Episode 3: A Shadow Game (Part 1)

...Long ago, when the pyramids were still young, the Egyptian Kings played a game of great and terrible power.

But these Shadow Games erupted into a war that threatened to destroy the entire world. Until a brave and powerful pharaoh locked the magic away, imprisoning it within the mystical Millennium Items. 

Now, five thousand years later, a boy named Yugi unlocks the secret of the Millennium Puzzle. He is infused with ancient magical energies, for destiny has chosen him to defend the world from the return of the Shadow Games, just as the brave Pharaoh did five thousand years ago.

...

𝑫𝑶𝑵'𝑻 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑺𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑨 𝑭𝑼𝑳𝑳 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.

A few days later, the classrooms of Domino High School were filled with the usual buzz of teenage life, overlaid by the increasingly popular clatter of Duel Monsters cards. In a quiet corner near the window, a small crowd had gathered. Joey sat across from Tea, nervously shuffling his deck a large, disorganized pile of monsters over and over, trying to force fate to deal him an ideal hand.

Tea placed her neat, organized deck on the table with a soft *thud*. A confident smirk played on her lips. "Alright, tough guy. Let's duel or what?"

Tristan, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, let out an exaggerated sigh. "Joey, make a move already. I am dying of boredom!"

Joey stopped fiddling with his cards, glaring briefly at Tristan. "Alright, alright... Jeez." He then turns his attention back to Tea and smiles. "Come on! Let's Duel!"

            | 𝗝𝗢𝗘𝗬 LP - 2000 / 2000 - LP 𝗧𝗘𝗔 |

𝗗𝗨𝗘𝗟!

Both drew five cards from their decks.

Joey checked his hand and laughed, a loud, boastful sound. "Hehehe, your fairy cards will not stand a chance against my warriors, Tea! Go already!"

Tea glanced at her hand, a subtle frown marking her concentration. "Hmmm... alright then, Joey. I set this card face-down and end my turn." She placed a single monster.

Joey roared with laughter as he drew a card, slapping the table with a clumsy thump. "What? Is that it? Hehe! I totally got you! I summon my Alligator's Sword!"

Joey slammed the card onto the table. "Now I attack! Go Alligator's Sword!"

Tea sighed dramatically, shaking her head in mock resignation. "Ai ai.... I guess I don't stand a chance..." She then revealed her face-down card with a swift movement. "My face-down card is Mystical Elf!"

Alligator's Sword clashes into the Mystical Elf, but her defense was greater than his attack. The impact sent a painful jolt back to Joey.

Joey’s eyes wide with disbelief. "Gah! What!?"

          | 𝗝𝗢𝗘𝗬 LP - 1500 / 2000 - LP 𝗧𝗘𝗔 |

Yugi Muto smiled, shaking his head gently from his spot beside the table. "Joey, you have to know the risks of attacking a face-down monster. If it isn't protected by any Spell or Trap card, that means it must be a high defense monster. Think about your moves!"

Joey blinked, the lesson sinking in only after the damage was done. He pointed at Tea with determined fury. "Oh yeah? Then that means that I have to be able to summon a stronger monster to break this wall! I got the perfect monster already prepared! Last turn, Tea!"

Tea drew her card, her lips curving into a knowing smirk. She slammed a Spell Card down. "Alright! This duel is over for you!"

Joey groaned, clutching his hair. "Aarghh! Not this card again!"

Tea giggled, declaring her move with playful cruelty. "Now now, Joey. I activate my Spell Card Change of Heart! This makes me take control of a monster you control for this turn, and I choose your Alligator's Sword! Woink!"

Tea physically pushed Joey's card to her side of the field. "Now, attack!"

The commandeered Alligator's Sword, now a traitor to its owner, delivered the final, painful blow, attacking Joey directly.

             | 𝗝𝗢𝗘𝗬 LP - 0 / 2000 - LP 𝗧𝗘𝗔 |

Tristan clapped Joey on the back, a smug look plastered on his face. "Woah, Joey! She totally whooped your ass!"

Joey hissed, annoyed and defeated. "Ahh! Come onnn!"

Tea collected her cards, her eyes twinkling. "That brings your Life Points down to zero, Joey. Once again, you lose, and I rock."

Tristan poked Joey’s cheek, laughing mercilessly. "Pfft, hahahaha! You stink at this game."

