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

A dozen minutes later, the group stopped in front of an inconspicuous but vintage-looking shop.

You Yang raised his head and quietly gazed at the familiar characters on the shop sign – “Jiwan Card Shop”.

Looking at the slightly faded signboard, a nostalgic and relaxed smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

He reached out, gently pushed open the spotless transparent glass door, and stepped inside.

"jingle--"

As the doorbell rang softly, a blast of cool air from the air conditioner, set to its lowest setting, instantly swept away the lingering heat and irritability on You Yang's body.

Instead, I felt refreshed and had the faint scent of ink that was unique to the new card holder.

You Yang looked around, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

It must be admitted that the virtual software behind the scenes is truly incredibly powerful, able to perfectly recreate this scene from memory in minute detail.

This was the happiest and most comfortable time he spent after resolutely leaving that suffocating "home".

At that time, he had a stable job. Although the salary wasn't high, he had a leisurely and easy life.

He now owns his own rented apartment, freeing him from having to live under someone else's roof or be at the mercy of others.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, there is a haven here that is always open to him, where he can enjoy the air conditioning to his heart's content.

All of this seems insignificant now, but back then, it was indeed the happiest time of his life.

Even now, seeing this scene again still evokes a deep sense of longing in You Yang's heart.

"Yo, here we come."

A familiar yet casual voice interrupted You Yang's thoughts.

You Yang snapped out of his daze, looked at the familiar figure behind the counter, and replied with a smile:

"Hey Lao Chen, wanna have a plate?"

The person who greeted him was a middle-aged man in his thirties who was slightly overweight.

At this moment, Old Chen was looking down, skillfully unpacking a whole box of brand-new cards with his slightly rough fingers. Hearing You Yang's invitation, he smiled憨厚ly.

"Okay, let's go then."

Without hesitation, Old Chen stood up, dusted off the packaging scraps from his hands, opened a drawer, and pulled out a futuristic-looking duel disk, which he then casually put on his left arm.

You Yang keenly noticed that Old Chen's gaze remained fixed on him the entire time.

His eyes seemed to be programmed to completely ignore the gray-clad Youyang standing beside him, as well as the three strangely dressed virtual elves, including Lena.

Looking at the machine on Old Chen's arm, You Yang chuckled and remarked:

"Being able to use the Duel Disk in person is a dream come true for us veteran players."

Hearing You Yang say this, Old Chen raised his head, a bitter smile full of nostalgia appearing on his lips:

"Who can argue with that?"

"Back then, we used to brag in the store every day, hoping that Konami would one day actually develop a holographic duel disk."

"Who knew that before that day even came, you'd disappear..."

"Life is truly unpredictable!"

Old Chen stared at You Yang, his slightly chubby face etched with vicissitudes and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep feelings).

Listening to Old Chen's words, You Yang's thoughts drifted away.

Old Chen was the first true friend he made after arriving in this unfamiliar city alone.

The two met during an ordinary offline card duel.

Since then, through the introduction of the hospitable Lao Chen, You Yang has gradually met more and more people in the industry and made several like-minded friends.

However, in the adult world, good times rarely last.

As he got older, Old Chen finally couldn't withstand the pressure from his elders to get married and was forced to go on blind dates. In the end, he hastily married a woman he barely knew.

You Yang still remembers the scene on the day he went to the wedding banquet. He could clearly feel that Old Chen was not happy at all.

Not long after their marriage, Lao Chen's wife began to complain that the card shop was not making any money at all.

They kept pressuring Lao Chen to close down the shop that held so many people's youth, and forced him to renovate it into a snack and fast food shop.

The night Youyang traveled through time happened to be the night before the card shop was to be completely demolished and renovated.

That night, a group of old friends played cards wildly and said goodbye at the card shop, partying until midnight...

Familiar and heavy memories of the past surged into his mind like a tide, and a deep sense of melancholy flashed in You Yang's eyes.

"yes……"

You Yang echoed softly.

"Life is unpredictable."

Old Chen put aside his reminiscence, solemnly took out a deck of cards from his pocket, and skillfully inserted it into the card slot of the Duel Disk.

He raised his head, and a sudden fervor and confidence, characteristic of duelists, flashed in his eyes:

"This time, I'm using that absolute deck that's known as 'Unrivaled in Heaven and Earth'!"

