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Chapter 333: The Grouping Match Restarts
Alcatraz, also known as Devil's Island, the destination of the S.S. Anne's voyage, was once the core of KaibaCorp's military industry. It was the remnant of Gozaburo Kaiba's ambition to conquer the world, a forbidden legacy. Before KaibaCorp's transformation, many high-lethality military weapons were produced and sold worldwide here.
Of course, that was a thing of the past. After Kaiba successfully took control, he ordered the destruction of all production lines on Devil's Island, not even considering selling them to other military companies.
Therefore, for Kaiba, Devil's Island held a special significance. In his eyes, there was only the future; the past merely represented former ruins, while the future held infinite possibilities.
To claim the title of King of Games here and bid farewell to everything of the past—that was what a true ruler focused on the future should do.
As the airship approached, the people who had escaped from the Sea Fortress noticed that from Devil's Island, they could see a silver-white tower at least a hundred meters high from a distance.
At the same time, the ruins spread across the entire island of Devil's Island also entered their sight.
Building such a brand-new tower full of technological flair within the dilapidated, dark ruins created a visual impact that couldn't simply be described as "intense." The stark contrast was unforgettable at first glance.
After a brief flight, the S.S. Anne finally arrived above Devil's Island without incident, slowly descending before the silver-white tower and landing safely.
"Is this Devil's Island?"
Stepping down from the airship, Joey Wheeler looked around at the surroundings with expectation for the final battleground.
But as for scenery, besides the most eye-catching tower, there was no scenery on Devil's Island, only ruins everywhere.
"Although I felt this way when I saw it from afar, it's even more like it up close. This really is..."
"Like a garbage dump, right?" Hayato finished the word Joey Wheeler was struggling to find, earning a glare from Kaiba nearby.
Ignoring the surrounding ruins, Kaiba looked up at the silver-white Duel Tower piercing the clouds and muttered to himself, "Gozaburo Kaiba, watch me from Hell. Watch me conquer this Duel Tower built upon your remains. As the one called King of Games, I will completely shatter your soul!"
"This place is the final battleground where the world's number one Duelist—the King of Games—belongs!"
"Enter this Duel Tower, Duelists!" After delivering his speech, Kaiba didn't wait for the others to react and walked towards the silver-white tower—the "Duel Tower"—on his own. "I, Seto Kaiba, specifically permit you to step into this area I am proud of!"
Outside the Duel Tower were ruins resembling a garbage dump, but the scenery inside the Duel Tower was completely different from the outside. Looking around, the silver-white base color was dotted with various highly technological mechanical devices.
Of course, Kaiba's favorite Blue-Eyes White Dragon decorations were also present.
"Amazing! To build such an incredible tower in a place like this, KaibaCorp must be really rich," Joey Wheeler exclaimed, looking at the scenery inside the tower with great curiosity, like someone from the countryside visiting a grand estate for the first time.
The silver-white tower in the midst of the ruins was practically Kaiba flaunting himself on Gozaburo Kaiba's corpse.
Mokuba said proudly, "Hehe, the most amazing thing about this tower isn't just the equipment inside. The materials used for the construction are the most crucial. We recycled discarded materials that are usually unusable and then used KaibaCorp's invincible technology to build this tower!"
"That's amazing!" Joey Wheeler said excitedly. "So, we're going to decide the King of Games in this tower? Just thinking that even I have a chance to compete for the world's number one makes me incredibly excited."
"Hmph, haven't you slept enough last night? Are you already dreaming?" Kaiba glared at Joey Wheeler and sneered, "Recognize the reality that you only got into the Top 4 by sheer luck, Commoner."
"No matter who you face next, your progress will stop at the Top 4. Because without a God Card, you cannot defeat either Hayato or Yugi Mutou. And if I were to face you, I wouldn't even need to use Obelisk the Tormentor."
"You bastard, Kaiba!" Being looked down upon by Kaiba like this, Joey Wheeler was furious. If Tristan and Otogi hadn't held him back, a physical fight between a participant and the organizer might have broken out before the match even started.
