Chapter Summaries

Katsuya Jonouchi faced Elinor, who challenged him to prove her strength and stopped his Fusion Summon with her Ice Counter Deck. Joey's monsters were left weakened and unable to attack, while Elinor's turn was still underway.

• Elinor introduced herself and challenged Katsuya Jonouchi, saying she would prove she was stronger than Ruiji.
• Elinor summoned Ice Cold Magician, activated Absolute Ice Barrier, and set a card.
• Joey Wheeler used Cup of Ace to draw two cards, then Fusion Summoned Fiend Dragon - Black Demon Dragon.
• Elinor activated Fusion Freeze, destroying the Fusion Monster and Special Summoning its materials, Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Summoned Skull, to Joey's Field with Ice Counters.
• Absolute Ice Barrier lowered both monsters' ATK by 500 and prevented them from declaring attacks.

Joey Wheeler began to break through Elinor's Ice Counter strategy by using dice effects and evolving Red-Eyes into Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon. The chapter ended as Joey attacked Elinor's stronger Ice Blizzard Master with his weaker dragon.

• Joey recognized how Elinor's Ice Counters froze his monsters and watched her Tribute Summon Ice Blizzard Master.
• Elinor sent Absolute Ice Barrier to the Graveyard to destroy Joey's frozen monsters, then attacked directly, but Joey reduced Ice Blizzard Master's ATK with Dice of Devil.
• Joey used Card of Fate and Silent Doom to revive Red-Eyes Black Dragon, while Elinor Special Summoned Dragon Ice from her Graveyard.
• Joey Tributed Red-Eyes Black Dragon to Special Summon Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon and attacked Ice Blizzard Master despite its higher ATK.

Joey defeated Elinor after countering her three-tribute summon of The Tripper Mercury and its field-wide ATK reduction. Elinor lost the duel, while Joey told her that a duelist needed to fight for themself.

• Joey's Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon revived Red-Eyes Black Dragon, which doubled its ATK and destroyed Elinor's Ice Blizzard Master.
• Elinor Special Summoned High-Level Devotee and Water Spirit Aquaria, then tributed them with Dragon Ice to summon The Tripper Mercury.
• The Tripper Mercury's effect threatened to reduce Red-Eyes Black Dragon's ATK to zero, prompting Joey and Elinor to trade several cards in a chain.
• Joey activated Spell of Calling the Void to negate and destroy every card in the chain, including The Tripper Mercury.
• Joey attacked with Red-Eyes Black Dragon and reduced Elinor's Life Points to zero, then told her she needed to fight for herself.

Tragœdia raged at his subordinates for losing Planet Series cards, then ordered them to stay away from Duel Academy Island and Katsuya Jonouchi while he considered Seto Kaiba. On Duel Academy Island, the Black Scorpion Thief Gang learned that their Boss was coming and prepared for their mission.

• Tragœdia berated his two subordinates for losing Mercury and other Planet Series cards, then unleashed his Aura of Darkness in his anger.
• Tragœdia ordered his subordinates to avoid Duel Academy Island and Katsuya Jonouchi until he gave further instructions.
• One subordinate asked whether they would retrieve the White-feathered Spirit and Mat's Feather from Academy Island, and Tragœdia suspected Seto Kaiba was the reincarnation of one of the Seven High Priests.
• Tragœdia said Seto Kaiba's influence made him an interesting target and laughed about his unfinished business with the Pharaoh and the priests.
• At the bottom of a dry well on Duel Academy Island, the Black Scorpion Thief Gang celebrated that their Boss was coming and reaffirmed their thief's code.

Kira collected Vampire cards from the Student Council warehouse, then learned that a spirit resembling Head Zaluug had appeared at the academy. He found Zaluug and the Thief Group trying to infiltrate the island to steal the Seven Star Keys and warned them that stolen keys were useless.

• Kira selected Vampire Grace and other cards from the Student Council warehouse, explaining to Seika Kohinata that he could now build a Vampire Deck.
• Kira insisted on paying DP points for the cards despite Seika's offer to waive the cost.
• A Student Council student reported seeing the spirit known as Shut-In Revolver, and Kira became interested.
• Head Zaluug complained that students kept recognizing him as a monster and ruining his attempt to infiltrate the academy.
• Kira emerged from the shadows and told Zaluug and the Thief Group that stolen Seven Star Keys were useless.

