Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

Chapter 278 Duel with the Ghost! Battle against the Phantom Spirit!

"Boss... help... charge my battery..."

Lena shamelessly pounced on him, and Youyang's spiritual power instantly transformed into a warm golden light, continuously flowing into Lena's body.

As the golden light flowed, Lena's previously somewhat translucent body stabilized again.

After catching her breath, Lena began to recount her experience with lingering fear.

It turned out that the four of them had just entered the edge of the virtual world, and before they even had a chance to get close to the vulnerability, they were immediately subjected to a frenzied pursuit by the sprites wandering on the outer edge of the data network!

Under normal circumstances, with the strength of the four of them, dealing with these guys would be a piece of cake.

The problem is that they are currently in a state of extreme weakness.

Kissgeller, Rila, and Saya have been engaged in an intense chase for the past two weeks, and both sides have long since exhausted their energy.

As for Lena herself, her true form resides in Yu Yang's deck. As a spirit that must rely on a duelist to unleash its power, her abilities are limited once she leaves Yu Yang's command.

As soon as the four of them showed their faces, they were chased by a group of miscellaneous elves and had to flee back to the real world in a sorry state.

"So... what's the situation now?"

"How did we suddenly end up in front of you, boss?"

Having regained some strength, Kissgill and Lila helped each other up, still groggy.

Lila shook her still dizzy head and pulled Xiaoye, who was lying on the ground next to her, up as well.

"Are you okay?"

Xiaoye shook her head, but she was still a little dizzy.

You Yang then noticed that the three people looked very different from when they left.

Kissgeller and Lila reverted to their usual livestream appearance.

Saya's image has also changed from "Ranba Sayamaru of the Security Police Force" to "S:P Saya".

In short, the three of them have shrunk considerably in size.

"I rely on!!"

A blood-curdling scream shattered the silence.

Kisskill stared wide-eyed at the empty space in front of her, where apartment buildings had once stood, but now only a flat concrete foundation remained.

She clutched her head with both hands and let out a heart-wrenching wail:

"Where's my house?! My huge, newly bought home is gone?!"

That was not only a home in a physical sense, but also a sanctuary they had finally found in the real world.

At this moment, it looks like a stain that has been forcibly erased by a clumsy painter with an eraser, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.

She's going crazy!

With a solemn expression, You Yang quickly recounted to the three elves beside him the bizarre scene he had witnessed downstairs: the taxi vanishing into thin air and passersby fleeing in terror.

After listening to You Yang's description, Li La, who had maintained a calm and thoughtful demeanor, had a glint in her eyes and said in a deep voice:

"Disappear? No..."

She raised her hand, her fingertips tracing a path in the air, as if analyzing the ripples remaining in the air:

"Based on my observations, these substances did not evaporate out of thin air, but rather—fell into the data abyss of the virtual world!"

Seeing the three of them looking at her questioningly, Lila took a deep breath and continued her analysis:

"Didn't you notice anything when the four of us were fleeing back to the real world in such a sorry state?"

"In that chaotic vortex of data, shadows kept slipping rapidly past us."

Lila's eyes sharpened:

"Although the relative speed was very fast, which made it difficult for me to see very clearly, I was able to see some things clearly in the few seconds that it slowed down."

"The falling objects were various models of cars from the real world, and even road signs and billboards."

Upon hearing this, You Yang's heart sank.

It seems my speculation was correct. The bizarre collapse in the real world is inextricably linked to the viral invasion currently plaguing the virtual world.

The phone call that Jord Rosen just made, which was forced to be interrupted, was probably also to convey this urgent information.

The situation is now completely out of control.

The dimensional barrier between reality and virtuality seems to have been shattered by some indescribable force, and the two worlds are undergoing a terrifying overlap and engulfment.

No one knows what else will be sucked into that bottomless digital black hole in the next second.

"But……"

You Yang frowned. "Now that the physical passage is cut off, how am I supposed to get back?"

