"Dry land in sight!"

Akia was really excited about getting off the boat. She didn't exactly like large bodies of water, considering the fact that she couldn't swim.

Honda looked a little worried, and he started whispering his worries to Akia and Anzu.

Honda: "Anzu, Akia, what if they figure out that we don't have Star Chips? Don't we stand out?"

Anzu: "It's alright, they won't check again, but they'll suspect you if you're uptight."

"I might not have any Star Chips now, but I'll get them soon."

Akia smirked from the excitement that was filling her as they got closer to the island.

When the ship docked, they all started disembarking from the boat. One of the security people called out to Honda.

"Hey!"

Honda, surprised and panicked, looked back at him.

"You should relax a bit."

Honda: "Y... Yes! Thank you!"

Honda hurried to join the others. Having safely gotten away from the security guards, Honda panted loudly.

Honda: "I thought my heart was going to stop!"

Anzu: "Geez, you were frightened like a little kid."

Akia giggled at the comment.

Jounouchi: "Alright! At least we all got here safe-"

Before Jounouchi could finish his sentence, he sneezed and Akia barely dodged it.

"Jounouchi!"

Yugi: "Akia, it's all my fault... Sorry, Jounouchi-kun."

Jounouchi: "Don't worry about it, Yugi. But I can't forgive that bastard who tossed your precious cards away."

Jounouchi turned his gaze towards Insector Haga.

"Yugi, can I take him on?"

Yugi: "I think I should be the one who does that. I mean, it's my cards he took."

"Fine..."

"All Duelists..."

Everyone's attention turned towards the source of the powerful voice calling for their attention. A tall man with pointy hair and sunglasses, one of those who were in charge of security on the ship, stood in front of a long staircase leading to a majestic palace.

"...gather around the castle gates."

"Wait... we have to go all the way up there? I thought this was a Duel Monsters Tournament, not a workout session!"

Yugi: "Stop being lazy, Akia..."

Jounouchi: "Yeah, this is Pegasus' castle, after all, so let's go!"

"Damn it... Guess I have no choice..."

They all started going up the huge set of staircases.

On their way up, something caught Anzu's attention.

Anzu: "Hmm?"

Honda: "What's wrong, Anzu?"

Anzu: "Wasn't that Bakura-kun over there?"

Yugi: "Bakura-kun?"

'Ryou?'

Akia averted her gaze to where Anzu was pointing. All the others did the same, but there was no sign of Bakura anywhere.

Anzu: "Huh? He's gone? I guess I was just imagining it."

'No you weren't... That was probably Ryou. I would tell them about it, but he didn't seem like he wanted them to know he's here. Besides, I owe him for getting me this far.'

Honda: "Let's go."

They all started going up again, but Akia's gaze still lingered on where Anzu pointed. That was when Bakura reappeared again. They looked at each other and he put a finger on his mouth, telling her to keep it a secret that he was really there. Akia nodded, confused as to why he would want to keep it a secret.

Yugi: "Akia! Don't fall behind!"

Akia redirected her attention to Yugi, and followed the group up the stairs.

'But why... Why would he want to keep it a secret from them that he's here? Should I really just keep it to myself and not tell everyone? Well, it's none of my business I guess...'

After they all arrived in front of the gate, Akia let out a giant sigh.

"Man, we made it alive!"

Anzu: "That was a lot of stairs..."

Akia started looking around for any potential duelists that she could go after. She found two guys talking worriedly about the other duelists.

"Hey, look! Those are some amazing members...!"

"That's Japan's Champ, Insector Haga. and Number Two, Dinosaur Ryuuzaki!"

"And there's Ryota Kajiki, who came in third place!"

'Well, that means I should stay clear of those three... At least for now.'

"Everyone, the host, Pegasus-sama, will now explain the Dueling rules of this tournament."

Everyone looked up at the balcony, awaiting Pegasus to make an appearance.

"There he is..."

Akia clenched her fists. Jounouchi put a hand on her shoulder, to calm her down.

Pegasus: "Welcome! Welcome to the Duelist Kingdom!"

The crowd cheered.

Pegasus: "Now allow me to explain the rules to you. Please use your Duel Monsters cards freely during this tournament. You will hold 2000 Life Points. Players are strictly forbidden from attacking the opponent directly. Only one monster can attack per turn, and, if a monster is destroyed by an effect, then the controller loses Life Points equal to that monster's attack. Please use the strongest Card Deck you've brought with you while Dueling in this competition. Every Duelist received a Duel Glove in advance..."

