But when the Demon King fell, he felt aggrieved.
Yes, aggrieved. In his illustrious life, it wasn't that he hadn't faced stronger opponents or lost a duel before.
But to feel so suffocated after a match was indeed a first.
His Monster Card Deck was designed to operate with the graveyard as the core mechanism. For instance, the powerful duo of the Minotaur and Horse-headed Ghost could easily summon any powerful monster from the deck to the field.
Like the infinitely resurrecting Nine-tailed Fox, or even the Subordinate Monsters like the Crow Tengu and Yin Demon Luo Ghost he just used, all could revive from the graveyard with powerful effects.
Yet, there wasn't even a chance. The opponent's Great Cosmos directly ruined his graveyard, making it nonexistent. His monsters' powers were completely suppressed.
This was his first time deeply realizing that dueling could be like being imprisoned...
"We won, huh, Yugen!"
Although it wasn't his duel, Judai still dutifully jumped out to strike a victory pose for Yugen, smiling as he spoke.
"That was an interesting duel!"
Demon King: "..."
Ha, interesting, certainly interesting.
Whatever you say goes, after all, he didn't dare to dissent...
And with the end of the duel, darkness surged from all around. The pitch-black chaos seemed to harbor countless creatures, converging on his position.
The Demon King's heart skipped a beat.
As a seasoned veteran in the underworld, he naturally knew what this meant. Losing a Dark Duel could mean eternal doom; it's said that the unfortunate ones' souls can't even go to the Netherworld, endlessly wandering in the darkness.
"Wait... wait! What do you want to ask? I'll tell you everything!"
The Demon King hurriedly shouted.
"Of course, you don't have the option to stay silent."
Yugen nodded, stepping forward, looking down at the kneeling Demon King.
"Did New Doma hire you to deal with me?"
The Demon King nodded like a pecking chicken.
"Then it's simple. So tell me, where's the place?"
The Demon King hesitated for a moment.
"Hmm? Don't want to say?"
Yugen wondered. Didn't winning mean he had to answer whatever was asked, could he still choose to resist to the death?
Perhaps my level of darkness isn't high enough?
Thinking this way, the surrounding darkness surged closer, about to engulf the Demon King.
The Demon King was shocked, quickly saying, "It's not that I don't want to tell, Master Yellow Robe! But I really don't know... You see, though we're allies, we're not truly on the same side. How could they let an outsider know their base location?"
Yugen thought for a bit, feeling this explanation seemed reasonable.
But what's with 'Master Yellow Robe,' has my Yellow Dormitory uniform become my symbol...
But it doesn't matter. Yugen quickly came up with a new idea.
"So even if you don't know the location, you should at least have a contact method?" Yugen asked, "They hired you to deal with me; you must have a channel to inform them the job's done?"
The Demon King helplessly nodded: "Well... indeed there is."
"How do you contact them?"
"...There's a dedicated line."
The Demon King spoke without hiding. Having lost the duel, he felt a strange force simmering within him, shackling his soul.
Each word he uttered seemed monitored by this force, with any intent to speak falsehood or hide something tightening the shackle, as if gripping his very soul.
Of course, he currently had no intention of lying.
"Do you contact them, or do they contact you?" Yugen asked.
"I contact them. Once the job is done, they send someone to verify and take something from you... but they never told me what it is, just that you have something they want."
The Demon King explained helplessly.
"They'll check and retrieve it personally, and only then will I get paid. What happens after that has nothing to do with me."
"I see."
Yugen nodded, indicating he understood.
"Then it's simple. Contact them now, say the mission is complete and I've been taken care of, and have them send someone over," Yugen said, "Once they arrive, it's out of your hands."
The Demon King was taken aback.
Then quickly grasped Yugen's meaning.
"Do you want me to betray my allies?" he squinted.
Though he and New Doma were only superficial allies, there was still that layer of relationship. Loyalty was paramount in the underworld, and if this got out, how could he show his face in that world?
"Why? Do you think it's inappropriate?"
Yugen laughed, not annoyed, only smiling gently.
"Not wanting to is understandable, I'm quite easy to talk with..."
"No, absolutely not!"
The Demon King shouted hastily.
For some reason, when this man in yellow smiled, even though his words were empathetic and amiable, it only made him more on edge.
Especially against the backdrop of this dark cloud-like surrounding, it was extraordinarily eerie.
In an instant, notions of camaraderie and morality were thrown to the winds. There is a saying: it's better them than you; indeed, one's own life is more important than future events.
Moreover, he had a premonition that if he resisted, his fate might be worse than death.
"Alright, alright."
Yugen patted his shoulder, smiling.
"It's rare and commendable for Lord Demon King to repent and mend his ways in time. So I'll leave it to you."
The Demon King nodded with a bitter smile.
Turning over a new leaf?
It does seem to be the case. But why does he feel like he's just turned to the dark side...
"Oh right, there's one more important matter."
Yugen stopped smiling, his expression suddenly serious.
Startled by this sudden change, the Demon King held his breath, cautiously asking: "Sir... is there any other instruction?"
"Though it's commendable that you've decided to work on redemption, it doesn't erase your past crimes."
Yugen sternly proclaimed.
"Duel Monsters are not tools for bullying, nor means for gaining benefits. Using their power to harm others disqualifies you from being called a Duelist!"
The Demon King blinked, bewildered.
Huh?
Master Yellow Robe, are you introducing yourself?
Because I feel like I'm currently being bullied...
"Misusing card power to commit misdeeds, recklessly taking lives—can't you hear your cards crying?" Yugen continued to question.
Honestly, no...
The Demon King grumbled silently, but didn't dare to speak, keeping his head down as he took the reprimand.
"People like you aren't fit to be Duelists; you shouldn't be allowed to use Duel Monsters' power to harm more innocent people."
Yugen reached out his hand.
"Hand over the card deck."
The Demon King: "......"