Yubel was an extremely cunning entity.
Long before descending to the human dimension, she had thoroughly studied everyone around Jaden.
That was why, even though Syrus had grown and Hassleberry had his dinosaur bone spirit power, they lost to her one-sidedly in their duels.
Although her own dueling ability and spirit power far exceeded ordinary beings and even Sacred Beast-level monsters, easily defeating any duelist wasn't something you could just wish into existence.
Targeted counters, targeted disruption, targeted influence. Each was indispensable.
Simply using cards to counter enemies was effective, but the best method against humans was always attacking the gaps in their hearts.
Only then would victory be stable!
Although she wasn't present in her true form and her cards weren't as powerful as her real Deck, the cards born from Darkness and the Light of Destruction's power still far surpassed any ordinary human's Deck.
Moreover, she had specifically researched every detail about Hikaru before the duel...
Yet from start to finish, no matter which angle she attacked Hikaru's mentality from, whether morality, unfamiliar cards, or humanity's disasters, nothing truly struck him.
In the end, even the "slow effect damage torment" meant to wear down his spirit and expose weaknesses had been turned against her, becoming his LP recovery tool!
This gave Yubel a pressure she hadn't felt in a long time...
But at least for now, she still had other strategies.
After all, Hikaru had used his most precious Spell, Future Fusion, to summon D/D/D Oracle King d'Arc. Counterattacking through Future Fusion wouldn't be easy now.
Hikaru held up a card. "Normal Summon: Level 2, Dragonmaid Laundry."
"Rawwr~" A petite dragonoid hopped before Hikaru, huffing at Yubel.
Dragonmaid Laundry. Level 2, WATER Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 500.
"When Dragonmaid Laundry is Normal or Special Summoned, I can activate her effect: send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard." Hikaru stared coldly at his opponent. "Will you negate this effect?"
"Effect? What are you saying?" Yubel studied Hikaru.
"When it comes to Fusion, I learn and understand everything. Oneiros, the Dream Mirror Tormentor has the ability to negate an opponent's monster effect while Dream Mirror of Terror is on the field, correct?" Hikaru narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the male dream demon. His tone was firm. "Now, I've summoned a monster and activated an effect. Well? Are you going to respond?"
She even knew the effects of cards that hadn't existed until today, cards born just now?
Yubel was surprised.
But immediately, she had to consider Hikaru's words.
Should she negate this effect?
Dragonmaid Laundry merely sent the top three Deck cards to the Graveyard. Normally, she wouldn't even consider negating something so trivial.
But she had studied Hikaru's Deck and knew it contained many cards with Graveyard-triggered effects.
However, the effect wasn't guaranteed to be useful either.
Three cards, and she still had Darkness and Light of Destruction backing her. Three cards shouldn't produce anything too powerful.
"I won't negate."
Hikaru nodded. Beside him, Dragonmaid Laundry was already cheerfully producing a bucket from somewhere, splashing water out. Three cards were sent from the Deck top to the Graveyard.
Fusion Birth, Gem-Knight Nephyrim, Fluffal Owl.
Terrible mills!
Yubel sneered.
"Nephyrim's effect." Hikaru looked at his Graveyard, picked up the card, and spoke again. "When this card is sent from the hand or Deck to the Graveyard: I discard one card from my hand, and this card is Special Summoned."
Nephyrim?
Yubel had learned about this card through her covert surveillance.
It was a powerful monster that could search Gem-Knight Dispersion.
If Hikaru obtained Gem-Knight Dispersion, he could Fuse using the Extra Deck, combining Prismaura with other cards, then use Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion's effect to copy Prismaura's Graveyard effect, directly destroying her Continuous Trap, then attack. She could lose.
Furthermore, discarding a hand card for the Special Summon could send Edge Imp Chain to the Graveyard, which would then add Fusion Materials and a Fusion Spell to hand.
She absolutely couldn't let this effect resolve.
"Oneiros's effect!"
The male dream demon raised his left hand. Black energy gathered, forming an intangible mirror that slowly pressed down on Nephyrim as it tried to Special Summon from the Graveyard. The mirror passed through the card's body, and its effect dissolved like a bubble in a dream.
