Chapter 448: Reckoning
Chapter 448: Reckoning
At the heart of White Dragon Island, the organizers of the tournament held an official award ceremony. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, You Xuan was crowned the new generation's Duel King.
Of course, there was also a substantial cash prize.
Being a tournament hosted by the Kaiba Corporation, the Duel City tournaments have always been generous with their prizes. This time, with the CEO's personal involvement and the stake of the Duel King title, the prize money was even more extravagant than usual.
You Xuan had been on a spending spree for his deck recently, not just for enhancements but also for research purposes.
While his lab always had research funding, it had to be distributed among multiple project teams. You Xuan often invested in research for his own decks, and with the purchase of various cards and equipment, his savings had taken a hit.
However, his winnings from this tournament quickly replenished his funds and then some. It seemed that he wouldn't have to worry about money for a long while.
And that was just the prize money. Now that he was the Duel King, his fame and influence would only grow. With his increased reputation, he would attract more investments, ensuring a steady and ample supply of funding for his endeavors.
Additionally, if he so desired, opportunities for endorsements, public appearances, and paid invitations to various tournaments would surely come his way. The possibilities were endless, and he could pick and choose as he pleased.
However, while he now had more funds, it might still not be enough for his ambitions.
Research was a bottomless pit, and the Kaiba Corporation's annual development budget for its departments was astronomical.
You Xuan's trip to Duel City had been lucrative, even setting aside the tournament rewards. From Judai alone, he had acquired the Dark Armed Dragon that once ravaged the environment, the rare Yubel who hadn't yet realized her full potential, the Elemental Heroes used to manipulate Akiza's psyche, and the entire Orichalcos set belonging to the Big Five.
The Orichalcos Barrier was not something to be used lightly. While it had a powerful effect, the buff that required a soul to be extracted every time it was activated was annoying. As a righteous and upright person, You Xuan had no interest in using such an evil artifact.
Not to mention the infamous 'whoever uses it dies' debuff. While Judai had broken the curse and won a duel within the barrier, it couldn't erase the barrier's notorious track record.
And there were suspicions that the barrier was directly linked to Raphael. Although the snake seemed to be gone for good, he had said that as long as darkness existed in people's hearts, he would never truly die. If the barrier were used frequently and Raphael found a way to exploit that, the consequences could be disastrous.
So, it was best to steer clear of that artifact.
However, among the original cards printed by Industrial Illusions, there were quite a few that were truly extraordinary. Several Orichalcos cards would be released in the real card game years later, although their effects had been altered beyond recognition. By the time they were released, they had become useless cards meant to fill up card collections and appeal to nostalgia. But in the early environment, they could be useful and had development potential.
However, the most valuable acquisition from this trip was undoubtedly Yubel.
Future players knew just how high Yubel's potential was. Many of the cards released in the new series were old cards from Yubel's anime with new faces, but their strength had increased exponentially. If he could print just one or two of those cards, they would be incredible trump cards.
Becoming the Duel King seemed like a pinnacle, but it only added to You Xuan's to-do list. To others, he might seem like a duel god, but to himself, he had only just glimpsed his limits, and he knew he must not slack off going forward.
As the radiance gradually faded, it seemed to take away the supreme divine power contained within the card. First, the card image became blurred, followed by the text at the bottom, as if the golden light had turned into a stream, washing away all the information on the card.
Finally, when all the content had dissipated, the card itself began to flicker and eventually turned into a flurry of golden light particles that vanished from his hand.
You Xuan understood.
He was neither the Pharaoh nor a member of the Tomb Keepers or someone related to the Millennium Items.
The Winged Divine Dragon had only appeared to follow the Pharaoh's order to deal with the Orichalcos God. Now that its mission was accomplished, it had returned to its master.
If he had to put it into words, this trip had only allowed him to get a little familiar with the Winged Divine Dragon, and they could be considered comrades-in-arms. However, whether the dragon would do him any favors in the future because of their past acquaintance was uncertain.
The glow of the Seal Instrument also dimmed, returning to its state before the match. It remained inert, its luster dulled. However, the artifact did not disintegrate and disappear but stayed in You Xuan's hand, temporarily dormant.
It was unknown if it could be reactivated in the future should the opportunity arise.
But You Xuan did not dwell on it.
He had a premonition that his connection with the Sun God was far from over. There would be more opportunities to meet in the days to come.
The journey ahead was still long, and he had much to do.
Just as the Yu-Gi-Oh! game in reality constantly evolves with new versions and updates, so too does the anime. From Duelist Kingdom to Duel City and beyond, the rules and cards are continually refined and evolved.
With institutions around the world dedicated to its development and archaeological digs unearthing new discoveries, it is inevitable that the card system matures, the series becomes more comprehensive, and the effects of the cards grow stronger.
Even iconic duelists like Yugi and Kaiba, who represented the pinnacle of power in their time, received new cards and variations in the following years, adapting to the changing meta with fresh decks.
Those who fail to keep up with the new versions risk being left behind, even if they were once dominant forces. True power evolves with time, and the strongest duelists' evolution surpasses that of their peers.
A prime example is Kaiba, who was already at the apex in his time, yet he has continued to stay ahead of the curve, his decks leading the meta by several generations.
You Xuan, having temporarily reached the top, is aware that dueling is a path where one must continually improve or fall behind. He must now strive forward at an even faster pace to avoid being surpassed by those who follow in his footsteps.
"After the fall of Dartz, the remnants of his forces regrouped and transformed into what they are today. But that will not happen again," Kaiba Seto said in a low voice.
"This time, I will ensure that these scumbags are eradicated once and for all."
With the leader defeated and the Three Musketeers crushed, Kaiba was clearly preparing to wipe out the remaining insignificant players.
You Xuan's eyes lit up as he heard this.
Indeed, with the New Doma's influence spanning the globe and his unique imprinting technology, there was undoubtedly a trove of exclusive and powerful items. Each of the Three Musketeers had unveiled their unique treasures, and Judging One alone possessed an arsenal of epic equipment.
If he could gain access to their imprinting armory, there would surely be even more incredible items awaiting discovery. Thus, You Xuan immediately stepped forward and declared his intention.
"Count me in," he said with righteous indignation to Kaiba. "As the current Duel King, it is my responsibility and duty to contribute to building a brighter future for the dueling world!"
(End of Chapter)
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