Joey pushed Tristan's finger away. "Argh! Why can't I beat you with this deck!?"

Tea organized her cards with effortless grace. "Maybe because you kinda suck, Tee-hee~"

Joey groaned, stumbling back a step. "Jeez... You didn't have to crush me like this."

Yugi chuckled, hiding his amusement behind his hand. "Hahaha.... Oh Joey~"

From a distance, Miho Nosaka was watching the whole exchange.

Though she enjoyed the dynamic between the friends, the game itself still mystified her. "What a weird game, huh..."

After school, the cool climate of the late day had settled over Domino City. The streets were wide and clean, framed by a mix of modern skyscrapers and classic, busy storefronts. People were bustling home from work, creating a flow of calm, organized urban life.

Yugi and Joey were walking along a street corner, the noise of the city a low hum around them. Yugi hopped down from a low metal bar, while Joey trailed behind, his shoulders slumped in dejection.

Joey groaned, kicking a stray pebble down the sidewalk. "Tristan's right, Yugi. I do stink. I can't win at Duel Monsters to save my life. What is it, Yugi? Why can't I ever win? Teach me what I'm doing wrong."

Yugi stopped and turned, his expression serious. "Well, let's start by checking your deck, Joey."

Joey’s eyebrows rose for a second before he pulled out his deck a thick stack of cards that looked ready to burst out of the plastic case. "Huh? 'Kay... Here you go."

Yugi took the deck and began looking through the cards, his eyebrows slowly climbing higher and higher. "Joey..."

Joey smiled proudly, puffing out his chest. "Powerhouse liner, don't you think?"

Yugi winced slightly, trying to find nice words. "No one could win with these. Joey, your deck's filled with nothing but monster cards and it's overwhelmed with high cost monsters."

Joey laughed, slapping Yugi's back with a cheerful thump that nearly sent Yugi stumbling. "You got it! I packed it with every butt-kicking monster I could find."

Yugi regained his balance and sighed, rubbing his shoulder. "But that's not how the game works."

Joey looked confused. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Yugi shook his head patiently. "Duel Monsters is all about making sure your deck has equilibrium. You've got to have the right amount of monster cards with great effects or numbers, Spells to help increase their power or get rid of problems, and Traps to protect them. And most importantly, some kind of strategy." Yugi held up Joey's monster-heavy deck. "With no Spell, or Traps in your deck, your monsters will be creamed every time."

Joey's eyes went wide with sudden realization. He quickly rushed over to Yugi, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him excitedly. "Hah! See? That's the kind of stuff I need to know! Yugi, you've gotta help me learn more!"

Yugi thought for a moment, then his face brightened. "Umm... I think I got an idea...."

Joey nodded quickly. "Really? What is the idea?"

Yugi smiled proudly, playfully pushing Joey. "**My Grandpa's the real game expert in the family, maybe he can help you. Come on, let's go!**"

Joey pumped his fist. "Alright! Right behind ya!"

...

Yugi led Joey back to the Game Shop. As they entered, the shop was in a quiet, organized state. The wooden shelves were meticulously stocked, and the glass counter shone under the interior lights. Solomon was behind the counter, humming a low, cheerful melody as he wiped down a display case.

Solomon finished adjusting a colorful poster advertising the newest Duel Monsters set before stepping down from a small stool.

Yugi put his backpack down and slipped off his shoes. "Hey Grandpa! I brought you a new student!"

Solomon raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Student?"

Joey cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. "Ehem... I um... was hoping, since you know more about Duel Monsters than anyone, maybe you'd teach me."

Solomon stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Teach you? Duel Monsters is a very complex game."

Joey chuckled weakly. "Yeah. Tell me about it. Tea beat me three games in a row."

Yugi laughed softly, covering his mouth. "Actually, Tea beat you five times in a row, Joey."

Joey’s eyes widened in horror. "Five? Aww, man."

Solomon shook his head, looking Joey up and down with an assessing gaze. "Hmmm. Yes. I could teach you to be a great tournament duelist. But only if you're willing to spend endless days and sleepless nights filled with rigorous training."

Joey smirked, completely misunderstanding the gravitas of the proposal. "Ahh? Piece of cake! I am a fast learner!"

Solomon sighed, turning his back on Joey in a practiced move of disappointment. "With an attitude like that, teaching you may not be worth my effort."

