Chapter 290: Is It Back From the Dead Again?
Chapter 290: Is It Back From the Dead Again?
You Xuan's first semester at the Duel Academy came to a pleasant close.
As expected, he maintained his top spot in the year-end exams. Although Mizawa tried his best to catch up and showed signs of closing the gap, he ultimately fell short and settled for second place.
And this was just for the written exam. As for the practical exam, there were only two words to describe it for You Xuan at his current level—
—Rampage.
Interestingly, the instructor for the practical exam was also a familiar face—the same examiner with sunglasses from You Xuan's entrance test.
"It's you again, Instructor," You Xuan said, surprised as he stood on the dueling field and set up his Duel Disk. "Looks like we're fated to cross paths often. Well then, I look forward to your guidance once more."
The sunglasses-wearing examiner maintained a stiff expression, his face as unreadable as ever.
Who the hell wants to be fated with you?
Fortunately, while the process was torturous for the examiner, it ended quickly.
With the combination of "Guardian of the Shrine" and "Metamorphosis," You Xuan had no cards left by the second turn.
In the end, You Xuan remained polite and courteous. He bowed slightly as he put away his Duel Disk and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Instructor."
Examiner: "..."
The examiner couldn't help but wonder if You Xuan had intentionally held back during the entrance exam or if his skills had improved dramatically within this short semester.
And so, the joyful first semester came to a satisfying close.
However, it didn't mean it was time to relax. You Xuan's vacation was just as packed with activities, and the most important task at hand was his participation in the Duel City Tournament.
The six-month agreement he made with the club president was now down to about a week. According to the president, he would be participating in this year's tournament personally, making it even more prestigious than previous years.
If all went well, it seemed that You Xuan would be facing off against the club president.
With this in mind, You Xuan paid another visit to Kaiba Corporation to browse through their inventory and see if there were any new cards that piqued his interest.
After all, the world of Duel Monsters was vast, and even the world's number one card manufacturer couldn't possibly stock every card at all times. The constant reprints of rare cards, releases of new cards, and market circulation kept the inventory in a state of dynamic flux.
For instance, this time, he acquired a new Emperor card—
This one was an Aqua-Attribute Emperor, the "Emperor of Ice, Mobius." When successfully summoned as an Advanced Monster, it could destroy up to two Magic or Trap cards on the field. Its ability to clear the field of traps made it one of the most popular Emperors during the era of Emperor dominance.
Additionally, he picked up several other cards related to the Electronic-attribute style.
"You're delving into the Electronic-attribute again?" Keihei asked, propping his chin up with his hand as he watched You Xuan sift through the cards.
You Xuan smiled. "Research purposes."
After all, he knew that the Electronic-attribute was one of the most promising card series in the current era, with immense potential for development. The various incarnations of the Electronic Dragon and its supporting cards were the type that might be considered overpowered in future Yu-Gi-Oh! environments but were perfectly viable in the present.
"Expanding your horizons once more, I see." Keihei nodded and smiled. "Sometimes I truly wonder what goes on in that mind of yours. There are so many new decks and strategies out there, yet here you are, delving into yet another project. You're becoming quite the celebrity in our research department."
Ever since You Xuan had provided guidance and new directions to several departments, his name had spread like wildfire among the related departments. Each department vied for his attention, eagerly requesting his presence to provide guidance and insights.
It was said that even a single word of advice from this "god-like" figure could accelerate their research progress by several years.
Taking advantage of this break, You Xuan brought up the topic of his previous journey to the Spirit World through the Link System.
Keihei was surprised, "Hey, so you figured it out?"
You Xuan was taken aback.
What did he mean by 'figured it out'?
"Interdimensional travel is one of the Link System's hidden functions under development. We haven't opened it up to testers yet, but you managed to find your way there on your own." Keihei explained, impressed.
"I really can't underestimate you, can I?"
"The Link System was designed with the ability to connect to the Spirit World?" You Xuan was both amazed and curious about Kaiba Corporation's cutting-edge technology. However, he soon recalled that they had established a connection to the Underworld years ago, so reaching the Spirit World wasn't that surprising in comparison.
"Yes. The New Doma organization has many formations in the Spirit World, and there are indications that they are assembling an unprecedentedly massive army. We can't just stand by and do nothing." Keihei continued, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Moreover, and more importantly, we've recently come across a new lead. Doma has invaded countless dimensions and various spirit realms, and it seems they're not just interested in enslaving and absorbing the power of the spirits. They appear to be searching for something."
"What are they looking for?" You Xuan asked, intrigued.
Keihei remained silent for a moment before standing up and using his tablet to bring up an image.
It was an ancient stone tablet, its surface mottled and worn, with a carved image of an inverted pyramid. Each face was intricately patterned, and at its center was the enigmatic and majestic Eye of Horus.
You Xuan had to admit, he was truly surprised now.
"Is this the Millennium Puzzle?!"
Was the Millennium Puzzle what New Doma was searching for?
"Not necessarily." Keihei shook his head. "It might just be an object that resembles it. In any case, this is what they're after, and the spirits refer to it as the 'Sealing Artifact'. It's the only lead we have."
Keihei paused, then added, "As you know, my brother wants to confirm for himself if this is what he thinks it is."
You Xuan fell silent, deep in thought.
A few years ago, in the Dimensional Dark Side movie, as the Pharaoh returned to the Underworld, the Millennium Puzzle had once again shattered into pieces, buried deep underground.
Kaiba had dug up every fragment and constructed a space station in record time to reassemble the puzzle, hoping to summon his arch-rival back.
At the movie's climax, as Yugi was in peril, the Pharaoh had indeed returned through the Millennium Puzzle. But as he departed again afterward, the reassembled puzzle had turned into golden light and vanished without a trace.
You Xuan glanced at the image on the tablet, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Could the Pharaoh be making another comeback?
(End of Chapter)
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