Vrrrmm...
In a rundown sewer, the roar of an engine echoed continuously.
Amidst a loud crackle, the engine gradually came to a stop. A man with a bizarre crab-like hairstyle crouched and began tweaking his machine.
"Hmm...this part's too loose."
Just as he was making adjustments, two people burst through the door cheerfully, a boy and a girl, one tall, one short.
The boy had strange banana-shaped yellow bangs, while the girl wore fan-like triple-layered bangs. Their fashion choices were oddly coordinated.
"Yusei!" the boy called out first. "So cool! Outside, it's packed with cops and D-Wheels! Everyone's getting ready for today's event!"
The girl promptly kicked his shin and snapped, "Shut it, Yugo! Can't you see Yusei's tuning his D-Wheel!?"
Yusei wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, smiled at them, and said, "It's fine. I just finished tuning."
This was Satellite, chosen by Security Director Rex Goodwin as the site for the interdimensional exchange.
Apparently, some people from another world had suddenly appeared, people with their own world, and their own Duel Monsters cards.
Regardless, due to security concerns, Goodwin had long blocked communication with them. Until recently, when he suddenly changed his stance and approved an exchange event.
The "Friendship Duel" was to take place in Satellite, the poorest, most run-down area of the City.
The two kids, Yugo and Rin, were orphans from Satellite. The man tuning the vehicle, with the air of a developer, was their elder acquaintance, Yusei Fudo.
"They say if we win a duel against an interdimensional Duelist, we can move to the Upper Sector, maybe even get into the Fortune Cup with Jack there!" Yugo shouted excitedly.
"Jack" referred to Jack Atlas, the King of this world. Like them, Jack came from humble origins, albeit he had climbed into the Upper Sector by sheer willpower and become the King of Duelists.
Yugo and Rin idolized him deeply.
Yusei's smile dimmed slightly at their enthusiasm, though he didn't dampen their spirits, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
Over the past two months, they had participated in the qualifiers. Though called a "tournament," it was more like a battle royale. Out of countless Satellite Duelists, they were the only ones to break through and earn the right to represent the City in duels against the visitors.
It seemed like an honor, while in reality, they were cannon fodder.
The Upper Sector simply wanted to test the strength of the outsiders using expendables from the bottom.
Even so;
Yusei closed the hood of the D-Wheel.
Victory meant a chance to enter the Fortune Cup and face Jack again.
That alone was enough to silence his doubts about the duel's motives.
He had a lot he still wanted to say to Jack.
They were old friends, something he never told the kids. To him, being "the King's friend" held no prestige, no interest.
He only wanted to know one thing, why had Jack stolen his card? Why had he betrayed him?
Just then, sirens blared outside, followed by loud banging at the door.
"Hey! Contestants! Get out here now! The visitors are about to arrive! If you make us late, you're done for!"
"These cops are such a pain," Yugo grumbled under his breath.
"Let's go," Yusei said simply, motioning to the kids.
"Okay~" Rin said sweetly, elbowing Yugo to hurry him up.
"I know, I know! Let's go, Yusei!!" he shouted, racing after his mentor.
Outside, numerous Security officers patrolled the area. Despite the title, they weren't there to protect citizens, but to safeguard the Upper Sector. Above, helicopters swarmed the Satellite sky.
To the locals, this kind of spectacle was a once-in-a-decade occurrence.
Yusei and the others followed the patrols down a predesignated route.
Upon arrival, they saw the so-called "interdimensional visitors."
They looked like regular humans. Nothing strange at first glance. Weird hairstyles, maybe, but that was pretty normal here, too.
The visitors were chatting with Security about accommodations they were to stay in this area for two weeks, and per protocol, they couldn't leave the Security-assigned zone, but within it, they could do as they pleased.
Make it their base? Sure. Tear stuff down? Build whatever? Fine.
They were currently setting up some strange equipment, things resembling magic portals, as well as lighting rigs, sound systems, and cameras, which looked like they were preparing a broadcast.