Kira explained that the Seven Star Keys could only be won in duels and challenged Zallug’s Black Scorpion Thief Gang, wagering their spirits against his key. Zallug accepted and began the duel by summoning himself and bringing his gang onto the field.

• Kira told Zallug that the Seven Star Keys had to be won through a duel to break the Sacred Beasts’ seal.
• Kira wagered his key against the five Black Scorpion spirits, and Zallug agreed to the duel.
• Zallug started the duel by physically entering the Monster Zone as Head Zaluug and setting one card.
• Kira set two cards and ended his turn without summoning a monster.
• Zallug activated Black Scorpion Gang Gathering and summoned Mina, Gog, and Qik, while Cliff complained that he had not gotten onto the field yet.

Kira battled Zallug and used his traps to wipe out most of the Black Scorpion Thief Gang. Zallug was left with Gog as his only monster, while Kira revived Head Zaluug from Zallug’s Graveyard.

• Zallug began the duel by shooting Kira, and Kira activated Damage Condenser to summon Pyramid Turtle after taking damage.
• Gog destroyed Pyramid Turtle, whose effect summoned Vampire Lord from Kira’s Deck.
• Zallug activated Bottomless Trap Hole, but Kira Tributed Vampire Lord to activate Deck Devastation Virus and destroy the gang’s weaker monsters.
• Zallug ended his turn with Gog as his only remaining monster, and Kira drew cards with Graceful Charity.
• Kira used Monster Reborn to revive Head Zaluug from Zallug’s Graveyard, and Zallug walked into Kira’s monster zone.

Kira used the Black Scorpions’ own cards against Zallug and Gog, but Zallug drew a powerful counter and reclaimed control of his monsters. Kira stopped Zallug’s attempted finishing attack with Winged Kuriboh, leaving the duel poised for his next turn.

• Kira summoned Black Scorpion - Thorny Mina and used Black Scorpion - Tragedy of Love to destroy Gog, then made Zallug attack himself.
• Zallug drew Reckless Greed and Owner's Seal, returning Head Zaluug to his Field and summoning Mina from his Graveyard.
• Zallug declared a direct attack, but Kira banished Revive Kuriboh to summon Winged Kuriboh and prevent all Battle Damage for the turn.
• Zallug realized his attack had failed and feared what Kira would do on his next turn.

Kira used the Black Scorpion Thief Gang’s effect to send three Jackpot 7 cards from his Deck to the Graveyard, triggering their victory condition. After all three were banished, he won the Duel against Zallug.

• Kira drew five cards with Monster Recovery, added Black Scorpion Thief Gang to his hand, and summoned it.
• Kira gave control of Black Scorpion Thief Gang to Zallug, then summoned Army Dragon and attacked the gang with it.
• Army Dragon was destroyed, letting Kira summon another copy while the gang’s effect sent the first Jackpot 7 from his Deck to the Graveyard and banished it.
• Kira repeated the attack with his second Army Dragon, sending and banishing a second Jackpot 7.
• Kira’s third Army Dragon attacked and was destroyed, allowing the gang’s effect to send the final Jackpot 7 to the Graveyard; Kira banished it and won the Duel.

After losing a Dark Duel to Kira using the Black Scorpion Thief Gang more effectively than he could, Zallug feared he had failed his brothers, but Kira revealed he had spared them. Kira invited the thieves to join an Anti-Seven Stars Squad.

• Zallug admitted that Kira had beaten him with the Black Scorpion Thief Gang and that he had never lost a duel so completely.
• Mina, Qik, Cliff, and Gog reassured Zallug that they did not blame him and would face death alongside him.
• Kira told the thieves that they were not dead because he had deliberately held back in the Dark Duel.
• Kira explained that he wanted the thieves to help him and invited them to join an Anti-Seven Stars Squad.

