Yugi, Joey, Téa, Tristan, and Yugi's grandfather Solomon are pulled into a world where Duel Monsters are real. They find monster capsules that they can use to summon monsters. However, in this strange new world, they battle monsters and when their own monsters are attacked, they feel the pain.

Writer and teacher Iris finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life in this story of healing, love, and friendship.

It's down and dirty time. Splinter is imprisoned. Leo is dying of poison. Don and Usagi are fighting for their lives and the life of the Daimyo against a horde of assassins.