Finishing a BOSS battle and looting equipment is a good habit that Youyu has always adhered to.
No matter how strong one's abilities become or how vast one's card pool accumulates, one must not forget their original intent. Only in this way can they go further down the road of a Duelist.
The above is the insight of a hardcore online game player.
Youyu looted while inspecting the deck left by Z-ONE.
Although it was indeed a Cubic Deck, it seemed to consist of the same things Aigami always played with. Like Cubic Seed Vijam, Cubic King, Cubic Beast, Cubic Emperor, Cubic Overlord, and so on.
The "Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord" that appeared in the recent duel, and the overbearing "Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord", were not included.
Those two cards were originally printed by Z-ONE using his own technology, not Aigami's, so presumably, he took them back.
Tch, so stingy. Youyu grumbled inwardly.
But, one must know when to stop. Youyu considered himself quite content, and acquiring a "Cubic" deck was satisfying enough.
Moreover, as a series of cards with special effects fully maximized and dazzling lights that are blindingly gorgeous, the Cubic Deck is still quite popular among players.
So, even though Youyu himself wasn't impressed by this deck, it would still be useful for fooling offbeat players, and there was no worry about it not selling.
...But why does Aigami keep staring at me?
The gaze is strangely resentful...
Youyu turned around, "What are you looking at?"
Aigami opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but eventually swallowed his words and shook his head heavily, "It's... it's nothing."
My deck...
Aigami felt depressed in his heart.
Images magically appeared one by one around him, forming shadows of varying heights. They were his comrades from Prana, led by the cute short girl, who was his sister Sella.
"Sella." Aigami immediately perked up, "You... are you okay?"
"Mm."
Sella nodded, then lowered her eyes, "I'm sorry, brother. I entrusted them with the shards of the Millennium Pendant..."
"It's okay."
Ever since learning that Sella's shards fell into the hands of Kaiba Company, Aigami had been worried about her safety. Now seeing that she was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief, and nothing else mattered.
Fortunately, even if the Pendant was reassembled, the Pharaoh did not return. It now seemed that their concerns were unnecessary, as the Pharaoh's soul was indeed no longer there. The Millennium Pendant had become an empty vessel, merely a symbol of glory and royalty, long since lost its former glory.
They had nothing to worry about anymore. Now they just needed to use the power of the Quantum Cube to break free from this dimension and head to a new world.
Just one problem remained.
Aigami glanced at Youyu, who was examining the Quantum Cube in his hands, hesitating to speak.
My Quantum Cube...
Perhaps psychologically traumatized, Aigami now viewed Youyu as a terrible monster. He felt that once Youyu had something in his hands, it was as difficult as climbing the sky to get it back.
And now, Aigami's confidence in his dueling skills was severely shaken; he felt that even if he tried to snatch it, he likely wouldn't win, leaving him distressed...
However, Sella gracefully stepped forward, bowing slightly, "Thank you very much for honoring our agreement, Mr. Youyu. I knew I wasn't mistaken; you are indeed someone dependable."
"It's nothing."
Youyu chuckled, and that kindly expression almost made Aigami believe he was a nice guy.
Almost.
Then Youyu generously offered the Quantum Cube back to Sella, "Take it. This is a very important treasure for you Prana people, right? Be careful not to lose it again."
Aigami: "!"
He even doubted his own eyes a little.
When did this Duel King Youyu become so agreeable? Just gave it away like that? What agreement did Sella have with him?
Sella looked at the Quantum Cube Youyu handed her, hesitated for a moment, then lowered her long eyelashes.
Instead of reaching out to take it, she turned around, seemingly making a very significant decision as she looked at Aigami.
"Brother, I... I have something very important to discuss with you," she said.
Aigami was shook to his core.
My sister...
"I disagree!" he said loudly.
Sella: "?"
What's wrong with brother? I haven't even said anything yet...
"Ahem." Aigami realized his outburst and cleared his throat, "What is it you wanted to say?"
Sella tilted her small head, puzzled by her brother's reaction. However, she quickly resumed a composed demeanor and said, "It's like this. While you were away, the rest of us comrades discussed, and we made this decision together."
Taking a deep breath, she continued.
"...We want to stay in this dimension."
Aigami: "!?"
He was stunned for quite a while, almost in disbelief, "You're saying... what?"
"We want to give up the opportunity to open the Dimension Gate." She lowered her eyes, "We want to stay here."
Aigami was silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "Why?"
This had been the moment they had been pursuing all along, taught from a young age by Shadi. They were to go to a beautiful new dimension, a bright new world, for which they dedicated their lives.
And now they were on the brink of success. The Pendant was pieced together, and the Pharaoh had not revived. The biggest obstacle had disappeared, and now they just needed to take the final step to embrace the future they dreamed of.
Yet she decided to let it go.
"Because, as Mr. Yugi said... perhaps what we have understood so far is only a part of this world.
This world has cruel parts, conflicts, and chaos, but it also has much beauty. Many good people are working hard in this dimension for a better future."
Aigami was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Sella..."
"I think, perhaps we should also try, like Mr. Yugi, to trust this world again," she said, "We Prana have the power to make changes.
If... if it is indeed like that person just said, that the future of this world is full of thorns, maybe we can make it better."
Aigami was silent.
This was a huge change, almost equivalent to overthrowing the firmest belief he had held from childhood to adulthood. They had been dedicated to Shadi's teachings from a young age, wholeheartedly longing for the moment when the Dimension Gate would open.
And now they were about to abandon this belief, as if starting their lives afresh.
If it were a few days ago, Aigami might have decidedly deemed it unacceptable.
But now...
"I understand." Aigami gently closed his eyes, "If this is what you wish for... if it's the common wish of everyone, then so be it."
Perhaps this is also what Lord Shadi would have wanted, as he always hoped they'd become better people during his lifetime.
Sella displayed a joyful smile.
The young girl nodded, then turned to Youyu, "Thank you, Mr. Youyu. But now we won't need the Quantum Cube anymore. As per our agreement, it's yours, Mr. Youyu. We hope its power can contribute to the process of changing the future."
Aigami: "..."