the only damage that he would take. "This isn't Armorzaurus' only power though. His special ability is that he can make two attacks at once! So, destroy another one of his monsters!" The armored-dinosaur curled up into a spiked ball, rolling over the field to hit another one of the opposing Capumon. Its next target was a pink round creature that had big feet and wings along with an upside-down heart shaped snout. It didn't stand a chance as it was crushed against the spikes. Now, 'Yugi' was down two monsters, all the while Mokuba laughed in triumph. "Now, you only have three monsters left on your field! There's no way you can come out of this!"
'Yugi' did not waver, even though he was aware of the disadvantage, he had to stick to his plan. 'To the very end…' He thought to himself as he kept his eyes directly on the board. 'To the very end, I will not give up. Stay calm, and stick to the plan.'
Mokuba kept gloating as he was already in the lead. "At this rate, all of your monsters will be destroyed by just my Armorzaurus."
"Then by all means, continue with your attack." 'Yugi' advised.
"Ha! Giving up now? Fine then! Go, Armorzaurus!" Mokuba ordered, making his spiky monster roll into its ball form and spinning towards its next target, which was a mole-like creature controlled by 'Yugi'. "Flatten that one!" Mokuba shouted, as the mole looked over as the enemy was nearing him, ready to crush it. That was when the Capumon grinned, as it placed its claws into the tile of the board, digging up a hole and tunneling through just in time for Armorzaurus to miss the target. "W-What the! What happened?! He dug right into the earth?!"
'Yugi' smiled upon hearing how confused his opponent was. "And that isn't all… your monster is looking for a new target." He pointed out, as everyone watched Armorzaurus rolling right into another Capumon, which belonged to Mokuba. It was a pig-like monster that had leather armor over its body and was the same level as the dinosaur. The spiked Capumon headed right towards the pig, and since it was already in mid-battle, Mokuba couldn't call off the attack. In the end, Armorzaurus collided with the pig and they took each other out.
Mokuba was in complete shock, he began to sweat as he fell right for the trap. "M-My monsters both fell… Damn you, Yugi! You planned that out from the very beginning, didn't you?!"
'Yugi' looked at his opponent with a smug smile. "While it's true that those high-leveled monsters have incredible power, that means they don't have any restraints to balance them out. Now, we both are down to three Capumon."
The crowd went wild at the sudden turn of events, even his friends were going crazy. "Alright, great counterattack, Yugi!" Anzu cheered as she raised her fists in the air.
Jounouchi sighed in relief. "Man, he scared us there for a moment. I actually thought he didn't have anything planned."
Cosmo couldn't help but bear a small grin for a moment, grateful her hunch was correct. But her eyes kept glaring at the remaining Capumon on the field. "It isn't over yet. Both of them are at a stalemate, and unless they can outsmart the other, it's anyone's game at this point." The other three watched as they hoped 'Yugi' would be able to keep up with his strategy.
"Now then, I'll move my piece." 'Yugi' declared, grabbing onto a squid-like Capumon and advancing it. "Which I will use to attack your Zoido M."
"What?! You're attacking with that low-level monster?!" Mokuba gripped the table as he became more nervous. The only reason 'Yugi' would be attacking with a lower leveled monster as opposed to the one Mokuba has, must have meant it had an effect.
"It's true that it's a low level monster, however, its sacrifice is necessary in order to defeat the enemy. Please forgive me." 'Yugi' whispered the last bit, as he placed his Capumon next to one of Mokuba's monsters. He aimed for the green giant with feet and no eyes. Before Mokuba could fathom what kind of ability the opponent had, a large, white flash appeared, covering the two pieces before they were instantly obliterated. Seeing this result caused Mokuba to waver and grow more distressed.
"I-It blew up m-my monster along with itself…!" But that wasn't all.
"And now… the pathway has been opened." 'Yugi' pointed out. Mokuba jumped as he didn't understand what he was talking about. When he looked back onto the board, he noticed the caterpillar Capumon that belonged to 'Yugi' was only a few spaces away from the evolution square on the younger kids' side.