"Damn it!" Avian finally couldn't hold back. "Even that was blocked! That bastard!"
Sparkman, who normally scolded Avian for his language, was unusually silent this time, even slightly agreeing.
Jaden watched in a daze, vaguely feeling something familiar.
"Then, flip Set card: Trap Card, Fusion Duplication!" Hikaru raised his hand. "I target one Normal or Quick-Play 'Fusion' Spell in either player's Graveyard. That card is banished, then its activation effect is applied."
"Tch, so that was the plan." Yubel snorted.
If she had known, she would have negated Dragonmaid Laundry instead.
Hikaru picked up Fusion Birth from the Graveyard, pocketed it, and Dragonmaid Laundry cheerfully stirred Hikaru's Deck again. Five cards were sent from the top to the Graveyard.
Hikaru glanced over them.
Gem-Knight Garnet, Cyber Dragon, Fusion Conscription, Metalfoes Fusion, Gem-Knight Fusion.
"Ha, ha ha ha ha!" Seeing these five cards, Yubel burst out laughing. "Five cards, and only two monsters. You can't possibly Fuse! In fact, aside from Metalfoes Fusion, not a single card is useful."
"Tch, that's terrible." Chazz grimaced.
These five cards seemed completely useless.
"No." Hikaru shook his head calmly. "Not necessarily."
Everyone froze.
"Fusion is endlessly versatile. Why would you assume these two monsters can't Fuse?"
What?
Cyber Dragon and a Gem-Knight could Fuse?
"Fusion conditions: one Machine monster plus one Pyro monster!"
Cyber Dragon and Garnet from the Graveyard leapt up before Hikaru.
The mechanical dragon's head slowly transformed under the flames' power. Endless fire and steam filled the pitch-black mirror world.
"Fusion Summon!"
"Level 6: Ignition Beast Volcannon."
A mechanical dinosaur swung its massive tail, cackling as it appeared.
Ignition Beast Volcannon. Level 6, EARTH Attribute, Machine-Type. ATK 2300.
Hikaru LP: 1800 → 2100.
An unfamiliar monster!
Yubel was inwardly alarmed.
Hikaru chuckled.
Hikaru had many cards he had never used, cards on standby. He almost never played them or activated their effects.
Like the Infernoid series cards. Like the still-unused Cyber Eternity Dragon.
But not using them didn't mean they didn't exist.
This Ignition Beast, for instance, was a parting gift from Zone in the Synchro Dimension. Before leaving, Zone had given him most of the Fusion Monsters still in circulation there. He just hadn't had the chance to use them.
Hikaru had always known Yubel would target him eventually. Preparing different cards for different situations was standard.
"Ignition Beast Volcannon's effect! When this card is Fusion Summoned: I target one monster my opponent controls. That target and this card are destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. Then, I inflict damage to my opponent equal to the destroyed opponent's monster's ATK!"
"What?!" Chazz jolted.
Hikaru pointed at Trilojig. "My target is... Phantasm Emperor Trilojig!"
Trilojig had 4000 ATK!
If Hikaru's effect detonated it now, "Dimitri" would lose outright!
Chazz almost cheered.
But unfortunately...
"I activate the Trap Card: Safe Zone!"
A Trap flipped. Green luminescence engulfed the world, then covered Trilojig.
"I target one Attack Position monster I control. As long as this card remains in the Spell/Trap Zone, that face-up monster cannot be targeted by opponent's effects, cannot be destroyed by battle or effects, and cannot attack directly. When this card leaves the field, that monster is destroyed. When that monster leaves the field, this card is destroyed."
BOOM!
Ignition Beast Volcannon charged at Phantasm Emperor Trilojig, seized its limbs, and detonated with a thunderous explosion.
Dense smoke engulfed the entire area, but as the darkness crept in, the haze gradually dissipated.
When the smoke cleared completely, Trilojig stood calmly on the field, even wearing the same eerie smile as its master.
Only one monster had been destroyed: Hikaru's!