However, Tristan's face was quite calm, even somewhat accustomed to it.
For some reason, Joey Wheeler and Kaiba could never get along. They couldn't stand each other. Even if they didn't immediately start arguing, Kaiba could provoke Joey Wheeler in less than three sentences, as if it were a daily task.
After it happened so many times, Tristan's technique for holding back Joey Wheeler had become skilled. In fact, if Joey Wheeler and Kaiba were to get along peacefully one day, he might even feel unaccustomed.
The Duel Tower was largely hollow inside. Four elevators were set up around the tower. Hayato, Joey Wheeler, and Yugi Mutou, who had already experienced them on the S.S. Anne, recognized the function of these four devices at a glance. Without needing Kaiba's introduction, the few of them exchanged glances and each walked towards an elevator, in the same order as on the airship.
Kaiba also stepped onto his elevator and looked at the accompanying professional Referee, Iso.
"Although it was explained before, the Grouping Match was interrupted by an unexpected event and is restarting. I still need to announce the duel rules before the duel begins."
Confirming that the Spectator Area was filled with audience members and that the four players had prepared their Decks and Duel Disks, Iso on the Judge's Stand spoke into the broadcast, "The Life Points of the four participants will be linked to their distance from the top of the tower. The two players who reach the top of the tower first will be assigned to one group for the Semifinals Duel."
"Without further ado, starting with Yugi Mutou, each player will take their turn in clockwise order."
"I announce, the Duel City Top 4 Grouping Match, now begins!"
"Duel!" X4
[Yugi: 4000 LP]
[Kaiba: 4000 LP]
[Joey Wheeler: 4000 LP]
[Hayato: 4000 LP]
"My Turn, Draw!" Switching to the Pharaoh for the duel, Yugi Mutou looked at the card he drew and smiled. "It's been a long time since the last time, and we've been through a lot."
"Even the cards I've drawn are different from last time," Yugi Mutou said, immediately activating the card in his hand. "Spell Card, Fusion! I use the Three Knights in my hand as Fusion Material!"
"Come forth, Arcana Knight Joker!"
As the Fusion Vortex appeared, an elegant and noble knight appeared on Yugi Mutou's field. Summoned using Queen's Knight, Jack's Knight, and King's Knight as material, it was Arcana Knight Joker, the monster with the highest ATK in Yugi Mutou's entire deck!
[Arcana Knight Joker] [9☆/LIGHT Attribute]
[Warrior-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[3800/2500]
As a powerful monster summoned by consuming four cards from Yugi Mutou's hand, Arcana Knight Joker's greatest strength wasn't just its ATK. Once per turn, it could negate a Spell/Trap Card or Monster Effect that targeted it by discarding a corresponding card from hand. It was an extremely rare omni-negate in Duel Monsters.
Logically, to maximize Arcana Knight Joker's effect, it would be best to keep as many of the three types of cards as possible in hand. However, Yugi Mutou only thought for a moment before decisively setting the remaining two cards in his hand, leaving no cards in his hand.
"Set two cards, I end turn." Inserting the two cards in his hand into the Spell & Trap Zone, Yugi Mutou showed a confident smile and looked at Kaiba, who was up next. "It's your turn, Kaiba."
[Yugi: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
[Arcana Knight Joker] [ATK 3800]
[Set Card] X2
"Hmph, my Turn, Draw!"
Kaiba's face was stern and unsmiling, but upon seeing the card he drew, he was slightly startled, then laughed. "Hmph hmph, hehe, hm hahahaha!"
"Although it's just a Grouping Match, I didn't expect my cards to want to win even more than I do. It's decided! This turn, I'll show you the power of Obelisk!"
"Activate Spell Card, Fusion!"
