Hey guys, how have you been?

Now I want to address something fast. Recently, I have been getting PM for a few artists to make my fanfic into a manga or some artwork, but unfortunately, I wish I could see my fanfic into one, but I need to be careful how much I spent for this month.

On the 23, I'll be getting hip replacement surgery, so I'll be spending quite a lot to go doctor's office for a pre-surgery thing until the surgery date.

Rats, I feel old inside…

Well, that's all I have to say.

While I'm honored for the offers, I sadly need to decline as I don't have Twitter, Instagram, or discord.

Well, all said and done, here's the update guys – enjoy!

After registering for the tournament, Joey had to go to the hospital to give support to his little sister, Serentiy, who will be getting her eye surgery the next day.

However, he never showed up.

The Muto brothers, Tea and Tristan went out to find him. While the brothers and Tea were looking on foot, Tristan was looking on his motorcycle.

Within an hour, Tristan found Joey and took him to the hospital where Joey apologized to his little sister for not showing up last night.

After a heart-warming moment, Serenity undergoes her surgery.

Now, it was time for the tournament and Solomon was dusting the front entrance of the shop. He stretched and let out a big sigh before looking up to Yugi's window.

"His light was on all night. They must've pulled an all-nighter to build Yami's new deck for the tournament," said Solomon. He then got an idea, "I know! I'll go watch Yami duel for the first time! I'll even invite Tea."

He went inside after he placed a closed sign while the brothers had just finished building Yami's new deck.

"Ah! It's already morning!" Yugi said as he looked out the window.

"I did spend all night deciding whether to include that card or not," said Yami, looking at his deck. He then sighed, "Yugi, this tournament is unlike any challenge we've ever faced before."

Yugi nodded, "Yea, there is still so much we don't know."

"True, but let's not lose faith. The path will reveal itself when the time is right," said Yami. He turned to face his brother, "According to Ishizu, an evil force will return to threaten the world, and we must defeat it by winning Kaiba's Battle City tournament."

Yugi smiled, "Yeah! We can do this!"

"Yes, we can, but it won't be easy," said Yami.

"I'm ready, our friends are ready, to face whoever or whatever we have to," said Yugi. "You stood by me and helped me rescue my – our grandpa from Pegasus, and now it's my turn to stand by you. You already saved the entire world once 3,000 years ago, but there was one difference then, you had to do it alone, but this time, you have me and our friends by your side."

Yami smiled, "Thank you, Yugi."

After finishing, the two brothers went to the main square where the tournament would begin.

"This clear card was included with my duel disk," said Yami, holding a clear plate.

"And it shows one section of Domino City," pointed out Yugi.

"I guess we'll found out soon," Yami looked around, "From what Kaiba told me, this place will be the starting point for the tournament."

"Hey there, Muto brothers!" Mai said as she ran over to them.

"Mai," said Yami.

"Hey Mai," said Yugi.

"So, it's finally time, right?" Mai said before looking around, "Where's Joey?"

"He hasn't shown up yet," said Yami.

"But he should be here… somewhere," said Yugi.

Mai got excited, "So, he is participating!"

"We meet again, Yugi and Mai!"

The Muto brothers and Mai turned their heads to see Rex and Weevil walking over to them.

"Who are they?" Yami asked, pretending not to know them.

"That's Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood," replied Mai.

Yugi made an annoyed face, "Those two can really hold a grudge."

"I'll pay you back for Duelist Kingdom, Yugi," said Weevil.

"The same with Wheeler when I see him," Rex said before noticing Yami. "Who's he? And why does he look like you Yugi?"

"This is Yugi's twin brother, Yami. He just recently came back from overseas," Mai smirked, "And if Yugi's good at dueling, I know for a fact that Yami will be as good as his brother."

"We'll see about that," said Rex.

"That's right! My Insect deck has powered up!" Weevil said, laughing before someone behind him gave him a choke hold.

It was Mako.

"You mean you've come to lose again?"

'Mako!' thought the Muto brothers.

"Your Insect deck is a bunch of scrubs," said Mako before greeting the small teen. "Long time no see, Yugi. Who's the kid next to you? Relative of yours?"

"Yami, Yugi's twin brother and he's not participating in the tournament. He gets a lot of attention from beating Pegasus."

"I see," said Mako, ignoring Weevil scolding him.

The Muto brothers and Mai continued watching the three arguing over whose deck would beat the other. While Mai and Yami looked annoyed, Yugi was smiling sheepishly watching the three duelists in front of them argue like kids.

Soon they parted ways, but the Muto brothers stayed by the center of the main square. Suddenly everyone heard Kaiba's voice.

"Duelists! Welcome to Battle City!"

