Yugioh [722-725] (Patreon)

Chapter 722: The Day of Release

Meanae didn't know why her master had come up with such a strange plan—the "Underworld Plan."

Simply put, it was a plan to gather duelists whom Kira had fought or evaluated at Duel Academy—those he believed were strong or had special talents—and form an elite team representing the Academy.

Each duelist would begin testing and training based on their original deck, with a dedicated team from Kira's lab evaluating their performance using various decks and testing their deck compatibility.

Every member would switch among different decks during duels, trying a wide range of tactics. In the end, their preferred style would be combined with results to settle on the deck and strategy that best matched their personal synergy.

Only those with the most outstanding and consistently stable performance would remain and join the team.

In fact, this was something Kira had been considering for a long time. Based on his memory of the original plot of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, he knew he couldn't rely on solo efforts forever.

In the early arcs up through the Sacred Beasts, it didn't matter much. The Shadow Riders called themselves a dark organization, but when they actually attacked, they used one at a time approach. As long as he was strong enough, he could take them down one by one.

But from the Society of Light arc onward, and into the later Dimension World and Darkness arcs, while individual strength remained the foundation, having capable teammates would make many things much easier.

You need a general, and you need elite troops.

Kira had always felt that Duel Academy could field elites. Season 1's episodic stories were everyday and plain, but they showed the Academy was a place full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. For example, Damon—not weak at all.

In fact, he even had a brief appearance in the Society of Light arc. During the GX tournament, when students' morale plummeted after repeated losses to pros, several exceptionally gifted elite students stood up and even beat top-ranked professionals. Damon was among them.

So Kira realized the Academy could absolutely have a powerful squad. Whether facing the Society of Light now, or later if they were trapped in another dimension, this team would be a key fighting force.

The GX tournament was the perfect stage to test this team, and the invading Society members were ideal opponents for live combat.

This was different from most student duels; fights against the invaders were real battles, closest to Shadow Duels, with pressure unlike regular matches.

Strictly speaking, they still weren't true Shadow Duels: even if you lost, you'd only be brainwashed by the Society, not killed. Troublesome, yes—but even brainwashing could be undone. The risk was acceptable.

At least better than throwing them straight into duels wagering life energy.

And the team's first-day performance didn't disappoint. Every dispatched member won; not a single slip.

By contrast, the Society of Light would likely be up all night questioning reality.

Wondering whether they'd invaded Duel Academy—or ended up in the underworld.

The Academy's situation was fully under control. After observing for a day, Kira felt reassured.

Even if something unexpected happened, the Academy's elite squad had Jaden. Now that Jaden had obtained The Gentle Darkness's power and awakened the Dark Wave, his strength had grown greatly; he could hold a front on his own. With him there, most unexpected events were nothing to fear.

Kira could go handle other matters.

For example, the one he'd told people to keep tabs on—the world champion called The D. It seemed he'd stepped onto the world stage again and was about to appear at this season's Pro League World Championship.

It was only when someone mentioned it that Kira remembered the championship was happening.

Though he considered the Pro League long since a children's game, it still had a high level of recognition in the dueling world.

This season's Pro League was nearing its climax—the day of the championship decider was coming. The buzz was high, with many following the matches.

Kira recalled that, if he wasn't mistaken, something unexpected was going to happen at this tournament.

…

Somewhere, in a dark room.

"Uaaah!"

A man roared like a beast.

The room's lights were off, pitch black in every direction. But the furniture was a wreck—coffee table flipped over, cups and saucers shattered on the floor. A wardrobe toppled, clothes strewn everywhere, scattered cards among them.

This crazed man was The D., the former pinnacle of the professional circuit, a man with a champion's title.

For years he'd maintained a perfect public image. Elegant and gentle, always wearing a gentleman's smile. He was also an excellent guardian—the guardian of the Pro League's super rookie, Aster Phoenix—and the media had crafted him into a "good father."

But no one knew his true face, not even Aster, the one under his care. No one knew the torment he endured day after day, year after year.

He was currently using his left hand to press down his right arm had flared up and gone out of control. That restless right hand, as if disobedient, strained toward a briefcase lying amid the chaos.

"No… no."

The D. struggled to control his about-to-rampage arm.

"This card—this one card—must never…"

"What mustn't?"

