Dark Magician is considered a mythic-level rare card in this world, comparable in fa to the "Egyptian Gods."
After all, it's the ace card of the original King of Gas, Yugi Muto!
Precisely because of that significance, even though Dark Magician isn't the "rarest card" per se—far outclassed in rarity by Dark Magician Girl, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and the recently discovered "Crystal Beasts"—its card value is by no ans any less than those top-tier rarities.
More importantly, since King of Gas Yugi Muto has transitioned into card design, all remaining Dark Magician copies have beco collector's items in every sense. The ones still in circulation among Duelists are now the scarcest of the scarce.
Even if soone wanted to make a replica, there's nowhere to do it.
In other words—
"This one's the real deal!" Tierra exclaid in astonishnt upon hearing Hikaru's explanation. "But why does the artwork look different from the promo posters we saw before?"
"They're all Dark Magician, but so are labeled [Legendary Magician], while others are just standard Dark Magician," Hikaru muttered, flipping through the cards.
"This alternate-art version. I don't know where they sourced it, though, since they're trying to create an artificial spirit from this Dark Magician, that must an that originally, this card had no spirit—it was just an ultra-rare collector's piece."
Hikaru rembered that in the earliest Yu-Gi-Oh! series, Yugi once dueled a magician nad Arkana, who also wielded a Dark Magician.
His Dark Magician would even occasionally react to him. But this one in Hikaru's hand felt completely devoid of "soul."
The Union Doctor was seized by two robots. Hikaru hesitated a mont before approaching A-Assault Core to ask what their next move would be.
"Headquarters has been contacted."
A-Assault Core acknowledged Hikaru's question, then elaborated further.
First of all, as recompense for their tornt, there was no way they would let these humans go.
They also needed to interrogate them to find out which dinsion the other Union Machine inhabitants had been taken to.
Beyond that, since Hikaru was their rescuer, if he wished to take them into custody, they could reluctantly agree—as a favor to their benefactor.
"No need. I'm fine either way. But please check first to see if anyone's been brainwashed. Don't punish everyone wholesale."
"Understood."
Hikaru had also considered how to handle them—letting them go was out of the question. Either they would be kept as "baggage" under Leo Akaba's watch, or they wouldn't be released at all.
After all, if these people survived, they'd just beco accomplices again, unless they were sent straight to prison, releasing them was a nonstarter.
Still, the period of contact between humans and other dinsions had been short, and although KaibaCorp had crafted many "special KaibaCorp laws," those mostly applied to Duelists.
Seto Kaiba had always been that way—disinterested in anything outside dueling. To him, soone without a Deck might not even count as a "resident."
This is, after all, the man who declared, "Anyone with fewer than 40 cards must leave Domino City."
In other words, the rules currently followed by the majority regarding interactions with other worlds are really just accumulated tacit understandings over the years.
So stem from mistakes in spirit interactions, while others stem from the havoc wrought by lunatic humans. For example, Spirit research is technically taboo, but what exact punishnt it carries remains unclear.
Right now, Hikaru's best course is to have the local spirits "detain" them, and whether it's a cryo-chamber or a spirit-world prison, it should be done under local spirit laws and regulations.
That way, if questioned later, KaibaCorp can always respond with sothing like, "If you lost to a spirit in a Duel, you must face the consequences."
Afterward, he would coordinate with Chazz to prepare for what cos next. Chazz had already shown a strong interest in this subject, so collaborating would align with his current goals.
Hikaru asked A-Assault Core to handle the nearby computers. As a Machine-type spirit, it had no trouble scanning an unprotected network for data.
Unfortunately, Hikaru didn't have any Cyberse cards; otherwise, they could've extracted even more valuable intel.
He had A-Assault Core delete all recordings, especially any footage of Super Polyrization fusing the Three Sacred Beasts. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't bother covering his tracks, but the traces of Super Polyrization? Those were stuff he absolutely didn't want others to see.
Then he did another sweep to check for any intel on other dinsional research facilities within this lab.
Sadly, he found nothing. It was evident that each research facility operated independently, likely for confidentiality.
"So cautious, that egg-headed freak," Hikaru muttered with a frown.
"Master," A-Assault Core rolled back to Hikaru as he pondered his next move, "Headquarters has issued a new directive."
"What is it?"
"Regardless of whether your friend wins or loses, you and he shall be considered our greatest allies."
Hikaru nodded.
"Also—please open your Alchemic Grimoire."
Hearing that, Hikaru blinked in surprise, then carefully retrieved the Erald Book he'd been guarding, opened it, and flipped through the pages.
"You guys know about this book, too?"
"The legendary Alchemic Grimoire of the peerless Alchemist," A-Assault Core beeped. "It's said that once you forge a contract through it, ssages can be left within, enabling communication across dinsions."
Hikaru nodded.
He had already heard about it from the Golden Idol. The Golden Lord of the Golden Land—a Lich in that world—could hear Banner's voice even from his own dinsion. That's because Banner could communicate with anyone bound by contract through the book.
Back then, it was through this thod that Captain Gold was sent to the human world when Banner called for aid.
However, because each interdinsional coordinate had been labeled as a "subject" by Banner, Hikaru hadn't been able to contact anyone.
Until now.
Hikaru drew a rune in the air. Green alchemic symbols floated up as A-Assault Core transmitted an electrical signal into the glyph.
A grand voice echoed out: "Thank you for rescuing our people."
An image appeared in the book.
It was—
A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon!
And on its image was an elaborate three-dinsional pattern—clearly this dinsion's coordinate seal.
"Whoa…" Hikaru marveled.
Literally the combined form of all Union Machines from A to Z—no wonder this dinsion's strongest spirit was it!
This was a truly powerful monster card, one that boasted the "Triple Negate" effect: when the opponent activates a monster, Spell, or Trap card, discard 1 card as cost to negate and destroy that activation!
Unfortunately, it looked like its spirit power was being suppressed by the Sacred Beasts. Otherwise, with strength rivaling Hamon, it might have rescued the inhabitants itself.
"Warrior of humanity," its voice ca from the emblem. "Henceforth, in all matters regarding this faction, you may contact us freely. We shall assist from the sidelines. Our treads and cannons shall battle them to the death!"
'So this is how Professor Banner had ford pacts and communication across spirit worlds?'
A smile crept onto Hikaru's face.
The first contact!
"Thank you, A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon!"
He closed the book and was about to head back to Chazz to check on his progress when Tierra's voice chid in again.
"Hold up, we should dismantle their dinsional gate too. That's all usable material."
"Ah, right!"
Ti to shear the sheep dry!
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