Fujiki Kira recruited the Black Scorpion Thief Gang into his group after defeating them, then learned why they could remain in the real world as spirits. The gang revealed that their true forms were already there, while Qianjin explained that she stayed quiet because she disliked the sun.

• Zallug and the Black Scorpion Thief Gang agreed to join Kira after he offered more money and pointed out that most of the Seven Stars had already defected or been defeated.
• The gang learned Kira was the new-generation Duel King, then celebrated their recruitment with a lavish meal at a restaurant.
• Kira discovered the gang had been working undercover at Duel Academy for years while pursuing the Sacred Beasts Key.
• The Black Scorpions explained that they could remain physical because their true forms were in the real world, where they had chosen to stay for its food and entertainment.
• Qianjin appeared and told Kira she could also remain in the real world, but avoided doing so because the sun was too hot.

Kira learned that Qianjin and Silent could use hypnosis or mental influence, then met Mokuba at KaibaCorp to discuss support against the Seven Stars and accepted a paid appearance at a tournament opening ceremony. Mokuba offered him a private jet for travel between events, leaving Kira stunned.

• Kira asked whether the spirits could transform or use hypnosis, and Qianjin said her Vampire Race excelled at hypnosis and mental influence.
• Silent indicated that she could do similar things, then returned to the Deck as Kira praised her.
• Kira flew from Academy Island to KaibaCorp, where Mokuba agreed to provide technical support for the operation against the Seven Stars.
• Mokuba invited Kira to give a speech at a tournament opening ceremony, and Kira accepted after learning the organizer would pay ten million.
• Mokuba told Kira that KaibaCorp would provide him with a private jet, and Kira was taken aback.

Kira coordinated a gathering of undercover agents among the Seven Stars at an ancient manor, where several supposed allies discovered one another. The meeting was interrupted by Titan, whom Kira identified as the only genuine enemy in the room.

• Mokuba told Kira that KaibaCorp had given him a new jet plane with an unreleased AI flight system.
• Zallug and the Black Scorpions arrived at the manor for a Seven Stars meeting while Kira guided them to undercover allies Tania and a masked man they mistook for the Pharaoh.
• The Alchemist entered, and Kira revealed that he was also an ally, leaving eight undercover agents gathered in the room.
• Titan arrived, and Kira warned the others that Titan was their enemy, prompting Zallug to pity him as the lone legitimate Seven Stars member.

The Master of the Seven Stars announced that a mole had leaked the location of stolen Living Alchemy Materials, and the assembled members accused Titan. The chapter left Titan facing the Master's hostile demand for an explanation.

• Titan arrived at the meeting, where the Master of the Seven Stars revealed that Darkness and Camula were dead.
• Zallug, Tania, and the Pharaoh demanded that the Master reveal his identity, and the Master instead accused someone among them of being a mole.
• The Master said a batch of Living Alchemy Materials had vanished and that only Seven Stars Cadres-level personnel could access them.
• Daitokuji, Qik, Tania, Mina, and the Pharaoh each offered suspicious stories implicating Titan.
• Titan denied the accusations, but the Master of the Seven Stars demanded that he explain himself.

Titan dueled Kagemaru after the group accused him of being a mole, while Kira watched to learn what Deck Kagemaru used. Kagemaru revealed an Air Circle Deck and trapped Titan’s Demon Cavalry inside Changing Air Circle Bird, which then attacked directly.

• Titan denied being a mole, but Kagemaru began a Shadow Game through the screen, and Titan accepted the duel.
• Kagemaru opened with Pot of Greed, set a monster and two cards, and ended his turn.
• Titan summoned Demon Cavalry and attacked Kagemaru’s face-down Air Circle Bird, but Kagemaru’s Compensation Wind Pressure changed Demon Cavalry to Defense Position.
• Kagemaru summoned Changing Air Circle Bird and used its effect to absorb Demon Cavalry as an Equip Card, raising its ATK to 2000.
• Changing Air Circle Bird attacked Titan directly.

Kagemaru’s Air Circle Deck wounded Titan and protected Changing Air Circle Bird, but Titan answered with a Ritual Summon of Demon Matador and a Tribute Summon of Summoned Skull. Demon Matador revealed its battle effect by destroying the bird while remaining unharmed.

