Yugioh [546-551] (Patreon)

Chapter 546: I Haven't Gotten On Board Yet

"Who's there?!"

Don Zaloog shouted the moment he saw someone rush out.

"How dare you trespass on the Dark Scorpion Burglars' turf!"

But at this moment, Chick whispered, "Boss, this is Duel Academy. Strictly speaking, we're the ones trespassing here."

Don Zaloog didn't reply but shot him a fierce glare. Chick immediately shrank back, lowering his head and saying nothing more.

Turning back to the newcomer, Don Zaloog spoke in a deep voice, "Kid, what's your deal? Sounds like you know quite a bit about the Seven Spirit Keys?"

"I wouldn't say I know a lot," Kira said with a smile. "But this matter should be common knowledge. Didn't your boss mention it when giving you your mission? There are indeed seven keys to the seal of the Sacred Beast, but just inserting the keys into the locks isn't enough to break the seal.

Only a Duelist can break the seal."

Don Zaloog was stunned and looked at his minions in confusion. The minions were equally baffled, shrugging to show they didn't know either.

"Come to think of it, I vaguely remember the client mentioning something about the keys' significance," Don Zaloog muttered. "But I was too busy counting the money at the time. None of you heard it?"

The others shook their heads like rattles.

"I was busy thinking how to spend the money," Meanae said.

Chick: "I thought you were listening, boss."

Cliff sighed, "I wasn't even there that day."

The last one, Gorg, was a burly man built like a small giant, but with his shiny bald head, he didn't look too bright. He scratched his head, clearly not even understanding the question.

Don Zaloog sighed deeply.

Our burglar gang really is lacking in quality, huh.

Kira laughed, "It doesn't matter if you don't remember. It's simple: you have to win it through a duel."

He gestured at the Duel Disk on his arm.

"The Seven Spirit Keys are wagers in Shadow Duels. If you don't win them in a duel, they're meaningless. Even if you steal them, you can't break the seal.

Here, my key is right here."

He pulled out the key hanging around his neck and waved it in front of them. The Dark Scorpions' eyes widened.

"Boss, that's worth a fortune!"

"Don't need you to tell me that."

Don Zaloog's eyes burned with greed; he couldn't help rubbing his hands together.

"Alright, but let me make this clear: my cards don't show mercy," he grumbled. "If you get hurt, I'm not responsible."

"Fair enough."

Kira chuckled.

"But if the key is with me, and if I lose, I hand over the key, but if I win, we let things go, then wouldn't I be dueling for nothing?"

Chick thought for a moment and whispered, "Boss, he makes sense. Wouldn't we be getting too good a deal?"

Don Zaloog glared at him again.

"Why do you always say such nonsense?" he growled. "If you're always worried about the other guy getting the short end, how are we supposed to be burglars!?"

"R-right," Chick shrank back, not daring to say more.

"Hmph. Still, you do have a point. We Dark Scorpions have a code; before we're burglars, we're duelists. If it's a duel, it should be fair.

So what do you want to wager?"

Kira smiled and drew a few cards, spreading them out.

The burglars were shocked.

"Boss, isn't that us?!"

"It looks like he stole us!"

Don Zaloog slapped Gorg on the forehead. "What do you mean he stole us? Those are just our Duel Monster cards, idiot."

He turned to Kira, frowning.

"You actually use our burglar cards in your deck? What a coincidence."

"Yeah, but I only have the cards, not the spirits. Isn't that a shame?"

Chick's eyes lit up. "Ha! What luck! We happen to have five spirits right here."

Don Zaloog smacked him again. "Idiot! He means if we lose, the wager is us!"

"Oh, oh."

Chick clutched his head, sulking in silence.

"Exactly," Kira smiled. "So, what do you say?"

Don Zaloog glanced at his companions. "What do you guys think?"

"We'll do whatever you say, Boss!"

No one objected.

"We Dark Scorpions live and die together!"

"Alright."

Don Zaloog stepped forward, ripped off his coat, revealing the Duel Disk already activated underneath.

"We, the Dark Scorpion Burglars, accept this duel. Bring it on!"

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Don Zaloog, LP 4000]

"I'll go first. Draw!"

Don Zaloog drew his card, then smirked.