Following the exact same procedure as Yugi Mutou, Kaiba activated a Fusion Spell Card immediately after drawing cards. Just as the others suspected, he sent three cards to the Graveyard. The monster that appeared could only be—
"Lay the foundation for me to ascend the throne of King of Games, my strongest monster, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" With a loud shout from Kaiba, the virtual projection device inside the Duel Tower displayed a soaring three-headed giant dragon before him. However, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, having just appeared, looked at Kaiba strangely after seeing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon decorations everywhere inside the Duel Tower.
[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] [12☆/LIGHT Attribute]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion]
[4500/3800]
Kaiba didn't notice that even his Blue-Eyes didn't approve of his aesthetic. He activated the second card from his hand. "Next, Quick-Play Spell Card, De-Fusion! I release the fusion state of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon on my field! Return to my field, three Blue-Eyes!"
"Finally, I tribute the three revived Blue-Eyes White Dragons!"
As Kaiba spoke, he raised the last card in his hand high. An ancient aura swept across the entire field like a storm.
As the three Blue-Eyes that had just appeared on the field dissipated into particles, a powerfully built, tall monster stood tall before Kaiba like an obelisk in the desert.
"When it descends, a scorching gale sweeps the land, and all living things become corpses!"
"Here it comes! Obelisk the Tormentor!"
The blue giant god that crushed Bakura in the Quarterfinals appeared once again!
[Obelisk the Tormentor] [10☆/Divine-Beast Type]
[Divine-Beast Type/Effect]
[4000/4000]
After summoning Obelisk the Tormentor, Kaiba was quite pleased, listening for the sounds of astonishment he expected from the others, such as "What an amazing monster," or "He summoned a God Card on the first turn."
But what he heard was a remark from Hayato: "You drew three Blue-Eyes, Fusion, and De-Fusion in your opening hand? Kaiba, you definitely glued your cards together, didn't you?"
"Besides, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's ATK was higher anyway, it doesn't make sense." Joey Wheeler, who had only seen Obelisk the Tormentor attack through Bakura's traps, didn't know the full power of the God Card and joined Hayato in complaining.
This made Kaiba, who didn't hear the expected praise, quite annoyed. "Hmph, although Obelisk the Tormentor's ATK is lower than Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's, do you think you can defeat Obelisk the Tormentor? Commoner?"
"My Turn Ends!"
[Kaiba: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
[Obelisk the Tormentor] [ATK 4000]
"Don't look down on me, Kaiba! I'll show you just how amazing I am!" Joey Wheeler's tone was full of resentment. "My Turn, Draw!"
After looking at the card he drew, Joey Wheeler was delighted but also looked at the other three on the field with a slightly strange expression. He first glanced past Arcana Knight Joker on Yugi Mutou's field and Obelisk the Tormentor on Kaiba's field, which was exchanged for Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, then looked at Hayato and asked:
"Uh, Hayato, let me just confirm, you don't happen to have Fusion in your hand, do you?"
Hayato lowered his head and looked at his hand. He didn't have a Fusion card. "No, why?"
"Nothing, I just feel like this is too much of a coincidence." Joey Wheeler sighed and resolutely activated the card in his hand. "I use Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Summoned Skull from my hand as Fusion Material! Activate the Fusion Spell Card!"
Hayato had just finished saying that Kaiba hadn't shuffled, and in his own turn, Joey Wheeler used the exact same combo he used in the previous Grouping Match.
Within the Fusion Vortex, the demonic dragon appeared, breathing scorching flames. Even facing Arcana Knight Joker and Obelisk the Tormentor, whose ATK were both higher than its own, it didn't back down and provoked them with its gaze.
[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon] [9☆/DARK Attribute]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[3200/2500]
"Next is Equip Spell Card, Dark Dragon Type Claw! This card can only equip a DARK Attribute Dragon-Type monster, increasing the equipped monster's ATK by 600 points." Joey Wheeler showed a card and placed it in the Spell & Trap Zone on his Duel Disk. "I equip it to Archfiend Black Skull Dragon. Then, I set a card, and end turn."
[Joey Wheeler: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon] (Dark Dragon Type Claw) [ATK 3200 → 3800]
[Set Card]
Now, it was Hayato's turn.