In the broken mirror beside him, his reflection grinned hideously back. But though it was a reflection, it looked entirely different from him right now.

He was currently clutching his arm, struggling, teeth gritted, face contorted. The reflection, however, smiled lightly, like a devil coaxing a man to sign a contract.

"It doesn't matter anymore," the reflection said. "The Light is about to descend—the Light of Destruction, which will flatten everything in the world and turn it into a blank white void.

When that time comes, all concealment, all sin, will be meaningless.

It's enough. You've held it back long enough."

As the devil's words poured out, the man's twisted expression gradually relaxed, and his eyes grew more like those in the mirror.

"Yes… it's been long enough. The world will end—there's no need to hide anymore…"

He loosened his left hand, letting his right do as it wished. Freed, his arm smashed the briefcase with a single punch—the force so exaggerated it split it open.

He opened the case and drew out a card.

A card radiating darkness and ill omen.

"Ten years… finally."

A devilish smile curled the man's lips.

"Ultimate D—hand over the rest of your power to me."

Chapter 723: The Championship

World Championship, Duel Arena.

The magnificent Blue-Eyes Duel Dome—its entire roof looked like the head of a massive white dragon resting on the ground. Inside, the place roared with life, countless excited hearts beating together to weave a grand overture.

The stands were packed to the rafters, not a seat empty. The clamor swelled with the approaching match, an unstoppable rush; cheers and applause surged like they might blow the dragon dome's roof off.

This was the top championship of the Pro League, a much-watched event. Major TV stations were broadcasting it live; even most at Duel Academy were watching on TV.

Jaden and his underclassmen complained the Slifer Red dorm's TV was too small, too old, and often had bad reception, so they asked Kira to borrow his. Kira didn't mind and invited them over to his place.

As the duelists stepped onto the stage, the cheers hit a fever pitch.

["Today's challenger to The D. is the super-criminal with an IQ of 200 and multiple indictments—the escapee from prison, Doctor Collector!"]

Spotlights converged at center stage, revealing a disheveled, bearded figure. He wore a restraint jacket, his hands cuffed—he looked exactly like a man who'd just broken out of prison to rush over and duel.

When Kira first saw this guy, he couldn't help but roast him in his mind. A felon with multiple indictments still able to come duel on TV? Was he literally breaking out of prison just to play cards?
So brazen on live TV—wouldn't they just haul him back?

"Oh, I've heard of this guy!"

Jaden's new underclassman this year, Tyranno, said.

"They say he's a super-genius duelist who's been assisting the FBI with cases even while in prison."

Then the prisoner roared, flexed, and with monstrous strength tore his restraint jacket apart, bursting it into strips.

Yep—people who duel have superhuman physiques. This strength was beyond normal human limits.

Then, under the gaze of the crowd, the legendary champion The D. entered.

The crowd was buzzing; Jaden and his friends were excited, discussing how the prisoner was a genius who could read opponents, an expert in card-related crime—how much chance did he have against the champion?

But Kira knew: barring a timeline shift, the result was already set.

Predictably, the duel unfolded as expected.

To be fair, just from Dimensional Fissure presence, the prisoner Doctor Collector had something. Even from the perspective of card sharks back in the day, his Spellcaster Lock was quite threatening.

He opened with the Continuous Spell "Dimensional Fissure," sending monsters that would go to the graveyard to be banished instead. It's the spell version of Macro Cosmos—no need to explain the suppression.

Then, leveraging Fissure, he sent and banished five monsters in one go, then slammed down the real-world heavyweight Forbidden card "Dimension Fusion," bringing all banished monsters back to the field at once.

So turn one, he summoned Cosmo Queen, Ebon Magician Curran, and three Magician's Valkyria.

A burly, bearded, shackled tough guy summoning nothing but "waifu cards"—mature women and lolis, a complete spread—the tonal whiplash on first sight was real.

But on second thought, nothing wrong there. That's exactly the kind of deck a real man would use.

With three Valkyries on the field, the opponent couldn't attack non-Valkyrie Spellcasters—three of them meant full attack lock. The opponent couldn't declare attacks at all.

Dimensional Fissure banished anything that would go to GY, effectively graveyard hate.

