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[Yusei, LP 4000 â LP 2500]
Sher: "..."
Looking at the "Abyssal Designator" Yusei had suddenly pulled out, his facial muscles twitched a few times. He seemed to want to speak but couldn't for a long while. Abyssal Designatorâfrom its effect description, it was clearly an effect that targeted the player. It forcibly required the opposing player to send one of their monsters to the Graveyard, similar in nature to a duelist Tributing their own monster. In other words, this thing could deal with "unaffected by any card effects" boss monsters.
Just now they were saying that dueling was a clash of souls, allowing them to understand each other's hearts and comprehend each other. So, if there was anything to be understood from dueling this guy, it would probably be that his entire soul was saying:Â I don't want any of that messy stuff, I just want to win.
It'd be even better if I could create a little fun while winning.
"But you won't defeat Demise, King of Armageddon so easily with such a method!" Sher roared. "I activate my Set Card, the Trap Card 'Mirror Swampman'! Declare an Attribute and Type, and Special Summon this card as a Normal Monster with that Type. I declare 'Dark Attribute' and 'Fiend Type', and Special Summon 'Mirror Swampman' as a Dark Attribute Fiend Type Trap Monster!"
[Mirror Swampman, ATK 1800]
"Then, the effect of 'Abyssal Designator' resolves! This way, I have two Dark Attribute Fiend Type monsters on my field." Sher calmly drew this Swampman Trap Card again and sent it to the Graveyard on his Duel Disk. "Therefore, I choose to send 'Mirror Swampman,' which has become a Dark Attribute Fiend Type, to the Graveyard."
The newly appeared Swampman was immediately swallowed by the abyss, dragged into infinite darkness. With a substitute to be removed from the field, Demise, King of Armageddon was preserved.
"Ah, even this move was countered." Jaden lamented, "This guy is really strong."
Yusei: "Then I Normal Summon 'D.D. Assailant'."
Sher: "!"
That thing's effect... He remembered it banished both monsters involved in battle. A violent field clear. If it attacked, his Demise, King of Armageddon would be gone.
"Tch, another troublesome monster." Sher said sinisterly, "Then I activate my Set Card, the Trap Card 'Bottomless Trap Hole'! When an opponent Normal Summons or Special Summons a monster with 1000 or more ATK, destroy it!"
Thus, D.D. Assailant couldn't even get a chance to show its might, falling directly into the deep pit and exploding into fragments.
But Yusei was unconcerned, merely raising another card in his hand. "Then, banish 'D.D. Assailant,' a LIGHT monster from the Graveyard, and 'Old Vindictive Magician,' a DARK monster that was discarded to the Graveyard by your 'Morphing Jar.' Light and darkness souls sacrifice themselves in the chaotic field, summoning the legendary strongest warrior to descend! Heaven and Earth split openâ"
"âBlack Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Summon!!!"
The souls of light and darkness converged, and chaotic magic erupted into the sky. Light and dark blades cleaved through the light barrier. Soaring particles condensed into powerful arms, heavy armor plated with golden patterns, and a sword that swung down with the force of creation itself.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000]
"So you finally appear, spirit of the legendary warrior." Sher said in a deep voice. "Then, this duel, this spirit, I will also claim."
"If you can win, of course." Yusei waved a hand, "Battle Phase! 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning' attacks 'Demise, King of Armageddon'! Chaos Dimension Slash!"
Jaden, standing nearby, held his breath, watching intently. He knew that Envoy of the Beginning had an effect to make an additional attack after destroying a monster by battle. Sher's remaining Life Points were 2500. If it destroyed Demise, King of Armageddon by battle and then made an additional attack, one swing of Black Luster Soldier's sword would decide the duel!
But Sher, of course, had a counter: "Open Set Card! Quick-Play Spell 'Command Silencer'!" (Original card) In the original series, this Quick-Play Spell was used by Kaiba against Yugi in the sky arena. Kaiba described it as being able to "negate a duelist's attack declaration." He said that even Obelisk, if it couldn't hear its master's attack command, couldn't attack.
"According to the effect of 'Command Silencer,' this turn you cannot declare an attack with 'Black Luster Soldier'!" Sher said. "Black Luster Soldier cannot accept your attack command, so it will not initiate an attack. Furthermore, after that, I can draw one card from my Deck."
Although it was an original card that hadn't been made into a real card, its effect processing was probably equivalent to a single-target "Threatening Roar." However, "Threatening Roar" could only prevent an attack if used before the opponent's attack declaration, but this card could cancel an opponent's command even after they had already declared an attack. From a real card perspective, it was somewhat unscientific and considered an anime-exclusive card.
