Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Pharaoh's Flame!

Episode 10: Give up the Ghost!

Long ago, when the pyramids were still young, Egyptian kings played a game of great and terrible power. But these Shadow Games erupted into a war which threatened to destroy the entire world, until a brave and powerful Pharaoh locked the magic away, imprisoning it within the mystical Millennium Items. Now, 5,000 years later, a boy named Yugi unlocks the secret of the Millennium Puzzle. He is infused with ancient magical energies, for destiny has chosen him to defend the world from the return of the Shadow Games, just as the brave Pharaoh did, 5,000 years ago...

https://youtu.be/4lL6tqBRm-o

The magic in the air shimmered like the edge of a blade, hanging between light and shadow as the duel escalated. All eyes were fixed on the glowing Duel Arena where Yami stood, posture unwavering despite the force of the Blue-Eyes' last assault. The dust from the blast hadn't yet settled. His sharp eyes—ancient and commanding—cut through it, as if daring the illusion of Kaiba before him to strike again.

Bloom stood just at the base of the dueling platform, her fists clenched tightly, a glimmer of ethereal pink light pulsing faintly from the Millennium Heart resting against her chest like a heartbeat. Her deep blue skirt fluttered in the aftermath of the explosion, her white blouse and blue tie stained faintly with dust. But her eyes—blazing cerulean eyes—never left Yami. The aura of her Dragon Flame flickered in and out like a protective spirit barely restrained, awakened by the violence against her loved ones.

Musa hovered beside her, arms crossed over her red crop jacket. Black shorts and red boots scuffed from running, her dark blue twintail loops were whipping slightly in the rising magical wind. She bit her lip, eyes shifting between the duel and Bloom's growing aura, trying to keep calm, though her foot tapped impatiently.

"I swear," she muttered, "if that faker even looks at him wrong again—"

Jounouchi, ever loud and unfiltered, let out a cheer as the first Blue-Eyes was vanquished. "YEAH! That's what I'm talkin' about! Yugi's got this faker on the ropes!"

Honda clapped a hand to his shoulder, face full of tense relief. "Let's hope it stays that way. That thing nearly fried him just now."

Anzu stepped forward, eyes still wide from watching the magical hats vanish. "Did you see how Yugi—" she paused, "—how he predicted the trap perfectly? That wasn't just skill. That was... instinct."

"He's not alone," Bloom said softly, drawing their eyes. Her voice was quiet, only she could hear herself now and Yami. "I believe in you Yami."

Yami blinked slightly at that, as though hearing her voice. For a flicker of a second, his hardened expression wavered, and his gaze dropped—just slightly—towards Bloom. Their eyes met, and something passed between them. A whisper of recognition. A memory neither could quite grasp but both could feel.

And in that moment, time slowed.

Yami's voice echoed again, low and powerful, "Your guess was wrong."

Fake Kaiba's face twisted.

"There are still magical hats left on the field," Yami continued coolly, sliding another card onto his Duel Disk, "And one of them holds a special surprise just for you."

Mokuba, still held in Kemo's grasp, strained against the man's grip. "Let me go! You saw that! That faker didn't even flinch when his Blue Eyes got blasted!" He looked to the group desperately. "That's not my brother! My brother doesn't laugh when he hurts people! He doesn't smile like that!"

Jounouchi's smirk faded. "He's right," he said, tone shifting. "Seto Kaiba's a jerk, sure, but even he's not this cold."

Yami's friends turned toward Mokuba, absorbing the truth of his words. Bloom moved closer and looked at Mokuba, and a faint warmth from the Millennium Heart wrapped around the boy.

"You're not alone in this," she said gently. "We'll bring your brother back."

Back on the Duel Field, Fake Kaiba narrowed his eyes, unmoved. "Blue Eyes White Dragon—attack the middle hat!"

A blinding light shot forward, tearing through the air—

BOOM!

—but instead of triumph, there was resistance.

A glowing rune erupted beneath the hat, forming a sigil: Spellbinding Circle.

"Now you've done it," Yami declared with a cold smile. "You've activated my trap."

Fake Kaiba growled. "What?!"

"Your Blue-Eyes," Yami continued, "is now bound. Its attack strength has dropped from 3000 to 2300. And that makes it vulnerable..."

He raised his hand.

"...to my Dark Magician!"

From within another hat, the iconic sorcerer emerged in a flash of violet and black, staff raised, power surging.

"Dark Magic Attack!"

The blast of energy collided with Blue-Eyes, shattering it into cybernetic shards that dissolved into the air. Fake Kaiba staggered back as his Life Points plummeted. 700 → 500.

Mokuba shouted, "Way to go, Yugi!!"

"Hold it right there," Kemo barked, tugging him backward again. Bloom's aura surged dangerously, and Musa's eyes narrowed.

"You might want to rethink pulling the kid around like that," Musa snapped, her voice dropping. "Unless you wanna be the next thing Bloom's Dragon Flame hits."

Kemo stilled, and glared at them too.

But the duel wasn't over. Not yet.

Fake Kaiba drew his next card—and smirked. "Another Blue Eyes," he said simply.

Jounouchi's eyes widened. "No way—he's got another one?"

The dragon's roar returned—louder, angrier, and even more devastating. The energy beam struck true. Yami lifted his arms, shielding himself as the blast enveloped the field.

"YUGI!!" Bloom and Musa called out, their voice breaking.

The force knocked him back a step. His Life Points dropped again. 1000 → 500.

Dust cleared. The Dark Magician was gone.

Fake Kaiba's laugh rang out. "Now that puts an end to your Dark Magician. You remember, don't you?" His eyes gleamed. "There are only three Blue-Eyes White Dragons in the world. And they're all mine. Your grandfather had the fourth—until I tore it up."

Yami's expression darkened. His hand tightened on his deck.

Fake Kaiba leaned forward, his voice gleeful. "But how could I possibly know that... if I'm not really Seto Kaiba?"

An uncomfortable silence settled.

Jounouchi's mouth hung open. Honda stepped back.