"Not bad, this card in my opening hand is a good omen. I summon myself! Summon 'Don Zaloog'!"

He slapped the card on his Duel Disk, but oddly, nothing materialized.

"Ahem, since we're all here in person, I'll just go in myself."

So Don Zaloog, wearing his Duel Disk, literally ran from the duelist's zone to the monster zone, personally taking the field.

His subordinates even cheered him on from behind.

"Go, Boss!"

Kira: "..."

To be fair, he'd seen spirits summon themselves before, but usually it was like Jinzo splitting off a clone from his body. He'd never seen a duelist literally run onto the field.

"I set one card. End my turn!"

"My turn, draw."

Kira calmly drew two cards.

"I set two cards. End my turn."

Don Zaloog: "?"

Dark Scorpion Burglars: "?"

What kind of play was that?

Don Zaloog felt uneasy. From the sidelines, Gorg called, "He's bricked! You're awesome, Boss!"

Real or fake?

Still, the duel had to go on. Don Zaloog suppressed his doubts.

"My turn, draw!" Don Zaloog said. "Activate spell card 'Mustering of the Dark Scorpions'!"

At this, his companions eagerly prepared themselves.

"Our turn!"

"Quick, you're standing in the wrong spot—no, Gorg, over here! The pose lineup has to be right..."

Don Zaloog explained, "This card can only be activated if 'Don Zaloog' is face-up on my field. I can special summon all 'Dark Scorpion' monsters from my hand!

I special summon three burglar members:

Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn!

Dark Scorpion - Powerful Gorg!

Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow!"

[Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn, ATK 1000]

Dark Scorpion - Gorg the Strong, ATK 1800]

[Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow, ATK 1000]

The three rushed onto the field. Only Cliff was left behind, frozen in place as his four teammates took the field.

"I haven't gotten on board yet!"

Chapter 547: The Last Hope

Dark Scorpion Burglars—summon!

Well, four out of five.

Cliff looked aggrieved. Don Zaloog coughed.

"Hey, nothing personal. I just didn't draw you."

Don Zaloog promised, "Next time! For sure next time!"

Cliff pouted and retreated to the sidelines.

"Fine, but you guys better win."

"Hahaha, don't worry. You know my skills."

Don Zaloog beat his chest confidently.

"Leave it all to me."

"Yeah!" Chick agreed. "Boss's skills are undisputed. And now that we're all assembled, no opponent stands a chance."

"That's right!"

Don Zaloog laughed.

"Looks like you bricked and couldn't draw a monster to summon. Too bad!

In front of the Dark Scorpion Burglars, one slip means total defeat. Remember that lesson!

Battle! I'll use myself—"

He paused, looking awkward, then quickly drew his revolver and pointed it at Kira.

"Ahem, since this is the real world, I have to do it myself.

I attack the player directly!"

Bang bang!

He fired two shots.

Kira blocked with his Duel Disk, taking the hit.

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 2600]

Don Zaloog was thrilled.

No traps triggered—he scored a direct hit. Must be a real brick; today's his lucky day.

"My effect activates: when I inflict battle damage, you must discard the top card of your deck or a random card from your hand.

I choose one random card from your hand."

"Then I activate my set card," Kira snapped his fingers. "Trap Card: 'Damage Condenser.'

When I take battle damage, I discard a card and special summon a monster from my deck in attack position with ATK less than or equal to the damage I took."

Kira's deck auto-searched a card.

"Special summon: 'Pyramid Turtle' in attack position."

[Pyramid Turtle, ATK 1200]

"Oh? You barely summoned a monster to defend? Hahaha, but it's too late." Don Zaloog said, "Battle continues!

Gorg, attack 'Pyramid Turtle'!"

Gorg smashed the turtle to pieces with his hammer.

[Kira, LP 2600 → LP 2000]

"When Gorg inflicts battle damage, you send the top card of your deck to the graveyard!"

Kira obeyed and calmly sent a card from his deck to the graveyard.

"Now, Pyramid Turtle's effect: when destroyed by battle, I can special summon an Undead monster with DEF 2000 or less from my deck."

"Another effect?" Don Zaloog frowned.

"Yes, I summon this card."