Since Trilojig hadn't been destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Hikaru couldn't inflict any damage!
Chazz watched from the side, palms slick with sweat.
Whether from worry for Hikaru or from the dark power invading his mind, he grew increasingly tense. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
A voice kept echoing inside him.
This is bad, this is bad, this is bad. He's going to lose, he's going to lose, he's going to lose. Hikaru is going to lose!
If he loses, what then? Can I avenge him?
No matter how he tried to control his thoughts, no matter how hard he tried not to think about it, the ideas sprouted like weeds after rain.
He was...
Afraid!
Meanwhile, Jaden was in a daze.
Once he sensed something strange, he couldn't stop reflecting.
He kept feeling the Heroes' attitudes were peculiar. He kept feeling that the bizarre entity across from him, that third eye, was familiar.
After some unknown time, realization suddenly struck.
"Yubel..."
Yubel's entire body shuddered from head to toe. She took a deep breath, suppressed her excitement, and spoke calmly. "So you've finally remembered, Jaden."
The Heroes froze instantly. The memories they had tried so hard to keep Jaden from recalling seemed to be loosening.
"That's right, Jaden. I am Yubel, the one you tormented, the one you banished to another dimension. Now, I've come back for you." Yubel spoke through Dimitri's body, her words chilling, staring at Jaden as if she would devour him alive.
Jaden was lost in a fog.
He remembered.
Why had he forgotten?
His childhood memories were actually quite vivid. After all, he had never had playmates as a child. His only entertainment had been duel cards.
As his card, he shouldn't have forgotten Yubel. So why...
Then it came to him.
When he was still a child, after the cards he designed were sent to another dimension by KaibaCorp, his parents had taken him to KaibaCorp's largest hospital. There, the absurdly healthy Jaden had undergone a procedure...
Memory erasure surgery!
He remembered!
He remembered everything!
His parents believed the people around Jaden kept getting hurt not because he was a "jinx," but because one of his cards was evil. To spare Jaden the pain, they sent his cards to another dimension, then used their connections to alter Jaden's memories, letting him forget his childhood suffering and grow up normally!
He remembered. He hadn't always been the "villain" in other children's eyes. There had been a time when he played peacefully with a friend.
That friend was...
Yubel!
The reason he had always been treated as a "villain" as a child...
Then his pupils contracted as he recalled something else.
In the Supreme King's Deck, he had once seen... other Yubel cards!
His blood ran cold.
He hadn't always been the "villain." He...
"Since you've remembered, there's no need for me to pretend anymore." Yubel sneered coldly, taking full control of Dimitri, crushing his consciousness into the deepest corner of the dream. Under her control, Dimitri's eyes changed color.
"Now you understand, don't you?" Yubel said with anticipation. "Jaden, you sent me to the most distant dimension. I was tormented by the rifts between dimensions, by the power of darkness and destruction, by the force that tore apart the spirit world. That agony taught me the meaning of your love! Jaden!"
She was insane.
Tierra, for once, seriously considered the mental state of Hikaru's opponent.
Without question, Yubel was insane.
Whether it was external forces, spirit power, or the torture of suffering, under extreme duress, this supreme fiend had lost her mind.
She seemed to interpret her own suffering as Jaden's love for her, then wanted to reciprocate by tormenting the people around Jaden?
No wonder she had targeted Hikaru.
Tormenting Jaden's best friend was spiritual torment for Jaden. That was love?
What a twisted mindset.
Tierra shook her head.
Devoid of reason or calculation.
At the same time, Jaden had pieced everything together.
He understood now. Why Yubel tormented Syrus and Hassleberry, why she possessed Dimitri and continued tormenting him in his dreams, why the Heroes were so afraid of Yubel.
Because...
At this very moment, Jaden instinctively felt...
Fear!
Without his awareness, wisps of black miasma had been seeping into his body from every direction.
His hands trembled slightly. In that instant, he felt as though he had returned to childhood, to that afternoon, to those days when every child avoided him.
Then and now, everything seemed to circle back to the beginning.
Was he going to lose everything again?