Mokuba shouted, voice cracking with urgency, "But that's not him! Don't believe it! Everyone heard about your duel with Seto—that's how this faker knows! That's not my brother, Yugi—I'm sure of it!"

Musa looked from Mokuba to Bloom, then to Yami. "So what now?" she asked. "He's at half his Life Points, and his best monster's gone."

Bloom didn't answer immediately. Her eyes hadn't left Yami.

He stood tall again, eyes locked on the monster before him. Inside, he could feel the stirrings of another presence—gentle, quiet, but there: Yugi's soul. Watching. Feeling.

Yugi... Musa thought, glancing at him, unknowingly echoing his name. The memory of his smile, his kindness... and the spark between them, still faint but unmistakable.

And so the duel would continue.

The final act... had only just begun.

The doors of Kaiba's private subterranean lab slid open with a low hiss, revealing a chamber of harsh, sterile light, banks of monitors, and a supercomputer interface that hummed like a beast alive with code. The room reeked of silicon, ozone, and urgency.

Tecna stood near one of the central consoles, her arms crossed, her wings flickering faintly with translucent emerald light. In her Bloomix form, she was a vision of ethereal logic—her layered baby blue tunic shimmered beneath the fluorescents, navy circuitry patterns glowing along her fitted pants, the lime green organza trailing behind her like data streaming through the ether. Her tiara glinted with a cold, unblinking blue light. This wasn't magic anymore—this was war through numbers.

Seto Kaiba stormed in behind her, his long dark blue coat sweeping like a cape, his fingers already flying across the panel's touchscreen. His cobalt eyes narrowed at the code flowing down the central screen.

"You better have something concrete, Tecna," he snapped. "You dragged me away from reinforcing my security grid for this?"

Tecna didn't flinch. "You mean the grid that failed the moment Pegasus exploited your ego?" she answered coolly, the lines on her gauntlet glowing in sync with her voice modulation. "Yes. This is the problem I've been trying to tell you about."

Kaiba stopped typing, his sharp gaze flicking to her. "So, someone's using my face and my cards. You could've just said it straight."

"I did," she countered, turning toward the massive wall of data now loading duel telemetry. "But as usual, you only listen when you're the one threatened."

Kaiba huffed. "Flattery isn't your strong suit."

"And humility isn't yours," she said, her tone even but edged like a sharpened algorithm. Still, her eyes softened—just slightly—as she stepped aside. "But we can settle this later. Right now, Yugi's in danger."

At the mention of Yugi, Kaiba's face turned grim. The central monitor lit up with real-time duel data, names, cards, LP meters. Then, a stark image hit the screen—Yugi Muto locked in a ferocious match against Seto Kaiba.

Kaiba recoiled. "What?! Is this your idea of a joke?"

"I don't joke," came the automated reply from the computer, echoing the truth with mechanical apathy.

Tecna's eyes narrowed as she began manually overriding Pegasus's duel surveillance encryption. "Field holographic signature confirms the impostor is identical to you—voice, pattern, strategy. But the code running that duel isn't human."

Kaiba's fingers tightened into fists. "Pegasus must've stolen my deck... and used my dueling data to program this fake."

"Precisely." Tecna tapped into the virus hub she'd quietly pre-coded earlier, bringing up an internal combat protocol. "He's using an AI simulacrum of you, probably tethered to that cursed Eye of his. But there's one flaw."

Kaiba arched a brow, half skeptical. "And what would that be?"

"It's not you," she said simply. "It's a machine imitating you. No passion. No pride. No arrogance. Just predictions."

Kaiba smirked. "So basically, me without my better traits."

"Without your worst traits," Tecna corrected. But then her gaze faltered just enough to betray a hint of admiration. "But also without your instincts."

The computer's voice cut in:

"The duelists are tied. The impostor Kaiba has two Blue-Eyes White Dragons in play. Yugi's life points: 500. No cards in play. His move is pending."

Kaiba's smirk vanished. "But without Exodia, Yugi can't win. He's got nothing in his deck that can beat two Blue-Eyes..."

Tecna looked up. "Then we give him a chance."

Kaiba's eyes glinted. "You want me to cheat?"

"I want you to even the odds."

He hesitated—but only for a breath. "Upload a virus into that monster's holo-computer," he commanded, voice clipped, urgent. "That dragon's about to catch a cold."

"Already working on it," Tecna said, her hands glowing as she integrated her magic with the mainframe. The lines of her gauntlet reached toward the terminal like live wire, coding spells with every flick of her fingers. "I'll inject a command script that destabilizes the Blue-Eyes data rendering. But the injection vector has to ride Pegasus's own network pulse."

"You're speaking my language now," Kaiba muttered, watching the virus compile. Despite himself, he glanced at her—wings flared, face illuminated in code-light, a soldier of logic and defiance. "You really are something else."

She turned toward him, brushing a lilac-highlighted strand behind her ear. "Try not to sound too impressed. Your ego might short-circuit."

But Kaiba's next look wasn't of annoyance—it was understanding. A flash of rare, silent accord. For once, they weren't bickering—they were synchronizing.

"Viral injection underway," the computer confirmed. "Estimated time to disruption: 30 seconds."

Kaiba stepped back beside Tecna, eyes locked on the screen. "He'd better have a card ready... or this all goes to waste."

"Yugi always finds a way," Tecna whispered, as the virus infiltrated the Blue-Eyes code. "That's what makes him different."

"And you really believe in him?" Kaiba asked without turning.

She glanced sidelong at him, her voice gentle but firm. "Just like I'm starting to believe in you."

He blinked, surprised—but said nothing. His attention shifted back to the screen. And hers lingered on him just a moment longer.

The arena trembled as the thunderous roar of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon split the air, its massive wings beating with a force that could shake the heavens. The dragon's body shimmered with immense power, its eyes glowing a brilliant blue that threatened to overwhelm everything in its path. The crowd's collective breath caught, anticipating the devastating attack that was surely coming.

Yami stood his ground, his eyes narrowing in focus as the Blue-Eyes loomed before him. I don't have any monsters that can withstand his Blue-Eyes White Dragon, he thought, frustration welling up inside him. The heavy weight of the situation pressed down on him like a vice. Ugh. This could be it.

