Meisa had been concerned that they'd have to waste time working out which warehouse was the one from the riddle. Thankfully it was obvious which warehouse was the one they wanted. The trio of Duelists outside the door, all of whom had the same uneven movement and distant gazes of those Ishizu had controlled previously, signalled the next location clearly.

The Pharaoh pursed her lips. She could easily see what was coming; she'd have to fight her way through the crowd, burning more time and life energy, to get to the lesson, and she wasn't in the mood for it. Still, she didn't want to attack innocent people and she knew none of those in her way.

Once, she wouldn't have hesitated to Shadow Game the lot of them to get them out of her way. When she'd first woken up, she would've enjoyed it, in fact. Now though, she didn't have the magic to waste even if she'd wanted to spend it.

Not that Ishizu was leaving her a choice. It was a choice between protecting Imoto, Shizuka and now Katsuya, or the people in her way and she wouldn't…

"Yugi." Her head snapped towards Kaiba, who was watching her, while adjusting the Duel Disk on his arm, "The game is inside the building, right?"

"Yes?" Confusion pulsed through her as she tried to work out where he was going with this. "But I have to get in there to play."

"The finals are too close to waste time on dueling them one at a time." Kaiba turned to Anzu, his gaze narrowing, "You're not good enough to take on that many at once. I am."

Anzu opened her mouth to protest, then realised what Kaiba was about to offer and clamped it shut again as he looked back at Meisa.

"I am not being late to my own tournament because you were too slow." Kaiba's cold statement made the Pharaoh pause, "I'll handle them. Obelisk needs a workout anyway."

"I…" Shock, gratitude and relief hit hard as she realised that Kaiba was sticking his neck out to help her.

Kaiba didn't give her a chance to say anything as the helicopter touched down. Instead, he stepped out of the vehicle and approached the three guarding the door with all the killing intent of a panther on the prowl.

"You're not welcome in this, Seto Kaiba." The only woman of the group spoke as he approached, her voice overlaid with a second feminine voice that Meisa recognised as Ishizu's as she left the helicopter. "And the Pharaoh isn't allowed aid, so step aside."

Kaiba's response was to activate his Duel Disk. "Domino is MY city. You don't get to tell me where I can and can't go. Also, you're interfering with a Battle City finalist. Which is against the rules, so I'll be dealing with your idiots. Unless you want to be disqualified."

There was a pause as Ishizu processed the threat. With the venom in play, disqualification was death for Hanaq, who'd poisoned her own part of the soul to protect Ishizu. As such, Ishizu wasn't inclined to let herself be kicked from the tournament.

"Fine, I'll allow the Pharaoh to pass, but in exchange, if you lose, Kaiba, Obelisk becomes mine."

"I don't lose."

"And I'm bringing Anzu with me." Meisa gave no room for argument, "You only said I had to leave Katsuya to roam, you didn't say I couldn't get assistance from anyone else and I'm not letting you take anyone else from me."

Another pause, probably while Ishizu was double checking the wording in the text messages she'd sent, then a snicker emerged from the puppet Ishizu was using as her mouth piece.

"Clever girl. You're learning." The pride in Ishizu's tone made the Pharaoh uncomfortable, "Fine, if you're willing to risk a member of your court, bring her straight in, but be warned, if you lose, she dies too. It's only fair, after all."

Worry and fear pulsed through Meisa, echoed by her Imoto, but as Anzu stepped forward, trying to hide her emotions so she could be there for her friend, the Pharaoh found herself able to hide it and smirk. "Just be ready to give Katsuya back."

Ishizu made her goons step aside, allowing the two girls into the warehouse.

"Yugi." Kaiba's voice made Meisa pause in the doorway and look back, "Don't you dare lose before I can crush you, or I'll have to drag you back and kill you myself."

"I expect you to be standing when I'm done, too. We still have a long way to go on the road of battle." The Pharaoh shot back with a smirk before sliding the door shut behind her.

The moment she was out of sight, Seto turned to his opponents, his expression unamused.

