Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Pharaoh's Flame!

Episode 1: Heart of the Cards!

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 golden light of afternoon poured through the windows of Domino High School, illuminating the group of students clustered around a desk. At the center of the circle sat two boys, locked in a tense but friendly match of Duel Monsters. On one side was Mutou Yuugi, his distinctive tri-colored hair catching the light as he smiled softly, waiting patiently. Across from him sat his friend, Jounouchi Katsuya, furrowing his brow in concentration as he stared down at his hand of cards.

"Hey, Jounouchi!" Yuugi said, leaning forward slightly. "Earth to Jounouchi! Are you in there? It's your turn."

"Uhh... right," Jounouchi muttered, scratching the back of his head and trying to focus.

Honda Hiroto leaned against a nearby desk, smirking. "Aww, look at him. Isn't he adorable when he's thinking?"

Jounouchi shot Honda a glare. "Hey, lay off! Yuugi's just teaching me how to play Duel Monsters, alright?"

"Drooling Monsters?" Honda teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Duel Monsters, you idiot!" Jounouchi snapped, folding his arms with an exaggerated huff.

"Sheesh," Honda muttered, rolling his eyes.

Nearby, Mazaki Anzu watched with crossed arms and a soft laugh. "They've been at it for hours," she said, glancing between them. "Jounouchi's finally starting to pick it up, but Yuugi's like a total pro."

Jounouchi suddenly brightened, drawing a card. His eyes sparkled with renewed determination. "Alright, Yuugi! It's time to duel!"

Anzu, ever the helpful one, leaned toward a first-year who had been watching quietly. "Each card has an attack and defense number," she explained. "The first player to bring their opponent's Life Points down to zero wins."

With a confident grin, Jounouchi slammed a card onto the field. "Not bad, right?"

Yuugi examined the card and smiled, always kind yet calculating. "Yeah, that's a pretty good move... but it's not quite good enough."

Jounouchi's face fell. "What?! Are you kidding me? That card totally wipes me out!"

Honda laughed aloud. "Wow, you really suck at this game, Jounouchi."

Jounouchi groaned and slumped back in his chair as the group laughed around him. It was a moment of pure warmth and friendship—laughter, teasing, and lighthearted competition. But behind Yuugi's quiet smile, something deeper stirred. A feeling... that destiny was drawing closer.

The gentle chime of the bell above the door echoed softly through the quiet stillness of the Kame Game Shop. Morning light streamed in through the wide, slightly dusty windows, casting a golden hue across the shelves of vintage game boxes, rare trading cards, and tiny figurines locked in epic battle poses. The warm scent of aged wood and old cardboard filled the air.

Behind the counter, Sugoroku Mutou looked up just in time to see the front door creak open. His heart skipped a beat.

"Bloom...?"

Standing in the doorway, framed by sunlight, was a tall teenage girl with bright, flame-kissed red-orange hair that tumbled in waves to her back. Her sapphire-blue eyes shimmered like ocean water in moonlight, filled with emotion, and in her hand, she held a suitcase—like she had just stepped out of one world and into another.

Her lips trembled as she whispered, "Grandpa...!"

In a breath, she was in his arms. Sugoroku chuckled through the sudden wave of tears, his voice cracking with joy as he held her tightly.

"You've grown so much," he said, brushing her hair back gently. "Look at you... You're really here."

"I missed you," Bloom murmured, her voice choked with emotion. "It's been so long since I left Gardenia."

Behind her, two girls stepped through the door, their presence quieter but no less distinct. The first had sleek, shoulder-length blue hair styled into twin loops that cascaded all the way down to her waist like dark blue ribbons. She wore a cropped jacket, low-rise jeans, and stylish headphones that rested around her neck. Her name was Musa, and she moved with the grace of someone always in sync with a melody only she could hear. Her midnight-dark eyes scanned the shop with a blend of curiosity and caution, glinting beneath her long lashes like stars in a moonless sky.

The second girl was tall and upright, every movement calculated. Her short pink hair was cut in clean, geometric lines, her pale green eyes obscured slightly behind high-tech glasses. She wore a futuristic tunic in muted purples and silver, her boots clicking faintly against the wooden floor. She said nothing, but Tecna's eyes were already analyzing the layout of the shop, the card displays, and the register behind the counter.

"You must be Bloom's friends," Sugoroku said with a warm smile. "Any friend of hers is welcome here."

"I'm Musa," the blue-haired girl said, her tone upbeat but watchful.

"Tecna," the other added, short and direct.

"Welcome," he said, voice warm and full of grandfatherly pride. "You've arrived at just the right time. Things are about to get... interesting."

Bloom wandered through the store slowly, running her fingers along the dusty shelves, nostalgia wrapping around her like a familiar blanket. Her smile was gentle, wistful. This place hadn't changed—it still smelled like cardboard, ink, and memory.

And today, after all these years, she was finally going to meet him.