Joey's eyes widened in panic. "Ahh! No! I mean-"

Yugi shook his head at Joey's gaffe. "Nice going there, smartmouth."

Joey instantly got down on his knees before Yugi, clasping his hands together. "Please, Yugi. Help me convince him. I will work hard, I promise!"

Yugi stepped back slightly. "Listen, Joey. Sorry but.... teaching you Duel Monsters is too big a challenge, even for my grandpa."

Solomon turned back, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Hmmm... It's not impossible."

Joey’s eyes lit up with desperate hope. "Huh? You mean it, Gramps?"

Yugi shook his head at the confusing signal. "Joey, he already said he can't do it. And if he can't do it, he can't do it."

Solomon crossed his arms, his posture firm. "I never said I couldn't do it. But if I agree, you must work hard."

Joey fell to his knees again, his voice cracking with urgency. "I'll do anything, I promise. I promise!"

Solomon finally relented, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Fine.... fine... Enough already.... we'll begin your instruction immediately, my young friend. And believe me, under my tutelage, you will learn."

Joey jumped up, celebrating wildly. "Yess!"

Solomon immediately launched into the instruction, his face stern. "Now, can you name the most powerful Duel Monster?"

Joey’s excitement deflated. He frowned, scratching his head. "Uhhh... No?"

Solomon frowned severely. "Can you name the weakest?"

Joey winced. "...Noooo"

Solomon's eyes widened in disbelief. "You do know what a Trap card is, don't you?"

Joey shuffled his feet, his hands raised in surrender. "Kinda... Uhh, I have no idea."

Yugi shouted, exasperated. "Joey! You know what a Trap is!"

Joey laughed nervously. "I kinda forgot, hehehe."

...

At the colossal Duel Monsters Duel Dome in the city center, the atmosphere was electric. The arena was completely packed, the deafening screams of the crowd echoing off the domed ceiling as they cheered for their favorite players.

The Announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "Goooood evening, duel fans, and our ten million viewers at home, and welcome to the Duel Monsters Duel Dome, where tonight, the Duel Monsters Regional Championship will be decided! Of the two hundred duelists who have competed in this marathon tournament, only two competitors remain standing. Put your cards together for Weevil Underwood, the Bug Princess! Her opponent, the number one ranked, Rex Raptor, Dino King!"

Back at the Game Shop, in Yugi's cozy, cluttered living room, the friends were gathered around a small television. Joey and Yugi sat together on the couch, while Tea and Tristan perched on ottomans.

Joey laughed, stretching out on the couch. "Bug Girl versus Dinosaur Man, what kind of match is that? That should've been me in there!"

Tea giggled. "I know you've been training for weeks, but those guys are in another league. You're just not ready yet."

Joey rolled his eyes, rubbing his temples. "Sure, rub it in."

Yugi looked at Joey, worried. "And on top of that, you're so tired you can't keep your eyes open! Are you sure you are okay?"

Joey immediately slumped over, his mouth open, and began snoring loudly, utterly lost to exhaustion.

Yugi giggled. "I think Grandpa's lessons have been a bit too tough for him."

A quick series of flashbacks showed the brutal regimen Joey had been subjected to, the hard and tiresome training season to turn him into a decent duelist...

Joey was at a table, frantically shuffling cards until he dropped them all, then collapsing with his head on the wooden surface. "So tired. Must rest."

Solomon Muto stood over him, holding a wooden sword. "You have no time for rest!" He whacked the sword down on the table right next to Joey's head, the sound sharp and jarring. "Did you come here to learn Duel Monsters, or did you come here to catch up on your sleeping?"

Joey shot up, screaming in pure terror. "Waaahh!!"

The flashback ended with Joey scratching the back of his head a little frustrated, Yugi and the others looked at each and then giggled.

Tristan laughed loudly. "See, it's true what they say you snooze, you lose."

Joey groaned, rubbing his eyes while still lying on the couch. "I must've been nuts to think I could ever learn this crazy game."

Solomon entered the room, holding a large, oddly-shaped cardboard box. "Time for your lesson!"

Joey’s eyes shot open. "Wha-? We're not done?"

Solomon shook his head. "Not by a long shot, you slacker."

Joey groaned, falling back onto the couch. "Nnngh. Come onnn!"