"Oh no! The evolution square is unguarded!" Mokuba gritted his teeth and cursed at 'Yugi'. So his plan was to sacrifice his other Capumon in order to get one of them up to that corner so it could level up. Even though Mokuba still had two monsters left, they were too far away to stop the evolution of the caterpillar Capumon, Beeton! 'Yugi' picked up his monster and kept moving it forward, setting it right on the brown square and waited for the results. 'A monster that reaches the evolution square instantly improves three levels! Since Beeton is level two, that means it will be at the maxed out level!' Mokuba thought to himself.
The holograms below the battle box changed, as the audience could see Beeton transforming from a weak, pink worm and becoming a dark, blue beetle. Mokuba was in shock as he could only watch the previously low-level Capumon becoming that of equal power to his own monsters. "No matter how weak a monster is, as long as one believes in themselves, they will surely become stronger." 'Yugi' advised, as he had managed to be one step ahead of Mokuba. "Now then, Hyper Beetle will attack!" With his newly evolved Capumon, the creature used its wings to fly over to the level four Capumon Mokuba had, killing it easily as they were one level apart.
"Damn it!" Mokuba cursed, seeing that he was the one that was currently at the disadvantage.
"Now Mokuba only has one monster left!" Cosmo told the group. "But that one and Yugi's Hyper Beetle have the same level, so if they fight, it would end in a draw."
"Then… who will be the victor?" Miho wondered.
There was no clear answer to that, as the bug Capumon and the gorilla Capumon were toe to toe, staring at each other as they both held a strong aura around them. Both were determined to win their masters. Despite the odds, Mokuba was not going to give in now. He was nervous, yes, but he could not back down. "Yugi! This battle is over!" He was trying his best to act tough, but deep down his anxiety was spiking. He was trying to think through this situation, coming up with a strategy to find any hope of making a comeback. 'Hyper Bettle's ability is his range attack, being able to destroy anything in its path in one fell swoop. BigFoot on the other hand is better and more powerful when it comes to close combat. The levels are the same, but whoever goes down first will be the loser.'
It would be a close match, as both opponents were very persistent with wanting to be the last one standing to declare themselves the winner. The crowd was cheering, thrilled in anticipation as they wanted to see what the outcome would be. The four remaining friends watched from the sidelines, echoing their praises and prayers towards 'Yugi'.
"My heart is pounding just looking at the field." Miho shuddered, holding her face in her hands while her eyes were wide.
"If Yugi doesn't win this, then we won't be able to move on and make it to the final floor." Anzu reminded everyone.
Jounouchi gritted his teeth as he raised up his fists. "Come on, Yugi! You got this! We're here backing you up!"
Cosmo stared at 'Yugi', as she got a good look at how determined yet calm his demeanor was. She had no doubt that he would be the winner, despite everyone's fears. Only he had the power to overturn a match, even when the chips were down. He chose those Capumon because he went with ability over power, strategizing the formation and how he would use them to take down Mokuba's monsters. He also knew how he was going to gain the upper hand and trick Mokuba into believing he had the advantage, only to sweep the rug from under the younger Kaiba. Cosmo was not going to give up on 'Yugi'.
Mokuba gritted his teeth, staring at the board on the table as this would be his last chance. All he could think about was his older brother and the promise they made to each other just before he came to this level.
Seto and Mokuba were heading over to the elevator in the monitor room. They were watching Yugi and his friends make their progress throughout the G.A.M.E. Tower, and right now they were heading to Level Three. That meant that Mokuba and Seto had to leave so they could go to their floors and set up their challenges. "Do you really think they will be able to make it past G.A.M.E. Three?" Mokuba asked his older brother, as they walked towards the elevator together.
"If they were able to get past the first two, surely a quick-thinking escape room will be no match for them. I can not guarantee that everyone will make it out before the exit is blocked, but I have a strong feeling Yugi will be able to overcome it and make it to the second to final level." Seto pressed the button on the panel, waiting for the doors to open so the shaft could take them to their destinations.