Right on cue, the bell above the door chimed again—this time sharper, filled with youthful energy.

"I'm home!" came a voice—light, sincere, tinged with shy excitement.

Yuugi Mutou stepped inside, his oversized schoolbag swinging at his side. His unmistakable tri-colored hair stood out like a comic book hero's—spiked black locks with bold blonde bangs and magenta streaks near the tips. His eyes were large, round, and violet—soft and kind, but with something ancient hiding deep inside.

Three more teens followed: Jounouchi, tall and scrappy with messy blonde hair and a cocky grin; Honda, sturdy and skeptical, arms crossed and brow already furrowed; and Anzu, confident and observant, her deep blue eyes flicking over the room, already assessing the vibe.

"Yuugi!" Sugoroku called, gesturing him over. "Come here. Someone very special's waiting."

Yuugi blinked and looked around—and then froze.

Standing beside his grandfather was a girl about his age, tall and radiant with fiery hair and eyes the color of blue crystal. She held herself with confidence, but there was a tenderness in her expression, a sense of familiarity he couldn't place.

"This," Sugoroku said, smiling proudly, "is your cousin. Her name is Bloom."

Yuugi's eyes widened. "My... cousin?"

Bloom stepped forward and offered her hand. "So you're the famous Yuugi I've heard so much about."

"Uh..." He awkwardly adjusted his bag strap, his cheeks reddening. "I—uh—it's... really nice to meet you..."

Before the silence could grow too long, Musa stepped in beside Bloom and gave Yuugi a teasing grin.

"And I'm Musa," she said easily. "We've heard a lot about you."

Yuugi turned—and froze again.

Her voice was music. Her presence, magnetic. But it was her eyes—those dark, velvety eyes like starlit ink—that made his brain grind to a halt. For a moment, it was as if everything else in the room dropped away.

"I... uh..." he stammered, visibly flustered.

"Yuugi?" Anzu prompted with a smirk.

"I-it's nice to meet you too!" he blurted, voice cracking slightly.

Jounouchi nudged him in the ribs. "Someone's got a crush."

Yuugi ducked his head, mumbling, "She just caught me off guard, that's all..."

Musa raised an eyebrow and exchanged a subtle, amused glance with Bloom.

Meanwhile, Tecna had already moved toward the nearest card display, her eyes flicking across booster packs and rarity symbols with swift precision. Then her gaze caught something behind the counter—a framed photo of a younger Sugoroku standing beside another duelist, both holding a card between them.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Her brows drew together slightly. Something about that card tugged at her attention—not logically, but intuitively. As if it carried a frequency that disrupted her internal rhythm.

Then Yuugi's voice cut through the moment. "Grandpa, can we show them the card?"

Jounouchi's eyes lit up. "You mean that card? The ultra-rare one?"

Sugoroku raised a brow. "You're really eager to show it off, huh?"

"Pretty please?" Bloom asked, already knowing the answer.

Sugoroku gave a small laugh. "Persistent, like your cousin." He reached beneath the counter and carefully retrieved a small lacquered case. Inside, nestled in a protective sleeve, was a single shimmering card.

He held it up as if revealing a crown jewel. "The Blue-Eyes White Dragon. So rare... so powerful... I've never let it leave this shop."

Musa leaned in. "Whoa. That's real?"

"Only four in the world," Sugoroku said proudly.

Before the awe could settle, the bell above the door chimed again—and the air instantly changed.

In stepped Seto Kaiba.

He moved with purpose, his long white coat trailing behind him like a banner of power. His blue eyes were sharp, ice-cold, and calculating. Every movement, every glance, radiated dominance. But as he walked past the girls, something subtle happened.

Tecna's gaze met his.

For the briefest instant, the two of them—machine-minded, focused, aloof—locked eyes. The world seemed to pause.

Then Kaiba blinked, barely registering the others. His stride resumed, but slower now.

"Can I help you?" Sugoroku asked, narrowing his eyes.

"If you can't," Kaiba replied coolly, "it wouldn't surprise me."

Yuugi stepped forward. "Kaiba..."

Jounouchi scowled. "What's he doing here?"

Kaiba ignored them and approached the counter. His eyes latched onto the Blue-Eyes.

He opened a briefcase with a snap, revealing rows upon rows of powerful cards, gleaming and pristine. "I want your Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I'll trade you everything in here."

Gasps filled the shop.

"No deal," Sugoroku replied.

Kaiba's voice lowered. "Then name your price."

"It's not for sale," the old man said. "It was a gift from a dear friend. I treasure it far beyond its rarity."

Yuugi nodded. "Even if it were common, it'd still matter."

Sugoroku smiled. "Exactly. This card is part of my heart."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed to slits. "You'll regret that."

With a final glare—one that brushed briefly against Tecna again—he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Silence lingered.

Then Musa spoke.

"So... who was that guy?"