Solomon’s voice softened slightly, a rare moment of genuine warmth. "Now quit your whining, Joseph. I know you've been working long and hard, but you really are coming along as a duelist. And I'm quite proud of you."

Joey’s eyes widened, watering up with sudden emotion. "Really? Aww, Gramps. Thank you!" He surged forward for a hug, but Solomon neatly sidestepped the attempt, causing Joey to completely overbalance and fall heavily onto the floor.

Joey whined from the carpet. "Urgh..."

Solomon casually pointed at the package in his hands. "Oh, by the way, Yugi. This package came for you."

Joey mumbled from the ground, lost to exhaustion. "So tired...."

Yugi’s eyebrows rose in curiosity. "A package? What is it, Gramps?"

Solomon shrugged. "I don't know. It just came in the mail."

Yugi pulled the package into his lap. He recognized the official seal. "It's from Industrial Illusions."

Joey instantly hopped back onto the couch, wide awake. "Industrial Illusions! That's the company that makes the Duel Monsters game. Why the heck would they be sending a package to you, Yugi?"

Yugi thought aloud. "I have no idea. Is it possible they heard I beat the world champion?"

Tea sighed, her eyes narrowed. "Kaiba.... right?"

Yugi sighed, nodding. "Yeah. It wasn't an official duel or anything, but Kaiba did drop out of the tournament because of me." Yugi thinks a little about the Duel against Kaiba... How he managed to summon Exodia and win.

Yugi shakes his head. "Yeah... That was really something..."

Joey groaned, rubbing his temples. "Just hearing Kaiba's name gives me a headache."

Tristan pointed dramatically at the television. "Whoa, guys, Raptor just stomped Weevil!"

Joey looked at Yugi. "Yugs, are these guys any good?"

Yugi nodded, his tone serious. "Oh yeah. They're both pretty tough customers. Weevil specializes in insect cards and she's a great strategist. Then you've got Rex Raptor and his dinosaur cards. He uses their sheer power to overwhelm his opponents."

Joey smirked with assurance. "Itsy-bitsy bugs against dueling dinosaurs? Raptor has got this one in the bag."

Yugi crossed his arms. "I wouldn't be so sure."

...

Back at the Duel Dome, Rex Raptor was clearly in the lead against Weevil Underwood, but the tension was thick.

𝑫𝑶𝑵'𝑻 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑺𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑨 𝑭𝑼𝑳𝑳 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬

Raptor slammed his card down, roaring with confidence. "Alright, Weevil, consider yourself... dinosaur chow! Come out! Two-Headed King Rex!"

The terrifying Two-Headed King Rex materialized, its two fearsome maws wide open, its roar echoing as the crowd went wild.

The Announcer shouted. "Oh! And Raptor plays the strongest card in his deck, the terrible Two-Headed King Rex! Looks like this match could be over right here, right now! With the Two-Headed King Rex in play, it looks like this duel is all done!"

Raptor smirked, crossing his muscular arms. "Your move."

Weevil, a small girl with deceptively sharp eyes, chuckled softly, a malicious sound. She sighed dramatically. "And all I have is this weak little bug I put face-down."

Weevil set a single, face-down monster card, a tiny shield against the huge and imposing dinosaur.

Rex Raptor laughed loudly. "Pftt, hahahaha! You just revealed to me the card you set! Are you that helpless?"

The Announcer sounded confused. "Weevil counters with a face-down?"

Back in Yugi's living room, Joey was back on the couch, laughing. "Man, he's playing defense against a giant dinosaur? The place'll be covered in bug guts."

Yugi held a finger to his chin, analyzing. "Maybe, but I wouldn't underestimate Weevil. Remember, you necessarily don't need to be aggressive in order to win a Duel."

Tea nodded, her face thoughtful. "That's logical.... This Weevil girl looks like problems..."

Back at the Duel Dome, Raptor pointed, his voice booming. "King Rex, let's take this championship. Stomp 'em!"

Weevil raised her hand, her eyes flashing with malice. "Fufufufu! Reveal yourself! Cannon Insect!"

Raptor’s eyes widened in confusion. "What!?"

Weevil’s monster was revealed a tiny insect, an ant, but it was encased in a powerful armor and armed with a massive cannon. Two-Headed King Rex attacked, biting the insect, but instantly regretted it as its teeth scraped uselessly against the hard, cold metal. The dinosaur roared in pain and stumbled back.

