From then on, the Friendship Cup proceeded in a relatively peaceful atmosphere. As the days passed, thanks to advanced technology and the powers of card spirits, the area of the Satellite District acquired by KaibaCorp rapidly developed.
KaibaCorp built numerous facilities, and since this territory now belonged to them, they didn't bother with courtesy toward the locals.
Soon, Duel Fields and world publicity centers were established, along with everyday goods stores and specialty shops, which the Satellite District had never dreamed of.
KaibaCorp didn't care whether someone was from the upper or lower district, as long as your Deck had forty cards, you were welcome.
To address currency incompatibility, KaibaCorp even issued special cards distributed freely to anyone with a valid forty-card Deck. What people did with them afterward- trade, barter, or otherwise- was up to them.
To a resource-starved Satellite District, this was a blessing!
It was hard enough to be a Duelist. Not everyone had a complete deck. KaibaCorp was basically handing out two weeks' worth of rations for free.
The district wasn't exactly starving, but hey, who doesn't like free stuff?
Thanks to these efforts, KaibaCorp and the interdimensional visitors were gradually seen in a friendlier light by the locals. Those like Yugo, who frequently interacted with the interdimensional travelers, were especially open and willing to share more about their world with Hikaru.
"A Skull Knight?" Jaden and the others gathered around, full of question marks, listening to Yugo.
"Yeah!" Yugo gestured wildly. "It only appears at night. They say it tracks people down, rides a horse to Duel and destroy them, a skeletal knight!"
"Never mind why it duels. Why is it riding a horse?" Chazz interjected.
"Because it's a Turbo Duel, duh!" Yugo laughed. "If it's not a Turbo Duel, it's not a real Duel!"
'Turbo Duel, huh?'
They all looked toward Hikaru and Yusei, who were tuning a motorcycle, this world's specialized Duel vehicle known as a "D-Wheel." It could auto-drive and read cards.
In this world, people were used to Turbo Duels, and regular Duels didn't excite anyone; As a result, there were few professionals in standard formats.
Rumor had it that there was a strange secret behind this, known only to insiders and the elite. Hikaru, however, knew the truth. In the world of 5D's, D-Wheel Turbo Duels resonated with the "Perpetual Motion Engine," generating infinite energy to power the world.
Here, Dueling wasn't just the most important activity, it was the core of civilization.
Since he hadn't found any sign of KaibaCorp in this version of the world, Hikaru concluded that while the people and events of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's existed, and the details were undoubtedly different. Despite that, overall, the setting still echoed 5D's.
Understandable. His own world wasn't exactly identical to what he remembered, either.
As for the Skull Knight, even Hikaru wasn't sure.
Was it that random Duelist Jack one-shotted in Episode 1?
Though not good with science, Hikaru was handy with machines. Assisting Yusei was easy enough, and he didn't need to focus as much. So he picked up bits and pieces.
Apparently, the Skull Knight appeared only at night, riding a skeletal horse. An old legend in this world, part urban myth.
"Okay, okay, Yugo, no need to scare them," Rin said, grabbing his flailing hands.
"Still sounds kinda familiar," Alexis said, troubled.
Chazz nodded.
"Urban legends? Ghost stories?" Jaden scratched his head. "Honestly, I've dueled demons, zombies, robots. It's not that weird. Pretty normal, really."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Yugo and Rin were stunned. Rin, the supposedly aloof one, was the first to ask, "R-Really?"
"It's not that strange. Could be a Duel Monster Spirit."
"Duel Monster Spirit? That's just a myth!"
"You guys have those stories, too? Great. Here, let me show you something. Hey, Captain Gold, you there?"
At his call, the golden figure shimmered faintly beside him.
Rin and Yugo jumped. They seemed to catch a glimpse of a golden outline but couldn't make out the details.
"Whoa, you guys can see that?" Chazz was surprised.
"I-I kinda felt it." Yugo stammered.
Though they hadn't had Celina's level of training, their innate talent let them vaguely sense its presence.
Yusei, meanwhile, looked up curiously but saw nothing at all.
The group then explained interdimensional travel to Yugo and Rin. When they learned it was possible to encounter card spirits, bond with them, and travel or Duel together, both kids were visibly awed.
To be honest, if Yusei hadn't been through all he had, he might have been thrilled too.
They chatted for a long time with Yugo, even analyzing various urban myths based on what they knew.
Eventually, they planned to take the kids to KaibaCorp. Some new exhibits there might amaze them. Though younger by two or three years, the kids were skilled enough as Duelists to earn a good evaluation, and gifts.
They'd never left the Satellite District, so they were thrilled. They told Yusei, who nodded and returned to tuning the D-Wheel.
That evening, with the sky dark, Hikaru helped test the D-Wheel on the underground track. Once the final readouts came in, he and Yusei high-fived excitedly.
They'd done it, a handmade D-Wheel with a built-in perpetual motion engine! Nearly perfect!
Now it just needed fine-tuning.
Hikaru was pumped.
He wasn't great with tech, but working with Yusei had helped him understand many concepts. He now had the full confidence to modify Professor Banner's dimensional gate formula.
That night, Hikaru packed up his gear and notes and headed back to base. Two police cruisers escorted him.
He had no complaints until halfway through, when he suddenly noticed Tierra materializing beside him and tugging his arm.
Hikaru didn't resist; she pulled him just in time.
A shadowy figure swept past. Both police officers collapsed instantly. Strange flames rose nearby, and smoke thickened.
"Hmm?" Hikaru straightened, looking ahead with Tierra.
A towering figure atop a skeletal horse stared him down. Hollow eyes. Bare bones. A skeletal Duelist.
The very urban legend he'd just heard about?
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
Or... had it been stalking him all along, waiting for him to be alone?
The bone horse bowed its head. Skeletal plates on its back rose, forming a Duel Disk, glowing ominously.
'Figures. Makes sense.'
Hikaru couldn't identify this spirit. But if it was challenging him to a Duel, retreat wasn't an option.
"Fine then. Let's see what your legend's all about."
He activated his Duel Disk.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000]
[Skull Knight, LP: 4000]
...
Bonus Chapter
Stones PLZzzz