"Relax." Hikaru spoke gently from the side. "Even if the clock's hands return to the starting point, time has already completed one full rotation.
Back then, you didn't know. Now, you know everything. And as your friend, as the one being attacked, I also know everything... So Jaden, I will never resent you. Even if I lose this duel, it won't be your fault. It will be because my Fusion wasn't Fusion enough!"
Jaden jolted awake!
He shook his head, slapped his face. The black miasma that had been creeping in slowly dissipated from his body.
That's right.
Things were different now. Everything was different!
Yubel's expression turned cold. She would no longer tolerate Hikaru's behavior. "Stop filling my Jaden's head with that nonsense."
"Jaden is mine..."
"Yours? What do you mean, yours? I've made myself perfectly clear! Mutual respect, properly treating and understanding each other. That's what being partners means! Jaden is an independent being, not your possession!"
Yubel's face darkened. She had already decided that after taking control of Hikaru's body, she would repeat all of this to Jaden in reverse.
"What can you possibly do at this point?" Yubel sneered.
Hikaru's options were exhausted. His destruction effect had been blocked. Trilojig at 4000 ATK and Oneiros at 3000 ATK weren't easy to break through. On top of that, Hikaru had to discard cards just to attack.
How could he possibly defeat her?
Next turn, the Dream Mirror could shift forms. Then Oneiros the Tormentor would become Oneiros the Erlking, gaining both effect negation and card destruction.
Last turn, Chimerafflesia hadn't been sent to the Graveyard, so Hikaru hadn't searched any powerful Fusion Spell. Fusion Birth had Fused into Ignition Beast Volcannon, but the rest of the mills were disastrous.
"What can I do? I only do one thing: Fusion."
"Fusion? Hmph..." Yubel sneered.
She knew Fusion inside and out. Jaden's soul possessed the world's strongest "Fusion" power. Some human of unknown origin couldn't possibly understand true Fusion's strength.
Although she hadn't gained the upper hand verbally, Yubel didn't care.
True, Hikaru's words enraged her. But she had already endured every possible torment and suffering. No matter how eloquent Hikaru was, she wouldn't mind.
Because all she needed was Jaden.
Meanwhile, Chazz was starting to have trouble breathing. He looked at Jaden, gasping, sweating, and asked, "What's going on, Jaden..."
Jaden fell silent.
Although his parents' surgery as a child had made him almost perfectly forget this childhood experience, as he grew older, as his spirit power grew exponentially, as more spirits gathered around him, he had gradually sensed inconsistencies in his memories.
Combined with his two-month duel against the Supreme King, which had created some mysterious connection...
After remembering "Yubel" today, he had hazily "recalled" many things.
But...
These memories, though his, were also not his.
When he saw the events within them, he felt no familiarity or nostalgia. On the contrary, it felt like watching a movie.
The "him" in the memories seemed to be him, yet the actions weren't things he had done.
The Supreme King...
He realized those must have been his "past life's" experiences.
No, could they even be called a "past life"?
Jaden recalled the mirror Hikaru had crafted, the one that showed your inner self.
Was he the "Supreme King" or "Jaden," or perhaps... neither?
Because a scene surfaced in his memory.
His father, the King, speaking to a graceful young boy: his son, his prince, the future heir to this kingdom, was born with terrifying dark power in his body. One day, he would suffer because of that darkness. When that time came, he hoped this boy would guard him forever.
The power of darkness...
Jaden instinctively clutched his forehead.
Wrong.
He wasn't... human.
There had never been any "reincarnation" or "rebirth"!
He finally understood. He was neither the Supreme King nor "Jaden." He was both the Supreme King and "Jaden."
He and the Supreme King existed simultaneously!
Because he wasn't a human in the conventional sense. He didn't possess what humans called a "soul." Instead, his so-called soul was the vast Darkness of the Universe. That was why spirits could recognize him as the "Supreme King" at a glance!
His own realization terrified him.
He shuddered instinctively, which only excited Yubel further.
Fear me! Be afraid of me, Jaden!
This is my love!