"Then the Battle Phase ends. Proceed to Main Phase 2." Yusei said, "Since the attack declaration wasn't conveyed, Black Luster Soldier is considered to not have attacked this turn. Therefore, I can use Black Luster Soldier's other effect. Once per turn, banish one monster on the field!"
His target was once again Demise, King of Armageddon. "Banish 'Demise, King of Armageddon' from the game! Chaos Dimension Slash!"
Black Luster Soldier drew its sword from its sheath. One side of the blade was light, the other dark. Where the sword light passed, space cracked, leaving a shattered sword mark. Boundless, powerful gravity was unleashed. Even Demise, King of Armageddon, who brought forth doomsday, could not resist and was sucked into the sword mark.
"Beautiful!" Jaden praised, "If it's banished from the game, Demise, King of Armageddon is practically completely eliminated! Now you should be a little more clear-headed, right?"
Indeed, as the body of the world-destroying demon king disappeared, the blue flames on Sher's body also dissipated. He staggered, and his breathing grew even heavier. Yusei drew two more cards from his hand. "I Set two cards on the field. Turn ends."
Sher deliberated for several seconds, seemingly gathering his strength. Then he slowly raised his arm again.
"My turn, draw!" Sher said sinisterly, "From my hand, I activate the Spell Card 'Pre-Preparation of Rites'. Add 1 Ritual Spell Card from your Deck to your hand, and then add 1 Ritual Monster from your Deck or Graveyard that is mentioned on that Ritual Spell Card to your hand."
He drew one card from his Deck and one from his Graveyard. "I add the Ritual Spell Card 'End of the World' and the Ritual Monster 'Ruin, Queen of Oblivion' to my hand."
Jaden hadn't given up: "Why won't you face your true feelings? You clearly still love dueling in your heart, and you want to believe in your monsters."
"Shut up." Sher said in a deep voice, "Even if I wanted to believe, what then? So-called trust, its very purpose is to be betrayed someday. Heroes are destined to be lonely. As long as you hold a sword, those you care about, those you protect, are destined to become increasingly distant from you."
He paused his movements for a moment, observing Jaden a little longer. "You're right. Dueling is a clash of souls, allowing both sides to deeply understand each other. And precisely because of this, through this duel, I've come to understand you. What's your name?"
"Jaden Yuki."
"Jaden Yuki, huh. Perhaps you truly are very much like me." Sher said, "On the surface, you seem very enthusiastic, always willing to step up for others, willing to sacrifice for others, and seem like comrades with everyone around you. But in reality, you've never truly let anyone get close to you, have you?"
Jaden was startled, then frowned, "I don't understand what you're talking about. I'm not like you; I have many trustworthy friends."
"Is that truly so?" Sher said coldly, "I used to be like you. I was once the chosen one, the one in our generation who inherited the power of the Phoenix. I was always surrounded by many friends. I stood up for them, helped them countless times, and even willing to give my life for them. But in the end, when I had to embrace the darkness for power, when I truly gained the strength to protect them, after battling through blood and gore, I found that everyone had already left me."
Sher gave a self-deprecating laugh, closing his eyes. "Quite ironic, isn't it? I sold my soul to a demon just to protect them, but all I got in return was alienation. After that, rumors even spread that the enemies and disasters were brought by me from the start. Those I once considered dearest friends, comrades for whom I had sacrificed countless times, they all believed it. In the end, it became like this."
Jaden: "How could that be..."
"Later, I realized it wasn't just their problem; I had one too. I seemingly treated everyone with enthusiasm, but in reality, I never truly let anyone get close to me, or understand me. Perhaps that's why they ended up leaving me so easily."
Sher's tone had returned to calm, as if he were an outsider recounting something unrelated to himself. "I can feel it. You and I are the same kind of people. To protect those around you, you have to pick up the sword, but at the same time, you'll push them away. This is a hero's fate. If you continue down the path of a warrior, one day you might end up like me."
"No, I won't." Yusei interrupted him.
Sher frowned: "What?"
"I said you're wrong. That won't happen," Yusei said calmly.
Sher mused for a few seconds, then narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him for a moment. Then he slowly spoke: "Are you saying that it won't happen because you are there?"
"What do you think?"
"Hmph. Hahahahaha!"
Sher threw his head back and laughed heartily, then his expression twisted again.
"Absurd. You can't even get past this turn, what more can you do?" Sher roared, "This is a cruel world. You people simply don't understand. How long do you think that cheap friendship game can last? Fine, if you can do it, then try to survive this turn and show me!"
Sher drew the two cards he had just searched for, along with another, and revealed them together. "Ritual Spell 'End of the World', activate! I tribute 'Beast King Barbaros,' a Level 8 monster from my hand, to perform a Ritual Summon of destruction! The intertwining of ruin and rebirth, the goddess who controls the destiny of all things, descends at the end of the worldâ"
"âRuin, Queen of Oblivion, Ritual Summon!!!"
