Chapter 1147: A Pawn's Life
Chapter 1147: A Pawn's Life
“We won.”
The Duel ended, and the burning Nasca lines in the sky disappeared, the massive spider image vanishing into thin air.
The leader of the Shadow Marked, Rudger, knelt on the ground, his eyes vacant, as if he had lost his shine.
After a moment, Long Ya was the first to cheer.
“We won!”
The others also showed signs of joy and relief.
Yes, it seemed they had truly won.
Ever since learning their fates as Dragon Marked and the battles against the Shadow Marked, this fight had been the heaviest burden on their minds. Although the battle wasn't long, each of the Dragon Marked had faced life-and-death trials, each Duel being incredibly perilous, with a single misstep potentially leading to their own defeat and death.
Now, seeing the leader of the Shadow Marked truly defeated, and the Shadow Marked forces seemingly retreating, they felt a great weight lifted from their hearts. At that moment, looking at Officer Goodwin's tall and strong back, a sense of unprecedented security rose within them.
He was indeed too powerful.
Even Yusei, the strongest of the Dragon Marked, felt deep admiration.
Burn damage was something Yusei himself enjoyed playing. Yusei was probably the protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh! with the most emphasis on "tactical setup." In the series, he had multiple times designed lethal burn damage combinations, even featuring an original infinite loop in the anime.
Perhaps limited by the anime's riding Duel rules, Yusei himself was also a heavy user of red traps.
While Yusei, like previous protagonists, enjoyed big monster battles, he didn't have the soul player's obsession with using both parties' aces to determine the outcome. He used red traps to directly counter monsters, as well as self-locking and burn damage strategies.
Overall, Yusei was a balanced Duelist who could master any style, from straightforward attacks to self-locking and burn damage. He could switch styles mid-Duel based on his opponent's characteristics, using the same deck, showcasing his top-tier fate and destiny.
This is why, compared to Jou when he first met Youxuan, Yusei found it easier to relate to this "Goodwin", as he genuinely felt a similarity in their Duels.
After all, the Duel environment in 5D's was not as straightforward as in GX.
“So it is.”
Rudger, kneeling on the ground, his eyes vacant, muttered.
“Am I... not good enough?”
It seemed that was indeed the case.
Years ago, he had been one of the core members of the Prototype Perpetual Motion Machine Research Institute. But later, he was corrupted by the Underworld Deity, losing his sense of self. At that time, he was awed by the Underworld Deity's power, believing it to be the pinnacle of strength in the world.
But now, this false Rex Goodwin had defeated him with ease, treating even the powerful Earthbound Gods as nothing. With such power, perhaps he had been living in a well, seeing only a small part of the world.
He thought he had reached the peak of strength, but to true powerhouses, even the Earthbound Gods might be nothing.
“Seventeen years ago, you triggered the ‘Zero Reverse,’ tearing apart Satellite City.”
Youxuan said.
“Countless people died, and countless families were torn apart. Is this what you call fate?”
Upon hearing this, the other Dragon Marked, who had been approaching, were all stunned.
Triggered the Zero Reverse?
The Zero Reverse seventeen years ago, the loss of control of the Prototype Perpetual Motion Machine, was not an accident?
“It was you!?”
Yusei, usually calm and reserved, showed signs of losing control.
“You caused the Zero Reverse?”
Rudger, kneeling on the ground, looked up at him with a weak gaze.
"Dr. Fudo's son, huh? It brings back memories of old friends."
Rudger said with a gentle sigh.
"Yes, it's me."
Yusei was shaken to his core.
He knew his father had died because of the Zero Reverse, and that the Satellite City had come into being because of it. Jack, Crow, and almost every companion he had grown up with in the Satellite City had become orphans and outcasts because of the Zero Reverse. Without it, they might have had happy, complete families, and their lives would have been vastly different.
"Why!?"
Yusei's anger surged.
"Because of you, because of the Zero Reverse, countless lives have been disrupted. If not for my father's research, if not for the perpetual motion machine, there wouldn't have been a Zero Reverse. Everyone wouldn't have become orphans, and they wouldn't have lost everything.
Yet, despite all this, why has no one ever held any grudges against me? Why have they accepted me as a friend and smiled at me without a word?
How am I supposed to face them, how can I make it right, Rudger?"
This had always been Yusei's deepest darkness. He felt guilty towards all his companions and the people of the Satellite City, believing that everything was tied to him, that he was a cursed, ill-fated child born with the burden of the perpetual motion machine.
Even Jack, who had grown up with him, was taken aback: "Yusei, you—"
He had never imagined that Yusei had been carrying such thoughts all this time.
Rudger fell silent for a moment. "So this is your darkness, Yusei Fudo."
He smiled softly and shook his head.
"We are all just pawns on the chessboard of fate. When I triggered the Zero Reverse, and now, leading the Shadow Marked to fight against you, I had no choice."
Indeed, it was all the result of fate. The Zero Reverse was not his intention. Rudger had once fought against it, resisting the corruption of the Underworld Deity. But he ultimately failed and cut off his arm, which was imbued with the power of the Dragon Mark.
At least, before he lost his mind completely, he entrusted the severed arm to his brother, Rex Goodwin, and instructed him to gather the remaining Dragon Marked to stop him.
That was all he could do.
At least his final wish had been fulfilled. Now, he had completely fallen into darkness, becoming a servant of the Underworld Deity, but the Dragon Marked had indeed gathered, and the Shadow Marked had been defeated.
But still—
He looked at Rex Goodwin with difficulty, his last regret lingering in his heart.
Who was the person standing here in Rex's place?
What powerful being had implanted another soul into him?
His life felt like he had been caught in the center of a massive vortex, surrounded by various powerful figures. He was unfortunately placed right in the middle of their chessboard.
The legendary Red Dragon, the Underworld Deity, the mysterious organization known as "Taichi", and the dark entity behind it all, and now this unknown powerful figure who had taken Rex's place—
There were too many players in this game.
He felt deeply his own weakness, so weak that he had been used as a pawn by these powerful forces, living a pitiful life.
Enough, who these people were, what did it matter now?
From now on, let them fight among themselves. He was tired and could finally step off this chessboard.
Rudger closed his eyes, and his body dissipated into the wind.
He gave no answer to Yusei's questions.
A moment of silence fell over the scene.
Then Crow looked at Yusei and suddenly said, "Do you know why you're named 'Yusei,' Yusei Fudo?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
