The combined efforts of the two Egyptian Gods, the double Divine Strike, shattered the Cubic Monster and simultaneously announced Z-ONE's defeat.
The storm finally subsided.
The forms of the Egyptian Gods gradually faded from the arena. The menacing Cubic Evil God still stood firm, once again rising after being overthrown by Divine Power, waving its arms like an indomitable steel tumbler.
Though, this was the end.
The Evil God, an entity formed by the Trio of Gods, ultimately remained undefeated, but it was meaningless. The Duelist controlling it was defeated, marking the duel's conclusion. No matter how powerful a Monster is, it cannot break free from the rules of the duel. A loss is still a loss, and not even a deity can change that reality.
The machine Z-ONE was aboard swayed in the storm of Divine Power, struck frontally by the crushing waves, flying across like a baseball hit out of the park. A blue wave followed closely behind him, like invisible blades slicing through the earth.
He crashed hard into the back wall of the arena, the circular wall radiating into cracks. Steel bars protruded from the cement and broke against the steel-gray metal casing, spinning and flying away.
Z-ONE's body and the vehicle he was riding became semi-transparent. Electric arcs jumped here and there around him, and the space seemed to mildly distort.
"...It seems the time has come." He murmured.
Although he could leap freely along the river of time and return to any era of the past, none of those were his own time.
As a time traveler, he had an anchor in his own timeline, an existence that could instantly pull him back to his era no matter where he was.
But the recent strike from the Egyptian God seemed to damage this system, triggering the safety mechanism of the space-time system. His "anchor" was forced to activate, and soon he would be compelled to return to his time.
Youyu put away the Duel Disc and stepped forward: "I guess when you said I was destined to fail, you didn't foresee this."
Z-ONE pondered for a moment and said, "Just a duel, just a victory. A single victory does not win the entire war."
"But to win the war, one must start with the first victory." Youyu replied.
"This doesn't prove you can make a change."
"Nor does it prove I cannot."
"..."
Muto Yugi, who had been watching quietly, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward: "I can't say I understand your struggles, but... I do have some thoughts."
He glanced at Aigami beside him—who only now realized that there was still someone who remembered him.
"Aigami and his companions told me about their plan," Yugi said. "They spoke of their pursuit of a new world, one without darkness, without conflict—a world of a bright future.
Only those chosen can enter that beautiful world. They said I was born to be their companion, and they were willing to welcome me as one of them."
Indeed, in the original story, both Sella and Aigami mentioned Muto Yugi also possessed the "Prana" qualification. Aigami even invited him to abandon this old world and join the new dimension, but he refused.
And of course, he refused.
To Aigami and his companions, there was nothing worth clinging to in this world. The tragic childhood experiences had long extinguished their hope for this world, and what they now pursued was the light promised in the beautiful new dimension described by Shadi.
But for Yugi, it was different. Here he had countless things he couldn't abandon.
He had his dearest grandfather, companions who had shared life and death experiences, and precious memories that would never fade, not even after ten or a hundred years.
He looked towards Aigami.
"Aigami, maybe to you, our world is chaotic and filled with darkness, perhaps beyond saving. But even so, there are companions here, countless irreplaceable people worth fighting for."
Aigami: "..."
Yugi looked at Z-ONE and said seriously, "So I will stay, in this world that belongs to us. And like Youyu, I believe in our future."
It's not just because he can't abandon his companions and current life, but also for the other self who is no longer here.
The "Duel King," the most precious thing Atem left him. It's the supreme honor, a symbol of strength and status, but also a responsibility.
The other self made great sacrifices to save this world, which has now been passed on to him along with the title of "Duel King."
How could he possibly ignore the tomorrow of this world?
"...Perhaps you all have a chance."
Z-ONE's figure was already nearly invisible, gradually fading away, leaving only his final words echoing.
"Believe we will meet again, Duel Kings... sooner or later."
He disappeared.
The realm of the dimension gradually collapsed, like a massive oil painting torn to shreds. Sunlight shone through the shattered steel dome, warm and comforting.
The Quantum Cube suspended mid-air stopped rotating. The cube rolled to the ground, its golden eye dimmed, and the cube no longer glowed, looking spent like it had entered a wise man's mode.
The lockdown of the Dueling Arena was lifted. Everyone knew this likely meant a temporary closure.
"A shattered... future."
Yugi looked in the direction where Z-ONE vanished, his mind heavy.
Can we really change that destiny now?
However, Kaiba merely sneered. Although the mysterious future individual's dueling skills had earned his respect and acknowledgment, that did not deter the president from dismissing their claims.
The future? The future is forged by people themselves; destiny doesn't exist!
And Aigami... Aigami was still staring in a daze at his Quantum Cube that had fallen to the ground.
My Card Deck...
Just now, that mysterious person finished dueling and seemed to vanish into another dimension, apparently taking his Card Deck with him...
He broke apart.
Then Youyu stepped forward, having won the duel, bent down, and picked up the Quantum Cube lying on the ground. As he lifted the cube, a pile of cards stored inside suddenly fell out onto the ground mysteriously.
It was Aigami's Cubic Deck. No one expected Z-ONE to remember to return the deck before leaving.
A boss who repays his debts is rare these days.
Aigami saw it, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Indeed, he just broke apart.
Eh hey, now he's patched up again.
But before Aigami could get up to retrieve his gear, Youyu, the Duel King, unceremoniously picked up the deck and pocketed it.
Aigami: "..."