Judai never mentioned it to anyone.
But just after the battle with the Light of Destruction, he had a very strange dream.
In the dream, he was no longer Yuki Judai, but someone else, someone unlike himself.
He saw himself wearing heavy armor, like an ancient general going into battle. Countless enemies died at his hands, countless souls vanished before his eyes. Every face of despair before death was vivid to him, their screams echoing in his ears.
Yet he was unmoved.
His heart was as cold as steel, firmer than rock. His will was unyieldingly steadfast, with victory as the sole objective, nothing more.
It might be the most realistic and memorable nightmare of his life, the scariest part being when he woke up in shock and calmed himself down to sleep again, the nightmare could even continue.
Finally, he stood alone on a desolate plain; the setting sun shone slantingly on his black battle armor. The bleak wind lifted the cloak behind him, long torn to shreds in chaos, like a battle flag weathered by time.
On the boundless wasteland, the only other person besides himself was his most revered mentor, Youyu.
He saw his teacher standing opposite him, the card deck automatically shuffled in its slot, the Duel Disc automatically expanded, the golden Duel Disc reflecting orange-red light in the sunlight.
Nobody knew what the outcome of this duel would be, but likely one must fall.
On the battlefield, there could only ever be one winner.
"Judai? Judai?"
A voice pulled Judai out of his stupor and back to reality. He shivered, turned his head, and saw it was the spirit form of Aqua Dolphin.
Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin looked at him with concern: "Judai, what's up? Are you not feeling well?"
"No... nothing." Judai finally snapped back, his gaze returning to his opponent in front of him.
At this moment, the "World of Prophecy" surrounded by a holy light had returned to the image of "Reaper of Prophecy," the special effects on his body dimmed considerably.
Perhaps that state was also exhausting for him.
However, Lamore was very patient with Judai's absent-mindedness, maintaining a graceful smile while quietly waiting on the opposite side without interrupting.
Yubel, reverted to her spirit form, hovered behind Judai, slightly furrowing her brows.
In fact, she had faintly sensed it these days, that something had been off with Judai's state ever since the battle with the Light of Destruction; she just hadn't spoken about it.
"Sorry, sorry for the wait." Judai chuckled apologetically.
"No problem." Lamore responded graciously, "Dueling with you has been my honor."
"Is that so?" Judai tilted his head.
Truth is, he hasn't even figured out who the opponent is or why they are dueling; Judai just generally doesn't overthink when he has cards to play.
Overall, playing the cards first surely can't be wrong!
And since they've battered Yubel so badly, they must be the villain!
So teaching them a lesson can't be wrong either.
"Duel!" x2
[Judai, LP 4000]
[Lamore, LP 4000]
"Be careful, Judai." Yubel warned, "This guy... is very strong."
"I know."
Judai nodded.
"I go first, draw a card!" Judai said, "I summon 'Cross Porter,' attack position!"
[Cross Porter, ATK 400]
"Effect of 'Cross Porter'! Select a monster on your field, send that monster to the graveyard, and special summon a 'Neo-Spacian' from hand.
I choose 'Cross Porter' itself, send itself to the graveyard, then special summon 'Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin' from hand!"
The transport robot vanished into a golden glow, a wave surged out, and Dolphin leapt forth on the crest of the blue wave.
[Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin, ATK 600]
"Second effect of 'Cross Porter'! When he is sent to the graveyard, add a 'Neo-Spacian' from the deck to the hand." Judai said, "I add 'Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird' to hand."
Judai added the hummingbird to his hand and then pointed to the dolphin on the field.
"Activate the effect of 'Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin'! Discard a card from the hand, check the opponent's hand, and choose one monster card among them.
If there is a monster on our field with an attack higher than that monster, destroy it and inflict 500 damage!
Echo Location!"
Judai discarded a card from his hand; Dolphin opened its mouth, sound waves accompanied by sharp noises swept over Lamore, quickly revealing his hand.
The only monster card was "Stoic of Prophecy."
[Stoic of Prophecy, ATK 300]
Poor Stoic's attack was only 300, easily outmatched by Dolphin's 600 ATK. Dolphin's sonic waves burst through, instantly smashing the card to dust.
[Lamore, LP 4000 → LP 3500]
"But the effect of 'Stoic of Prophecy.'" Lamore calmly said, "When he enters the graveyard, a level three 'Prophecy' monster can be added from the deck to hand."
A card sprang from the deck, drawn and revealed.
"I add 'Justice of Prophecy' to hand." Lamore smiled a bit, "Thank you for providing me an opportunity to search the deck."
"You're welcome." Judai chuckled, "Next, activate the Magic Card 'O Oversoul' from the hand to special summon a normal 'Elemental Hero' monster from the graveyard.
The card I just discarded to the grave with Aqua Dolphin's effect is 'Elemental Hero Neos'!
Arise, Neos!"
A beam of light burst from the vortex of the graveyard, forming into human shape in mid-air. Neos landed elegantly, starting another day of overtime.
Anyway, it seems that every time Judai duels, Neos can't miss pulling another all-nighter...
[Elemental Hero Neos, ATK 2500]
"Activate Aqua Dolphin's effect again!" Judai said, "Discard a card, check the opponent's hand, and target the monster card!
Echo Location!"
Lamore's eyebrows slightly rose: "No 'once per turn' restriction?"
The sound wave blasted out, stubbornly targeting Lamore's hand, aiming at the freshly searched "Justice of Prophecy."
[Justice of Prophecy, ATK 1600]
[Elemental Hero Neos, ATK 2500]
"I have Neos on the field with 2500 ATK, higher than Justice!" Judai stated, "So 'Justice of Prophecy' is destroyed!"
Poor beauty of the arcane, added to hand just a moment ago, immediately swept aside by Dolphin's sound wave.
[Lamore, LP 3500 → LP 3000]
"Then, the card I recently sent to the graveyard was the magic card 'Card of Compensation.' When discarded from hand, draw two cards."
Judai raised his fist.
"Next, return 'Elemental Hero Neos' and 'Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin' from the field to the deck, and Contact Fusion!!!
Harness the power of water, ride the waves—
—Elemental Hero Aqua Neos!"
Aqua Dolphin's form dissolved into azure halos, merging with Neos into a new form. A Neos of blue and white, sleek and streamlined, riding the waves back onto the field.
[Elemental Hero Aqua Neos, ATK 2500]
"Aqua Neos's effect!" Judai said, "Once per turn, discard a card, randomly destroy two cards in the opponent's hand!" (Anime effect)
"Two cards?"
Watching Aqua Neos's eyes emit two sharp rays striking at random among his hand cards, Lamore's eyebrow rose slightly.
"Such an excessive effect indeed..."
At this rate, not even reaching Lamore's turn, Judai already obliterated four cards from Lamore's hand. For an ordinary duelist, such a blow was virtually fatal.
"Activate the Equip Magic card 'Instant Neo Space' from the hand, equipping 'Elemental Hero Aqua Neos.'" Judai stated, "This card extends Neos's active time!
The equipped Neos Fusion Monster doesn't return to the deck during the end phase."
A circular vortex spread beneath Aqua Neos's feet, perfectly enclosing him. The vortex rippled with rainbow auroras, clearly simulating the energy of the "Cosmic" in that small range, continuously fueling Neos.
Just like a special Ultraman portable charger.
"Turn ends."