Amidst the doomsday ritual, a destructive energy vortex, the goddess gracefully emerged, white hair flowing, each step a countdown to annihilation.
[Ruin, Queen of Oblivion, ATK 2300]
"And Ruin also receives the power of the Orichalcos Barrier, raising her ATK!" Sher almost screamed out.
[Ruin, Queen of Oblivion, ATK 2300 â ATK 2800]
Jaden collected his turbulent emotions, trying to concentrate on the duel: "But, even if her ATK increases, she still can't beat Yusei's Black Luster Soldier."
"My resolve isn't just to this extent." Sher raised another card in his hand. "Equip Spell 'Psychic Blade'! Pay Life Points in multiples of 100, up to 2000, to equip it to one monster on the field. The equipped monster's ATK and DEF increase by the amount of Life Points paid!"
He gritted his teeth and said, "I use my blood, my soul... to gain the last power! I pay the maximum of 2000 Life Points, converting it all into Ruin's ATK!!!"
[Sher, LP 2500 â LP 500]
[Ruin, Queen of Oblivion, ATK 2800 â ATK 4800]
Jaden: "Attack of four thousand eight hundred?!"
"That's right, this is my final attack, burning my soul!" Sher steadied his almost unsteady legs and shouted. "And 'Ruin, Queen of Oblivion's' effect allows her to attack again if she destroys an opponent's monster by battle."
Jaden immediately realized what this meant. Black Luster Soldier's ATK was 3000. If it was destroyed by battle, it would inflict 1800 points of damage, leaving Yusei with 700 Life Points. If the second attack went through, one of them would fall here.
"What bonds, what friendship games, they are worthless in the face of power." Sher roared, "Without power, no matter how many pretty words you say, they're just empty boasts! If you're as confident as you say, then prove it to me this turn! Battle! Ruin, Queen of Oblivion, attack 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning'!"
The power of destruction, mixed with the divine power of Orichalcos, surged into the goddess's hands, transforming into a world-shattering blow. Black Luster Soldier stood ready, but with its current power, it was clearly no match.
Yusei: "Then, as you wish. Activate Set Card! Trap Card - Trap Dustshoot! If your Life Points are 3000 or less, by paying 1000 Life Points, you can banish another Trap Card from your Graveyard to gain that Trap Card's effect!"
Golden light surged over the Trap Card, and it quickly transformed into the image of another Trap Card in his Graveyard. "The card I will transform into is, of course, this oneâ"
"âThe Trap Card 'Magic Cylinder'!"
[Yusei, LP 2500 â LP 1500]
Trap Dustshoot transformed into the image of Magic Cylinder. The magnificent and deadly twin magic barrels appeared on the field. Ruin, Queen of Oblivion's lethal blow was reflected back, instantly becoming Sher's own finale!
"So that's... cough... the answer you gave?" By this point, Sher could barely stand, seemingly supported only by sheer willpower. "But... it's not enough!"
Blue flames flared in his eyes, which were bloodshot. "Open Set Card! Trap Card 'Ring of Destruction'! Destroy 1 monster on the field, and both players take damage equal to that monster's ATK! (Old effect) I choose to destroy... cough cough... Ruin, Queen of Oblivion!"
[Ruin, Queen of Oblivion, ATK 4800]
[Sher, LP 500]
[Yusei, LP 1500]
[Jaden, LP 1100]
"Do you want a mutual destruction?" Yusei frowned.
"If you can't stop me, it means your resolve is only to this extent!" Sher said grimly. "In the end, you still can't do anything!"
"Not necessarily." Yusei interrupted, raising his hand to flip open his last backrow card. "Quick-Play Spell - Soul-Taker's Curse! When your opponent activates a card effect that inflicts damage to you, that damage is inflicted to your opponent instead of you!"
Sher's pupils constricted. After the attack is reflected, can even the damage be reflected back?!
"According to 'Ring of Destruction's' effect, the damage equal to the destroyed monster's ATKâthat is, 'Ruin, Queen of Oblivion's' ATK of 4800 pointsâis shared by both players. Under team rules, effect damage to our side is treated as AoE damage to both members of our team. But the portion that would be inflicted to us is reflected by 'Soul-Taker's Curse'. Therefore, the total damage you ultimately take is 9600 points."
Yusei said, "You lose."
The explosive flames of Ring of Destruction swept across the entire field. But the fire surging towards Yusei and Jaden's side of the field was intercepted by the backrow Spell Card, then immediately reflected back along its original path, surging towards Sher.
Sher opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something in the end. But in the end, he said nothing, and gently closed his eyes.
[Sher, LP 500 â LP 0]