(End of Chapter)
Alcatraz, also known as Devil's Island, the destination of the S.S. Anne's voyage, was once the core of KaibaCorp's military industry. It was the remnant of Gozaburo Kaiba's ambition to conquer the world, a forbidden legacy. Before KaibaCorp's transformation, many high-lethality military weapons were produced and sold worldwide here.
Of course, that was a thing of the past. After Kaiba successfully took control, he ordered the destruction of all production lines on Devil's Island, not even considering selling them to other military companies.
Therefore, for Kaiba, Devil's Island held a special significance. In his eyes, there was only the future; the past merely represented former ruins, while the future held infinite possibilities.
To claim the title of King of Games here and bid farewell to everything of the past—that was what a true ruler focused on the future should do.
As the airship approached, the people who had escaped from the Sea Fortress noticed that from Devil's Island, they could see a silver-white tower at least a hundred meters high from a distance.
At the same time, the ruins spread across the entire island of Devil's Island also entered their sight.
Building such a brand-new tower full of technological flair within the dilapidated, dark ruins created a visual impact that couldn't simply be described as "intense." The stark contrast was unforgettable at first glance.
After a brief flight, the S.S. Anne finally arrived above Devil's Island without incident, slowly descending before the silver-white tower and landing safely.
"Is this Devil's Island?"
Stepping down from the airship, Joey Wheeler looked around at the surroundings with expectation for the final battleground.
But as for scenery, besides the most eye-catching tower, there was no scenery on Devil's Island, only ruins everywhere.
"Although I felt this way when I saw it from afar, it's even more like it up close. This really is..."
"Like a garbage dump, right?" Hayato finished the word Joey Wheeler was struggling to find, earning a glare from Kaiba nearby.
Ignoring the surrounding ruins, Kaiba looked up at the silver-white Duel Tower piercing the clouds and muttered to himself, "Gozaburo Kaiba, watch me from Hell. Watch me conquer this Duel Tower built upon your remains. As the one called King of Games, I will completely shatter your soul!"
"This place is the final battleground where the world's number one Duelist—the King of Games—belongs!"
"Enter this Duel Tower, Duelists!" After delivering his speech, Kaiba didn't wait for the others to react and walked towards the silver-white tower—the "Duel Tower"—on his own. "I, Seto Kaiba, specifically permit you to step into this area I am proud of!"
Outside the Duel Tower were ruins resembling a garbage dump, but the scenery inside the Duel Tower was completely different from the outside. Looking around, the silver-white base color was dotted with various highly technological mechanical devices.
Of course, Kaiba's favorite Blue-Eyes White Dragon decorations were also present.
"Amazing! To build such an incredible tower in a place like this, KaibaCorp must be really rich," Joey Wheeler exclaimed, looking at the scenery inside the tower with great curiosity, like someone from the countryside visiting a grand estate for the first time.
The silver-white tower in the midst of the ruins was practically Kaiba flaunting himself on Gozaburo Kaiba's corpse.
Mokuba said proudly, "Hehe, the most amazing thing about this tower isn't just the equipment inside. The materials used for the construction are the most crucial. We recycled discarded materials that are usually unusable and then used KaibaCorp's invincible technology to build this tower!"
"That's amazing!" Joey Wheeler said excitedly. "So, we're going to decide the King of Games in this tower? Just thinking that even I have a chance to compete for the world's number one makes me incredibly excited."
"Hmph, haven't you slept enough last night? Are you already dreaming?" Kaiba glared at Joey Wheeler and sneered, "Recognize the reality that you only got into the Top 4 by sheer luck, Commoner."
"No matter who you face next, your progress will stop at the Top 4. Because without a God Card, you cannot defeat either Hayato or Yugi Mutou. And if I were to face you, I wouldn't even need to use Obelisk the Tormentor."
"You bastard, Kaiba!" Being looked down upon by Kaiba like this, Joey Wheeler was furious. If Tristan and Otogi hadn't held him back, a physical fight between a participant and the organizer might have broken out before the match even started.