Kira pulled the card his deck ejected.

"Special summon: 'Vampire Lord'!"

[Vampire Lord, ATK 2000]

The burglars finally understood.

"A chain to bring out a high-level monster in one go!"

Chick looked at his boss.

"Boss, now we really can't beat him."

"Shut up, I know." Don Zaloog snapped. "Chick and Meanae can't beat the Vampire, but don't think that means we're finished!

Activate set card: Trap Card—'Bottomless Trap Hole'!

When a monster with 1500 or more ATK is summoned, destroy and banish it!"

"Whoa, awesome, boss!"

The minions cheered.

"If it's banished, the Vampire is finished!"

Meanae and Chick rubbed their hands, ready for the finishing blow.

"Then I activate my set card," Kira snapped his fingers.

"Trap Card: 'Deck Devastation Virus!'

I tribute a DARK monster with 2000 or more ATK to destroy all of your monsters with ATK 1500 or less in your hand, on the field, and for the next three turns!"

The whole burglar gang froze.

"1500 or less..."

Chick and the others exchanged looks.

Seconds later, they realized what that meant.

"N-NANI?!"

That's almost their whole gang!

"I tribute 'Vampire Lord' for Deck Devastation Virus!" Kira declared.

The Vampire Lord laughed, then was consumed by the virus's power, which swept over the burglars' field!

"Ahhhh!"

The burglars panicked, ducking for cover as the black virus tornado swept through, one explosion after another sending a burglar flying and rolling back to the audience.

Cliff, who hadn't gotten on the field, adjusted his glasses, relieved.

"So close, good thing boss didn't summon me..."

"Bastard..."

Don Zaloog crawled back to the duelist's zone, gritting his teeth.

Ridiculous!

With all their monsters under 1500 ATK sealed, the gang was doomed!

Their whole family only had Gorg above 1500 ATK...

Now Don Zaloog only had Gorg left on the field.

[Dark Scorpion - Gorg the Strong, ATK 1800]

The big guy touched his bald head, confused why all his teammates were gone.

"Go, Gorg!"

"Gorg, you're all that's left!"

His teammates cheered.

With the virus, Don Zaloog's deck only had Gorg left as a usable monster. He truly became the village's last hope.

"I set one card, end my turn," Don Zaloog muttered.

"Activate spell card 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, discard two."

Kira discarded two cards.

"But one discarded card is 'Learning Elf.' When sent to the graveyard, I draw another card."

"Then, 'Monster Reborn'! I revive 'Don Zaloog' from your graveyard to my field."

"Kisama (You bastard)!" Don Zaloog cursed.

But his card obediently flew to Kira's hand, and when Kira played it, it—like before—didn't generate a projection.

Because the spirit itself was out in the real world, the card was now just an empty shell.

Don Zaloog, face full of unwillingness, gritted his teeth and walked across the field to stand in Kira's monster zone.

"Is this good enough?" Don Zaloog growled.

Kira: "...Well, at least you're playing by the rules."

Chapter 548: The Burglars' Bond

The opposing duelist stood in his own monster zone, and the two were nearly face-to-face—an unprecedented situation.

The dumb big guy Gorg saw his boss on the other side. Now, only Gorg was left alone on his side, dumbfounded.

"Boss, did you betray us?"

"Shut up!" Don Zaloog yelled. "Do your best—this is the burglars' life-or-death moment! It's all up to you now!"

"Oh." Gorg scratched his head, even more confused.

Kira: "I also activate 'Mustering of the Dark Scorpions.' If Don Zaloog is on my field, I can special summon other Dark Scorpions from my hand."

The burglars were even more shocked.

He not only stole the boss, but also has the exclusive support cards!

"According to the card's effect, I special summon a new Dark Scorpion from my hand."

Kira revealed another card.

"Special summon: 'Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn'!"

"Huh? This time it's me?"

Meanae instinctively walked toward Kira's field, but when the card was played, only a projection of Meanae appeared.

Only then did she realize—oh, it's just the card, not me. She turned back to see her teammates staring at her with hurt expressions.

"Ahaha, sorry, wrong move. I just saw the boss over there and moved without thinking..."

[Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn, ATK 1000]

Gorg's eyes reddened. "Even Meanae went to the other side..."

