Fake Jack: "Ahhhhh——"
The piercing sound of metal tearing through the track split the air as the front wheel bearing of the Wheel of Fortune D-Wheel completely disintegrated under Trident Dragon's final blow. Hydraulic fluid sprayed out like blood from the ruptured pipelines, mixing with the condensed nitrogen into an eerie steam cloud. As the Absolute Zero breath of the Trident Dragon swept past the cockpit, Fake Jack was thrown out, as if in slow motion, his white trench coat flapping in the air, while the skin on his face started cracking like cheap silicone.
This "body" tumbled across the asphalt road seven-and-a-half times, with each impact triggering more intense mechanical failures. The left arm first broke at an unnatural angle, and the elbow's hydraulic rod pierced through the bionic skin, splattering blue coolant that dragged out a fluorescent trail ten meters long on the path. When the torso slammed into the barrier, the chest and abdomen suddenly exploded open, revealing intricately arranged motor devices inside, now sparking with electricity noisily.
Fake Jack finally crashed at the track's edge, his remaining right hand still tightly clutching the ice-sealed "Red Lotus Demon Dragon." Sparks continuously erupted from the vertebrae joints, and broken electronic sounds came from the artificial voice box.
"You... you you..."
He struggled to raise his head, looking in Yugen's direction, seeming to grit his teeth yet finding it hard to speak.
"I am the King, I am Jack... I... cannot be defeated in such a place..."
The unfinished words were cut off by the explosion of the main power source blowing a fuse, turning completely into a heap of smoking mechanical wreckage.
Fake Jack had lost.
Yugen drifted to a stop by the roadside. Not far behind, True Jack also arrived, halting the Wheel of Fortune as he looked at the wreckage strewn across the ground.
"A robot?" True Jack's eyes shifted slightly.
"Yes." Yugen said, "Your duplicate, seems like you're quite the celebrity."
Jack pondered silently, looking down at the pitiful, broken facsimile of himself sprawled on the ground, and the similarly overturned Wheel of Fortune beside it, his expression complicated.
Though he verbally dismissed the imposter, in truth this imposter had earned his respect.
And rightly so. First, this imposter had somehow procured such a high-quality replica of the Wheel of Fortune, and with the Cloning Card of the Red Lotus Demon Dragon, it almost could be said to be Jack's own double.
Though losing the duel earlier was because Jack's own wavering determination let the opponent overpower him in terms of aura. But whatever the reason, lost is lost, and the opponent winning a round against him is a fact.
And now this super high-quality robotic copy, a machine with strength presumably comparable to his own, was reduced to such a wreck by Yugen. If it had been him facing Yugen instead, would he now be...
Jack shook his head, choosing not to dwell on the thought.
Enough, that much is only natural. Earlier, when three against one, even he and Yusei couldn't handle this monster, alone stood no chance, what was he even thinking.
The cards Yugen displayed this time left him somewhat shaken once again. Rescue Cat, Premature Burial, Light Spear Dragon... the casual combination seemed to generate nearly infinite resources, effortlessly killing the opponent in an instant. This combination card set is utterly beyond balance.
Oh yes, and that dragon that flashed by at the last moment, Ice Barrier Dragon - Trident Dragon.
Jack couldn't help but look at Yugen with a complex expression for a moment.
Trident Dragon, with just that instant of appearance, emitted an extraordinary level of pressure. Was that Yugen's dragon as a Dragon Sealer?
The gap between him and this person… how wide was it?
It's natural for Jack to be shocked by this card combination.
You must be kidding, this is the power conglomerate of multiple Forbidden Cards.
The Ice Barrier Dragon - Light Spear Dragon speaks for itself, before its effect was neutered it was a long-standing Forbidden Card. Rescue Cat too, for possessing ability tantamount to "Normal Summon Light Spear Dragon" level overpowered nature, since 2010 it also entered seven years of imprisonment, and only able to get released after effect neutering, and exhibit good behavior for half a year post-release which led to its complete liberation.
Premature Burial needs no more explanation, still a Forbidden Card today...
Archaeologists theorize that Premature Burial, although has been recorded to work self-recycling and repeated use in conjunction with "Hurricane" type cards since the DM era, alone wasn't sufficient for its imprisonment. Also, its accomplice Hurricane was banned early, there's less reason to ban Premature Burial.
So, for quite a while, Premature Burial was only Restriction, not a Forbidden Card. It was officially banned in September 2008, coincidentally around Light Spear Dragon started dominating the competitive environment.
So, archaeologists have ample evidence to argue, the pivotal reason Premature Burial was banned was Light Spear Dragon and Rescue Cat.
All you need are Premature Burial, Rescue Cat, and they could return whole worlds to you...
Seeing Jack bow his head looking at the wreckage on the ground, Yugen suddenly chuckled and said: "What? Has the former King lost his confidence after being dealt a blow by this imposter?"
"What did you say?"
Jack immediately lifted his head, the bewilderment in his eyes vanishing, replaced by the bestial glint once again.
"The great Jack Atlas lose confidence? Never! Even until the world's end, I will fight on, and someday I will surpass you!"
"Hahaha, that's good then."
Yugen smiled and nodded, glancing at the smoking heap of robot remnants beside him.
"The appearance of this thing probably means new enemies are about to attack, right?"
Jack's eyes flickered, asking, "What do you know? Who dares to create such an imposter of mine?"
"I don't know, but surely does not come with good intentions." Yugen looked at Jack, "But I think this experience can tell you something, Jack Atlas.
Falling off the throne, for you, isn't a downfall, but a progress. But if some whispered shadows of the past ever have you doubting, that metamorphosis becomes futile."
Jack felt a stir in his heart, but he still put on a proud face: "Hmph… hmph, I knew that without you telling me!"
Yugen smiled: "Good that you do. You as well, Yusei too, very soon will awaken new power, moving onto greater stages. Of course, the evolution process won't be easy, might accompany pain, might even come with danger.
But if and when you feel ready… I suggest taking time to see Poma during the WRGP break."
"Poma?"
Jack was taken aback instantly.
That former Dark Marker?