The card player needs to win easily

To everyone's shock, the sky cracked.

A violent, uncontrollable stream of data poured in, rolling and roaring like a huge wave.

"—!"

Now as an artificial intelligence, Noa was the first to react and tried to reach out to stop it.

But, somehow, nothing unfolded as he commanded.

Just as he was at a loss and tried to issue instructions again, someone had already reacted.

"[Holy Shield - Mirror Power -]!"

Before the raging, all-consuming data stream was about to hit everyone in the face, a red card was held up in front of Liva.

A thin, rainbow-colored layer of soap bubble-like cover enveloped it.

...But this data stream has the powerful force to destroy everything. Can a single layer of seemingly fragile protective shield stop it?

Absolutely…

It's easy!

In just the instant of contact, a powerful force appeared, and a miracle like Moses parting the sea appeared before our eyes.

"Really?"

Cold sweat still lingered on Liva's forehead.

The appearance of "The Arrival from the Electronics World @Fire Spirit Star" just now made her realize the possible connection between the cards and this data stream, so she gave it a try with her superb reflexes.

Siren, who had the same reaction, played the role of backup in tacit understanding - she had put the card away and was observing the data flow in front of her with confidence and boldness.

As this phenomenon occurred, they realized who was coming...

"So capable? Then I will look up to you."

A majestic face is shaped by the data flow.

The pupils of the three people who also shared the surname Haima constricted at the same time.

"Kaiba Gosaburo!...What's going on?!"

"……dad!"

As the two shouted, the identity of the visitor was immediately revealed.

This face is the former absolute leader (dog) of Haima Company, a sea tiger, a lion-like existence in the education world——

Gozaburo Kaiba.

A man who shaped his son Naia into the extreme personality he has today, and caused his two adopted sons to become enemies (even though one of them had impure motives to begin with).

"Dad... Dad! Why are you—"

Why are you here?

Noa stopped herself from saying anything.

Kaiba Gozaburo is long dead, and it's obvious why he's here.

Preserve your consciousness and use this world to complete rebirth.

Naya, who understood this, immediately realized something that was hopeless for him.

"...You're not Daddy, are you?"

The tone was almost pleading.

In front of everyone present, he had a pleading expression that he had never shown before, even when he lost to Kaiba Seto.

The Kaiba brothers, who were standing aside and watching Noa's expression change, had already realized something.

"You're so useless, Noa."

Those cruel words, which clearly did not contain any answer, immediately shattered Haimanea's last glimmer of hope.

"Being defeated by Kaiba Seto—huh, that just proves that you have no value in existence."

"……what."

Kaiba Gosaburo has already existed in this virtual space.

However, in such a long time, Noah never saw his father.

Not even once, even in the loneliest moment.

The man just watched from the background.

"Kaiba Gosaburo, everyone knows that you're a scumbag."

"...But, after such a long time, I'm once again so angry——"The White Light of Destruction"!!!"

With anger, Kaiba Seto summoned the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" without warning, and a white beam of light shot towards Kaiba Gosaburo.

But it wasn't limited to that—the black orb from the Black Magician, the storm whipped up by Lyrical Robin - Gathering Nightingales and Giant Bird of the Valley of Mist, and the six-colored beams of Fire Dragon Dark Fluid - New Electromagnetic Leak Wind followed closely behind.

After realizing that the card might have an effect on Kaiba Gosaburo and the data storm behind him, everyone decided to use violence against him.

Just based on the now distraught and silent Kaiba Noa and the seemingly fatal attack brought by Kaiba Gosaburo, everyone has realized what they should do now.

...However, something emerged from between the data streams.

"Connection Chestnut Ball", "Safety Guardian", "Connection Decoder", "Intercom Lancer"... Countless monsters of all sizes rushed out from it and used their bodies as shields to block the attacks.

"Hahahaha... you're really showing off your skills in front of an expert."

The corners of Kaiba Gosaburo's mouth curled up.

"Those so-called monsters on the field that are just models—in essence, they are just the data streams behind me."

"How could such an attack be effective? ...Humph, I was wondering why the International Illusion Society, as an entertainment company, could go to such lengths?"

"If I hadn't been able to steal the things from Becas's painting studio in this virtual world...it would have been such a waste."

"whispering sound……"

Seeing that the attack had no effect on Kaiba Gosaburo, Kaiba Seto had no choice but to let the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" block in front of him and watch the opponent's movements vigilantly.

But Kaiba Gosaburo just threw down a sentence.

"Hmph, my plan to humiliate you with your so-called 'duel' ends here—you'll just spend the rest of your lives here as potted landscape plants!"

"Once I've analyzed this data, which is enough to bring the world to its knees, the entire world will be mine!"

Kaiba Gozaburo and the violent data stream disappeared in an instant.

Apart from Noa's dazed look, it seemed as if nothing had happened.

PS: I'm alive again!

PS2: I sent it again!

PS3: I don’t think I’ll get a chance to write again until early April.

Naia: Chapter 96: Test of Courage

"Gousaburo!!!——Bonus? Landscape?! Are you kidding me?!"

Kaiba Seto roared towards the place where Kaiba Gozaburo disappeared.

As expected, no one responded—except Noa, who seemed to be standing still.

"laugh."

"Hahahaha……"

The weird and creepy laughter made Mu Ma look at Noa who couldn't stop laughing.

"Nia...?"

"Hehe, hahahahahahaha!"

"Boom!!!"

With a sudden jerk, Noah slammed his head on the ground.

“Ha, hahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!”

“Hahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!”

“No, Noa…!”

Noah's head, which had been hanging on the ground, slowly and mechanically turned around.

——What was left in his eyes was despair and another kind of violent emotion.

“—What on earth is the meaning of all these passing years?! Ha, hahahahahaha!”

"..."

Years of hope vanished in an instant.

"Hahahahaha-"

"Ha ha ha ha--"

"what……"

"..."

Noa's smile grew weaker.

"Hehehe...How about you stay with me in this world?"

Falling backwards, he lay on the ground.

"—You have a method, right?"

Kaiba Seto refused outright in a disguised manner.

"Whatever your mood, we have to get out."

"...Heh, I knew you'd say that."

Noa looked at Kaiba Seto with helpless eyes.

A long sigh.

"...Indeed, I have a way."

"During the boring wait, even though I have no physical body, I tried to do some convenient procedures."

Under everyone's gaze, Naia slowly stood up.

"I'll try—just don't get your hopes up."

--------------------------------

"Well—how do I get in then?"

A cheerful voice echoed from the steel door.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom."

Small explosions continued to occur.

An Malik stood in front of the already dented security door with an indescribable expression.

"It's really hard—"

"boom!!!"

Another bombing, but it didn't have much effect.

Perhaps it was guarding the most important room. The difficulty of destroying this place almost exceeded the total defense of the entire facility.

"Hmm... Is it a control console or something?"

Instead of being distressed, An Malik showed an even happier expression.

"So that means... this is where we activate that thing, right?"

The password input area next to the door still stubbornly supported input despite An Malik's deliberate avoidance.

He walked up and clicked a few times.