He wasn't very bright and usually just followed orders. Now, with the boss and Meanae both on the other side, he started to wonder—

Did they betray him, or did he betray them?

Maybe he was the traitor...

"Calm down, don't panic!" Don Zaloog shouted from the other side. "Your ATK is higher than me and Meanae—you can beat us both."

"Is that so?" Kira said. "Then I activate 'Dark Scorpion - Tragedy of Love.'

This card can only be activated if both Don Zaloog and Meanae are on my field.

Send Meanae to the graveyard: destroy all monsters on your opponent's field!"

Meanae was shocked. "He knows my move too!"

Kira's Meanae leapt up, whipping Gorg with her thorns. Gorg, miserable, was forced off the field.

"Then, Don Zaloog attacks Don Zaloog directly."

Kira paused, curiously watching Don Zaloog on his field, wondering how he'd attack himself.

Don Zaloog's face twisted for several seconds, then he gritted his teeth and punched himself in the face.

[Don Zaloog, LP 4000 → LP 2600]

He hit himself hard, knocking himself down and spitting blood.

"Damn it..." Don Zaloog spat out blood.

"Good job," Kira laughed.

"Normally, Don Zaloog's effect would make you discard a random card when you take battle damage, but you have no hand, so never mind."

Don Zaloog grew angrier.

"This humiliation will be avenged!" he glared at Kira.

Next was his turn.

"My turn, draw!"

He looked at his only card.

It wasn't enough to turn things around.

Was this the end?

He felt a little hopeless.

But then he looked at his burglars.

Those who lived and died with him, his irreplaceable companions.

Their eyes burned with hope and trust.

Even though he stood on the other side now, that trust never wavered.

As their leader, carrying their trust, how could he give up so easily?

No, he couldn't end it here.

"For the friends who believe in me and fight to the end, I can't fall now!"

Don Zaloog yelled.

"AAAARGH!"

"Activate trap 'Reckless Greed'! Skip my next two draw phases to draw two cards!"

It was all or nothing—a final counterattack!

Don Zaloog drew, then slammed one card down.

"Activate spell—

—'Owner's Seal!'

All monsters return to their original owners' control!"

Kira nodded. "Impressive topdeck."

"Now I return to my own field!"

Don Zaloog ran back to his side, looking rather comical.

"Now your field is empty! Then I activate 'The Warrior Returning Alive' from my hand to add 'Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn' from my graveyard to my hand! Since it's not drawn, it won't be destroyed by Deck Devastation Virus.

Then I normal summon Meanae!"

Summoned, Meanae leapt onto the boss's field.

[Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn, ATK 1000]

The burglars cheered.

"If this attack goes through, boss wins!"

"Unbelievable comeback!"

"Amazing, boss!"

The Dark Scorpions shouted.

"Heh, using our own cards against us? Too naive! Now pay the price!"

Don Zaloog pulled his gun.

"First, I attack directly!"

But as he fired, a white light flashed in Kira's graveyard—a fluffy white-winged ball appeared.

[Winged Kuriboh, DEF 200]

"Nani?!" Don Zaloog exclaimed, "Why—?"

"By banishing 'Kuribohrn' from my graveyard, I special summon any number of 'Kuriboh' from my graveyard on your attack declaration.

I special summon 'Winged Kuriboh.'"

"You discarded that with Graceful Charity last turn?" Don Zaloog frowned. "But the other one—"

"That was the card you made me discard earlier," Kira smiled. "Thanks for that."

"Tch."

Don Zaloog was annoyed.

"But that monster's easy to deal with—I'll just destroy it!"

He fired, destroying Winged Kuriboh.

"True, but when Winged Kuriboh is destroyed, I take no battle damage for the rest of the turn."

A transparent shield enveloped Kira.

"Ahhh, so annoying!"

His finishing blow denied, Don Zaloog was frustrated.

He had a bad feeling—something terrible was about to happen next turn.

Chapter 549: Thanks to Your Bond

"My turn. Draw."

Kira drew, then revealed his hand.

"Spell card: 'Monster Recovery.' I shuffle my entire hand and all cards on my field back into the deck, then draw five new cards."

A card often used by Yugi in the anime, its strength is obvious at a glance—no need to explain its value.

