Chapter 433: A Battle Wagered on the World
Chapter 433: A Battle Wagered on the World
"Curry!"
The Chestnut Sprite, known for its unwavering loyalty, leaped into action at the critical moment. Its tiny form swiftly expanded, growing to an immense size and forming an impenetrable shield that blocked all of Yubel's vines with unwavering resolve.
"Amazing!" Keihei couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. "Even Yubel's attacks were completely blocked! You Xuan's duel is truly flawless, no wonder even my brother..."
He abruptly realized his mistake as he spoke and quickly turned to look at Kaiba. As expected, the slight approval and smile on Kaiba's face a second ago had vanished, replaced by a stern expression.
"So, Yubel's attacks were blocked as well," the Judge remarked coldly. "Then, the Battle Phase ends. However, if you think that you've made it through the worst, you're being far too optimistic."
He revealed another card in his hand.
"I activate the Magic Card—Lightning!"
"Lightning!" Keihei exclaimed in shock. "That's a banned card in the tournament!"
Lightning was one of the rare cards, along with Chaos Emperor Dragon, that had been explicitly mentioned as banned in the anime. However, the mention of Lightning being banned was during the DM era, and at that time, cards that could "inflict effect damage on a duelist without any cost" were also listed as prohibited. This indicated that while not all banned cards in the anime were the same as in reality, even during the same period, there were some differences in the standards for bans and restrictions.
Nevertheless, cards that "inflict damage" had since been proven to have underwhelming effects in actual battles and had been unrestricted in the GX era. Thus, violent and disruptive cards like Lightning were understandably kept banned.
According to the rules, using a banned card in a tournament should result in disqualification. In this Duel City, the Judge should have already been declared the loser for using such a card.
However, everyone present knew that this duel was no longer just about winning or losing a game; it was a battle wagered on the future of the world. In a life-or-death situation, there was no room for discussions about banned or restricted cards.
The leaden-gray clouds hung heavy in the sky, like a foreboding sign of a wrathful deity. Thunder rumbled, and lightning crackled through the churning clouds, resembling thousands of thunder snakes dancing wildly and weaving an impenetrable web of electricity.
A thunderbolt tore through the sky, like a wrathful whip of the gods, carrying destructive power as it plummeted towards the earth. The dazzling light illuminated the world, and more thunderbolts followed, ripping through the air like sharp swords piercing downwards.
Lightning—destroy all monsters on the opponent's field. It was a simple yet brutal effect, erasing everything in an instant. Both the Chaos Soldier and the Dragon Soldier were obliterated by the electrical onslaught.
"Hey, using a banned card is too despicable!" Keihei couldn't contain his outrage. "You've lost your qualification for the tournament!"
The Judge's expression remained unchanged, his face impassive. It was clear that he had never cared about the tournament rules from the start. After all, for a demonic god who wanted to destroy the world, empty accolades held no value. In a Shadow Duel, only the rules of the duel itself mattered.
"It's fine," You Xuan replied calmly. "This duel is wagered on the world's future, so it's only natural for both sides to use all available means."
"Oh? You can still remain so calm. Does that mean you're confident that you can maintain your lead and win?"
You Xuan neither confirmed nor denied.
The Judge pondered for a moment.
"You know, we don't have to fight," he said, narrowing his eyes at You Xuan. "I still can't quite figure out your origins, but I assume that the current human world has little to do with you, right?"
You Xuan: "..."
The Judge, being as cunning as he was, likely suspected that someone as treacherous as You Xuan wasn't a regular duelist. He probably assumed that some sort of evil demon or dark entity had taken residence within this young man's body. Perhaps they didn't need to be enemies, and there might even be a chance to recruit him.
You Xuan remained silent for a moment.
"No, you're going to revoke my human status just like that?"
The fall of the once-powerful Atlantis, the birth of new civilizations, the progression to the present day... Endless years, countless generations, different regions, tribes, cultures, and origins. Yet, without fail, all humans endlessly repeat the cycle of war, hatred, and plunder, harming each other relentlessly.
The darkness I bring is of their own making; it is their destiny. Even if you stop me, there will always be new embodiments of darkness, and this chain of hatred will continue endlessly."
"Is it similar to the hatred of the Doma Knights?" You Xuan asked calmly.
The Judge frowned slightly.
You Xuan didn't elaborate, but his meaning was clear.
Whether in the past or present, the Doma Knights dedicated their lives to the organization, their loyalty fueling their endless hatred.
Ironically, their hatred was sown by the very organization they served. The tragedies they endured and the darkness in their hearts were all orchestrated by Orichalcos.
If this was the fate of the knights, who could say how much hatred and darkness this being had created throughout history?
"Indeed, sometimes I am not merely an observer in the affairs of humans." The Judge admitted, "At times, I have intervened, but my influence is limited to a gentle nudge in the right direction. If humans did not harbor darkness and evil thoughts within their hearts, they would not have spiraled to where they are today."
"If you say so," You Xuan chuckled lightly.
Referring to the life-altering events of the Doma Knights as a "gentle nudge"?
Alright then, you're invincible, and whatever you say goes.
"Well, it's unfortunate that we couldn't come to an agreement." The Judge said solemnly, "At least, as a Duelist, you possess remarkable strength, and perhaps we didn't need to be adversaries. But since you insist on this path, don't assume that I am afraid of you."
With a grand gesture, he continued, "I will Normal Summon another monster to the field."
As he spoke, a golden light erupted from his back row, and a shadowy figure rose from the depths, resembling a lotus blooming from the abyss.
"I activated the Continuous Magic Card by discarding 'Sacrificial Lotus' from my hand." The Judge explained coldly, "When 'Sacrificial Lotus' exists in the graveyard at the end of my turn, it can be Special Summoned to the field in attack position." (Original effect)
In the anime, this card was the perfect partner for Yubel. However, when it was physically released, it was restricted with the condition, "This effect can only be activated if you control no Spell/Trap cards," making it far less useful than its animated counterpart.
Of course, at the time, no one could have anticipated that after being nerfed, K-Corp would introduce a new version of this card two decades later, specifically designed to support Yubel, making it even stronger than its original incarnation.
"Then, I activate the effect of 'Yubel.' If I do not Tribute a monster at the end of my turn, Yubel must be destroyed. Therefore, I Tribute 'Sacrificial Lotus' to keep Yubel on the field."
The Sacrificial Lotus disintegrated amidst the golden light, its energy funneling into Yubel to sustain its presence.
"The End Phase has arrived."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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