Across from him, Fake Kaiba's smirk was the picture of arrogance. He felt the duel was already in the bag. "This duel is over, Yugi," he said with cruel certainty, voice dripping with condescension. "I'm sure we'll be hearing the fat lady sing right after your turn." His words were a taunt, meant to shake Yami's resolve.

He waved a hand dismissively, his eyes gleaming with malicious pride. "I still have defense paralysis active, so whatever monster you pick won't be able to defend itself."

Yami's mind raced, but there was no turning back. "I choose the Feral Imp in attack mode." The card materialized, and the small, green imp with glowing red eyes emerged. Its claws flexed menacingly as it stood before the powerful Blue-Eyes, its stats clearly inferior. ATK: 1300/ DEF: 1400 — but it was all he had.

In the high-tech control room far from the duel, the real Kaiba stood tense, his eyes locked on the monitors. His usual confident demeanor had been replaced by barely-contained frustration. "I wish Yugi had waited a few more seconds before making that move," he muttered, his voice betraying his concern.

Beside him, Tecna's presence was like a quiet storm. Her Bloomix wings shimmered with vibrant colors, and her outfit, an intricate blend of navy, lime, and violet, seemed to almost pulse with energy. Despite the chaos, her focus remained unwavering as she watched the duel unfold on the screens. "Isn't there anything you can do to get that computer virus uploaded faster?" Kaiba demanded, his impatience mounting.

The response from the computer was as steady as ever. "We're already halfway there. This is as fast as it goes." The screen displayed the viral implant status, currently at 60%. "But it doesn't seem to be working. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is still showing no signs of weakness."

Kaiba's expression hardened. "Something's wrong," he growled under his breath, his hands gripping the edge of the desk. "This isn't supposed to be happening."

Back in the arena, Fake Kaiba was grinning like a predator savoring its kill. "Heh heh heh! This is almost too easy," he chuckled, taunting his opponent even further. His eyes flickered toward the audience, enjoying the helplessness he believed to be settling in.

From the stands, Anzu's voice rose with desperation. "Yugi!" she cried, her hands clenched into fists, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew her friend well enough to know that he had faced greater challenges, but even she couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment.

Honda, standing beside her, shot a determined look in Yami's direction. "Hang on! Yugi can still win this," he said, though the uncertainty was clear in his tone. He clenched his fists, his gaze flickering between Yami's field and the dueling arena.

Jounouchi, ever the optimist, snorted. "Grr! Don't forget—he beat Kaiba last time," he reminded them with a gritted grin. The sheer thought of Yami overcoming impossible odds again was enough to keep his confidence steady, even if the situation seemed grim.

Mokuba, standing a little apart from the group, couldn't keep the worry from his expression. "Yugi!" he called out, his small form nearly shaking with fear. He watched, his heart in his throat, hoping against hope that Yami would pull through. 

Musa looked serious, "Yugi will beat him for sure!" She clemched her fists, gazing at Bloom who was clutching her Millennium Heart. Bloom nodded, her aura flared again.

Then, the moment arrived. With a dramatic flourish, Fake Kaiba raised his hand. "It's time, Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Attack!" His voice was sharp, a command to his monster that was meant to be the final blow.

But something happened that none of them expected.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon hesitated. It was as if time itself had frozen. The mighty beast trembled, its form glitching, its image warping like a broken hologram. The thunderous roar that had once felt so unstoppable was now replaced by an eerie silence.

Fake Kaiba's smirk faltered, and his voice rose with impatience. "What are you waiting for?" he demanded, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Attack!"

The glitching continued, and for a moment, it seemed as if the great dragon might be powerless, locked in some sort of unseen stasis. It didn't move—didn't attack.

In the control room, Kaiba's eyes widened as he saw the unexpected glitch. "What's happening? This should have been over by now!" he cursed, frustration turning to disbelief. He glanced over at Tecna, his hands clenched tightly against the control console. "What's going wrong with the upload?"

Tecna's expression remained cool, her mind working quickly despite the chaos. "The upload is still incomplete," she explained, her voice calm but firm. "We need to finish it quickly, or the virus won't fully take effect."

Back in the area, the tension was unbearable. Anzu's voice was filled with hope now, her eyes fixed on the glitching Blue-Eyes. "Yugi!" she called again, this time with renewed strength in her words. "This is your chance!"

Jounouchi's gaze was intense, the usual easygoing attitude replaced by a raw, fiery determination. "You can do it, Yugi! I know you can!"

Musa,  clutched her arms as she watched the duel unfold. The tension was overwhelming, but her eyes, ever observant, flicked between Yami and the field. Yugi's been in tight spots before, she thought, her gaze softening. He'll find a way.

Bloom, standing by her side, felt a surge of emotion as she observed Yami's determination. The Millennium Heart pulsed lightly around her neck, its glow almost as if urging her to believe in him, to believe in what he was capable of. She glanced over at Musa, giving her a small, supportive smile. "He'll pull through," she said quietly, her voice filled with a calm confidence that seemed to permeate the air.

Musa smiled back, though there was an undeniable hint of unease in her eyes. What was the real plan of Pegasus?  A slight twinge pulled at her chest,  before turning to Bloom and offering a soft chuckle. "Yeah, I think he will."

Computer spoke, "The virus is taking effect. Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack power is beginning to drop."

The digital voice echoed through the dimly lit chamber deep beneath Kaiba Mansion. The glow of a dozen monitors illuminated Seto Kaiba's determined expression, casting shadows across the angular lines of his face. Sweat beaded along his brow, but his cobalt eyes remained sharp and calculating. The data pouring down the screen showed the Blue-Eyes' power plummeting in real time—his digital virus, his gambit, was working.

"But it's still too strong," he muttered under his breath, voice low, urgent. "It has to get weaker... or it'll still beat Yugi."

Beside him stood a figure of both grace and precision—Tecna, her wings refracting soft violet and silver light across the console. Her eyes glowed faintly, streams of data reflected in her irises. Her fingers hovered over the holographic keyboard, typing faster than any human could.