Kira drew a fresh new hand of five cards.

He looked up and smiled mysteriously.

"Looks like this turn… I might be able to show you something," he paused, then said solemnly, "the true power of the Dark Scorpion Burglars."

Don Zaloog was stunned.

Huh?

The burglars' true power?

He almost laughed out loud.

"Kid, do you know who we are?" Don Zaloog stood with hands on hips, chuckling. "Do you really think you understand the Dark Scorpion Burglars better than we do?"

"Well, hard to say."

Don Zaloog threw his head back and laughed.

"Alright, then let me see. Show me this 'true power' you speak of!"

"As you wish."

Kira said.

"I activate the spell card 'Reinforcement of the Army.' I add a Level 4 or lower Warrior from my deck to my hand.

I add 'Dark Scorpion Burglars' from my deck to my hand."

A five-in-one burglar monster card, Level 4 Warrior, with card art showing the whole burglar crew in one photo.

"Then I Normal Summon 'Dark Scorpion Burglars.'"

[Dark Scorpion Burglars, ATK 1000]

It was the five-member burglar group, only now all five crowded into one monster zone, treated as a single monster card.

"Yeah, that's our five-united card." Don Zaloog crossed his arms and smiled. "So what?"

"Next, I activate the spell card 'Shien's Spy.' Until the end of the turn, I give control of one of my monsters to my opponent.

I'm giving control of 'Dark Scorpion Burglars' to you."

He paused and smiled.

"You're welcome."

Don Zaloog: "???"

The burglars: "???"

He's… giving us to ourselves?

What is he doing?

The five-member group leapt to Don Zaloog's side of the field, and none of the burglars could figure out what was going on.

This guy is way too polite.

No, even before, the effects of his cards seemed way too polite.

Who puts cards in their deck just to give monsters to the opponent? Is he really that nice?

"Spell card: 'Double Summon.' I can Normal Summon again this turn.

I summon 'Troop Dragon.'"

[Troop Dragon, ATK 700]

"Battle. Troop Dragon attacks 'Dark Scorpion Burglars.'"

Everyone was even more confused.

He's suiciding a low-ATK monster!

"I don't know what you're up to…" Don Zaloog shouted, "Burglars, counterattack!"

Sure enough, Troop Dragon was easily beaten by the five-member burglar pile-on.

[Kira, LP 2000 → LP 1700]

"When Troop Dragon is destroyed by battle, I can special summon another Troop Dragon from my deck. So I special summon a new Troop Dragon."

[Troop Dragon, ATK 700]

"That still doesn't mean anything." Don Zaloog frowned. "And you lost more Life Points…"

"No, it's not meaningless." Kira smiled. "Did you forget your own card's effect?"

"Huh?"

Don Zaloog froze.

Then suddenly realized.

"Oh, right! Dark Scorpion Burglars' effect: when they inflict battle damage, the opponent must send a spell card from their deck to the graveyard."

"Exactly."

Kira smiled.

"I just took battle damage from your burglars, so I get to send a spell card from my deck to the graveyard.

The card I'll send is this one."

Kira drew from his deck the card that was automatically searched out.

"Spell card: 'Jackpot 7.'"

Don Zaloog instantly froze.

Jackpot 7—he'd heard of this card.

Issued by Industrial Illusions as a tournament commemorative card, there were only a few printed for that event, making it extremely rare. It's also famous for being one of the few cards that alters the conditions for victory.

Yes, this world has alternate win-condition cards besides Exodia, including some original to the anime that don't exist in real life.

For instance, Tennis Club President Harrington in Duel Academy used a tennis-themed deck with anime-original alternate win effects.

Jackpot 7, designed by Pegasus himself as a tournament prize, is well-known. Most people have only heard of it, never actually seen it.

"Jackpot 7: when this card is sent to the graveyard by an opponent's card effect, it is banished instead.

If you have three Jackpot 7s banished by this effect, you win the duel immediately."

You need to send three to the graveyard, and only via your opponent's effect—at a glance, it seems almost impossible to pull off. Anyone seeing it would probably think it's harder than assembling Exodia, since you need your opponent's cooperation.

