Several days passed after the conclusion of the Duel Monsters Grand Prix; However, rather than fading away, the excitement surrounding the tournament only seemed to grow stronger.
Every morning, new articles appeared in newspapers across Los Angeles, New York and the rest of the nation.
Some focused on the tournament itself, others focused on Industrial Illusions' rise, a surprising number also focused on Alexander thanks to his young age in combination with his success, and a few seemed determined to speculate about everything at once.
At the moment, Alexander sat inside the Chess Club room together with Chuck and Ginny.
The table between them was covered with newspapers.
Chuck was currently reading one with an increasingly offended expression, "The Young Genius Revolutionising Entertainment. LOS ANGELES — Most fifteen-year-olds spend their weekends at the mall, playing video games, or worrying about homework. Alexander, founder and president of Industrial Illusions, spent his weekend hosting one of the most talked-about gaming events in Southern California.
The inaugural Duel Monsters Grand Prix, held this past Saturday, attracted more than 200 participants from across the region and awarded a grand prize of $1,000, an amount virtually unheard of for a card game competition. The event drew spectators, hobby enthusiasts, retailers, and members of the press, all eager to witness the phenomenon that has swept through schools, game shops, and community centres in recent months.
At the heart of the excitement is Duel Monsters, a game that many industry observers are calling a revolutionary new form of entertainment. Unlike traditional card games, Duel Monsters combines strategic gameplay with the thrill of collecting. Players build personalised decks from an ever-growing pool of cards, ensuring that no two competitors approach the game in exactly the same way.
The concept of a collectable card game, where players actively trade, collect, and customise their playing pieces, has generated remarkable enthusiasm among young consumers. Retailers report strong demand for Duel Monsters products, with booster packs and starter decks frequently selling out shortly after arriving on store shelves.
'What we're seeing is something entirely new,' said one hobby store owner attending the tournament. 'Kids aren't just playing the game—they're talking about it, trading cards, building strategies, and forming communities around it.'
While it remains to be seen whether Duel Monsters can maintain its meteoric rise, the success of the Grand Prix suggests that Industrial Illusions may have created more than a popular game. It may have introduced a new category of entertainment altogether.
For Alexander, however, the achievement is already remarkable. At just fifteen years old, he has transformed an ambitious idea into one of the fastest-growing trends in the gaming industry—and judging by the crowds at the Grand Prix, this may only be the beginning."
His eye twitched after he read the article, then he looked directly at Alexander and said, "I hate you."
Alexander didn't even bother looking up from the article in his own hands and said, "You'll get over it."
"No, I won't."
"Give it a week."
"Maybe."
Ginny rolled her eyes as the two of them had been repeating variations of the same conversation for days.
She picked up another newspaper and read out loud, "Industrial Illusions exceeds expectations. Few analysts would have predicted that a small Los Angeles gaming company founded less than a few months ago would become one of the entertainment industry's fastest-growing success stories. Yet Industrial Illusions continues to exceed expectations.
Driven by the explosive popularity of its flagship product, Duel Monsters, the company has rapidly expanded its presence in hobby stores and retail outlets throughout Southern California and beyond. Industry observers report strong sales, sustained consumer demand, and increasing interest from distributors seeking to secure future inventory.
The recent Duel Monsters Grand Prix further demonstrated the company's momentum. Drawing over 200 competitors and offering a $1,000 grand prize, the event attracted significant public attention and showcased an unusually engaged player community.
Particularly noteworthy is the age of the company's founder and president, fifteen-year-old Alexander. While young entrepreneurs occasionally find success in technology and entertainment, few have overseen the creation of an entirely new product category. The collectable card game model pioneered by Duel Monsters has already begun attracting attention from competitors hoping to replicate its success.
Whether Industrial Illusions can maintain its rapid growth remains to be seen. For now, however, the company has firmly established itself as one of the most promising new names in the gaming industry."
Her eyebrows rose slightly, and she said, "This one is actually pretty impressive."
Alexander shrugged and said, "They're not wrong."
Chuck immediately pointed accusingly at him, "See? That's exactly what I mean."
"What?"
"That."
"What that?"
"The confidence."
Alexander finally looked up, "Would you prefer false modesty?"
Chuck opened his mouth, paused, then reluctantly lowered his finger and admitted, "...No."
"Thought so."
Ginny snorted out loud at their banter, then before Chuck could formulate another complaint, her attention shifted toward a photograph printed on one of the pages.
The image showed Victor standing on stage while holding the Red-Eyes Black Dragon card.
Chuck noticed that, and a low groan escaped him as he said, "There he is."
Alexander glanced at the picture and saw that Victor looked exactly as expected: Calm. Composed. Victorious.
Chuck pointed at the card and lamented, "My cool beautiful dragon."
"It was never your dragon."
"It should have been."
"It wasn't."
Chuck slumped dramatically against his chair and in a deflated tone said, "The universe is cruel."
"The universe rewarded the better duelist."
"The universe is cruel."
Ginny laughed, and Alexander also couldn't help smiling.
