Dragon Lord's turn.
It looked at Judai, who was already prepared to face the attack, and said nothing, slowly drawing a card.
It glanced at the card.
Ascension of Dark World!
It couldn't help but grin.
This card is a Fusion Spell Card specially for Dark World monsters, which allows the fusion of Dark World monsters by discarding them from the hand.
Of course.
Currently, it doesn't have any "Fusion Monsters" in its deck.
However—
If it can seize The Supreme King's fusion power from his body, then it can further evolve!
It's already one of the most advanced demons among countless dimensions.
But.
It's merely "one of the most advanced demons."
It came down to this; ultimately, it's just a demon, just a spirit.
Even if it possesses the power to create three of its own, even if it's so powerful that it's sealed by other entities of the Dark World, it cannot change this reality.
In these countless dimensions, perhaps there aren't many demons stronger than it, but there are plenty of demons on the same level!
Regardless, even within its own species, there's a demon like Reign-Beaux of similar level, just slightly weaker.
It wants to become stronger!
It wants to possess power that transcends Dimension Level; it wants to become the [strongest] demon!
It looked at the other cards in its hand.
Unfortunately, because The Gates of Dark World and Dark World Archives were excluded, it doesn't have any other effects to discard hand cards for victory in one turn.
But, as long as power is seized, that's enough.
"Normal Summon, Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World. Then, return, Beiige."
In the Graveyard, the demon resembling a dragon revived once again.
Grafa, Dragon Lord of Dark World, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Fiend-Type, ATK 2700.
"Persistent bastard..." Jim gritted his teeth and growled.
The Dragon Lord gently lifted its hand and pointed at Judai: "Go, my avatar, and bring back the power that rightfully belongs to me."
The Dragon Lord's avatar roared and charged at Judai, who crossed his arms for defense.
No monster could protect him, nor was there any Trap Card left to safeguard him; at this moment, he could only quietly withstand this attack.
The Dragon Lord's claws were like sharp scimitars, each finger slicing through the air, creating a fierce sound of the wind.
Just as the sharp claws approached Judai, about to pierce him, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Judai.
Pshh—
The claws effortlessly pierced through that figure.
The colorful armor shattered, emitting a crisp cracking sound.
The claws pierced through the figure, piercing towards the front of Judai, yet only penetrated his arm and then halted, slowly retracting.
"!!" Judai instinctively contracted his pupils.
"Ah!?" His companions gasped quietly.
"Reign-Beaux?" The Dragon Lord murmured its name unexpectedly.
Reign-Beaux, Overlord of Dark World appeared before Judai, its chest pierced by the claws, clutching the Dragon Lord's avatar's arms tightly, trying to hold it in place, and slowly pulling away.
"So... sorry, Lord Supreme King, for interfering with the sacred Duel Ceremony. However... I will pay the price with my death." It coughed blood, its blood changing into colorful hues.
It is the demon counterpart to the Dragon Lord, one as dark as ink, the other colorful as paint.
Pshh—
The Dragon Lord's avatar withdrew its hands from its body, emitting a sound of surging blood.
"Re—Reign-Beaux?!" Snapping back to reality, Judai quickly supported Reign-Beaux, "What, what are you doing!"
On the other side, the Dragon Lord slowly regained its composure: "Heh, Reign-Beaux... why do you go to such lengths?"
Judai's eyes were a bit moist.
In his mind, he kept asking himself why.
"I'm not the person you know!"
"No, no problem, I, Dark World, have protected the Supreme King for generations—"
"I told you, I'm not the Supreme King!"
"You are, you absolutely are..." Reign-Beaux's body slowly transformed into light dots, into bubbles, slowly dying; it neither explained its actions nor recalled Judai's memories but spoke of what it perceived, "That Nebula Neos, that fusion power capable of sweeping across the nebula... is not wrong, you have not changed, still... the Supreme King!"
Following the final utterance of the Supreme King, Reign-Beaux completely turned into light dots, vanishing in front of Judai, who trembled, reaching out to grasp a light dot that was about to dissipate, yet seemed to be held by some powerful force, fixed in his hand.
A sudden flashback of memories.
From Mitsuzawa's injury to the Fusion Army's attack causing the principal's anguish.
These past experiences materialized before him, revealing the power he had once displayed on him again.
His anger was beyond words.
He already knew—had already experienced it.
He knew!
[The Supreme King's Power].
This wasn't just some story concocted by these demons, but the power he had personally experienced, so he understood clearly.
Yet, it was precisely because of this that, when he realized the Supreme King's power was evil and invasive, he internally rejected this power tremendously!
He is not the Supreme King!
However, Reign-Beaux's words broke his resolve.
His inherent "fusion power," far surpassing that of ordinary individuals his age, wasn't a talent of his own, but... the Supreme King's power!
"Poor Reign-Beaux, foolishly loyal and stupid..." The Dragon Lord feigned sympathy, "Despite being my old friend, I had considered sparing its life to let it witness my dominion over all dimensions. It's truly regrettable.
Ultimately, this fellow did not treat you as a subordinate either."
Yes.
In the end, Judai never regarded Reign-Beaux as his subordinate.
Until just now, his heart was guarded against Reign-Beaux.
Yet, when Reign-Beaux died in front of him, the seemingly endless sense of "responsibility" surged towards him.
At that moment, at just that moment, Reign-Beaux, in his heart, became someone he wanted to protect.
The next instant, he seemed to be in a space filled with mirrors, and just turning, he saw someone who looked exactly like him.
Except, that person's face bore no smile, and the golden eyes made him distinctly different from Judai.
The Supreme King.
His inner power.
The figure looked at Judai, neither furious nor resentful, nor demanded Judai to leave, but opened its mouth calmly.
"Victory is justice."
!!!
It was as if he was impacted by something and snapped back to reality, returning to the dueling arena, as if nothing had happened.
He stood up calmly.
Stood up again, looking at his opponent.
Yuki Judai LP: 6000→3300.
"Ha, hahahaha..." The Dragon Lord sensed the power.
Although, although only a part, despite Reign-Beaux blocking the piercing damage for Judai.
However—
It was just one [opportunity] away!
Now, that opportunity arrived!
"Excellent, truly excellent, truly excellent—Main Phase 2, activate Quick-Play Spell Card, Ascension of Dark World!"
"I will surpass the past, ascend to the celestial pinnacle!"
"Ascension of Dark World is a Fusion Spell Card specifically for Dark World! Exclude Fusion material determined by Fusion Monster Cards from its own field or Graveyard, then Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck!
During a [Dark World] monster's fusion summon, you can also discard monsters from hand as fusion material!"
It reveled, raising its hand as if possessing everything: "I discard Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World from my hand, exclude Grafa from the Graveyard, hehe, hahahaha—"
It leapt into the air, where the dark clouds formed a huge vortex, an orange-yellow lightning bolt descended from the sky, striking down on it, causing its appearance to change wildly and constantly distort.
Its limbs became more robust, the lower body gradually transforming into a four-legged horse form, new wings spread open from its back like the wings of darkness covering the sky.
"Hahaha, hahahaha—"
Now it had surpassed its past!
"Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World!"