While everyone was looking around, trying to find the young CEO, the Muto brothers were calmly waiting by the clock. They looked up to see a large blimp which had a large screen on the side.

In the screen was Seto Kaiba.

"I'll explain the rules. The participants in the city are duelists that Kaiba Corporation has certified as level five and above. Having a duel disk proves that. The tournament takes place throughout Domino City. If you encounter a duelist anywhere in the city, that's where you will duel."

Kaiba placed his deck into the slot in the duel disk.

"Duelists will use their own 40-card decks. The loser must give one rare card to the winner," Kaiba pulled out one of his Blue-Eyes. "In Battle City, the more you win, the stronger your deck becomes. Only eight participants who survive the battle royal will make the finals."

"Eight," said Yugi.

"The finals will take place in a secret location somewhere in the city," continued Kaiba.

"Secret location?" Yami said.

"I'm also participating in this tournament under the same rules as you. So, I don't know the location of the finals either," said Kaiba.

All duelists were wondering how they would find the location to the finals.

"Look at your plate that shows your starting location," said Kaiba, showing the clear plate. "This plate is a locator card. If you stack the cards, it will create a map of Domino City. Each locator card has a special prism. When you stack six cards, the whole map appears. A light will shrine on one spot. That's the location of the finals. You will wager your locator cards in your duels. Only those who gather six locator cards can go to the hidden location for the finals."

The Muto brothers could see that the duelists around the square were getting excited.

"Battle City will now begin! Duelists, find your opponent in the city!" Kaiba finished.

The Muto brothers were about to walk away when Yugi spotted Joey marching through the crowd. He glanced where Joey was heading and saw it was a man with silver hair who was looking at a laptop.

"Joey!" Yugi shouted as the brothers ran over to him.

"Hey guys! He stole my Red-Eyes!" Joey said.

Yami glared at the man, 'Is he one of those Rare Hunters?'

Joey went in front of them, "Don't deal with this punk, guys!"

"You want to duel me again even though your deck doesn't have your dragon?"

Joey gritted his teeth.

"But I don't want to deal with you because you don't have a rare card. No, my opponent will be – Yami Muto!"

"Don't you dare drag my friend into this, you creep!" Joey said.

"No, it's fine," said Yami, stepping forward, "I accept your challenge."

"Wait! Yami," said Joey.

"Those who steal a duelist's irreplaceable card will not be forgiven!" Yami said, pointing at the man. "I'll clean up trash like you that pollute this city!"

The hunter just chuckled, 'You'll never defeat my Exodia deck.'

"Yami, they do whatever it takes to win," said Joey. "They create counterfeit rare cards to build the strongest decks. And his deck contains…"

Yami stopped him, "Say no more, Joey."

"But…" protest Joey.

Yami turned to Joey, "No matter how dirty he is, I have no right to know his cards before the duel."

Joey widened his eyes a bit.

"Rare Hunter! Come at me with your best tactics!" Yami said, clenching his hands. "My deck will destroy you head-on!"

"Yami," murmured Joey.

"You don't have to worry. Yami will beat him and get your Red Eyes back," assured Yugi.

"How admirable of you," said the hunter as he walked over to them. He removed his cloak, revealing his duel disk, "But is that enough to win the duel! Your naïve sense of justice won't work against the Rare Hunters! You'll lose your rare cards and fall into the darkness known as defeat!"

Yami placed his deck into the slot, "We'll see about that."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the streets, Tea was running around trying to find the Muto brothers.

"Where are they?" Tea wondered. She stopped and looked around, "This tournament is in the city, but where am I supposed to look?"

Back at the main square, Yami and the hunter activated the solid vision system and began their duel.

At KaibaCorp, the Kaiba brothers were monitoring the screens until there was a signal that detected the first duel.

"Yami is dueling, brother," Mokuba said.

Kaiba smirked, "Should have guessed that he would start the first duel. I'll watch for a while. Let's see how he duels."

"Everyone, keep searching for the God cards," said Mokuba. "The duelists with the two remaining God cards must be somewhere. Thoroughly check the data sent from the duel disk!"

"Duel!"

Yami: 4000 vs Hunter: 4000

"I'll go first," said Yami, drawing his card.

The hunter just smiled as he looked at his hand. He smirked with glee, 'I'm starting with two Exodia cards in my hand. When I have all five cards, I win.'

'Yami, please figure out his strategy!' Joey thought.

'Good luck Yami,' thought Yugi.

"I set two cards. And I placed Gamma The Magnet Warrior (1500/1800) in defense mode. I end my turn," said Yami.

"My turn, draw," said the hunter. "Graceful Charity. I draw three cards from my deck, and I discard two," he then looked at his hand again, 'I now have three parts.'

