治安维持局.
Yusei Fudo followed the two guiding officers up to the top floor, where he saw "Officer Godwin" waiting at the entrance to the rooftop.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Yugen smiled slightly at the two officers.
"I'll take it from here."
The two saluted him, then turned to leave.
Yusei came up to him, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the Dragon Seal on his hand: "Did you call me for this?"
Yugen glanced at his arm. Sure enough, the intense battle of the Lucky Cup had accelerated the awakening, and now the Dragon Seal was permanently on Yusei's arm.
"That's right."
Yugen nodded.
"The legend of the Red Dragon spans five thousand years. You should have already glimpsed a fraction of that power."
Yusei remained silent.
As someone who had built perpetual motion machines with discarded scraps in the Satellite District, Yusei had always been skeptical of these supernatural tales.
Much like President Kaiba in the early DM days, he was a staunch believer in science.
Yet now Yusei, similar to the later version of President Kaiba, had witnessed supernatural phenomena repeatedly, things that science could not explain, compelling him to accept the reality beyond known scientific boundaries.
The power of the Red Dragon indeed manifested during his duel with Jack, taking them to an Alternate Space. The duel was undeniably influenced by forces beyond logic, with holographic images transforming into real damage. Jack, the King, was still lying in the ICU.
Not to mention the appearance of the Dark Markers and Earth-Bound God that night. All these realities forced Yusei to confront these world-shattering existences.
"Dragon Sealers and Dark Markers have fought on this land more than once in history," Yugen said. "Dark Markers are indeed the mortal enemies of Dragon Sealers, possessing the Soul of the Netherworld.
They are people who had once died, resurrected by the Lord of the Underworld's exploitation of their strong obsessions, returning to the mortal world as living corpses, destined to battle with Dragon Sealers.
Whenever the Gate of the Netherworld is opened, Dragon Sealers and Dark Markers wager the entire world in their fight."
"Wager the world...?"
Yusei was shocked.
"That's right." Yugen said, "Such a battle occurred once five thousand years ago. Our predecessors, known as the 'Star People,' obtained the power of the Red Dragon's five incarnate dragons and clashed with the Evil Gods around the gate of the Netherworld.
After a brutal battle, the Red Dragon secured victory, and the Evil Gods were sealed within the Nasca Land, closing the Gate of the Netherworld."
"Five thousand years..."
Yusei said.
"But if they've been dormant for five thousand years, why have the Evil Gods and Dark Markers awakened in this era?"
"Because of the Perpetual Motion Machine," Yugen said.
"The Perpetual Motion Machine?"
"Exactly. As you know, Yusei, the perpetual motion machine in the city is not the first in human history," Yugen said. "The first perpetual motion machine lies deep in the Satellite District, designated as a forbidden zone.
A machine of endless dreams, capable of continuously generating positive energy, the lure of infinite energy was irresistible to the people of that time. Seventeen years ago, before the control system was perfected, the development department forcibly activated the first perpetual motion machine.
But this greed led to irreparable tragedy.
The perpetual motion machine, supposed to rotate in a positive direction, rotated in reverse, causing the tragedy known as 'Zero-Point Reversal.' Tongshiyi City, once whole, was split in two; now the district of 'New Tongshiyi,' and the Satellite District where you were born."
Yusei remained silent.
He knew these things.
Because his father was one of the core developers of the first perpetual motion machine.
On the eve of the Zero-Point Reversal, Dr. Fudo, knowing the disaster was unavoidable, placed the infant Yusei into a launch capsule, sending his son away from the disaster's epicenter just before it erupted.
Hence, Yusei, who should have been born in the top-tier district, was sent to the Satellite District, adopted by a foster mother named "Martha." The child grew up to find himself with astonishing arm strength, faster than a bullet... oh no, I mean, card power was astonishing.
Overall, Crabbro's backstory bears over eighty percent similarity with a certain red-underpants superhero busy saving the world, and to say there's no tribute involved, Yugen wouldn't believe it.
"On the same day as the Zero-Point Reversal, the Nasca Land also experienced a stunning energy release, almost identical to the energy released by the perpetual motion machine," Yugen said.
Yusei furrowed his brow: "Are you saying the awakening of Dark Markers was due to the perpetual motion machine?"
"In part, yes." Yugen said, "Five thousand years have passed, and the seal naturally weakened. Now, the old perpetual motion machine in the Satellite District will become the new Gate of the Netherworld."
Yusei: "And if we lose..."
"The rules of the Netherworld will govern the existing world; our world will be assimilated by Hell." Yugen said calmly, "Awakening the Dragon Sealers, defeating the Dark Markers, and closing the Gate of the Netherworld is precisely why this 'Lucky Cup' is held."
Yusei pondered for several seconds, finally voicing the question that had recently been on his mind.
"You said there are five Dragon Sealers, but the Lucky Cup gathered only four... no, though there are only four people, the Red Dragon still appeared during my duel with Jack.
Which means the fifth person should have been present at the scene."
Yusei raised his eyes, staring into "Godwin's" eyes, as if trying to fathom his thoughts.
"The fifth person... has always been you, hasn't it?"
Yugen squinted his eyes.
Yusei's assumption wasn't surprising. Based on his actions so far, combined with certain coincidences, it did indeed seem plausible.
At the time of the Lucky Cup, the fifth Dragon Seal was indeed near the scene, but it wasn't a person, just an arm in a Petri dish...
Of course, this wasn't easy to explain, nor was there a need to do so now.
"I am not." Yugen shook his head, saying, "But don't worry. When need arises, the fifth person will appear... sooner or later."
With the answers he received and more doubts, Yusei departed.
However, shortly after Yusei left, another Dragon Sealer returned.
Akiza Izinski.
After being notified by a subordinate, Yugen signaled for her to enter. Thus, Akiza was quickly brought to Yugen once more.
Yugen sat in the officer's chair, back to the recently risen sun outside the window, and said lightly: "Miss Akiza, you're back.
I trust you've already seen what I left for you."
Akiza: "..."
Though she said nothing, her expression and tear-stained face revealed everything.
She had already learned the truth.
"Well then, what is it?" Yugen asked, "Your answer?
Have you come this time to attempt to kill me again? Or is it something else?"
Akiza gently closed her eyes, her chest heaving as if making a difficult decision.
Finally, she opened her eyes and spoke softly.
"I accept your invitation..."