Ebon Magician Curran burned the opponent each turn for 300 times the number of monsters the opponent controlled. He summoned five in one turn, so 1500 burn per turn.

Then the prisoner added the Spell "Magical Blast," burning for 200 times the number of Spellcasters on your field—another 1000.

Finally, he set the ancestor of degenerate cards, "Nightmare Wheel," to bind an opponent's monster from attacking and burn 500 each turn.

With that lock and formation, the opponent was at a crushing disadvantage.

But faced with this setup, The D. suddenly burst into laughter.

"That's it?"

The D. laughed loudly.

The prisoner tensed. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," The D. grinned, feral—a look he'd never shown the public.

"Just thinking that human geniuses amount to only this much. The power I possess is beyond your imagination—at the cost of selling my soul to a demon."

"What are you talking about?" Collector barked. "I'm a prisoner—the demon's inside me!"

"Not that joke of a thing. I'll show you a real demon now!
My turn!"

The D. immediately revealed three copies of "Fiend's Sanctuary," summoning three Metal Fiend Token, then raised his arm and roared: "I tribute my three Metal Fiend Token—descend!

The ultimate—"

The screen cut off.

Just before the broadcast ended, there was a hint of a massive explosion, like something had detonated. A terrifying power was released; even through the TV screen, you could feel it faintly.

Then came static—no picture at all.

"What the heck!" Tyranno groused. "It was getting to the best part."

Jaden frowned. "What he was summoning… felt really bad."

With the live feed down, no one knew what happened or the result. But Kira knew even without seeing.

Doctor Collector's lock was decent, but unfortunately, it got soloed by Ultimate D.

The D. likely tributed the three tokens to summon Plasma and activated the Spell "D - Force." That card was an anime only card that only got printed years later—original Plasma needs D - Force to show its true strength.

With D - Force on the field, Plasma negates all effects of the opponent's monsters on the field—so the Valkyries' attack lock was gone.

And empowered by D - Force, any Spell/Trap effects targeting Plasma were negated and destroyed—so Nightmare Wheel was invalidated too.

Finally, though Plasma's base ATK is only 1900, it can absorb an opponent's monster and gain half that monster's ATK. So The D. probably absorbed Cosmo Queen for the ATK, and since the Doctor Collector paid 2000 LP last turn for Dimension Fusion, Plasma one-punched him.

While Jaden and the others debated the duel, Kira was already thinking.

He remembered that after this match, The D. would go to Aster and lay everything bare—then lose to Aster, and Plasma would return to Aster.

If Kira wanted to study the card, he could either wait until Aster recovered Plasma and contact him, or move early before Aster got it—now was likely the last chance.

Chapter 724: I'm Taking This Card

"President Pegasus, long time no see."

Chancellor Sheppard warmly invited Industrial Illusions' President Pegasus to sit.

Pegasus took a sip of hot tea and looked up. "How's the GX tournament? Going smoothly?"

For some reason, the moment he was asked this, scenes flashed through Sheppard's mind of the outside invitees getting crushed by the Academy's elite students until they questioned their card-life.

"Uh… going smoothly? Maybe. Probably."

But he knew that wasn't Pegasus's real concern, so he quickly shifted.

"As for the card you mentioned—'Ultimate D'—no leads yet."

"I see. A shame. I'd hoped the GX tournament might lure out the card's holder…"

Pegasus leaned back, crossed his legs, and sipped tea again.

"But I still don't quite understand—is what you said true? That Aster's father's murder is connected to some extraordinary crisis?"

Sheppard asked.

"It's related to the last card Aster's father designed, yes?"

Pegasus nodded. "To integrate humanity's cutting-edge intellect into card design, our company collaborates with scientific departments across fields.

Our astronomical observation division discovered something terrifying."

Sheppard blinked. "Terrifying?"

"Yes. According to the observatory's data, hundreds of millions of years ago, a white hole somewhere in the cosmos released tremendous energy."

"White hole?"

"White holes and black holes are opposites. One theory posits that a white hole is the outlet for the dark energy a black hole produces. The massive energy released from there—we call it the 'Waves of Light'—may have invaded Earth more than ten years ago."

Sheppard was shocked. "You mean Aster's family incident?"

"Yes, we believe that's possible," Pegasus nodded.

"Further research led to more findings. In human history, conflicts, disasters—wars that caused countless deaths—many of them show traces of those Light Waves."

