Infinite LOOP!
And it's not just any ordinary LOOP.
The purpose of an infinite LOOP is either to amass a large amount of resources or to inflict damage in an endless cycle to defeat the opponent.
But this LOOP is not like that; damn it, the purpose is simply to make oneself shuffle endlessly!
Ammon didn't know what to say anymore.
To come up with such a bizarre LOOP that isn't meant to win, but purely to torment the opponent's mentality... and wrist, to what extent must one's mind be twisted?
And he just thought casually about it; who would have thought there really are people so bored in the world? Such a complex LOOP, simply to make oneself shuffle endlessly?
"Well, what are you standing there for?" Yugen said with a smile, "Shuffle."
Ammon gritted his teeth, helplessly drew out his Card Deck, and shuffled.
Sure enough, that feeling came again.
It felt as if his consciousness was drawn into the Card Deck. Endless memories, endless pain. Every difficult decision he made, all those memories he had been trying hard to avoid all these years...
"Ugh ah ah ah!"
Another shuffle left him sweating profusely, kneeling on the ground, his body trembling almost.
Not because his body had actually suffered any great damage and burden, but completely on a spiritual level.
He wasn't sure how many more times he could endure this kind of shuffling.
But what he did know was that this was far from over... it was merely the beginning of an endless tormenting nightmare.
Yugen's voice continued.
"Regenerating Slime, attack 'Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man.'
"Regenerating Slime resurrects, Black Garden Special Summons a new 'Rose Derivative' on your field."
"Typhoon Eye, attack the Rose Derivative."
"Demon's Wisdom's form is forcibly changed."
"..."
Another series of repeating loops, then Yugen gestured 'please.'
"The effect of Demon's Wisdom, come on, keep shuffling."
Ammon clenched his teeth, his gaze almost spitting fire at Yugen.
I'll shuffle... shuffle your hammer!
"If you don't want to shuffle, it's simple." Yugen chuckled lightly, "Just surrender."
"Give up what you've been insisting on, abandon the creeds instilled by your family. Do what you want, freely choose your own path."
Yugen coaxed.
"You don't have to keep winning, there are always new roads, new choices."
"Why must you move forward bearing the future of the family, adhering to the family's expectations?"
Ammon gasped heavily, looking at the Card Deck in his hand.
Indeed, if he surrendered...
Surrendering didn't just mean giving up the victory in this game. It felt more like giving up the family's expectations of him, abandoning the heavy burden on his shoulders.
No more overthinking, nor needing to bear so much. He didn't have to keep winning; he could choose his path freely.
It felt like...
...yes, like the leisurely and free clouds in the sky.
But...
Ammon gritted his teeth, his arm veins bulging, trembling as he drew the Card Deck again.
"I... I accept the effect of 'Demon's Wisdom'... shuffle..."
"Such a determined man." Yugen murmured, resting his chin on his hand.
But after Ammon shuffled, Yugen's lips slightly curled up.
"Hmm... but how many more times can you hold on?"
"..."
"Regenerating Slime attacks."
"Regenerating Slime resurrects, Special Summoning 'Rose Derivative' on your field."
"Typhoon Eye attacks the 'Rose Derivative.'
"The effect of Typhoon Eye, forcibly changing the demonstration form of 'Demon's Wisdom.'
"..."
"Ah ah ah—" Not knowing how many times he was forcibly shuffled, Ammon was already supporting the ground with both hands, drenched in sweat.
No, no more.
All memories, all pain, all parts of his life he refused to face...
"You know, you've actually already lost, right?" Yugen's voice sounded again, "I've drawn most of my Card Deck; my resource amount is more than ten times yours.
Even without playing this little game, I have nearly ten ways to win."
Ammon: "..."
"Why resist the inevitable result? You're not fighting for yourself." Yugen said flatly, "You refuse to face yourself because you know it too.
What you now do, what you struggle for, none of it is your true self. What the conglomerate wants isn't what you want, Ammon Galem.
You want to take the path of a king, not for yourself. After reviewing your life so many times, haven't you remembered yet?"
Like lightning splitting the night, Ammon was momentarily stunned.
My ideal, my reason for striving...
That ideal, because it was too distant, he gradually chose to forget; that ideal he sacrificed and forgot for his family and brother...
With these countless shuffles, forcefully facing his life, now he truly remembered.
"I... yes, I have a dream."
He clenched his fists, his scattered gaze became determined again.
That was a dream he had long, long ago.
When he was hungry, lying powerless on the ground, watching the scattered clouds in the sky, the thought would emerge in his mind.
An ideal new world.
There would no longer be children like him. No more broken families, no hunger, no pain. Regardless of wealth or poverty, regardless of identity or status, everyone could live equally.
"I want...to establish a new order."
He gasped, struggling to voice these words.
"I want to create a new world."
"A world where everyone is equal, where everyone is granted the right to 'live!'
Yes, now he remembered, this was Ammon Galem's lifelong ideal.
He had given up, willingly becoming a stepping stone for his brother. He was ready to become whatever the family needed, forgetting his own dream for it.
This was originally the ideal Ammon resolved to resume after he traveled to the Otherworld for the second time in the animation. Yubel originally planned to unearth the darkness within Ammon's heart through the duel, but unexpectedly discovered this true ideal.
This was something Ammon originally couldn't achieve in reality. He couldn't harm his brother, couldn't take his brother's place. But Yubel's appearance gave him a new opportunity.
That was the Elf Dimension.
In the Elf Dimension, Ammon obtained the power of Dark Mage Exodia, thinking if it was in this dimension, he could logically create a new world.
In fact, if it weren't for Yubel, perhaps Ammon in the animation really could do it. If it were that original Elf Dimension, perhaps looking over the entire dimension, there really wasn't someone who could counter Ammon who had obtained Exodia.
And now, Ammon had remembered.
Yes, this wasn't his battle. What he was doing now, it was just being a stepping stone for the family.
He was already very tired, he had already tried his best, but this wasn't what he wanted.
Ammon knelt to the ground, gently closing his eyes.
The calm voice of Yugen echoed beside him.
"Typhoon Eye attacks, Demon's Wisdom again changes from attack position to defense position," Yugen said, "The effect of Demon's Wisdom, the controller must shuffle."
Ammon: "..."
Ammon lowered his head, motionless for a while.
Then he slowly raised his arm.
But this time, he didn't draw the Card Deck to shuffle.
Instead, he gently placed his hand above the Card Deck.
"I... surrender."