Coming to his senses, Jaden looked at Hikaru. More important than whether he was human or not, the priority was making sure Hikaru was safe!
He forced himself to rally.
Having endured many hardships and grown alongside Hikaru and Chazz, Jaden now had what his childhood self would have considered a nearly perfect life. Naturally, he didn't want his friends hurt because of him.
He had learned from Professor Strongman's guidance and witnessed the Fusion army's existence. He was crystal clear on one thing.
Malice must not be tolerated!
"Hikaru, you've got this!!" He leapt to his feet, cheering.
That voice in Yubel's ears was more piercing, more painful than all of Hikaru's countless rebuttals combined.
"Jaden, even after remembering me, you still treat me like this? Is this your love for me?"
Jaden's forehead throbbed with pain.
He "remembered" what he had said to Yubel as the Supreme King.
"My love belongs to you forever."
But after being born as Jaden Yuki, all his memories were lost. Then Yubel, tormented across countless ages, became a card spirit, was designed into a card by an Industrial Illusions designer, and finally reunited with him...
This was his fault.
He had to admit it. Absolutely his fault.
Because he hadn't remembered. Because he hadn't kept his promise.
But...
He recalled the children who had been tormented because of Yubel when he was young. His relatives. Even his parents...
That was absolutely wrong!
"No, Yubel. This isn't about love. It's about responsibility. We carry the lives of our schoolmates on our shoulders. I will never allow you to trample them!" Jaden cut Yubel off firmly. "I'm sorry for forgetting you, but that's not what this is about right now!"
Dealing with the matter at hand.
This was the lesson Jaden had finally, completely learned.
"Hikaru! You've got this!!"
"Still clinging on? Then let me defeat Hikaru first, plunge this island into total darkness, and then we can have our joyful reunion feast."
Yubel snorted. "Besides, even if you had some counterattack, could you really attack this body? Dimitri's body?"
Her face twisted into something savage. "Right now, Dimitri's soul and body are being drained by the powers of light and darkness. His body is deteriorating. Even a little damage might kill him outright.
Ha ha ha! Being killed by the Chief he trusted most. Not a bad ending for Dimitri, wouldn't you say?
After all, that's what you people love doing most!"
Jaden's words had clearly soured her mood. She was lashing out indiscriminately now.
"Ha... why couldn't I?" Hikaru countered.
Yubel frowned.
"Who said I'd attack Dimitri?" Hikaru spoke leisurely. "Yubel, my favorite thing is making people's schemes fall apart. And my other favorite thing is using the enemy's own attacks against them."
Hikaru narrowed his eyes. "Let me turn your 'agonizing torment' right back around."
"I activate Fusion Substitute's effect in the Graveyard. Return Ignition Beast Volcannon to the Deck, banish Fusion Substitute, draw one card."
"Metalfoes Fusion's effect: draw one card!"
Hikaru quickly surveyed his hand.
"Spell Card: Brilliant Fusion!"
Hikaru slapped down the same card Yubel had used earlier.
"Brilliant Fusion can use monsters from the Deck as Fusion Materials for a Gem-Knight Fusion Summon."
"Fusion conditions: Gem-Knight Lapis plus one Gem-Knight monster!"
"I send Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Lapis from my Deck to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon!"
Wait, that's wrong. Let me correct: "I send Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Lapis Lazuli from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Actually, looking at the Chinese again: 宝石骑士小琉 = Gem-Knight Lapis (小琉), 宝石骑士青玉 = Gem-Knight Lapis (青玉). These are two different Gem-Knights used as material.
"I send Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Lapis from my Deck to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon!"
Yellow gems drifted slowly from the sky. Then an elegant lady gradually appeared.
"Level 5: Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli!"
Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli. Level 5, EARTH Attribute, Rock-Type. ATK 0.
Hikaru LP: 2100 → 2400.
"Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli's effect: once per turn during my Main Phase, I send one Gem-Knight monster from my Deck or Extra Deck to the Graveyard and inflict 500 damage to my opponent for each Special Summoned monster on the field! I send Gem-Knight Tourmaline from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
"What?!"
