https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-375-The-Potential-of-the-Chaos-Warrior/12557520/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-377-A-Card-Enthusiast-s-Exchange/12557524/
Chapter 376: Where Are My Limits?
Chapter 376: Where Are My Limits?
Within the confines of Orichalcos' barrier, the outcome of a duel decided the fate of a soul. It was a rule set in stone, an absolute law that not even the higher-ups within the organization could alter.
In that regard, the new Doma could be considered an honest antagonist. Compared to certain villains from later generations who would gloat in victory and feign ignorance after defeat, he was a model of moral virtue.
In his final moments, Luca knelt on the ground, his consciousness fading and his eyes hollow, yet he still struggled to accept this reality.
Losing the duel was one thing—his self-proclaimed invincibility and grand ambitions had been shattered by the student before him.
But what truly stung was the manner of his defeat and the identity of his opponent.
If given a choice now, he would undoubtedly opt to face off against Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon head-on. Why was it that someone could drive even the mighty Chaos Soldier to reclusiveness?
He couldn't help but wonder if the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, renowned as the embodiment of power and the representative of the mortal realm, would also fall to darkness in this person's hands. Luca's intuition told him that such an event might very well be within the realm of possibility. However, he would never get the chance to find out.
The Chaos Soldier, now in its ethereal state, hovered nearby, its expression complex as it regarded You Xuan.
Logically, the discovery of a new technique should be a cause for celebration; even Da Kaichu himself had not anticipated that his skill could be utilized in such a manner.
Yet, a strange premonition crept into his consciousness.
Having followed this master for so long, would he, the mighty Da Kaichu, also suffer from association and be viewed with suspicion in the Duel World and the Spirit World from that day forward?
Even as his soul was extracted, Luca's eyes remained fixed on You Xuan, bloodshot and filled with hatred.
For some reason, You Xuan felt a sense of resentment emanating from those dying eyes, as if Luca were vowing, "Even as a ghost, I won't let you off the hook."
But it didn't matter anymore.
After all, this was the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!. Even if Luca became a vengeful spirit, what could he do? Seek retribution through card games.
If you couldn't beat your opponent while alive, how could you expect to improve so drastically in death?
"Don't get too cocky," Luca said in a low voice. "The last Swordsman and that man... They are ready. The finals of the Duel City will turn into a slaughter, and you... have no chance."
With those final, labored words, the green light finally faded, and his soul was extracted, leaving him kneeling motionlessly on the ground.
"He's gone," You Xuan said as he walked forward and bent down to retrieve Luca's deck.
Insect Deck acquired.
You Xuan tucked the deck away and took one last look at Luca, who had collapsed on the ground.
"I feel like I've gotten stronger," he said, glancing down at his hands.
Compared to his first encounter with the Doma Swordsman, Xie Er, he felt much more composed this time. The first semester at the Duel Academy had definitely been worthwhile.
However, he wondered just how much he had improved.
It was a timely coincidence. With the Duel City tournament set to resume in the next couple of days, the quarterfinals lineup would soon be finalized.
The top eight of Duel City were sure to be a formidable bunch, and it stood to reason that those who made it to this final stage would be no pushovers.
Especially with the remaining Doma Swordsman and the so-called "Judge," that slippery serpent, expected to participate, not to mention Kaiba himself.
With such a lineup, this tournament would surely provide an opportunity to gauge his own limits. You Xuan raised his arm and looked at the deck on his Duel Disk.
"Just how strong am I now?" he wondered aloud.
Somewhere along the line, his mindset had shifted from the cautiousness he'd felt when he'd first arrived in this world. Back then, he had approached every duel with utmost vigilance and prepared extensively for each opponent.
Now, while he still researched his opponents and prepared accordingly, it was more out of good habit and to increase his chances of victory rather than from a place of fear that he might lose if he didn't prepare enough.
So, when someone asked in wonder what his full power looked like and where his limits lay, he could only respond helplessly,
"I'd like to know that myself."
Unfortunately, his opponents hadn't been very challenging, with most of them conceding without putting up much of a fight.
"Duel City GX, huh."
He left the power plant, mounted the motorcycle that had been prepared at the evacuation point long ago, and murmured,
"I hope this time will be different."
He returned to the station before dawn.
However, he did not go in this time but only met up with Mai Valentine at the entrance, handing her a card.
Mai flipped over the card and was about to drop it in shock.
It was an Orichalcos Seal Card, and on it was none other than Yugi, bound in chains and seemingly perched at the edge of a cage.
"You... You defeated him?!" Mai exclaimed.
"Uh, do I look like one of Orichalcos' lackeys?" You Xuan replied helplessly.
Mai frowned and sized him up.
His sunny disposition, coupled with the shady tactics he employed in duels, which were completely unlike those of a righteous duelist, reminded her of a sunny young man from her past—Malik Ishtar, who had once been a source of psychological trauma for her.
She hadn't thought about it before, but now that he mentioned it, there were indeed some similarities.
". . ."
". . . That's how it is. Yugi was . . ."
Mai sighed helplessly.
"What a pity. Although I only knew him for a couple of days, he really seemed like a good person." She glanced at the sealed card in her hand again, "But, he's probably not beyond saving."
"Maybe," You Xuan replied.
He naturally understood what Mai was referring to. Given her experience with Orichalcos, she should be well-versed in their methods. After all, she had once joined Doma out of her pursuit of power and had her soul extracted and sealed in a similar state.
Eventually, when the God of Orichalcos was defeated by the Three Gods, she, along with the other sealed souls, was released and restored to her original state.
The souls sealed by Orichalcos' barrier didn't immediately disappear; they were essentially stored in the Serpent God's pantry. If one was unlucky, they might be devoured by the Serpent God, but if one was fortunate enough to linger in the pantry for long enough, they would be set free when the Serpent God met its end.
"But the plan succeeded," Mai said.
"The power plant has been restarted, the control systems have been restored, and the train will depart in less than ten minutes. Are you coming with us?"
"No, you guys go ahead. I'll catch up later," You Xuan shook his head and smiled.
"I've found out everything I needed to know here, so I'll take my leave."
"That makes sense. You seem like a duelist with incredible power, so this situation probably can't hold you back," Mai said.
"What about you, Mai? What are your plans after you get out?" You Xuan asked.
"I'll continue searching for that unlucky guy who's gone missing," Mai replied with a pout.
"Joey Wheeler, huh," You Xuan said. Now that he knew that the anomaly in this place was caused by the Crawling Dragon, he wondered if there was a connection between Joey's disappearance and the little lobster.
"Alright, then. If there's any progress or if you need any help, feel free to contact me," You Xuan said, "He has a lot of friends who are concerned about his condition as well."
"That's so like him to have a lot of friends," Mai closed her eyes and smiled gently.
"I understand."
(End of Chapter)
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