Chapter 262: It's Not Over Yet, Right?
Chapter 262: It's Not Over Yet, Right?
"My turn."
It was Delta's turn, but he didn't immediately draw a card. Instead, he looked down at his deck, at the top card that appeared unknown but was, in fact, already decided.
After a moment, he muttered, "It's ironic, just like my life. Well, if beings like us are allowed the concept of a 'life,' that is."
"Oh?" You Xuan was intrigued.
"It seems that our future, which appears to be unknown, is actually decided from the moment of our birth," Delta said.
"Speaking of which, I kind of felt that way too," You Xuan said. "You intercepting me here and dueling me is your task, but you don't seem very enthusiastic or willing about it."
"What difference does it make if I'm enthusiastic or not?" Delta replied calmly. "Our reason for existence, our goals, everything about us... We are given thoughts, yet we don't have the freedom to use those thoughts to decide our own future."
He closed his eyes and smiled gently. "But this is enough. Being able to be the father's right-hand man and do something for him is enough."
The image of the man appeared in his mind once more.
The man had handed him this card as one of the main cards in his deck—the "Darkness Hurricane Dragon."
"You are my most excellent son. I trust in your abilities, and I know you won't disappoint me," the man had said in a deep voice.
"Right, Delta?"
". Of course." Delta had lowered his head and solemnly accepted the card. "I won't let you down."
"Never."
". "
That's right, he must not disappoint that man.
Otherwise, wouldn't they lose their very reason for existence?
"Even if we only have a fixed future, we can only accept it and do our best with the limited choices we have to realize our value. This is something you duelists can't understand," Delta said.
"My turn, draw!"
Delta drew the card, and as expected, it was the "Darkness Hurricane Dragon," an open secret.
"But during the preparation phase, the effect of 'Folklore Dragon' in my graveyard is activated," Delta said. "'Folklore Dragon' can special summon itself from the graveyard during the preparation phase if it is there and I have no monsters on my field."
A golden light shone from Delta's duel disk's graveyard, and a small dragon leaped onto Delta's field.
[Folklore Dragon: ATK 400]
"One of the cards fused into the future, huh?" You Xuan understood.
As expected of an ancient forbidden card from the Source Era, its resource-gathering ability was formidable.
"Additionally, 'Folklore Dragon' can be used as two tribute monsters for a dragon-type monster's tribute summon," Delta explained. "So, I tribute 'Folklore Dragon,' which counts as two tributes, for an advanced summon! Appear once more—
—Darkness Hurricane Dragon, I summon you!"
The pitch-black storm rose again, and the dragon of darkness reappeared in the hurricane!
[Darkness Hurricane Dragon: ATK 2700]
"You've summoned it again," You Xuan said, stroking his chin. "However, you're quite attached to this monster. Does it hold some special significance for you?"
"It's none of your business," Delta replied coldly.
"Next, I activate the equip spell, 'Super Double Summon,' and equip it to the 'Darkness Hurricane Dragon.'
This card can only be equipped to a double monster. The equipped monster can directly become a double-summoned state and gain the double effect."
"The double effect of the 'Darkness Hurricane Dragon' allows me to destroy all Spell and Trap Cards in the backrow of both players by sending my face-up Spell and Trap Cards on the field to the graveyard."
The green hurricane whipped up once more, and the Wind Emperor's body scattered into the wind. But the storm also engulfed the Dark Hurricane Dragon, and the poor beast, which had just landed and was struggling to steady itself, was sent back to Delta's deck as a golden streak of light.
This time, however, it went to the very bottom.
Delta stiffened.
His Dark Hurricane Dragon had been bounced back to his deck again. In just a short while, his prized monster had been kicked out of play twice. Half a second later, he retracted his arm, which had been raised to continue his actions, and took a deep breath.
Stay calm, he told himself. I am the most outstanding of Father's sons, not just in strength but also in mental fortitude.
Don't fall into this guy's rhythm.
"It's not over yet," Delta said, opening his eyes again and speaking in a deep voice. "Super Double Summon has another effect. When this face-up card is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a Normal Monster from my graveyard! Since the 'Dark Hurricane Dragon,' which was the equipped monster, was bounced back to my deck, Super Double Summon loses its target and is sent to the graveyard, activating its effect!"
A card popped out from his Duel Disk's graveyard.
"And the monster I will summon is this other card that was discarded last turn as the cost for 'Iceflame Twin Dragons'!"
As he held the card high, an image of his father flashed through his mind. His father, with his unsmiling face and cold, heavy gaze, handed him this card.
"Do not disappoint me," he had said.
". . ."
Delta's voice was filled with power as he declared, "Bring back the second Dark Hurricane Dragon from the graveyard!"
The storm rose once more. A body as thick as thunderclouds, scales shimmering with a faint light, and wings that blotted out the sky—the dragon's dark storm seemed capable of freezing even the air itself.
Dark Hurricane Dragon, summoned again!
[Dark Hurricane Dragon: ATK 2700]
"You actually brought it back again," You Xuan said, tilting his head back to look at the dragon riding the winds. "This dragon must hold some special significance for you?"
"All that matters is that my father trusts me, and I will give everything for him!" Delta shouted. "Dark Hurricane Dragon, attack!"
The pitch-black storm, carrying thousands of wind blades, swept toward You Xuan with a roar that seemed capable of ending the world.
"I see," You Xuan said, a smile tugging at his lips. "So, this card carries the expectations of your so-called 'father,' and it's the reason for your existence and battles, right?"
"Perhaps it is as you say," You Xuan chuckled. "Sometimes, fate only gives us limited choices. But there are also times when those limited choices may not offer a way out."
He snapped his fingers lightly.
"Trap Card activation, 'Phoenix Winged Whirlwind!' By discarding one card from my hand, I can return one card on your field to the top of your deck!"
If Delta had a heart like humans, his reaction at that moment would have been what they called a "heart attack."
Bounced back to the deck again?! A third time?!
Delta's eyes widened, and he was almost at a loss for words.
You've got to be kidding me!
(End of Chapter)
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