"I see you're too much of a coward to face your enemies head on." He spoke to the girl, since that seemed to be Ishizu's mouthpiece.

"I'm following the same rules Yugi is. It would be foolish of me to place myself in harm's way when I have pawns I can use instead. However I won't be controlling these three. I have a Shadow Game to watch over. Instead…"

Within the minds of her three minions echoed, 'Take him out for me, and you can have everything in his deck, except for Obelisk the Tormentor. That is my price for delivering Kaiba to you.'

And then she released her control over the trio, who paused, looked at each other, then smirked and turned to the CEO, whose only response was to activate his Duel Disk.

"You seriously think you can take all three of us?" One of the men snickered, "We're three of the best."

"None of you are worth the dirt on my shoe." Kaiba's voice was cold and level, "But I'll give you the chance to be a test for the deck I'm taking to the finals."

"You won't be taking that deck anywhere." The other man promised, "Hey, Haru, Ayano, what do you think, one Blue Eyes each?"

"Sounds fair to me." The woman, the one that had responded to the name Ayano, nodded as all three activated Duel Disks, "Just don't screw up, Akira."

The fact they were casually throwing around given names, rather than surnames, suggested to Seto that they were fake names meant to distract, but he simply didn't care. "I won't let you lay a hand on any of my dragons. I summon Kaiser Sea Horse."

Unaware that his deck had already provided him with two of his precious dragons, his enemies didn't object to him taking the first turn, allowing him to summon Kaiser Sea Horse. The purple and sea green armoured knight carrying a shield and double bladed sword, appeared with a snarl at his enemies. The holographic system flashed 1700 attack points as Seto set three face down cards. "Play two cards face down and end my turn."

The one who'd answered to Haru moved next, "I summon Goblin Attack Force."

A pack of tiny, green skinned humanoids with yellow helmets arrived on the field with axes and clubs in their hands. Their attack points appeared at 2300, higher than Seto's Sea Horse, as they shook their weapons at their enemy, but since only the last person to move could attack on the first turn, the CEO wasn't concerned, even as their summoner set a face down card.

Then he gestured to the other male, Akira.

"I summon Marauding Captain!" Kaiba internally cursed as Akira called his move. His Marauding Captain appeared upon the field, resting its swords upon blue-white armoured shoulders. "And his ability allows me to call up my Command Knight."

The second warrior, clad in red and gold armour, bearing a tower shield and bastard sword, appeared on the field, both of them momentarily flashing up 1200 attack points, until Command Knight's power kicked in and they, as well as Goblin Attack Force, gained 400 points, pushing them up to 1600 and the Goblins up to 2700.

And as long as that Marauding Captain was on the field, no Warrior monster on the enemy's side of the field could be targeted for an attack.

"And just so you don't get ideas about taking him down first," Akira crowed, "I equip him with Mist Body."

As the equip card slammed into place, Akira's Marauding Captain suddenly became see through. It examined its hand and waved it in front of Command Knight's face as if showing off as the edges of it shimmered and flickered like a spectre in the mist.

"Now he can't be destroyed by battle. Your turn, Ayano."

"I summon Mataza the Zapper." Seto was suddenly aware of which one of the three was the real threat, as the warrior in deep green samurai armour appeared before her, its attack flashing at 1700. "And activate The A. Forces."

Every warrior on the side of Ishizu's mooks gained 200 attack for every warrior on the field. The Mataza the Zapper that Seto was concerned about, since it could make two attacks in one turn, jumped from 1700 to 2500.

"Take out his Kaiser Sea Horse!" At Ayano's order, her samurai leapt forward and slashed at Seto's only monster, who died with a screech, taking away 800 life points. "And then take out Kaiba!"

For a moment, just one single moment, Seto cursed his technology. In ensuring his Duel Disks were able to provide a realism on par with Shadow summoned monsters, he'd created a dangerous tool that he'd needed to install safety precautions in. Safety precautions he discovered he'd need to ramp up for public release, as Mataza's spectral sword pierced his chest, making his heart stutter as 2500 life points drained away and causing him to momentarily waver on his feet.