Yuugi sighed. "That... was Seto Kaiba. And I think he's planning something."

Tecna's eyes remained on the door. Her expression unreadable.

"Whatever it is," she said softly, "he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

And somehow, she knew... they hadn't seen the last of him.

The ride to KaibaCorp was breathless, the kind of silence that tightened like a noose around each of their chests. Yuugi clutched the phone tightly in his hand even after the call had ended, his violet eyes wide and swimming with fear. Beside him, Jounouchi frowned, fists clenched in restless anger. Honda paced behind them in the elevator, and Anzu stood at Yuugi's side, her brows furrowed with concern.

Bloom, Musa, and Tecna had joined them without hesitation. When they'd heard Sugoroku might be in trouble, Bloom's heart had nearly stopped. The fire-haired girl had always carried herself with a quiet confidence, but now, as the elevator rose toward Kaiba's lair, her posture was tense, her fists trembling at her sides. Her long, crimson hair framed her pale face, her teal eyes burning with fierce protectiveness. She wore a sleeveless powder blue hoodie over a fitted white shirt, her denim skirt swishing slightly with each step, and tall socks that hugged her slender legs.

Next to her, Musa stood in a tight indigo crop top with silver trim and navy-blue pants, her deep midnight eyes shadowed with worry. Her dark blue hair was pulled into twin looped pigtails that fell all the way to her waist, swaying softly as she moved. She didn't say anything—but one glance at her and you could tell she was listening for every heartbeat, every breath, every sound out of place. Her instincts were sharp.

Tecna was quieter, more calculating. Her bob-cut lavender hair glinted beneath the sterile lighting, and her violet eyes darted quickly, already scanning for logic in what seemed so senseless. Dressed in a sleeveless magenta turtleneck and slim white pants tucked into futuristic lilac boots, she looked like a girl out of time—and yet, very grounded in the moment. Her digital wristpad hummed faintly, synching to any nearby signal she could decode.

The elevator doors hissed open.

Yuugi was the first to run out, his school blazer flaring behind him. "Jii-chan!" he cried. "Grandpa!"

The others followed close behind—Jounouchi and Honda sprinting, Anzu and the girls hurrying after. They all froze at the sight before them.

Sugoroku Mutou lay on the floor of Kaiba's private dueling hall, propped against the wall as though the life had been drained from him. His gray hair, usually combed back, now clung damply to his forehead. His deep-set eyes, though open, were clouded with pain. His breathing was labored. The old man tried to sit up straighter as Yuugi fell to his knees beside him.

But how had he gotten here?

Only hours earlier, Sugoroku had been standing behind the counter of his quiet game shop, humming a cheerful tune as he sorted through trading card packs. The morning light had poured in through the windows, painting golden lines across the shelves. Then, the bell above the door jingled. Two tall men in dark suits entered, their expressions unreadable, their postures too formal for customers.

"Good morning," Sugoroku had said, turning around with a smile. "Can I help you?"

One of the men stepped forward, his voice cold and rehearsed. "My master, Seto Kaiba, challenges you to a duel. You may come with us now."

Sugoroku had raised an eyebrow, still smiling faintly. "And if I were to decline?"

The man's glasses glinted ominously. "I'm afraid I must... insist."

The old man had known then this wasn't a polite request—it was a summons. But rather than show fear, he'd only chuckled softly, straightened his back, and nodded. "Young Kaiba doesn't understand," he had muttered. "But I'll teach him a lesson about the heart of the cards."

And he had tried.

Kaiba had brought him to the high tower of KaibaCorp, to a dueling chamber built like a coliseum of power and pride. The technology had shimmered with Kaiba's ambition, surrounding them with holograms of monsters as tall as buildings. Sugoroku had fought bravely, defending the card he treasured most: the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, gifted to him by a dear friend, a memory more sacred than victory.

But Kaiba had been relentless. His strategy cold, precise—designed to crush, not to test. The duel ended with Sugoroku on the floor, his life points reduced to nothing, and the prize card wrenched from his grasp.

He had begged Kaiba not to harm the card, not to defile its meaning.

Kaiba had only smiled.

Now, lying on the cold tile floor, Sugoroku reached for his grandson with a trembling hand. "Yuugi..." His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. "I tried... to teach him... about the heart of the cards. But I... I failed..."

"No..." Yuugi shook his head frantically. "You didn't fail! Grandpa—!"

Seto Kaiba stood across the room, arms folded, his long white coat billowing like a cape in the artificially chilled air. His piercing blue eyes gleamed beneath his brown bangs, calm and cold. "How's the old man feeling, hmm?" he asked, his tone smug. "We had a duel. That's all. With each of us putting our most valuable card on the line."

"You jerk!" Jounouchi snapped, stepping forward. "What'd you do to him?!"

Kaiba smirked. "Playing against a champion like me was apparently too much for him. Not my fault if the competition couldn't handle the heat."