Pegasus held a Duel Glove in his right hand, to show what he was talking about.

'I need one of those... And so does Jounouchi.'

Pegasus: "...and two Star Chips."

He held up two Star Chips in his left hand. Yugi put on his Duel Glove.

Pegasus: "On the Glove's ring, there are ten holes in which you can keep your Star Chips. Please keep your Star Chips inside them."

Yugi had given Jounouchi one of his two Star Chips, therefore, he was only left with one on his Glove.

Pegasus: "Those Star Chips are proof of your status as a Duelist. Every Duelist will bet on these Star Chips while Dueling."

'This will make things really difficult for me... I don't think anyone would want to duel against someone who has no Star Chips. I'll have to think of something...'

Pegasus: "This whole island is a battlefield for Dueling. The ones to survive this Battle Royal and obtain ten Star Chips will be permitted to pass through this door. You just have a 48 hour time limit to duel, and you start in one hour. When this time ends, anyone with less than ten Star Chips loses. Then, these people who lost will have to leave the island. Now then, my cherished Duelists, I wish you all the best of luck!"

After finishing with all his explanations, Pegasus turned around and disappeared in the castle.

"This sucks... How am I supposed to find anyone who's dumb enough to duel me when I don't have any Star Chips?"

Yugi: "You don't have to duel, I can duel for both of us."

"And what's the fun in that? I'm going for the finals, trust me."

Akia looked around, trying to find some easy prey. The others started following her, since there wasn't really anything better to do.

They got to a clearing where a bunch of people were gathered around.

"I wonder what all this commotion is about..."

Yugi: "Maybe it's not a good idea to get involved."

"Too late!"

Akia arrived at the scene where everyone was gathered. Jounouchi followed her closely.

"What the..."

In front of them, a tall guy, with a huge build, a shaved head, and a thick moustache was beating the living crap out of a much younger looking Duelist. What was even more upsetting was that no one was interfering!

"Hey! Big guy!"

Jounouchi: "Akia, you idiot!"

Jounouchi tried to hold Akia back, but she was already standing in between the aggressor and the victim, facing the aggressor.

"Hm? Little ladies like you shouldn't interfere with men's business. Get lost before you regret messing with Kungo the Great."

"Not until you give me a good reason why you're beating up that poor kid!"

Jounouchi came and stood next to Akia and started whispering to her.

Jounouchi: "...Akia I don't think it's a smart thing to do to get involved with him..."

Kungo: "Well, it's not really your place to know now, is it."

"How about we make a deal?"

Kungo raised his eyebrows, and Akia knew that she now had his attention.

Kungo: "It depends on the kind of deal you want to make."

"What I want is very simple. I want your Star Chips, and your Duel Glove."

Kungo: "What makes you think I will give them over to you."

"Well, of course I won't take them just like that. I'll challenge you to a Duel, and, if I win, I'll get the Duel Glove and the Star Chips."

Kungo: "What's in it for me?"

"If you win, I'll take that boy's place. You can do whatever you want with me."

Kungo's lips curled in a sadistic smile.

Kungo: "You don't know what you just got yourself into, girlie."

'He fell for it! Now I just need to make sure I win this.'

Jounouchi: "You're insane! What if you lose?"

Akia turned to look at Jounouchi. She smirked.

"Don't underestimate me."

By that time, Yugi, Anzu, and Honda had joined them too.

Anzu: "Wait, Akia, you're going to duel that guy?"

Jounouchi: "That's not all... She made a pretty crazy deal with him. If she loses..."

Yugi: "She won't lose."

Jounouchi: "How come you're so laid back about this, Yugi? She's your sister!"

Yugi: "That's exactly why I'm so laid back about it. I know what she's capable of."

Akia and Kungo got into place, and a huge Duel arena started rising from the ground.

"Cool..."

Akia got on the platform, and so did Kungo.

'Alright, now I have to make sure he's going to keep his word.'

Akia took out her millennium scale.

"So we have a deal?"

Kungo: "Of course. Now prepare to lose!"

'Since the millennium scale is now involved in this, whoever doesn't keep his part of the deal will have their soul eaten by Amit the demon, according to what I read about it, or maybe just get into a permanent coma... Let's hope it's not too bad.'

Kungo: "Ready, girlie?"

"Duel!"