Leaving him with just 700 after one turn.

"Make your last move, Kaiba. You'll be running Kuribohs after we're done with you." Haru gloated.

The CEO glowered back as he drew. He'd been trying to work out why he recognised the faces of his opponents. Now, as he considered the Pot of Greed in his hand, he knew why.

There'd been an uptick of professional card hunters in recent months. People who specifically hunted out the rarest of cards and would do anything to get them. Stealing, harassing and brutalising were all viable options for these people.

And all three of his opponents were such hunters, or Ghouls, as the professional circuit called them, for their habit of feeding off the proverbial corpses of fallen pro duelists.

Activating his security tag that was attached to the inside of his coat, planning on getting these three into custody and preventing them from harassing anyone else at his tournament, he followed up with activating the magic card he had just drawn.

"I activate Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two cards." He snapped out, a cold cruel laugh escaping his throat as he saw what he had pulled, "And I play Polymerization!"

"What?!" The trio yelped as one, as all three of Seto's Blue Eyes White Dragons appeared on the field in the same instant, only to vanish into a swirling white miasma that was so bright that it blinded those looking at it.

A miasma that reformed into a triple headed, shimmering white scaled dragon with glowing blue eyes who stretched her mighty wings and snarled at those who dared to think they could oppose her. A dragon whose attack showed as 4500. Far more than anything on the enemy's side of the field.

"Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" Seto's call was full of fire and pride, "Show them what you can do!"

The dragon reared back and launched its attack. The burst of white light consumed Akira's Marauding Captain, not destroying it but ripping 2000 life points from Akira's total.

"You won't be touching my deck." Seto warned, "Make your move."

Haru drew, then smiled viciously, "I summon my own Command Knight and activate MY copy of The A. Forces!"

Seto's confidence took a hit as all the warriors on the other side of the field jumped up in attack again, including Haru's Goblin Attack Force, which rose beyond the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, to 4900.

"Destroy his dragon!"

"Negate Attack!"

Seto's flipped trap card saved his dragon and his life points, as losing his dragon would cost him the game. A fact that put him on edge.

He could still win this. He knew he could. But with nothing on the enemy field with an attack lower than 3800 and only one monster available to target, it was going to be difficult to survive this turn.

Akira's face twisted into a grimace as his turn came around and he had nothing that could help them take down the multi-headed beast. "I play a card face down and that's it."

"I don't." Ayano crowed, "I summon a second Mataza the Zapper!"

With its arrival everything grew in strength yet again.

"And I equip him with Legendary Sword!"

That last boost pushed Mataza up to 4600, past the strength of Seto's dragon.

"This is over! Attack and win me the duel!"

As the samurai launched forward, Seto activated one of the face down cards and his Ultimate Dragon reared back and unleashed a wave of light, lightning and fury that consumed the whole field and shattered every single beast on it into a millions shards of light.

Including the dragon itself.

"What the…?"

"Burst Breath." Kaiba answered, gesturing to the face up card that was fading from the field. "I tributed my Ultimate Dragon to clear the field and prevent you hyenas from winning."

"It doesn't matter." Ayano snorted, as she set a face down card. "I activate Card of Sanctity!"

All the duelists recharged their hands, drawing until they had six cards in their hands, almost starting the duel from scratch. Seto barely held back his sneer as his hand went to his deck and a pulse of strength and the smell of freshly turned earth raced through his senses. He turned the card he had drawn over to reveal Obelisk the Tormentor.

Just what he needed.

"Next turn we'll just rebuild and ruin you!" Ayano snapped as she played a card face down.

"No, you won't." The CEO's icy statement as he drew, made her freeze. "I activate Call of the Haunted."

As the trap card flipped up, his Ultimate Dragon retook the field.

"I activate my own Call of the Haunted!" Akira squeaked, not wanting to get blasted directly and lose the duel. "Calling back my Marauding Captain."