However…

"By opponent's effect…"

Don Zaloog stared blankly at the Dark Scorpion Burglars on his field, forcibly given to him by Kira.

His face went pale.

Because he'd been forced to take the burglars, the "Dark Scorpion Burglars" card—originally Kira's—was now counted as "opponent's effect."

Every time Troop Dragon suicides, the burglars' effect triggers, letting Kira choose any spell card from his deck to send to the graveyard.

And after Troop Dragon suicides, he can summon another one from the deck.

In other words, three Troop Dragons suicide, Kira can pick three spell cards to send to the graveyard, and all of it counts as "by opponent's effect."

Now he understood.

But it was already too late.

"Second Troop Dragon attacks 'Dark Scorpion Burglars.'"

Another suicide attack. Troop Dragon was beaten down again.

[Kira, LP 1700 → LP 1400]

"Second Troop Dragon destroyed, I special summon a third Troop Dragon from my deck. And, Dark Scorpion Burglars' effect triggers again.

I send the second 'Jackpot 7' from my deck to the grave."

The spectators were completely silent. Don Zaloog stared at him, speechless. The other burglars had forgotten to cheer, all staring blankly at a development that exceeded their understanding of dueling.

"Third Troop Dragon attacks." Kira said calmly.

"No, you can't—"

Don Zaloog said desperately.

"I can, and I will. Of course, I couldn't do it alone." Kira smiled. "It's all thanks to the help of your burglars.

That's the power of your bond—it's amazing, isn't it?"

Don Zaloog: "…"

With a smile, the third Troop Dragon suicided.

"Dark Scorpion Burglars, last time, effect activates. I send one more spell card from my deck to the graveyard."

Kira revealed the final card.

"The third 'Jackpot 7'—send it to the graveyard, and it's banished by its effect.

At this moment, three 'Jackpot 7s' are banished."

Kira said calmly.

"Sorry, looks like I win."

Chapter 550: The Anti-Shadow Riders Squad

"Ugh…"

Don Zaloog collapsed to his knees, hands supporting him on the ground, gritting his teeth.

He lost.

But this wasn't just an ordinary duel loss.

Losing a duel wasn't new to Don Zaloog, but losing to himself was a first.

What was even weirder was that this guy had boasted about showing them the "true power of the Dark Scorpion Burglars."

At the time, Don Zaloog almost laughed out loud—

—What, do you know the burglars better than I do?

He almost said, "If you know the burglars so well, why don't you be the boss and I'll be your underling."

Now he was glad he hadn't said that.

He really did seem to know the burglars better!

Wait.

Are our burglars really this disgusting?

Don Zaloog had never dreamed he'd one day be made sick by his own card.

The Dark Scorpion Burglars' effect: when they inflict battle damage, the opponent sends a spell card from their deck to the graveyard.

It's a mandatory effect; as controller, he couldn't even choose not to activate it. And the spell card sent is chosen by the opponent, so in a way, it's just a method for the opponent to mill their own spells.

Of course, compared to monster and trap cards, sending spells to the grave is relatively low-risk. In the current meta, spells make up the smallest proportion of graveyard effects. But that didn't change the fact that this was a trash effect.

Honestly, Don Zaloog would never admit it, but even he thought their five-man burglar card sucked.

They never imagined their own card could be used in such a twisted way.

Give the burglars to the opponent, then help yourself mill three Jackpot 7s.

Just how much hatred would you need to scheme such a dirty combo against your opponent?

After a while, Meanae said quietly, "The good news is, we didn't know we were this strong."

"And the bad news?" Chick asked instinctively.

"Isn't it obvious?" Meanae glared at him. "The bad news is, he knows the Dark Scorpion Burglars even better than we do."

"…"

"Forget it." Don Zaloog sighed. "Not only did we lose—we lost to ourselves.

Even using the same deck, this guy's dueling skills are far above mine. I don't think I've ever lost so convincingly in my life."

There's probably no defeat more convincing than this.

"My only regret is letting you all down." Don Zaloog sighed. "So many years, so many enemies, so many duels.

Every time, you all entrusted your lives to me without hesitation, never doubting.

I've thought before, what if one day I slipped up… lost, and dragged you all down with me?"

"Big Brother!"