Mokuba looked up at him, listening to how he admired this Yugi guy. Well, admire was a strong word, considering Seto viewed it more as a rivalry. Sure, he liked the fact that Yugi was a great game master and no matter what was thrown his way, he was always able to turn the tables. Yet the one person that he crossed which resulted in a draw, the fact his brother has been so obsessed with reclaiming his victory by resorting to throwing challenge after challenge to this boy. Seto Kaiba was fueled by his desire to crush Yugi in a game so he could get back the honor he lost. Even though he was entertained by the way Yugi played against the Game Masters, they were just a warm up compared to the Kaiba brothers. Oddly enough, the CEO of Kaiba Corp could not think of another person that was a better fit to be his rival, and one he could see as an equal. Yugi also was the reason Seto pushed himself to be better, to work harder and make sure he would achieve his dreams, no matter what stood in his way.
Seto always thought his greatest challenge would have been his adoptive father. And while Yugi wasn't as overly cruel and demanding as Gozaburo, he did have a cunning side to him. One that Seto recognized as it was something he picked up on. Every time that he saw Yugi, he could only be reminded of the person who kept him down. The same man who just used him to get what he wanted. It was something that he loathed to the very core. Mokuba knew it, Seto knew it, everyone in the company knew what made the president of the enterprise tick and what got under his skin. And right now, the one person that was currently on Seto's mind, was the one who brought him into a tie in the game of Duel Monsters. Something that Seto should have been the champion of in terms of the country. But that title had been half-stripped from him.
The doors to the elevator finally opened, as the pair walked in and stood inside the metal box. Once the shutters closed, they were being transported to their levels in the Tower. "Hey Seto…" Mokuba looked up at his older sibling with a sly smile. "How about we make a bet?"
Seto raised a brow as he looked down, taking a slight interest. "And what kind of bet would that be?"
Mokuba giggled as he placed his hands on his hips. "Let's bet which floor Yugi Mutou will be defeated at! I bet that he will be defeated at Level Four! My arena!"
Hearing this made Seto chuckle inwardly, but the smile on his face showed he wasn't against the idea. "Are you sure you want to make such a bet? I did warn you not to underestimate him."
"Please, I've seen what he can do. I've already formulated a plan of attack. There's no way he'll be able to beat me, the Capumon King - Mokuba Kaiba!" The child raised a fist in the air, as if to declare his victory.
As much as Seto thought about dissuading his brother, he knew that Mokuba would be persistent regardless. And he figured that if his brother were to fail, he may as well let this be a lesson to show that failure is the key to true success. Though he did wish to face Yugi himself, Seto would be cheering for his brother in the hopes that he would defeat their opponent. "Very well. So, what will happen to the winner and loser?"
Mokuba smirked, glad that Seto was on his side. "The winner will get to have their floor featured as the main attraction in Kaiba Land Beta!"
"And the loser?"
"The loser will have to face a punishment game where they will see illusions of hellish figures." Mokuba suggested.
Hearing that made Seto a bit baffled. "Are you sure that is what you want as punishment for losing? Despite them being holograms, they will seem real with such added detail." He pointed out.
The younger brother scoffed. "I'm not at all afraid! Besides, this means that if Yugi does lose to me, he will experience that same torment that you or me would have been given!"
The older brother rolled his eyes and shook his head. He was a bit concerned by his brother's ideals, but in the end they were harmless hallucinations. It wasn't as if they would cause any real damage. "If that is what you want, I won't go against it. But remember… if you go through with this, you will have to accept the punishment. Are you still sure you want to go through with it?"
The youngest gave a curt nod, as a devilish gleam in their eyes were present. "I'll only get that punishment if I lose, and I don't plan on being defeated!"
Once again, Seto was both worried yet entertained by his brother's determination. He was concerned about Mokuba's cockiness, as he feared that would be what would lead to his downfall. After all, that is what happened to him. He reached over, placing a hand on Mokuba's shoulders as their eyes made contact with one another. "If it gets too much, you remember where the emergency exit button is, right?"