"Processing code injection into neural override relay. Secondary firewall bypassed. Kaiba, I'm rerouting the deceleration algorithm—focus on the third control channel."

Kaiba barely spared her a glance. "I know what I'm doing," he snapped, though not with venom. There was something else behind it—pressure, urgency... maybe admiration. He clenched his fists.

Above them, the duel between Yami and the impostor raged like a storm.

"Why—I don't believe it!" the fake Kaiba howled, eyes wide with disbelief as his prized dragon shrieked, its attack faltering mid-blast. The mighty Blue-Eyes White Dragon reeled, its body glitching, surging with unstable energy.

The gang gasped from the sidelines.

"Oh man!" Jonouchi's brown eyes went wide as he stepped forward, hands braced against the arena railing. "That dragon's freakin' out!"

"What's happening to it?" Honda's voice trembled with confusion.

"It's—disintegrating?" Anzu said, shielding her eyes from the storm of light erupting from the creature.

Mokuba's voice cracked. "Big Brother...? That's his dragon—only he could mess with it like this!"

Bloom and Tecna gasped, "This must be the work of Tecna! She found Kaiba." They nodded at each other, then looked at their friends who looked at them in shock.

Kemo, standing in his dark suit and trench coat at the edge of the stadium, lifted a communicator. "This is Kemo to Pegasus. Sir, I hope you're watching... we've got a real problem out here."

Inside Pegasus' grand castle, Croquet stood beside the duelist emperor, frowning.

"How did Yugi do that?" he asked in disbelief.

Pegasus' one visible eye sparkled with amusement as he swirled the red wine in his crystal goblet. "It wasn't Yugi, dear Croquet... it was Seto Kaiba. It seems the real Kaiba is still very much alive."

Computer spoke, "The Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack power is dropping rapidly. The virus implant is successfully disabling the monster completely."

Kaiba allowed himself the briefest smirk. "All right. Now let's get to work on dragon number two."

Computer screen flashed, "Standing by."

But before Tecna could initiate the next phase, the screen glitched. Red text flickered across the console. Then came the sound—mocking, grating, surreal.

"We've been locked out by a remote terminal," the computer warned.

Tecna blinked. "Kaiba, the interface is being hijacked! I'm detecting visual interference—infectious code!"

The screens turned pink. Dozens of animated, hyperactive cartoon rabbits popped into view, bouncing across the command feed.

"Hey, Kaiba! Hey, Kaiba! Heyyyyyy—"

Kaiba's hand slammed the desk. "Ugh! Pegasus!"

The rabbits danced. "Heh heh heh heh!"

Tecna's fingers danced over her wrist comms. "I'll counter the intrusion. Hold steady."

Kaiba clenched his jaw. "Move in on my mark. Let's go! Cover me!"

Computer worked,  "Attack power is holding now at... unstable values. The virus should have worked. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is launching its attack."

Kaiba's heart sank. "No!"

In the arena above, Fake Kaiba sneered, arm raised.

"Now, Blue-Eyes White Dragon—time to obliterate them!"

The dragon's roar echoed like a thunderclap, its maw glowing with destructive power. Yami braced himself, arm across his face, the light almost unbearable. Behind him, Bloom gasped, her fingers clenching around the chain of the Millennium Heart that shimmered against her chest. The sacred artifact flared with light, connecting her to Yami in that instant.

Her voice trembled. "He's here... Kaiba's really here. Tecna is with him too..."

Musa stepped forward beside her, dark blue eyes locked on the chaos. "I knew it... Something's off. This duel—it's not just the cards anymore."

Yami flinched, gold flaring across his forehead—the Eye of Horus igniting. His mind pulsed. A presence. Kaiba...?

The Blue-Eyes released its blast—yet at the height of its fury, it jerked, roaring not in triumph, but agony. Its wings folded in, body convulsing mid-flight. And then... it stopped.

"The dragon..." Yami whispered, lowering his arm. "It stopped."

The gang stared in disbelief.

Jounouchi shouted, "It's gone! The Blue-Eyes just—vanished!"

Kemo narrowed his eyes. "That's a trick. It has to be."

Back underground, the screens now showed static. Smoke hissed from the keyboard as Kaiba stood over the console, fists trembling.

Computer said, "The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is destroyed. But the virus was not responsible."

Kaiba's breath hitched. "Then how...? Did Yugi Mutou somehow do this?"

Computer replied. "How could he? It is your deck."

Kaiba's gaze went distant for a moment. "The heart of the cards..." he whispered. "Yugi was right."

There was a loud clunk. A lock disengaging. Kaiba's eyes snapped to the door. Footsteps echoed down the corridor outside.

Tecna turned, eyes glowing brighter. "Security breach—Kaiba, we've been found."

He nodded grimly. "Get ready. Pegasus won't let us walk out."

She stepped beside him, her wings flaring with magical energy. "Then we make our stand. Together."

The control room beneath Kaiba Mansion was empty now. Lights blinked softly on blank monitors, casting the vast chamber in eerie, pale blue. Static still hummed from the exposed servers, and the last remnants of virus interference shimmered in the air like fading ghosts of Pegasus' meddling. But Seto Kaiba and Tecna were gone.

Outside the reinforced service hatch, two of Pegasus' suited goons arrived, their boots slamming against the floor with urgency. One of them, a hulking man with a jagged scar across his jaw, burst into the chamber first.

"Hah!" he growled, scanning the room.

The second agent, smaller and wirier, pulled out a communicator with a hiss of static. "Sir, he got away." His voice was strained, laced with disbelief.

Back at Pegasus' Castle...

The moonlight filtered through the stained-glass windows as Pegasus lounged elegantly in his throne-like chair, swirling a glass of crimson wine in one hand and watching the Duel unfold on a large holographic monitor.

"Hmm..." he mused, voice smooth and poisonous. "It appears that young Yugi's nemesis—the real Seto Kaiba—has come to his rescue." He chuckled lightly. "I must admit, that's a twist even I did not foresee. Delightful."

