Let's play cards! In a fantasy world of swords and magic

After all, they were classmates, and out of both sentiment and reason, Aisha and Ilin decided to check on Mizuki Mu, who had been left unconscious.

However, when the two arrived at the scene where Aisha and You Ling remembered the incident taking place, there was no sign of Mizuki Mu.

Even the twisted corpse of the black-robed man had disappeared.

The quiet back mountain environment looked as if nothing had happened at all.

"(˘•ω•˘) I'm not lying, Lin-chan. A Shadow Game really happened here."

Since all traces and evidence of the battle had mysteriously vanished, Aisha decided to take the initiative and prove her innocence by acting cute.

"Of course, I never doubted you, Little Ai," Ilin said with a smile. "You and You Ling wouldn't lie to me. It seems something else happened here after you left. Or maybe Mizuki Mu woke up and went back on his own."

Ilin's speculation wasn't unreasonable, but You Ling couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Tonight had been filled with too many strange occurrences—more than You Ling had experienced in the entire month since he transmigrated.

And perhaps due to some kind of intuition, You Ling felt that all these strange events—the dark duelist, the Millennium Ring, the rumors of the Egyptian God Cards, the overwhelming pressure when they entered the back mountain, the mysterious voice he heard, and the Millennium Puzzle guiding their path—might all be connected to a single point.

When had he first noticed, or rather, when had he first realized the existence of a certain 'form'?

Someone connected to the Egyptian God Cards, the Millennium Ring, and the Millennium Puzzle.

In You Ling's mind, there was only one person who fit that description.

"It's getting late. We should head back soon, Little Ai. If we're caught by the dorm supervisor, Ms. Lily, it'll be terrifying."

Just thinking about the usually gentle and kind dorm supervisor with a thundercloud over her head made Ilin shiver.

"Yeah, finally, we can go back… Wait, what? Do we have to do this?"

Aisha, who had been looking forward to crawling back into her warm bed, was interrupted by You Ling's voice.

"Alright, if you say so, Mr. You Ling."

The Millennium Puzzle hanging from Aisha's chest glowed faintly, signaling that control of her body had once again been handed over to You Ling.

"Lin, you go back first. There's something I need to handle alone."

"Lin?"

Ilin immediately realized who was speaking.

"You're You Ling."

This was really bad.

Every time You Ling took control of Aisha's body before, Ilin would feel a pang of jealousy, thinking he was taking advantage of the girl.

But now, with You Ling in control, Ilin felt inexplicably nervous around him.

If it weren't for the darkness, the faint blush on Ilin's cheeks would have been impossible to hide.

The jealousy was still there, but the target of that jealousy seemed to have shifted.

"What kind of problem requires you to handle it alone? Can't I come with you?" Ilin blinked her red eyes, pleading.

"If I don't go alone, things might get more complicated. Trust me, Lin. I'll bring Aisha back safely."

"Mm!"

Ilin quickly turned her head, knowing full well that the blush on her face couldn't be hidden even by the night.

"Okay, I trust you, You Ling. It's really late, so make sure you come back soon. I'll wait for you in the dorm."

Aisha: "That's my dorm, you know. Lin-chan really doesn't see herself as an outsider anymore."

While listening to Aisha's complaint in his mind, You Ling watched Ilin run off into the distance… He knew that the final act of tonight's drama was about to begin.

What a long night this had been.

Aisha: "Mr. You Ling, where is this problem you mentioned?"

"Wait for it. If I'm not mistaken…"

Almost blending into the silence of the night, You Ling, controlling Aisha's body, stood completely still, his eyes slightly narrowed as if waiting for something.

After calculating the time and figuring that Ilin should have completely left the back mountain area by now, You Ling finally spoke.

"You're there, aren't you?"

"With such divine pressure."

"Someone who can communicate through the Millennium Puzzle."

"Even someone who can guide the exit of a barrier using the power of the Millennium Puzzle."

"The only person who fits all these possibilities…"

This was the answer You Ling had arrived at after piecing everything together.

The one who connected all the strange events of tonight, the one who held both the Egyptian God Cards and the Millennium Puzzle, the legendary strongest duelist, and the spirit companion of the first protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yugi Muto.

"Pharaoh Atem, you're here, aren't you?"

Aisha: "Pharaoh Atem?"

As a native of the Elven Continent, Aisha Yuna Carlos naturally wouldn't be familiar with this name from another world.

But when that familiar voice spoke, Aisha immediately recognized it.

"That voice! The one that asked me if I was willing to abandon kindness to become stronger. I thought I was hallucinating."

"Yeah, and the one that warned me about Lin's danger," You Ling confirmed. "I was right. You've been watching everything since we entered the back mountain, haven't you, Pharaoh?"

"The Millennium Puzzle, and the inheritors of my partner. Meeting you, You Ling and Yuna, was undoubtedly guided by fate."

Yuna, referring to Aisha Yuna Carlos's middle name.

"I must say, the determination and pure kindness you showed in tonight's battles, as well as your resolve to face the darkness without fear, are truly commendable."

The Pharaoh's voice was gentle, like a parent speaking to their children, inspiring respect and attentiveness.

"Guided by fate? Pharaoh, what do you mean by that?"

"Heh, I think instead of mere words, this method of communication is more fitting for us."

Slowly raising his arm, the classic duel disk on the Pharaoh's wrist clicked open with a crisp mechanical sound.

"Let's duel, inheritors of the Millennium Puzzle and my partner. Using cards to speak is the way duelists communicate soul to soul."

"Duelists communicating soul to soul…"

In truth, You Ling had a feeling this was coming.

The final act of this long, eventful night.

A duel against the world's strongest duelist.

To be continued...