He remembered the first time he came into contact with Yu-Gi-Oh! as a child and saw those cool Monsters on a television screen. Countless distant scenes came rushing back from his memory.
There was Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba battling the Egyptian Gods at Sky Arena, Yami Yugi disappearing into the light while leaving the audience one final thumbs-up, Judai Yuki choosing to use Super Polymerization to Polymerization himself together with Yubel, and even later, that first shocking moment when Crab Brother drew Shooting Star Dragon and broke through the darkness.
Since when had those memories started to fade?
Yugen opened his eyes again. Then he smiled faintly and said, "I understand."
"Then just as you wish, Judai Yuki. From here on, winning and losing do not matter. For the rest of this Duel, I will properly enjoy it with you until the very end."
Judai Yuki immediately broke into a bright smile. "Yeah, that is how it should be." He lowered his stance, then paused and added with a grin, "But let me say this first. The one who wins in the end will still be me."
"Heh, that is hard to say. My Turn!, Card Draw!" said Yugen. "I also activate this card from my hand: Quick-Play Spell Emergency Provisions."
"I send the Spell and Trap Cards on my field to the Graveyard, and recover 1000 Life Points for each one. I send the Continuous Trap Mind Drain to the Graveyard and recover Life Points!"
The Continuous Trap turned into particles of light and vanished, and that energy flowed back into Yugen's body. Yugen, LP 1000 -> LP 2000.
"Recovering Life Points... no." Judai Yuki seemed to realize something at once. "Your real goal is to Release the restriction from Mind Drain on yourself, right?"
That trap affected him far more than it affected Yugen, but it was not as if it had no effect at all. "Neither player can send Monsters from the hand to the Graveyard" interfered with more than just Fusion Summon. (ANIME EFFECT)
"Correct. Next, I activate this card," said Yugen. "Ritual Spell Super Soldier Ritual!"
"Until the total Levels equal eight, send a LIGHT or DARK monster from the hand to the Graveyard, then send a LIGHT or DARK Monster of the opposite Attribute from the Deck to the Graveyard, and use those two Monsters as materials to Perform a Ritual Summon! I use the Level 4 LIGHT Beginning Knight from my hand and the Level 4 DARK Evening Twilight Knight from my Deck as the Ritual Materials. Ritual Summon!" (ANIME EFFECT)
A ritual altar appeared, and the two young knights turned into light and dark energy before sinking into it. A vortex of Chaos shot into the sky. Yugen raised his hand and declared, "One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness, and the road to Gate of Chaos opens here. Ritual Summon, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, descend!"
Inside the spiral of light and darkness, the sword of Chaos split heaven and earth apart. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning spun through the storm and descended with pressure like a god. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000.
"It is here, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!" Judai Yuki's face was filled with excitement. "The Legendary Warrior that has fought alongside Mr. Yugi Muto since the days of Duelist Kingdom!"
"When Evening Twilight Knight is used as Ritual Material, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning gains an extra effect," said Yugen. "Once Per Turn, banish one Monster on the opponent's field. I banish your Defense Position Elemental HERO Bubbleman! Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning Dimensional Slash!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Judai Yuki had five monsters on the field. Four Normal Monsters were in Attack Position, and only Bubbleman was in Defense Position.
"Then at this moment, I activate my face-down card!" Judai Yuki said. "Trap Card Hero Signal! I recover Life Points equal to 1000 times the number of Elemental HEROs on my field."
"I have five Elemental HEROs on my field, so I recover 5000 Life Points!" (ANIME EFFECT) Judai Yuki, LP 5300 -> LP 10300.
Sho Marufuji cried out, "Over ten thousand Life Points!"
But Daichi Misawa said in a low voice, "It will not last long."
"Then I activate the effect Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning gained from the Ritual Material Beginning Knight. Once Per Turn, banish one Monster on the opponent's field. This time, I banish Elemental HERO Sparkman! Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning Dimensional Slash!" (ANIME EFFECT)
The blade of Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning came down, and Sparkman vanished into a distortion of Dimension.
"Next, I activate the Equip Spell Wonder Wand and equip it to Silent Magician LV8. This card can only be equipped to a Spellcaster-Type Monster, and the equipped monster gains 500 ATK. Silent Magician is unaffected by the opponent's Spell Card effects, but she can still receive the effects of Spells I control."
Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500 -> ATK 4000.
"Battle," said Yugen. "First, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning attacks Avian!"
Judai Yuki said, "By the effect of Skyscraper, Avian gains 1000 ATK!"
The blade of Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning slashed down. Avian resisted with all its strength, but it was still cut apart and exploded on the spot. Judai Yuki, LP 10300 -> LP 9300.
"When Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning Destroys a Monster by battle, it can make one more attack," said Yugen. "So it continues and attacks Elemental HERO Burstinatrix!"
Judai Yuki answered, "Elemental HERO Burstinatrix also gains 1000 ATK under the effect of Skyscraper!"
The storm of blades swept across the field, and Elemental HERO Burstinatrix held on for as long as she could before she too was defeated. Judai Yuki, LP 9300 -> LP 8500.
"Now Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning attacks Elemental HERO Clayman," said Yugen.
"Then I use the effect of Necro Gardna in the Graveyard!" said Judai Yuki. "I banish Necro Gardna in the Graveyard, and once only, I can negate the opponent's attack! I negate the attack of Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!"
The shadow of Necro Gardna appeared and blocked the endless sword flashes of Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. Judai Yuki smiled. "The effect Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning got from Beginning Knight lets it make another attack after it Destroys an opponent's Monster by battle, right? But if the first attack is negated, then the later attack cannot continue either."
"True." Yugen nodded. "Then finally, Silent Magician LV8 attacks Elemental HERO Clayman," said Yugen. "Silent Magic Burst!"
Silent Magician had already been waiting for this. Spinning magic gathered inside her staff and formed a massive ball of light.
"Elemental HERO Clayman also rises to 1800 ATK under the effect of Skyscraper!"
Silent Magician LV8, ATK 4000. Elemental HERO Clayman, ATK 1800.
"Uwah!" Judai Yuki was blasted straight onto the ground. Judai Yuki, LP 8500 -> LP 6300.
"Battle Phase ends. Then I use the other effect of Wonder Wand. I send the equipped monster and this card to the Graveyard, and Draw two cards from the Deck."
Yugen drew two more cards.
"Then I set four cards." With a wave of Yugen's hand, four more cards appeared in his Back Row. "My turn ends."
**