Croquet stepped into the room briskly, clearly flustered. "I have some bad news, sir." He adjusted his monocle nervously. "The real Kaiba has eluded us again. He was using a terminal at Kaiba Mansion to access the Industrial Illusions mainframe. If I'd known he was still alive, I would've beefed up security—"

Pegasus narrowed his lone, visible eye.

"That's escapes, Croquet. Must I lock you away again?" He didn't wait for a reply. "Get me Kemo. Immediately."

Meanwhile, In the Duel Area...

Mokuba's eyes gleamed with righteous fire as he shouted at the grotesque man still standing across the duel field. "Hey, ugly! If I were you, I'd start worrying about what my big brother's gonna do to you when he finally catches up to you!"

Across the field, Kemo's hand clenched on Mokuba's shoulder. He spoke into a hidden earpiece, eyes still fixed on the duel. "Understood."

From the speaker came Pegasus' smooth voice: "Seto Kaiba has gotten away. Don't lose the little one, no matter what."

Yami stood tall, his face unreadable, his tri-colored hair waving as magical tension laced the air around him. Across from him, the twisted fat man grinned from ear to ear, showing yellowed teeth beneath spiky pink hair.

"I guess I just don't know what to call you," Yami said with a cool smirk. "I was thinking about 'monster'... but I didn't want to insult the cards." He raised a hand. "It's your move."

"Grappler, in defense mode!" the creature cackled, slamming a card down. A hulking blue reptilian beast with claws like daggers roared to life beside him.

[ATK: 1300 / DEF: 1200]

Yami's eyes narrowed. He's biding his time, he thought. He's just trying to draw that last Blue-Eyes. If he plays it while I'm unguarded, it's over.

"It's my turn!" Yami drew swiftly, the card glowing in his hand. His eyes flicked over his options.

With his Defense Paralysis card still in play, I can't switch modes. If I don't attack, I'm defenseless. And if he draws Blue-Eyes...

He made his decision. "I'll set one card face down... and summon Celtic Guardian in attack mode!"

The familiar elven warrior leapt into place, blade gleaming under the duel lights.

[ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1200]

"Celtic Guardian—attack Grappler!"

Steel met flesh with a mighty slash, and the reptilian Grappler exploded in a swirl of shadow and light.

"Your Grappler split!" Yami called.

The grotesque duelist chuckled. "Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow." He placed another card. "Next stop: Mystic Horseman in defense mode. And one card face down, just like you."

A snorting, fanged centaur materialized, muscles coiled beneath dark fur. A glowing face-down card hovered beside it ominously.

Yami studied the field, eyes narrowing. Face-down... trap or magic? Either way, I can't slow down now.

"I'll play a card face-down as well. And I summon the Mystical Elf—" Light shimmered across the field as a statuesque blonde enchantress descended with grace, long golden hair flowing like silk.

[ATK: 800 / DEF: 2000]

"—In attack mode! Plus, I'll equip her with the Book of Secret Arts!"

The elf opened a glowing tome, chanting softly. Magic spiraled around her, lifting her power.

[New ATK: 1100 / DEF: 2300]

Yami nodded. "My turn is over."

Across the field, the bloated man laughed. "Patience, Yugi! It'll soon be all over!"

He grinned, eyeing Yami's field. He's strengthening that elf. Probably to tank my Horseman. But if I draw Blue-Eyes and destroy one of his monsters, his life points are gone regardless...

His hand hovered over his deck, trembling with anticipation.

"Heh heh heh heh heh..."

Earlier, just before the goons arrived at the hidden chamber...

Tecna's fingers flew across the interface, the Bloomix energy swirling with digital code. "They've breached the security perimeter. We've got maybe forty seconds."

Kaiba stood behind her, hands gripping the edge of the console. "Then we move."

She smiled without looking back. "Already prepared."

With a flourish, she tapped a crystalline shard into the wall. A false panel behind them hissed open, revealing a tunnel system flooded with blue backlight.

"Emergency maintenance shaft," Tecna said. "One way. And I'm jamming surveillance from here. Go."

Kaiba followed her into the tunnel, his white coat swirling behind him. "You really are full of surprises."

"Try not to look too impressed," she replied with a wink. "I had to reroute the entire firewall system just to mask your identity signature."

"Remind me to thank you," Kaiba said dryly as he ducked beneath a beam.

"Dinner after we secure everything?"

Kaiba paused, smirking. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

They vanished into the dark, just as the goons burst into the room.

The arena was electric, charged with the fierce energy of a duel that had long since surpassed mere competition. Each move, each counter, and each spell cast was more than just an attempt to win—it was an assertion of identity, a battle for something deeper that none of the participants fully understood. It was a battle of not just monsters, but of the souls connected by invisible strings of fate.

Yami's eyes narrowed as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared into the arena, its overwhelming presence causing a collective shudder among those watching. His opponents may have believed they were on the brink of victory, but Yami had a different plan.

"Ha ha ha ha!" The fat man's laughter was almost manic, echoing through the arena. "As you wish. Now prepare... for the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

The immense dragon appeared in a flash of light, shaking the ground as it let out a bone-chilling roar. The atmosphere grew tense, the air thick with anticipation. Everyone, even the spectators, could feel it. The intensity of the duel was inescapable.

Mokuba's voice cracked with fear and hope, a desperate plea for his brother's return. "Yugi! Don't worry, Yugi! My brother will help out, just like last time!"

But Kemo, standing near the shadows, sneered with cruel certainty. He was the embodiment of malice, eyes gleaming as he looked down at Mokuba. "Dream on. Your luck's about to run out. Just see for yourself. Unlike the last Blue-Eyes, this one's at full power, and your brother's in no position to do a thing about it."

He looked smug as he added, "We found where his hiding place is, and now he's on the run."

Jounouchi's eyes widened in shock, his voice almost a whisper. "So that means Kaiba is alive? When Bloom and Musa confirmed it, I couldn't believe it."

Kemo's sneer only deepened, his grip on Mokuba tightening. "Dimwit. It means don't expect another miracle. This duel's about to end."

The fat man gave another sinister laugh, his eyes never leaving Yami. "Ha ha ha!"