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Anzu spat, pointing an accusing finger.

Kaiba's expression didn't flinch. Instead, he opened his hand—and revealed the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card.

Everyone gasped. Sugoroku's eyes went wide, his trembling hand reaching out toward the card.

"No..." Yuugi breathed. "Grandpa's most treasured card..."

Kaiba looked directly at Yuugi—and then, with deliberate cruelty, began to tear the card down the middle.

The sound of the card ripping was like a gunshot.

"No!" Sugoroku's voice cracked in anguish. "My Blue-Eyes... my treasure..."

The ripped pieces fluttered to the floor like paper snow.

Bloom stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. "How could you?" she whispered, her voice shaking.

Musa's fists clenched at her sides. "He... he tore it," she muttered, teeth gritted. "That card meant everything to him."

Tecna stepped forward slightly, her eyes narrowed. "That wasn't about victory. That was about control. He wanted to remove the threat."

Kaiba tilted his head, mocking. "Exactly. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is powerful. And now, this one will never be used against me."

"You monster..." Jounouchi hissed.

Yuugi stared down at his grandfather, cradling him gently. "Grandpa, hold on. Please..."

He looked up at Kaiba. For a moment, the shy, uncertain boy was gone. His violet eyes sparked with something ancient. Something awakening. "How could you do such a thing?"

Kaiba smirked again, but he didn't answer.

Behind Yuugi, Bloom stepped closer, kneeling beside her grandfather. She took Sugoroku's wrinkled hand in both of hers. "I'm here now, Grandpa," she said softly. "We're here. All of us."

Sugoroku gave her a weak smile, then turned his gaze to Yuugi.

Yuugi clenched his fist, trembling. "I won't forgive you for this, Kaiba..."

His other hand touched the chain around his neck—the Millennium Puzzle. It shimmered faintly, as though it, too, had heard the call.

The tension in the KaibaCorp arena hung like fog over water, electric and thick. The virtual stadium, built by Seto Kaiba's own hand, shimmered with harsh lights and hovering data projections—an extravagant throne room for the duel of egos and destiny that was about to unfold.

Yuugi Mutou stood at the center of it all, his small frame still, heart pounding beneath the golden triangle of the Millennium Puzzle that swayed gently at his chest. His three-colored hair—jet-black at the roots, rising into sharp magenta tips, and crowned with golden bangs—seemed to bristle with his breath. His violet eyes flickered from the dueling field to his grandfather, laid gently on the floor nearby, weakened but conscious.

Sugoroku Mutou, old and gray-haired but still burning with spirit, reached out with a trembling hand and a voice like aged oak. "Yuugi... here." He held up a deck of Duel Monsters cards, the very same deck he had crafted across long nights and longer years. "Take this."

Yuugi fell to his knees, eyes wide. "Grandpa?"

"I built this deck myself," Sugoroku said, voice soft but weighted with legacy. "I put my soul in these cards. And I taught you everything I know, Yuugi. Take them. Take my cards and teach him respect. Teach Kaiba respect for the heart of the cards."

Yuugi hesitated, torn. "But Grandpa, you need help. I have to get you to a doctor—"

Kaiba's voice sliced in, smug and cold. "That sounds like an excuse. Your friends can care for your grandfather while you and I duel... unless you're afraid?"

Jounouchi Katsuya stepped forward, his blonde hair tousled, brown eyes fierce. "Take him, Yuugi!"

Yuugi turned toward his friends—his chosen family.

"We'll take care of your grandpa while you deal with that spoiled brat," Jounouchi said, fists clenched. "Teach him what a real Duelist looks like."

"For your grandpa, Yuugi," Anzu Mazaki added, her blue eyes glowing with emotion beneath her short brown hair.

"I don't know..." Yuugi murmured, uncertain.

"Trust me," Jounouchi said again, stepping beside him. "You're the best I've ever seen. You've got the Millennium Puzzle. You can do this, Yuugi. I know you can."

"We all do," said Anzu.

Then, quietly but clearly, Musa spoke, stepping forward. Her voice was calm, velvet-smooth, but full of something that made Yuugi's breath catch. "You're not alone, Yuugi. Not with us here." Her midnight-black hair, styled in long twin loops, swayed with her movement. Her midnight eyes met his for a heartbeat—and Yuugi turned quickly, cheeks red, breath shaky.

Tecna, standing slightly back, nodded with logic behind her words. "We've analyzed Kaiba's methods. He's confident, but not invincible. You can win this. You just have to believe in your deck."

Bloom, kneeling beside Sugoroku with tears threatening to spill from her bright cerulean eyes, gently clasped her grandfather's hand. Her vivid orange-red hair fell like fire down her back. "He believes in you, Yuugi," she said softly. "And so do I. We all do. You're not just doing this for him—you're doing this for what's right."

Yuugi nodded slowly, overcome by the warmth around him, and reached out to take the deck from Sugoroku's hand.