Even several days later, Chuck still hadn't fully recovered from losing both the tournament and the card.
Eventually Ginny folded the newspaper and asked, "Do you still talk with Victor?"
Alexander nodded, "Occasionally."
That answer wasn't entirely inaccurate, as the two of them exchanged letters from time to time.
Mostly discussing cards, deck construction, business strategy, future possibilities, and so on.
Neither mentioned the incident in the restroom, and neither mentioned the demon, yet the memory lingered.
Alexander couldn't quite explain why, but Victor seemed different since that day.
Only slightly, as the change was so subtle that most people would never notice it.
Victor remained proud, ambitious, intense, yet there was something else now, as though a pressure that had always existed beneath the surface had eased somewhat.
Alexander wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, especially since he hadn't expected Victor to maintain contact, but it was clear that Duel Monsters and the Duel Spirits hidden beneath it left a deep impression.
Fortunately, Chuck interrupted his thoughts as he asked, "So what's next?"
Alexander blinked, "For what?"
"Duel Monsters."
Immediately, Ginny leaned forward; that was a question she also wanted answered.
Alexander set down his newspaper and replied, "The Grand Prix exceeded every projection we had."
Chuck whistled and asked, "That much?"
Alexander nodded and said, "Retailers from multiple states have contacted us."
Both of his friends stared as he added, "Toy stores. Department stores. Distributors. Independent shops. Mail-order businesses."
Chuck lowered his newspaper and asked in disbelief, "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Another low whistle escaped him, "Wow."
Ginny frowned thoughtfully before she asked, "Can production even keep up with that kind of demand?"
Alexander smiled wryly as that was the practical question that he expected from her, "Short term? Yes."
"Long term?"
He shook his head and admitted, "Not without expansion."
Ginny immediately understood and said, "You need more cards."
"A lot more cards."
Hearing that, a curious Chuck asked, "How many?"
Alexander considered the question, then answered honestly, "Tens of millions."
The room became quiet as Chuck stared with his mouth open and Ginny blinked.
Alexander then continued, "Possibly hundreds of millions eventually."
Chuck looked as though he had just been informed the moon was for sale, "Hundreds?"
Alexander nodded and said, "The current numbers are manageable."
"Current numbers?"
"The factory is operating twenty-four hours a day."
Now even Ginny looked surprised while Alexander continued, "Thomas had the foresight to expand before Grand Prinx was even officially announced, add production lines, increase storage capacity and hire additional workers. Without those preparations, the factory would already be overwhelmed."
Ginny slowly nodded while Chuck leaned back and asked, "So what's the problem?"
Alexander tapped the table and said, "It's only one factory."
The two looked confused, so Alexander continued, "One factory means one point of failure."
Understanding immediately appeared on Ginny's face, "Oh."
Alexander nodded and expanded, "Fire. Strike. Equipment failure. Transportation issues. Natural disasters. Supply shortages. Sabotage."
Every example made more sense than the last.
"If that factory stops operating..."
"No cards," Chuck finished.
"Exactly."
The room grew thoughtful, but Alexander wasn't worried, not yet at least, but it was a problem that would eventually need solving and preferably before it became an actual problem.
Fortunately for now, there was still time, and Alexander already had an idea on how to resolve it.
The conversation eventually drifted toward lighter topics.
The newspapers were pushed aside, and before long a Duel Monsters playmat covered the table.
Several games followed, and most ended with Alexander winning.
This naturally resulted in complaints, then more games, then more complaints and before long the final bell rang.
School was over.
The three friends gathered their belongings and headed outside, and as usual, students poured out of the building in every direction.
Chuck stretched, "Alright."
He pointed toward Alexander and said, "The next big tournament."
Alexander raised an eyebrow and asked, "Yes?"
"I'm winning."
"Are you going to say that every time now?"
"Yes! And one day I'll be right."
"Statistically possible."
Chuck nodded, and with a grin he said, "Exactly."
Ginny laughed.
A few moments later, Chuck headed toward the parking lot where his car was waiting; meanwhile, Alexander and Ginny approached the familiar black vehicle parked near the curb.
As always, Roland stood beside it with the same perfect posture and immaculate suit, completely unsurprised by anything.
The drive began shortly afterwards.
Ginny settled into her seat while Alexander reviewed several documents Roland handed him.
The butler immediately began his usual report, "Production output has increased by six per cent."
Alexander nodded and said, "Good."
"Distribution negotiations continue."
"Expected."
"Several new retailers have submitted requests."
"Put them in the queue."
Roland inclined his head, and like that the conversation continued throughout the drive as business never truly stopped, not anymore.
Eventually they reached Ginny's home.
The car came to a stop, Ginny gathered her belongings and said, "See you tomorrow."
"See you."
"Try not to accidentally create another industry before then."
"No promises."
She rolled her eyes before climbing out.
As always, Alexander and Roland waited until she safely entered the house, and only then did the car continue onward.
The remainder of the drive passed quietly, and soon they arrived home.
Alexander stepped out of the vehicle, then immediately turned toward Roland and said, "I'm going to be in the study."