• Kagemaru used Dark Barrier to stop Titan’s Sakuretsu Armor, and Changing Air Circle Bird attacked Titan, reducing his LP from 4000 to 2000.
• Kagemaru set three cards and ended his turn, returning the absorbed Demon Cavalry to Titan during the End Phase.
• Titan Ritual Summoned Demon Matador by offering Legendary Demon as a tribute, then Tribute Summoned Summoned Skull by offering Demon Cavalry.
• Titan sent Demon Matador to attack Changing Air Circle Bird, and its effect destroyed the bird while preventing its own destruction by battle.

Kagemaru used his Air Circle Deck to absorb Titan’s strongest monsters and defeat him in the Shadow Game. Kira became interested in the Deck, feeling that it had an affinity with him.

• Titan’s Summoned Skull destroyed Changing Air Circle Bird, but Kagemaru revived an Air Circle Bird with Atmospheric Regeneration.
• Kagemaru used Synthetic Air Circle Bird and Atmospheric Transmission to summon another Air Circle Bird and Changing Air Circle Bird from his Graveyard and Deck.
• Air Circle Bird prevented Titan from declaring attacks while another Air Circle remained on Kagemaru’s Field.
• Kagemaru activated Pot of Greed and Earthquake, changing the monsters on the Field to Defense Position.
• Kagemaru’s Changing Air Circle Bird absorbed Demon Matador and Summoned Skull, then used them to attack Titan and reduce his Life Points to zero.
• Kira watched Kagemaru win and thought that the Air Circle Deck seemed to have an affinity with him.

After Kagemaru killed Titan during the meeting, Kira used the infiltrators’ equipment to trace Kagemaru’s signal to an office building in L City. Kira flew there, broke through its defenses, and infiltrated the building.

• Kagemaru defeated Titan in a duel, and Titan died still insisting he was not the mole.
• Kagemaru turned the meeting to the Seven Stars Keys and said he was dissatisfied that they had found none.
• Kira ordered the infiltrators to keep Kagemaru talking while KaibaCorp’s technical team tracked his video signal.
• Kira’s team traced the signal to a Baby Products Company office building in L City, and a KC Jet Plane flew him there.
• Kira evaded the building’s anti-aircraft guns, used Silent Magician to shatter its reinforced glass, and entered the fortieth floor.

Kira fought his way through Kagemaru’s facility and found a room filled with preserved animals and people. Kagemaru appeared and explained that he had rescued Hanon and twenty-nine others, but declared that his own life was more valuable than theirs.

• Kira defeated the armed thugs and several duelists as he made his way toward Kagemaru.
• Kira bypassed the locked door and walked through machine-gun fire and a crushing trap, destroying the weapons with sword energy.
• Silent Magician lit the room, revealing rows of preserved specimens, including people sealed in glass pods.
• Kira stopped before a pod containing a girl, and Kagemaru identified her as Hanon, who had been abducted three months earlier.
• Kagemaru claimed he had rescued Hanon and twenty-nine other victims from a Dark Duelist and helped the survivors start new lives.
• Kira challenged the justification for taking Hanon’s life, and Kagemaru replied that his life was more valuable than hers or anyone else’s.

Kira rejected Kagemaru’s justification for sacrificing lives to prolong his own, and the two began a deadly Shadow Game to decide whether Kagemaru could keep pursuing eternal life. Kagemaru opened with an Air Circle combo, determined to defeat the Duel King.

• Kira challenged Kagemaru’s claim that saving many people justified taking lives, and Kagemaru admitted he feared aging and death.
• Kira refused to help Kagemaru obtain eternal life, so Kagemaru activated a powerful Dark Duel and declared that their duel would decide life and death.
• Kira took the first turn and set two cards before ending his turn.
• Kagemaru used Graceful Charity to draw three cards and discard two, then summoned Synthetic Air Circle Bird.
• Kagemaru used Synthetic Air Circle Bird’s effect to Special Summon Air Circle Bird from his Graveyard and vowed to overcome Kira.