Yugioh [402-404] (Patreon)

Chapter 402: Fighting to the End

[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, ATK 6000!]

"Next, Terra's effect activates. I can tribute an Elemental HERO on my field, and Terra gains that monster's ATK and DEF values!"

Koyo declared.

"So, I tribute 'Elemental HERO Great Tornado.' Terra gains its attack power!

Earth Magma!!!"

Great Tornado's body dissolved into particles of light, all its energy absorbed into Terra.

Terra's whole body instantly turned a fiery red, like magma erupting from deep in the earth. Unleashed, destructive power surged as a blazing dragon of molten lava fired from his back, exuding heat enough to melt metal.

[Elemental HERO Terra Firma, ATK 2500 → 5300]

"Two monsters: one with ATK 5300, one with ATK 6000!"

Jaden's eyes were full of awe.

This is the power of the man called the greatest hero on earth—Koyo, counterattacking from the brink!

Kira watched silently, chin in hand.

If it were him, he'd probably have Terra absorb Absolute Zero's attack too. That way, Terra's ATK would break ten thousand, and more importantly, he could trigger Absolute Zero's best effect: "Absolute Zero"—when it leaves the field, destroy all opposing monsters.

Then he remembered: oh, right, that effect was added in the card game's version.

In the manga, Absolute Zero only gained ATK based on the number of WATER monsters on the field. But in the real card game, that effect is ignored; people use Absolute Zero just for its field-wipe.

So even in Koyo's powerful HERO deck, there are still areas to improve.

Too bad—if Absolute Zero had the field-wipe, Koyo could have done even more.

Actually, he thought, absorbing Great Tornado wasn't strictly necessary. Terra's boosted ATK would revert at the end of the turn.

But, well, it's a soul card—powering up for morale is pretty normal.

"Battle!" Koyo shouted. "First, 'Elemental HERO Terra Firma' attacks 'Elemental HERO The Shining'!"

Terra's attack was more than enough. The opponent's monsters, weakened by Great Tornado, had their stats halved. If Koyo's all-out attack landed, it would be a comeback from the edge!

Of course, things wouldn't go that smoothly.

"Trap Card, 'Relieve Monster,'" the Arbiter said. "When an opponent's monster declares an attack, I can return a monster from my field to my hand, then Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my hand."

He glanced at his monsters.

"I'll return 'Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer' to my hand, and Special Summon this card—

—Orichalcos Kyutora." (Anime card)

Phoenix Enforcer disappeared in a blaze, returning to the deck. A bizarre, spiky monster appeared in his back row, its body dominated by a single eerie eye.

[Orichalcos Kyutora, ATK 500 → 1000] (Orichalcos boost)

"What?" Koyo frowned.

Not only was the monster's appearance strange, but its position was odd—it appeared behind the four Elemental HEROes, in the Spell/Trap zone.

"Seal of Orichalcos, second effect: my Monster Zones and Spell/Trap Zones are interchangeable. Monsters can be summoned to the back row."

The Arbiter explained calmly.

"Also, until all monsters in my front row are destroyed, you can't target my back row monsters for attacks."

Koyo's frown deepened.

Such a bizarre effect.

And that monster made him uneasy.

In the audience, Seto Kaiba narrowed his eyes.

"That guy."

He couldn't possibly forget this card.

It was one of Dartz's key cards.

"Abandoned the HERO deck and finally brought out his true monsters?" Kaiba said quietly.

In a way, it was an acknowledgment of Koyo as an opponent.

But now, Koyo couldn't back down.

"Battle resumes, but my attack continues," Koyo said. "Continue attacking 'Elemental HERO The Shining'!"

[Elemental HERO The Shining, ATK 2750]

Earth Magma Slash!

 Terra's molten blade cut through The Shining, melting and destroying the hero.

"Nice!" Jaden said. "That's massive damage!"

"No," Kira shook his head.

"Huh?"

After The Shining was destroyed, the fire and energy released were sucked into Kyutora's eye—the newly summoned, ominous monster.

And the Arbiter's Life Points were unscathed.

"What?" Koyo was shocked.

"Orichalcos Kyutora's effect absorbs battle damage," the Arbiter said. "As long as it's on the field, all battle damage I would take becomes zero."

Koyo gritted his teeth.

Due to Seal of Orichalcos, he couldn't attack Kyutora until the front row monsters were gone. But if Kyutora wasn't destroyed, he couldn't inflict any damage.

He glanced at the three remaining HEROes on the opponent's field.

