A red... motorcycle?
No, or to be more precise, it should be a D-Wheel.
Two people jumped off the vehicle, one after the other, one with a crab-head style and the other with a jellyfish-head style — just by looking at their hairstyles, one could almost confirm their identities.
True card aficionados can recognize a protagonist just by the outline of their hairstyle.
These two were none other than the second and third-generation protagonists in the history of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yuki Judai from Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and Fudo Yusei from 5DS Space-Time!
As expected, just like in the movie version, Paradox went to 5DS Space-Time before coming to this era and stole Yusei's Stardust Dragon. Because he wantonly altered history, the space-time Yusei lived in started to collapse, and the entire world began to disappear.
The god-level Duel Monster Spirit "Red Dragon," residing within Yusei and his companions, lent its power to Yusei, temporarily granting his D-Wheel the ability to travel through time.
Thus, Yusei rode his D-Wheel, chasing after Paradox and came to this era... and on his way through GX Space-Time, he happened to pick up his senior, Yuki Judai.
Only...
...according to the normal plot, shouldn't the first person they meet in this era be Muto Yugi?
This gave Youyu a sudden sense of having stolen the protagonist's script...
The two true protagonists jumped off the vehicle. Yusei flung off his safety helmet, revealing his iconic crab-head hairstyle — Youyu was still wondering if such a hairstyle would be uncomfortable inside a helmet — and quickly ran to Youyu.
"Are you okay!?" he asked, concerned.
Judai also jumped down from the vehicle, but upon seeing Youyu clearly, he couldn't help but be stunned.
"You... You, Youyu-sensei!?"
Youyu: "?"
Why would I be sensei?
Does this mean my future self indeed went to Duel Academy to become a professor?
Barging in on the duel midway, Judai considered that he already understood the situation on the field. He turned around, clenched his fists, and angrily looked at Paradox on the opposite side: "You bastard! You actually came back to the past to attack sensei..."
Yusei also stepped forward, using his body to shield Youyu: "I won't allow you to act recklessly again!"
Youyu: Wait, you guys seem to be misunderstanding something. If you hadn't come, he'd already be... gone...
Though even if that hit had landed, it wouldn't have been fatal.
According to the animation, Paradox mentioned that in his Field Magic "Malefic World," those who lose in battle would be directly eliminated. However, now that Malefic World had been blown back into his hand, that power naturally disappeared as well.
That force field, although it simulated the Darkness Game, wouldn't be sufficient to take a life without the assistance of "Malefic World."
Moreover, Youyu also didn't want him to drop dead just yet.
After all, he still needed to ask Paradox why he was causing trouble for him and what he meant by the matter of spirits.
... And perhaps persuade him to leave behind that D-Wheel Duel Disc...
However, unexpectedly, the duel wasn't finished; it was interrupted — and by their own teammates!
Youyu watched as a certain crab-head stood protectively in front of him and fell into deep thought...
Could this be the legendary "Will of the Macro Cosmos"?
After all, Fudo Yusei was the founding father of "fixing things mid-duel."
But unexpectedly, this guy wasn't satisfied with just fixing his own stuff; now he's even dealing with others'...
However, to blame them... it seems not quite fair.
After all, the two of them traveled from the future, defying risks, with the intention to save him. They just didn't expect that this boss was kinda weak, and Youyu almost settled it alone...
The two protagonists from the future stepped forward side by side, with an imposing manner, seemingly prepared for a life-or-death battle.
As for Paradox, the boss...
... he took advantage of the moment while the two were talking and had already mounted that hefty D-Wheel and turned to flee...
Originally, within the force field he activated, it was impossible to leave before the duel decided a winner. However, that force field had obviously been torn apart by the powerful force attached to Yusei's D-Wheel when he rushed in.
So now it was convenient for him to escape...
Before anyone could speak, Paradox's D-Wheel activated, a certain high-tech device kicked in, with a high-pitched engine roar, and it vanished in place with a snap.
Yusei and Judai, who were striking poses: "..."
This antagonist doesn't even duel, just thinks about running away?
Seems different from all the opponents they've encountered so far...
Only then did the two protagonists turn around.
Yusei let out a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, you seem okay..."
Halfway through speaking, Yusei couldn't help but stop. Because he instinctively felt that the gaze from this elder Duel King seemed a bit unfriendly...
Not sure if it was an illusion, Yusei felt like this Duel King was constantly eyeing his D-Wheel and Duel Disc...
Youyu sighed softly.
Fine, fine.
He comforted himself. Either way, Paradox can run but not hide forever. The Duel Disc and D-Wheel can be considered temporarily stored with him.
Youyu had unintentionally considered those two pieces of equipment as his own...
"Although it might sound unbelievable, we're from the future, and so is that person just now." Yusei introduced himself, "I'm Fudo Yusei."
He looked at Judai, seemingly prompting Judai to introduce himself.
However, Judai...
... he was just staring blankly at Youyu's face...
At that moment, a female spirit with wings and a demonic appearance floated out from behind Judai, crossing her arms, and sneered: "Idiot, what are you daydreaming about?"
Yubel, nicknamed "Yubel-nee," Judai's Duel Monster Spirit and back guardian... possibly even a lover from a previous life.
She first appeared in the Other Dimension chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, initially portrayed as a yandere spirit madly in love with Judai, whose personality became severely twisted after being possessed by the "Light of Destruction." However, after being redeemed, she merged with Judai, becoming partners of one mind and body.
It must be said that the ending of Judai and Yubel was very much Yu-Gi-Oh!, truly fitting the saying "Lovers become guardian spirits"
Judai finally snapped out of it: "Ah, hello, sensei... oh no, now it should be Youyu-san..."
"Idiot, is there any point in changing names now?" Yubel continued the mockery.
Like an old married couple.
Although Youyu probably already understood what was going on, being a "past person" suddenly caught up in the event, he ought to appear bewildered.
As such, the two future protagonists enthusiastically introduced the course of events, explaining to him about Paradox traveling through time, stealing powerful monster spirits from various timelines, with the intention of altering history.
And due to his wanton alteration of history, the future where Yusei lived was on the verge of disappearing.
So no matter what, they had to stop him in this era!
Youyu thought for a moment, then asked, "But according to what you said, if his device can travel through time at will, there's no way to track him, right? As we speak, we don't even know which space-time he might have escaped to..."
"No, he shouldn't have left this era yet."
Yusei shook his head, rolling up the sleeve on his right arm.
"Because of this."
He pointed to a red mark on his forearm, shaped like a dragon's head.
Youyu knew this mark was called a "Signer," a proof of being a "Signer." Only those chosen by the Red Dragon, regarded as a deity by ancient star-dwelling people, would bear this mark.
"I also have a bit of unique power. If he tries to activate that Space-Time Device again to escape from this timeline, this mark will immediately respond." Yusei explained as concisely as possible.
"I see."
Though he explained it simply, Youyu roughly understood.
This implies that Paradox's machine for time travel is likely related to "Yusei Particles."
Yusei Particles were discovered by Fudo Yusei's father in the era of 5DS Space-Time, and Yusei himself was named because of this.
Yusei Particles were the key to developing the perpetual motion machine known as "Moment," which ushered humanity's civilization into a new stage. They were widely applied in various scientific fields, seemingly including the space-time travel device used by Paradox.
And since Yusei Particles had a particularly close relationship with Duel Monsters, in that era, dueling with cards became the fundamental element driving civilization's development through technological progress...