"Under the table where I sit. Press the button and the doors will open for me to get out." Seto nodded at Mokuba's answers, glad he knew that.
Once the doors opened, it was revealed to be on level five of the G.A.M.E. Tower. The floor that Seto would be at for his Duel Monsters challenge against Yugi when he would make it up. "Do not underestimate your opponent, Mokuba. And I don't just say that because of who you are up against. That is the very first lesson to any game you play against anyone." Seto gave his final piece of advice to his brother before heading onto the floor. Mokuba watched his older sibling head off, until the doors closed and he would be heading one level below.
Mokuba recalled that bet, but he didn't make it to prove to his brother he could be on his level. He wanted to create it because he wanted to make sure this punk would pay for humiliating the person he admired the most in his life. 'Yugi… no matter what it takes… I will defeat you here and bring back honor to the Kaiba name!' Mokuba was dead set on his choice. Failure was not an option for him.
"Battle!" Both Mokuba and 'Yugi' shouted in unison, as they made their Capumon go head to head. BigFoot and Hyper Beetle clashed, slamming into one another. 'Yugi's' monster cut right through BigFoot, while Mokuba's monster stood its ground as it took the hit. The two Capumon were frozen in time as the players watched the board. Whichever Capumon would fall first would make their master the loser. The crowd watched in anticipation, not daring to even blink in case they would miss the outcome. For a long while, the two monsters managed to stand tall, looking back at one another to see how they managed to hold up.
Hyper Beetle wavered, kneeling down as the hologram of 'Yugi's' Capumon started to fall apart. When he saw this, Mokuba began to laugh maniacally. "Hyper Beetle has been defeated! You're finished now, Yugi!" The high schooler scoffed, as he couldn't deny what was before him, but he did not waver as it wasn't over yet. Mokuba believed he now had the upper hand, as he had to finish this match before his opponent could pull another trick on him. "Now you only have one more monster left. All I have to do is wait for him to come back up and finish the job." Mokuba pointed to the field, where his Capumon still stood.
'Yugi' stared at the board as well, knowing that his mole Capumon could not stay underground for much longer. It had avoided any previous confrontations, but since it was the last of his monsters on his side, he had to come back up to be exposed. The final Capumon that belonged to 'Yugi' broke through the tiles, hiding in the hole as it came face to face with the large, gorilla-like monster. Upon seeing it, the mole shrieked but it was unable to get away this time. It could only stare up at the much bigger Capumon while BigFoot grinned wickedly. Mokuba knew his opportunity was here, so he had to take it. "There it is!" He declared, ready to finally put an end to this match. "Go on BigFoot, grind that cowardly monster under your foot!"
Mokuba's monster did as it was told, raising up one of its legs as it prepared to crush the one beneath it. At that moment, the child had a look of self-pleasure and victory in his eyes. He didn't seem as insane though, it was more of an expression of pride in himself. 'I did it! I've won!' He thought to himself as he believed it to be true. He hoped Seto was watching right now so that he could see his little brother crush their rival to the ground. Mokuba wasn't taking his eyes off of the field, he wanted to witness the whole thing. The mole Capumon held its head, preparing for its fate. BigFoot was ready to lower his foot down to finish off the final enemy. Just as it was about to, cracks began to appear on the body. Mokuba gasped, noticing his monster becoming fractured. "W-What's happening?!"
'Yugi' looked over at the other across the table, smirking in triumph as he knew what was to come next. "You can not be sure you will win until the very end of a game." Upon finishing his sentence, Mokuba's final monster began to crumble and fell apart into many pieces. All Mokuba could do was just stare in horror as his final line of attack and defense came crashing down. The onslaught from Hyper Beetle was enough to fully destroy him. Now 'Yugi' still had his puny, weak Capumon, while Mokuba was out of his own monsters.
"I have won." 'Yugi' stated with a glaring expression.