Normally, even if you couldn't inflict damage, you'd at least reduce the opponent's monsters.

But that ominous eye, especially the way it absorbed energy, gave him a chill.

"So, will you continue attacking?" the Arbiter asked.

"I stop my attacks. End turn."

Koyo took a deep breath.

He couldn't say why—maybe it was a duelist's instinct.

As if a voice inside warned him: don't attack, or something worse will happen.

"Oh? You sensed danger from Kyutora and stopped? Heh, sharp instinct for someone with no idea of my tactics—truly the gift of a top duelist.

But it changes nothing."

The Arbiter slowly raised his arm.

"My turn. Draw."

"I activate my set card, Trap Card 'Alchemy Cycle.' All my face-up monsters' original ATK becomes 0."

[Elemental HERO Nova Master, ATK 500]

[Elemental HERO Great Tornado, ATK 500]

[Elemental HERO Escuridao, ATK 600]

[Orichalcos Kyutora, ATK 500]

Only Escuridao, due to a HERO in the graveyard, had more than 500 ATK; the rest reverted to 500.

Koyo was confused: "You reduced your own monsters' ATK to zero?"

"Now, battle."

The Arbiter waved his hand.

"Elemental HERO Escuridao, attack 'Elemental HERO Absolute Zero.'"

[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, ATK 5000]

With only Absolute Zero and five monsters on the field, Absolute Zero's ATK dropped slightly, but was still 5000.

Escuridao was instantly frozen and shattered.

"Battle damage is still absorbed by Kyutora," the Arbiter said. "Plus, when a monster with 0 ATK is destroyed by battle due to 'Alchemy Cycle,' I draw one card."

He drew a card.

"Next, Nova Master attacks Absolute Zero."

[Nova Master, ATK 500]

[Absolute Zero, ATK 4500]

Nova Master was frozen and shattered.

"Again, battle damage is absorbed; I draw a card," said the Arbiter. "Next, Great Tornado attacks."

[Great Tornado, ATK 500]

[Absolute Zero, ATK 4000]

Great Tornado was also frozen and destroyed.

"Finally, Orichalcos Kyutora attacks Absolute Zero."

[Orichalcos Kyutora, ATK 500]

[Absolute Zero, ATK 3500]

"Even this monster is attacking?"

Koyo started to sweat.

A terrible sense of foreboding—there was a trick here.

He could feel it, hidden behind that eerie eye.

Something was about to emerge!

Kira sighed softly: "This is it."

"To force 'that one' out, Koyo is a proud duelist," Kaiba said calmly. "But it's over."

Only they understood what was coming next.

When Absolute Zero froze Kyutora as well, as the latter was annihilated by the HERO's power, it was as if a forbidden seal had been broken.

Even the Seal of Orichalcos responded—six-pointed stars flickered green, the earth shook, and the sky was filled with a green glow, as if fearing the arrival of a demon god.

"When Orichalcos Kyutora leaves the field in any way, its hidden seal is broken."

The Arbiter raised his Duel Disk, and a pillar of green light shot from his deck as a massive demon god descended.

Orichalcos Shunoros, summoned!

"Orichalcos Shunoros?"

Koyo looked up, feeling it took everything he had just to face this god. The pressure was so great he could barely move his fingers.

Even Kaiba's face darkened, silent for a moment.

This is it.

Back when he and Atem teamed up against Dartz, Kaiba only made it to this point. He lost to this god.

"That's right. Shunoros's ATK equals the total battle damage Kyutora absorbed before leaving the field, plus 500 from the Seal of Orichalcos.

So now, Shunoros's ATK is—"

[Orichalcos Shunoros ATK ? → ATK 17950]

Seventeen thousand, nine hundred fifty!

"That monster's back, brother!" Mokuba also shuddered.

"Yeah," Kaiba grunted.

In fact, when he and Atem fought it, Shunoros's ATK was over twenty thousand—this is actually a bit less.

But the result is the same.

"You made it this far, so I'll acknowledge your effort," the Arbiter said. "Letting me summon Shunoros was beyond my expectations.

But it's about time to finish this. Next—"

His voice was calm.

"Orichalcos Shunoros, attack 'Elemental HERO Terra Firma.'"

It was as if all the barrier's power channeled into the god, green light swirling around its body, forming a ring that slashed through Terra.

Terra was cut in half, the ring continuing its path, striking Koyo directly.

Koyo let out a muffled grunt, his body flying back uncontrollably.

His vision blurred, the voices calling his name faded away.

So, in the end, I lost.