"Okay, Grandpa. I'll do it."

Sugoroku smiled faintly, his old eyes gleaming. "I know you will... my boy."

Then Anzu, suddenly inspired, pulled a black marker from her pocket. "Everyone, hands in."

They all looked at her.

"Come on," she said, already uncapping it. "We need a sign—a reminder of our bond."

Yuugi placed his hand out. Jounouchi slapped his on top, grinning. Musa added hers gently, brushing Yuugi's fingers. Bloom pressed hers down firmly, her grip strong. Tecna, ever precise, laid hers atop the stack last.

Anzu quickly drew a little smiling face that stretched across all their hands. "There. A symbol of our friendship. So when Yuugi's dueling, no matter how tough it gets, he'll remember—we're all right there with him."

Jounouchi raised a brow. "Heh. Not bad, Anzu."

Musa smiled softly. "It's perfect."

Tecna analyzed the gesture, then said, "It's irrational... but oddly effective."

Bloom chuckled quietly, brushing a stray ember-colored strand from her face. "It's called faith."

Outside, the screech of tires signaled the arrival of the ambulance. The group carefully helped Sugoroku onto a stretcher. Anzu, Bloom, and Tecna accompanied the paramedics, guiding him with care into the back of the ambulance.

Anzu called over her shoulder, "We'll take Yuugi's grandpa to the hospital. Jounouchi, go back in and support him."

Jounouchi nodded. "Got it. Take care of him!"

The doors closed. The ambulance pulled away.

Inside the arena, Seto Kaiba stood tall, arms folded, teal eyes gleaming with pride and arrogance.

"Impressive show of emotion," he said coolly. "But this isn't a stage for feelings. It's for dueling. We each begin with two thousand life points. First to zero loses."

He pointed across the field. "Are you ready to play, runt?"

Yuugi stepped forward, heart pounding. The Millennium Puzzle shimmered faintly at his chest. The deck in his hand pulsed with the weight of soul and memory.

He looked across the arena at Kaiba, and something deeper stirred behind his violet eyes.

"I'm ready," he said. Anzu and Honda has gone to hospital with Grandpa Sugoroku.

The arena was alive with an energy that felt palpable in the air, the sounds of the duel and the crowd slowly fading into the background as an overwhelming presence filled the space. Only a few remained on the sidelines: Jounouchi, standing alongside Bloom, Tecna, and Musa, each of them drawn into the atmosphere of the duel, each of them sensing the shift that had overtaken Yuugi.

The usual hesitance in Yuugi's posture had vanished. In its place was a confidence so sharp, it almost felt alien. Yuugi's tri-colored hair—the black at the base, the magenta streaked at the top, and the golden bangs—stood tall, more defined. But the most striking change was in his eyes—violet, yes, but now filled with something much darker, much older. It was as though the boy before them had transformed entirely.

"Play-time is over, Kaiba," Yuugi's voice rang out, but this time it was no longer his voice. It was firm, deep, and carrying the weight of centuries, filled with authority.

A shiver ran down Bloom's spine as she looked at Yuugi, and then at the Millennium Puzzle around his neck, glowing faintly with a golden light that pulsed like a heartbeat. It was unmistakable—the shift in Yuugi's body, in the very air that surrounded him. The voice that echoed in Bloom's mind was sharp and terrifying.

Blotsireya.!

It wasn't just a word; it was a scream, a man's scream, filled with anguish. Bloom's hand instinctively went to her chest, where her Millennium Heart throbbed faintly, an inexplicable connection to the voice she had just heard. Her breath caught in her throat, the intensity of the moment suddenly too much for her to bear.

Her cerulean eyes flickered back to Yuugi—no, to Yami—standing tall in front of Seto Kaiba. The glow of her Millennium Heart was barely noticeable, but she could feel it pulse with energy, a strange warmth that spread through her. It was as though something deep within her was waking, something she didn't understand. But for now, no one noticed. Not Tecna. Not Musa. Not even Jounouchi, who stood beside her, watching the duel with rapt attention.

"What's going on?" Musa muttered quietly, her midnight black eyes narrowing as she glanced between Yuugi and Kaiba. The tension in the air was thick, suffocating, and even the cool-headed Tecna seemed more alert than usual, her teal eyes scanning the arena.

Jounouchi, on the other hand, was oblivious to the subtle shift in the atmosphere. "Yuugi's going to crush Kaiba!" he shouted enthusiastically, oblivious to the strange energy emanating from his friend.

But Bloom couldn't look away from the figure standing before them. She knew something had changed, something profound. And though she had no memory of it, there was an undeniable sense that this man—the one who now wore Yuugi's body—had a connection to her that she couldn't grasp.

The Millennium Puzzle glowed brighter as Yami no Yuugi stepped forward. The presence around him seemed to vibrate with an ancient power.