Mokuba could only stare at the field with defeat and shame on his face. The reality began to fall onto him. He lost. He failed to defeat 'Yugi' in the one game he was the master at. Despite the advantage of the stronger monsters, his opponent used Mokuba's strength against him to turn the tables and make him the victor. The trap that the youngest Kaiba brother had set up, and he ended up being the one to fall into it. He let himself and his older sibling down.
The four experienced the whole thing, as they practically screamed their heads off. "Way to go, Yugi!" Anzu cheered with a smile ear to ear.
"He did it! He beat that twerp at his own game!" Jounouchi exclaimed.
Miho jumped up as she was excited. "Yugi is the best at any game!"
Cosmo beamed over at 'Yugi' as he came out with just the skin of his teeth. Only he could have pulled off a miracle in such dire conditions. Then again, as someone who has a passion for games, he truly was a master at such an experience. Sure, it wasn't officially over yet as they still had one more level to go. But she believed that he would be able to overcome Seto Kaiba next without any hassle, and she wanted to be there to see it.
'Unbelievable! Mokuba Kaiba, the King of Capumon, has lost at his own game?! He has been beaten by the Ultimate G.A.M.E. Challenger, Yugi Mutou!' The announcer lady told everyone else in the crowd.
Mokuba held his head with one hand as he clenched the other into a fist. He didn't want to believe it, but what other choice did he have? 'Yugi' won the game fair and square. "This can't be… I can't lose! I can't lose!" Mokuba cried out as he still remained in his chair.
'Yugi' on the other hand stood up, looking over at his opponent one last time. "I will be going now, Mokuba. I will be heading to the final stage where Kaiba is waiting for me."
Mokuba looked up, seeing the high schooler open the exit door and walking out. "W-Wait a moment, Yugi!" Mokuba called after him. "I can't lose here! I won't allow it! At least tell me this! How were you able to defeat me when I had the higher levels and the overwhelming advantage! Tell me how you were able to defeat me with such weak monsters?!"
'Yugi' stopped walking, and though he didn't turn to face the younger Kaiba brother, he would give him his answer. "Never value someone based on strength alone. Everyone has some hidden talent or skill they can possess. Only when they are able to use it, can they achieve greatness and go beyond the limits." Mokuba blinked in awe upon hearing that advice. It was exactly what Seto had always told him back before they were taken in by the former CEO of Kaiba Corp.
'Congratulations, Yugi Mutou for clearing level four of Ultimate G.A.M.E. You may now take the path that will lead you to the final level of the G.A.M.E. Tower. There, your last challenge will be waiting for you. Everyone else that wishes to engage in watching, head up to the top level of the Tower.' The woman instruction with the announcement. Many people in the stands were already getting up and making their way to their next floor.
"Looks like we better get going if we're going to watch Yugi's match with Kaiba." Jounouchi noted.
"Let's head up and cheer for him!" Miho urged, as the group of four began to follow the crowd to the final destination.
'Yugi' looked over at the elevator doors, the ones that would take him to where his final challenge would be. He gripped his fists tightly as his eyes looked at the doors for so long, it felt like he would put holes into the metal. This was it. The moment he walked into that elevator, he would be brought to face Seto Kaiba himself. If he won, then it would all be over. 'Just you wait, Kaiba. I'm coming for you!' He thought to himself, as he began to make his way over to the doors. However, it was not over for his opponent.
'As per the request of Mokuba Kaiba, only the winner is allowed to leave the battle box while the loser is to suffer a punishment game.' The announcer explained.
Upon hearing that, Mokuba began to panic. He would be the one that would face his biggest fears. Even though they would be holographic, the visions of nightmare-fuel would be realistic. He began to sweat as his eyes shrunk in his sockets. Within a few seconds, the box began to fill with colored fog. It obstructed Mokuba's vision for a moment, before monstrous figures appeared. Large sharp teeth pointed right at the child, as gripping claws began to reach out. Mokuba screamed in fear. Even though he knew they were holograms, his anxiety made them believe they were real based on the detail alone.