A little regret, but he had done his best.

At least, he fought to the very end as a duelist.

[Koyo, LP 100 → LP 0]

Chapter 403: The Weight of Dueling

"Mr. Koyo!"

As the duel ended, Jaden was the first to rush onto the stage.

The Orichalcos barrier was shrinking, wrapping only Koyo inside. Jaden ran up and called his name through the barrier.

Koyo, barely conscious, lifted his eyelids and looked his way.

"Jaden..."

Seeing Jaden's clear eyes, full of worry, he seemed to see his younger self.

In youth, Koyo was also obsessed with dueling, always passionate and fearless.

But back then, dueling was more pure.

Still, he considered himself lucky.

Years in the pro circuit had its lows, and he'd seen the dark side of society. Dueling became less simple.

But he held onto himself, and was still that same boy at the very end.

He had no regrets.

The world spun, sights and sounds faded. He could vaguely see Jaden and his sister shouting to him, but no longer heard their words.

Koyo slowly drew out the deck he'd fought with for years, the one that brought him the world championship—his soul deck.

He gently placed it before Jaden.

"From now on... it's up to you, Jaden."

He whispered words only he could hear.

"Become a greater duelist than me."

Then he closed his eyes, letting himself fall.

The green light vanished, the arena fell silent. Koyo collapsed, but a satisfied smile remained on his lips.

"Hmph, I overlooked something," the Arbiter narrowed his eyes, glancing at Jaden.

"You seem to have something special..."

He raised his hand, pointing at Jaden with a strange green glow.

"What!?"

Jaden looked up, but as soon as his gaze met the green light, he froze as if electrocuted. His eyes became vacant, countless images flashing through his mind.

"You! What are you doing?" Kaiba stepped forward.

But before he could act, a blinding golden light burst out. Sacred and awe-inspiring, it pushed back the Orichalcos green.

Everyone looked toward the source.

It was Kira, who was as surprised as anyone.

It was the Millennium Item.

Sensing the Arbiter's power, the golden light burst from Kira's chest as the inverted pyramid-shaped Millennium Item floated midair, golden lines forming its outlines, then becoming solid.

In that light, a king's shadow briefly appeared, raising a hand toward the Arbiter in a gesture to stop.

The green light faded away as if swept aside; Jaden quickly snapped out of his trance, looking around confused.

"Jaden!"

It was all over in a moment; only now did Midori rush over, shielding Jaden protectively, glaring at the Arbiter.

Kaiba's pupils shrank as he looked at the golden light.

That aura... could it be...

The Arbiter shielded himself from the light, sneering, "Even in death, you won't rest, damn Pharaoh..."

But it was only for a moment.

It was just a reflexive burst of energy sensing the Arbiter's power. The Arbiter withdrew, and the energy faded.

"Doesn't matter."

He put his hands behind his back and calmly left the arena.

But before stepping down, he glanced at Kira.

"You're next, Fujiki Kira," he said coldly. "Your soul will be captured in this duel, along with that Pharaoh's cursed item."

"I'll be waiting," Kira replied.

Koyo's duel wasn't in vain. Before, even Kira wasn't sure what deck the Arbiter, the serpent god's incarnation, would use.

It seemed the Arbiter planned to use HEROes to play a mirror-match, but Koyo forced him to reveal his true trump card.

So, the Arbiter's main deck was likely the Orichalcos deck, just like Dartz's.

"No."

Jaden picked up Koyo's deck, stood up, and looked firmly at the Arbiter.

"I'll defeat you first."

"Oh?"

Only now did the Arbiter look at him.

Before the tournament, the only opponents in the Arbiter's eyes were Kira and Kaiba. He'd ignored Jaden, until now.

But from a brief contact with Jaden's mind—though quickly interrupted—he sensed something.

This boy's spirit hid a power from another dimension, a reincarnation, so deeply asleep that even the Arbiter almost missed it.

From that contact, he also sensed confusion in Jaden's memories.

Jaden himself was unaware, but much of his memory was in chaos, as if something crucial was missing, patched over with fragments.

He thought his memories were whole, but much was false.

The Arbiter found this interesting.

And this soul might be one of a kind.

But he just smiled.

"Then you'll have to reach me first."

He left the stage.

After all, the semifinal pairings were still to be determined.

Jaden watched the Arbiter leave, unconsciously clenching his fist, gaze fixed.

For the first time in his life, he truly felt—

what it means to bear the weight of a duel.