Roland nodded, "I understand."
"Unless the house is on fire, please don't disturb me."
The butler considered that, "A reasonable threshold."
"Glad we agree."
Several minutes later, Alexander entered the study and closed the door behind him.
Silence greeted him for a moment. He simply sat down, then opened the YGO System.
The familiar interface appeared instantly.
[Ding!]
___________________________________
User Identified: Alexander Maximillion Jones
System Type: Duel Interface
Primary Functions:
• Resource Management
• Card Database
• Card Manifestation Authorisation
• YGO System Shop Access
Resources Identified:
1. Duel Energy (DE)
• Generated through duels involving the user.
• Output increases with emotional and cognitive intensity.
• Used for manifestation and high-output actions.
• Current DE: 179
2. Duel Points (DP)
• Acquired through victory in duels.
• Used for system transactions and upgrades.
• Current DP: 103
____________________________________
His eyes moved toward the resource totals, and a smile appeared on his face, 'Finally, I have enough!'
Without hesitation, he opened the System Shop, and the option he wanted was waiting exactly where he expected.
_____________________________________
— Personal Upgrade: Spirit Capacity Enhancement
• Increases Ba reserves
• Improves Ka stability
Effect:
• Reduces strain from high-output actions
• Improves compatibility with high-tier entities
Cost Scaling:
• Next: 100 DP
• Next: 200 DP
• Next: 400 DP
• Next: 800 DP
• Next: 1600 DP
________________________________________
The next rank, the next step and Alexander selected it immediately.
The confirmation appeared, and he accepted.
Pain struck an instant later.
Every muscle in Alexander's body seized at once, his back arching as heat erupted from somewhere deep within him. It wasn't the scorching burn of fire but the overwhelming pressure of something growing too large for the vessel containing it. The heat flooded through his muscles, seeped into his bones, threaded itself along every nerve until even the air scraping across his skin felt unbearably sharp.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Then his Ba reacted.
The familiar presence within him swelled violently, no longer a quiet current beneath his thoughts but a surging tide. It expanded in every direction, pressing against invisible boundaries before those boundaries splintered apart. The pressure should have been suffocating, yet beneath the agony he felt an undeniable sense of release, as though something that had always been cramped was finally allowed to stretch.
Power poured through the connection.
His muscles tightened and relaxed in rapid succession as they were stripped down and rebuilt stronger than before. Tendons became tougher. Bones grew denser. Even his breathing changed, each breath filling lungs that somehow felt larger than moments ago. The transformation reached every corner of his body, leaving nothing untouched.
The air around him shivered.
Dust lifted from the floor in tiny spirals before settling again. Small cracks spread through the hardwood floor beneath his feet as his body instinctively fought against the force coursing through it. The pressure radiating from his Ba distorted the air itself, creating faint ripples that shimmered around him like heat rising from sun-scorched ground.
Alexander clenched his jaw so hard he thought his teeth might crack.
This wasn't his first upgrade, and it wouldn't be his last, so he endured.
Gradually, the unbearable heat began to ebb. The violent pressure subsided, replaced by a steady warmth that settled comfortably beneath his skin. His muscles loosened one by one until the pain dissolved entirely.
Silence returned.
Alexander released a slow breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding.
For several long seconds he remained still; then his senses sharpened.
The room came into focus with startling clarity. He could make out the uneven texture of the stone walls without looking directly at them. Individual grains of dust drifted lazily through the shafts of light, each one distinct. Somewhere beyond the room, water dripped rhythmically against stone. Farther still came the faint rustle of leaves stirred by the wind.
Scents separated themselves effortlessly. Damp earth. Cold stone. A trace of iron lingering in the air.
Even his own heartbeat sounded slower.
Stronger.
He flexed a hand.
The movement felt effortless, every muscle responding with perfect precision. Strength rested beneath his skin like a coiled spring, requiring only the slightest thought to unleash. His body felt lighter despite the obvious increase in power, every motion cleaner and more efficient than before.
Finally, he turned his attention inward.
His Ba had changed the most.
Where it had once resembled a flowing current, it now felt like a solid, tangible presence anchored deep within his very existence. It had grown considerably larger, its boundaries more defined, its essence denser. It no longer felt fragile or formless. It possessed weight and presence.
A quiet certainty.
Its connection to both his mind and soul had deepened until it felt inseparable from his very identity, as though every thought, every emotion, and every fragment of his will resonated through it with newfound clarity.
His smile widened while thinking, 'The discomfort has been worth it. I feel so... strong. But more importantly, my Spirit Capacity has increased.
Alexander immediately opened the Card Database, then looked at the available cards he still has to create, the Level 8 Monsters.
For several seconds, he simply stared as some of the most famous monsters in Duel Monsters belonged to that category, some of the strongest, some of the most iconic, like Blue-Eyes White Dragon, a monster that had always been somewhat relevant throughout the whole history of Yu-Gi-Oh!.
The possibilities were enormous.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, and a grin slowly spread across his face before he muttered, "It is time."
The card pool was about to become much more interesting.
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