Meanae's eyes reddened.

"Looks like today's that day." Don Zaloog gave a bitter smile. "I really am a lousy leader.

No matter how much I act tough, at the end of the day, I'm just this kind of duelist. I've let you all down."

"What are you saying, big brother!" Meanae said. "You didn't let us down at all."

"Yeah!" Chick nodded. "You're the best leader!"

Don Zaloog was stunned.

"Even if I lose—even if our lives end because of me—you don't resent me?"

"What are you talking about, big bro? Didn't we always say we live and die together?" Chick laughed.

Cliff adjusted his glasses. "Well, I'm a bit sad I didn't even get to appear, but if we're all going together, even to the deepest darkness, maybe that's not so bad."

Gorg mumbled something indistinct. The others couldn't make it out, but it was probably his way of saying he had no regrets.

"You guys…"

Don Zaloog was moved. He closed his one good eye and wiped at the corner.

"To have brothers like you by my side, maybe this isn't so bad." He smiled. "We stuck to our code till the end—never bullying the weak or stealing from the poor.

Even at the last, we held on to the pride of being burglars. No regrets."

He closed his eyes gently.

The group, moved by his words, all put their hands together. The five of them united, ready to face death, a scene both tragic and stirring.

Kira watched silently for a few seconds, then couldn't help but speak up.

"Um… sorry to interrupt. I know I'm ruining the mood, but… you're not dead, you know?"

The brothers froze.

"Huh?"

Oh right.

Why aren't we dead?

Don Zaloog was confused.

He was pretty sure this was a Shadow Duel. In a Shadow Duel, unless the winner goes easy, the losers are supposed to die.

And going easy is a technical skill—it usually takes someone experienced in Shadow Duels and willing to spare you. If the victor doesn't know about Shadow Duels, they'll naturally go all out by instinct.

So sparing your opponent in a Shadow Duel takes both skill and intent. Most who can do this are hardened outlaws, or, like Tragoedia, who likes manipulating people, might spare the losers to use as puppets. But usually, no one bothers with such trouble.

Kira did so for two reasons: he needed the Shadow Riders members for a plan in two days—he'd already made deals with the previous ones.

Second, these spirits were more comic than evil. They were thieves, sure, but not truly evil compared to villains abusing the power of dueling for dark purposes.

Usually, sparing someone in a Shadow Duel meant you had an ulterior motive. Realizing this, Meanae blushed and shrank back. "W-what do you want?"

"Don't be nervous, really… do I look like a bad guy?" Kira smiled.

The burglars looked at each other.

Looking at his sunny smile, and remembering that gentle face when he handed them the burglar card and started the self-lock combo…

They all nodded.

Not all demons have fierce faces—there are smiling devils in this world.

Kira smiled wryly. "I really don't mean any harm… Well, I do want you to help me out a bit."

He paused, then smiled.

"I'm gathering a team—an anti-Shadow Riders squad.

Would you be interested?"

Chapter 551: Real-World Spirits

Anti-Shadow Riders?

The Dark Scorpion Burglars exchanged looks, faces strange.

But aren't we the Shadow Riders?

There are supposed to be seven, but they're special—the five of them share one seat, living and dying together, so they count as one member.

"You want us to betray the organization?"

Don Zaloog snorted heavily.

"You're overthinking it. The Dark Scorpion Burglars are honorable thieves, not like those who have no bottom line. We have our code and would never betray our comrades lightly…"

"I'll pay you extra," Kira said.

Don Zaloog's words were cut off instantly.

He fell silent.

"Boss, he's offering more money!" Chick's eyes widened.

As if to say, what's there to think about?

"Shut up."

Don Zaloog glared. Chick shrank back, muttering under his breath, probably wondering why they'd ever turn down money.

"And if you feel guilty about betraying your comrades, it's not necessary." Kira smiled. "Shadow Riders has seven officers. Vampire Camula is dead, Nightshroud is in a coma—but his sister is my friend, and when he wakes up he'll probably join us.

The other three have already switched sides and joined us."

The burglars digested this.

Wait.

There are seven Shadow Riders. One is dead, four have defected, if we defect too…

There'd only be one left?