"Now, Kaiba, prepare yourself, because it's time to duel."

Seto Kaiba, blue eyes cold and calculating, gave a slight smirk. His voice echoed with confidence. "Virtual systems ready. So let's begin."

With a flourish, Kaiba slammed down his first card. "I attack with the mighty Hitotsu Me Giant! Brace yourself, Yuugi. You've never dueled like this before."

The holographic giant materialized with a mighty thud, its enormous form casting a shadow over the field. Jounouchi's voice broke through the silence, full of excitement. "Whoa, real monsters!"

Yami no Yuugi stood firm, the power emanating from him tangible, almost suffocating. His expression didn't falter. "He's brought the monster on the card to life," he murmured, his voice rich with understanding.

Kaiba's smirk widened. "It's my virtual simulator. It creates life-like holograms of every Duel Monster."

"Interesting." Yami no Yuugi's voice grew colder, more distant. "But let's see how you handle this."

With an elegant movement, Yami drew a card from his deck. "I call on the Winged Dragon—Guardian of the Fortress."

The majestic beast appeared on the field with a powerful roar, its wings flapping with the force of a storm. Jounouchi pumped his fist in the air. "Yeah! That's the way, Yuugi!"

But Bloom's attention remained fixed, her heart racing. The faint pulse of her Millennium Heart seemed to beat in time with the summoned creature's wings. She couldn't look away, her mind swirling with fragmented memories, echoes of something she couldn't reach.

Yami's voice was filled with purpose. "Fireball attack!"

The Winged Dragon unleashed a massive fireball, sending it crashing into Hitotsu Me Giant. The giant shattered into sparkling fragments, vanishing into the digital ether.

The crowd erupted, but Bloom didn't hear them. The scream, the voice, the word Blotsireya, echoed in her mind again. She was overwhelmed, but no one noticed. Not even Yami, who was so consumed with the duel that he was unaware of the strange connection vibrating between them.

Musa glanced over at Bloom, sensing something was off but unable to pinpoint what. "You alright?" she asked softly, her voice cutting through Bloom's haze.

Bloom nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... it's nothing."

Meanwhile, Kaiba wasn't fazed by the loss of his monster. He reached for another card with a calculated calmness. "Hmph. Well played, Yuugi... for a beginner. But how will you deal with this?"

He slammed down another card, and the field shifted. "I summon Saggi the Dark Clown."

The dark, malevolent clown appeared with a grotesque grin, its eyes gleaming with mischief. Bloom flinched, the unnerving figure adding to her growing discomfort.

Yami narrowed his eyes, studying the new monster. "Saggi the Dark Clown? But that card has hardly any attack strength."

Kaiba's voice was smug. "True, your Winged Dragon's attack is fourteen hundred, while my Dark Clown's is only six hundred, but if I combine it with this card..."

A trap card was revealed, and Yami's voice grew sharp with realization. "A magic card!"

"Exactly," Kaiba said with a grin. "The Negative Energy Generator. It multiplies my monster's attack by three." He raised his voice dramatically, "Dark Clown, attack with Dark Light!"

The dark energy blasted forward, striking Guardian of the Fortress, dissolving it in an explosion of light and color. Yami's life-points dropped from 2,000 to 1,600.

Jounouchi cursed under his breath. "C'mon, Yuugi, you've got this!"

Yami's voice was steady, even as the pressure mounted. "He's good. He knows every aspect of this game. But my grandpa put all of his gaming knowledge, his whole heart, into assembling this deck. I have to believe that it holds some secret strategy." He looked down at the card he had just drawn. "Ah, this card is useless. I can't beat the Dark Clown with this. I'll have to use a different monster in defense mode. The monster will be sacrificed, but my overall life-points will be safe."

Seto's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Dark Light Attack!"

Yami's face-down card shattered in an instant, the defense he had set up vanishing with a flare of light.

"Hang in there, Yuugi!" Jounouchi shouted.

"You're not faring any better than the old man did, Yuugi," Kaiba sneered. "Your deck is just as weak and feeble as your grandfather."

Yami's voice grew fierce, the intensity of the duel consuming him. "My grandpa is a great man, and a better duelist than you'll ever be. He entrusted me with his cards, and I can feel his heart in this deck. I doubt you have that kind of faith in your cards, Kaiba."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed in frustration. "What—?"

Yami drew his next card, a confident smirk forming on his face. "And my faith rewards me with Gaia the Fierce Knight! With a destructive power of twenty-three hundred!"

The powerful knight charged onto the field, the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air.

And Bloom—still reeling from the connection she couldn't understand—watched, a quiet certainty settling over her.

This duel was far more than just a game. It was a battle for something far greater than the victory at hand.

Yami's thoughts raced as the words of Sugoroku echoed in his mind, a spark of realization igniting deep within him. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, one by one, and the overwhelming pressure that had been clouding his mind seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sharp, newfound clarity. His violet eyes narrowed as he focused on the cards in his hand, each one now carrying a deeper significance.