This theory surprised Sheppard even more. "Are you saying even human wars might have been caused by the Light Waves?"

"No, we can't assert that. But we believe there was at least some influence," Pegasus said. "The Waves of Light can drive people out of control, drawing out their darkness.

Some war-mongering tyrants and infamous dictators may indeed have been affected. And now, they've set their sights on the power of cards—their potential.

Aster's father was likely killed because he was one of our card designers—a remarkably gifted one. His talent was exploited by evil forces, resulting in the birth of that forbidden card."

Sheppard frowned. "After all these years, has that power not waned at all?"

"That's not quite right. You know cards have the power to seal extraordinary beings like the three Sacred Beasts and three Egyptian Gods."

"Are you saying Ultimate D has that kind of power?" Sheppard was stunned.

"That's hard to say… but leaving it alone will cause new threats—that's certain," Pegasus said. "So no matter what, we must uncover the truth of that incident and find the card."

Just then, the door burst open from outside, and a man in a black suit rushed in, panting.

Pegasus frowned. "Kemo, didn't I tell you to wait outside?"

He was a subordinate from Industrial Illusions.

"Yes, President Pegasus, but it's urgent!"

"Just got word from HQ—something happened at the World Championship," Kemo said.

"Looks like the Ultimate D card has finally appeared!"

…

Night over the sea, aboard a cruise ship.

"Mmhmhm… hahaha—"

In a room with no light source, The D. threw back his head and laughed maniacally within the sealed space.

"Finally! No more concealment—no more restraint!

Now, I can unleash all my power!"

As he roared, light burst from his body, like a white whirlwind. The storm raged through the enclosed room, like thunder rolling through, smashing everything with overwhelming force.

Just earlier, for the first time in ten years, he had used that card in the World Championship arena, in front of everyone.

Ultimate D. It was the key card that helped him reach the top—it had granted him power for so many years, and even just riding that attached fate-power had gotten him this far.

Tonight, for the first time, he unleashed the card's full power. No more restraint, no more cover.

Only then did he realize, to his own shock, just how powerful it was.

Even he himself had never truly understood how strong he was when fully released!

He felt amazing!

But just as he was reveling in this unexpected might—

"Who's there!?"

The D.'s face changed; he barked, thrusting out his right palm toward a point in the darkness. The white light radiating from him condensed into a transparent sphere, spiraling as it blasted toward that spot.

A bang—like impact. Two clusters of white light crossed, briefly illuminating the ravaged room.

"Oh? Not bad—you actually sensed me here."

Kira stepped out of the darkness, unhurried.

The D. stared for a long beat.

"You're…"

His pupils tightened slightly; he was startled.

"Duel King Fujiki Kira?"

Why here, of all places?
"You're a busy man—always running around the world. Hard to find time to pay you a visit," Kira shrugged with a faint smile.

"World Champion, The D., right? Pardon my bluntness, but is the champion you… or 'him'?"

Kira lifted his gaze toward the ceiling.

Above The D., the energy radiating from him had manifested Plasma in the flesh—a dark body seemingly bound by white light, eyes full of bestial fury, glaring at Kira with a guttural growl.

The D. was silent for two seconds, then asked darkly, "How much do you know, Duel King?"

"Enough."

"Ten years ago—the murder. Ultimate D. The Light of Destruction."

Kira extended a hand toward the airborne Plasma and hooked a finger.

"This card—I'm taking it."

Chapter 725: The Champion

"Duel!" x2
"I'll take first. Draw."

The D. drew, adjusted his glasses, and looked coldly at Kira.

Duel King or not, this was too arrogant. To declare so brazenly that he was taking Plasma, speaking and acting like Ultimate D already bore his surname.

He wasn't even putting the World Champion in his eyes.

Head lowered, his lenses reflecting light and hiding his gaze, he only seemed more sinister.

"Seems I'm being underestimated," he said coolly. "Then let me show the Duel King the power of a champion with all restraints removed."

He slid a card into his Duel Disk.

"Spell: Graceful Charity. Draw three, discard two."

He immediately drew three more.

"I set three cards face-down. Turn end!"

"Only sets," Kira murmured. "Feels like more people have been doing that lately…
Alright, my turn. Draw."

