Chapter 980: The Emperor's Choice
Chapter 980: The Emperor's Choice
As the realization of what had transpired dawned on Jou, a mix of emotions surged within him, leaving him speechless for a moment.
He didn't know how to confront this dark version of himself from the darkness.
Initially, his feelings towards the Emperor were solely of hatred.
When he first heard the concept of the Emperor, he knew only that it was synonymous with evil. He witnessed the suffering of the residents from other dimensions and saw the oppression endured by all those under the Emperor's rule.
Later, when Jou learned that it was his opposite self, his aversion only intensified. He desperately wanted to deny this part of himself, to defeat and eradicate it.
But then he understood that the Emperor embodied all the darkness from his past, carrying the burden of his dark history and every negative aspect within him. It was because of this that he could be so pure in this life.
Jou had probably never imagined that he would one day mourn the loss of this dark persona so deeply.
Nor had he ever considered that the Emperor's death would be in such a way, and for his sake.
"You knew all along," Jou said sadly. "You asked me to unleash the power of Ultra Fusion, but you already knew what it meant. You had already decided to become the sacrifice for this card."
"There's nothing to regret."
The Emperor's voice was weak, yet it still carried an unchallenged authority. Despite the feeble tone, his words resonated with conviction.
"You should know that I am merely the darkness within you. I am the accumulation of your countless sorrows and regrets.
Now that you've let go of the past and conquered the darkness within, there's no longer a need for my existence."
"But... it took so long, so long to finally understand each other," Jou said painfully.
"Don't be a coward," the Emperor rebuked, his voice harsh, but it softened immediately, and he spoke gently.
"Jou, you are the Emperor. Now that you've overcome the darkness within, you've reclaimed the power that is rightfully yours. But I belong to the past, a dark and shameful history. What's done is done; there's no point in lingering."
"Step forward into the future, Jou!"
The final words echoed in the darkness, and in that moment, he seemed to transform back into the ruler who dominated the Twelve Dimensions, standing atop the Emperor's Citadel, his cloak fluttering like a flag in the night, forever.
Jou sat cross-legged on the ground and slowly opened his eyes.
"Jou?"
Yubel asked with concern, not knowing what had transpired within him but sensing the subtle shift in his aura and noticing his emotional turmoil.
"It's nothing," Jou shook his head and said softly.
"I just bid farewell to an old friend."
Yubel was taken aback. She had some knowledge of Ultra Fusion's effects and now recalled the moment during the duel when Jou suddenly unleashed its power. A suspicion formed in her mind.
Yubel was well aware that she had been saved by Ultra Fusion; without its power, she would have struggled to escape the grasp of Light of Destruction. In other words, the Emperor had sacrificed himself for her.
Although she knew the Emperor was essentially Jou's dark side, he had become an independent persona, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. Not knowing what to say, she quietly sat beside Jou.
The two remained silent for a long time until Jou broke the silence.
"Yubel, the one who possessed you earlier... was the Demonic Deity?"
Yubel nodded. "Yes."
"How did you encounter him?" Jou asked.
"After a moment of contemplation, Yubel shook her head. "I'm not sure. I was in a terrible state, and it was the one who approached me."
"Are you feeling better now?" Jaden asked.
Yubel nodded. "Thanks to Ultra Fusion, my power has been replenished, and I'm feeling much better now." She glanced at the Elemental Hero Neos, who had flown to the side. Yubel nodded at him and said, "I'm sorry for my rudeness earlier. And thank you for your help."
Just then, Ultra Fusion had activated, merging Neos and Yubel into Neos Sage. During the fusion, Neos' miraculous dark fluctuation was transmitted to Yubel through the fusion process.
Neos, being the closest ally in Jaden's deck and a miracle-born Elemental Hero created to counter light fluctuations, had the best effect in dispelling the light's power. It was also thanks to Neos that Yubel could recover so quickly.
Neos was good-natured and didn't mind Yubel's previous discourtesy. He politely returned Yubel's greeting.
"But I can sense that the evil deity from before wasn't the real one," Yubel said.
"Yes, it seemed to say that it would remember us," Jaden added. "Once it breaks free from its seal and revives, it will come after us again."
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Yubel hummed in response. "Let it come if it dares. This time, I was in a weakened state, which it took advantage of. Next time? Heh, it's welcome to try again."
She brandished her sharp claws, ready for a fight.
Jaden paused for a moment. "It's good that Yubel has confidence, but this evil deity is not to be underestimated. When it possessed Yubel, its power was formidable.
If not for the Emperor's help, I would have struggled to win that duel. If this evil deity truly breaks free from its seal and reappears before us, who knows how difficult it will be to confront it."
There was something else Jaden wanted to say. During the duel, the Emperor had mentioned that Jaden shouldn't always rely on You Xuan. In the end, the Emperor's self-sacrifice had inspired Jaden to embrace his future potential.
This made Jaden reflect on whether he had been too dependent on You Xuan all this time.
No matter what challenges he faced, he had never truly worried because, deep down, he felt that You Xuan would always be there to handle any problem, no matter how big.
Perhaps it was time to stand on his own.
He was already a capable duelist in his own right. If he didn't have the courage to face these challenges, how could he face the Emperor, who had given him so much?
"Yubel, I'm wondering if you have a way to find the true form of that evil deity and where it is right now?" Jaden asked.
"It said it wasn't fully revived, so its current state must be weak. If we take this opportunity to find it..."
Yubel seemed surprised by Jaden's idea.
Taking the initiative instead of waiting to be attacked again.
But she didn't dislike this tactic.
"I can't pinpoint its exact location, but I can narrow it down to a dimension," Yubel explained. "However, even if we go to that dimension, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack."
"No problem," Jaden said with a smile. "Let's go and investigate."
"I've gained some experience with dimensional travel now," Jaden added.
End of Chapter."
Chapter end
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