Burglars: "…"

"So you'd better join us quickly," Kira said earnestly. "If you don't, you'll be the traitors betraying your own comrades."

Burglars: "…"

What the hell, we're the traitors now? Minority obeying the majority?

"What do you think?" Don Zaloog asked his companions.

"I'm in," Meanae nodded first.

The others had no objections.

Only Cliff hesitated, "Boss, aren't we forgetting something important?"

"Hm? What?" Don Zaloog raised an eyebrow.

"We just lost the duel," Cliff whispered. "He's probably just being polite inviting us. We don't really have the right to refuse."

Don Zaloog: "…"

Damn, that makes sense.

"Alright, we'll join."

Don Zaloog turned to Kira.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Me? I'm Fujiki Kira," Kira smiled, gesturing to his uniform. "As you can see, just a regular yellow-dorm student at Duel Academy."

"A regular student…"

Don Zaloog was speechless.

He'd heard Duel Academy was full of hidden masters. He never believed it before—how strong could a bunch of kids be? Now he believed.

But Fujiki Kira… that name sounded familiar…

"What a coincidence," Chick said. "Isn't that the same name as the rumored new Duel King?"

The place fell silent.

The burglars looked at Kira, expressions shifting from shock to fear, then reverence.

NAAANNI!!?

Don Zaloog was shaken.

Did I just challenge the Duel King!?

…

An hour later, the five of them—now disguised—joined Kira at the cafeteria.

Kira treated them. After winning the Duel King title, he'd earned a huge prize, and the lab sponsorship deals were pouring in, his work was world-renowned. He could make a fortune just from appearances and lectures—money was no issue.

He ordered a feast. The five burglars devoured it like starving ghosts.

"This is amazing."

Gorg finished three big bowls of rice, eyes smiling.

Chick grinned, "Guess we really didn't pick the wrong guy to follow."

All thoughts of "never betraying comrades" were long forgotten.

The iron-willed burglar gang, bought off by a single meal.

Kira learned that the Shadow Riders had long coveted the Sacred Beast keys. The Dark Scorpion Burglars had been hired years ago, and had secretly infiltrated Duel Academy as sleeper agents.

Meanae was the school nurse, Chick a red dorm student, Cliff a security guard, Gorg in logistics.

With a change of clothes and a little makeup, they weren't easily recognized. Only their boss Don Zaloog, with his fierce expression and one Horus-eye, was hard to hide.

Not to mention, Don Zaloog was already the most famous burglar at Duel Academy.

Well, Kira thought, that's not my problem—no idea why that is.

He was curious about the burglars.

He'd always wondered about this when watching the anime.

"By the way, you're all spirits, right?" Kira asked.

They nodded.

"But aren't spirits supposed to be unable to exist in the real world for long?" Kira asked.

His own spirits were like that, and in the later anime, Jaden's spirits too. They could materialize briefly, but soon reverted to spirit form.

But these burglars were different.

They could stay physical for years, even go undercover as students, nurses, staff, and so on.

Was there some trick?

The burglar spirits looked at each other.

Kira was curious. "Is there a secret? Or did the Shadow Riders boss help you?"

"Nope," Don Zaloog said, looking strange.

"It's because our real bodies are here. We're always physical."

"Your real bodies?"

"Yeah, we haven't been back to the Spirit World in ages," Meanae added. "Our world's boring. We lost interest ages ago.

After coming here by chance, we found this world super fun. Great duelists, great food, great games, we love it here. We're not going back."

Kira suddenly understood.

In GX later seasons, there were spirits like that.

Honest, for example, a spirit came to Duel Academy seeking his master, used transformation skills to disguise himself as a student, and could stay physical for a long time. But Jaden, already with supernatural powers, saw through him at a glance.

So, spirits can live in the real world.

"Actually, me too."

A crisp girl's voice sounded behind.

Kira turned to see the Vampire Fraulein, sitting quietly at the back, face pale and expressionless.

Kira remembered.

When she left her castle, she'd decided to travel with them, bidding farewell to her clan—she seemed to be here in person too.

But she'd always stayed quiet, like other spirits.

Kira asked about this, and the vampire girl just glanced at him expressionlessly.

Then pointed upward.

"So hot."

Kira understood.

She hated this world's sun.