Chapter 265: Ghost of the Past
Chapter 265: Ghost of the Past
"Big brother!"
As Seto Kaiba exited the building, he saw Gozaburo waiting outside and striding towards him.
"Is it over? Did everything go as planned?" Gozaburo asked anxiously.
With a proud nod, Kaiba folded his arms, "Of course."
"That's wonderful!" Gozaburo exhaled in relief.
"With this, the feud between us and that man should finally be settled," he added.
"Mhm," Kaiba affirmed with a nod.
As he turned, he took one last glance at the towering corporate building with the huge "Abyss" sign, a reverse spelling of "Kaiba" in English, like a shadow from his past—a remnant of the shadows that once haunted him.
But nothing could stop him now, neither the future nor the past.
It was all over.
"Hey, I told you Yuugi would come through," Gozaburo smiled.
"Hmph, he was somewhat useful," Kaiba grunted.
"But before we head back, I'd like to stay here a few more days," Gozaburo suggested, "It's not often that we come this far, so I'd like to bring back some souvenirs at least."
Kaiba smiled faintly, "Suit yourself."
". . ."
With the matter concluded, within a month, a company named "Abyss" was erased from the world by the might of Kaiba Corporation, along with every trace of its mastermind.
The AI creations were also destroyed without exception. Seto Kaiba personally ensured that every last trace of their existence was wiped out, leaving nothing behind.
A month later, the Neo Doma Organization met its end. Kaiba led his forces to raze Doma's headquarters and reseal the treacherous Serpent of Rah.
He had accomplished what he couldn't years ago, and Atem had achieved.
The Duelist Kingdom Tournament proceeded smoothly. After years of absence from public duels, Seto Kaiba made a triumphant return, dominating the new Duelist Kingdom and claiming the long-vacant title of "King of Games," thus becoming the new generation's Duel King.
The following year, Kaiba Corporation achieved a massive breakthrough in its research. The development of cutting-edge technology proved that the future of aerospace lay in the power of Duel Monsters cards.
With the cards' power, the Kaiba Corporation led the world into a new space age. Space stations, innovative spacecraft, and even a new Duelist Kingdom on Mars were established.
And Seto Kaiba, the architect of these grand achievements, was rightfully hailed as the greatest man in human history. His contributions were so remarkable that they eclipsed those of all previous luminaries, earning him worldwide recognition as a living legend.
The influence of the Kaiba Corporation continued to grow. At this stage of development, no country, organization, or even all of humanity could afford to be without Kaiba technology. As they propelled the era into a new epoch, they became as indispensable as water and electricity to the entire human race. No, they had become the very air the world breathed.
Without the Kaiba Corporation, any institution or group would instantly grind to a halt. Seto Kaiba had become the pinnacle of power in the world.
Yet, after achieving all of this, Kaiba sat alone in the spacious space station, gazing out the porthole at the fruits of his labor.
Something was amiss.
He rose from his seat and strode towards the endless starry expanse.
Nothing here, nothing he had achieved or attained, was real.
"I don't know what this boring charade is, but it ends now!"
Kaiba's voice boomed with determination.
In an instant, a burst of white light seemed to explode from him, reaching out into the vastness of space.
Kaiba frowned and continued walking forward.
On either side of the corridor, the pitch-black darkness reflected distorted images.
There was a young Kaiba, sitting at a large desk piled high with books and papers. His adoptive father, Gozaburo Kaiba, stood beside him with his arms folded.
"Remember, Seto," Gozaburo said sternly, "a person's future is not given by others but forged by their own hands. You've earned this opportunity with your own efforts, but whether you reach the finish line depends solely on you."
Kaiba strode forward, his gaze unwavering as he passed by the fleeting images.
Soon, new scenes appeared alongside him.
"Starting today, you will begin to involve yourself in the affairs of the Kaiba Corporation."
Gozaburo leaned back in his chair, his back to the sun, as he addressed the teenage Kaiba Seto.
"Prove that you are a Kaiba. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, father," the young Kaiba said firmly. "I will not let you down."
". . ."
Kaiba continued walking, refusing to give the images more than a glance. The scenes whirled by, distorting and vanishing into nothingness.
As expected, countless more fragments appeared in quick succession. These images depicted Kaiba Seto at various ages and stages of his life, along with his adoptive father, Gozaburo.
But he never spared them more than a glance.
The final scene that appeared was the last time this father and son, in name only, had laid eyes on each other.
The young Kaiba Seto bared his fangs like a young lion, his smile cold and victorious. All the high-ranking members of the board stood behind him, and at some point, only Gozaburo remained on the other side of the table, alone.
He had vastly underestimated that young man.
He had thought he was the one pulling the strings, viewing Kaiba as merely a pawn. But he had never imagined that he was facing an equally dangerous player.
He could never have dreamed that the sixteen-year-old Kaiba had managed to win over every high-ranking member of the company right under his nose, rendering his power meaningless, and ultimately taking his company away from him.
Soon after, Gozaburo passed away.
Undoubtedly, Gozaburo died with deep hatred for his former adoptive son and resentment for his own failure to notice anything amiss.
Until the very end, he believed that Kaiba Seto had driven him to his death, making the young man no less than his murderer.
At this final scene, Kaiba paused, folded his arms, and smirked.
It was the same cold smile the younger Kaiba had worn, a victor's mocking grin at the defeated.
"What's this?" Kaiba asked coldly. "Are you expecting me to share my thoughts on these memories? Very well, then. All I see is a beaten dog, howling in futility after losing everything."
With that, he turned and shouted.
"End this pointless game! Show yourself, Gozaburo!"
(End of Chapter)
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