It retook the field at only 1400.

"That doesn't change anything. I activate my final face down card, Defusion!"

The dragon split into its three components, each with glistening scales and teeth that were far too sharp, promising to make a meal of anyone who dared challenge them. They hissed at the three against their Duelist.

"Blue Eyes, White Lightning!"

The trio reared their heads back, light and lightning building up in their maws, which they unleashed upon their foes. Though he turned to run, Marauding Captain didn't stand a chance, destroying 1600 of Akira's life points. Nor were Ayano or Haru spared, as the sheer force of the blast knocked the other two off of their feet, the shock making them twitch as 3000 life points drained away.

As the Ghouls got to their feet, Seto could see they were shaken, which was exactly as he wanted them.

"Next turn, my dragons will end you."

"If they can get through our defences." Haru snapped as he laid a card face down and summoned a Celtic Guardian, who much to Seto's surprise, looked far more done with life than Yugi's version.

"And not unless you can get past this." Akira agreed as he summoned another Goblin Attack Force and activated Monster Reborn, calling back his Marauding Captain yet again. Then he slammed a continuous spell card into this Duel Disk, "My The Dark Door stops you from attacking with more than one monster at a time. So you'll have to choose a target!"

"And before long, we'll have built up our forces again." Ayano warned with a cackle as she too summoned a monster, this one a Command Knight in attack mode, "And then all your cards will belong to us."

"Never." Seto snarled, knowing exactly how he was going to handle this, "I tribute all three of my Blue Eyes for Obelisk the Tormentor!"

He smirked at the startled look the trio gave him, before being consumed by a burst of blue light. The very ground shook as from the darkness below rose a huge, muscular humanoid. Almost as tall as Kaiba Corp, the divine avatar glowered down at his enemies whose knees quivered.

"I… I activate Shadow Spell!" Ayano tried to activate her trap card. The dark chains of magic launched themselves from her card and wrapped around the divine beast, only for him to flex and shatter them instantly.

"Obelisk can't be targeted by traps, but I have to thank you all." He allowed the sneer to surface now as he beheld the sheer terror on the faces of his foes, "Thanks to you, I can end this now and get on with more important things."

"O… Oh?" Ayano asked nervously.

"I activate Double Summon, allowing me to summon Saggi the Dark Clown."

The strange-looking clown arrived with a laugh and a wave, then paused, looked up at Obelisk and tried to melt into the shadows on the pavement.

"And Enemy Controller."

"Oh, shit…"

As Seto tapped the correct code into the game controller that appeared before him, Akira realised they'd made a massive mistake. When the code was completed, a string erupted from the controller's base and connected to the Captain, who moved to Kaiba's side of the field.

"And finally, I tribute them both to activate Obelisk's special effect!"

With that, the huge warrior picked up both of the other monsters on Kaiba's side of the field and squeezed until they shattered. Their strength drained into Obelisk, who lit up with a bright red glow as his attack and defence points climbed further and further, until the Duel Disk gave up trying to keep up with them and just displayed Infinity/Infinity.

"Obelisk! Wipe these fools out and end the duel!"

All the divine beast needed to do was slam its hand down on the field. The shockwaves made the ground shake and agitated the waves, which soaked Kaiba and his surroundings. The violent earthquake caused the monsters to sink into the ground and knocked the Ghouls off of their feet.

As parts of the surrounding buildings tumbled to the ground, the lifepoints of the Ghouls did the same.

As Kaiba started for the warehouse, the trio started to scramble to their feet, cursing his name, only for them to spot two security cars flying around the corner. The officers within the cars swiftly had the Ghouls in handcuffs and shoved in the backs of the vehicles.

Seto, having no time and patience, deactivated his Duel Disk, watched Obelisk fade out, and put his deck away, waiting only until the security forces had the trio he'd pulverised into custody before following his rival into the warehouse.

Thieves didn't interest him. Ensuring Yugi made it to the finals, where he could defeat her in front of a full stadium of roaring spectators was much more important.