Mokuba's face twisted in disbelief. His fists clenched in silent anger as his brother's absence continued to weigh on him. "Oh, no..." Mokuba blinked back tears, but he wouldn't let them fall. Not now. Not when...

The fat man threw his head back, savoring the moment of his supposed victory. "Ha ha ha! Such a good dragon! Wouldn't you say, Yugi?"

Yami's eyes were narrowed, his mind far from the banter. Every fiber of his being was focused on the power that resonated deep within him—the bond. The Millennium Heart. Bloom. That energy... it was something more. It was connected to him, and he could feel it strengthening.

There was something about Bloom—something that stirred within him, as if the very winds of fate had shifted in their direction. He didn't understand it yet, but the feeling was undeniable.

And then, with a voice that cut through the tension like a blade, the fat man made his move. "This duel's about to end now! Go! White Lightning Attack!" The Blue-Eyes White Dragon unleashed a bolt of pure energy, roaring with its destructive force.

"This duel's not over yet." Yami's voice was cold and commanding, each word laced with the weight of his resolve. He flicked his wrist, sending his counter card forward. "Activate Mirror Force now!"

A wave of energy erupted from the card, sending a shimmering barrier of light that reflected the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack back at the fat man.

"Wah!" The fat man's eyes widened in shock as his dragon's destructive force turned back on him. "He's turned over a trap card!"

Yami didn't waste a moment, his gaze fixed firmly on his opponent. The world around him seemed to fall away. All that mattered was the game—and the power that was starting to hum through him with each passing second.

"Pretty good trick," the fat man sneered, but his confidence was already wavering. "But I'm ready with one of my own. I'll use Negate Attack."

The words rang out, and a defensive barrier surged to block the returning attack. Yami's expression darkened as the counter card was played, realizing that his opponent was more prepared than he had hoped.

He quickly processed it in his mind. So, he's prepared for a second attack. But he won't stop me. Not now.

"Negate Attack neutralizes any attack thrown at me—even if it's one of my own," the fat man gloated, looking more and more smug with each passing second.

Anzu's voice broke through, full of hope and tension. "Yugi!"

The fat man's smile grew. "It's all over. Ha ha ha!"

Yami's hand clenched tighter around his cards. It's time.

"It's time to finish this duel with Reborn, the Monster!" Yami declared, his voice carrying with a weight of finality.

The fat man froze, disbelief painting his features as Yami laid the card onto the field. "Oh no! That allows you to revive any monster lost in this duel from either deck!"

Yami's expression was unreadable, but his voice, when it came, was laced with absolute certainty. "I'm glad you know the rules. Now guess which card I want to bring back."

The words hung in the air like an omen as Yami drew his final card, flipping it over with a determined flick of his wrist. "Be reborn, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

The arena shook once more as the legendary dragon was reborn before their eyes. Its mighty roar filled the space, its wings sweeping the arena in a gust of power.

[ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500]

Bloom, standing just off to the side, could feel the power surge through the room. Her heart raced as the intensity of the duel peaked. She could sense something shifting, something that had nothing to do with the monsters on the field.

She looked at Yami, her gaze lingering on him longer than she intended. What is this feeling? It wasn't just the energy of the duel. There was something more—a pull that was inexplicable.

Musa, always the perceptive one, glanced at Bloom. "Hey, you okay? You've been awfully quiet."

Bloom blinked, shaking herself from her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... the duel. It's a lot to take in."

But Musa wasn't convinced. "Sure it is, but there's something else, isn't there? You've been acting kind of distracted, you know." She leaned in slightly. "You've got a strange look in your eyes."

Before Bloom could respond, Anzu, standing a few paces away, called out. "Come on, Yugi! Don't let him get away with this! You've got this!"

Bloom tore her gaze from Yami, but something inside her still tugged at her heart. There was no denying it now. There was a bond between her and Yami—something that ran deeper than either of them could understand.

Kemo, standing next to Mokuba, noticed the shift in the atmosphere. He glanced over at the field where the Blue-Eyes White Dragon had been revived, but his gaze flickered towards Bloom. There was something there—something he couldn't place. But one thing was certain—this duel was about to reach its conclusion, and Yami was no longer just playing for the win. He was playing for something more.

The atmosphere was thick with tension. Every move in the duel felt like it had the weight of the world hanging on it, and for a moment, the battlefield itself seemed to hold its breath. Yami's eyes were hard, unblinking, focused on his opponent—the fat man. His entire being was drawn into the battle, every fiber of his soul ignited by the sense of justice he was fighting for. He had come too far to lose now.

Jounouchi, unable to hide his excitement, shouted from the sidelines. "Ahh ha!" His voice cracked with incredulity. "Ohh, fat lot of good that move's gonna do you, Yugi!"

The fat man, glaring at the monstrous Blue-Eyes White Dragon before him, spoke through gritted teeth. "Both of these monsters are evenly matched."

But Yami's voice came in cool and calculated, unshaken by the fat man's bravado. "Their powers are not the same."

The fat man's face twisted in confusion. "Uhh!"

Yami didn't pause. He was too far past doubt, his words sharp and unwavering. "You forgot about my Mystical Elf. She's been chanting a spell since I put her on the field. It allows the Mystical Elf to transfer her own attack power to any other monster I choose."

The Mystical Elf's energy swirled around her like a radiant storm, her delicate form glowing with an ethereal light. In an instant, the energy transferred to Yami's Blue-Eyes White Dragon, amplifying its strength far beyond what anyone had expected.

"Blue-Eyes, now your attack power is 4100!" Yami's voice rang out, the power of his dragon resonating with the arena, sending a wave of shock through all who watched.

The fat man was flabbergasted. "What? This can't be!"

Yami's gaze locked onto him, the fire of his resolve burning bright. "This move was inspired by Seto Kaiba himself. He showed me that you can alter the attack power of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. But I'm raising the power of mine instead of lowering it like Kaiba did to yours."

The fat man's jaw dropped. "This can't be happening! Oh, no! No!" His eyes widened, panic creeping into his voice as the immense power of Yami's dragon loomed over him.

Yami's voice boomed, clear and commanding. "Consider this a message from the real Seto Kaiba: You lose!"

