"Just you wait, Yubel."
Judai also activated his Duel Disc, speaking sincerely.
"We were separated once, and back then I didn't understand anything. But now, I won't let that happen again."
"Just as we once promised, forever and ever... we won't be apart again."
"Duel!" x2
[Judai, LP4000]
[Yubel, LP4000]
"Then I'll go first."
Yubel said.
"My turn, draw a card."
Yubel drew a card, then immediately revealed the card in her hand.
"Magic Card 'Angel's Charity.' Draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from your hand."
Yubel discarded two cards from her hand to the graveyard.
"Then activate the Field Spell - Tomb of the Dead Emperor!"
The scene changed, as an eerie black fog swallowed the entire area. When the thick fog dissipated, a long corridor appeared, leading straight to a throne with mud-sculpted warriors in the pits on both sides.
"The effect of the Tomb of the Dead Emperor." Yubel said, "By paying 1000 Life Points, I can substitute the required sacrifice for an Upper-level Summon." (original effect)
The animation effect only requires 1000 Life Points as the activation condition to substitute any number of sacrifices.
[Yubel, LP4000 → LP3000]
"I paid 1000 Life Points to substitute sacrifice for an Upper-level Summon." Yubel declared, "Let the armor of thorns formed by endless pain, now summon my own descent—
—Yubel, summon!"
The two warrior statues in the pits levitated into the air, disintegrating into light particles in a burst of golden light. The light converged to form the shape of a demon, its wide black wings spreading, heterochromatic eyes glowing coldly in the darkness.
Yubel, summon!
[Yubel, Attack Power 0]
Like a projection detached from the body, even its gaze was as somber as the original, full of untold suffering.
"Yubel..."
Judai now recalled fragments of past lives, having heard some things from Yugen, he already knew he and the Elf before him had an extraordinary vow. Now seeing an old friend again, those who had once sworn to protect each other were now facing off with weapons, his heart felt a tinge of melancholy.
"Judai, do you know what is the most painful thing for a Guardian?"
Judai was startled.
"What?"
"Having someone indispensable to protect, something more important than your own life, but not having the power to protect it."
Yubel's cold voice suddenly softened, speaking gently.
"To gain the power to protect, I'm willing to pay any price, even if it's something most precious to myself." Yubel said, "That's why there is the current me, the birth of Yubel."
Judai remained silent.
In his mind flickered fragments of memories from lifetimes ago.
"Yubel, to protect the boy with the correct dark power, power is needed."
An ancient voice spoke.
"But power comes with immense pain. Your young and beautiful body will also become something with two ugly forms. Does that still not matter?"
"It doesn't matter."
A clear voice rang out without hesitation.
"It's my mission, if it's to protect him, it doesn't matter what I become."
Judai felt touched.
This is why Yubel became the current Yubel, going through reincarnations and yet still turning into an Elf to accompany me...
"...Setting three cards face-down, turn over."
Yubel's voice pulled Judai back to reality.
"During the End Phase, 'Sacrificial Lotus' discarded to the graveyard by 'Angel's Charity' at the beginning, if it exists in the graveyard at the end of a turn, can be Special Summoned in Attack Position to the field."
Yubel's golden partner, Green Leaf, bloomed on the field, sprouting a vibrant lotus.
"Then Yubel, if I myself do not sacrifice a monster at the end phase, I must self-destruct." Yubel said, "Using 'Sacrificial Lotus' as a tribute to maintain my presence."
Sacrificial Lotus disintegrated, its light particles absorbed into Yubel's body.
"Turn over." Yubel said, "Now, it's your turn, Judai."
Judai shook his head, refocusing his attention back on the Duel, no longer pondering past lives and the past.
"My turn, draw a card." Judai said, "Activate the magic card 'Transformation Contact'!
If there are no monsters on your field, send one 'New Space Hero' each from your hand and deck to the graveyard, then draw two cards from the deck."
Judai drew a card from his hand, and his deck automatically popped out another. He pulled out both cards and sent them to the graveyard.
"Send two 'New Space Hero' cards to the graveyard, draw two cards!"
Then he played a Monster Card.
"Summon 'New Cosmic Connector'!"
A burst of starlight flashed across the sky over the Tomb of the Dead Emperor, and a small figure reminiscent of a young girl, a Neo Warrior, descended from the sky. She had large blue eyes, a distinctive blue crystal on her chest akin to the M78 Civil Servant, and red stripes on her silver-white body.
[New Cosmic Connector, Attack Power 800]
"The first effect of New Cosmic Connector, upon successful summoning, Special Summon one 'New Space Hero' or 'Elemental HERO Neos' from the hand or deck in Defense Position."
Another card popped out from Judai's deck. As he pulled it out, twinkling starlight shone in the vast sky, and a glaring light mass descended, crashing onto the ground, revealing the silver-white form of a Neo Hero.
Elemental HERO Neos, summon!
[Elemental HERO Neos, Defense Power 2000]
After landing, Neos surveyed the field's situation, turning to meet Judai's gaze: "Today seems to be a formidable opponent."
Judai nodded, "Indeed. She is my friend, but now she's trapped in darkness. No matter what, I must rescue her. Neos, I'll need your strength again."
"It's nothing, we are one and the same, Judai." Neos said, "Feel free to use my power."
But on the opposite side, Yubel was unfazed, her expression somber as she grimly said: "Oh, it seems Judai found someone new during my absence? Just what is your relationship with Judai, you?"