Yubel wasn't sure how much time had passed.
For a very long time, time itself had no meaning for her. All she faced was darkness—boundless, hopeless darkness. Pain and despair were always trying to consume her, the torment of both body and mind enough to break even the strongest-willed of guardians.
She didn't know how she did it, but in the end, she survived. Though covered in wounds, her spirit twisted and monstrous, with only one hand left to her name, she still lived.
Because she remembered her mission—the one thing more important than her own life, the person she would give everything to protect.
Her memories grew muddled; she couldn't tell dream from reality, past from future. Suddenly, it felt like a light pierced through this centuries-long darkness.
And there were voices.
"Did you think it was over? Did you think you had already won?"
"No. I remember you. My day of resurrection is near. When my seal is broken and I return to this world, you will be the first I seek.
When that time comes, both you and your spirit will return to the darkness."
It was a hoarse, sinister voice, growing more distant.
But next, a youthful voice rang out, full of energy, like a burning flame—one that could burn away even the deepest darkness.
"Bring it on. I'll be waiting," the youth said. "No matter how many times you come back, it'll be the same. Because Yubel is my most important partner."
Yubel's heart trembled. The voice echoed in her ears, and before her eyes flashed the memory of the young prince calling her name, welcoming her. The darkness and haze in her heart seemed to be swept away, and her mind cleared.
"Jaden... That's right, Jaden!"
Yubel's eyes snapped open.
And right away, she saw the youth sitting before her, smiling. Behind him, the sky was a pure blue, as if just cleansed by the receding storm. Sunlight, shy and gentle, broke through the clouds, and a rainbow spanned the sky, beautiful as a dream.
Yubel stared at him, dazed. It was like a scene she'd dreamed of countless times, yet she could hardly believe it was real.
"Hey there," Jaden greeted her with a smile. "Welcome back."
For several seconds, Yubel remained frozen. Then, overwhelmed by emotion, she burst into tears and threw herself into Jaden's arms.
"..."
With this, Yubel was finally, truly freed from all negative influences—a complete rebirth.
The Evil God, Eraser, had only taken advantage of Yubel's weakness, a common possession method with nothing special about it. It could be easily expelled by defeating it in a duel—not a difficult challenge.
The real challenge was the Light of Destruction, rooted deeply within her after her exile to space ten years ago.
Yubel had always harbored darkness. Once the guardian of the Supreme King, she had fought countless battles, watched friends die, and stained her hands with blood. Though she had crossed into this world with Jaden, after countless cycles of reincarnation, she now regarded mortal lives as insignificant.
That was why, in his childhood, she had put every duelist who defeated Jaden into a coma. Given her crimes, Jaden's sentence of ten years of exile was hardly unjust.
But during this time, her inner darkness only grew, exploited by the Light of Destruction, which took root within her. After years of growth, the two were nearly inseparable. Even with Kira's power, winning a duel could only destroy both Yubel and the Light of Destruction together; separating them was nearly impossible.
But with the Supreme King's help, and the ultimate power of "Super Polymerization," Jaden succeeded.
What returned to his hands was the true, untainted Yubel.
"By the way, thanks."
Jaden spoke to the other self in his heart.
"If not for you, I couldn't have done it. Thank you."
But there was no reply.
Jaden frowned slightly.
Knowing the Supreme King, sulking silence wasn't out of character. Yet, for some reason, Jaden felt this time was different.
"Hey? Are you there?"
"My other self?"
"...Supreme King?"
"..."
Jaden closed his eyes.
He tried to recapture the feeling from the duel, to reach out to the other soul within him.
In a world of darkness, at last, that voice sounded.
"So noisy..."
The voice was cold, irritable, but now it was faint, as if it could vanish at any moment.
Sensing the other's state, Jaden was shocked.
"What's wrong? Why are you..."
"Nothing. I'm just about to disappear, that's all."
Still cold and expressionless.
"Don't make a fuss."
Though the words were calm, Jaden only grew more alarmed. He couldn't help but ask, "Why? How could this... Weren't you just...!?"
But as soon as he spoke, Jaden seemed to realize something.
"Super Polymerization? Is it because of that card?"
He should have realized sooner.
Even when he first activated it, he sensed that "Super Polymerization" was unlike any card he'd used before. Even among spirits, he'd never seen such power.
The greater the power, the greater the price.
And the price of Super Polymerization was likely...
"Yeah," the Supreme King's voice was as calm as ever. "Super Polymerization is a card born of a sacrificial soul. Power always comes at a price."
In the original story, the creation of Super Polymerization required the sacrifice of countless souls from another dimension, only forged when Jaden was consumed by the Supreme King persona.
Even his Duel Academy friends who entered the other dimension with him were sacrificed to the Dark World spirits' tome, causing Jaden immense pain and amplifying his darkness, providing the energy needed for Super Polymerization's birth.
Super Polymerization required a massive inner darkness as its offering. In this moment, the greatest darkness of the twelve dimensions was used as its sacrifice.
That was the Supreme King himself.
…
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