[Undead, LP 0]
The undead stumbled and fell to his knees, his face still filled with unwillingness as his LP hit zero.
If only it hadn't been so close...
He had reached the final turn of the Spirit Summoning Disc's activation, and if only it could finish, if only the final death message could trigger, he would've won.
If only he could reach the end phase...
But what seemed so close became eternal. This end phase would never come again, and he would never see the moment the Spirit Summoning Disc was fulfilled.
Even at the last moments of his dying breath, his eyes remained fixed on the Undead Shaman on Judai's field.
Undead Shaman...
It was this damned Elemental Hero that sacrificed his invincible Cotton Candy and took away his chance to win.
Can you believe using sacrifice with Elemental Hero?
Is this what you're supposed to do as an Elemental Hero?
The barrier closed in, and Yugen stepped forward, smiling as he bumped fists lightly with Judai.
"You're in good form, Judai," Yugen said with a smile. "Looks like you've grasped my point."
"Haha, since I've seen Yugen's 'Lava Demon God' several times, it immediately came to mind..."
Judai spoke with a look of excitement in his eyes.
"But this is really amazing. I think I'm starting to understand why Yugen likes 'Lava Demon God' so much.
It can easily deal with monsters even with such a level of defensive resistance, really fun and fulfilling..."
The soul already being drawn away by the contracting barrier, the undead heard their conversation just before passing and felt his heart surge with hot blood——
——Fulfillment? Your fulfillment.
In that moment, the undead understood. The joy of dueling is built upon the pain of the opponent, and fulfillment is also built upon the opponent's frustration.
Your happiness is mirrored by your opponent's dissatisfaction...
The undead let out a long sigh toward the sky.
God, I'm sorry, but I really tried.
If, at the last moments of his life, he had any lingering regrets or wishes...
...It was to hope that Black Flame, who bragged about being "just a Red Dormitory bottom-ranker," would join him to accompany the Snake God.
Bottom-ranker? Trailer? This Jellyfish Head?
Haha.
"..."
The undead remained on the ground, utterly silent.
Judai looked at the person lying on the ground, speechless for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Yugen approached with a smile, patting his shoulder. "Don't you think it was an interesting duel?"
"Uh, well..."
Judai hesitated, glancing at the unresponsive undead on the ground.
"Hmm... how do I put it. Although I felt the joy of dueling, and the duel itself was interesting, it feels like perhaps now isn't the right moment to say that..."
Yugen was surprised.
Amazed, you actually know when it feels inappropriate?
He always thought it was Judai's inherent teasing skill...
"Dueling should indeed be about happiness; it should be something that everyone can enjoy together." Judai shook his head, "A duel where one has to sacrifice their life..."
Yugen looked sideways. You wouldn't want to say that this isn't even a duel, right?
Actually, for Judai's statement "dueling should be happy," Yugen didn't have a deep feeling. After all, in the Yu-Gi-Oh! world, dueling has always been cruel, with each generation forever burdened by heavy shackles, even since ancient times, it was possibly always intended as a brutal battle ritual to decide victory.
Even setting that aside, based purely on the card game itself, Yugen realized early on that it was cruel.
How cruel is it?
It's cruel enough that only one person can enjoy, while the opponent gets played...
How is this "everyone happy" dueling?
Judai looked at Yugen, suddenly determined: "New Doma... Yugen, we must defeat this organization and stop them."
"Of course."
Yugen nodded firmly.
"Even for preserving the significance represented by dueling and the future of the Dueling Realm, such dangerous organizations with wrong ideals must be defeated."
In the midst of their conversation, he leaned over and took the Card Deck from the undead's Duel Disc.
As someone who used dangerous dark powers, the Card Deck certainly couldn't be left behind. Even if he didn't take it, the management would intervene——specifically someone from the Kaiba Group would come to confiscate this deck.
After confiscation, the deck would be turned over to the Kaiba Group. Given his relationship with Keihei, a mere deck like this would surely not be taken to heart by them if he asked.
Thus, by doing it now, he merely eliminated the cumbersome middle processes.
When the cleanup team came to clear the battlefield, no need to confiscate the deck, saving the procedure of counting, storing, registering, and so forth, and Yugen wouldn't need to apply with Keihei, sparing the group's staff from many troubles.
Ultimately, everyone was happy with the result of skipping the process.
Undead in heaven: "..."
Meanwhile, Yugen found a Puzzle Card representing Duel City's entry qualification while searching the corpse.
However, he handed the Puzzle Card to Judai behind him.
This duel was won by Judai, so the Puzzle Card was naturally his.
"And Rare Cards."
Yugen unfolded the recently taken Card Deck.
"Pick whichever you like."
Judai shook his head: "I don't have any cards I want."
"Well, the tournament rules are like that. If nothing else, just close your eyes and grab one at random."
After some gentle pushing and pulling, Judai casually grabbed a card to comply with the rules.
His interest in the Spirit Summoning Disc, a deck used by Legendary Duelists, was limited to battling against it. Personally, he was a devoted hero user, never having had thoughts of changing his primary theme.
"But I really didn't expect, these guys not only targeted me but even went after you," Yugen frowned.
Judai asked curiously: "Why after us?"
"I have something they want, I suppose," Yugen said. "I suspect they believed our good relationship might let them use you against me?"
"Hiss, that's terrible?"
Judai gasped.
He wasn't very concerned about himself, and could enjoy even dark duels that risked life, but if his friends were involved, he would immediately become tense.
"Indeed."
Yugen said, shaking his head repeatedly.
"Such shameless scoundrels who stoop to such methods against two ordinary Duel Academy students..."
"Exactly, exactly."
Judai also felt righteous indignation.
"To employ such tactics against ordinary students, how does that even count as being a Duelist?"
"Precisely. That's why I think it's too dangerous to let them run free. Fortunately, I'm cooperating with the Kaiba Group; we already have leads..."
"Then let's go, let's go, we'll go together," Judai agreed, "We can't let them run rampant!"