On the City side, helicopters were also positioning cameras and gear.
Suddenly, a man Yusei recognized leapt from one of the choppers, shouting excitedly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm your MC!"
With a slicked-back pompadour and a stylized mustache, the middle-aged man jumped down and announced, "Who would've thought I'd get to MC the first-ever interdimensional duel event!"
"So, without further ado!"
He landed with a loud thud, startling both locals and visitors alike.
Striking a dramatic pose atop a broken trash bin, he shouted, "Friends from another world! Citizens of the City! Let me explain the rules of this duel."
As he spoke, several helicopters unfurled a massive LCD screen in the sky.
The dark screen flickered on. A neatly dressed man in white gloves and slicked-back hair appeared onscreen, offering a polite smile. "Greetings, visitors from another world. I am the Director of Security for this City, Rex Goodwin. I apologize for not attending in person due to my official duties."
"Still afraid of being held hostage? Tch. What a coward," one Duelist muttered under his breath.
Hikaru shot him a glare but said nothing, eyes on the screen.
"We have already coordinated with KaibaCorp regarding your schedule and arrangements, so I won't waste time on that. Instead, allow me to explain the format of this Friendship Cup."
He outlined the duel structure.
Each participant would only duel once, the goal wasn't to crown a champion, but to foster exchange. After all matches concluded, City would present its own King for an exhibition match against a chosen visitor.
All other duels, including tag duels, would be determined randomly.
Then he invited Seto Kaiba to spin the randomizer. Kaiba, for some reason quite fond of such machines, stepped up gladly and spun the lottery under nervous Security supervision.
"Number 1!" Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
Of course. As the first confirmed contestant, he got slot one.
"Next up, Number 7!"
"Whoa!!" someone in the Security holding area cheered loudly.
Hikaru turned to the voice, momentarily stunned, then startled.
Elsewhere, in another dimension, a man calmly watching from a base stood up abruptly as the camera followed Hikaru's gaze.
"Huh? That girl looks just like Celina," Alexis said, having spent the most time with her.
"You're right! I almost thought they were twins! Is this what parallel worlds are like!?" Jaden exclaimed.
"And," Chazz muttered, stroking his chin, "They look about the same age. So, parallel world counterparts do exist? And didn't our world restrict Duelists that age from competing?"
He looked around the rundown area and the ragged people, rapidly piecing things together.
Hikaru understood even more.
His first visit to the S-Dimension, and he was already encountering Celina's counterpart, Yugo, and Yusei Fudo!
Yusei, the protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's!
'What a day!'
He glanced at Jaden and at Yugi, who was busy sketching something on a drawing board, 'The protagonists of Yu-Gi-Oh! are all gathering, four generations strong!'
Hikaru shook his head.
He was the opening act for the S-Dimension's first duel.
He stood properly on stage, awaiting his opponent.
Banana-head tried to leap up, but two cops pinned him down. Still not fully grown, he struggled free and tried to make a flashy entrance, only to get a knee to the gut from Rin.
She pointed at the duel platform. Scratching his head and chuckling awkwardly, Yugo stepped up.
Yusei encouraged him, "You got this, Yugo. Since they don't know each other, there's no pre-strategy to worry about."
"No problem! Leave it to me! I'll start things off with a bang!" Yugo thumped his chest, acting like he hadn't just been kneed.
"Interdimensional Duelist versus City Satellite Duelist!" the MC shouted from the center of the stage. "Day One, Match One of the Friendship Cup!!!
"Interdimensional Duelist No.1, the Absolute Fusionist, Amagi Hikaru!
"Facing...uh, this guy, Yugo!!!"
He shouted with all his might.
"Awww, man, I forgot to come up with a cool title!" Yugo smacked his forehead.
"DUEL!" Hikaru shouted.
"Uh, right, me too!" Yugo fumbled with his Duel Disk, revealing a bright white model.
[Yugo, LP: 4000]
[Hikaru, LP: 4000]
...
Bonus Chapter