The first day of the Lucky Cup tournament was considered a smooth landing.
In terms of "maintaining the historical trajectory," Yugen felt it was quite successful. Even the unexpected situations were consistent with the history he was familiar with.
For instance, the Public Security Maintenance Bureau invited a Duelist with a reputation as the God of Death, but this guy was intercepted on the way.
A duelist named Honjo Kai secretly knocked out the God of Death, donned his coat, and impersonated him in the tournament because he was unsatisfied with losing the King's title challenge against Jack and wanted a rematch, but he didn't get the chance to enter the Lucky Cup.
Of course, like in the original history, this person was eliminated by Yusei Fudo.
However, Yugen found Honjo Kai's High-speed Counting Card Deck quite interesting.
Honjo Kai's card deck, original to the animation, was specifically designed for Riding Duels.
Apart from riding bikes while dueling, the biggest difference in Riding Duels compared to traditional duels lies in the introduction of the "High-speed Counting" concept.
This concept is similar to "costs" in other card games. Both players automatically gain one High-speed Counting point each turn. In Riding Duels, all traditional Magic Cards cannot be used, only High-speed Spells specific to Riding Duels can be used.
High-speed Spells require the corresponding High-speed Counting points as costs to use.
Honjo Kai's high-speed card deck can quickly accumulate High-speed Counting points and create a cost gap with the opponent, using High-speed Spell advantages to win.
Although he lost, Yugen saw potential in this deck.
He felt that Honjo Kai's card deck hadn't encountered the most suitable version yet. Once the Riding Duel rules update after the 5DS period starts using "High-speed World 2" as the basic field.
High-speed World 2 has an important basic effect not present in the first version of High-speed World. In High-speed World 2, the rider can remove 4 of their High-speed Counting points and show a High-speed Spell from their hand. For each card shown, they deal 800 damage to the opponent.
Unfortunately, Honjo Kai's minor role didn't get a chance to appear later on. If Yugen paired it with a self-sealing strategy and rapidly accumulated High-speed Counting, relying solely on the effect of "High-speed World 2" to burn blood, it might actually work.
Moreover, High-speed World 2 is a rules-type field that cannot be displaced or destroyed, making it the most suitable Divine Artifact for burning blood.
Additionally, the knight player who was scheduled to face Akiza Izinski in the first round also bore the wrath of the Berserk Witch, seemingly beaten worse than in the original.
Fortunately, this old man had a bit of a middle-school syndrome, wearing heavy golden armor and a helmet while playing cards. Akiza's Telekinesis was purely Physical Damage, unlike Dark Duel's mental attacks, so the armor provided quite a bit of protection.
Though the old man was eventually taken to the infirmary, at least he wasn't in serious trouble.
This story further tells us how important it is to wear armor and helmets while playing Yu-Gi-Oh!, otherwise it might be really dangerous.
The first day of the tournament ended, the spectators dispersed, and the players were each arranged to rest.
Yugen sat in the office, revisiting the recordings from earlier in the day and watching the feedback data collected from the Kaiba Group's Perpetual Motion Research Institute, gently tapping his fingers on the table.
"Hmm?"
Yugen suddenly frowned, muttering to himself.
"Did you all feel it?"
After a moment of silence, the Vampire Princess appeared nearby. Despite it being nighttime, the lady still carried her parasol, seemingly her standard accessory.
"The power of Darkness, the killing intent... it seems to be directed here."
"A taunting implication, towards us?"
Yugen turned off the screen and stood up from the chair.
"Interesting."
Leaving the Public Security Maintenance Bureau building, Yugen arrived at the duel arena. It's late at night, the spectators and players all gone, leaving the arena in darkness, empty.
But there was one D-Wheel there.
No, calling that a D-Wheel may be a stretch; the world rarely sees a D-Wheel so large, with a demonic skeletal design in the center. The D-Wheel is triangular, supported on the ground by three enormous tires, resembling a giant chariot.
Yugen recognized the D-Wheel. Its owner was one of the absent contestants in this Lucky Cup.
And at that moment, the D-Wheel's owner emerged from the darkness, emanating an aura of death. His eyes were as dark as a dead man's, and his face bore dark purple markings symbolizing Dark Markers.
"Poma."
Yugen spoke faintly.
"I sent someone to invite you to participate in the Lucky Cup, but my people said they couldn't reach you anywhere..."
He slightly narrowed his eyes, speaking softly.
"I really didn't expect you to be dead already."
Indeed, Poma had died, then resurrected, chosen to be a Dark Marker.
In the original story, Poma was also one of the Dark Markers, but that should have come after the Lucky Cup chapter.
History had changed once again.
"Godwin!" Poma exclaimed, "I resurrected from the depths of Hell to take my revenge on you!"
Yugen sighed lightly.
Well, borrowing Godwin's identity, although benefiting from a position of convenience, abundant resources, and cards, it also seemed he carried some of Godwin's grudges.
Though Yugen knew that in regard to Poma's matter, Godwin was actually innocent. Poma believed Godwin conducted experiments in his homeland to awaken and harness the Red Dragon's power, resulting in his entire homeland being evaporated, leaving no survivor from elders to children.
Thus, Poma angrily sought revenge against Godwin.
Nonetheless, Godwin was indeed innocent in this matter. It was not the Red Dragon nor Godwin who wiped out Poma's family, but the Dark Markers and Earth-Bound Gods, the faction he had joined. Yet now, Poma not only was unaware of this but was ultimately used by the Dark Markers.
Yugen: "Well, looks like no matter what I explain, you won't listen..."
"I will not hear your deceit, Godwin!" Poma shouted, "Only by using your blood can I mourn my slaughtered siblings!"
"Alright, if you insist... then I'll accompany you for a run."
Riding Duel.
This might actually be Yugen's first true Riding Duel. In the animation's riding rules, racing in the field of High-speed World, the only permitted magic is High-speed Spells.
Yugen mounted the D-Wheel, joining Poma at the starting line.
Poma twisted the throttle, the gigantic D-Wheel roared.
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP4000]
[Poma, LP4000]
The D-Wheel was massive, the horsepower seemed incredible. Poma's chariot took the lead, roaring along the track, seizing the first corner.
"I'm going first, draw card!"
Poma drew a card, his dark eyes swiftly scanned his hand, then he pulled out a card.
"Summon from hand 'Magic Reactor - Assault Style' in defense position!"
Red steel mecha was summoned to Poma's field, from within the mecha popped out a metallic dragon head.
[Magic Reactor - Assault Style, Defense Power 900]
"Then set three cards in the back row, end my turn!"
Poma angrily declared.
"Through the duel ceremony, sacrifice your soul to my blood offering!"