Noticing the worry in You Yang's eyes, Lena, who had been clinging to him, suddenly straightened up.

She confidently shook her mechanical cat ears, patted her not-so-ample chest vigorously, and said energetically:

"That's easy! I'll take you there!"

Lena pointed to the still faintly glowing phone screen in her hand, a sly smile playing on her lips:

"Since the real world doesn't work, let's use the network data channel!"

"Going upstream against that turbulent current, the speed is definitely a hundred times faster than taking a taxi in real life!"

Can I do it too?

You Yang hesitated for a moment.

Lena, the Twins, and Saya are essentially dueling spirits made of data; datafication is instinctive for them.

But I am a human being with flesh and blood, how could my mortal body be transmitted through a data stream?

"Originally, it wouldn't have worked, since human vital signs are too complex."

Lena blinked and pointed to the spot where the building had just disappeared:

"But now, the rules have completely collapsed."

"Those cars that fell down weren't empty."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood.

Without delay, and not one to hesitate, You Yang immediately nodded in agreement:

"Okay, let's go then!"

"Um...isn't doing this...not in accordance with public security regulations...?"

Xiaoye timidly raised her hand, wanting to offer her opinion, but looking at the group of people in front of her who were already boiling with enthusiasm, her voice grew softer and softer, until it turned into a helpless murmur that only she could hear:

"...What about the rules? Is nobody enforcing them?"

Forget the rules! Saving the world is the priority!

Lena grabbed You Yang's hand, their fingers intertwined, her eyes gleaming with brilliant golden light:

"Boss, hold my hand tight!"

"Concentrate your mind and gather your power into me!"

"Target locked—we—depart!!"

You Yang did as instructed, closed his eyes, and mobilized all his mental energy.

In an instant, a warm and powerful energy burst forth from the point where their hands were joined.

As the dazzling yellow light emanating from Lena grew even brighter, You Yang was surprised to find that his arms and torso began to rapidly decompose, turning into countless crystal-clear blue data cubes.

"Wait for me!"

"Me too!"

Seeing this, Kissgill and Lila quickly reached out and grabbed Youyang's other arm.

Xiaoye, who was still struggling with the rules, could only sigh at the last moment and resignedly grab Youyang's clothes.

"Whoosh—whoosh!"

The five figures instantly transformed into a stream of data that shot into the sky, and disappeared into thin air amidst an electronic buzzing sound.

All that remained were the empty streets and the distant, still crumbling, chaotic real world.

……

Inside the Celestial Arbitrator, outside a laboratory, the atmosphere was oppressively suffocating.

"How's it going? Still haven't managed to get in touch?"

Chen Yuan frowned, his fingers constantly kneading his throbbing temples, his tone revealing deep exhaustion and anxiety.

"There's absolutely no signal."

Standing to the side, Jord Rosen stared intently at the rows of monitor screens displaying red "ERROR" warnings, his face so grim it could drip water.

"All communications were affected by strong magnetic field interference, and I don't know if You Yang even received my message."

"Sigh..." Chen Yuan sighed deeply, gazing at the tightly closed laboratory door, which was flashing a red light, his eyes filled with helplessness and worry.

"There's nothing we can do now except pray that everything goes well."

Jord Rosen didn't reply. He just irritably pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, then, remembering that this was a laboratory, angrily broke it in half and threw it into the trash can.

……

Inside the tunnel of data flow.

This is a wonderful experience I've never had before.

You Yang felt as if he had lost all weight, his soul freed from the constraints of his body, and was flying through the bizarre passage at a speed beyond comprehension.

The concepts of up, down, left, and right have become blurred. As far as the eye can see, there are colorful data light bands rushing backward like a meteor shower.

Countless fragmented images, sounds, and text messages enveloped him like an ocean, yet under Lena's guidance, they became orderly.

However, this fantastical journey did not last long.