Bloom, standing quietly beside Jounouchi, couldn't shake the eerie feeling that something extraordinary was unfolding. The change in Yugi's posture—the way his shoulders stiffened, his grip tightening around the cards—didn't escape her notice. Something in his very presence had shifted, as if a different energy had taken over him. The air around them seemed to hum with a strange, unspoken power.

As Yami's eyes glowed with determination, a sudden, piercing scream reverberated inside Bloom's mind—a voice, raw and filled with anguish. "Blotsireya..." The scream felt like it was coming from deep within the very core of her soul, a distant memory she couldn't place. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a fleeting moment, she felt light-headed.

Her cerulean eyes flickered in confusion, but she quickly masked the unease that washed over her. The Millenium Heart, that ancient, unexplainable artifact she wore, pulsed faintly against her chest, its glow so subtle that no one else could notice. Bloom swallowed hard, feeling a wave of unfamiliar emotions flood through her—sorrow, longing, and an inexplicable connection to the figure on the duel platform. She clenched her fist at her side, the strange sensation overwhelming her.

"Bloom, are you okay?" Tecna's voice broke through her haze, her teal eyes narrowing with concern.

Bloom forced a smile, shaking her head as she tried to shake off the disorienting feeling. "Yeah... I'm fine, just... a little dizzy," she replied, her voice wavering slightly.

Jounouchi, standing beside her, was too focused on the duel to notice the tension in her body. "Come on, Yuugi! You've got this! Don't let Kaiba's big dragons intimidate you!" he cheered, his usual brash confidence filling the air.

Seto Kaiba, meanwhile, was focused entirely on the duel, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he stared at the holographic swords surrounding his Blue-Eyes White Dragons. He sneered, his voice dripping with scorn as he spoke, "You can delay this for three turns, Yuugi. But in the end, you're still facing the might of my dragons. It's over."

But Yami was no longer the timid, shy Yuugi that Seto had faced earlier. He was standing tall, his posture unwavering, the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle burning brightly within him. He could feel the weight of his grandfather's words—"Duel Monsters contains only one unstoppable monster—Exodia."

He smiled to himself, the realization dawning on him like the sun breaking through the clouds. "Exodia," he whispered, "The Forbidden One."

Bloom watched as Yami's fingers hovered over the cards in his hand. There was a confidence in his movements now that she had never seen before. The change in him was palpable, as though an entirely different person had taken over his body—someone stronger, fiercer, and more determined. But Bloom couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a sudden shift. There was something more—something hidden deep within Yami, and maybe even within herself.

The duel intensified.

With a swift motion, Yami revealed the first card in his hand. "I summon Exodia's head!" he declared, his voice steady with purpose.

Jounouchi's eyes went wide. "What? No way! Exodia... You've got Exodia?!"

"Impossible..." Seto whispered under his breath. His smirk faltered for just a moment, and his blue eyes flickered with disbelief.

But Yami was resolute. "It's not impossible. You may have power, Kaiba, but without the right pieces, all the power in the world won't help you win."

As Yami continued to summon the pieces of Exodia from his hand, Bloom's gaze remained locked on him. The distant, haunting feeling returned with greater intensity. Her Millennium Heart throbbed lightly, and she couldn't shake the sensation that she had seen this moment before—perhaps in a past life, perhaps somewhere deep within the recesses of her forgotten memories. She wasn't sure, but there was an undeniable connection between herself and the spirit standing before her, summoning the unstoppable force that was Exodia.

Bloom's breath caught in her throat, and for a brief moment, she felt as if the world around her had blurred. Everything faded, and she was left with only the image of the duelist before her—Yami. But it wasn't just Yami. She saw a figure, a man from a distant past, the one who had screamed "Blotsireya" in her mind. His eyes locked with hers, and a sense of recognition washed over her. She gasped, the feeling so strong it nearly knocked her off balance.

But just as quickly as it had come, the vision vanished, leaving her trembling and uncertain. Bloom blinked, confused, and shook her head again, trying to focus on the duel at hand.

Jounouchi, unaware of Bloom's inner turmoil, continued to cheer for Yami. "Yeah, that's it! Show him, Yuugi!" he shouted, raising his fist in the air.

Yami's eyes gleamed as the final pieces of Exodia were revealed, his voice ringing out confidently. "Exodia... obliterate him!"

The duel was over. The power of Exodia was unstoppable.

Seto Kaiba stood in stunned silence, the arrogant smirk fading from his face as the pieces of his holographic monsters were obliterated by Exodia's devastating attack. His life-points plummeted to zero.

And yet, despite the victory, Bloom couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper had been unlocked—that a connection to their unknown past they didn't know had begun to surface. Neither of them knew it, but the pieces of their shared history were beginning to fall into place.