Yubel was startled.
Bypassing battle entirely, dealing damage directly to the duelist.
And moreover...
The petite gem maiden appeared beside her, calmly raised her gem, and emitted blinding light.
"Answer me, Yubel! Is your so-called love truly love?! Is it a desire to control, or genuine care?! Do you dare say?!"
"You insufferable pest!" Yubel seethed, black smoke billowing from her body.
Yubel, LP: 4000 → 2500.
"Spell Card: Gem-Knight Dispersion!" Hikaru played another Fusion. "While Gem-Knight Fusion is in the Graveyard, this card can use up to two non-Rock Gem-Knight monsters from the Extra Deck and Deck as Fusion Materials.
I send Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli from the field, Gem-Knight Aquamarine and Gem-Knight Prismaura from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon!
Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion!"
The noble knight swung a gem-studded greatsword, standing proudly upon the earth.
Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion. Level 9, EARTH Attribute, Rock-Type. ATK 2900.
Hikaru LP: 2400 → 2700.
Hikaru's LP had now surpassed Yubel's!
Yubel's expression darkened.
In this duel, her "suffering" and "torment" had been transformed into "healing" and "care," becoming Hikaru's strength.
This "implication" made her uneasy.
As though all of Yubel's "torment" toward Jaden had, with Hikaru's help, been transformed into "growth."
"Master Diamond Dispersion's effect: once per turn, I banish one Level 7 or lower Gem-Knight Fusion Monster from the Graveyard and gain its original name and effects!"
Yubel froze.
In this situation...
"I banish Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli from the Graveyard!" Hikaru swept his hand. Lapis Lazuli's power infused the diamond greatsword, radiating brilliant light.
"Lady Lapis Lazuli can only be Special Summoned once per turn, but her effect isn't a card-name once-per-turn restriction. So Master Diamond Dispersion, having copied her effect, can also activate it!"
Hikaru narrowed his eyes and pointed at Yubel. "Once more! I send Gem-Knight Crystal from my Deck to the Graveyard. Inflict 500 damage for each Special Summoned monster on the field!"
Master Diamond Dispersion raised his sword high like loading ammunition. A gem on the blade lit up. Then Lapis Lazuli appeared beside Yubel once more.
This...
"Answer me, Yubel! After everything that happened, was your protection of Jaden truly justified? Did the suffering you inflicted on Jaden's friends truly make him happy? Did it truly make him feel loved?!"
BOOM.
Yubel's eyes flickered between light and dark.
"Damn it. This body is too weak to channel my power properly..." Yubel cursed, feeling the damage.
If she could use her true power, things would never be like this!
Yubel, LP: 2500 → 1000.
"But I still have LP..." Yubel grinned madly. "If you want to beat me, you'll have to enter the Battle Phase. And then, Jaden, your beloved Chief will kill your classmate."
Chazz and Jaden's expressions were grave.
They didn't want Hikaru to lose, but they didn't want him burdened with killing a classmate either.
"Hmph... I will attack. But you won't see the outcome you're hoping for. Not a single one!" Hikaru pointed at Oneiros. "Battle Phase. Chimerafflesia attacks. Because of Toll on the field, I must discard a card to declare an attack."
Hikaru held up his card. "I send Edge Imp Chain from my hand to the Graveyard! I attack."
"Will you activate Chimerafflesia's effect? Its ATK can overcome up to 4500..."
"No. I won't activate Chimerafflesia's effect."
"Because Edge Imp Chain was sent to the Graveyard, I activate its effect: add Frightfur Patchwork from my Deck to my hand."
The flower understood its master's intent. Without hesitation, it swung its vines against the dream demon. Before long, its tendrils had plunged entirely into the mirror, and it followed, entering the nightmare directly.
Hikaru LP: 2700 → 2200.
"He deliberately took damage?" Yubel was shocked again.
"As Chief, protecting my members is my responsibility! End of Battle Phase!"
Hikaru played his card. "Yubel, your schemes and calculations are why you fail. Your plots are the fruit of your suffering.
This card will end this duel!
