Chapter 401: Soul of a Hero
Chapter 401: Soul of a Hero
As the Dark Lady of Doom prepared to deliver the final blow with her Dark Diffusion attack, everyone witnessed Hibiki Red Leaves lose consciousness and collapse.
"Red Leaves!"
Hibiki Green couldn't contain herself any longer and tried to rush onto the stage, but as expected, she was bounced back by Orichalcos' barrier.
"Looks like it's over," Kaiba remarked.
However, Red Leaves had given it his all, and it was already remarkable that he had made it this far given his condition. After all, he was up against an opponent he could never hope to beat.
Just then, a burst of flames erupted on his field, taking the form of a humanoid figure with its arms crossed, standing protectively in front of him.
Elemental Hero: Blazewoman!
[Elemental Hero Blazewoman: ATK 0 / DEF 1000]
This unexpected turn of events took everyone by surprise. Just as Dark Lady of Doom's decisive attack was about to land, it was suddenly blocked by Blazewoman, who had appeared out of thin air!
"Whoa, he still had a defense left?" Even the Judge was slightly taken aback.
The reason for Blazewoman's timely appearance was undoubtedly due to another face-down card that Red Leaves had activated from his backrow.
Trap Card: Enemy Controller. When your opponent declares an attack, special summon a monster from your hand, and your opponent must attack that monster. (Original effect)
Blazewoman had clearly been summoned using this effect, acting as a shield to block the incoming attack.
However...
"Isn't he already unconscious?!" Kei exclaimed, puzzled as he looked at Red Leaves, who was lying on the ground.
Could it be that the monster took it upon itself to jump out and protect its owner? Was it some sort of metaphysical occurrence?
"No," Kaiba said.
Everyone then noticed that Red Leaves, who was lying on the ground, had his right hand on the Duel Disk, as if he had pressed the button to activate the trap.
He had done it himself.
"This guy," the Judge muttered, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
He soon realized that Red Leaves had lost consciousness.
Even as he passed out, his body stubbornly refused to accept defeat, and he instinctively activated the trap to block the attack.
"Mr. Red Leaves," Yugi muttered, staring at Red Leaves who was lying unconscious on the stage.
He recalled the words Red Leaves had said to him before they boarded the ship, patting him on the shoulder with a solemn expression.
Always keep your passion for Dueling burning.
Back then, he had thought it was a given. But now, he deeply realized the weight that those seemingly simple words carried.
Red Leaves was using his entire will, his very life, to personally demonstrate his philosophy to Yugi.
The path he steadfastly walked as a proud Duelist.
At that moment, Red Leaves, who was unconscious on the stage, suddenly twitched a finger.
Then, slowly, he propped himself up with his hands, grit his teeth, and once again rose to his feet.
"Mr. Red..." Yugi struggled to find the words.
"That's enough, Red," Green said, her voice quivering. "You've already..."
But Red Leaves stood up, his face as pale as paper, and yet he casually stuck his tongue out at her.
Then he turned back to the Judge, "Why did you stop? I still have Life Points left, and there are still cards in my deck."
The Judge smiled faintly.
"Then be it as you wish."
With a wave of his hand, he declared, "Elemental Hero: Flash, final direct attack."
[Elemental Hero Flash: ATK 5500]
The final strike, a massive attack of 5500 ATK. Orichalcos' green aura mixed with Flash's pure white, scorching radiance, forming an intense ball of light akin to a scorching sun between his palms. Its size and energy were rapidly expanding.
Red Leaves took a step forward, his eyes reflecting the image of impending destruction, but without a hint of hesitation.
The cold voice echoed in his mind once more.
"From now on, every time you duel, your 'life' will be reduced along with your deck."
He had made his decision.
Rather than live as an ordinary person, he would prefer to die as a Duelist.
Even if he fell, his soul as a Duelist would not disappear. His passion, his spirit, would be inherited by more outstanding successors and never go out.
Boom!!!
Flash's annihilating light stream almost engulfed the entire half of the stage, and Red Leaves' figure was swallowed up as well.
"Mr. Red Leaves!" Jaden cried out involuntarily.
"Is that it, then?" Kaiba said faintly.
Although the outcome wasn't what he had expected, Red Leaves had fought to the last moment as a Duelist and earned Kaiba's respect.
However—
"Cough, cough, cough."
As the glaring radiance of Flash faded and the towering black smoke dissipated, everyone could finally see that Red Leaves was kneeling on the ground, seemingly having exhausted all his strength to stand.
But he was still alive.
"What?" The Judge was surprised as well.
Why was he still standing after taking the direct attack of Flash, which had over five thousand ATK?
"I activated a Trap," Red Leaves panted, pointing to a Trap Card that had been activated in front of him.
"Trap Card: Hero Soul. When a monster with 'Hero' in its name is destroyed, if your Life Points would become 0, you can pay 1000 Life Points to gain Life Points equal to the original ATK of that monster instead." (Original effect)
"Hero Soul," Jaden muttered, stunned.
This card was like a true reflection of Red Leaves at this moment.
Looking at Red Leaves' back on stage, Jaden felt that the seemingly tottering figure appeared so tall, like an invincible giant.
"I'm starting to see why you're considered the King of the new generation," the Judge remarked. "You took all five consecutive attacks from the Elemental Heroes."
"Your turn has ended," Red Leaves said, his breath coming in heavy gasps. "'Chain Material's' effect destroys all monsters Special Summoned by its effect during the End Phase.
This effect is not limited to the End Phase in which 'Chain Material' is activated, but rather, as long as those monsters are still on the field during any End Phase, they will be destroyed."
Red Leaves wasn't just defending; he was also countering. Although the Judge's expansion move with Chain Material was deadly, it was also a self-destructive attack. If Red Leaves could endure this round of onslaught, all of the Judge's monsters would self-destruct, exposing a fatal weakness.
This would turn the tables and give Red Leaves the advantage.
"Indeed," the Judge acknowledged. "But that's only if I didn't have this card."
Unfazed, the Judge played another card from his hand.
"Quick-Play Spell: 'Book of Eclipse,' change all face-up monsters on the field to face-down Defense Position."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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