7. Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V A New Story of Pendulum (Xyz Arc)

Chapter 45 Cats and Birds

The group's airship descended over the ravaged district that once held Academia's seventh base. The battle was over, yet the tension of victory still clung to the wind. As Yuya, Yuni, Yuzu, Vivian, Reisho, and Katrina made their way down the street toward the Duel Lodge, a sudden rustling echoed from the alleys around them.

Dozens of cats—black, white, striped, even bright calico—came sprinting past in a blur of fur and tails.

Katrina blinked. "What in the world...? Why are there so many cats all at once?"

Yuni frowned, glancing down the road. "That's strange. Let's follow them and see where they're going."

They ran after the flood of cats, only to collide with another group rounding the corner.

"Ow—!" Yuya stumbled backward, rubbing his head. Across from him, Yuri, Sona, Serena, and Sora were doing the same.

Yuzu sighed. "You four again..."

Yuri smirked. "We could say the same thing. But judging by all these cats, I'm guessing you're chasing them too."

Serena nodded, brushing off her uniform. "I sensed something off about them. Their aura isn't normal—it's like Duel energy."

Reisho crossed his arms. "Then we're all on the same trail."

The united group followed the cats through winding streets until the trail ended at a large, ivy-covered mansion on the edge of the district. The iron gates creaked open on their own, inviting them in.

Vivian eyed the entryway warily. "A mansion in the middle of a warzone? That doesn't scream suspicious at all..."

Nevertheless, they stepped through the door—and froze. Standing in the candle-lit foyer was a young woman in a frilled maid outfit, complete with twitching cat ears and a tail swishing behind her. She bowed gracefully.

"Welcome home, meow."

Yuya blinked. " 'Welcome home'? I don't think we've ever met..."

The maid smiled sweetly. "Please follow me, masters and mistresses, meow."

Despite the unease, curiosity pushed them forward. The maid led them down a hallway lined with portraits of cats, golden chandeliers swinging faintly above. But the moment they crossed the next threshold—click!—the heavy doors behind them slammed shut.

Sora spun around and pulled at the handle. "It's locked! We're trapped!"

A low hiss echoed from the shadows. One by one, cats crawled out from under tables, along the ceiling beams, and across the staircase railings, their eyes glowing eerie gold. The maid's voice turned sharp and cold.

"You've fallen right into my trap. Black Mist-sama ordered me to dispose of all intruders who come near this mansion, meow. And that includes all of you."

Yuni stepped forward, her duel disk snapping open in a burst of light. "Black Mist... I knew it. You're a Number Monster, aren't you?"

The maid giggled, her tone dripping with menace. "You may call me the Cat Maid, meow. And yes—I possess one of the Numbers you're hunting for. But you'll have to defeat me to claim it, meow~."

Energy rippled through the hall as she activated her duel disk, holographic cards swirling into a glowing circle around them. Yuni's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll take you on. Everyone else, stand back."

Both duelists raised their arms. The room transformed, the floor shifting into a gleaming moon-lit ballroom surrounded by floating cards—the Field Magic 'Crossover' activating automatically. "Duel!" (Yuni:4000)(Cat Maid:4000)