You'd better watch out!

Upon hearing this, Gray Youyang, who had been silently leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, immediately frowned deeply, realizing what the other person was saying.

You Yang simply smiled and nodded, seemingly unconcerned.

He turned around and gently extended his right hand to Ling Shiqing beside him.

"Then, let me borrow your power this time."

"Ah."

Ling Shiqing nodded obediently without any hesitation, and slowly extended her fair little hand to place it in You Yang's palm.

Om-!

The moment their fingertips touched, an extremely dazzling and brilliant red data light burst forth from their hands!

As the light swirled, cards radiating powerful energy seemed to come alive, appearing one after another out of thin air in the void!

You Yang steadily took the deck, and then with a slight thought, the number of cards in his hand increased out of thin air again under the resonance of his mental power.

He shoved his deck into the duel disk, and with a sudden swing of his left arm, his fighting spirit exploded in the not-so-spacious card shop!

"Alright, let's begin!"

"Duel—begin!!"

[Old Chen: LP 8000]

[Youyang: LP 8000]

As the two stood facing each other in the not-so-spacious aisle of the card shop, the atmosphere instantly became solemn.

You Yang slowly took out a slightly worn one-yuan coin from his pocket and placed it steadily on the pad of his right index finger.

Then, he forcefully flicked his thumb, and a crisp "ding" echoed in the quiet card shop. The coin, as a silver afterimage, was launched high into the air.

As the coin tumbled rapidly in mid-air, refracting points of cold light, You Yang's gaze did not follow it.

He gazed intently at his familiar old friend across from him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. A slightly apologetic, bitter smile played on his lips as he softly said:

"Sorry, Lao Chen, although I really want to put everything aside and have a good fight with you without any worries... I'm really in a bit of a rush right now."

As soon as he finished speaking, You Yang suddenly stretched out his arm, his palm catching the falling coin precisely in mid-air, and then with a "snap," he firmly pinned it to the back of his left hand.

"I choose 'flower'."

His voice was firm and unquestionable.

"Hehe, it seems I can only choose 'character' then."

Old Chen shrugged nonchalantly, his face still bearing that honest, nostalgic smile.

After confirming the choices of both parties, You Yang slowly removed his right hand that was covering it.

What comes into view is a shimmering silver "flower" facing upwards!

"Then, according to the rules, I choose to attack first!"

You Yang's gaze sharpened, and he announced in a deep voice.

After saying that, You Yang flicked his wrist and tossed the coin through the air in a beautiful parabola, accurately throwing it to Old Chen opposite him.

This coin may well be his final, silent farewell to his old friend in this virtual yet incredibly real dream.

Old Chen caught the coin steadily and unceremoniously stuffed it into the pocket of his slightly wrinkled shirt.

Then, with perfect timing, the two raised their arms simultaneously, and with the mechanical sound of the Duel Disk turning, each drew five initial cards from the top of their deck.

You Yang's eyes were sharp as he quickly scanned his five cards.

Without any hesitation or pause, he immediately pulled one of the cards from between his fingers.

With a crisp "click" of the mechanical sound, a field magic-specific sensor grid immediately and precisely popped out from the edge of the Duel Disk.

Without hesitation, You Yang slammed the card into the hole and shouted:

"I activate the Field Spell Card from my hand—[Sixth World of Evil - Heavenly Demon World]!"

Om-!

Accompanied by an extremely muffled mechanical roar that seemed to come from the ancient abyss, an extremely domineering and destructive dark red data stream instantly swept across the entire scene like a tsunami, centered on You Yang!

Under the high-dimensional projection of the magic of the venue, the originally cozy and nostalgic card shop seemed to have instantly fallen into another dimension.

A terrifying, suffocating gravity, mixed with an aggressive and violent aura, surged from You Yang's body, instantly enveloping every corner of the card shop!

Amidst this chilling sense of oppression, You Yang raised his right hand high, and his Duel Disk deck area lit up with a dazzling crimson light.

"I activate the special effect of [Six Worlds of Destruction - Heavenly Demon World]!"

As part of the effect processing when this card is activated, I can add 1 "Kusanrai-Type" monster from my Deck to my hand.

"I choose... to add [Kusha's Wrathful Unicorn] to my hand!"

"Shuashuashua——"