"Can't stay here, I have to get out!" Mokuba declared. He didn't want to be in his box anymore. He knew he had to suffer the consequences of losing and endure the punishment that he chose, but he also was terrified of the end result! He looked underneath the table on his side, searching for his escape. He reached under to feel a round button that his brother told him about, which would help him get out. "There it is!" He quickly pressed it, looking over at the door to the battle box as it was sealed shut. He waited, but nothing happened. He pressed the switch over and over, keeping his eyes glued to the exit but no matter what he did, the result was the same. "Now way! What's going on?! Why isn't it working?!" Was it some sort of malfunction?! Maybe the workers didn't hook up the switch right, which means he couldn't get out. If that was the case, then Mokuba could not escape. He would be forced to endure these horrifying images for a long while.
He screamed again, which was loud enough for 'Yugi' to hear. He looked over his shoulder, seeing the glass being covered up by the clouds of fog and the visions of monsters. "Mokuba!" He called out, shaking as he watched the younger brother be given such a fate. Sure, it was the punishment he chose for the loser, but at the same time no one would like the idea of getting a taste of their own medicine. For a long while, 'Yugi' stood there as he wondered what he should do.
Everyone else were heading through the halls to get to the final floor of the Tower, as they wanted to see the battle between 'Yugi' and Kaiba. If 'Yugi' could win, then that meant they could leave this place. It may not be easy, but at least they were close to being done with this whole G.A.M.E. Tower. "So, what do you think the game will be against Kaiba?" Miho asked as the group of four walked behind the large crowd.
"It might end up being Duel Monsters, since that is Kaiba's specialty, right?" Jounouchi questioned.
"That probably would explain why Yugi's Grandpa gave him that Deck." Anzu realized. As the other three were talking and pondering what to expect, Cosmo was lacking behind as she was panting, feeling it was hard to breathe and her body was beginning to heat up despite it not being hot. She leaned against the wall, doing her best to keep herself steady.
'N-No… please not now…' She inwardly winced as she held her chest, feeling her body shaking as her vision began to go dizzy. She looked up at the group, putting on a brave smile as she spoke. "Hey uh… guys…"
The three turned around to face the green-haired girl as they noticed her leaning against the wall. "Are you okay, Cosmo? You don't look so good." Miho noted.
"S-sorry… I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Must be catching up." She tried to speak without losing her breath. "You guys should go on ahead, I'll catch up."
"You sure?" Jounouchi asked. "We're almost there."
"If you're unwell, we could-"
"I'm fine…" Cosmo interrupted Anzu. "Yugi's match should be starting soon and I don't want to hold you up." She was trying to convince them.
"Cosmo?" Miho was unsure.
"I just need a minute to recover… go on ahead and I'll catch up." She promised them. Jounouchi looked like he was about to speak to her, but upon seeing her pleading eyes, he knew that she would want them to go to 'Yugi' as cheering him on was more important. Biting his lip, he knew he would have to leave her behind. "C-Come on you two! We have to cheer Yugi on!" He urged them, pushing them along despite their worry. The blond looked back over at Cosmo, as he spoke to her. "Catch up to us when you can!"
She nodded at him, keeping that smile on her face until they were out of sight. Once they were gone, she placed her back against the wall and sat down to try and support herself. She sighed as she tried to keep her vision from becoming more blurry. "Why did this have to happen now?" She sighed. She hadn't been sick like this in so many years now, so she believed she outgrew her sudden episodes. Was it because of the stress from all of these games? All she knew was that she would hold everyone back in her state, so she had to stay behind for the others to be by 'Yugi's' side. "Sorry Yugi… I don't know if I will… be able to see you beat… beat…" She trailed off, she closed her eyes as she leaned against the wall. She figured if she could rest here, she might be able to recover some energy then pick herself up and watch the final match.
