Instant kill!
The combined attack of the three Monarchs instantly wiped Ahmed's Life Points clean. This Doma Duelist was left staring at his empty front and back field, unable to process his thoughts, gone before he knew it.
Who am I? Where am I?
Am I in God's realm?
Unfortunately, he seemed to never have the chance to ponder these philosophical questions. Because he was instantly engulfed by the three Monarchs' onslaught, blasting him into a mosaic...
Although there's no "The Seal of Orichalcos," this duel itself is a traditional Dark Duel. And since both sides are skilled Dark Duelists, the level of the match isn't low.
Being defeated in a Dark Duel naturally requires paying the appropriate price.
And in this duel, the price included not only the soul but also the body.
With Life Points at zero, Ahmed's consciousness began to blur. He could clearly feel his physical body collapsing, unable to sustain the presence of his soul. His vitality, like flowing water, scattered all around him, along with his existence, on the verge of disintegration.
The gentleman accepted, seemingly for the first time, the reality of his instant defeat in his dying moments.
"...I lost," right before his disappearance, his eyes turned fierce again, "but don't get too complacent, Duel King. Doma is forever unyielding, and so is the God of Orichalcos! Others will inherit our will, and sooner or later, our god will reign over this world again!"
Seeing him acting so seriously and fiercely, Youyu couldn't help but tilt his head and think.
To destroy a man, perhaps it's really easy...
In Ahmed's bewildered eyes at his dying moment, Youyu walked over slowly, came to his side, and whispered in his ear.
"Actually, there is no Orichalcos."
Ahmed: "???"
In his final moments, the man showed a stunned expression.
As if using his last ounce of strength, he desperately grasped Youyu's shoulder, his eyes seemed to implore with his remaining soul, seeking an explanation to understand what those words meant.
But unfortunately, he never had the chance to ask this question, as his body and soul turned to dust under the punishment of the Darkness Game, taking with them his world-shattering shock.
Watching the devoted Doma believer dissipate before him, Youyu couldn't help but rest his chin in thought.
"...Was it really too much?"
I truly am a villain.
With the leader gone, a group of small fry naturally couldn't stir up any trouble. There were a few stubborn ones who would rather die than submit, willing to sacrifice themselves for Doma, determined to fight to the death.
This warrior spirit is indeed commendable.
...But, unfortunately, they were too weak.
With Youyu leading the charge, tonight's surprise attack went unusually smoothly. The participants felt they encountered no real resistance, as if everything ended before it even began.
So everyone started their routine praises.
Youyu-san is truly a divine being!
All NPCs sincerely praised their organization's Duel King, felt admiration to the core.
Basically, pull out a Card Deck randomly and I can instantly destroy you, aren't you scared?
The players also gave their utmost praises, not only praising but desperately flattering.
But their focus might differ from the NPCs.
Monarch Deck!
The silly players stared longingly at the mighty Monarchs Youyu commanded, each of them drooling with envy.
The longer they admired him, the more they realized how absurdly many good things Youyu-san had. If they could cling to his golden thigh, even if he accidentally let a little slip through his fingers, it would be enough to enjoy for a long time.
But the issue is... Youyu-san has so many good things, none of them are in the packs!
The Gladiator Beasts, Magical Girl, Monarchs, the players were all dying of impatience, desperately wanting them but having no way to get them.
People even complained on forums, saying Youyu-san is like an ecchi.
Why say that? Because he has so many things, but just won't give them to you. He waits until you want them so desperately before giving them to you.
It's so mean.
Watching Ahmed turn to dust, Youyu, almost by nature, picked up his Duel Disc and Card Deck, and as he watched other Doma remnants quickly subdued, he couldn't help but fall into thought.
Doma, long presumed dormant, suddenly popped back into view, giving him an inexplicable ominous feeling.
He thought about it and decided to postpone the harvest for now.
He prepared to return to Domino ahead of time.
...
Same night, different city.
"Ahmed is an idiot!"
This outraged person is Amir, one of the highest-ranking leaders among the last remaining Doma remnants worldwide.
At this moment, he is pacing restlessly in an old-style hall with his hands behind his back.
"Keep a low profile, keep a low profile... I've emphasized it so many times, which part of it does he not understand?"
At this point, a subordinate couldn't help wanting to remind him that last month, he complained about the slow progress of soul collection, said they were too cowardly and needed to speed up the process...
...But to save his life, this subordinate ultimately opted to stay silent.
"I've told him countless times, our top priority is to keep a low profile!" he said, fuming, "If the Muto Yugi notices, if Youyu notices, if Pegasus and his Industrial Illusions discover us, or if Kaiba Seto and his corporation pay attention, or if Nightwalker World finds us...
...We're doomed!"
A group of subordinates lowered their heads silently, though in their hearts, they thought that Doma, the world's number one behind-the-scenes manipulator, humanity's driving force, has fallen too far...
But before the speech was over, a voice came from the entrance: "Lord Amir! There are intruders!"
"What? That idiot Ahmed leaked the information, and Duel King Youyu has tracked us down!?"
Amir exclaimed in surprise as he turned to flee, removing his Duel Disc from his hand.
Why remove the Duel Disc when fleeing?
Because he heard that the legendary Duel King Youyu has a particular interest in Duel Discs. If chased down, with no escape, he hopes to gamble on leaving the Duel Disc behind in a bid for escape...
But he hadn't gone far before the subordinate spoke again: "It's not the Duel King! It's an unknown Dark Duelist!"
Oh? Not Youyu?
That's what I thought. After all, he just wiped out Ahmed's hideout tonight, a thousand miles away from here. Coming here instantly? Superman?
Amir stopped fleeing immediately and turned with dignity.
"Hmph!" Gesturing grandly, "Doma may not have the might it once did, but we won't be bullied by just anyone! Even if he, the Duel King, comes personally, he needs to weigh his strength!"
All subordinates narrowed their eyes.
Boss, don't think we're blind and didn't notice you just planned to flee...
"Hahahahahaha!!"
A laugh echoed in before the person arrived.
It was a white-haired teenager entering, who looked somewhat like a student, yet had a devious expression too intense for a student, giving an impression of a delinquent.
With flowing white hair, especially the two tufts protruding forward from his forehead, resembling... bunny ears.
"Oh? Is this what renowned Doma has come to?" The teenager sneered, "Looking rather pathetically down."
Amir scoffed: "We may not be what we once were, but not just any small fry can..."
Before finishing, he swallowed the rest of his words.
For he stared wide-eyed, shocked by the gleaming circular ornament hanging on the teenager's chest.
The legendary item from the Inner World, one of the seven divine Artifacts at the pinnacle, the Millennium Ring!
Amir grew cautious once more.
This youth... What is his true identity!?