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon responded to Yami's command, roaring as it unleashed its devastating attack, the roar echoing like thunder through the arena.

"Now, Blue-Eyes, obliterate!" Yami's command was the last thing the fat man heard before the arena was filled with a blinding light.

As the attack hit, Yami's gang—Bloom, Yami, Jonouchi, Anzu, and Mokuba—screamed in unison, covering their eyes as the energy overwhelmed the field. The sheer force of the dragon's blast was enough to shake the earth beneath them.

"Aah!" Jonouchi yelled, his voice full of both awe and fear.

Yami stood at the epicenter of the destruction, his eyes glowing with the energy of the duel. But something more lingered in the air, something that none of them fully understood. Yami's connection with the Millennium Puzzle was stronger than ever, but so too was his inexplicable bond with Bloom. She felt it too, like an invisible string tugging her toward him.

Yami's voice broke the silence, quieter now, but more powerful than before. "Pegasus may have helped you escape the Shadow Realm once before, but it won't happen again. Never again!"

As his words resonated, his body seemed to ripple with a dark energy. His form shifted, glowing with an ominous fire-like aura that bordered on black. The Millennium Eye on his forehead gleamed, radiating an almost unnatural power.

"Pegasus, I sense that you're watching. Consider this a warning. Nothing you send against me will stop me. And when we finally duel, believe me, victory will be mine." Yami's words were filled with an intensity that shook the room, and the strength of his resolve could be felt in every syllable. "I'll win back my grandfather's soul, and you will pay for all the people you've hurt in the name of your sick little game. I'm coming for you, Pegasus!"

The fat man fell to his knees, defeated. His expression was one of absolute terror as Yami's victory became undeniable. The light of Yami's final attack slowly began to fade, and his voice rang out with finality as the shadow around him seemed to crackle and burn away.

From the distant corners of the his castle, Pegasus watched. His image appeared on a screen, seated in his lavish castle, his hands were stained with wine, the glass had shattered because of Yami's intensity. His face twisted into a smile—more of a grin, really—as he observed the outcome of Yami's duel.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" His laughter echoed, cruel and mocking. "Yugi, you've developed your shadow powers quite a bit in such a short time. But when we finally duel, believe me, your Millennium Puzzle will be mine." He leaned forward, his hair casting shadows over his face, and for a moment, his Millennium Eye flashed beneath his silver locks.

Zoomed in on his covered Eye, a dark gleam in his smile. "Ha ha ha ha!"

The green area had fallen silent. The energy of the duel had dissipated, but an unfamiliar tension hung in the air. Bloom stood there, still caught in the web of power that was swirling in the aftermath of Yami's victory. She could feel it—the deep connection between them, even though neither of them fully understood it.

Musa, always perceptive, noticed the shift. She gave Bloom a curious glance, noticing how her friend's posture seemed to change, how her eyes lingered just a bit too long on nothing, as if drawn to something unseen.

"Hey, Bloom, you okay?" Musa asked, her voice soft but full of concern.

Bloom blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She gave a small, reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little overwhelmed."

But Musa wasn't convinced. She stepped closer, her gaze following Bloom's eyes, which were fixed on her Millennium Heart. "You sure? You've been acting weird ever since the duel started."

Before Bloom could respond, Anzu's voice broke through the moment. "Yugi, you did it! You beat him!"

Yami, his eyes still glowing with the remnants of the duel's power, turned to his friends. His expression softened as he caught sight of Bloom, his gaze lingering just a fraction longer than necessary. Bloom felt her heart race, but she pushed the sensation aside. No, it couldn't be. Not now.

The air in the aftermath of the duel still crackled with tension. Yami, standing victorious over the defeated fat man, seemed unfazed by the chaos that surrounded him. His thoughts, however, were far from finished. He reached down, picking up the discarded deck that had once belonged to Seto Kaiba. His eyes narrowed with a mix of determination and confusion.

"Kaiba," Yami muttered to himself, clutching the deck tightly. "I'll find you." He could feel the weight of the missing pieces, the duel with Kaiba's ghostly counterpart still lingering in his mind. But before he could focus further, he was interrupted by his friends.

"That ghost is toast, huh, Yugi?" Jounouchi said, breaking the silence, his voice full of triumphant relief.

Yami turned to his friend, acknowledging the moment but still feeling that unease gnawing at him. "The duel may be over, but something still doesn't feel right."

Honda nodded in agreement. "I knew that the real Kaiba was alive the whole time." He was so full of himself.

Before anyone could respond, Anzu's voice cracked with disbelief. "Huh?" She looked around frantically, suddenly noticing something. Her eyes widened in shock. "Wait a second... Kemo!"

Musa and Bloom, standing a little further off, exchanged a glance, their concern growing. Both of them had felt something off the moment the duel ended—like a shadow creeping just outside of their understanding. Bloom's heart skipped a beat, a sense of dread washing over her. She could feel it too—something about this moment was far from over. 

"What is it?" Honda asked, noticing Anzu's panicked expression.

"That creep took Mokuba!" Anzu cried, her voice shaking with the realization.

Jounouchi's eyes widened, a mixture of confusion and anger flashing across his face. "Wha—"

Honda blinked, then quickly began scanning the area. His usual bravado faltered, the weight of the situation sinking in. "Huh?"

Yami's gaze turned sharp. "Mokuba!" he said in a low, tense voice, realizing the truth before anyone else. His heart pounded as his mind raced. "Mokuba! He's gone... taken again."

"Oh no!" Jounouchi shouted, now fully realizing what had happened. He clenched his fists in frustration. "Not again!"

Honda's face twisted with panic, his eyes wide. "Hey, Mokuba!" he called out, as if his voice could bring him back.

"Mokuba!" Anzu's echoed, her voice breaking as she spun in a circle, trying to make sense of the sudden twist in events. She had been so relieved moments ago, so sure that they had won. But now, the reality of the situation slammed into her like a cold wave.

Musa stepped forward, her voice trembling. "No... not again... Why now? Is it Pegasus, perhaps? What does he want with Mokuba now?" Her tone was filled with frustration, her mind racing through possible reasons. "Is this because of the duel?"