Frightfur Patchwork's effect: add Edge Imp Saw and Polymerization from my Deck to my hand!"
"Spell Card: Polymerization!" Hikaru held up the freshly obtained card, expression cold.
"Fusion conditions: Edge Imp Saw plus one Fluffal monster. I fuse Fluffal Bear and Edge Imp Saw from my hand."
"Become the mighty lion!"
Earthbound God power surged through Hikaru. He pressed his palms together. "Fusion Summon!"
"Level 7: Frightfur Leo!"
A lion plushie dropped into the mirror.
Inside the mirror, Dimitri saw the adorable toy and instinctively wanted to hug it. But then, buzzing sawblade sounds came from within the plushie. Its body was sliced apart by saws. Limbs separated from the body, transforming into a fearsome demon!
Dimitri jumped in fright, falling backward, tumbling out of the "dream" and plummeting into the endless darkness beyond.
Frightfur Leo. Level 7, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 2400.
"He performed another Fusion after the Battle Phase..." Chazz watched the monster and questioned. "So this monster wasn't summoned for battle."
"Frightfur Leo's effect can only be used once per turn. The turn this effect is activated, this card cannot attack directly."
"I target one face-up monster my opponent controls. That monster is destroyed, and I inflict damage equal to that monster's original ATK."
Yubel's third eye glowed an eerie red.
Damn!
This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
This body was too frail to duel at full power!
If her mental attacks had worked, she might have stood a chance against Hikaru.
But now, all her preparations meant nothing to him!
Because he was comprehensive, without a single weakness. An extreme duelist who pursued Fusion, a human who didn't care about anything else!
Neither threats nor mind games worked!
She wanted to resort to her final measure: invoking Darkness's power again to falsify Hikaru's memories and throw him into confusion.
But...
As Hikaru summoned Frightfur Leo, an image flashed through his mind.
"What is it?" Tierra noticed something strange.
Hikaru chuckled softly. "I think... when I was a kid, this card caused some incident. Put someone in a coma."
Tierra blinked in surprise, then wore a mischievous grin.
Something like that happened? Do tell...
"But that's impossible!" Hikaru continued immediately. "Even if it's my memory, even if friends say so, even if teachers taught me so, even if the entire world tells me it happened, it absolutely cannot be true!
Because my Fusion, my pursuit of the ultimate, my dueling has never, ever caused something like that!
If my memories and this world disagree with my Fusion, then it's my memories and this world that are wrong!"
!??????
How could Darkness's power be seen through so easily?!
That human called Paladin probably still half-believed he'd once had a girlfriend named Angelica!
Why hadn't Hikaru doubted it for even a second?
Was he a complete and utter madman?!
"Frightfur Leo's effect, activate! Destroy Oneiros, the Dream Mirror Tormentor on your field! Inflict 3000 points of effect damage!"
Frightfur Leo raised both claws high. The sawblades on its claws launched outward, scraping across Oneiros's body. The saws didn't stop. They surged toward "Dimitri's" body like rings that could tear apart anything, landing on his forehead, on that eye watching from within.
"Answer me, Yubel! Is humanity's destruction, the world's end, truly good for Jaden?! Have you ever, from start to finish, truly considered Jaden's feelings?! Answer me!"
Yubel gritted her teeth, feeling the soul-rending tear. She howled that she would return to the human world.
She couldn't answer.
She couldn't answer a single question.
"Let me answer for Yubel, Hikaru."
Hikaru looked toward Jaden, who seemed to have regained himself.
"You don't need to come looking, Yubel! I will... I will come find you myself!" Jaden shouted at Yubel as loudly as he could, as if trying to pierce through dimensions, through worlds, to make her hear.
It was that one shout that gave her a moment of genuine hesitation. Then, after a final scream, her consciousness left Dimitri's body entirely. Yet even as her soul departed, driven from this world, she was still cursing, even trying to physically attack in her fury, only to be casually blocked by Tierra. Even so, she raved about finding Jaden, venting her "love" for him, making Jaden's expression grow even darker and more troubled...
Dimitri, LP: 1000 → 0.