'He's up to something,' thought Yami. "I activate my trap card, Light of Intervention! This trap card makes all monsters to be face-up."

The hunter smirked, "That's pointless. Stone Statue of the Aztecs (300/2000) in defense mode. I end my turn."

'So, he's playing defense, but why?' Yami thought. He drew his card, "My turn, I activate the spell card, Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two cards from my deck. Next, I activate the spell card, Brain Control!"

The hunter widened his eyes, "No! Not that!"

The hunter's monster went to Yami's field.

"Since I have two monsters on my field, I can tribute summon my Dark Magician (2500/2100)," continued Yami.

The two monsters disappeared, and his loyal magician appeared on the field.

"Go, Dark Magician! Black Magic!" Yami said.

The magician attacked the hunter directly, making him lose 2500 life points.

Hunter: 4000 to 1500

Joey sigh in relief, 'At least he lowered his life points, but that jerk is gathering the Exodia cards… how many Exodia cards does he have now?'

The hunter glared at Yami before looking at his hand.

'Even though I lost some life points, I'll soon have all the Exodia parts in my hand. He'll lose without knowing it.'

"I set a card and end my turn," said Yami.

"My turn. I draw," said the hunter. "The spell card, Graceful Charity. I draw three cards and discard two."

The Muto brothers narrowed their eyes, 'He's replacing his hand again.'

The hunter looked at his hand, 'I've gathered four parts. I only need the Left Arm of the Forbidden One…'

"What's he up to?" Yami asked.

"I'm not sure, but I have a bad feeling," said Yugi.

Yami frowned, "You're not the only one."

Back at KaibaCorp, Kaiba was getting suspicious about Yami's opponent.

"He's using a strange strategy," murmured Kaiba.

"Sir, the cards he's playing haven't been registered."

"What? Are they God cards?" Kaiba asked.

"No, they're counterfeit cards."

"What?!"

Kaiba looked at the picture of Yami's opponent. He narrowed his eyes, 'That means he's a Rare Hunter. Interesting.'

"Hey, Seto, should we allow him to continue the duel?" Mokuba asked.

"…just this once," Kaiba answered.

Back at the main square…

'Keep thinking. Your time is running out. With my special contact lenses, I can see the invisible paint on the back of my cards. So, I know which card is at the top of my deck. I will draw the Left Arm of the Forbidden One on my next turn! Exodia will be completed! There's no way you can win! Every strategy is powerless against Exodia!'

"I summon Gear Golem the Moving Fortress (800/2200) in defense mode," said the hunter. "I also activate the spell card, Swords of Revealing Light!"

Yami gritted his teeth, stepping back a bit.

A few light swords went over to his field.

"Now your monsters can't attack for three turns," said the hunter.

Yami narrowed his eyes, "He's up to something…"

"But what? All he has been doing is placing defensive monsters. Why is he not attacking you?" Yugi wondered.

"I'm not sure, but I need to figure out his strategy and soon," said Yami.

Joey shook his head, "Yami! You shouldn't be having this duel! You can't have a fair duel against a Rare Hunter!"

"You're wrong, Joey," said Yami, turning his attention to his friend.

Joey widened his eyes.

"I'll fight fair and square to the end and defeat him," said Yami. "A true duelist never leaves the battlefield…"

"…no matter who the opponent is," finished Yugi.

"Guys," murmured Joey.

"Joey, I promise to win for you," said Yami, recalling what happened before landing on Duelist Kingdom. "You risked your life to save our cards before. So, allow me to return that debt."

'Wait. Replacing his hand… creating card copies… that's it!' Yami thought, smirking. "I've figure out what you're trying to do, Rare Hunter!"

The hunter looked at him as if he didn't believe him.

"I won't let you summon Exodia!" Yami said.

The hunter gasped, 'What!? He figured out my strategy?'

"Alright Yami!" Joey said.

The older Muto gave a thumbs up, "Joey, you helped me figure out his strategy without you telling me."

Joey returned the thumbs up.

'Yami may have figured out his strategy, but we don't know how many of the Exodia cards he has right now,' Yugi thought.

The hunter chuckled, "Even though you figured out my strategy, you have no time left. I already have most of the Exodia cards in my hand. It's too late to do anything."

Yami smirked, "Well, we just need to wait and see."

-Break Line-

Well, what do you all think?

Also, a little question I need to ask and need your opinion.

Q: Do you all think that the Orichalcos really read Yami's darkness or was it really Yugi's?

Since Yami is a spirit and takes control of Yugi's body, the stone was really feeling Yugi's darkness. He had to endure bullying for quite some time.

So, who's darkness was taking control of Yami?