Who Let Him Play Yugioh? (Re-Upload)

Veteran Yu-Gi-Oh! fans know: in this world, there were originally four Blue-Eyes White Dragons.

Each card was in a different owner’s hands. One was with Grandpa Mutou. But Kaiba, introduced as a villain, used various means to gather all four, then tore up Grandpa’s card right in front of him.

Yet, despite that, the Blue-Eyes still followed him loyally, no complaints. It may have been Kaiba’s darkest act, though he’d never admit it.

When the character was first created, Takahashi-sensei just wanted a pure villain; he hadn’t planned for further development, or for Yu-Gi-Oh! to become a card game anime.

Afterward, the fourth Blue-Eyes was never mentioned again. But after Kaiba’s mind break and subsequent redemption, rumors said he’d recovered the fourth card.

Tearing up Blue-Eyes was probably one of Kaiba’s few regrets, even if he’d never show it. Over the years, he’d used advanced technology to try to restore the card.

Rumor had it he’d succeeded. But as everyone knows, you can only have three copies of any card in a deck, so even with the fourth, he couldn’t use it. So the legendary fourth Blue-Eyes was just kept as a mascot at KaibaCorp HQ.

But rumor is rumor—this was the first time Kaiba admitted it in person.

”So, Blue-Eyes White Dragon is your choice?”

Kaiba’s face was unreadable.

”Very well. You’ll receive the card when you return.”

Kaiba was a man of his word—if he said it, it would happen; Kira had no doubt.

”Thank you, President.”

In truth, there were probably only four Blue-Eyes in this world, but that might only be true for this dimension. In the GX anime, Kaibaman spirit also had a Blue-Eyes deck, with three Blue-Eyes, suggesting the spirit world had more.

Some say Kaibaman was Kaiba himself in disguise, showing up just to inspire Jaden, but it’s hard to say—there’s little evidence in the anime.

”Don’t thank me yet—you’ve got a bigger problem to deal with,” Kaiba said coolly.

Kira understood, following his gaze.

He met the eyes of the Arbiter, across the field.

The Arbiter stood with arms crossed, still wearing that polite smile, looking for all the world like a scholar—nothing like the terrifying evil god he was rumored to be.

”Fujiki Kira.”

He stood up, apparently speaking to Kira.

But Kira quickly realized it wasn’t traditional speech—they were too far apart. The voice sounded directly in his ear—or perhaps, his mind.

”Perhaps you’ll be even more interesting than I expected. Will you be a better sacrifice than Seto Kaiba, I wonder...”

He licked his lips, grinning strangely at Kira, then left the arena.

The finals were about to begin. After all the fighting on Duelist Kingdom, only two remained, so there was no need to draw lots for order.

In one hour, on this isolated island, a new King of Games would be crowned.

And perhaps the fate of the world would be decided.

…

Elsewhere.

A dark aura hovered in midair, and in the darkness, a blurry image appeared, like a hologram.

In the projection, scenes from the Duelist Island appeared. Kira and Kaiba’s duel had just ended, and the finalists were decided.

A man in white stood before the image, hands behind his back, frowning slightly.

”Fujiki Kira... He even beat Seto Kaiba,” he muttered hoarsely. ”This guy...”

He narrowed his eyes, staring at Kira, but the more he looked, the more inscrutable Kira seemed.

Just then, the door behind him opened. Someone stood at the entrance.

”Principal MacKenzie, should I go assist Reggie? Or...”

”No need.”

The man addressed as Principal MacKenzie waved his hand.

Yes—he was the American Duel Academy professor, MacKenzie—or rather, the body’s current occupant.

Now, the body belonged to Tragodia, the ancient Egyptian royal family’s nemesis, a spirit that had haunted the world for three thousand years.

”But the world champion, Koyo Hibiki...”

The person hesitated.

”He’s an important sample, right? Just letting him be taken—”

”It doesn’t matter.”

Principal MacKenzie—Tragodia—waved dismissively, then looked back at the projection with a cold smile.

To be precise, he was staring at Kira.

”This could get interesting. Let’s wait and see.”

”Yes, Principal.”

The person withdrew.

The room fell into darkness again.

Tragodia sneered.

Fujiki Kira, with multiple spirits and even a faint trace of the Pharaoh’s aura—though the connection between Tragodia and the Millennium Items ran deep, so even a faint trace could be sensed.

This boy, up against Orichalcos...

He decided it was worth watching.

Once the two revealed their true colors, he’d make his move.

Amused by his own cunning, Tragodia let out a sinister laugh.

…

”You actually made it to the finals! Amazing…!”

Jaden looked at Kira with admiration.

After so many duels today, both were hungry, so they headed to the buffet to recharge.

”Just lucky,” Kira said, as usual.

”But be careful in the finals. That Arbiter guy—how to put it—he’s really strong. And he feels... different.”

”Kuri!”

Winged Kuriboh appeared.

Kira couldn’t understand. ”What did it say?”

”It said it senses it too—Arbiter hasn’t even used his full strength yet,” Jaden explained.

”I see.” Kira nodded.

No surprise there.

At the same time, next to him, the spirit of Lava Golem manifested, newly awakened after the intense battle.

Kira had suspected Lava Golem had a spirit before, and seen signs in past duels, but today’s fierce fight seemed to have fully awakened it.

”Roar~” said Lava Golem.

”What did it say?” This time Jaden couldn’t understand.

”It said it doesn’t matter—he’ll act,” Kira translated.

”Oh, good.” Jaden nodded, reassured.

But wait—Kira couldn’t understand Kuriboh, but could understand Lava Golem?

Ehhh...

Jaden set the thought aside. ”But seriously, that guy’s really strong—even you can’t afford to be careless.”

”I know,” Kira nodded.

”Oh, right—since that’s the case...”

Jaden suddenly stood up, rummaged through his card box, and pulled out a card.

”Here—use this in the finals,” he said, handing it to Kira. ”Consider it from both me and Mr. Koyo.”

Kira blinked. Instinctively, he thought, ”What is this? What if it bricks my hand?”

Not that he blamed Jaden—after all, nine out of ten of Jaden’s cards were... questionable.

But he took a look, and was surprised. ”This card...”

”You can use it, right?” Jaden smiled.

Indeed.

Kira thought a moment, then accepted without fuss. ”Alright, then I’ll borrow your and Mr. Koyo’s power. Thanks, Jaden.”

”Haha, what are friends for?”

They fist-bumped.

”Friends should help each other.”