Chapter 404: Resolve

With Koyo and the Arbiter's battle ended, the quarterfinals finished.

After the quarterfinals, there was a break. Just like in the first Duelist Kingdom, the quarterfinals were held en route, but the semifinals would be at a separate, special venue.

Back then, it was the Duel Tower, symbolizing the end of Kaiba's past. He planned to win the Duel King title and the three Egyptian God Cards atop that tower, ending his history.

But everyone knows what happened. Kaiba spent a fortune to host the world's biggest tournament, gathered the God Card holders, and wagered the Duel King title—yet in the end, Yugi took everything.

No one knows how much Kaiba spent, but Yugi won the Duel King title and the Gods, and Kaiba got nothing.

It seems that, ever since, Kaiba was semi-retired. Publicly, he claimed he was done with dueling, focusing on business, but everyone knows he still dueled plenty.

The Duel Ship continued. According to the organizers, the destination was close, and duelists could rest and tweak their decks.

The final battleground was in sight.

Back in his room, Jaden laid out Koyo's deck—the one he inherited—on the table, staring at it in a daze.

At least half were rare cards, impossible to buy. For his budget HEROes, it was a huge upgrade. These were the HEROes he'd always dreamed of. Now, holding them, he only felt emptiness and heaviness.

The door opened. Jaden turned to see Kira enter.

"Kira..."

"How's Koyo?" Kira asked.

"Still unconscious in the ship's infirmary. The equipment can't find anything wrong..."

Jaden didn't continue.

But they both knew what that meant. In the Orichalcos barrier, losing meant your body survived, but your soul was gone.

The only way to save souls taken by the serpent god—the Arbiter—is to defeat him, as Atem once proved.

Kira glanced at the deck on the table.

"Koyo's deck?"

"Yeah. The semifinals are all tough. I need to power up my deck. And now, I have to fight for Mr. Koyo too."

"I knew you'd say that." Kira shrugged. "So even if I told you to quit now, you wouldn't listen, would you?"

"Of course not," Jaden replied. "Mr. Koyo fought as a duelist to the very end. How could I give up here?"

"I thought so."

Kira nodded, handing him a sheet of paper.

"What's this?" Jaden asked.

"Information on the Orichalcos deck the Arbiter might use."

Kira explained.

"Kaiba and I know these cards well. You're the only one in the semifinals who hasn't seen them. If you face the Arbiter, you'll be at a big disadvantage."

Jaden glanced at it, moved. "Kira… you prepared all this..."

"Don't get sentimental yet. This is just in case," Kira said seriously. "But I think it's likely he won't use these cards.

As you saw in his duel with Koyo, the Arbiter may use many different decks."

"Like you and Misawa?" Jaden nodded.

"Yeah, something like that," Kira said. "Anyway, just in case. But his strongest deck is probably still Orichalcos.

But if you do duel him, be ready for anything."

"Yeah, I know." Jaden nodded quickly.

Seeing him so eager, Kira realized his advice might be pointless.

For Jaden, there was no such thing as preparing for a duel—he always just did his thing, no matter the opponent.

But honestly, if Jaden really did face the Arbiter, Kira wasn't optimistic.

In the anime and manga, Jaden is a classic growth protagonist. But right now, he's only halfway through first year—no Masked HEROes, no Neos, Supreme King's power unawakened, Yubel still drifting in space—he has no trump cards.

He'd just inherited Koyo's advanced HERO deck, which was an upgrade, but still—against the Arbiter's level...

Honestly, Kira thought even with luck, Jaden's chances were slim.

But Jaden wouldn't listen anyway. Kira had said all he could; now it was up to Jaden.

"By the way, during the duel, the Arbiter did something to you. Do you feel anything odd?" Kira asked.

Jaden frowned, staring out the window.

"I can't say for sure."

"Can't say?"

"It felt weird," he said after thinking. "I saw lots of random images, like... memories.

But strange—I don't remember having those memories."

Jaden thought harder.

"Someone kept calling my name. 'Jaden, Jaden,' over and over, like from somewhere far, far away..."

Kira pondered.

It might be the lost memories from Jaden's childhood, or his past life.

But either way, it was probably related to Yubel. The voice calling him was likely Yubel.

In the anime, Yubel said even after being sent into space, she could still sense Jaden. Even far from Earth, their bond remained.

She kept calling to him, and Jaden had nightmares every night.

Until KaibaCorp erased those memories, and the connection was severed. Jaden completely forgot about Yubel.

Could it be that the Arbiter's interference was restoring his link to Yubel?