The earth was torn apart, as if a force from the depths of the core was surging out, shaking every inch of space.
The air twisted, the temperature suddenly rose, as if the soul of a dormant volcano was awakened. Giant cracks, like hideous wounds, spewed forth endless torrents of lava, resembling the intense blood under the sunset, akin to the eternal flame deep in Hell.
And in the midst of these scorching things, a huge hand emerged, and with a mighty slap, landed on Kaiba's field.
Bubbling lava swallowed the Torture Giant, and also engulfed the invincible White Dragon. Even the noble invincibility couldn't withstand the unbeatable Lava Demon God.
In an instant, the president's Ultimate Dragon was devoured completely, and then the burning creature poked its head out, coming to the field here, noticing the president already confined in an iron cage. The abstract face seemed to show a hint of a simple smile.
Almost like asking for guidance...
Kaiba: "..."
[Lava Demon God, Attack Power 3000]
The audience below was momentarily speechless.
How to say it...
Yugen played his cards, and it really seemed to heat things up. Like a traditional Duelist, trusting in the deck, a key Divine Draw, changing the world with miraculous card draws.
However, the difference is that others' Divine Draws create glamorous big monsters to turn things around. Especially in this situation, shouldn't it be "Since all effects are invalidated, then break it head-on," and then bring out a big monster with attack power of five or six thousand to take down the Ultimate Dragon?
Yet the atmosphere reached this point, and suddenly this person took out a Lava Demon God...
How to evaluate, most people really can't say.
"Tch, Malik's monster, huh."
Kaiba snorted, his emotions still quite stable.
Worthy of being the president; if it were any other Duelist in this world, they might have started rolling up their sleeves after their All-Resistant Ultimate Dragon was eaten this way...
But it's not over yet.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Take Over 5', sending the top five cards from the deck to the graveyard." (Original Card)
Yugen drew out five cards and sent them to the grave one by one.
"Among the cards sent to the grave is a Monster Card 'Scholar Spirit'," Yugen said. "When this card is sent to the grave, draw one more card from the deck." (Original Card)
He drew another card.
"Next, activate the Magic Card 'Owner's Mark'," Yugen said. "The control of all monsters on the field returns to their original holders.
Come back, Lava Demon God!"
Having had its fill, the Lava Demon God patted its backside and jumped directly to Yugen's field on the opposite side.
Kaiba: "..."
"Lava Demon God's direct attack," Yugen said, "Demon God Volcano Shock!"
The slap of the Lava Demon God brought overwhelming scorching flames. The entire field was thoroughly cleaned out, Kaiba took the Lava Demon God's attack solidly, his coat flying in the blaze.
[Kaiba, LP 4000→LP 1000]
"Set one card facedown, end the turn," Yugen said.
"It hit!" Judai was the first to exclaim, "Worthy of Yugen's Soul Melting Lava Demon God, indeed super strong!"
Marufuji Ryo's expression was even more complex.
Hmm, how to say it...
You can't say he's not good.
It's just that his mood is very complex.
Facing Yugen and his Lava Demon God that seemed to be burning fiercely on the field, Kaiba pondered for a moment but did not immediately draw a card.
After a few seconds, he suddenly said.
"I haven't participated in any competitions for many years, chasing after honors, and those things I once loved." He raised his head looking at Yugen, and said calmly.
"But now I have returned to this arena, just like at the very beginning. Still in this Duel City, still this stage. Do you know why?"
Yugen shook his head.
He really did not know.
The title of "Duel King" back in the day was something President Kaiba dreamed of, he challenged it more than once, failed more than once, but became more and more courageous, determined to win at any cost, as if this honor was his ultimate goal in life.
But with Atom gone, Muto Yuugi sealing the cards, this title seemed easily obtainable to him over the years, yet he abandoned it.
In Yugen's understanding, he could only speculate that the president felt that without beating the true strongest, gaining this title would be just an empty name. Perhaps gaining recognition from this world, but not from himself.
Yet now why the president decided to make a comeback, he did not understand.
"That infuriating guy once told me, without a past, the future will not visit." Kaiba closed his eyes, revealing a smile while reminiscing.
"It's really ironic. To the former me, all the light existed in the future, and the past was just footprints walked upon, the once passed past held no significance to me.
Who knew one day, such a me would also have moments trapped in the past, unable to move forward."
Keihei below was somewhat lost: "Brother..."
As Kaiba's own brother, and the person who understands him the most, Keihei seemed to vaguely sense the beginning of this change in his brother.
It seemed it started when he insisted on going to the Netherworld to confront Atom.
After returning, Kaiba remained tight-lipped about what happened over there, not even telling Keihei. No one knew what happened after Kaiba went to the Netherworld, whether he met Atom, or who won that duel.
Or perhaps, something happened during that duel, the opponent conveyed something through the duel, or said something to him, which prompted his change.
Indeed, ever since Atom left, wasn't Kaiba also trapped in the past, unable to move forward?
He couldn't let go of that guy, nor the unresolved victory-defeat. Once his pursuit and ambition filled only the future, hence the past held no significance to him. But with that person's departure, the future suddenly seemed dimmed, the future he once desperately sought suddenly seemed to lose meaning.
Only after returning from the Netherworld did he seemingly find direction once more.
"Promised with that guy...a true Duelist, no matter which way the path ahead leads, will never stop," Kaiba said solemnly, "If a god blocks the way, then defeat the god and continue forward.
And now, I have even surpassed the god! Just to face that infuriating guy once more. And next time...
...I will be the Duel King!"
He laid his fingers on the deck.
"——Draw a card!"
At the instant of drawing, it was as if an endless azure brilliance bloomed from the deck, as if just holding it in hand released terrifying energy!
Yugen slightly frowned.
This sensation...the president seems to have drawn something extraordinary.
It's here.
Kaiba's face clearly showed such an expression, with a confident smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.
As if this draw once again firmly placed victory in his grasp.
He slowly raised his head.
"Next, you will see the arrival of the most powerful Blue-Eyes in history, surpassing even the True Ultimate Blue-Eyes Dragon!"