Kira pitched a card from hand to the GY and played another.

"From my hand, Tricky's effect—discard a card to Special Summon this card.

I Special Summon 'The Tricky'!"

A card was discarded to the GY, and golden summoning light flashed on the field. Cloak billowing, the question-mark-chested magician appeared.

[The Tricky, ATK 2000]

"Oh? Opening with a Level 5," The D. pushed up his frames. "Planning to swing in, Duel King?"

"The discarded card was the Quick-Play Spell 'Silent Burning.'"

Kira lifted his Duel Disk; his GY emitted white light.

"While Silent Burning is in the GY, I can banish it to add one 'Silent Magician' from my Deck to my hand."

The spell drifted up and faded, its dissipating energy turning into a scatter of white motes, forming a milky magic circle on the floor.

The circle flared; a pillar of white light shot up. The silver-haired magician's phantom flitted over the field and settled into Kira's hand as a card.

"Next, Normal Summon 'Witch of the Black Forest.'"

A black-robed witch appeared, ten fingers laced as if praying.

[Witch of the Black Forest, ATK 1100]

"Silent Magician cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by tributing a Spellcaster you control."

Kira raised his arm.

"I tribute the Spellcaster 'Witch of the Black Forest.'

Wings of hope in silence—Magician of Light, appear—

—Silent Magician, Summon!"

White light gathered into a storm; a complex magic array spread across the floor. The silver-haired, white-robed magician emerged from the surging mana, cleaving the wind with her staff and alighting lightly.

[Silent Magician, ATK 1000]

"Silent Magician," The D. said, a bit solemn. "The original Duel King's ace—bringing her out this quickly."

"And the tributed Witch has a special ability," Kira continued. "When Witch of the Black Forest is sent to the GY, I add one monster with 1500 or less DEF from my Deck to my hand.

I add a monster with 1200 DEF—"

The Duel Disk auto-searched, a monster card popped from the deck module. Kira took it; the deck auto-shuffled.

"'Psychic Megacyber' to hand."

"When your Spell/Trap count exceeds mine, 'Psychic Megacyber' can Special Summon itself from hand.

You have three backrow; I have none. Condition met."

He didn't keep the searched monster in hand—he slapped it onto the Disk.

"Special Summon 'Psychic Megacyber'!"

Golden electricity exploded; a gold, immortal-alloy giant rose amid crackling current, exuding crushing pressure.

[Psychic Megacyber, ATK 2400]

"Three high-level bodies at once?" The D. was startled.

In truth, Silent wasn't actually high-level—she's Level 4. But her function is essentially that of a boss; the point stands.

"So this is a king's duel—full-throttle from the start," The D. nudged his glasses. "Impressive."

Together, they had more than enough damage to break his LP; any two direct hits would hurt. Yet The D. remained calm.

Kira's eyes naturally fell to the three face-downs.

It was obvious—their primary confidence and safety came from that backrow.

But Kira had plans.

"Then I activate the Spell 'Metamorphosis,'" Kira said. "Tribute a monster you control to Special Summon a Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck with the same Level as the tributed monster."

"Still more?"

The D. chuckled, needling.

"Hey now, at this rate it'll be morning by the time it's my turn."

"Is that so? No worries—then let's make sure your turn doesn't come."

Kira smiled.

"Don't worry, it ends right now.

I tribute the Level 6 'Psychic Megacyber' for Metamorphosis!

When a warrior with dragon-taming power merges with a Dragon, true strength is released—

—Level 6, Ryu Senshi, Summon!"

Metamorphosis consumed the golden giant, scattering its energy into glittering motes. The light gathered into a gleaming blade and armor; a masked swordsman stepped down upon the storm.

[Ryu Senshi, ATK 2000]

"Lower ATK…?"

That odd change made The D. uneasy.

Using an extra card to transform the Psychic Megacyber into a weaker Ryu Senshi—there had to be a purpose. This wasn't about aesthetics.

Something was coming.

"Battle."

Kira gave the attack order.

"Silent Magician—direct attack The D."

She twirled her staff twice; white mana gathered at the tip into a gleaming orb.

"Silent's ATK increases by 500 for each card in its controller's hand," Kira said. "I have two cards left—so +1000."

[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → 2000]

"Silent Burning!"