Seto Kaiba's scream was swallowed by the roaring shadows of defeat.

"AHHHHH!"

The numbers on his duel disk blinked violently—1000... 0. The arena lights flared and then dimmed in a single breath as the final remnants of the last Blue-Eyes White Dragon exploded into streams of falling code.

Kaiba's knees hit the floor with a hollow echo.

"You did it!" Jounouchi was on his feet, throwing both fists up triumphantly. "Yuugi, you won! Man, that was incredible!"

In the stands, Anzu and Honda watched from the hospital's live feed, their faces reflected in the polished surface of Sugoroku's bedside monitor. But their cheers were lost to the silence of the room.

"This can't be..." Mokuba whispered from high above the arena, gripping the edge of the VIP balcony with white-knuckled fists. "My brother never loses..."

But Seto Kaiba had.

Yami no Yuugi stepped forward, not with arrogance, but with ancient certainty. His violet eyes shimmered with power, and the golden eye of the Millennium Puzzle slowly appeared on his forehead—bright and blinding.

"You play only for power, Kaiba," he said, voice deep, echoing from somewhere older than the earth beneath their feet. "And that is why you lost."

Kaiba's mouth worked soundlessly, lips trembling.

"But... how...?"

"You must open your mind..."

And then the Eye flared.

A brilliant flash of light shot forward like a lance, slamming into Kaiba's mind. His back arched. His pupils dilated. His very soul cracked under the weight of memory, of meaning, of an unseen truth that clawed at the walls of his carefully constructed logic.

He dropped to his knees.

"There, Kaiba," Yami said, his tone gentler now, but still immovable. "Maybe now you will begin to see..."

In Domino Hospital, a soft gasp escaped Sugoroku Mutou's lips.

His eyes opened slowly, glassy and confused. Then they focused.

"Huh...?"

"Grandpa!" Anzu cried, rushing to his bedside.

Honda stared in disbelief. "He's—he's awake?"

Sugoroku blinked once more and smiled faintly.

"Yuugi... won," he murmured, voice cracked but proud.

Back in the arena, the silence rang louder than any cheer.

The crowd was frozen, unsure if what they had just seen was real.

Only Bloom, Musa, and Tecna remained standing among a sea of stunned onlookers. The glowing eye had shaken something loose not only in Kaiba... but in Bloom as well.

She stood rigid, one hand over the Millennium Heart, which had begun to throb with that same familiar pulse—the same rhythm as the Puzzle.

Her breathing was shallow. Her skin tingled. She hadn't blinked since the Eye flashed.

"He... he used something on Kaiba," Musa whispered, stepping closer to her. "Did you see that? That light—it wasn't just Duel Monsters."

"No," Tecna confirmed, voice awed and analytical. "That was some kind of psychic force. Possibly a memory breach. It wasn't tech-based—it was ancient, almost quantum."

But Bloom couldn't answer. Her eyes were locked on Yami no Yuugi.

He stood alone now, the battlefield cleared, Kaiba still hunched before him, broken but conscious.

And though Bloom didn't remember the Pharaoh...

Her soul did.

Something in her stirred at the golden eye. Something deep and coiled and powerful that whispered, You once stood where he stands now. At his side. In another life.

The name—Blotsireya—lingered behind her teeth.

But she did not speak it.

She didn't know it yet.

She only felt it.

And the Millennium Heart, sensing its twin, gave a single pulse... then went dark again.

"...What just happened?" Musa asked gently, noticing Bloom's trembling hand.

"I... I don't know," Bloom said, voice barely more than breath.

But she did know.

Something had begun.

Far away, in the velvet-shadowed halls of Industrial Illusions, a man sat in silence.

Pegasus had not turned his head once as the duel played on a golden-trimmed monitor across the room.

Only when the Millennium Eye appeared... did he smile.

A knock came.

"Mr. Pegasus, sir," came the voice of a trembling lackey. "Seto Kaiba—our undefeated champion—he's been defeated. By a duelist named Yuugi."

Pegasus lifted his wine glass. The Millennium Eye glinted beneath his silver bangs.

"Hmmmm..."

The Eye flared.

"Delightful."

https://youtu.be/f60vxCRPomU

Hey everyone—

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Writing this chapter took me five or six hours, and it honestly drained every bit of energy I had—but I don't regret a single second of it. Every line, every moment, every emotion was crafted with love for this story and for all of you who have been following along.

I'm incredibly proud of how this chapter turned out. It means so much to me, and I truly hope it touches your hearts the way it touched mine while writing it. The feedback, support, and excitement you give is the reason I keep pushing myself, even when I'm tired or unsure.

So thank you—for reading, for waiting, for caring.

I'll be rereading this chapter over and over again, and I hope you will too. And yes, Episode 2 is already calling to me—I'll try my best to update it soon. This journey is far from over, and I'm so happy we're taking it together.

With all my love,

Chibi-Usa_Usagi07.