The four friends climbed the dim, narrow staircase up to the rooftop of the Domino gymnasium. The slender stairwell only allowed for the gang to ascend in linear fashion – first Yugi, then Téa, Tristan and finally Joey. Dark tunnel finally gave way to the crisp afternoon sun and the four faithful friends finally stood face to face with the challenger.
Little Yugi stood approximately fifteen feet from the contender standing at the far end of the competitor at the far side of the rectangular concrete rooftop.
"Go get 'em Yugi!"
"You can do it buddy!"
"Yeah, wipe da floor wit dis guy!"
As was always the case, all of his friends cheered him on.
Friends.
If there were something that Yugi could hang his hat on at the end of the day, it would be his three best friends. They have always been there for him - supporting him, cheering him, encouraging Yugi to do his best. And now, it was once again time for them to cheer their friend onto victory.
'Alright Yami, are you ready?'
'Yes Yugi, it is time'
Without warning, the Millennium Puzzle adorned on the small boy's neck began to shine a magnificent gold. The base of the puzzle hummed and writhed in a circular motion. Energy omitted from the mystical object radiated and sent the boy's tri-colored hair into a frenzy. At once, the boy cried the name of the mythical pharaoh and in a blue flash, the Spirit of the Puzzle made his legendary arrival.
There he stood.
Téa silently observed the change that occurred within her friend. The first and most apparent change she noted was his growth in stature. Yugi Muto stood at about 5 feet even while it appeared that his mystical counterpart grew what she estimated a full 6 and ¾ inches – give or take a quarter inch. Then of course there was the structural difference. The pharaoh had a much more defined figure – complete with strong jawbones and longer blonde hair. Yep, she definitely preferred his hair…it was much nicer than Tristan's, Joey's, Yugi's…and, well especially his.
"It's time to duel." Pharaoh boldly proclaimed.
"Hmph. Took you long enough." The challenger bitterly spat – his signature indigo trench coat bellowing in the wind as he continued. "I don't have time to sit around and wait for you and your band of cheerleaders all day." He closed his eyes and smirked as he concluded: "Next time, show some class and don't waste my time."
"Ey moneybags – you should be grateful dat Yug even gave ya sorry keister a chance at 'his title in da first place!" Joey shook his fist in anger towards the seemingly ungrateful duelist while making his way towards the challenger. Had it not been for his level-headed companion restraining him, Joey would have been knee-deep in confrontation with the one person that he hated more than anyone else – Seto Kaiba.
Completely oblivious to the scene, Kaiba dropped his metallic sliver briefcase onto the ground and proceeded to snap open the hinges. He removed two signature Kaiba Corporation Duel Disks from it and gently set them down next to him. After attaching one of the disks to his left arm, he took the second expensive piece of technology and threw it clear across the battlefield in one swift motion. As if on cue, Yami reached into the air and snatched the spinning object without moving an inch of his body.
Once the two duelists assembled their duel disks onto their respective arms, two semi-circular hologram projectors flew out from underneath the disks, and landed on the horizontal ends of the battlefield.
Without breaking his gaze towards his opponent, Kaiba closed his briefcase and rose to his feet. "Hmm…Yugi, I've been looking forward to this moment for a long time – the moment when I finally claim my rightful place as Duel Monster's World Champion."
"Kaiba, you will not claim anything without putting your faith into the heart of the cards!" As he said this, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a Duel Monster's deck of forty cards. Kaiba's only retort was to reach into his violet overcoat and reveal his own deck. The two simultaneously inserted their respective decks into their duel disks and the showdown was about to begin.
"I'll start" Kaiba declared. "I'll place one card face down and I'll summon Vorse Raider the man-beast in attack mode!"
The hologram projectors blinked twice and a virtual illustration of a fierce warrior appeared standing in front of its controller. The projected image of a psychotic fiend clad in a purple spotted outfit stood – waiting to appease the whims of its master.
"And now I'll end my turn." Kaiba nonchalantly added.
Without wasting a second, Yami Yugi began his own portion of the game.
"My move!" Pharaoh boldly proclaimed.
Yami's focus turned to the deck attached to his left arm. He drew a card, looked at it, and without adding it to his hand he placed it on the dueling disk.
"I summon the Mystical Elf in defense mode!"
The hologram projectors at opposite ends of the battlefield glowed once again and a beautiful blue elf in long flowing robes with her hands clasped materialized - chanting some sort of a defensive spell.
"I'll place two cards face down and then I'll end my turn."
"Yugi," Kaiba began, "If that's the best that you can do, then taking your title as Duel Monster's champion will be a lot easier than I anticipated."
"Make your move, Kaiba" Yami muttered in a warning tone.
"Hmph – I will not loose." he retorted. "And to ensure this, I'll play the magic card: Stop defense!"
As Kaiba said this, he placed the green magic card on the duel disk entitled 'Stop Defense'.
"Stop Defense automatically switches the position of your Mystical Elf from defense mode to attack mode." Seto continued. "Now – Vorse Raider, attack Yugi's Mystical Elf with your blade slice attack!"
The crazed Vorse Raider accelerated towards Yami's vulnerable Mystical Elf in a full out offensive. The mighty warrior clenched onto its axe with both hands and leapt high into the air, ready to unleash a devastating attack. Before the attacked connected, Vorse Raider was halted by the sound of an all-to-familiar voice.
"Not so fast Kaiba! Reveal trap: Mirror Force!"
As Pharaoh outstretched his hand in declaration, the first hologram face down card stood erect, revealing the trap card Mirror Force. A giant transparent glass wall materialized between the elf and the beast. The air bound Vorse Raider's attack was intercepted by the mirror. The warrior's reflection shattered in the mirror, along with the pixilated hologram of Vorse Raider itself.
"All right Yugi!" Téa, Joey and Tristan cheered in unison.
"Hmph." Kaiba muttered. "It's my turn."
Seto retained his composure and drew his next card. He placed another card on the disk and activated it.
"Pot of Greed allows me to draw two additional cards from my deck."
He did so and then made another move.
"I'll set a card face down and play this monster in defense mode. Your move."
Within the Chambers of the Millennium Puzzle
'I'm not too sure about this Yami' Little Yugi began. 'Kaiba seems…well, different.'
Yami and his host discussed the current state of their battle.
'There is nothing to worry about Yugi. All we need to do is believe in ourselves, our friends, and the heart of the cards. Then, there is nothing that we can't do.'
'I guess you're right. But still, I have a bad feeling about this…'