However, Tristan's face was quite calm, even somewhat accustomed to it.
For some reason, Joey Wheeler and Kaiba could never get along. They couldn't stand each other. Even if they didn't immediately start arguing, Kaiba could provoke Joey Wheeler in less than three sentences, as if it were a daily task.
After it happened so many times, Tristan's technique for holding back Joey Wheeler had become skilled. In fact, if Joey Wheeler and Kaiba were to get along peacefully one day, he might even feel unaccustomed.
The Duel Tower was largely hollow inside. Four elevators were set up around the tower. Hayato, Joey Wheeler, and Yugi Mutou, who had already experienced them on the S.S. Anne, recognized the function of these four devices at a glance. Without needing Kaiba's introduction, the few of them exchanged glances and each walked towards an elevator, in the same order as on the airship.
Kaiba also stepped onto his elevator and looked at the accompanying professional Referee, Iso.
"Although it was explained before, the Grouping Match was interrupted by an unexpected event and is restarting. I still need to announce the duel rules before the duel begins."
Confirming that the Spectator Area was filled with audience members and that the four players had prepared their Decks and Duel Disks, Iso on the Judge's Stand spoke into the broadcast, "The Life Points of the four participants will be linked to their distance from the top of the tower. The two players who reach the top of the tower first will be assigned to one group for the Semifinals Duel."
"Without further ado, starting with Yugi Mutou, each player will take their turn in clockwise order."
"I announce, the Duel City Top 4 Grouping Match, now begins!"
"Duel!" X4
[Yugi: 4000 LP]
[Kaiba: 4000 LP]
[Joey Wheeler: 4000 LP]
[Hayato: 4000 LP]
"My Turn, Draw!" Switching to the Pharaoh for the duel, Yugi Mutou looked at the card he drew and smiled. "It's been a long time since the last time, and we've been through a lot."
"Even the cards I've drawn are different from last time," Yugi Mutou said, immediately activating the card in his hand. "Spell Card, Fusion! I use the Three Knights in my hand as Fusion Material!"
"Come forth, Arcana Knight Joker!"
As the Fusion Vortex appeared, an elegant and noble knight appeared on Yugi Mutou's field. Summoned using Queen's Knight, Jack's Knight, and King's Knight as material, it was Arcana Knight Joker, the monster with the highest ATK in Yugi Mutou's entire deck!
[Arcana Knight Joker] [9☆/LIGHT Attribute]
[Warrior-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[3800/2500]
As a powerful monster summoned by consuming four cards from Yugi Mutou's hand, Arcana Knight Joker's greatest strength wasn't just its ATK. Once per turn, it could negate a Spell/Trap Card or Monster Effect that targeted it by discarding a corresponding card from hand. It was an extremely rare omni-negate in Duel Monsters.
Logically, to maximize Arcana Knight Joker's effect, it would be best to keep as many of the three types of cards as possible in hand. However, Yugi Mutou only thought for a moment before decisively setting the remaining two cards in his hand, leaving no cards in his hand.
"Set two cards, I end turn." Inserting the two cards in his hand into the Spell & Trap Zone, Yugi Mutou showed a confident smile and looked at Kaiba, who was up next. "It's your turn, Kaiba."
[Yugi: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
[Arcana Knight Joker] [ATK 3800]
[Set Card] X2
"Hmph, my Turn, Draw!"
Kaiba's face was stern and unsmiling, but upon seeing the card he drew, he was slightly startled, then laughed. "Hmph hmph, hehe, hm hahahaha!"
"Although it's just a Grouping Match, I didn't expect my cards to want to win even more than I do. It's decided! This turn, I'll show you the power of Obelisk!"
"Activate Spell Card, Fusion!"
Following the exact same procedure as Yugi Mutou, Kaiba activated a Fusion Spell Card immediately after drawing cards. Just as the others suspected, he sent three cards to the Graveyard. The monster that appeared could only be—
"Lay the foundation for me to ascend the throne of King of Games, my strongest monster, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" With a loud shout from Kaiba, the virtual projection device inside the Duel Tower displayed a soaring three-headed giant dragon before him. However, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, having just appeared, looked at Kaiba strangely after seeing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon decorations everywhere inside the Duel Tower.