Bloom, still lost in the whirlwind of emotions, exchanged a worried look with her friend. "Tecna's gone... to help Kaiba. And now Mokuba... it's all connected somehow. Pegasus... he must have ordered Kemo while we were distracted."

Yami, his expression darkening with anger, stood tall. "This is far from over." He scanned the group. His voice was steely. "We need to move quickly. We can't let them use Mokuba against Kaiba. Not again." He clenched the deck tighter in his hand, a newfound determination burning in his chest. "I will find Mokuba."

Musa nodded, her worry for Tecna still weighing heavily on her. "But... Tecna's not here. She left to help Kaiba. She might be in danger too. We can't just leave her out there with Kaiba, Pegasus is on the loose."

Bloom's heart ached as she looked around at her friends, the weight of the moment settling in. She turned to Yami, her voice softer now but filled with the same intensity. "We can't afford to split up. We need to work together. We need to save Mokuba and stop whatever Pegasus' planning."

Yami glanced at her, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes locked—an understanding passing between them. It was subtle, barely perceptible, but something in his gaze lingered with hers. Bloom felt it again, the strange connection that seemed to grow stronger with each passing second. She couldn't explain it, but she felt safer with Yami near, even as the chaos of the moment spun around them.

Jonouchi, ever the optimist, tried to lift the mood. "Alright, let's get moving then! We'll rescue Mokuba, Tecna and that Kaiba!"

Honda nodded. "Yeah, we won't let that creep get away with this!"

Anzu clenched her fists. "We have to be fast. Mokuba's safety is the most important thing now."

"And Tecna," Bloom added quietly, her eyes glistening with worry. "She's out there... alone."

Yami gave a slight nod. "We'll find her too. We can't let anyone else fall into Pegasus' hands."

Together, the group gathered their resolve. But as they made their way to leave the ruins of the duel, a strange feeling still lingered in the air. Bloom's heart beat faster. The bond with Yami, still inexplicable, kept pulling at her. It was more than just the duel. It was something deeper. Something neither of them could fully understand.

The shadows in the dimly lit hideout crept along the walls as Tecna stood by the door, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision she had made. The air in the room felt thick with tension. Seto Kaiba, standing silently across the room, watched her every move. He could sense the urgency in her—there was no time to waste. Yet, there was an unspoken understanding between them, something fragile but genuine.

Tecna, her Bloomix form shimmering with an ethereal blue light, took a deep breath. The weight of the world seemed to press on her shoulders, but her resolve was unwavering.

"I have to go, Kaiba," she said, her voice steady, but tinged with an underlying softness. Her eyes met his, a flicker of concern behind them. "My friends need me. They're waiting for me, and I can't keep them in the dark any longer."

Kaiba took a step forward, his usual cold expression softening slightly. The complexity of the situation wasn't lost on him—he was stuck, hiding, but there was a part of him that had grown to appreciate Tecna's presence. She wasn't just another ally; in these brief moments together, she had become something more—someone he could trust.

"You'll be careful, won't you?" Kaiba asked, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability he rarely showed. His hand instinctively reached for his deck of cards that wasn't there, "Don't forget, Pegasus is still out there."

Tecna gave a slight nod, her expression firm. "I have to. I'll be fine, Kaiba. Just stay hidden. Don't let Pegasus find you."

A fleeting silence stretched between them, the moment holding a sense of finality. Kaiba wanted to say more, to tell her that he didn't want her to go, that he didn't want to be alone again. But the words stayed stuck in his throat. Instead, he simply nodded, the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes fading into the shadows. "I'll stay out of sight. You focus on getting to your friends."

Tecna's lips curled into a faint smile, her heart lighter now that she had a plan. She stepped toward the door, but before she left, she turned back to look at him once more.

"Thank you, Kaiba." The words felt strangely warm in the cool, dark space.

Without another word, she exited the room, her figure disappearing into the night as she made her way toward the others.

⸻

Later...

The world felt different as Tecna emerged from the hidden refuge, the air carrying the scents of fresh earth and the promise of renewal. Her Bloomix form shimmered brightly under the moonlight, and her heart quickened with anticipation. It was time to reunite with her friends.

She had no idea what awaited her, but she knew one thing for sure—her friends needed her.

⸻

Meanwhile, in Alfea...

In the heart of Alfea, a magical school for fairies, three familiar figures stood in a quiet glade, the moonlight filtering through the trees above. Flora, Aisha, and Stella were united, their hands clasped in a tight circle, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of their combined magic.

The trio stood strong, their hearts full of purpose. They had sensed something, a pull in the air that beckoned them. They knew their friends—Tecna, Bloom, and Musa—were out there, waiting for their help.

Flora, with her connection to the mother nature, spoke first, her voice soft but powerful. "Through the winds and the earth, through the oceans and the skies, we call upon the magic of friendship."

Aisha's voice followed, clear and strong. "We call to our sisters, to the ones who stand by us, and we send our magic to guide them home."

Stella, ever the beacon of light, added her own words, her voice ringing with the clarity of the sun. "We call to the bond that ties us, that connects us across all realms, to be with them now, and bring us together once more."

As the three girls stood together, chanting in unison, a soft light enveloped them, rising into the air. The magic swirled, gathering strength as it formed a path—a bridge across worlds, drawing them closer to their friends.

Beside them, Kiko, Bloom's loyal blue rabbit, hopped in circles, sensing the surge of magic. His bright eyes gleamed as the power of their chant filled the air, his small form bouncing in excitement.

The chant continued, growing in strength, as the trio of fairies focused their energy on crossing the distance. They didn't know exactly what was happening on the other side, but they knew their friends were in danger. And they would do whatever it took to get to them.

⸻

With the final words of their chant, the magical barrier shimmered, and in a flash of light, the three fairies felt the powerful pull that connected them to their friends. The world around them seemed to hum with energy, and in that moment, they knew they had done it.

The bond between the Winx and their friends was unbreakable.

In that instant, a new chapter began—a chapter filled with challenges, but also with the strength of their unity. 

https://youtu.be/f60vxCRPomU