Chapter 1124: The Reason for the Duel
Chapter 1124: The Reason for the Duel
Doubting Diwein?
Upon reflection, it wasn't entirely true that Qi had never had her doubts. When Diwein said that a child who had recently joined the Eden Movement left because they didn't align with their ideals, Qi later tried to find out more but couldn't get any information on the child's whereabouts.
Sometimes, members would suddenly disappear, and no one knew where they went.
Qi had been with the Eden Movement for so long that even if Diwein didn't openly discuss certain matters with her, she occasionally caught snippets of conversations. There were times when Diwein would be talking earnestly with someone, but the moment they noticed her approach, he would abruptly stop and give her a gentle smile.
Was there something she wasn't supposed to know? Could it be that Diwein didn't truly trust her?
These questions had crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed them.
Maybe Diwein had indeed done something to her mind. He was a master of mental manipulation and suggestion. If he wanted you to ignore the doubts, you naturally would.
Or perhaps, as Godwin had said, people only believe what they want to believe. She wasn't without her doubts, but she never allowed herself to dwell on them.
This place was her only home now. She didn't want to believe that Diwein was hiding anything from her, and she didn't want to think about it. Thinking about it was Diwein's job.
No, it couldn't be like that. Diwein hadn't lied to her. It was this white-haired scoundrel in front of her. He not only killed Diwein but also tried to smear his name and now even attempted to invade her mind.
Unforgivable!
"Activate Cover Card! Trap Card 'Harm Vaccine ΩMAX'!" Qi declared. "When I take battle or effect damage, my Life Points are restored by the amount of damage I took!"
[Qi, LP200 → LP4000]
"Hmm? You countered Giant Saturn's self-destruction", Youxuan acknowledged. "Even if you restored your Life Points with a card effect, it's impressive that your body and mind can withstand such damage. Your will is commendable. Well done."
He then revealed another card in his hand.
"Activate Magic Card 'Treasure Hammer.' Shuffle any number of cards, including this one, back into the Deck, then draw the same number of cards."
Youxuan shuffled his hand back into the Deck, then drew new cards.
"Magic Card 'Grave Incantation's Treasure Card.' From the Graveyard, banish the Magic Cards 'Adversity's Treasure Card,' 'Prototype Replacement,' and 'Mandatory Activation' from the game, then draw two cards."
Youxuan drew his cards and immediately sent one to the Graveyard.
"I send the Level 8 Machine-Type 'Mechanical Troops · Gigantic Transformation' from my hand to the Graveyard to activate the effect of 'Mechanical Troops · Fortress' in the Graveyard.
Fortress can be Special Summoned from the Graveyard by sending Machine-Type monsters from the hand whose combined Levels total 8 or more to the Graveyard.
Special Summon 'Mechanical Troops · Fortress' in Defense Position!"
Fortress's effect had no once-per-turn restriction; as long as she had enough Level stars in her hand, she could keep reviving it.
With a heavy metallic groan, Fortress rose from the ground, standing firm on the field. This time, it retracted its guns and cannons, adopting a defensive stance.
[Mechanical Troops · Fortress, Defense: 1600]
"I won't lose, and I can't lose. I have to avenge Diwein, and I must... because if I don't..."
Qi bit her lip, her voice trembling with tears.
"If I don't, what else can I do? What will I do from now on?"
It was clear that she was beginning to waver.
“What should we do?” Youxuan laughed. “What? Are you living just for Diwein? Without Diwein, are you no longer a Duelist?”
"Qiu", she stammered.
“Even before you met Diwein, you never gave up Dueling.” Youxuan continued. “You knew very well that Dueling could hurt others, and you hated your own power, tired of being called a ‘Witch.’”
If that’s true, why not just give up Dueling? You could live a normal life, a simple life, as an ordinary girl, never touching a card again.
But you didn’t do that. Why?
“Is it because you enjoy hurting others? Are you a Witch who finds joy in others’ pain?”
Qiu took two shaky steps back. “No, I don’t, I’m not.”
She instinctively lowered her head, and in her mind, she saw Yusei Fudo’s determined gaze from their last Duel.
“You need to think for yourself, to learn to love yourself!”
Yusei had told her.
“You deny the pleasure you get from hurting others, but with that heart of yours, you can definitely do it!”
Qiu was silent.
“Dueling is a process of connecting hearts. Yusei connected with you through Dueling, so he understands. I’ve felt your Duel, so I understand too.”
Youxuan chuckled, gently guiding her.
“Tell me, why don’t you give up? Why do you keep Dueling even now?”
“I, I…”
Qiu looked down at her toes, though from her perspective, she probably couldn’t see them.
Another memory flashed in her mind. This one was even older, from before her powers awakened. Back then, she had a warm and harmonious family, and she hadn’t yet broken ties with her parents. As a young girl, Qiu sat in her mother’s lap, watching the legendary Duelists battle on TV, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Mom, Mom!”
Young Qiu tugged at her mother’s sleeve.
“Can I become a Duelist as strong as them?”
“Of course you can.”
Her mother hugged her affectionately.
“As long as Qiu wants to, you can become the world’s greatest Duelist.”
“...”
That was it.
She couldn’t give up. No matter what she became, no matter what situation she found herself in, she couldn’t betray Dueling.
In her childhood memories, a king with a colorful sea star head stood at the pinnacle of the world, surrounded by countless cheering spectators. He was not only the strongest Duelist but also a hero who had saved the world. People from the Dueling world, no, the entire world, revered him. Even though his figure had long disappeared, his fame still echoed.
The scene of the crowd cheering for the king and the hero was deeply etched in Qiu’s young mind.
Yes, she didn’t want to be a Witch, didn’t want to be shunned, didn’t want to find joy in hurting others.
The reason she couldn’t give up Dueling was because deep down, what she truly wanted was...
“I am... a Duelist.”
Qiu lifted her tear-streaked face, and for the first time, her hazel eyes sparkled with something other than revenge.
“Then prove it to me.”
Youxuan nodded.
“A true Duelist’s life is never defined by others. Even if the path ahead is a dead end, you can forge a new one with your own hands.
If you can do it, prove it to me, Qiu!”
Youxuan drew two more cards from his hand.
“Continuous Spell ‘Nightmare Mirage’—during your opponent’s Standby Phase, you can draw cards from your Deck until you have four cards in your hand.”
“Finally, I’ll set a card face-down. My turn ends!”
(End of Chapter)
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