[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] [12☆/LIGHT Attribute]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion]
[4500/3800]
Kaiba didn't notice that even his Blue-Eyes didn't approve of his aesthetic. He activated the second card from his hand. "Next, Quick-Play Spell Card, De-Fusion! I release the fusion state of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon on my field! Return to my field, three Blue-Eyes!"
"Finally, I tribute the three revived Blue-Eyes White Dragons!"
As Kaiba spoke, he raised the last card in his hand high. An ancient aura swept across the entire field like a storm.
As the three Blue-Eyes that had just appeared on the field dissipated into particles, a powerfully built, tall monster stood tall before Kaiba like an obelisk in the desert.
"When it descends, a scorching gale sweeps the land, and all living things become corpses!"
"Here it comes! Obelisk the Tormentor!"
The blue giant god that crushed Bakura in the Quarterfinals appeared once again!
[Obelisk the Tormentor] [10☆/Divine-Beast Type]
[Divine-Beast Type/Effect]
[4000/4000]
After summoning Obelisk the Tormentor, Kaiba was quite pleased, listening for the sounds of astonishment he expected from the others, such as "What an amazing monster," or "He summoned a God Card on the first turn."
But what he heard was a remark from Hayato: "You drew three Blue-Eyes, Fusion, and De-Fusion in your opening hand? Kaiba, you definitely glued your cards together, didn't you?"
"Besides, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's ATK was higher anyway, it doesn't make sense." Joey Wheeler, who had only seen Obelisk the Tormentor attack through Bakura's traps, didn't know the full power of the God Card and joined Hayato in complaining.
This made Kaiba, who didn't hear the expected praise, quite annoyed. "Hmph, although Obelisk the Tormentor's ATK is lower than Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's, do you think you can defeat Obelisk the Tormentor? Commoner?"
"My Turn Ends!"
[Kaiba: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
[Obelisk the Tormentor] [ATK 4000]
"Don't look down on me, Kaiba! I'll show you just how amazing I am!" Joey Wheeler's tone was full of resentment. "My Turn, Draw!"
After looking at the card he drew, Joey Wheeler was delighted but also looked at the other three on the field with a slightly strange expression. He first glanced past Arcana Knight Joker on Yugi Mutou's field and Obelisk the Tormentor on Kaiba's field, which was exchanged for Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, then looked at Hayato and asked:
"Uh, Hayato, let me just confirm, you don't happen to have Fusion in your hand, do you?"
Hayato lowered his head and looked at his hand. He didn't have a Fusion card. "No, why?"
"Nothing, I just feel like this is too much of a coincidence." Joey Wheeler sighed and resolutely activated the card in his hand. "I use Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Summoned Skull from my hand as Fusion Material! Activate the Fusion Spell Card!"
Hayato had just finished saying that Kaiba hadn't shuffled, and in his own turn, Joey Wheeler used the exact same combo he used in the previous Grouping Match.
Within the Fusion Vortex, the demonic dragon appeared, breathing scorching flames. Even facing Arcana Knight Joker and Obelisk the Tormentor, whose ATK were both higher than its own, it didn't back down and provoked them with its gaze.
[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon] [9☆/DARK Attribute]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[3200/2500]
"Next is Equip Spell Card, Dark Dragon Type Claw! This card can only equip a DARK Attribute Dragon-Type monster, increasing the equipped monster's ATK by 600 points." Joey Wheeler showed a card and placed it in the Spell & Trap Zone on his Duel Disk. "I equip it to Archfiend Black Skull Dragon. Then, I set a card, and end turn."
[Joey Wheeler: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[Archfiend Black Skull Dragon] (Dark Dragon Type Claw) [ATK 3200 → 3800]
[Set Card]
Now, it was Hayato's turn.
(End of Chapter)
