Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters or unlock the full story from the shop support so I can bring more Chapters for you
After wrapping up his affairs, Seto Kaiba quickly went about his own business, while You Xuan continued to follow Mokuba to the local branch of Kaiba Corporation.
By the time they left, You Xuan was carrying a large box filled to the brim with cards. Even if some of these cards weren't immediately useful to him, he figured he could always sell them later for a decent profit.
You Xuan meticulously sorted through the cards he had selected, dividing them into three broad categories based on their utility.
The first category consisted of cards that seemed valuable in the current meta—cards with broad applicability. However, none of these were particularly rare, and the highest-priced ones were relatively standard staples like Magic Cylinder or similar defensive traps.
The second category included cards that didn't appear broadly useful at first glance but sparked ideas in You Xuan's mind. These cards might feel clunky and awkward most of the time, but when paired with specific combos or strategies, they could provide elegant solutions to situations where generic cards would fall short. Mastering the art of top-decking such cards could turn them into powerful tools.
The third category was purely useless cards that happened to be expensive—a relic of the early days of card gaming. Much like the overpriced yet underwhelming cards from his original deck when he first arrived in this world, You Xuan had sold off those duds as soon as possible. The proceeds, combined with subsidies from tournaments and gym rewards, had become his starting capital. Now, following the same logic, he prioritized packing the box with expensive cards until he found ones he actually needed.
All in all, this trip had been quite fruitful. Among the cards he picked out, there were a few standout gems that caught his eye:
1. Blood Compensation (Continuous Trap Card)
Effect: Pay 500 Life Points to Normal Summon one monster. This effect can be activated during your Main Phase or the opponent's Battle Phase.
A perennially banned card, infamous for its oppressive power. In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, any card that gets permanently banned is essentially a badge of honor. Cards like this don't just sit in the ban list—they dominate it. While it wasn't officially banned during the GX era, it was already showing signs of being problematic even back then. Its seemingly simple effect belied its potential to become utterly broken in later metas.
2. Executioner-Masquerade (Level 4, ATK 1600)
Effect: If this card is sent to the Graveyard, you can activate a Trap Card from your hand.
Another legendary card destined for the ban list, though it was eventually nerfed in real-life play. Its raw strength spoke for itself, and its years locked away in the "little black room" served as proof of its dominance.
3. Molten Giant (Level 8, ATK 3000)
Effect: Cannot be Normal Summoned. Special Summon by Tributing two monsters on your opponent's field. During the turn this effect is used, you cannot Normal Summon. Additionally, the controller of this card takes 1000 damage per turn.
No explanation needed here. Ever since its debut in the hands of six-year-old Malik in the original anime, this card became the poster child for tribute-based strategies. Though it never achieved the same level of infamy as the previous two cards, it still occasionally made appearances in modern Yu-Gi-Oh! environments. There was nothing more satisfying than devouring two heavily protected boss monsters with this card, leaving your opponent utterly devastated.
These picks filled You Xuan with satisfaction. As he stepped out of the building, clutching his box of treasures, Mokuba gave him an odd look.
"Am I imagining things, or do you seem to really like Marik's cards…?"
You Xuan paused, reflecting on the observation. Now that Mokuba mentioned it, he realized it was true—he did have a soft spot for Marik's cards.
What could he say?...
Marik truly was a shining beacon of innovation. His family's contributions to the game were unparalleled—not just him, but also his sister Ishizu and servant Rishid. The Tombkeeper trio had introduced countless groundbreaking mechanics and strategies, cementing their legacy in the annals of Yu-Gi-Oh!.
This thought sparked another idea in You Xuan's mind.
After successfully completing their mission of sending the Pharaoh back to the afterlife in the conclusion of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Marik and his family had faded into obscurity. But what if they hadn't given up dueling entirely? Eight years had passed since then—what kind of dark arts might they have mastered in secret?
If he ever got the chance to meet them and exchange knowledge—or even acquire some long-lost, ultra-rare cards—it would be an invaluable opportunity.
For now, however, it was just wishful thinking. The Tombkeepers had vanished without a trace, and no one knew where they were.
On another note, You Xuan was also intrigued by the new Duel Disk model Kaiba had showcased earlier. He casually asked Mokuba if it was available for purchase, but unfortunately, it seemed to be a non-commercial product.
Apparently, it had been classified as a "weapon system," making it impossible to sell publicly. You Xuan could understand why—if everyone had access to a Duel Disk capable of summoning life-sized monsters for physical combat, traditional firearms would pale in comparison.
"However," Mokuba added with a smile, "the latest model of Duel Disk is fine. It's not equipped with weapon systems, of course, but it hasn't been officially released yet."
And so, You Xuan walked away with a shiny new Duel Disk in hand.
As night fell, You Xuan returned home, ready to sort through his haul. He planned to list the cards he didn't need on the academy's trading platform and take stock of his recent experiences. Combining his newfound insights with the fresh batch of cards, he intended to refine his deck further.
Through repeated practice and analysis, You Xuan had begun to notice something intriguing. Whether it was due to his innate talent as a card player from another world or the mysterious influence of the spirit guiding him, he felt that he was developing a certain degree of "destiny power."
Though intangible, this ability manifested subtly during duels. It wasn't anything as flashy as the anime protagonists' instant-win combos, nor was he bold enough to cram multiple unrelated systems into a single deck. But at the very least, he seemed capable of pulling off timely top-decks consistently.
Based on his rough estimations, his current skill level likely placed him among the upper tier of duelists—perhaps equivalent to the average NPC in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX series. While this might sound modest, for an ordinary duelist, it was a significant leap forward.
One immediate implication was that he could afford to experiment with bolder deck-building strategies. For instance, he considered breaking a long-standing habit ingrained in every serious duelist:
Expanding his deck beyond the standard 40-card minimum.
Night had fully descended upon the city, casting a serene glow along the coastline.
A helicopter descended slowly, resembling a massive steel eagle touching down gently. Its rotors whirred softly in the dim light, creating a low hum that echoed through the quiet evening.
A blond man stepped out of the cabin, cigarette dangling lazily from his lips and sunglasses shielding his eyes. With both hands tucked into his pockets, he exuded an air of nonchalant confidence.
He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and took a couple of leisurely puffs while waiting for the call to connect.
The line picked up almost immediately.
"It's me," he drawled lazily. "I'm off the plane."
"Good. Our people have gathered some preliminary intel on the ruins. It'll be sent to you before tonight."
"Got it."
The blond man took another deep drag on his cigarette.
The voice on the other end grew colder. "Be careful. We've received reports that 'Blood Moon' has already been dealt with."
"Who?" the man asked, momentarily surprised.
"'Blood Moon.' A group of underground duelists affiliated with the organization."
"Oh, so they're cannon fodder? Don't tell me you think those losers are on my level." The blond man chuckled mockingly.
"The report says Seto Kaiba personally handled them."
The man's smirk vanished instantly.
"Kaiba's in town?"
"It seems so. That's why I'm telling you to tread carefully. Don't get caught."
"Tch. If I get caught, fine. I've been itching to test myself against Kaiba anyway. Let's see how much stronger I am now compared to back then."
"Mission first," the voice on the other end said coldly. "Don't die."
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
The blond man muttered a few curses under his breath, hung up, and stubbed out his cigarette.
"Seto Kaiba… Hmph. What a pain."