The Announcer screamed over the crowd. "Ohh!!! Looks like Weevil's Cannon Insect managed to defend itself from Two-Headed King Rex's assault! The Two-Headed King Rex's 1600 ATK points won't be enough to break the 2000 DEF!"

Raptor growled, gritting his teeth. "Gah! Stop hiding behind your bugs, you coward! Just wait until I draw my Equip cards! I end"

Weevil interrupted, her laughter high-pitched and maniacal. "Yukyukyukyuk! I am sorry to inform you that I activate my Trap Card! Did you really think that it was over? Hahahaha! But then, how could your tiny dinosaur brain know, when an enemy attacks, my Vortex activates!"

Raptor’s eyes widened in terror. "Oh no! It's a trap card!"

Weevil laughed with a long, cruel smugness. "Which totally traps your King Rex in its inescapable embrace! Reducing its ATK to 0!"

Raptor recoiled. "No. My King Rex!"

A dark, swirling vortex surrounded the King Rex, immobilizing it and stripping it of all power.

Weevil smirked. "And while he's trapped there, I'll activate my Cannon Insect effect! When his effect activates, I can send 1 Insect monster from my hand to the GY and give Cannon Insect ATK equal to the monster I just discarded! Now, without any further ado, Cannon Insect, charge up the Armor with Laser Canon!"

The Cannon Insect glowed, the cannon on its back powering up to a terrifying degree.

Weevil’s eyes flashed with pure malice. "Not such a wimpy little bug deck after all, hmmm? Pffttt hahahahahahahahaha! Attack!"

The Cannon Insect fired a powerful, focused laser beam, shooting the Two-Headed King Rex and dissolving the colossal dinosaur instantly.

Raptor stumbled back, his eyes wide and terrified. "Nooo! You.... Arghhh!!!"

Weevil let out a triumphant, echoing shriek of laughter. "HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHA! That King Rex is extinct. GONE! DEAD! DESTROYED!"

Raptor was on his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Awww. Big bad bug."

The Announcer was breathless. "A stunning upset by Weevil Underwood, our newest champion!"

Weevil smirked, holding up her deck in triumph as the crowd went wild.

Back to Yugi's living room, Joey’s mouth was still hanging open. "Man, King Rex squashed by an insect?"

Tea shook her head, impressed. "As always, big numbers are nothing against good against quick effects..."

Back at the Duel Dome, the Announcer continued the ceremony. "And now, a very special honor for our new champion! Here to present the Duel Monsters championship trophy, the creator of Duel Monsters and the president of Industrial Illusions! Ladies and gentlemen and fellow duelists, I give you Cecelia Pegasus!"

Pegasus, a woman with a distinct, unsettling elegance, holding a magnificent trophy, was raised by a platform into the middle of the arena. She walked over to Weevil and knelt, her face showing a polite, almost practiced smile.

Pegasus spoke softly. "Congratulations."

Weevil, tearing up with pride, reached for the trophy. "Uh. Thank you."

Pegasus leaned in, whispering into the champion's ear. "And, as regional champion, I invite you to compete in the bold new tournament I'm hosting at Duelist Kingdom!"

Weevil’s eyes went wide. She looked up at Pegasus, confusion mixing with excitement. "Duelist.... Kingdom?"

In the interior of a sleek, black car, Pegasus was being swiftly escorted away from the arena. She reclined in the lavish back seat, accepting a glass of chilled white wine from one of her many personal servants, taking a delicate sip and letting a cold smirk play on her lips.

A Lackey nodded dutifully. "Mrs. Pegasus, with the announcement that you made tonight, we'll have thousands of duelists flocking to Duelist Kingdom."

Pegasus pursed her lips, sighing with satisfaction. "Oh... Yes. And events such as this will hopefully attract those who possess the Millennium Items I seek. Which reminds me..."

The Lackey nodded instantly. "The package was delivered to the boy just as you ordered, Sir."

Pegasus closed her eyes, the satisfaction visible in her smile. "Excellent.... Excellent...."

                                         To Be Continued....

Next Episode - https://theworldfanfics.blogspot.com/2025/11/episode-3-shadow-game-part-2.html?m=1

Previous Episode - https://theworldfanfics.blogspot.com/2025/11/episode-2-heart-of-cards-part-2.html?m=1