She panted a bit more, feeling her heartbeat getting faster. She tried to calm herself down, shutting out any noises. She sat there for a long time, allowing her body to rest to try and get some strength back. The last thing she expected was to feel herself being lifted up.
Cosmo groaned as she opened her eyes, even though her vision wasn't the best. She felt a pair of arms holding her close, and the feel of a body pressed up against her. What was happening? Did Jounouchi or the other girls come back for her? "You really should be resting somewhere more comfortable." She gasped as she heard that voice, which sounded more sophisticated with a strange accent.
She looked up, doing her best to see through the distorted image of white and blue. "Ba…kura?" She questioned.
The young man smiled as he adjusted her in his arms. "Come on, I think there is an infirmary on the lower levels." He carried her and walked down the halls, trying to find a place where she could rest up. As much as she wanted to protest and be put down, she didn't have the strength to talk. She also knew she wouldn't be able to help 'Yugi' and the others out in the condition she was subjected to. She made a note to apologize to the others for ditching them in such trying times. Cosmo closed her eyes, letting herself be escorted by the very man she met just yesterday. She would also have to thank Bakura for his help as well.
Mokuba was still screaming his head off. He was trapped as the illusions were on top of him. He had no idea what he's going to do. He was unable to escape the battle box and be forced to see these terrible images. He knew they wouldn't hurt him, but he was still scared to go through this. He began to regret making that bet with his older brother, all because he just wanted to prove he was just as strong.
From the smoke, a hand appeared and reached out from the clouds. "Mokuba!" 'Yugi' called out to the younger sibling. The said Kaiba brother turned to see the human hand outstretched towards him. "Hurry! Grab my hand!" Mokuba was hesitant as he wondered if this was another trap, some sort of sick joke as part of his punishment. Even so, he would do anything to get out of this nightmare. Taking his chances, he grabbed onto 'Yugi' and intertwined their fingers together. Once 'Yugi' had a hold of him, he pulled Mokuba out of the battle box.
After he left the box, he took a moment to regain his breathing. Mokuba looked up at 'Yugi', who still had a hold of him. He stood onto his feet, while Mokuba was still on the floor, staring up at the high schooler in utter confusion. "Y-Yugi… W-why did you save me? A-After what I did to you and put you through?" Even though Mokuba was grateful for the help, he did not understand why 'Yugi' would come back and save the one person who was mocking him and standing in his way.
'Yugi' smiled genuinely as he looked at him. "Mokuba… I got this far because I had those that were there for me. They were able to reach out their hands to me when I needed them the most. You may have battled me for the wrong reasons. In the end, you fought honorably and very strategically. I could never turn my back on such a worthy opponent."
Mokuba blinked as he listened to 'Yugi's' words. He was unable to give a response, all he could do was sit there as he watched him turn on his heels and went towards the elevator where the final level was waiting for him. The floor where Seto Kaiba was going to challenge him. Mokuba thought back to his brother, the one who had taught him everything and who still cared about him even though he lost. His words echoed into his mind. 'Do not underestimate your opponent, Mokuba. And I don't just say that because of who you are up against. That is the very first lesson to any game you play against anyone.' That was what Seto told him before he went to face off against 'Yugi'.
Mokuba was frustrated and embarrassed that his brother had to watch him lose to his rival. At the same time, did Seto believe he could have truly won? He reached into his shirt, taking out a necklace with a pendant that resembled a Duel Monsters card. When he opened it, he looked inside the locket to show a picture of his brother when he was much younger, sitting at a table with a chess piece in his hand. It was when they lived in the orphanage and only had each other for comfort. Those were dark times, but at least they had one another to support the other. "Seto…" Mokuba sighed as he looked at the picture. "I ended up failing you. I lost to Yugi despite doing my best. But then again, you probably never figured I would have defeated him. I wonder… Do you believe you can beat Yugi now?" It was a question that would not have a definite answer. At least, not until 'Yugi' would face Seto Kaiba himself. Mokuba watched as 'Yugi' went over to the elevator, went inside the shaft and waited for the doors to close. The moment would soon be at hand.