Heroic Spirit Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 294 - 294

"Lord Rafael, would you like to confirm Professor Hawkins' status?" The reporting officer gestured toward the helicopter behind him, indicating that the professor was being held there.

Rafael shook his head. "No need. Destroying the re

Hoshino found his reasoning solid. This wasn't just about the professor being taken hostage—Doma was making a statement. If Yugi ignored their challenge, they would continue targeting the people closest to him.

There was no way Yugi would avoid this duel. He would fight to protect his friends in his own way.

"But there's still some time before sunrise, right? Are we just going to stand around and wait?" Hoshino stretched, feeling mentally exhausted from everything that had happened in a single day—starting at Duel Academy in the future and somehow ending up in the United States.

But glancing at Rafael, who stood motionless in a dramatic pose, Hoshino had a feeling he intended to maintain this cool guy posture until Yugi arrived.

Adjusting his goggles, Valon smirked. "I'm not waiting around. I've got my own work to do. If you're bored, Hoshino-chan, you can come with me. I'll introduce you to the one who defeated Pegasus."

"The one who defeated Pegasus?" Hoshino blinked in surprise. "Wait, you mean it wasn't one of you three?"

Valon grinned mischievously. "You'll understand when you see for yourself."

With a mysterious smile, he rolled out a sleek, black three-person motorcycle from the helicopter. While not as flashy as Paradox's Duel Runner, it was clearly a top-tier machine fit for a biker gang.

"But..." Hoshino hesitated. She was curious about the person who had defeated Pegasus, but she also wanted to witness Rafael's duel against Yugi.

Seeing her reluctance, Valon reassured her. "Don't worry, we'll be back before the duel starts. Hop on!"

"Alright, I'll be back soon!" Driven by curiosity and reassured by Valon's promise, Hoshino climbed into the motorcycle's small side seat. Her slender frame curled up in the compact space, giving her an unexpectedly adorable appearance.

But the next moment, she regretted it.

The Valley of the Kings was full of uneven terrain, with sheer drop-offs and treacherous paths—hardly the ideal place for a motorcycle ride.

"Ah! Slow down! Let me off this crazy ride! This isn't a school bus!"

"Yeehaw!" Valon, grinning behind his goggles, yelled back, "The doors are locked, no getting off now! And stop screaming, or you'll bite your tongue!"

"Mmgh~!"

And then, both passengers promptly bit their tongues.

.

..

...

After an exhausting, bone-rattling ride, they finally arrived at their destination. Hoshino slumped over, half-dead, her head tilted back as if her soul had nearly left her body.

"I shouldn't have trusted you... I should've just waited with Rafael." She groaned, reaffirming that, among the members of Doma, Rafael was the only remotely reliable one.

"Chiyuki?! What are you doing here?"

A familiar, soft female voice—filled with surprise and just a hint of awkwardness—snapped Hoshino out of her daze. She practically jumped out of the motorcycle in excitement.

"Mai?!"

Standing before her, dressed in her signature stylish outfit with her usual elegance and pride, was none other than Mai Valentine.

Hoshino had heard Doma mention Mai before, but with everything going on, she hadn't had the chance to ask about her. Eventually, she had forgotten all about it—until now.

"Huh? You two know each other?" Valon asked, puzzled by their mutual shock. Hopping off the motorcycle, he smirked. "Hoshino-chan, the one who defeated Pegasus is none other than Mai Valentine."

"Mai defeated Pegasus?" Hoshino was stunned.

She remembered Mai from Duelist Kingdom—a skilled duelist but ranked only at a B-level. Yet, in just a month, Mai had skyrocketed to A+ level. No, if she had defeated Pegasus, her rank might be even higher than that.

"I can't believe you joined Doma, Mai..." Hoshino muttered in disbelief. During Battle City, Mai had been a cheerful companion to everyone. Why would she join Doma? She couldn't wrap her head around it.

Could she be an undercover agent, like me? No, that seemed too far-fetched.

"And what about you, Chiyuki?" Mai, having recovered from her shock, smiled faintly. "Rather than me joining Doma, isn't it more accurate to say you were part of Doma all along?"

A mysterious girl with extraordinary dueling skills, suddenly appearing in Duelist Kingdom, her origins unknown.

Neither Industrial Illusions nor KaibaCorp could trace her background.

Then, disappearing from T-Island during the Battle City finals—just as the shadowy Doma organization began to move.

If this girl had been with Doma all along…

Everything suddenly made sense.

(*****)

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